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Meeting Date:
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9/24/2020 - 6:30 PM
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Category:
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Reports and Communications from the Board Clerk/Chief Officer, Office of Board Governance
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Type:
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Info
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Subject:
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1. Update on Legislative Matters or Related Issues Concerning Milwaukee Public Schools
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Strategic Plan Compatibility Statement:
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Goal 1 Academic Achievement Goal 2 Student, Family and Community Engagement Goal 3 Effective and Efficient Operations
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Attachments
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File Attachment:
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Background:
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The updates here in writing are being provided on September 15, 2020.
Given the economic impact of the pandemic, it had been anticipated that there would be the need for a ‘budget repair bill” before the end of the year. Fortunately, based on revenue figures recently reported by the Legislative Fiscal Bureau, it does not appear that a budget repair bill is needed at this time. Given the instability of the current moment, upcoming revenue estimates and fiscal year end reports will be monitored closely. As school boards head toward making their final adopted budget adjustments in October, there is no change to the second year of the state’s biennial budget.
The Wisconsin State Legislature last met on April 15, 2020. A coalition of education partners have been working for weeks to move a legislative package forward that would assist school districts at this difficult time. The package includes a hold harmless student count provision. Currently, it does not appear that the legislature will meet before the end of the year.
At the federal level, while the U.S. House of Representatives successfully passed The HEROES Act several months ago, the Senate’s last attempt to pass a package of their own met with failure. At the moment, it is not anticipated that an additional pandemic support package with be enacted before the end of the year. Depending on the results of the election in November, the next window of opportunity for enactment of a federal package of support could be in February, within weeks after the U.S. Presidential Inauguration.
After passage of the CARES Act, The Secretary of Education invented a rule that did not comply with statute that dictated the distribution of ESSER funds to a new category of private schools. To date, the Department of Education has been unable to defend the invented rule in court and an injunction has been ruled against it.
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Fiscal Impact Statement:
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This item does not authorize expenditures.
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Implementation and Assessment Plan
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The district will continue to pursue appropriate support for students as part of the MPS Legislative Agenda.
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Recommendation:
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Approvals:
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Recommended By:
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Signed By:
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Chris Thiel - Legislative Policy Specialist
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Signed By:
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Jacqueline M. Mann, Ph.D. - Board Clerk/Chief Officer
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