AB615: Bill Text

AB615, s. 82 Section 82. 119.44 (4) of the statutes is created to read:

AB615,35,22 119.44 (4) At least annually, the mayor shall meet with the superintendent of schools and other persons, as determined by the mayor, who are leaders in elementary and secondary education in the city and elsewhere, to evaluate and discuss the status of education in the city's public schools.

AB615, s. 83 Section 83. 119.46 (1) of the statutes, as affected by 2009 Wisconsin Act 28, is amended to read:

AB615,36,17 119.46 (1) As part of the budget transmitted annually to the common council under s. 119.16 (8) (b), the board superintendent of schools shall report the amount of money required for the ensuing school year to operate all public schools in the city under this chapter, to repair and keep in order school buildings and equipment, to make material improvements to school property and to purchase necessary additions to school sites. The amount included in the report for the purpose of supporting the Milwaukee Parental Choice Program under s. 119.23 shall be reduced by the amount of aid received by the board school district under s. 121.136 and by the amount specified in the notice received by the board superintendent of schools under s. 121.137 (2). The common council shall levy and collect a tax upon all the property subject to taxation in the city, which shall be equal to the amount of money required by the board superintendent of schools for the purposes set forth in this subsection, at the same time and in the same manner as other taxes are levied and collected. Such taxes shall be in addition to all other taxes which the city is authorized to levy. The taxes so levied and collected, any other funds provided by law and placed at the disposal of the city for the same purposes, and the moneys deposited in the school operations fund under s. 119.60 (1), shall constitute the school operations fund.

AB615, s. 84 Section 84. 119.47 of the statutes is amended to read:

AB615,36,23 119.47 Taxes for school extension fund. (1) If activities are being conducted under s. 119.70 (1), the board superintendent of schools as part of the budget transmitted annually to the common council under s. 119.16 (8) (b) shall specify the amount of money required for the ensuing school year under s. 119.70 (3). The taxes so levied and collected shall constitute the school extension fund.

AB615,37,3 (2) The board school district may receive and expend, in addition to the tax levied and collected under s. 119.70 (3), any sums of money appropriated by the common council of the city for community services. The common council may appropriate from the city general fund or a similar fund to the school district such sums of money as the common council deems expedient.

AB615, s. 85 Section 85. 119.48 (1) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB615,37,21 119.48 (1) If the board adopts a resolution by a two-thirds vote of the members-elect superintendent of schools determines to provide funds, in addition to receipts from the sale of bonds, to purchase school sites, to construct school buildings and additions thereto or to remodel existing buildings, the board he or she may include, as part of the budget transmitted to the common council under s. 119.16 (8) (b), a communication stating the amount of funds needed for such purposes. Upon receipt of the communication, the common council shall levy and collect a tax upon all property subject to taxation in the city, which shall be equal to the amount of money required by the board superintendent of schools for the purposes set forth in the communication, at the same time and in the same manner as other taxes are levied and collected. Such taxes shall be in addition to all other taxes which the city is authorized to levy. The taxes so levied and collected and the moneys under s. 119.60 (1) that are deposited in the school construction fund shall constitute the school construction fund. If moneys under s. 119.60 (1) are deposited in the school construction fund, the moneys shall be used for the purchase of real property for school purposes. The board superintendent of schools may allow the school construction fund to accumulate from year to year.

AB615, s. 86 Section 86. 119.48 (2) (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB615,37,24 119.48 (2) (intro.) The common council shall have the following options on the board's superintendent's communication under sub. (1):

AB615, s. 87 Section 87. 119.48 (2) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB615,38,2 119.48 (2) (a) To levy and collect a tax equal to the amount of money specified by the board superintendent of schools under sub. (1).

AB615, s. 88 Section 88. 119.48 (4) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB615,38,7 119.48 (4) (a) If the board superintendent of schools deems it necessary to exceed the levy rate specified under s. 65.07 (1) (f), it he or she may by a two-thirds vote of the members-elect include a communication to the common council as part of the budget transmitted to the common council under s. 119.16 (8) (b).

AB615, s. 89 Section 89. 119.485 of the statutes is amended to read:

AB615,38,17 119.485 Taxes for state trust fund loans. (1) If the board school district is awarded a state trust fund loan under subch. II of ch. 24, the board superintendent of schools shall include in its his or her budget transmitted to the common council under s. 119.16 (8) (b) a written notice specifying the amount of money necessary to pay the principal and interest on the loan as they become due. The common council shall levy and collect a tax upon all property subject to taxation in the city, at the same time and in the same manner as other taxes are levied and collected, equal to the amount of money required to make such payments. The taxes are in addition to all other taxes that the city is authorized to levy.

AB615,38,21 (2) Annually by December 31, the board superintendent of schools shall transfer to the city an amount which, when added to the interest that will accrue on the amount, is sufficient to meet the anticipated costs of debt service on the loan in the ensuing year.

AB615, s. 90 Section 90. 119.49 (1) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB615,39,2 119.49 (1) (a) If the board superintendent of schools deems it necessary to construct buildings or additions to buildings, to remodel buildings or to purchase school sites or to provide funds for any such purpose as a participant in a contract under s. 120.25, it may by a two-thirds vote of the members-elect he or she shall send a written communication to the common council of the city and issue a public notice.

AB615, s. 91 Section 91. 119.49 (2) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB615,39,13 119.49 (2) Upon receipt of the communication, the common council shall file the communication as provided in s. 8.37 and shall cause the question of issuing such school bonds in the stated amount and for the stated school purposes to be submitted to the voters of the city at the next election held in the city. The question of issuing such school bonds shall be submitted so that the vote upon issuing such school bonds is taken separately from any other question submitted to the voters. If a majority of the electors voting on the school bond question favors issuing such school bonds, the common council shall cause the school bonds to be issued immediately or within the period permitted by law, in the amount requested by the board superintendent of schools and in the manner other bonds are issued.

AB615, s. 92 Section 92. 119.49 (3) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB615,39,19 119.49 (3) The proper city officials shall sell or dispose of the bonds in the same manner as other bonds are disposed of. The entire proceeds of the sale of the bonds shall be placed in the city treasury, subject to the order of the board superintendent of schools for the purposes named in the communication under sub. (1). Such school bonds shall be payable within 20 years from the date of their issue.

AB615, s. 93 Section 93. 119.495 (2) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB615,40,4 119.495 (2) The board shall include in its budget transmitted to the common council under s. 119.16 (8) (b), 2007 stats., a written notice specifying the amount of borrowing to be authorized in the budget for the ensuing year. The common council shall issue the notes and levy a direct annual irrepealable tax sufficient to pay the principal and interest on the notes as they become due. The common council may issue the notes by private sale. The common council shall make every effort to involve a minority investment firm certified under s. 560.036 as managing underwriter of the notes or to engage a minority financial adviser certified under s. 560.036 to advise the city regarding any public sale of the notes.

AB615, s. 94 Section 94. 119.496 (2) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB615,40,15 119.496 (2) The board shall include in its budget transmitted to the common council under s. 119.16 (8) (b), 2007 stats., a written notice specifying the amount of borrowing to be authorized in the budget for the ensuing year. The common council shall issue the notes and levy a direct annual irrepealable tax sufficient to pay the principal and interest on the notes as they become due. The common council may issue the notes by private sale. The common council shall establish goals of involving minority investment firms certified under s. 560.036 as managing underwriters for at least 50% of the total amount financed by the notes and of engaging a minority financial adviser certified under s. 560.036 to advise the city regarding any public sale of the notes.

AB615, s. 95 Section 95. 119.496 (6) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB615,40,23 119.496 (6) (b) The board adopts a resolution declaring its intention, beginning in 1992 and annually thereafter until all notes issued under this section are repaid, to include as part of its budget transmitted to the common council under s. 119.16 (8) (b), 2007 stats., a communication under s. 119.48 , 2007 stats., stating an amount needed for a school construction fund that is sufficient to require the common council to levy 0.6 mills on each dollar of the assessed valuation of all taxable property in the city, and notifies the secretary of administration of its action.

AB615, s. 96 Section 96. 119.498 (1) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB615,41,5 119.498 (1) Subject to s. 119.499 (1), the board superintendent of schools may adopt a resolution requesting request the common council of the city to authorize the issuance of promissory notes under s. 67.12 (12) for school purposes consisting of paying unfunded prior service liability contributions under the Wisconsin Retirement System.

AB615, s. 97 Section 97. 119.498 (2) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB615,41,12 119.498 (2) If the board adopts a resolution superintendent of schools makes a request under sub. (1) and the city issues the notes, annually the board superintendent of schools shall include in its the budget transmitted to the common council under s. 119.16 (8) (b) an amount sufficient to pay the principal of and interest and redemption premium on the notes as they become due. The common council may authorize the issuance of the notes at public or private sale.

AB615, s. 98 Section 98. 119.499 of the statutes is amended to read:

AB615,41,18 119.499 Borrowing; unfunded prior service liability. (1) The board superintendent of schools may not request the redevelopment authority of the city to issue bonds under s. 66.1333 (5s) or adopt a resolution under s. 119.498 (1) unless it he or she develops information on both options and chooses the option that is in the best public interest.

AB615,41,24 (1m) If the redevelopment authority of the city issues bonds under s. 66.1333 (5s), the board superintendent of schools may borrow money from the redevelopment authority to pay unfunded prior service liability contributions under the Wisconsin Retirement System for the board. If the board superintendent of schools borrows money from the redevelopment authority of the city to make such payments, it he or she may use any school district revenues, including state aid, to repay the loan.

AB615,42,6 (2) (a) If the board superintendent of schools decides to use school district revenues to repay the loan, it he or she may request the city to remit designated revenues of the school district to the redevelopment authority of the city at such times and in such amounts as the board he or she determines. The city may agree to the request, which is irrevocable while any amount due under the loan remains outstanding.

AB615,42,12 (b) If the board superintendent of schools decides to use state aid to repay the loan, it he or she may request the department to remit the aid to the redevelopment authority of the city in an annual amount agreed to by the board superintendent of schools and the department, and the department shall ensure that the aid remittance does not affect the amount determined to be received by the board school district as state aid under s. 121.08 for any other purpose.

AB615, s. 99 Section 99. 119.50 (2) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB615,42,15 119.50 (2) The board superintendent of schools shall provide by resolution for the manner in which the payroll shall be certified, audited, approved and paid.

AB615, s. 100 Section 100. 119.53 of the statutes is created to read:

AB615,42,18 119.53 Budget committee. (1) There is created a budget committee consisting of the following members:

AB615,42,19 (a) The city comptroller or his or her designee.

AB615,42,20 (b) The president of the common council or his or her designee.

AB615,42,21 (c) The president of the board or his or her designee.

AB615,42,22 (d) The state superintendent or his or her designee.

AB615,42,23 (e) Three members appointed by the mayor to serve at his or her pleasure.

AB615,42,25 (2) The budget committee shall advise the superintendent of schools on the formulation of the annual school budget.

AB615, s. 101 Section 101. 119.55 of the statutes is amended to read:

AB615,43,7 119.55 Youth service centers, truancy abatement and burglary suppression. (1) (a) The board superintendent of schools shall establish one or more youth service centers for the counseling of children who are taken into custody under s. 938.19 (1) (d) 10. for being absent from school without an acceptable excuse under s. 118.15. The board superintendent of schools shall contract with the boys and girls clubs of Greater Milwaukee for the operation of the centers.

AB615,43,9 (b) The board superintendent of schools shall establish 2 youth service centers under par. (a).

AB615,43,12 (2) The board superintendent of schools shall pay the city a sum sufficient to pay the costs of salaries and fringe benefits of 4 law enforcement officers to work on truancy abatement and burglary suppression on a full-time basis.

AB615, s. 102 Section 102. 119.60 of the statutes is amended to read:

AB615,43,17 119.60 Real property. (1) If any real property within the city which is used for school purposes is sold, the board superintendent of schools shall determine whether the proceeds of the sale are deposited in the school operations fund under s. 119.46 or are deposited in the school construction fund under s. 119.48.

AB615,44,2 (2) City-owned property used for school purposes shall be sold by the city upon written request of the board superintendent of schools if the common council adopts a resolution approving the sale. If, within 12 months after a written request by the board superintendent of schools, the city has not disposed of the property, has failed to obtain a written agreement to dispose of the property or has not provided the board superintendent of schools with a written report giving specific reasons, which are not identified by the city attorney as constituting a conflict of interest, for its failure to dispose of the property or to obtain an agreement to dispose of the property, the board superintendent of schools may retain a real estate agent to represent the board superintendent of schools in its his or her real estate transactions.

AB615,44,7 (3) The board's superintendent's authority to retain a real estate agent under sub. (2) is limited to the actual sale of property. The board superintendent of schools may compensate the real estate agent for his or her services only on the basis of a commission for specific property sold, and no property taxes may be levied for the purpose of providing funds to pay such commissions.

AB615,44,9 (4) The city is not liable for any action of the board superintendent of schools or its his or her real estate agent in the sale of property under this section.

AB615, s. 103 Section 103. 119.66 of the statutes is amended to read:

AB615,44,25 119.66 Interest in contracts forbidden. During the term for which elected or appointed and for 2 years after the expiration of the term, no member of the board may be employed by the board school district or by the department of employee trust funds in any capacity for which a salary or emolument is provided by the board school district or the department of employee trust funds. For 2 years after leaving office, the superintendent of schools may not be employed by the school district or by the department of employee trust funds in any capacity for which a salary or emolument is provided by the school district or the department of employee trust funds. No board member, superintendent of schools, assistant superintendent, other assistant, teacher or other employee of the board may have any interest in the purchase or sale of property by the city for the use or convenience of the schools. No contract made in violation of this section is valid. Any consideration paid by the city for a purchase or sale prohibited by this section may be recovered in an action at law in the name of the city. Any person violating this section shall be removed from any position held under this chapter.

AB615, s. 104 Section 104. 119.68 (1) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB615,45,10 119.68 (1) All claims against the city or board school district shall be audited for sufficiency of funds by the auditing officer of the city. The superintendent of schools shall furnish the auditing officer of the city a complete list of the claims. Before a warrant is issued therefor, the auditing officer of the city shall countersign it. Within 20 days after each regular or special meeting of the board Monthly, the superintendent of schools shall make and file with the auditing officer of the city statements of on the condition of the funds for the support of the schools and of the financial transactions of the board school district during the period next preceding any such statement.

AB615, s. 105 Section 105. 119.70 (1) of the statutes is renumbered 119.70 (1) (a) and amended to read:

AB615,45,22 119.70 (1) (a) The board superintendent of schools may establish and maintain for children and adults, in the school buildings and on the school grounds, evening schools, vacation schools, reading rooms, library stations, debating clubs, gymnasiums, public playgrounds, public baths and similar activities and accommodations to be determined by the board superintendent of schools. The board superintendent of schools may cooperate, by agreement, with other commissions or boards having the custody and management of public parks, libraries, museums and public buildings and grounds of whatever sort to provide the equipment, supervision, instruction and oversight necessary to carry on such public educational and recreational activities in and upon such other buildings and grounds.

AB615, s. 106 Section 106. 119.70 (1) (b) of the statutes is created to read:

AB615,46,7 119.70 (1) (b) The board may establish and maintain for adults, in the school buildings and on the school grounds, evening schools, vacation schools, reading rooms, library stations, debating clubs, gymnasiums, public playgrounds, public baths and similar activities and accommodations to be determined by the board. The board may cooperate, by agreement, with other commissions or boards having the custody and management of public parks, libraries, museums and public buildings and grounds of whatever sort to provide the equipment, supervision, instruction and oversight necessary to carry on such public educational and recreational activities in and upon such other buildings and grounds.

AB615, s. 107 Section 107. 119.70 (3) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB615,46,15 119.70 (3) The board superintendent of schools shall report to the common council on or before the first Monday in August of each year the amount of money required during the ensuing school year for the support of activities under sub. (1). The common council shall levy and collect a special tax in the manner that other taxes are levied and collected, equal to the amount of money so required for the activities. The tax shall not be used or appropriated, directly or indirectly, for any other purpose.

AB615, s. 108 Section 108. 119.70 (5) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB615,46,19 119.70 (5) Nothing in this section prohibits the board or the superintendent of schools from granting the use of school property to religious organizations under s. 120.13 (17).

AB615, s. 109 Section 109. 119.71 (3) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB615,47,2 119.71 (3) (a) Annually, the board superintendent of schools shall spend at least $5,090,000 to expand its the half-day 5-year-old kindergarten program to a full-day program, as provided under par. (b), and shall enroll in the expanded program only pupils who meet the income eligibility standards for a free lunch under 42 USC 1758 (b). The board superintendent of schools shall select pupils for the expanded program based on the order in which the pupils register for the program.

AB615,47,8 (b) The board superintendent of schools shall use the funds specified under par. (a) to pay the costs of teachers, aides and other support staff, transportation of staff to pupils' homes, in-service programs, parental involvement programs and instructional materials. The board superintendent of schools may not use the funds to provide facilities to house the program or to pay pupil transportation or indirect administrative costs associated with the program.

AB615, s. 110 Section 110. 119.73 of the statutes is amended to read:

AB615,47,16 119.73 Kindergarten programs. The board superintendent of schools shall evaluate the effectiveness of the expanded 5-year-old kindergarten programs under s. 119.71 in meeting the needs of disadvantaged children. Annually by January 1, the board superintendent of schools shall submit a report summarizing its his or her findings to the state superintendent and to the chief clerk of each house of the legislature for distribution to the appropriate standing committees under s. 13.172 (3).

AB615, s. 111 Section 111. 119.74 (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB615,47,20 119.74 Extended-day elementary grade, 4-year-old kindergarten and alcohol and other drug abuse programs. (intro.) The board superintendent of schools shall spend at least $430,000 for the following programs in each school year:

AB615, s. 112 Section 112. 119.75 of the statutes is amended to read:

AB615,47,24 119.75 First grade programs. (1) The board superintendent of schools shall provide expanded educational opportunities for first grade pupils who have participated in an expanded 5-year-old kindergarten program under s. 119.71.

AB615,48,7 (2) Annually, the board superintendent of schools shall spend at least $1,070,000 to pay the costs of teachers, aides and other support staff, transportation of staff to pupils' homes, in-service programs, parental involvement programs and instructional materials related to the programs under sub. (1). The board superintendent of schools may not use the funds to provide facilities to house the programs under sub. (1) or to pay pupil transportation or indirect administrative costs associated with the programs under sub. (1).

AB615, s. 113 Section 113. 119.78 of the statutes is amended to read:

AB615,48,13 119.78 Family resource center. The board superintendent of schools shall establish a family resource center to distribute parent education materials, conduct workshops on child development, facilitate communication between school personnel and parents of pupils enrolled in the school district and provide volunteer opportunities for parents within the schools.

AB615, s. 114 Section 114. 119.82 (1m) (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB615,48,18 119.82 (1m) (intro.) Upon the request of the child or the child's parent or guardian, the board superintendent of schools shall provide an alternative educational program for any child who resides in the city and satisfies all of the following:

AB615, s. 115 Section 115. 119.90 of the statutes is created to read:

AB615,48,24 119.90 Referendum; effect of adoption. (1) There shall be submitted to the electors of the city of Milwaukee at the April 2017 spring election the following question: "Shall the law be changed so that the board of directors of the Milwaukee Public Schools is in charge of the public schools in the city and appoints the superintendent of schools?"

AB615,49,4 (2) The chairperson of the government accountability board or the chairperson's designee shall certify the result of the referendum to the secretary of administration. If the question is adopted, beginning on the day after the certification, all of the following apply:

AB615,49,7 (a) Notwithstanding ss. 119.02 (1) and (4), 119.04 (2), 119.16 (1m) and (2), and 119.18 (1g) and (1r), the board is in charge of the school district operating under this chapter and s. 119.44 (4) does not apply.

AB615,49,11 (b) Notwithstanding s. 119.32 (1) and (7), the board shall appoint the superintendent of schools, and the superintendent of schools acts under the direction of the board, and the superintendent of schools may be removed from office as provided in s. 119.36, 2007 stats.