AJR85: Joint Resolution Text

LRB-4445/1

MJL:mfd:lp

1997 - 1998 LEGISLATURE

1997 Assembly JOINT RESOLUTION 85

December 8, 1997 - Introduced by Representatives Wood, Plale, Reynolds, L. Young, Gronemus, Hasenohrl, Ziegelbauer, Ward, Ainsworth, La Fave, Black, Notestein, Bock, Williams, Turner, Boyle, Kreuser, Robson, Hanson, Baldwin, Carpenter, Albers, Musser, Kaufert, Lorge, Sykora, Ryba, Wasserman, Walker, Ott, Gard, Kedzie, Nass, Meyer, Porter, Dobyns, Klusman, Staskunas, Harsdorf, Ladwig, Johnsrud, Plouff, Vrakas, Powers, Murat and Goetsch, cosponsored by Senators Weeden, Wirch, Plache, Rosenzweig, Moore, Adelman, A. Lasee, Welch, Farrow, Drzewiecki, Grobschmidt, Fitzgerald and Darling. Referred to Committee on Education.

AJR85,1,4 Relating to: requesting a study of the current mission of the Wisconsin School for the Visually Handicapped and the impact that closing the Wisconsin School for the Visually Handicapped would have on the lives of blind and visually impaired persons.

Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau

This joint resolution requests the joint legislative council to study and report to the legislature on the current mission of the Wisconsin School for the Visually Handicapped and the impact that closing the Wisconsin School for the Visually Handicapped would have on the the lives of blind and visually impaired persons.

AJR85,1,6 Whereas, the Wisconsin School for the Visually Handicapped is the oldest public institution in the state; and

AJR85,1,10 Whereas, the Wisconsin School for the Visually Handicapped has been continuously operating since its founding in 1849, serving thousands of Wisconsin children and adults who are blind or severely visually impaired and making a profoundly positive impact on their lives; and

AJR85,2,4 Whereas, the staff members of the Wisconsin School for the Visually Handicapped have always willingly provided creative teaching skills, emotional assistance for the students and their families and statewide leadership for all blind and visually impaired children and adults; and

AJR85,2,7 Whereas, the Wisconsin School for the Visually Handicapped has been nationally and internationally recognized for its successful pioneering of educational programs; and

AJR85,2,10 Whereas, the Wisconsin School for the Visually Handicapped has received, on behalf of the citizens of Wisconsin, the legislature and the department of public instruction, numerous awards over the years for its innovative programming; and

AJR85,2,13 Whereas, the Wisconsin School for the Visually Handicapped has, for more than 70 years, provided the only state rehabilitative services for adults who have been affected by the onset of severe loss of vision; and

AJR85,2,16 Whereas, the Wisconsin School for the Visually Handicapped continues to provide a wide variety of critical activities for children and youth that they are not able to receive in school district programs; and

AJR85,2,18 Whereas, a recommendation has been made to close the Wisconsin School for the Visually Handicapped; now, therefore, be it

AJR85,2,23 Resolved by the assembly, the senate concurring, That the joint legislative council study the current mission of the Wisconsin School for the Visually Handicapped and the impact that closing that school would have on the lives of blind and visually impaired citizens and report its findings, conclusions and recommendations to the 1999 legislature when it convenes.

AJR85,2,24 (End)