SPEAKER’S TASK FORCE ON RURAL SCHOOLS

• Rep. Rob Swearingen (R-Rhinelander), Chair• Rep. Fred Clark (D-Baraboo), Vice-Chair• Rep. Mary Czaja (R-Irma)• Rep. Warren Petryk (R-Eleva)• Rep. Ed Brooks (R-Reedsburg)• Rep. Mary Williams (R-Medford)• Rep. Jeff Mursau (R-Crivitz)• Rep. Michael Schraa (R-Oshkosh)• Rep. Stephen Nass (R-Whitewater)• Rep. Chris Danou (D-Trempealeau)• Rep. Sondy Pope (D-Cross Plains)• Rep. Mandy Wright (D-Wausau)

TASK FORCE CHARGED TO STUDY THE FOLLOWING

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

ORIGIN & ACTIVITY TO DATE Provision to create Task Force was inserted into the

2013-15 Budget Bill

Implementation was given to Representative Robin Voss, Speaker of the House

First hearing was held in Rhinelander on October 23, 2013 Preceded by tours of Northland Pines High School (Eagle

River) and Rhinelander High School

Second hearing was held in Elroy on November 6, 2013 Preceded by tours of Mauston High School, ILead

Charter School and Royall School District

ORIGIN & ACTIVITY TO DATE, CONT.

Third hearing will be held on January 8, 2014 (location to be announced)

A fourth (and possibly fifth) hearing will be held in January/February 2014

Task Force recommendations are expected in the spring of 2014

INVITED TESTIMONY HAS BEEN MADE BY THE FOLLOWING INDIVIDUALS

Kelli Jacobi, Superintendent, Rhinelander

Mike Richie, Superintendent, Northland Pines

Ben Niehaus, Superintendent, Florence County/Goodman-Armstrong Creek

Todd Kleinhans, Superintendent, Lakeland Union High School, Minocqua

Don Sidlowski, Northwoods Broadband Development Coalition, Three Lakes

Curt Priefer, Hypro Manufacturing , Rhinelander

Dave Deck, Parent/Business Owner, Rhinelander

Lauri Millot, Parent, Rhinelander

INVITED TESTIMONY HAS BEEN MADE BY THE FOLLOWING INDIVIDUALS

Mark Gruen, Superintendent, Royall

Curt Bisarek, Superintendent, Hillsboro

John Eyerly, Superintendent, Westfield

Cheri Newlum, Seats, Inc., Mauston

Andy Wohlab, Sprinkmen Corporation, Elroy

Carri Buss, Parent/Board of Education Member, Elroy

Written testimony has been submitted by:• Don Childs, Superintendent, Antigo• ????? (Forward your written testimony to me)

Most testimonies are posted on the WiRSA website . . .

www.wirsa.org

SCHOOL ADMINISTRATORS ALLIANCE

Many specific examples of the value of rural schools and the great things happening in rural schools

Many specific examples of serious financial issues facing rural schools that require remedy

“Tools” in Act 10 are insufficient for rural schools

Sparsity aid needs to be expanded to districts with enrollment above the current cap that have few students per square mile

Transportation Aid in rural schools is still inadequate, draining resources from student programs and classroom instruction

Rural Schools Taskforce Legislative Agenda 2013 WiRSA input to agenda

PRIMARY FOCUS OF TESTIMONY TO DATE

Invest in the technology infrastructure of rural schools Address the rural broadband and Internet speed

available in rural schools and student homes so we can take full advantage of what technologies can offer rural schools

Provide incentive grants and special transportation aid to support specialized collaborative programs among districts

Consider modifications to the rolling average used in Revenue Limit calculations (Examples--Use the highest enrollment in past 5 years,

carryover of a percentage of the declining enrollment exemption)

PRIMARY FOCUS OF TESTIMONY TO DATE, CONT.

Transition to a new funding formula like Superintendent Evers’ “Fair Funding For Our Future,” that takes into consideration factors that have changed dramatically in the past 20 years

Increase state support for special education, especially high-cost special education

Fully fund the SAGE program Address the compensation gap for educators that

exists between rural and city/suburban schools in order to aid in recruitment and retention of highly-qualified educators in rural schools

Create incentives (loan forgiveness) to attract educators to rural schools

PRIMARY FOCUS OF TESTIMONY TO DATE, CONT.

Allow for local control on the school start date Promote instrumentality charter schools vs. independent

charter schools that drain resources from rural schools Increase the utilization of virtual education through state-

supported options for rural schools Exempt security and safety measures from the Revenue

Limit Create avenues for small, rural schools to address the

burden of implementing new mandates such as Educator Effectiveness, Common Core Standards, PBIS, RTI, Smarter Balanced Assessment, etc.

Establish a Wisconsin Rural Achievement Program similar to the Federal REAP Program

PRIMARY FOCUS OF TESTIMONY TO DATE, CONT.

??????????

TESTIMONY TO BE PROVIDED BY WIRSA

Your comments and suggestions . . .