Proposal to Increase High Cost Transportation Aid
By Wisconsin School Administrators Alliance staff | April 20, 2021
Representative Jeff Mursau and Senator Mary Felzkowski are forwarding a budget motion that would dramatically increase high cost transportation aid appropriation and lower the aid threshold for districts to receive high cost transportation aid to the statewide average per pupil transportation cost . . . down from the current threshold of 145% of the average per pupil cost. Needless to say it would benefit all school districts with per pupil transportation costs above the statewide average. This approach is part of the SAA Legislative Agenda and we are working in support of this proposal with the Fair Aid Coalition and other stakeholders. Check out the Legislative Fiscal Bureau (LFB) memo on the proposal here.
Topics: SAA Capitol Reports, SAA Capitol Reports with Email Notifications, SAA Latest Update | No Comments »
Telling Your Budget Story
By Wisconsin School Administrators Alliance staff | April 15, 2021
Check out the letters to state legislators in support of our top state budget priorities submitted by Superintendents Aaron Engel (La Crosse) and Jordan Sinz (Wisconsin Heights). In addition, we have also posted a presentation created by Superintendent Damian LaCroix and his team at Howard-Suamico for use at a recent legislator/community forum.
Hat’s off to these members for their advocacy and their leadership in telling their district’s state budget story. It is critically important for the leadership teams in all 421 school districts to advocate for our shared state budget priorities with their legislators.
Use the information and talking points in the SAA’s State Budget Alert and in the SAA Legislative Agenda to craft your district’s communication to your legislators. All I ask is that you copy your written or video communications to the SAA so we can post them as examples for your colleagues.
COME ON! LET’S TELL THE BUDGET STORY!
Topics: SAA Capitol Reports, SAA Capitol Reports with Email Notifications, SAA Latest Update | No Comments »
Subsidized COBRA Coverage Now Available to Certain Individuals
By Wisconsin School Administrators Alliance staff | April 14, 2021
From The Legal Side . . .
In its most recent School Law FYI, the BoardmanClark Law Firm focuses on new obligations placed on group health plan sponsors (which in many situations are employers) created under the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 with respect to federal COBRA and state health insurance continuation laws.
The SAA regularly receives these legal updates and we believe this is valuable information for SAA members. We are distributing this update to SAA members with the permission of the BoardmanClark Law Firm. The information in this update is no substitute for consulting with your district legal counsel, and we encourage you to do so.
Topics: SAA Capitol Reports, SAA Capitol Reports with Email Notifications, SAA Latest Update, SAA Legal Side | No Comments »
Responding to Requests Under the Wisconsin Public Records Law
By Wisconsin School Administrators Alliance staff | April 14, 2021
From The Legal Side . . .
Many Wisconsin school districts have been receiving requests for information or records from individuals and groups under the Wisconsin Public Records law related to district decisions made in light of COVID-19. In a recent School Law FYI, the BoardmanClark Law Firm focuses on considerations for school districts when responding to these requests for information.
The SAA regularly receives these legal updates and we believe this is valuable information for SAA members. We are distributing this update to SAA members with the permission of the BoardmanClark Law Firm. The information in this update is no substitute for consulting with your district legal counsel, and we encourage you to do so.
Topics: SAA Capitol Reports, SAA Capitol Reports with Email Notifications, SAA Latest Update, SAA Legal Side | No Comments »
Virtual JFC Hearing Details
By Wisconsin School Administrators Alliance staff | April 13, 2021
From The Wheeler Report . . .
Joint Finance co-chairs Sen. Marklein and Rep. Born announced the registration information for the virtual JFC hearing scheduled for Wednesday, April 28.
- Registration will open on Monday, April 19 at 10 am. https://legis.wisconsin.gov/topics/budgetcomments/virtual/
- Registration will close on Monday, April 26 at 5 pm.
- Registrations are first come first save basis.
- Registrant must be a resident of Wisconsin.
- Advocacy organizations are asked to limit sign-up to two people per organization
- The hearing will be on WisconsinEye.
- Comments may be emailed to budgetcomments@legis.wisconsin.gov or filling out the online form at https://legis.wisconsin.gov/topics/budgetcomments
Topics: SAA Capitol Reports, SAA Capitol Reports with Email Notifications, SAA Latest Update | No Comments »