Capitol Update December 20

Governor’s Race

Governor Walker has not officially announced yet that he will run for re-election, but he did say on Monday that “I don’t see any way I don’t run for governor again.”  This statement came as result of rumors that Governor Walker will not be running for re-election, and will instead focus on a 2016 presidential run.

Wisconsin Public Radio: Walker Dismisses Rumors That He Won’t Seek Re-Election

Assembly Special Election

A special election for the vacant 82^nd Assembly District seat was held on Tuesday.  Republican Ken Skowronski beat out Democrat John Hermes in the election.  The special election was needed as a result of former Republican Representative Jeff Stone accepting a position as head of the state Public Service Commission’s water division.

WKOW: Skowronski wins special Assembly election

School District Health Insurance Study

Representative John Jagler (R-Watertown) and Senator Glenn Grothman (R-West Bend) have introduced Assembly Bill 579 and Senate Bill 438, which would require the State Superintendent to annually collect detailed information about the cost of health insurance benefits from each school district in the state.

Under the bill, the state superintendent shall include in his or her report, for each school district, the total health care benefit cost incurred by the school district and the average of the health care benefit cost incurred, by the school district, per school district employee for all school district employees that receive health care benefits from the school district.

AB 579 has been referred to the Assembly Committee on Labor and SB 438 has been referred to the Senate Committee on Education.

Biometric Data Collection

Representative Tom Larson (R-Colfax) has introduced a bill which prohibits a school from collecting biometric data, such as fingerprint identification or retinal scanning, from a student unless a parent or guardian has provided written consent.  The bill is in response to the recommendations approved by the Assembly Select Committee on Common Core Standards. There is no known school district that is currently collecting such data and the Common Core standards do not include the collection of biometric data.  The bill is currently circulating for co-sponsorship.

Representative Tom Larson: Larson Introduces Biometric Data Bill

Collection of Student Information

Representative Don Pridemore (R-Erin) introduced a bill that puts limits on the collection of a student’s personal information.  The bill includes provisions which limit who is able to access a pupil’s records, which information is provided to a parent or guardian when requested, requires consent to provide personally identifiable student data to a research organization and to maintain records of such disclosures.  It also prohibits the Department of Public Instruction (DPI) from collecting more student data than it is permitted to, from providing such data to a federal agency and it requires that DPI post on its website the data that it collects and why.

The bill addresses one of the recommendations made by the Assembly Select Committee on Common Core Standards.  It is currently circulating for co-sponsorship.

Representative Don Pridemore: Pridemore introduces bill to protect student information

Union Re-certifications

On Thursday, voting closed for the annual re-certification elections of the 400 unions representing teachers, school support staff and school office workers in the state.  The purpose of the voting is to see whether members want the union to continue to represent them in negotiations on base wage increases based on inflation, the only collective bargaining that Act 10 permits.  Act 10 also requires that 51% of the union’s eligible voters approve of the re-certification.

Somewhere between 80-90% of the school worker’s unions received enough votes to continue to wage negotiations.

Wisconsin State Journal: Most Wis. School unions survive elections

Race-Based Mascots

On Thursday Governor Walker signed AB 297 into law as 2013 Wisconsin Act 115,which makes it more difficult to challenge the use of race-based mascots and school nicknames.

Act 115 essentially reverses a 2010 law that required the Department of Public Instruction to review a school’s use of a race-based mascot or nickname if a complaint was filed against the district. Under Act 115, complaints on offensive mascots or nicknames will now be referred to the Department of Administration instead of DPI and must be accompanied by a petition signed by members of the community equivalent to 10% of the district’s student population.  The Act also shifts the burden of proof from the school district to those filing the complaint.

AB297 passed through the Assembly in October and the Senate in November.  Walker delayed signing the bill until today, the last day he could act on the bill before it automatically becomes law. Walker says he empathized with opponents of the bill but argues that it is a matter of freedom of speech for schools and that changing a school’s mascot or nickname should be a local decision.  Opponents argued that it’s a matter of discrimination and civil rights, not freedom of speech.

Governor Walker sent a letter to tribal leaders before signing the bill, telling them of his intentions.  He suggests that the best solution is educating others on why certain phrases and symbols are offensive.

WISN: Governor says he will decide on mascot bill next week

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Scott Walker signals he will sign school mascot bill

The Oshkosh Northwestern: Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker empathizes with mascot bill opponent

The Cap Times: Gov. Walker’s defense of Indian Mascot bill as free speech called ‘bogus’

Wisconsin State Journal: Scott Walker will sign bill making it harder to force schools to drop Indian nicknames

Rural Schools Taskforce Hears School Technology Concerns

The Speaker’s Taskforce on Rural Schools held a public hearing in Madison on Tuesday to hear from several educational organizations, including WEMTA.

WEMTA Past President Sandra Heiden testified along with Kristy Bovre, Kris McCoy and  Michelle Byholm about the challenges facing library media specialists in rural communities. The group addressed concerns about limited resources, the “extinction” or scaling back of the position, inadequate access to broadband, and challenges with the certification process.  Michelle Byholm highlighted the fact that in rural communities there is often no public library, so the school library is the only library that rural students have access to,  making the Common School Fund incredibly important in these districts.

In response to the concerns raised about the certification process, Representative Steve Nass (R-Whitewater) asked how the process could be streamlined and argued that school librarians do not need to be licensed as teachers. He and Representative Ed Brooks (R-Reedsburg) said they would like the Taskforce to look at streamlining the certification process and reducing some of the credit requirements in order to get more specialists in the field.

Jerry Fiene of the Rural Schools Alliance recommended the creation of a new Technology for Educational Achievement program (TEACH 2) with some components directed to rural school districts. Fiene argued that TEACH 2 should be based on four pillars: statewide broadband access, block grants for rural schools to support technology, a state-led digital learning effort that receives state funding, and statewide professional development to all districts in the state.

John Forester of the School Administrators Alliance agreed with Fiene that Wisconsin should create a TEACH 2 program, saying that Wisconsin has fallen behind other states in terms of school technology since the original TEACH program went away. He also called on the state to show leadership on the issue of statewide broadband access.

State Superintendent Tony Evers told the Taskforce that rural schools are unable to take advantage of technology in the same way that urban and suburban school districts do because of a lack of affordable, high speed internet. Evers told the Taskforce that rural schools need affordable and adequate bandwidth to ensure that digital learning is happening.

WEMTA at the State Capitol 

Betsy Kippers and Ron Martin of the Wisconsin Education Association Council (WEAC) also addressed the challenges facing rural schools in the area of technology. Kippers said that scores of schools are going without specialists and there is not enough time or training to implement new technologies in rural schools. She advocated for better integrated technology in rural schools and described library media specialists as the “backbone of connecting students, teachers and the community.”

Other challenges facing rural schools that were addressed include: teacher retention and recruitment, transportation costs, challenges with the funding formula and referenda.

Representative Rob Swearingen (R-Rhinelander), the Taskforce’s chair, said he plans to hold three more hearings throughout the state. Swearingen hopes to release a final report by February and he said that recommendations for improving broadband access will likely be included in the report. 

WEMTA Invited to Testify at Rural Schools Task Force Meeting

The Rural Schools Task Force, chaired by Representative Rob Swearingen (R-Rhinelander),  has invited WEMTA to provide testimony at a Task Force meeting on Tuesday, December 17 in Madison.


One of the Task Force’s charges is to look at challenges surrounding access to technology in rural schools. 

“During our previous public hearings we have had very little public testimony due to time constraints. The Task Force is holding a meeting in Madison so we can hear from the educational groups now, instead of on the road.  This will free up time so we can allow more time for the public to provide testimony,” said Rep. Swearingen in a press release issued by his office. 

 The Task Force has held two previous meetings, but broadband access has only been mentioned in the context of students not having access to high-speed internet in their homes. Testifying at the hearing will be a great opportunity for WEMTA to address library and technology issues in our public schools. 

To see more information about the previous two hearings, you can visit the Task Force's website.  

Senate Committee Passes Cyberbullying Bill

The Senate Education Committee passed Senate Bill 184, aimed at combating cyberbullying in schools, by a vote of 9-0 on Thursday. It can now be scheduled for a vote before the full Senate.

Members of the Committee praised the bill as a natural follow-up to past legislative efforts to address bullying.

Senate Bill 184 requires the definition of bullying in DPI's model policy include bullying by electronic means. The bill also requires that the model policy include a requirement that a school district official who has reasonable cause to suspect that a bullying incident is a violation of a criminal law report the incident to a law enforcement agency. Finally, the bill requires the model policy to include appropriate responses to bullying that occurs off school grounds  if the bullying creates a hostile environment at school for the pupil bullied or substantially disrupts the orderly operation of a school or school-related event.

SB 184 also creates a new misdemeanor category for online bullying that occurs on social media sites. Current law only regulates online bullying via e-mail messages. 

Concerns Raised about BCPL at AJR-48 Hearing

The Assembly Committee on State Affairs held a public hearing last Thursday morning on Assembly Joint Resolution 48, which would eliminate the positions of Secretary of State and State Treasurer. AJR 48 would amend the state’s constitution to delete the two positions and replace them on the Board of Commissioners of Public Lands, which administers the Common School Fund, with the Superintendent of Public Instruction and the Lieutenant Governor.

Kathy Sanders of WEMTA and Paul Nelson of WLA both testified against the proposal due to its possible impact on the Common School Fund.

Representative Michael Schraa (R-Oshkosh) and Senator Rick Gudex (R-Fond du Lac), the resolution’s authors, testified that AJR-48 would save taxpayers money by eliminating positions that have very little to do. They said their goal in introducing the legislation is to streamline and modernize state government.  

Representatives Penny Bernard Schaber (D-Appleton), Katrina Shankland (D-Stevens Point) and Rob Swearingen (R-Rhinelander) raised concerns about the Resolution’s effect on the Common School Fund and Board of Commissioners of Public Lands (BCPL).

Swearingen said that if the Resolution damages the BCPL in any way, he cannot support the bill until those issues are fixed. Bernard Schaber raised concerns that the State Superintendent of Public Instruction would have a conflict of interest in serving on the Board due to his role in school funding.

Schraa argued that the Board is not being threatened by the Resolution since all it does is change its membership. He also asserted that the State Superintendent would be a good addition to the Board because the position would have the best knowledge of education funding.

Current State Treasurer Kurt Schuller and Secretary of State Doug La Follette were not in attendance, but did provide written statements to the Committee. You can view their remarks here and here. 

Schuller, who previously advocated for the deletion of the two offices, has not taken a formal position on AJR-48. However, Deputy State Treasurer Scott Feldt published an op-ed in Municipal Finance Today advocating for the retention of the State Treasurer position.

"I make no apologies for what I attempted however, I see now it was an effort fated to fail," wrote Schuller of his efforts to delete his position in his statement to the Committee. "I do believe this office can continue to play an important financial role in Wisconsin’s government with the support of the Governor, legislature and voting public."

Mark Hazelbaker, formerly of the Wisconsin Counties Association, testified in favor of the proposal but cautioned that the roles on the BCPL should not be transferred lightly since management of the Common School Fund is very important. He proposed creating one commissioner to administer BCPL trust funds and limiting the term to 10 years.

Also Testifying against: Roger Luce of the Oneida County Economic Development Corporation. Jaime Aulik of the Wisconsin County Clerk Association. Jack Voight, former state treasurer. 

Testifying in Favor: Ron Bishop, current candidate for Secretary of State. Jay Schroeder, private citizen. 

RELATED NEWS: Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen, who also sits on the BCPL, announced today that he will not seek re-election. 

WEMTA Alert: Public Hearing Scheduled on Bill to Eliminate Constitutional Officers

The Assembly Committee on State Affairs has scheduled a public hearing for AJR-48 on Thursday, October 3.  AJR-48 is a constitutional amendment to eliminate the positions of secretary of state and state treasurer, both of whom serve on the Board of Commissioners of Public Lands which administers the Common School Fund.

The amendment would replace the secretary of state and state treasurer with the lieutenant governor and state superintendent on the Board of Commissioners of Public Lands. 

Three of the Committee's members--Representatives Kuglitsch, August and Knodl-- are co-sponsors of the amendment.

This is the first legislative action to be taken on AJR-48 this session. Since it is a constitutional amendment, AJR-48 will need to be passed by both house of the legislature this session and then again during the 2015-16 session, followed by a statewide referendum. 

Assembly State Affairs, 10 am, Thu, Oct. 3, 300-NE

Hearing on:

AJR-48. (Schraa) Deleting from the constitution the offices of secretary of state and state treasurer. (First Consideration) 

Rural Schools Task Force Created

Assembly Speaker Robin Vos (R-Rochester) announced the creation of a Rural Schools Task Force, recommended by the 2013-15 state budget, on Friday.

The task force will be chaired by Representative Rob Swearingen (R-Rhinelander), and Representative Fred Clark (D-Baraboo) will serve as vice-chair.

Representative Swearingen announced that the first meeting will be held this month in Rhinelander, though he did not specify an exact date.  

The Speaker has charged the task force with studying the following areas:

• Creating partnerships among school districts

• Exploring new avenues to share innovations, efficiencies and best-practices

• Addressing future transportation needs

• Mapping out strategies for long-term financial stability

• Developing tactics for handling declining enrollment

• Maximizing opportunities to incorporate advanced technology

As enacted by the 2013-15 state budget, the task force should submit a report on these topics to the Joint Legislative Council by April 1, 2014. 

Speaker Vos: Announces Bipartisan Task Force on Rural Schools

Ask the FCC to raise the E-Rate funding cap!

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is accepting comments on a proposed rule (13-184) to modernize the E-Rate program, which provides schools and public libraries with discounts for telecommunication services and Internet access, between now and September 16!

Improving high-speed internet access for schools and libraries by 2018 is one of President Obama's second-term goals, and updating E-Rate will be crucial to its success. According to the FCC's rulemaking request, the E-rate program is vital for the "operation of modern schools and libraries." And it lays out the following goals for modernizing the program:

(1) Ensuring schools and libraries have affordable access to 21st Century broadband that supports digital learning;

(2) Maximizing the cost-effectiveness of E-rate funds; and

(3) Streamlining the administration of the E-rate program.

The FCC would like comments on how to best achieve these goals and how to best measure the success of each goal.

One of the FCC's proposals is to focus E-rate funds on supporting broadband to and within schools and libraries; they ask for comments on how to support connectivity within schools and libraries, which services to phase out (such as voice and paging services) in order to maximize funding on broadband and input on modifying the discount matrix. The FCC also seeks comment on "the percent of schools and libraries that do not have the necessary equipment to provide high-capacity broadband connectivity within schools, and the amount it would cost to provide high-capacity broadband connectivity within such schools and libraries."

Detailed objectives for achieving the three stated goals can be found beginning on page 18 (goal one), 48 (goal two) and 59 (goal three) of  this document. 

Ask the FCC to raise the E-Rate funding cap so that schools and libraries can meet their bandwidth needs. The Ed Tech Action Network has an excellent draft comment example for anyone interested in submitting comments.

To submit your comments, click here and identify 13-184 as the proceeding number in the first box. 

Constitutional Amendment to Eliminate Secretary of State and State Treasurer Introduced

State Representatives Tyler August (R-Lake Geneva) and Michael Schraa (R-Oshkosh) have officially introduced their constitutional amendment to eliminate the positions of secretary of state and state treasurer, both of whom serve on the Board of Commissioners of Public Lands which administers the Common School Fund. 

The amendment, which would replace the secretary of state and state treasurer with the lieutenant governor and state superintendent on the Board of Commissioners of Public Lands,  was introduced as Assembly Joint Resolution 48 (AJR 48).

AJR 48 has been referred to the Assembly Committee on State Affairs, and three of the Committee's members--Representatives Kuglitsch, August and Knodl-- are co-sponsors of the amendment. 

The next step in the legislative process is a public hearing held by the Assembly Committee on State Affairs, which has not been scheduled at this time. 

School Bullying and Cyberbullying Legislation

Two state legislators have introduced bills to address the issue of bullying in public schools. 

Senator Tim Cullen (D-Janesville) has introduced Senate Bill 184, which requires the definition of bullying in the Department of Public Instruction's model policy, which a school board can choose to adopt, to include bullying by electronic means. The bill also requires the model policy to include a requirement that a school district official who has reasonable cause to suspect that a bullying incident is a violation of a criminal law report the incident to a law enforcement agency. Finally, the bill requires the model policy to include appropriate responses to bullying that occurs off school grounds.

SB 184 also creates a new misdemeanor category for online bullying that occurs on social media sites. Current law only regulates online bullying via e-mail messages.

SB 184 has been referred to the Senate Committee on Education.  

Representative Gary Bies (R-Sister Bay) has introduced Assembly Bill 123, which would fine a school district employee $200 for failing to report an incident of bullying. 

AB 123 has been referred to the Assembly Committee on Education. 

No legislative action has been taken on either of these bills at this time. 

Legislators Aim to Delete Secretary of State, State Treasurer. What does this mean for the Common School Fund?

State Representatives Tyler August (R-Lake Geneva) and Michael Schraa (R-Oshkosh) have drafted a constitutional amendment to eliminate the positions of secretary of state and state treasurer, both of whom serve on the Board of Commissioners of Public Lands which administers the Common School Fund. 

"The duties performed by these officials are obsolete and are already performed by other areas of government, but yet the taxpayers pay over $2 million for their salaries, benefits, and staff,” said Schraa in a press release issued by the legislators. “This bill is a common-sense reform that the legislature should adopt immediately.”

Currently, the Board of Commissioners of Public Lands is comprised of the secretary of state, the state treasurer and the attorney general. If the proposed  constitutional amendment takes effect,  the lieutenant governor and state superintendent of public instruction will become members and the attorney general will remain a member. 

Concerns have been raised over the decision to make the lieutenant governor a member of the Board of Commissioners of Public Lands, since the position is more political than secretary of state and state treasurer. The change in membership is especially concerning since the Common School Fund is frequently the target of "fund raids" that attempt to divert money away from the Fund to finance other programs. 

In a recent op-ed featured in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Secretary of State Doug La Follette, State Treasurer Kurt Schuller and Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen highlighted the important work the Board does for public school libraries. 

They wrote:

Through the programs we manage, Wisconsin's public school libraries are annually provided funds for the purchase of books, newspapers and periodicals, web-based resources, computer hardware and software and other library assets. We have generated enough money from our investments to put a book in the hand of every child in Wisconsin.

To take effect, the amendment would need to pass both houses of the legislature in two consecutive legislative sessions and receive the approval of voters in a statewide referendum. This means that August and Schraa's proposal would need to pass both the Assembly and Senate during the 2013-14 session and again in the 2014-15 session. 

The proposed amendment has not been formally introduced yet, and we will update you with more details as they become available. 

Senate Passes State Budget, Heads to Governor

Summary can be found on the WEMTA website Legislative Updates

Check Out the Legislative Update on the 

WEMTA Website!

Governor Walker introduced his proposed 2013-15 state budget in February. The proposal has been referred to the Joint Committee on Finance, which is currently voting on the proposed budget. The Committee has the power to modify the Governor’s proposal, and it is likely the Committee will increase public school funding when it votes on the proposed Department of Public Instruction budget. 

For more information on the details and latest legislative news please check out the Legislative Update on the WEMTA Website. 

Be Seen Be Heard Be Informed

Welcome to WEMTA Legislative Advocacy

Photo by Ray LaPoint

Welcome to the WEMTA Online Legislative blog.

We will be using this blog to share WEMTA information pertaining specifically to the Legislative Committee.

Stay tuned and join us as we continue to support the WEMTA mission. The purpose of the Wisconsin Educational Media and Technology Association (WEMTA) is to embrace individuals involved in the support, utilization, and integration of information, communication, and technology and to advance their efforts to improve student growth and achievement.