SPEAKER’S TASK FORCE ON RURAL SCHOOLS

1. 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) SPEAKER’S TASK FORCE ON RURAL SCHOOLS

2. 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 Task Force Charged to Study the Following

3. 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

4. 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 Origin & Activity To Date, cont.

5. 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 LauriMillot, Parent, Rhinelander Invited Testimony Has Been Made by the Following Individuals

6. 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 Invited Testimony Has Been Made by the Following Individuals • 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

7. 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 School Administrators Alliance • Rural Schools Taskforce Legislative Agenda 2013 • WiRSA input to agenda Primary Focus of Testimony to Date

8. 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.

9. 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.

10. 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.

11. ?????????? Testimony to be Provided by WiRSA Your comments and suggestions . . .