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.