School Districts Have Much to Consider When Accepting Gifts
By Wisconsin School Administrators Alliance staff | November 15, 2022
From the Legal Side . . .
In its most recent Legal Update, the Renning, Lewis & Lacy Law Firm focuses on the legal requirements for school districts to accept and use gifts made by a third party.
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 Renning, Lewis & Lacy. The information in this update is no substitute for consulting with your district legal counsel, and we encourage you to do so.
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Republican Leadership Elections
By Wisconsin School Administrators Alliance staff | November 11, 2022
From The Wheeler Report . . .
SENATE REPUBLICAN LEADERSHIP ELECTIONS
- Senate President – Chris Kapenga
- Senate President Pro Tempore – Patrick Testin
- Majority Leader – Devin LeMahieu
- Assistant Majority Leader – Dan Feyen
- Caucus Chair – Van Wanggaard
- Caucus Vice-Chair – Joan Ballweg
ASSEMBLY REPUBLICAN LEADERSHIP ELECTIONS
- Assembly Speaker – Robin Vos
- Assembly Speaker Pro Tempore – Kevin Petersen
- Majority Leader – Tyler August
- Assistant Majority Leader – Jon Plumer
- Caucus Chair – Rob Summerfield
- Caucus Vice-Chair – Cindi Duchow
- Caucus Sergeant at Arms – Treig Pronschinske
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Reach Out to Your Legislators
By Wisconsin School Administrators Alliance staff | November 10, 2022
With the November election in the rearview mirror, now is the time to pick up the phone and congratulate your legislator(s) on their election victory. Many of you have new legislators but, even if you don’t, now is a good time to reconnect and renew your relationships.
It is crystal clear to me that SAA members must enhance their influence with their legislators to realize better policy outcomes for children in the 2023-25 State Budget.
And, influence is all about relationships. So, once you have congratulated your legislators on their election victory, invite them to visit your schools. Use the visit as an opportunity to showcase the great things you are doing for students in your district. It is critically important for legislators to see what learning looks like today. In the process you will show your legislator(s) that you are an important source of information for them on K-12 education issues.
A couple more things to keep in mind. It’s a good idea to coordinate your relationship-building efforts with your district’s administrative team behind the leadership of the superintendent. Finally, remember the SAA’s success on state legislative issues is, in large part, dependent on your ability to influence your legislators at the local level.
Please contact the SAA for more suggestions on building relationships with your legislators. Thanks for listening and, most importantly, thank you for all you do on behalf of the kids you serve.
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Republican Lawmakers Meet Today for Leadership Elections
By Wisconsin School Administrators Alliance staff | November 10, 2022
From WisPolitics.com …Assembly and Senate Republicans meet in closed caucus today for leadership elections.On the Senate side, all of the returning members who served in leadership this session are seeking new terms: Majority Leader Devin LeMahieu, of Oostburg; President Chris Kapenga, of Delafield; President Pro Tempore Pat Testin, of Stevens Point; Assistant Majority Leader Dan Feyen, of Fond du Lac; and Caucus Chair Van Wanggaard, of Racine.Sen. Joan Ballweg, R-Markesan, is running for the open caucus vice-chair post. She told WisPolitics.com last week she hoped to fill that role and to continue serving on the Joint Finance Committee.Republicans increased their majority by one seat to 22-11 in Tuesday’s elections. There will be five new members to the caucus this session: Rob Hutton, of Brookfield; Rachael Cabral-Guevara, of Appleton; Jesse James, of Altoona; Romaine Quinn, of Cameron; and Cory Tomczyk, of Mosinee.Speaker Robin Vos, R-Rochester, is among the Assembly Republicans who sent their colleagues letters yesterday indicating plans to seek another term.The others were:
- Tyler August, of Lake Geneva, for majority leader;
- Jon Plumer, of Lodi, for assistant majority leader;
- Rob Summerfield, of Bloomer, for caucus chair;
- Shae Sortwell, of Two Rivers, for caucus vice-chair;
- and Rep. Nancy Vandermeer, of Tomah, for caucus secretary.
Rep. Kevin Petersen, who served as assistant majority leader this session, told WisPolitics.com he’s running for speaker pro tempore.Rep. Cindi Duchow, R-Pewaukee, served as caucus vice-chair this session, and several members expected her to seek another term in the post.The sergeant-at-arms position is open, and several members said Rep. Treig Pronschinske, R-Mondovi, had expressed an interest in that post.Republicans increased their majority by three seats to 64-35 and will have 16 new members this session.The new members are: Joy Goeben, Hobart; Peter Schmidt, Bonduel; Tom Michalski, Elm Grove; Dave Maxey, New Berlin; Amy Binsfeld, of Sheboygan; Ellen Schutt, of Clinton; Scott Johnson, of Jefferson; Jerry L. O’Connor, of Fond du Lac; Nate Gustafson, of Neenah; Ty Bodden, of Hilbert; Amanda Nedweski, of Pleasant Prairie; Karen Hurd, of Fall Creek; Angie Sapik, of Lake Nebagamon; Chanz Green, of Grand View; Nik Rettinger, of Mukwonago; and Bob Donovan, of Greenfield.Dems will caucus next week for leadership positions.
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Voters Approve 79 Percent of School Referenda
By Wisconsin School Administrators Alliance staff | November 9, 2022
Preliminary numbers from yesterday’s election show Wisconsin voters approved 79 percent (64 questions passed, 17 failed) of the school funding referendums on the ballot. Debt referendum questions led the way with an 82 percent pass rate (32 passed, 7 failed). Non-recurring referendums to exceed the revenue limit had a 75 percent pass rate (21 passed, 7 failed). Finally, 11 referendum questions to exceed the revenue limit on a recurring basis passed, while 3 failed (79 percent pass rate).
With these election results, it is clear that many Wisconsin voters continue to see the need for more resources to meet the educational needs of Wisconsin school children.
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