Rural Schools Task Force
The Rural Schools Task Force met with the Department of
Public Instructions’ Advisory Council on Rural Schools, Libraries and
Communities for an informal discussion on Thursday.
Representative Rob Swearingen (R-Rhinelander), the Task
Force chair, said that he considers transportation, broadband access and
teacher retention as some of the main issues that need to be addressed.
The importance of libraries, digital learning, and library
media specialists were heavily discussed by the two groups, and Representative
Swearingen called libraries the “nucleus of small towns.”
Kurt Kiefer, assistant state superintendent of the division
of libraries and technology, spoke at length about the importance of digital
learning in rural schools. Representative Mary Czaja (R-Irma) expressed a lot of
interest in digital learning programs being used across the state and asked for
more information on what school districts are currently offering. Representative Swearingen said that improving
broadband access will be crucial to the success of digital learning for
students when they are at school and in their homes. Connie Erickson of CESA 11 asked that the Task Force find a
way to provide more flexibility for rural schools so that they can schedule
digital learning courses in the evening or on weekends.
The Task Force has
two hearings left and hopes to issue a final report by March. Unfortunately,
the Task Force is running out of time to pass legislation this session (which
ends in March) and Rep. Swearingen said he hopes to begin working on
legislation at the beginning of next session with the possibility of including
some recommendations in the next state budget
State of the State
Governor Walker delivered the fourth and
final State of the State address of his first term Wednesday evening before a
joint session of the legislature. Walker used the speech to highlight his
proposed $800 million tax cut plan, job creation news, workforce development
initiatives, and investments in the agriculture and manufacturing industries.
Specifically, Walker called for a Special
Session of the legislature to pass his tax plan and increase funding for the
Fast Forward workforce training grants by $35 million.
Walker highlighted several of his education
initiatives, including the expansion of the school choice program, increased
funding for the Youth Apprenticeship program, the implementation of Academic
and Career Plans for middle and high school students and the UW System tuition
cap.
"We are proud of our positive reforms in
education," said Walker. "ACT scores continue to be higher than the
national average, graduation rates are better than when I took office, and
also, third grade reading scores are up."
In concluding his speech, Walker called on
the legislature to pass his tax plan and continue implementing his reforms.
Assembly Minority Leader Peter Barca
(D-Kenosha) delivered the minority response to the State of the State in which
he called the Governor’s plan: “All talk. Anemic action.” Barca called on
the Governor to provide fair funding for public schools and provide good health
care and fair paying jobs for Wisconsin’s middle class.
Common Core
Governor Walker announced at the State Education Convention on Friday that he would like to create a commission to review the Common Core
standards and make recommendations to DPI to develop Wisconsin-based model
academic standards. He said that “federal standards in education may be
raising the bar in some states, but in Wisconsin, we can do better.”
Members of the commission would be appointed by Governor Walker, Superintendent
Tony Evers and the legislature.
Internet Privacy
The Assembly passed a bill on Tuesday that prevents
employers, landlords and colleges from asking applicants for their passwords to
private social media and email accounts. The only information they will
be able to view is what is already made public on the accounts.
The bill was passed unanimously by the Senate last year, but
the Assembly approved an amendment that allows employers to still be able to
“friend” employees on social media sites, so the bill will be returned to the
Senate for approval.
Voter ID
The committees in both the Assembly and Senate held public
hearings this week for bills that would require proof of residence for all
electors registering to vote unless they are in the military or living
overseas. This would be a change from current law that only requires
proof of residence from those who register to vote by mail and have not voted
previously in Wisconsin or for those who register after voter registration has
closed. Opponents of the bill are concerned that it may impinge upon some
elector’s right to vote, especially the elderly and young voters who don’t
always have the required proof of residence.
Election
Representative Garey Bies (R-Sister Bay) has announced that
he will not seek re-election. Bies has served the 1st District
in the State Assembly for the past 14 years. He may potentially be
joining the race for Secretary of State.
Julian Bradley, the current vice chairman of the 3rd
Congressional District Republican Party has announced that he will run for
Secretary of State. Bradley says the he will make the duties of the
secretary more transparent, open communication with state government and
restore the former duties of the position. Current Secretary of State, Doug
La Follette, a Democrat, has not announced yet if he will run for re-election.
Jefferson County District Attorney Susan Happ, a Democrat,
filed her registration papers to run for attorney general. Three other
candidates have already entered the race: Waukesha County District Attorney
Brad Schimel, a Republican, Dane County District Attorney Ismael Ozanne, a Democrat,
and Representative Jon Richards, a Democrat.
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Jefferson
County district attorney enters attorney general race
