Budget Brief: Removal of Non-Fiscal Policy

Joint Finance Co-chairs Announce Removal of Non-Fiscal Policy Items from Budget:

The non-partisan Legislative Fiscal Bureau released a list of more than 130 non-fiscal policy items in the 1999-2001 budget. Removal of these items from the budget was the subject of negotiations between the co-chairs of the Joint Finance Committee. Many of the issues that WEAC seeks to remove from the budget were contained on the Fiscal Bureau list.

WEAC would like to thank the co-chairs of the Joint Finance Committee who announced removal of 112 non-fiscal policy items from the budget. Several of these items relate to K-12 education policy.

List of Non-fiscal Policy Items Removed From the Budget Bill By Finance Co-chairs:

Charter Schools

Charter Schools -- Prohibited Subjects of Bargaining: This item would allow school districts to establish charter schools without regard to staff collective bargaining rights.

Assessments and Licensing

Licensure of Teachers -- Education Technology Instruction: This item would require teachers to demonstrate competency in technology prior to achieving or renewing a license.
Licensure of Teachers -- Waiver Allowed: This item would allow school districts to request alternative licenses for anyone who wants to teach.

School District Operations

School Calendar: This item would require schools to begin after September 1.
School Closings: This item would allow school boards to close schools without regard to staff bargaining rights.

Items Removed by JFC in Subsequent Votes:

School District Subcontracting Authority: On April 20, the JFC voted to remove the item allowing school boards to subcontract out for education services. The the impact of such a decision on wages, hours and conditions of employment would have been a prohibited subject of bargaining. WEAC strongly supported this action.
School District Referendum Scheduling: On May 20, the JFC removed language from the budget that requires school districts to limit referendum elections to spring and fall. WEAC strongly supported this action.

List of Non-fiscal Policy Items Remaining In the Budget Bill:

Milwaukee Charter Schools Pupil Academic Standards: This item requires charter schools to give the same tests and assessments as other schools. WEAC would support this item as a separate bill.

Charter Schools -- Instrumentality of the School District. This item repeals the requirement that for-profit charter school established by the Common Council in Milwaukee be instrumentalities of the school district. WEAC opposes this policy.

Charter Schools -- Petition Process Modifications. This item allows those denied a petition to create a charter school to appeal that decision to the Department of Public Instruction. WEAC opposes this policy.

WEAC Position

WEAC would like to thank the co-chairs of the Joint Finance Committee for removing some of the non-fiscal policy items from the budget bill. WEAC continues, however, to support the removal of all remaining non-fiscal policy items listed above from the budget. Visit the Cyberlobby on the WEAC homepage to e-mail your legislator and ask him or her to encourage Joint Finance Committee members to remove the remaining items from the budget.

For More Information:

Contact Bob Burke in the WEAC GR office if you have any additional questions, reactions or comments. Bob can be reached at (800) 362-8034 ext. 254 or by e-mail at burkeb@weac.org. Thanks for all you do for children and public education.