Legislature Passes; Governor Signs Budget
Wisconsin's budget standoff was brought to an end last week when Governor Doyle signed a compromise spending plan passed earlier by both houses of the state legislature. The signing of the budget brings to a close a three-and-a-half month stretch during which Wisconsin was without a 2007-09 state budget.
http://www.weac.org/Constit/wtcs/techmemo/2007-08/10_30_07/1.htm
Federal Financial Aid Overhaul
On September 7th, Congress passed the College Cost Reduction and Access Act, hailed by some as the most significant expansion of federal student financial aid since the G.I. Bill of 1944.
The Act increases the maximum Pell Grant award, cuts interest rates on student loans, creates grants for education students, and implements several measures aimed at easing the repayment of student debt.
http://www.weac.org/constit/wtcs/techmemo/2007-08/10_8_07/1.htm
Legislation Would Make Youth Options Optional
WEAC testified in opposition to legislation sponsored by Rep. Jeffrey Mursau (R-Crivitz) that would eliminate the existing statewide Youth Options program. The bill permits school districts to re-create their own local youth options program, or offer no such program.
WEAC argued the program should be maintained statewide basis to ensure secondary students have equal access to programming offered by the state's postsecondary institutions.
http://www.weac.org/constit/wtcs/techmemo/2007-08/10_8_07/AB327.pdf
Bargaining Update
Several technical college faculty bargaining units have recently settled contracts.
http://www.weac.org/constit/wtcs/techmemo/2007-08/10_8_07/2.htm
Germantown Votes for Secession
The Germantown School District has voted to secede from Milwaukee Area Technical College and join either Waukesha County Technical College or Moraine Park Technical College. Germantown's petition will go before the WTCS State Board, which has power to grant or deny such requests.
Ozaukee County, which itself was considering requesting permission to leave MATC-Milwaukee, has meanwhile determined not to pursue the move. The Ozaukee County Economic Development Corp. issued a report stating secession from MATC-Milwaukee would be of little benefit to the county's taxpayers.
WEAC opposes such moves - they are harmful to college finances, and therefore detrimental to technical college programs and students.
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The 2008 WEAC Winter Conference will once again include a WTCS track especially for faculty and support staff members employed in the technical colleges. The Conference is planned for February 22 - 24, 2008 and will be held at the Radisson Paper Valley hotel in Appleton. Stay tuned for more details.
Contact Governor Doyle and thank him for his support of Wisconsin's technical colleges.
You can send an email by using WEAC's Cyberlobby tool.
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