121.06 (1) Annually on or before October 1, the full value of the taxable property in each part of each city, village and town in each school district shall be determined by the department of revenue according to its best judgment from all sources of information available to it and shall be certified by the department of revenue to the department state superintendent.
SECTION 2873d. 121.06 (2) of the statutes is amended to read:
121.06 (2) The department state superintendent shall certify to each school district clerk the appropriate full values certified to the department state superintendent under sub. (1).
SECTION 2873h. 121.07 (1) (c) of the statutes is amended to read:
121.07 (1) (c) If an order of school district reorganization under ch. 117 is not effective due to litigation until after the 3rd Friday in September but takes effect before April 1 of the current school year, state aid for any affected school district for the first year of operation shall be computed after the order takes effect using calculations by the department state superintendent of the number of pupils enrolled and teacher-pupil ratio for the territory in the affected school district, which shall be made as if the school district had been in existence on the 3rd Friday in September.
SECTION 2873m. 121.07 (7) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:
121.07 (7) (b) The "secondary guaranteed valuation per member" is an amount, rounded to the next lower dollar, that, after subtraction of payments under ss. 121.09, 121.10, 121.105, 121.85 (6) (b) 2. and 3. and (c) and 121.86, fully distributes an amount equal to the amount remaining in the appropriation under s. 20.255 (2) (ac) plus $75,000,000 in the 1997-98 school year and $100,000,000 in the 1998-99 school year for payments under ss. 121.08 and 121.85 (6) (a) and (g).
SECTION 2873p. 121.09 of the statutes is amended to read:
121.09 State aid adjustment; redetermination of assessment. (1) If, on or after July 1, 1980, the tax appeals commission or a court makes a final redetermination on the assessment of property subject to taxation under s. 70.995 that is lower than the previous assessment, or if, on or after January 1, 1982, the state board of assessors makes a final redetermination on the assessment of property subject to taxation under s. 70.995 that is lower than the previous assessment, the school board of the school district in which the property is located may, within 4 years after the date of the determination, decision or judgment, file the determination of the state board of assessors, the decision of the tax appeals commission or the judgment of the court with the department state superintendent, requesting an adjustment in state aid to the school district. If the department state superintendent determines that the determination, decision or judgment is final and that it has been filed within the 4-year period, the state shall pay to the school district in the subsequent fiscal year, from the appropriation appropriations under s. 20.255 (2) (ac) and (q), an amount equal to the difference between the state aid computed under s. 121.08 for the school year commencing after the year subject to the valuation recertification, using the school district's equalized valuation as originally certified, and the state aid computed under s. 121.08 for that school year using the school district's equalized valuation as recertified under s. 70.57 (2).
(2) If, on or after May 3, 1984, the state board of assessors, the tax appeals commission or a court makes a final redetermination on the assessment of property subject to taxation under s. 70.995 that is higher than the previous assessment, the department state superintendent shall notify the school district in which the property is located of the recertification by the department of revenue under s. 70.57 (2). The department state superintendent shall, in the subsequent fiscal year, withhold from the school district's state aid entitlement under s. 121.08 an amount equal to the difference between the state aid computed under s. 121.08 for the school year commencing after the year subject to the valuation recertification, using the school district's equalized valuation as originally certified, and the state aid computed under s. 121.08 for that school year, using the school district's equalized valuation as recertified under s. 70.57 (2).
SECTION 2873t. 121.10 (4) of the statutes is amended to read:
121.10 (4) If a school district is ineligible for a payment under sub. (2) or (3), the department state superintendent shall pay to the school district in that school year, from the appropriation under s. 20.255 (2) (bm), an amount which, when added to the amount of state aid the school district will receive in that school year, is equal to an amount determined by multiplying $175 by the membership.
SECTION 2873v. 121.105 (2) (a) 3. of the statutes is amended to read:
121.105 (2) (a) 3. A school district eligible for aid under subd. 1. and 2. shall receive aid under subd. 1. The additional aid shall be paid from the appropriation appropriations under s. 20.255 (2) (ac) and (q).
SECTION 2873w. 121.105 (3) of the statutes is amended to read:
121.105 (3) In the school year in which a school district consolidation takes effect under s. 117.08 or 117.09 and in each of the subsequent 4 school years, the consolidated school district's state aid shall be an amount that is not less than the aggregate state aid received by the consolidating school districts in the school year prior to the school year in which the consolidation takes effect. The additional state aid shall be paid from the appropriation appropriations under s. 20.255 (2) (ac) and (q).
SECTION 2874. 121.135 (1) of the statutes is amended to read:
121.135 (1) If, upon receipt of the report under s. 115.84, the department state superintendent is satisfied that there are children participating in a special education program provided by a county handicapped children's education board, the department state superintendent shall certify to the department of administration from the appropriation under s. 20.255 (2) (bh) in favor of the county handicapped children's education board the amount determined under sub. (2), except as provided under sub. (3).
SECTION 2874m. 121.135 (3) of the statutes is amended to read:
121.135 (3) This section does not apply beginning on the effective date of a resolution adopted under s. 115.86 (9) (c), except that in the school year beginning July 1 of the year prior to the effective date of the resolution, the department state superintendent shall certify to the department of administration from the appropriation under s. 20.255 (2) (bh) in favor of the county handicapped children's education board an amount equal to one-half the amount specified under sub. (2) for each pupil enrolled.
SECTION 2875. 121.14 (1) of the statutes is amended to read:
121.14 (1) State aid shall be paid to each district or county handicapped children's education board only for those academic summer classes or laboratory periods for which the department state superintendent has given prior review and approval as to the content of such classes or laboratory periods so as to assure that such classes and laboratory periods are only for necessary academic purposes. Recreational programs and team sports shall not be eligible for aid under this section, and pupils participating in such programs shall not be counted as pupils enrolled under s. 121.004 (5) nor shall costs associated with such programs be included in shared costs under s. 121.07 (6).
SECTION 2875m. 121.15 (1m) of the statutes is created to read:
121.15 (1m) (a) Notwithstanding sub. (1), a portion of state aid to school districts shall be distributed as follows:
1. The amount appropriated in the 1997-98 fiscal year under s. 20.255 (2) (q) shall be paid to school districts on the 3rd Monday in June, and the difference between $75,000,000 and the amount transferred to the property tax relief fund under 1997 Wisconsin Act .... (this act), section 9256 (3x) (c) 2., shall be paid to school districts on the 4th Monday in July, 1998, from the appropriation under s. 20.255 (2) (ac).
2. The amount appropriated in the 1998-99 fiscal year under s. 20.255 (2) (q) shall be paid to school districts on the 3rd Monday in June, and the difference between $175,000,000 and the sum of the amounts transferred to the property tax relief fund under 1997 Wisconsin Act .... (this act), section 9256 (3x) (c) 2., (d) 2. and (e) 2., shall be paid to school districts on the 4th Monday in July, 1999, from the appropriation under s. 20.255 (2) (ac).
3. Beginning in the 1999-2000 school year, annually the state shall pay to school districts, from the appropriation under s. 20.255 (2) (ac), the difference between $175,000,000 and the sum of the amounts transferred to the property tax relief fund under 1997 Wisconsin Act .... (this act), section 9256 (3x) (c) 2., (d) 2. and (e) 2., on the 4th Monday in July of the following school year.
(b) Beginning with the payment made in December 1997 under sub. (1), the percentages under sub. (1) (a) shall be reduced proportionally to reflect the payments made under par. (a). School districts shall treat the payments made in July under par. (a) as if they had been received in the previous school year.
SECTION 2876. 121.15 (2) (c) of the statutes is amended to read:
121.15 (2) (c) If the department state superintendent notifies a school district that a state aid payment may be withheld under par. (a) or (b), the department state superintendent shall notify each member of the school board or the school district clerk. If the department state superintendent notifies the school district clerk, the school district clerk shall promptly distribute a copy of the notice to each member of the school board.
SECTION 2876m. 121.15 (3m) (a) 1. of the statutes is amended to read:
121.15 (3m) (a) 1. "Partial school revenues" means the sum of state school aids, other than the amounts appropriated under s. 20.255 (2) (bi) and (cv), and property taxes levied for school districts, less the amount of any revenue limit increase under s. 121.91 (4) (a) 2. due to a school board's increasing the services that it provides by adding responsibility for providing a service transferred to it from another school board and less the amount of any revenue limit increase under s. 121.91 (4) (a) 3.
SECTION 2877. 121.15 (3m) (a) 2. of the statutes is amended to read:
121.15 (3m) (a) 2. "State school aids" means those aids appropriated under s. 20.255 (2), other than s. 20.255 (2) (fm), (fu), (k) and (m), and under s. 20.505 (4) (er) ss. 20.275 (1) (d), (es), (et), (f), (fs) and (u) and 20.285 (1) (ee), (r) and (rc) and those aids appropriated under s. 20.275 (1) (s) that are used to provide grants or educational telecommunications access to school districts under s. 196.218 (4r).
SECTION 2878m. 121.15 (3m) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:
121.15 (3m) (b) By June 15, 1996, and annually by June 15 thereafter, the department, the department of administration and the legislative fiscal bureau shall jointly certify to the joint committee on finance an estimate of the amount necessary to appropriate under s. 20.255 (2) (ac) in the following school year to ensure that the sum of state school aids and the school levy tax credit under s. 79.10 (4) equals 66.7% two-thirds of partial school revenues.
SECTION 2879m. 121.15 (3m) (c) of the statutes is amended to read:
121.15 (3m) (c) By June 30, 1996 1998, and annually by June 30 thereafter, the joint committee on finance shall determine the amount appropriated under s. 20.255 (2) (ac) in the following school year.
SECTION 2880m. 121.15 (4) of the statutes is amended to read:
121.15 (4) On July 1 and October 15, using the most accurate data available, the department state superintendent shall provide the department of revenue and each school district with an estimate of the total amount of state aid, as defined in s. 121.90 (2), the school district will receive in the current school year. On October 15, using the most accurate data available, the department state superintendent shall calculate the total amount of state aid, as defined in s. 121.90 (2), that each school district will receive in the current school year. Any adjustments to that calculation shall be made by increasing or decreasing the payment made in September of the following school year.
SECTION 2881. 121.17 of the statutes is repealed and recreated to read:
121.17 Use of federal revenue sharing funds. It is the intent of the legislature that school districts receiving federal revenue sharing funds through the state under this subchapter shall utilize these funds in compliance with the federal revenue sharing requirements as defined in the state and local fiscal assistance act of 1972 (P.L. 92-512), as amended by P.L. 94-488. The department shall assure compliance with this section.
SECTION 2881d. 121.23 (1) of the statutes is amended to read:
121.23 (1) In the event that the department state superintendent finds that school is not held, or educational standards are not maintained in accordance with s. 121.02 (1) (f) as the result of a strike by school district employes, make-up days are authorized to be scheduled but no make-up days are required.
SECTION 2881h. 121.23 (2) (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:
121.23 (2) (intro.) If a school district holds less than 180 days of school as the result of a strike by school district employes, for the purposes of computing general aid, the department state superintendent shall compute the school district's primary and secondary ceiling costs per member in accordance with the procedure specified in pars. (a) to (e). In making the calculation, the department state superintendent shall:
SECTION 2881m. 121.41 (1) of the statutes is amended to read:
121.41 (1) STATE AID. To promote a uniformly effective driver education program among high school and technical college pupils, each school district operating high school grades, each county handicapped children's education board which provides the substantial equivalent of a high school education and each technical college district shall receive $100 for each pupil of high school age who completes a course in driver education approved by the department under s. 115.28 (11), but in no case may the state aid exceed the actual cost of instruction. If the appropriation under s. 20.255 (2) (r) (em) is inadequate in any year to provide $100 per pupil, the state aid shall be prorated after the appropriation for administration is deducted. Such state aid shall be paid at the same time as the state aid under s. 121.08 is paid.
SECTION 2881p. 121.51 (1) of the statutes is amended to read:
121.51 (1) "Attendance area" is the geographic area designated by the governing body of a private school as the area from which its pupils attend and approved by the school board of the district in which the private school is located. If the private school and the school board cannot agree on the attendance area, the department state superintendent shall, upon the request of the private school and the board, make a final determination of the attendance area. The attendance areas of private schools affiliated with the same religious denomination shall not overlap unless one school limits its enrollment to pupils of the same sex and the other school limits its enrollment to pupils of the opposite sex or admits pupils of both sexes.
SECTION 2881t. 121.52 (1) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:
121.52 (1) (b) The school board may adopt additional rules, not inconsistent with law or with rules of the secretary of transportation or the department state superintendent, for the protection of the pupils or to govern the conduct of the person in charge of the motor vehicle used for transportation of pupils for compensation.
SECTION 2882. 121.52 (4) of the statutes is amended to read:
121.52 (4) The use of any motor vehicle to transport pupils shall be discontinued upon receipt of an order signed by the secretary state superintendent or the secretary of transportation ordering such discontinuance. Personnel under the secretary state superintendent or the secretary of transportation may ride any school bus at any time for the purpose of inspection.
SECTION 2882d. 121.53 (6) of the statutes is amended to read:
121.53 (6) Within 10 days after its occurrence, every accident involving a motor vehicle while providing transportation under this subchapter shall be reported to the appropriate school board and promptly by the school board to the department state superintendent on forms provided by the department state superintendent.
SECTION 2882g. 121.54 (2) (c) of the statutes is amended to read:
121.54 (2) (c) An annual or special meeting of a common or union high school district, or the school board of a unified school district, may elect to provide transportation for pupils who are not required to be transported under this section, including pupils attending public school under s. 118.145 (4). Transportation may be provided for all or some of the pupils who reside in the school district to and from the public school they are entitled to attend or the private school, within or outside the school district, within whose attendance area they reside. If transportation is provided for less than all such pupils there shall be reasonable uniformity in the minimum distance that pupils attending public and private schools will be transported. Except for elementary school districts electing to furnish transportation under par. (b) 2., this paragraph does not permit a school district operating only elementary grades to provide transportation for pupils attending private schools.
SECTION 2882h. 121.54 (3) of the statutes is amended to read:
121.54 (3) TRANSPORTATION FOR CHILDREN WITH EXCEPTIONAL EDUCATIONAL NEEDS. Every school board shall provide transportation for children with exceptional educational needs, as defined in s. 115.76 (3), to any public or private elementary or high school, to the Wisconsin school for the visually handicapped or the Wisconsin school for the deaf or to any special educational program for children with exceptional educational needs sponsored by a state tax-supported institution of higher education, regardless of distance, if the request for such transportation is approved by the department state superintendent. Approval shall be based on whether or not the child can walk to school with safety and comfort. Section 121.53 shall apply to transportation provided under this subsection.
SECTION 2882p. 121.54 (4) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:
121.54 (4) (b) A school board, a county handicapped children's education board or a cooperative educational service agency may provide transportation regardless of distance for children with exceptional educational needs who attend a summer special education program under s. 115.83 (4), if a request for such transportation is approved by the department state superintendent. Approval shall be based on whether or not the child can walk to school with safety and comfort. Section 121.53 shall apply to transportation provided under this paragraph.
SECTION 2882t. 121.54 (9) of the statutes is amended to read:
121.54 (9) TRANSPORTATION IN AREAS OF UNUSUAL HAZARDS. (a) In school districts in which unusual hazards exist for pupils in walking to and from the school where they are enrolled, the school board shall develop a plan which shall show by map and explanation the nature of the unusual hazards to pupil travel and propose a plan of transportation if such transportation is necessary, which will provide proper safeguards for the school attendance of such pupils. Copies of the plan shall be filed with the sheriff of the county in which the principal office of the school district is located. The sheriff shall review the plan and may make suggestions for revision deemed appropriate. The sheriff shall investigate the site and plan and make a determination as to whether unusual hazards exist which cannot be corrected by local government and shall report the findings in writing to the department state superintendent and the school board concerned. Within 60, but not less than 30, days from the day on which the department state superintendent receives the sheriff's report, the department state superintendent shall determine whether unusual hazards to pupil travel exist and whether the plan provides proper safeguards for such pupils. If the department state superintendent makes findings which support the plan and the determination that unusual hazards exist which seriously jeopardize the safety of the pupils in their travel to and from school, the school board shall put the plan into effect and state aid shall be paid under s. 121.58 (2) (c) for any transportation of pupils under this subsection. Any city, village or town may reimburse, in whole or in part, a school district for costs incurred in providing transportation under this subsection for pupils who reside in the city, village or town.
(am) Any person aggrieved by the failure of a school board to file a plan with the sheriff as provided in par. (a) may notify the school board in writing that an area of unusual hazard exists. The school board shall reply to the aggrieved person in writing within 30 days of receipt of the aggrieved person's notice. The school board shall send a copy of the board's reply to the sheriff of the county in which the principal office of the school district is located and to the department state superintendent. Upon receipt of the school board's reply, the aggrieved person may request a hearing before the department state superintendent for a determination as to whether an area of unusual hazard exists. If the department state superintendent determines that an area of unusual hazard exists, the department state superintendent shall direct the school board to proceed as provided in par. (a).
(b) Within 30 days after the sheriff's report is received by the department state superintendent, any aggrieved person may request a hearing before the department state superintendent on the determination by the sheriff and on the plan. After such hearing, the department state superintendent shall proceed as provided in par. (a).
(c) The department state superintendent and the department of transportation shall establish a definition of "unusual hazards" and "area of unusual hazards" for the implementation of this subsection. Such definition shall be promulgated, as a rule, by the department state superintendent.
SECTION 2883m. 121.54 (10) of the statutes is created to read:
121.54 (10) FULL-TIME OPEN ENROLLMENT. Subject to s. 118.51 (14) (a) 2., a school board may elect to provide transportation, including transportation to and from summer classes, for nonresident pupils who are attending public school in the school district under s. 118.51, or its resident pupils who are attending public school in another school district under s. 118.51, or both, except that a school board may not provide transportation under this subsection for a nonresident pupil to or from a location within the boundaries of the school district in which the pupil resides.
SECTION 2884. 121.56 of the statutes is amended to read:
121.56 School bus routes. The school board of each district shall make and be responsible for all necessary provisions for the transportation of pupils, including establishment, administration and scheduling of school bus routes. Upon the request of any school board, the department state superintendent shall provide advice and counsel on problems of school transportation. Any private school shall, upon the request of the public school officials, supply all necessary information and reports. The transportation of public and private school pupils shall be effectively coordinated to insure the safety and welfare of the pupils. Upon receipt of a signed order from the secretary state superintendent, the school board shall discontinue any route specified by the secretary state superintendent.
SECTION 2884m. 121.57 (1) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:
121.57 (1) (b) This subsection also applies to handicapped children. The department state superintendent may grant permission for a handicapped child to be transported to a school in another school district if an acceptable form of transportation is provided and if such school offers equal or better educational opportunities for the child.
SECTION 2885g. 121.58 (2) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:
121.58 (2) (a) A school district which provides transportation to and from a school under ss. 121.54 (1) to (3), (5) and (6) and 121.57, and the nonresident school district that a pupil attends under s. 118.51 which elects to provide transportation under s. 121.54 (10), shall be paid state aid for such transportation at the rate of $30 per school year per pupil so transported whose residence is at least 2 miles and not more than 5 miles from the school attended, $45 per school year per pupil so transported whose residence is at least 5 miles and not more than 8 miles from the school attended, $60 per school year per pupil so transported whose residence is at least 8 miles and not more than 12 miles from the school attended, $68 per school year per pupil so transported whose residence is at least 12 miles and not more than 15 miles from the school attended, $75 per school year per pupil so transported whose residence is at least 15 miles and not more than 18 miles from the school attended, and $85 per school year per pupil so transported whose residence is more than 18 miles from the school attended. Such state aid shall be reduced proportionately in the case of a pupil transported for less than a full school year because of nonenrollment. State aid for transportation shall not exceed the actual cost thereof. No state aid of any kind may be paid to a school district which charges the pupil transported or his or her parent or guardian any part of the cost of transportation provided under ss. 121.54 (1) to (3), (5) and, (6) and (10) and 121.57 or which wilfully or negligently fails to transport all pupils for whom transportation is required under s. 121.54.
SECTION 2885r. 121.58 (4) of the statutes is amended to read:
121.58 (4) STATE AID FOR SUMMER CLASS TRANSPORTATION. Annually on or before October 1 of the year in which transportation is provided under s. 121.54 (4), or under s. 121.54 (10) if the transportation is provided by the nonresident school district that a pupil attends under s. 118.51, the school district clerk shall file with the department a report, containing such information as the department requires, on transportation provided by the school board to and from summer classes. Upon receipt of such report and if the summer classes meet the requirements of s. 121.14 (1), state aid shall be paid for such transportation. A school district which provides such transportation shall be paid state aid for such transportation at the rate of $4 per pupil transported to and from public school whose residence is at least 2 miles and not more than 5 miles by the nearest traveled route from the public school attended, and $6 per pupil transported to and from public school whose residence is more than 5 miles by the nearest traveled route from the public school attended, if the pupil is transported 30 days or more. The state aid shall be reduced proportionately if the pupil is transported less than 30 days.
SECTION 2888. 121.58 (5) of the statutes is amended to read:
121.58 (5) (title) DEPARTMENT STATE SUPERINTENDENT APPROVAL. If the department state superintendent is satisfied that transportation or board and lodging was provided in compliance with law, the department state superintendent shall certify to the department of administration the sum due the school district. In case of differences concerning the character and sufficiency of the transportation or board and lodging, the department state superintendent may determine such matter and its his or her decision is final.
SECTION 2888m. 121.76 (2) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:
121.76 (2) (a) All tuition shall be calculated under s. 121.83 unless the department state superintendent approves an alternative procedure consistent with s. 121.75.
SECTION 2888p. 121.77 (1) of the statutes is amended to read:
121.77 (1) (a) Every elementary school and high school shall be free to all pupils who reside in the school district.
(b) If facilities are adequate, a school board, board of control of a cooperative educational service agency or county handicapped children's education board may admit nonresident pupils who meet its entrance requirements. Nonresident pupils shall have all of the rights and privileges of resident pupils and shall be subject to the same rules and regulations as resident pupils. The agency of service shall charge tuition for each nonresident pupil.
SECTION 2889m. 121.77 (2) (a) and (b) of the statutes are amended to read:
121.77 (2) (a) A tuition claim for each nonresident pupil or adult for whom services were provided under this subchapter during the preceding school year. The claim shall be filed with the school district clerk under s. 121.78, the department state superintendent under s. 121.79, the county clerk under s. 121.80, the pupil's parent or guardian under s. 121.81 or the adult under s. 121.82. Credit shall be given for prepayments.
(b) A certified copy of each tuition claim under par. (a) with the department state superintendent.
SECTION 2889s. 121.77 (3) of the statutes is created to read:
121.77 (3) Subsections (1) (b) and (2) do not apply to a pupil attending a public school in a nonresident school district under s. 118.51.