Governor Evers Announces $46.6 Million in Extra Funding for Schools

Governor Evers has announced that he is making $46.6 million in federal CARES Act funding available for K-12 schools. According to the Governor, 155 local education agencies are eligible to apply for these funds. 

“It’s vital to ensure the schools across Wisconsin that are most significantly impacted by COVID-19 have the additional resources they need as they make decisions about how students will learn in the upcoming school year and beyond,” said Governor Evers. 

Funding is meant for schools most impacted by COVID-19. Eligibility criteria includes:

• Economic disadvantage;
• Access to personal computing devices;
• Access to internet; and 
• Students’ score on the English Language Arts Assessment. 

DPI will release more information on how schools can apply soon. 

WEMTA's Legislative Chair Emily Dittmar Appointed to Governor's Task Force on Broadband Access!

WEMTA is excited to announce that our Legislative Chair Emily Dittmar has been appointed to serve on the Governor's Taskforce on Broadband Access! Emily is one of 24 diverse stakeholders selected by the Governor to prepare a report on Broadband access in Wisconsin and to develop policy solutions aimed at tackling the digital divide. 

"This task force will bring together experts from across the state to research and recommend solutions that state leaders can adopt to connect every person in Wisconsin," said Governor Evers. 

The Governor has charged the Task Force with:

• Researching and recommending forward-looking broadband policies and initiatives that address state broadband goals and needs;

• Promoting the efficient, strategic expansion of the broadband facilities and adoption across the state;

• Exploring and developing solutions, in collaboration with key broadband stakeholders and experts;

• Reporting to the Governor and Legislature, annually by June 30, on:

• Recommendations for facilitating the deployment and adoption of broadband in Wisconsin;

• Appropriate measures of digital inclusion and strategies for addressing identified gaps and inequities; 

• Opportunities for coordination among state, local, and federal agencies; 

• Current and future needs, barriers, and goals regarding broadband access, affordability, and adoption; 

• Opportunities for innovative approaches and partnerships to expand broadband adoption;

• The role of broadband in Wisconsin’s key economic, public, and social sectors, including in education, healthcare, agriculture, manufacturing, industry, Tribal Nations, energy, libraries, public safety, and tourism; 

• The extent to which consumers, health care providers, educational institutions, libraries, and service providers have accessed federal Universal Service Funds; 

• Advances in broadband technology; and 

• The adequacy and appropriateness of existing statutory broadband goals.

Aug. 11 Wisconsin Primary Preview

Wisconsinites will cast their ballots in the Fall Primary on August 11, 2020. With the exception of the U.S. President, this election serves as the primary for all November 2020 races. Any U.S. Congressional, State Senate or State Assembly race that requires a primary will be on the ballot in August (races to watch are previewed below). 

Please consider requesting an absentee ballot for this Election to help stop the spread of COVID-19. Absentee ballot requests must be received by your municipal clerk no later than 5:00 p.m. on the Thursday before the election (August 6) in order for an absentee ballot to be sent to you. Completed ballots must be received by your municipal clerk by 8 p.m. on Election Day in order to be counted.

How to Request an Absentee Ballot 

1. Registered voters can request an absentee ballot be sent to them until August 6, 2020.  Due to the high demand for absentee ballots, election officials recommend submitting your request as soon as possible. 

2. Visit https://myvote.wi.gov/en-us/RequestAnAbsenteeBallot and fill out the request form. You will need to upload a picture of your photo ID if this is your first time requesting an absentee ballot. 

3. Once you receive your ballot, fill it out using the instruction form that comes with the ballot. Both you and a witness will need to sign the certificate envelope.  The witness will also need to write their address. The City of Madison has made this helpful video explaining the absentee voting process: https://www.cityofmadison.com/clerk/elections-voting/voting/vote-absentee 

4. Your completed ballot must be returned to the Clerk's office by 8 p.m. on Election Day (August 11). 

View What's on Your Ballot 

You can preview your ballot by visiting: https://myvote.wi.gov/en-US/PreviewMyBallot

Watch Candidate Interviews

Wisconsin Eye is interviewing all primary candidates. You can see all of the interviews here:https://wiseye.org/category/campaign/

Breakdown of Primary Races

The following is a breakdown of how the primary races in Wisconsin.

U.S. Congress

All eight members of the House of Representatives from Wisconsin's  Congressional Delegation are up for election. 

Uncontested: 0

Democratic Primary: 3

Republican Primary: 3

Decided by Primary: 0

Decided by General Election: 8

Primaries to Watch:

Congressional District 3: Incumbent Congressman Ron Kind (D-La Crosse) faces a primary challenge from Mark Neumann (D-La Crosse). The winner will face the winner of the Republican primary between Derrick Van Orden (R-Hager City) and Jessi Ebben (R-Eau Claire) in November. 

Congressional District 6: There is a three-person Democratic Primary that includes former state senator Jessica King (D-Oshkosh). The winner of the primary will run against Congressman Glenn Grothman (R-Glenbeulah) in November.

Wisconsin State Senate

State Senators from even-numbered districts are up for re-election. There are 16 seats up, but four are contested. 

Uncontested: 4 (Senators Cowles, L. Taylor, Stroebel and Wirch)

Democratic Primary: 5

Republican Primary: 3

Decided by Primary: 1 (SD 26)

Decided by General Election: 11

Primaries to Watch:

Senate District 6: Incumbent State Senator LaTonya Johnson (D-Milwaukee) faces a primary challenge from Michelle Bryant (D-Milwaukee).

Senate District 10: State Representative Rob Stafsholt (R-New Richmond) is competing in the Republican primary against Cherie Link (R-Somerset). The winner takes on State Senator Patty Schachtner (D-Somerset) in November.

Senate District 14: State Representative Joan Ballweg (R-Markesan) is competing in the Republican primary against Ken Van Dyke (R- Scandinavia). The winner takes on Democrat Joni Anderson (D-Adams) for a chance to fill retiring State Senator Luther Olsen’s (R-Ripon)  seat.

Senate District 16: State Representative Melissa Sargent (D-Madison) is running against Andrew McKinney (D-Cottage Grove) in the Democratic primary to fill retiring State Senator Mark Miller’s (D-Monona) seat. The winner faces Scott Barker (R-Sun Prairie) in November.

Senate District 26: Former state representative Kelda Roys (D-Madison) takes on six other opponents in the Democratic primary that will decide who fills retiring State Senator Fred Risser’s (D-Madison) seat. Risser served in the Legislature for 64 years. 

Senate District 32: Former Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection Secretary Brad Pfaff (D-Onalaska) takes on Paul Michael Weber (D-La Crosse) and Jayne Swiggum (D-Gays Mills) in the Democratic primary in the race to fill retiring State Senator Jennifer Shilling’s (D-La Crosse) seat. The winner will take on former state senator Dane Kapanke (R-La Crosse) in November.

Wisconsin State Assembly

All 99 members of the Wisconsin State Assembly are up for election. 

Uncontested: 17 (Representatives Steineke, Riemer, Bowen, Haywood, Goyke, Sinicki, Brandtjen, Vorpagel, Mursau, Schraa, Gundrum, Ramthun, Kerkman, Stubbs, Kuglitsch, Spiros and Duchow).

Democratic Primary: 13

Republican Primary: 12

Decided by Primary: 3 (AD 60, 78 and 98)

Decided by General Election: 79

Primaries to Watch:

Assembly District 9: Incumbent Representative Marisabel Cabrera (D-Milwaukee) is facing a primary challenge from Christian Saldivar (D-Milwaukee). The winner faces Veronica Diaz (R-Milwaukee) in November.

 Assembly District 48: There is a four-person Democratic primary to fill Representative Melissa Sargent’s (D-Madison) seat, which she vacated to run for Senate. The winner faces Samuel Anderson (R-Madison) in November.

Assembly District 60: Incumbent Representative Rob Brooks (R-Saukville) faces a primary challenge by Chris Reimer (R-Cedarburg). The primary decides this race.

Assembly District 76: There is a seven-person Democratic primary to fill Representative Chris Taylor’s (D-Madison) vacant seat. The winner of the primary faces Patrick Hull (R-Madison) in November.

Assembly District 78: Incumbent Representative Lisa Subeck (D-Madison) faces a primary challenge from Rob Slamka (D-Madison). The primary decides this race.

Assembly District 80: Incumbent Representative Sondy Pope (D-Mount Horeb) faces a primary challenge from Kimberly Smith (D-Oregon). The winner faces Chase Binnie (R-Mount Horeb) in November.

Assembly District 82: Incumbent Representative Ken Skowronski (R-Franklin) faces a primary challenge from Theodore D. Kafkas (R-Franklin). The winner faces the winner of the Democratic primary in November.

Assembly District 89: Incumbent Representative John Nygren (R-Marinette) faces a primary challenge from Andi Rich (R-Marinette). The winner faces Karl Jaeger (D-Marinette) in November.

Assembly District 90: Incumbent Representative Staush Gruszynski (D-Green Bay) faces a primary challenge from Kristina Shelton (D-Green Bay).  The winner faces Drew Kirsteatter (R-Green Bay) in November.

 Assembly District 98: Incumbent Adam Neylon (R-Pewaukee) faces a primary challenge by Rob Ochoa (R-Pewaukee). The primary decides this race.

Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation Identifies Broadband Access as #2 Priority for Reopening State

The Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC) was required by the Legislature to submit a report on the major industries impacted by COVID-19. WEDC officially released the report last week, which lists the need to "fix broadband" as the #2 priority area as Wisconsin works to re-open.

"Just last week, recommendations from the Department of Public Instruction for reopening include access to broadband and digital technology," writes WEDC. "This demonstrates, as with the shift to remote working, the desperate and immediate need to provide accessible, affordable and quality broadband throughout Wisconsin. This, therefore, becomes second of the priorities for recovery."

The report also includes a description of the challenges faced by the Education sector on page 38 of the PDF, including K-12 schools and higher education. Interestingly, the report highlights the online learning start-up Fiveable.

The full "fix broadband" plan can be found starting on page 142 of the PDF. "The state will need to take a holistic view towards planning with the goal to connect every Wisconsin citizen to adequate, reliable, equitable and affordable broadband service," writes WEDC. In addition to broadband access, WEDC  cites the need to consider access to technology and devices. Overall, their recommendations are to:

•  Focus on school districts where children do not have access – over 45,000 lack a means by which to access online learning and access is useless without a device.. 
• Continue and increase funding for the Wisconsin Broadband Office and the Broadband Expansion Grant Program
• State Agency Broadband Working Group – use key broadband liaisons from each state agency to align with and coordinate efforts with the Wisconsin Broadband Office in a strategic hub and spoke organization effort
• The WI Broadband Playbook – this is a local community broadband expansion planning resource. This will give any community the play-by-play of how to pursue broadband, funding resources, potential partners, and how to overcome other barriers. 
•  State Digital Equity Plan – the PSC is developing a state-wide plan to increase internet adoption, digital literacy skills and affordable internet access programs throughout the state.