Evers Again Asks Assembly: Close Voucher Loophole
By John Forester | January 27, 2012
State Superintendent Tony Evers again called on Assembly Republicans to take up legislation (Senate Bill 174 and Assembly Bill 314, the so-called “Choice Trailer Bill”) that would close the voucher school expansion loophole in the 2011-13 state budget.
The SAA fully supports Evers in his call for passage of this important legislation.
Superintendent Evers News Release
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Issuance and Renewal/Nonrenewal of Individual Teacher Contracts
By John Forester | January 27, 2012
The most recent electronic newsletter from Boardman & Clark discusses the “Issuance and Renewal/Nonrenewal of Individual Teacher Contracts.” The SAA believes the information highlighted in this newsletter is both timely and valuable for SAA members. We regularly receive these newsletters and have chosen to distribute this one to the SAA membership with the permission of the Boardman & Clark Law Firm.
Boardman & Clark Newsletter January 2012
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Non-Renewal Date Legislation Goes to the Governor
By John Forester | January 27, 2012
With the Assembly’s floor action last night, both houses of the Legislature have now passed legislation moving the non-renewal date from March 15 to May 15. Reliable sources inside the Capitol indicate that the Governor plans to sign the bill into law as soon as February 1st.
You might recall that this non-renewal language was adopted by the Assembly as an amendment to Senate Bill 2. SB 2, among other things, expanded the pen Enrollment application period from three weeks to three months and allowed for unlimited, year-round Open Enrollment. In addition to the non-renewal language, the Assembly, with strong SAA support, also adopted an amendment that closed the door on unlimited, year-round Open Enrollment. The Senate however, failed to concur in the Assembly amendments.
Subsequent negotiations among the parties produced an agreement for the Senate to concur in the Assembly amendments and for both houses to adopt an additional amendment providing students denied Open Enrollment by their resident school district an appeal to the DPI. On the strength of the Assembly amendments, the SAA changed its position on the bill from opposition to support.
The SAA will keep the membership informed of any further developments on this important legislation.
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SAA Seclusion and Restraint Bill Passes Senate
By John Forester | January 24, 2012
In floor action today, the State Senate passed Senate Bill 353, relating to the use of seclusion and restraint techniques in the public schools. The SAA worked very hard with the DPI and other interested stakeholders to develop a consensus bill that has the support of educators as well as parent-advocates. The bill builds from the current practice of the DPI guidelines to help provide staff with clarity of operation and parents with transparency of proceedings. We anticipate the Assembly will take up the bill during the weeks of February 13th or February 20th.
We would like to thank the authors of the bill, Senator Luther Olsen (R-Ripon) and Representative Steve Kestell (R-Elkhart Lake) for bringing this legislation forward.
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DPI Seeks Comment on Proposed NCLB Waiver
By John Forester | January 24, 2012
Please find copied below the text of a letter from Deputy State Superintendent Mike Thompson to school officials announcing the beginning of the public comment period for Wisconsin’s proposed waiver from certain elements of NCLB. SAA members are encouraged to review the waiver proposal and submit comments using the electronic survey linked below. Please note you must submit your comments no later than Friday, February 3rd.
Dear Colleague:
I am writing today to share with you a draft of Wisconsin’s proposed waiver from certain elements of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA), also known as No Child Left Behind (NCLB). With this posting, the Department of Public Instruction (DPI) opens the public comment period. Attached to this
letter you will find:
• A summary of the key elements in the proposal;
• The initial full draft waiver proposal;
• A survey through which you can submit your comments by February 3, 2012.
For the past decade, NCLB has forced one-size-fits-all mandates and labels on our schools and districts. Through this waiver process, the USED has offered states the opportunity to apply for flexibility on certain provisions of ESEA. Specifically, all state proposals must demonstrate how they will use this flexibility to implement the following principles:
• College- and career-ready expectations for all students;
• State-developed differentiated recognition, accountability, and support;
• Supporting effective instruction and leadership;
• Reducing duplication and unnecessary burden.
DPI’s proposal is, in part, based on the work of the statewide School and District Accountability Design Team that met over the last several months to design a fair and accurate accountability system that measures growth and attainment for all students. In addition, the proposal reflects the robust education investment agenda we’ve advanced together over the past two-and-a-half years, focused on improving student achievement and graduating students prepared
for future success.
The DPI intends to submit its waiver application to the United States Department of Education (USED) by February 21, 2012. Through this comment period, we hope to further engage the citizens of Wisconsin in this discussion so critical to the future of education. We encourage you to share this draft of Wisconsin’s proposed waiver and the associated survey with others. Most importantly, we want broad input to ensure that our proposal best meets the needs of Wisconsin’s children.
After we receive feedback from you and other educators, parents, and citizens from across the state, we will be revising and refining this draft proposal. Please remember to provide your comments through the survey no later than February 3.
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DPI Creates SSIS Web Site
By John Forester | January 24, 2012
The DPI has created a web site for the statewide student information system (SSIS) project. There you will find an overview of the SSIS, the original report to the legislature, the enabling legislation, and frequently asked questions (FAQ) documents. DPI will also provide regular written updates on the site.
Statewide Student Information System
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WisPolitics Summarizes Rest of Democrat Field
By John Forester | January 23, 2012
– Peter Barca: Assembly Dems turned to the former congressman to serve as their minority leader after getting wiped out in the 2010 elections, believing his past stint in the chamber and his time in the House gave him a certain heft that they needed. And insiders say Barca delivered admirably during the standoff over collective bargaining, holding down the fort as Senate Dems fled the Capitol and his caucus waged a marathon session against the bill. Still, insiders argue Barca faces issues of low name recognition, money-raising capability and how fast he can build a statewide operation. Some argue Barca may have been able to make a move for the union vote considering his Kenosha roots if Falk hadn’t been so aggressive in courting labor leaders. Some Dems also say Barca has matured as a lawmaker since his first stint in the Assembly and has stepped out of the shadows of fellow Kenoshans John Antaramian and Joe Andrea. But Dems suggest he would be unlikely to get into the race if his friend Barrett decides to run.
– Tim Cullen: The Janesville Dem points to his lengthy resume as an example of how he could reach across the aisle to foster a better working relationship in Madison and move the state past the rancor that has roiled it for much of the past year. But that might not be what Dems are looking for in a primary fight, insiders say. With a base that’s ginned up to take out Walker, Dem primary voters likely won’t be thrilled with someone the guv praised during last year’s standoff as one of the Dems with whom he could work. And they likely wouldn’t appreciate his time in GOP Gov. Tommy Thompson’s cabinet or his work in the health insurance industry. In short, Cullen might not be Dem enough. Insiders say Cullen could offer voters a bit of an elder statesman approach, representing a kinder time in Wisconsin politics. But politics these days is a blood sport, and partisans are looking for someone with sharp elbows to lead the way. What’s more, Cullen has never run statewide and would face some hurdles to raise the money and put together the operation needed for a campaign. It’s telling, some say, that Cullen was a distant fourth in this week’s PPP survey on the Dem primary when matched up against Barrett, Falk and Obey. Cullen said that was no surprise since two of them have run statewide before and all three have been in the media the last few years a lot more than he has. And he appears fully committed to the race at this point, filing papers to run in December and saying he’ll make a formal announcement within the next few weeks.
– Jon Erpenbach: The perpetual knock on the Middleton Dem is that it’s a big jump from state senator to statewide candidate, where he’d have to show the ability to raise real money and build a real statewide campaign. Still, he argues money won’t be a problem for the Dem running against Walker because the race will have such national implications that the money will flow on both sides, whether it’s through the campaigns or from third parties. But Erpenbach would start at an even bigger financial disadvantage than the other contenders, if his last campaign finance report is any indication. The July continuing report shows he was $430 in the hole at the end of June. Still, Erpenbach won a great deal of goodwill in the labor community while Senate Dems went into their self-imposed exile to hold up the vote on the collective bargaining changes, often serving as the mouthpiece for the caucus. That still carries a great deal of weight with a segment of the Dem base. It also helped prompt talk of Erpenbach possibly running for the open 2nd CD or the U.S. Senate, but he passed on both races. Insiders aren’t convinced he’d get in this time, particularly if Barrett gets in. What’s more, while leaving the state plays well with a segment of the Dem base, it likely wouldn’t be a big selling point in a general election.
– Steve Kagen: The former U.S. rep from Appleton has been mentioned as a possible candidate for the U.S. Senate, his old seat in the 8th CD and now guv. One GOP operative jokes that Kagen’s name has been floated so much recently that he’s becoming the unemployed version of Ron Kind. But he’s also got a big checkbook, and that’s one thing that could help Kagen in a primary. All of the candidates will be scrambling for resources and may have a hard time winning over donors hesitant to back the wrong candidate before the primary is over. Being able to grease the skids with your own cash could help get a campaign off the ground. But Dem insiders generally don’t consider Kagen a serious contender for the nomination at this point.
– Dave Obey: The former House Appropriations chair says he hasn’t closed any doors, but he isn’t opening any, either. His name continues to be tossed around as a possible guv candidate, and he could bring some things to the race – a national profile, a long history of fundraising, hefty stature as an elder statesman, and his well-known reputation for being a cantankerous liberal. But insiders generally believe Obey wouldn’t get in unless he’s convinced no one else in the field could beat Walker. He has made it clear in several forums that his preference is for Barrett or U.S. Sen. Herb Kohl to run and that they’re the party’s best chances for retaking the guv’s office. He’s also taken some veiled swipes at Falk and the union forces that appear to be lining up behind her, saying this week, Dems need “to identify a candidate who can win, not just someone who satisfies our biases.”
– Kathleen Vinehout: The Alma state senator’s interest in the race surprised some. Though her fans believe her to offer a “real Wisconsin” candidacy, she isn’t expected to be a serious contender for the nomination given her lack of statewide name ID and fundraising sources. Some critics note that she was swept into office in the 2006 Dem wave despite a string of what insiders thought were cringe-worth gaffes and then barely survived the 2010 GOP wave running against Libertarian-turned-Republican Ed Thompson, who was sidelined for much of the final drive of the campaign as he battled cancer. She also opposes abortion rights, which wouldn’t play well in a Dem primary.
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Falk vs. Barrett Looks Like Key Matchup
By John Forester | January 23, 2012
From WisPolitics . . .
More than half a dozen Dems are kicking the tires on a guv run. But most insiders say only one possible matchup really matters at this point: Falk v. Barrett.
Former Dane County Exec Kathleen Falk has already announced her plans to run, state Sen. Tim Cullen has filed and plans to make a formal announcement in the next few weeks, and other Dems continue to say they’re weighing a bid. But all eyes are on Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett and what the 2010 Dem guv candidate will do.
As insiders size up a possible primary the general lines on Falk and Barrett seem to be these:
– Falk has fully embraced the recall effort from the get-go, endearing her to some in the movement and winning her big-time credit with the union forces that will provide boots on the ground and money in the primary. She can tout her time as county exec for being someone who crafted tight budgets and worked with union employees to win concessions rather than going to war with them like Scott Walker did. And with some polls showing the guv faces a significant gender gap, she may be best positioned to keep it that way. The flip side is she’s lost statewide twice — just like Barrett has — was painted as anti-business in the 2006 AG’s race, quit the exec’s office midterm after winning re-election in 2009 and has assorted baggage from her time in office, election handicappers pay. Perhaps none could be as damaging as the problems Dane County’s 911 call center had under her watch. Nancy Mistele made those issues a central tenet of her 2009 county exec challenge. But what Walker and GOP groups can do with that issue — one that’s not really known statewide — will make Mistele’s attacks look like they were fired from pea shooters, insiders say. What’s more, there appears to be a segment of the professional political class in Madison that’s convinced she can’t win a statewide race against Walker.
– Barrett is viewed by many in the Dem establishment as having the better name ID, the remnants of a 2010 statewide campaign that he can fire back up and a head start on resources. While Falk had some $27,000 left over in her county exec fund last summer, Barrett has been actively campaigning and fundraising for an April mayoral re-election that features token opposition. The negative spin on Barrett is whether he can win a Dem primary if union forces back Falk. Their endorsement doesn’t always mean victory in Dem primaries. But they provide the volunteers and financial resources, especially in what is going to be a very compact race with Walker raising money for the time being in unlimited amounts. Many also see the election against Walker as a base-vs.-base contest that demands a Dem candidate who inspires high turnout in what could be the middle of the summer. Handicappers also say Barrett has his baggage as mayor of Milwaukee, a city with a whole host of problems. Expect Republicans to question how he can attack Walker for the collective bargaining changes he championed when Barrett used them to balance his own budget.
There are a number of factors that insiders say will play a role in the primary, should Barrett decide to join Falk in the race. Here are just a few:
**The union influence**
The state’s public employee unions are no fans of Barrett and are not hiding it.
“He’s not our favorite elected official these days. We think he’s made some significant errors in how he’s approached his unions, and we’re disappointed,” said AFSCME Council 48 executive direct Rich Abelson.
“Obviously, there are some of the candidates who excited the crowd more than others.”
The three AFSCME locals met with potential Dem candidates last week as they separately weigh endorsements. But the overwhelming sentiment appears to be
those endorsements are essentially Falk’s for the taking.
The list of grievances that the public employee unions have with Barrett range from his attempts to push through mayoral control of Milwaukee Public Schools
to advocating Walker’s collective bargaining changes apply to police and firefighters in addition to other government workers, and finally using those changes to balance his city budget.
If Barrett gets in, he would likely start with a significant financial edge over Falk. He reported a warchest last summer of almost $370,000 and has been actively fundraising for his mayoral re-election in April. Meanwhile, Falk had about $27,000 left in her campaign account at last report.
But the unions will be expected to provide significant resources for any candidates they get behind, particularly with volunteers and independent expenditures. Some also wonder whether Barrett could make it through a Dem primary with the unions uniformly against him.
Still, some point to this week’s Public Policy Polling survey as a sign of the limited reach unions may have in primaries. The survey showed Barrett well ahead of Falk in a head-to-head matchup and slightly ahead in a hypothetical four-way primary.
Some also argue there is a disconnect between what union leadership wants and what the rank-and-file may do in the polling booth.
**How badly does Barrett want it?**
The question drives Barrett backers crazy. After running for guv twice and now considering a third bid, isn’t it clear by now that he really, really wants the office? But the perception that he was a reluctant candidate in 2010 and perhaps lacks the fire in the belly continues to dog him.
To some, it’s just a fact of Barrett’s nature. He’s cautious and a nice guy, and that comes off to some as not wanting it badly enough.
One backer promised if Barrett gets into the race, it will be because he believes he can win.
“People want him to run,” the backer said. “If they want him to run, he wants to know that he can look them in the eye and can say he’ll win.”
Various Dem sources say Barrett has been making calls in recent weeks to feel out potential supporters and get their feedback.
But that also smacks some of quintessential Barrett. Falk fully embraced the recall effort, helped deliver papers to the Government Accountability Board, attended rallies and announced her plans the day after the signatures were turned in.
In contrast, Barrett irritated the unions when asked during his re-election announcement for mayor if he’d signed a recall petition yet. His backers say he gave a cautious answer because he didn’t want to turn his announcement into a political attack on Walker. His detractors, though, saw it as an insult to all the union members who were working to collect signatures to trigger the recall.
One critical Dem said Barrett has asked people if Wisconsin wants a mature statesman or a hell-raising progressive, failing to grasp they’re not mutually exclusive.
“Does he want it? Why is he running?” the Dem said. “Secondly, where his core values and principles are; I don’t know he knows the answer to either.”
**Falk’s Peg hangover**
Much of the early conversation on a possible primary race between the two has focused on Barrett’s problems with the unions. But Falk has her own issues with the Dem base, some say. A good chunk of the tension traces back to her challenge of then-Attorney General Peg Lautenschlager in the 2006 Dem primary after Lautenschlager’s electability was questioned after a high-profile drunken driving arrest.
Falk lost Dane County to Lautenschlager by more than 10,000 votes in the September primary even as she won statewide with almost 52 percent of the vote.
Falk then underperformed that November in her home county compared to Jim Doyle — never a fan favorite of the party’s progressive wing — by more than 11,000 votes as she lost to Republican J.B. Van Hollen by fewer than 9,000 votes statewide.
Less than three years later, Falk won her re-election bid over Nancy Mistele with 59 percent of the vote. By comparison, Barrett beat Walker in Dane County in 2010 with 68 percent of the vote.
Go back to 2002, and there are some who believe Falk’s entrance into the Dem guv primary allowed Doyle to beat Barrett in a three-way race with 38 percent of the vote.
“She has a lingering issue with Peg, but not a defining one,” one Dem said.
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Recall Organizers Manage Expectations Well
By John Forester | January 23, 2012
From WisPolitics . . .
Politics is often about expectations, and insiders say recall organizers smartly managed and then dramatically exceeded the bar they set. It all culminated in the national and state headline they wanted: 1 million signatures. What’s more, insiders on both sides give them credit for pulling off an impressive organizational feat to gather almost twice as many signatures as needed to recall Gov. Scott Walker — plus hundreds of thousands of others against the lt. guv and four GOP state senators. Conservatives are quick to point out they still need to be verified, but acknowledge recall elections are almost certain. After some union folks last fall started floating 1 million as their signature goal, organizers quickly walked that back and put out updates after hitting the 300,000 and 500,000 marks before announcing a new goal of 720,000. Some conservatives complain the media too quickly forgot the talk of a million signatures and bought into the 720,000 number spin hook, line and sinker. They’re also quick to note that a quarter of the signatures in Ohio for the unions’ efforts to negate a collective bargaining law were found to be invalid, so don’t buy the 1 million number just yet, they say. Witness the massive GOP effort to review the signatures. Some debate the impact of the authorization process. If Walker & Co. can knock out a big number of signatures, they can use it to muddy the waters on the legitimacy of the recalls and continue to raise questions about the process. Others say that’ll happen even if there are just a few thousand problematic signatures. Republicans will pounce on any problems they can find. Still others argue it won’t matter either way. Organizers got the “1 million” they wanted in the headlines, and that’s all the public will remember. The question now, though, is whether that 1 million is a ceiling for how many people will turn out to oppose Walker at the polls. Some argue it was easier to get people to sign the petitions than it will be to keep their enthusiasm up for an election that looks to be months away. But many observers say passions are so inflamed that turnout won’t be a problem on either side.
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Evers to Assembly: Close Voucher Loophole
By John Forester | January 12, 2012
State Superintendent Tony Evers yesterday called on Assembly Republicans to take up legislation (Senate Bill 174 and Assembly Bill 314, the so-called “Choice Trailer Bill”) that would close the voucher school expansion loophole in the 2011-13 state budget. The SAA fully supports Evers in his call for passage of this important legislation. We also urge SAA members to contact their Assembly Republican representatives in support of the bill. I have provided this link to contact information for the Assembly (Assembly Directory). You can identify your legislators by referring to Who Are My Legislators.
See Superintendent Evers Statement
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