119.16(1)(1)
Educational priorities and objectives. The board and the superintendent of schools shall identify broad yearly objectives and assess priorities for education in the district and shall issue an annual report and such additional reports as the board and superintendent deem desirable on the progress of pupils enrolled in the public schools.
119.16(1m)
(1m) Management of school district. The board shall have the possession, care, control and management of the schools, facilities, operations, property and affairs of the school district.
119.16(2)
(2) Establish schools and districts. The board shall maintain the public schools in the city and shall establish, organize and maintain such schools as the board determines are necessary to accommodate the children entitled to instruction therein. The board shall divide the city into attendance districts for such schools.
119.16(3)(a)(a) The board shall construct, purchase, lease, improve or enlarge buildings and purchase furniture and sites for the public schools, shall purchase, install and maintain heating systems in public schools and may contract for carrying out any of these purposes.
119.16(3)(b)
(b) Schoolhouses and the sites on which they are situated shall be the property of the city, but no site may be purchased or leased and no schoolhouse may be constructed unless a resolution therefor is duly adopted by the board. Deeds of conveyance and leases shall be made to the city.
119.16(4)
(4) Competitive bidding. The board shall establish competitive bidding policies and procedures for purchases and for construction contracts.
119.16(5)
(5) Special courses. Within budgetary limitations, the board shall establish in any public school, in grade 7 and higher, such classes of instruction consistent with the educational goals and objectives adopted by the board under
sub. (1) as are petitioned for by the parents of a number of pupils attending the school sufficient to form one or more classes of instruction. Petition by the parents of 30 or more pupils of like classification attending any such school requesting the establishment of instruction in a specified subject is prima facie evidence of the sufficiency of the number of pupils to commence instruction therein.
119.16(6)
(6) Custodians of school premises. The board shall fix the duties and responsibilities of principals, as custodians of the school premises, and of the school engineers. Each principal shall have general supervision of and shall be custodian of all school premises over which the principal presides.
119.16(8)(a)(a) Annually before adopting its budget for the ensuing school year and at least 5 days before transmitting its completed budget under
par. (b), the board shall hold a public hearing on the proposed school budget at a time and place fixed by the board. At least one week before the public hearing, the board shall publish a class 1 notice, under
ch. 985, of the public hearing.
119.16(8)(b)
(b) The board shall transmit its completed budget to the common council on or before the first Monday in August of each year on forms furnished by the auditing officer of the city. Such completed budget shall be published with the budget summary under
s. 65.04 (2) or
65.20 and budget under
s. 65.05 (7).
119.16(10)(a)(a) The board may not demolish any school facility that is 50 years old or older without the approval of the city historic preservation commission.
119.16(10)(b)
(b) The board may construct new school facilities only in the areas of greatest local need for such facilities.
119.16 Annotation
Discussion of authority of school board to contract for services and facilities for academically and socially retarded children. 61 Atty. Gen. 203.
119.18(1g)(1g)
Generally. The board may do all things reasonable to promote the cause of education, including establishing, providing and improving school district programs, functions and activities for the benefit of pupils.
119.18(1r)
(1r) Rules. The board may adopt and modify or repeal rules for its own government and for the organization, discipline and management of the public schools which shall promote the good order and public usefulness of the public schools.
119.18(2)
(2) Distribution of printed proceedings. The board may determine the distribution of the printed proceedings of the board.
119.18(3)
(3) Transportation. The board may provide for the transportation of pupils to and from any school within the city.
119.18(4)
(4) Insurance. The board may provide for accident insurance covering pupils in the school district.
119.18(5)
(5) Textbooks for indigent pupils. The board may purchase textbooks for pupils whose parents, guardians or other persons having control or custody of such pupils are without means to furnish them with textbooks, if the indigency of such pupils have been investigated and certified by a welfare worker or attendance officer. The local governmental authority administering poor relief in the city shall reimburse the board for all expenditures by the board for such textbooks. Such textbooks shall be the property of the city and subject to the disposal of the board.
119.18(6)
(6) School calendar. The board may determine the school calendar and vacation periods for each school year for the regular day schools, summer schools, social centers and playgrounds, except that:
119.18(6)(a)
(a) The period of teaching service in the regular day schools shall not exceed 200 days, including the legal holidays and educational convention days on which the schools are closed.
119.18(6)(b)
(b) The board may close any school or dismiss any class in the event of an emergency, fire or other casualty, quarantine or epidemic.
119.18(7)
(7) School hours. The board may establish rules scheduling the hours of each school day during which the schools shall be in session. The board may differentiate between the various grades in scheduling such school hours.
119.18(8)
(8) Schools closed. The board may determine on which national, state and local legal holidays and for which educational conventions the public schools shall be closed. There shall be no deductions from the annual or monthly compensation of employes not rendering services on such days.
119.18(9)
(9) Enrollment under legal name. The board may require that any pupil attending public school shall be enrolled under the pupil's legal name.
119.18(10)(b)(b) Subject to
ss. 63.18 to
63.53 when applicable, the board may employ and determine the qualifications, duties and compensation of any persons as are required in the operation and management of the schools.
119.18(10)(c)
(c) The board may employ a staff to aid it in its duties. The board shall determine the compensation, duties and qualifications of its staff, including whether or not employment of such staff shall be subject to
ss. 63.18 to
63.53.
119.18(11)
(11) Bonded officers and employes. The board may require any officer or employe of the board to give security for the faithful performance of the officer's or employe's duties in such form and amount as the board determines, and may require at any time additional bonds and sureties of any officer or employe.
119.18(12)
(12) Employer contribution. The board may make as the employer agency the contributions to the city retirement system payable under
chapter 396, laws of 1937, in respect to its employes who are members of such system.
119.18(13)
(13) Exchange teachers. The board may make an agreement with the managing body of the schools in any city or school district in the United States or another country for the exchange of one of the board's teachers for a teacher of such other city or school district for a period not exceeding one school year. The board shall determine the qualifications and compensation of the teacher rendering service under the agreement in the schools under its jurisdiction, who shall be counted as a regular teacher in the city in the computation of state and county school aids. The agreement shall state:
119.18(13)(a)
(a) The manner and by whom the salaries of such exchange teachers shall be paid.
119.18(13)(b)
(b) That any teacher regularly employed by the board under this chapter shall receive credit for the year of exchange teaching service in the computation of any benefits to which the teacher is entitled under
ch. 40 and the manner in which the monthly reservations shall be paid under that subchapter.
119.18(13)(c)
(c) Such other provisions as the board and the other managing body deem appropriate.
119.18(14)
(14) Sales and charges. The board may establish and maintain, in any of the schools or playgrounds under its jurisdiction, cafeterias and stores for the sale of schoolbooks, candies, refreshments and supplies. The board also may charge or permit the making of a charge for admission to any school, social center or athletic entertainment or activity, under such terms and conditions as the board prescribes.
119.18(15)
(15) Lease school property. In addition to any other authority, the board may lease school sites, buildings and equipment not needed for school purposes to any person for any lawful use at a reasonable rental for a term not exceeding 15 years.
119.18(16)
(16) Gifts and grants. The board may receive, accept and use gifts or grants of furniture, books, equipment, supplies, moneys, securities or other property used or useful for school and educational purposes. The board shall make such use of gifts or grants, or invest the same in the case of moneys, as the donor or grantor specifies. In the absence of any specific direction as to the use of such gifts or grants by a donor or grantor, the board may determine the use of or may invest the same in accordance with the law applicable to trust investments. In the use, control or investment of such gifts or grants, the board may exercise the rights and powers generally conferred upon trustees.
119.18(17)
(17) Purchases from house of correction. The board may purchase for use in the schools, from any county in which the city is located, furniture, furnishings and equipment manufactured in any house of correction under
s. 303.16 (1). The board may waive the furnishing by the county or institution of bid bonds and performance bonds otherwise required by the statutes in connection with any such purchase.
119.18(18)
(18) Copyright materials. The board may copyright under the applicable federal laws any book, pamphlet, bulletin or record form edited and published by or under the direction of the board.
119.18(19)
(19) Fences. The board may construct around any schoolhouse or playground site a fence of materials and design approved by the board.
119.18(20)
(20) Diplomas. The board may grant diplomas in testimony of the completion of high school or special education requirements, including the requirements of special schools established under
s. 119.28 and special classes, centers or services established under
s. 115.83.
119.18(21)
(21) Rules on conduct and dress. The board may establish rules pertaining to conduct and dress of pupils in order to maintain good decorum and a favorable academic atmosphere.
119.18(22)
(22) Records custodian. On behalf of any school district authority as defined in
s. 19.32 (1), including the board, school district officers and any subunit of the board or school district, designate one or more persons to be legal custodians of records.
119.18(23)
(23) School closings. The board may close any school that it determines is low in performance by adopting a resolution to that effect. If the superintendent of schools recommends to the board that a school be closed, he or she shall state the reasons for the recommendation in writing. If the board closes a school, the superintendent of schools may reassign the school's staff members without regard to seniority in service. If the board reopens the school, the superintendent of schools may reassign staff members to the school without regard to seniority in service.
119.19
119.19
Released time for religious instruction. 119.19(1)
(1) The board may permit a pupil, with the written permission of the pupil's parent or guardian, to be absent from school for up to 180 minutes per week to obtain religious instruction outside the school during the required school period. The board shall determine periods allotted for the pupil to be absent from school for the purpose of religious instruction. Monthly, the supervisor of the religious instruction shall report the names of the pupils who attended such weekly religious instruction to the principal of the school that the pupil regularly attends. The board may withdraw permission to be absent from school if a pupil does not attend the religious instruction.
119.19(2)
(2) The board is not responsible for transporting a pupil to or from religious instruction under
sub. (1).
119.19(3)
(3) The board is released from all liability for a pupil who is absent from school under
sub. (1).
119.19 History
History: 1989 a. 267.
119.22
119.22
Sex discrimination in physical education or physical training prohibited. Courses in physical education or physical training may not discriminate on the basis of sex in the provision of necessary facilities, equipment, instruction or financial support, or the opportunity to participate in any physical education or training activity as provided in
20 USC 1681 et seq.
119.23
119.23
Milwaukee parental choice program. 119.23(2)(a)(a) Subject to
par. (b), beginning in the 1990-91 school year, any pupil in grades kindergarten to 12 who resides within the city may attend, at no charge, any private school located in the city if all of the following apply:
119.23(2)(a)1.
1. The pupil is a member of a family that has a total family income that does not exceed an amount equal to 1.75 times the poverty level determined in accordance with criteria established by the director of the federal office of management and budget.
119.23(2)(a)2.
2. In the previous school year the pupil was enrolled in the school district operating under this chapter, was attending a private school under this section, was enrolled in grades kindergarten to 3 in a private school located in the city other than under this section or was not enrolled in school.
119.23(2)(a)3.
3. The private school notified the department of its intent to participate in the program under this section by May 1 of the previous school year. The notice shall specify the number of pupils participating in the program under this section for which the school has space.
Effective date note
NOTE: Subd. 3. is shown as amended eff. 1-1-96 by
1995 Wis. Act 27, s.
9145 (1). The treatment by Act 27 was held unconstitutional and declared void by the Supreme Court in Thompson v. Craney, case no.
95-2168-OA. Prior to Act 27, s. 9145 (1), it read:
Effective date text
3. The private school notified the state superintendent of its intent to participate in the program under this section by May 1 of the previous school year. The notice shall specify the number of pupils participating in the program under this section for which the school has space.
119.23(2)(a)5.
5. The private school meets all health and safety laws or codes that apply to public schools.
119.23(2)(b)
(b) In the 1995-96 school year, no more than 7% of the school district's membership may attend private schools under this section. Beginning in the 1996-97 school year, no more than 15% of the school district's membership may attend private schools under this section. If in any school year there are more spaces available in the participating private schools than the maximum number of pupils allowed to participate, the department shall prorate the number of spaces available at each participating private school.
119.23(3)(a)(a) The pupil or the pupil's parent or guardian shall submit an application, on a form provided by the department, to the participating private school that the pupil wishes to attend. Within 60 days after receiving the application, the private school shall notify the applicant, in writing, whether the application has been accepted. The department shall ensure that the private school determines which pupils to accept on a random basis, except that the private school may give preference in accepting applications to siblings of pupils accepted on a random basis.
Effective date note
NOTE: Par. (a) is shown as amended eff. 1-1-96 by
1995 Wis. Act 27, s.
9145 (1). The treatment by Act 27 was held unconstitutional and declared void by the Supreme Court in Thompson v. Craney, case no.
95-2168-OA. Prior to Act 27, s. 9145 (1), it read:
Effective date text
(a) The pupil or the pupil's parent or guardian shall submit an application, on a form provided by the state superintendent, to the participating private school that the pupil wishes to attend. Within 60 days after receiving the application, the private school shall notify the applicant, in writing, whether the application has been accepted. The state superintendent shall ensure that the private school determines which pupils to accept on a random basis, except that the private school may give preference in accepting applications to siblings of pupils accepted on a random basis.
119.23(3)(b)
(b) If the private school rejects an applicant because it has too few available spaces, the pupil may transfer his or her application to a participating private school that has space available.
119.23(4)
(4) Upon receipt from the pupil's parent or guardian of proof of the pupil's enrollment in the private school, the department shall pay to the parent or guardian, from the appropriation under
s. 20.255 (2) (fu), an amount equal to the total amount to which the school district is entitled under
s. 121.08 divided by the school district membership, or an amount equal to the private school's operating and debt service cost per pupil that is related to educational programming, as determined by the department, whichever is less. The department shall pay 25% of the total amount in September, 25% in November, 25% in February and 25% in May. The department shall send the check to the private school. The parent or guardian shall restrictively endorse the check for the use of the private school.
Effective date note
NOTE: Sub. (4) is shown as amended eff. 1-1-96 by
1995 Wis. Act 27, s.
9145 (1). The treatment by Act 27, s. 9145 (1), was held unconstitutional and declared void by the Supreme Court in Thompson v. Craney, case no.
95-2168-OA. Prior to Act 27, s. 9145 (1), it read:
Effective date text
(4) Upon receipt from the pupil's parent or guardian of proof of the pupil's enrollment in the private school, the state superintendent shall pay to the parent or guardian, from the appropriation under s. 20.255 (2) (fu), an amount equal to the total amount to which the school district is entitled under s. 121.08 divided by the school district membership, or an amount equal to the private school's operating and debt service cost per pupil that is related to educational programming, as determined by the department, whichever is less. The state superintendent shall pay 25% of the total amount in September, 25% in November, 25% in February and 25% in May. The department shall send the check to the private school. The parent or guardian shall restrictively endorse the check for the use of the private school.
Effective date note
NOTE: Sub. (5) (intro.) is shown as amended eff. 1-1-96 by
1995 Wis. Act 27. The treatment by Act 27 was held unconstitutional and declared void by the Supreme Court in Thompson v. Craney, case no.
95-2168-OA. Prior to Act 27 it read:
Effective date text
(5) The state superintendent shall:
119.23(5)(a)
(a) Annually reduce the aid paid to the board under
s. 121.08 by an amount determined as follows:
119.23(5)(a)1.
1. Divide the total amount to which the school district is entitled under
s. 121.08 by the school district membership.
119.23(5)(a)2.
2. Multiply the quotient under
subd. 1. by the number of pupils attending private schools under this section.
119.23(5)(b)
(b) Ensure that aid paid to other school districts under
s. 121.08 is neither reduced nor increased as a result of the payments under
sub. (4) or the reduction in aid to the board under
par. (a) and that the amount of the aid reduction under
par. (a) lapses to the general fund.
119.23(5)(c)
(c) Ensure that pupils and parents and guardians of pupils who reside in the city are informed annually of the private schools participating in the program under this section.
119.23(6)
(6) The board shall provide transportation to pupils attending a private school under this section if required under
s. 121.54 and may claim transportation aid under
s. 121.58 for pupils so transported.
119.23(7)(a)(a) Each private school participating in the program under this section shall meet at least one of the following standards:
