Competitive Bidding Bill Clears State Senate
By Wisconsin School Administrators Alliance staff | November 1, 2017
Yesterday, the State Senate passed Senate Bill 236 on a voice vote. The SAA opposes SB 236.
You might recall that, Senate Bill 236 would require that a school board, before entering into a contract for the construction, repair, remodeling, or improvement of a public school building or public school facilities or for the furnishing of supplies or materials with an estimated cost greater than $50,000, must advertise or direct the school district clerk to advertise for proposals and must let the contract to the lowest responsible bidder.
The bill would also prohibit a school board from using a bidding method that gives preference based on the geographic location of the bidder or that uses criteria other than the lowest responsible bidder in awarding a contract.
The competitive bidding bill has had a public hearing in the Assembly (AB 307). The SAA will keep you informed of any developments regarding this important legislation.
Several other education-related bills passed the Senate on voice votes including the following:
Assembly Bill 280. Relating to: incorporating financial literacy into the curriculum of public schools. SAA was neutral on the bill. SAA and WASB worked with the authors to ensure a “soft” requirement that we believe that most if not all districts already meet. The bill has now passed both houses and moves to the Governor’s desk.
Senate Bill 253. Relating to: prohibiting aiding and abetting sexual abuse. The SAA supports this bill.
Senate Bill 301. Relating to: summer school and interim session classes. The SAA supports this bill.
Senate Bill 382. Relating to: screening school district employees for tuberculosis. The SAA supports this bill.
Topics: Legislative Action, SAA Capitol Reports, SAA Capitol Reports with Email Notifications, SAA Latest Update | No Comments »
Referendum Scheduled For Tuesday, November 7, 2017
By Wisconsin School Administrators Alliance staff | October 30, 2017
From The Wheeler Report:
| District | District Name | Total Amount | Type | Brief Description |
| 0287 | Barneveld | $12,900,000.00 | Issue Debt | Demolition of the oldest portion of the existing school building; construction of an addition for a new elementary school, music rooms and art rooms; construction of a new secure entrance, cafeteria, commons and kitchen; upgrades to restrooms, HVAC and plumbing and electrical systems. |
| 0287 | Barneveld | $3,400,000.00 | Issue Debt | Renovation and expansion of Multi-Purpose gymnasium, addition of a new industrial arts and STEM area, staff/event parking. |
| 1155 | Cochrane-Fountain City | $7,000,000.00 | Issue Debt | Initial Resolution Authorizing General Obligation Bonds or Promissory Notes In An Amount Not To Exceed $7,000,000.00 |
| 1855 | Florence | $3,750,000.00 | NR – 2018 | For continuing operations and maintenance of the district. |
| 1953 | Freedom Area | $66,700,000.00 | Issue Debt | New High School and Renovations of current HS/MS and Elementary Schools. |
| 1953 | Freedom Area | $3,700,000.00 | NR – 2020 | Non-Recurring Debt Referendum for New High School |
| 3612 | Milton | $69,900,000.00 | Issue Debt | Issue general obligation bonds for a District-wide school building and improvement program. |
| 4606 | Princeton | $2,375,000.00 | NR – 2018 | Resolution to increase revenue limits for operational needs. |
| 5733 | Three Lakes | $15,463,935.00 | NR – 2018 | To Exceed Revenue Limit by 3,092,787 per year for five years for non-recurring purposes |
| 5852 | Union Grove UHS | $7,875,000.00 | Issue Debt | Construction of an agricultural building and greenhouse on land owned by the District; remodeling and renovations in the technology education department; improvements to the science classrooms and conversation of a general classroom to a science classroom; construction of an addition for a wellness center with 3 or 4 classrooms located above the wellness center for future expansion; related site improvements; capital and building infrastructure improvements and repairs, acquisition of furnishing, fixtures and equipment. |
Topics: SAA Capitol Reports, SAA Capitol Reports with Email Notifications, SAA Latest Update | No Comments »
Priority Legislative Alert on Teacher Protection Act
By Wisconsin School Administrators Alliance staff | October 25, 2017
The SAA is issuing a Priority Legislative Alert on the Teacher Protection Act.
As we reported earlier today, Representative Jeremy Thiesfeldt (R-Fond du Lac), Chairman of the Assembly Education Committee, has circulated his “Teacher Protection Act” for co-sponsorship in the State Legislature. The SAA strongly opposes this proposed legislation, as do other education stakeholder groups and disability rights organizations. For your information, we are linking the bill draft and Representative Thiesfeldt’s co-sponsorship memo sent to his legislative colleagues.
We urge SAA members to take action now! Please contact your legislators and ask them not to sign on as co-sponsors of the Teacher Protection Act.
In your communication please consider using the talking points listed below as well as any of your own concerns about the bill based on your experiences and expertise.
Talking Points:
- All students and teachers deserve a safe environment for learning and teaching; overwhelmingly that is what Wisconsin schools provide.
- While we greatly appreciate the school mental health initiatives in the 2017-19 state budget, everyone involved recognizes that Wisconsin must do more to meet the needs of the growing number of students with significant mental health challenges. These challenges may contribute to volatile student behaviors that requires appropriate intervention and support.
- The bill expands mandatory reporting to law enforcement to include physical assaults which, in some cases, would remove a school district’s discretion to act in the best interest of the child.
- The bill expands the circle of access to certain juvenile records and risks infringement of the privacy rights of students.
- The bill empowers teachers to take actions against students (suspension, class removal) that may not conform to school board policies nor the normal chain of command in a school setting.
- Evidence suggests that legislation like this will likely affect students of color disproportionately and raises numerous legal and policy issues regarding the impact on students with disabilities.
- Contrary to our philosophy and the Wisconsin tradition, this bill emphasizes the rights of the adults working in schools above the best interests of students.
For your convenience in contacting your legislators, we have provided links to the Assembly Directory, the Senate Directory and Who Are My Legislators.
If you should have any questions please email me at. Thanks for listening and, as always, thank you for everything you do on behalf of Wisconsin school children.
Topics: Legislative Action, SAA Capitol Reports, SAA Capitol Reports with Email Notifications, SAA Latest Update | No Comments »
Thiesfeldt Circulates Teacher Protection Act for Co-Sponsorship
By Wisconsin School Administrators Alliance staff | October 25, 2017
Representative Jeremy Thiesfeldt (R-Fond du Lac), Chairman of the Assembly Education Committee, has circulated his “Teacher Protection Act” for co-sponsorship in the State Legislature. The SAA strongly opposes this proposed legislation, as does other education stakeholder groups and disability rights organizations. For your information, we are linking the bill draft and Representative Thiesfeldt’s co-sponsorship memo sent to his legislative colleagues. The SAA will likely issue a legislative alert later today urging SAA members to request that their legislators not sign on as co-sponsors for the bill. Stay tuned. More to come.
See Milwaukee Journal Sentinel article here.
Topics: SAA Capitol Reports, SAA Capitol Reports with Email Notifications, SAA Latest Update | No Comments »
School Law Update: Domestic Partnership Benefits Eliminated
By Wisconsin School Administrators Alliance staff | October 25, 2017
From the Legal Side…
The 2017–2019 Wisconsin Biennial Budget (2017 Wisconsin Act 59) made changes to statutory provisions that permitted domestic partners of local government unit employees to access various insurance and other employee benefits through private plans and plans sponsored by the State of Wisconsin Department of Employee Trust Funds (ETF). The Boardman & Clark law firm has recently issued a School Law Update on this topic.
The SAA regularly receives these updates and we believe this is valuable information for SAA members. We are distributing this update to SAA members with the permission of Boardman & Clark.
Topics: SAA Capitol Reports, SAA Capitol Reports with Email Notifications, SAA Latest Update, SAA Legal Side | No Comments »