38.16(1)(1) Annually by October 31, or within 10 days after receipt of the equalized valuations from the department of revenue, whichever is later, the district board may levy a tax, not exceeding 1.5 mills on the full value of the taxable property of the district, for the purpose of making capital improvements, acquiring equipment and operating and maintaining the schools of the district, except that the mill limitation is not applicable to taxes levied for the purpose of paying principal and interest on valid bonds or notes now or hereafter outstanding as provided in
s. 67.035. The district board secretary shall file with the clerk of each city, village and town, any part of which is located in the district, a certified statement showing the amount of the levy and the proportionate amount of the tax to be spread upon the tax rolls for collection in each city, village and town. Such proportion shall be ascertained on the basis of the ratio of full value of the taxable property of that part of the city, village or town located in the district to the full value of all taxable property in the district, as certified to the district board secretary by the department of revenue. Upon receipt of the certified statement from the district board secretary, the clerk of each city, village and town shall spread the amounts thereof upon the tax rolls for collection. When the taxes are collected, such amounts shall be paid by the treasurer of each city, village and town to the district board treasurer.
38.16(2)
(2) The district board may borrow money and levy taxes to be used for the purchase or construction of buildings and for additions, enlargements and improvements to buildings and for the acquisition of sites and equipment. In financing activities under this subsection, the district may issue its bonds or promissory notes under
ch. 67 to pay the cost thereof.
38.16 Annotation
Board power to levy taxes is constitutional. West Milwaukee v. Area Bd. Vocational, T. & A. Ed. 51 W (2d) 356, 187 NW (2d) 387.
38.18
38.18
Contracts and bidding. All contracts made by a district board for public construction in a district, the estimated cost of which exceeds $10,000, shall be let by the district board to the lowest responsible bidder in accordance with
s. 62.15 (1) to
(11) and
(14). For purposes of this section, the district board shall possess the powers conferred by
s. 62.15 on the board of public works and the common council. All contracts made under this section shall be made in the name of the district and shall be executed by the district board chairperson and district board secretary.
38.20
38.20
Adjustment of assets and liabilities. 38.20(1)
(1) Except as provided in
sub. (2), upon the creation of a district the property, assets, claims, contracts, obligations, rights, duties and liabilities relating and pertaining to the existing technical colleges in the territory included in the district shall become the property, assets, claims, contracts, obligations, rights, duties and liabilities of the district.
38.20(2)(a)(a) Upon the creation of a district the property, assets, claims, contracts, obligations, rights, duties and liabilities relating and pertaining to the existing technical college operated in a city, village or town located in the territory included in the district shall remain the property, assets, claims, contracts, obligations, rights, duties and liabilities of such city, village or town, unless the governing body of such city, village or town transfers the whole or any portion thereof to the district under an agreement between such city, village or town and the district as to the use, obligation and ownership thereof.
38.20(2)(b)
(b) The purchase price of such property, except as otherwise agreed upon under
par. (a), shall be the fair market value as determined by an independent appraiser selected jointly by the governing body of the city or village and the district board, less any outstanding obligations against the property which shall be assumed by the district.
38.20(2)(c)
(c) In financing the purchase of property transferred to the district under this subsection, the district may issue its bonds or promissory notes under
ch. 67 to pay the cost thereof including assumption of outstanding obligations.
38.20(2)(d)
(d) The city or village shall deposit the proceeds of the sale of technical college property in the debt service fund, if any, created for payment of existing technical college obligations. The indebtedness of such city or village shall, for purposes of computing its legal debt limit, be deemed reduced by the amount of such deposit. The city or village may invest these debt service fund moneys under
s. 66.04 (2) or
67.11 (2) and
(3). Bonds and notes issued by districts for purposes of this subsection shall not be subject to referendum. The purchase agreement shall include an irrevocable clause providing that the district shall pay annually to the city or village a sum of money equal to the amount in which the interest received by the city or village upon investments authorized hereunder is less than the amount of interest paid by the city or village on the bonds of the city or village for technical college purposes.
38.20(2)(e)
(e) The district purchasing property under this subsection may, with approval of the city council or village board involved, pay the purchase price by issuing and delivering directly to the city or village the general obligation promissory notes or the notes of the district under
s. 67.12 (12), except that no referendum may be held and the 10-year limitation on such notes shall be inapplicable to such notes issued under this paragraph. Such notes shall mature and be payable at such times, in such amounts and at such rate of interest as will amortize and pay when due the principal and interest on the outstanding obligations of the city or village for technical college purposes. All such notes, upon execution and delivery to the city or village, shall in all respects be held and considered as an authorized investment under
s. 66.04 (2) or
67.11 (2) and
(3) of the debt service fund created for payment of the city or village obligations issued for technical college purposes and shall be offset against city or village indebtedness in computing legal debt limit to the same extent as other authorized investments of the debt service fund and such notes may be sold and hypothecated. If the offset against city or village indebtedness under this paragraph is determined to be invalid in any respect, such city or village immediately may require the district issuing the promissory notes to such city or village to comply with
pars. (c) and
(d) to the extent necessary to cure such invalidity.
38.22
38.22
Admission requirements. 38.22(1)(d)
(d) A nonresident of this state, and if the district board of attendance approves the enrollment.
38.22(1m)
(1m) Notwithstanding
sub. (1) (intro.), a person who is at least 15 years and 6 months of age, who satisfies the other requirements for admission under
sub. (1) and who obtains a letter from his or her high school principal recommending that the person be permitted to attend the schools of a district in order to take a course in motorcycle safety is eligible to attend the schools of a district for the purpose of taking a course in motorcycle safety. A person under the age of 16 years who takes a course in motorcycle safety under this subsection may not use in the course a motorcycle other than a motorcycle provided by the school of the district for the course.
38.22(1s)
(1s) Notwithstanding
sub. (1) (intro.), an individual under the age of 16 is eligible to attend the schools of a district if all of the following apply:
38.22(1s)(a)
(a) The district board agrees to admit the individual.
38.22(1s)(b)
(b) The individual satisfies the other requirements for admission under
sub. (1).
38.22(1s)(c)
(c) The individual has the written permission of his or her parent or guardian.
38.22(3)
(3) Nonresident students shall be subject to the same rules and regulations as resident students.
38.22(4)
(4) The board shall establish procedures to determine the residence of students attending district schools. In the case of any disagreement as to the residence of any student, the board shall make the final determination.
38.22(5)
(5) The board shall promulgate rules establishing the priority to be given by a district board in admitting students who are residents of the district, students who are not residents of the district but are residents of this state and students who are not residents of this state.
38.22(6)
(6) The following persons are residents of this state for the purposes of this section and
s. 38.24:
38.22(6)(a)
(a) Any person who has been employed as a migrant worker for at least 2 months each year for 3 of the 5 years next preceding the beginning of the semester or session for which the person wishes to enroll at a district school, or for at least 3 months each year for 2 of the 5 years next preceding the beginning of the semester or session for which the person wishes to enroll at a district school, any adult whose parent or legal guardian has been so employed while the adult was a minor, and any minor whose parent or legal guardian has been so employed. In this paragraph, "migrant worker" has the meaning specified in
s. 103.90 (5).
38.22(6)(b)
(b) Any minor, or adult who is a dependent of his or her parents or guardian under
26 USC 152 (a), whose natural parents are divorced or legally separated, if one or both of the person's parents have been bona fide residents of this state for at least 12 months next preceding the beginning of the semester or session for which the person wishes to enroll at a district school.
38.22(6)(c)
(c) Any person continuously employed full time in this state, who was relocated to this state by his or her current employer or who moved to this state for employment purposes and accepted his or her current employment before applying for admission to a district school and before moving, and the spouse and dependents of any such person, if the student demonstrates an intent to establish and maintain a permanent home in Wisconsin. In this paragraph, "dependents" has the meaning given in
26 USC 152 (a).
38.22(6)(d)
(d) Any person who is a refugee, as defined under
8 USC 1101 (a) (42), who moved to this state immediately upon arrival in the United States and who has resided in this state continuously since then, if he or she demonstrates an intent to establish and maintain a permanent home in Wisconsin.
38.22 Annotation
A district may not refuse to admit nonresident Wisconsin students to approved apprenticeship programs because the district of the student's residence fails to reimburse the district, unless state board adopts rules sanctioning refusal. 69 Atty. Gen. 257.
38.23
38.23
Student discrimination prohibited. 38.23(1)
(1) No student may be denied admission to, participation in or the benefits of, or be discriminated against in any service, program, course or facility of the board or any district because of the student's race, color, creed, religion, sex, national origin, disability, ancestry, age, sexual orientation, pregnancy, marital status or parental status.
38.23(2)(a)(a) Each district board shall establish policies and procedures to protect students from discrimination under
sub. (1). The policies and procedures shall do all of the following:
38.23(2)(a)1.
1. Provide criteria for determining whether
sub. (1) has been violated.
38.23(2)(a)3.
3. Require a complainant to file a complaint with the district director within 300 days of the alleged violation of
sub. (1).
38.23(2)(a)4.
4. Provide periods within which the complainant and the district director must act for each procedural step leading to the issuance of a final decision and for appeal of the final decision to the district board.
38.23(2)(b)
(b) The policies and procedures established under
par. (a) are subject to review and approval by the board.
38.23(3)
(3) By September 1, 1991, 1992, 1993, and 1994, the board shall submit a report to the chief clerk of each house of the legislature for distribution to the appropriate standing committees under
s. 13.172 (3). The report shall specify the number of complaints received by each district board in the previous school year alleging a violation of
sub. (1) and the disposition of each such complaint.
38.23(4)
(4) Nothing in this section or
s. 36.12 prevents institutions from segregating students in dormitories based on sex.
38.23 History
History: 1989 a. 186.
38.24
38.24
Fees and tuition. 38.24(1)(1)
Definition. In this section, "operational cost" means costs funded by general purpose revenue, property taxes and uniform fees established under
sub. (1m) (a) and
(b).
38.24(1g)
(1g) Operational costs. Annually, by January 1, the board shall estimate the statewide operational cost per full-time equivalent student in collegiate transfer programs and postsecondary and vocational-adult programs for the next fiscal year. The board shall furnish each district board with definitions of statewide operational costs per full-time equivalent student and shall establish procedures for determining operational cost per full-time equivalent student.
38.24(1m)
(1m) Program fees. The district boards shall charge students the fees established by the state board under this subsection. Annually, the board shall establish:
38.24(1m)(a)
(a)
Liberal arts collegiate transfer programs. Uniform fees based on not less than 31% of the statewide average operational costs of liberal arts collegiate transfer programs in district schools.
38.24(1m)(b)
(b)
Postsecondary and vocational-adult programs. Uniform fees based on not less than 14% of the combined estimated statewide operational cost of postsecondary, exclusive of collegiate transfer, and vocational-adult programs. The board shall maintain statewide uniformity in the program fees charged for postsecondary and vocational-adult credits. Students 62 years old and over shall be exempted from program fees under this paragraph in vocational-adult programs. Students enrolled in adult high school, including students enrolled under
s. 118.15 (1) (cm) 3., adult basic education and English as a 2nd language courses shall be exempted from program fees under this paragraph. The board shall establish fees under this paragraph as if students exempt from fees under
sub. (4) were not exempt.
38.24(1m)(c)
(c)
Materials fees. Establish uniform fees against all students, including tuition exempted students under
par. (b), to cover the cost of consumable materials in addition to program fees. The board shall establish fees under this paragraph as if students exempt from fees under
sub. (4) were not exempt.
38.24(1m)(d)
(d) Programs for inmates. Uniform fees, for vocational programs or courses offered to state prison inmates at a district facility by the department of corrections or the department of health and family services in cooperation with a district board, equal to the fees established under
par. (b).
38.24(1s)
(1s) Additional fees. A district board may establish and charge a fee in addition to the fees under
sub. (1m) for any of the following:
38.24(1s)(b)
(b) A short-term, professional development, vocational-adult seminar or workshop offered to individuals who are employed in a related field. The additional fee may not exceed an amount equal to the full cost of the seminar or workshop less the fee under
sub. (1m). Annually the district board shall report to the board the courses for which an additional fee was charged under this paragraph and the amount of the additional fee.
38.24(1s)(c)
(c) A vocational-adult course intended to improve an individual's skills beyond the entry level if the course is required by state or federal law, rule or regulation, or by a professional organization, to maintain licensure or certification in the individual's field of employment and the state director approves. The additional fee may not exceed an amount equal to the full cost of the course less the fee under
sub. (1m).
38.24(2)
(2) Refunds. The board shall establish fee and tuition refund policies.
38.24(3)
(3) Nonresident fees and liabilities; remissions. 38.24(3)(a)(a) For all students who are not residents of this state, nor subject to reciprocal agreements with the board, annually the board shall establish a fee based on 100% of the statewide cost per full-time equivalent student for operating the programs in which they are enrolled.
38.24(3)(b)
(b) Notwithstanding
par. (a), the state director may authorize the district board to charge a student who is not a resident of this state and who is subject to a contract with a federal agency under
s. 38.14 (3) (a) a fee equal to the contracting district board's direct cost per full-time equivalent student for operating the program in which he or she is enrolled plus an amount equal to the district board's indirect costs per full-time equivalent student attributable to the contract.
38.24(3)(c)
(c) The state director may authorize a district board to remit the fees under
par. (a), but not the fees under
sub. (1m), to any of the following:
38.24(3)(c)1.
1. A number of needy and worthy students. The number of students receiving fee remissions under this subdivision in all districts may not exceed a number equal to 0.5% of the full-time equivalent statewide enrollment.
38.24(3)(c)2.
2. Students enrolling under agreements with foreign educational institutions that provide for the exchange of an equal number of students who are residents of this state.
38.24(3)(d)
(d) The board shall promulgate rules relating to the remission of fees under
par. (c), including rules defining "needy and worthy".
38.24(3)(f)
(f) Notwithstanding
par. (a), the state director may authorize the district board to charge a student who is not a resident of this state and who is enrolled in a course provided through the use of distance education, as defined in
s. 24.60 (1g), a fee that is less than the fee established under
par. (a) but not less than the fees established under
sub. (1m).
38.24(4)
(4) Fee exemptions. A graduate of an associate degree program or vocational diploma program who is a resident of this state is exempt from the fees under
sub. (1m) (b) and
(c) for up to 6 credits within the same occupational program for which the degree or diploma was awarded if the graduate applies for the exemption within 6 months of graduation and any of the following apply:
38.24(4)(a)
(a) Within 90 days after his or her initial employment, the graduate's employer certifies to the district board that the graduate lacks entry-level job skills and specifies in writing the specific areas in which the graduate's skills are deficient.
38.24(4)(b)
(b) The graduate certifies that all of the following apply:
38.24(4)(b)1.
1. The graduate has not secured employment in the occupational field in which he or she received the degree or diploma.
38.24(4)(b)2.
2. The graduate has actively pursued employment in that occupational field.
38.24(4)(b)3.
3. The graduate has not refused employment in that occupational field or in a related field.
38.24(4)(b)4.
4. The graduate has actively sought the assistance of the district placement office.
38.24(5)(a)1m.
1m. "Fire fighter" means any person employed by this state or any political subdivision of this state as a member or officer of a fire department whose duties include fire fighting or fire fighting training or a member of a volunteer fire department whose duties include fire fighting or fire fighting training.
38.24 Note
NOTE: Subd. 1m. is shown as renumbered from s. 38.27 (5) (a) 1m. by the revisor under s. 13.93 (1) (b).
38.24(5)(b)
(b) The district board shall grant full remission of fees under
sub. (1m) (a) to
(c) to any resident student who is enrolled in a program leading to an associate of arts degree, a collegiate transfer program or a vocational diploma program and who is any of the following:
38.24(5)(b)1.
1. The child of a correctional officer, fire fighter or law enforcement officer who was killed in the line of duty in this state. The student must be the child of a correctional officer, fire fighter or law enforcement officer who was so killed when the child was under the age of 21 or before the child was born.
38.24(5)(b)2.
2. The surviving spouse of a correctional officer, fire fighter or law enforcement officer who was killed in the line of duty in this state.
38.24(5)(c)
(c) The fee remission under
par. (b) shall remain in effect until completion of a sufficient number of credits to complete the program in which the student is enrolled, except that a student must be in good academic standing to receive the remission for the next semester and may not receive a remission for more than 3 consecutive years.
38.24(5)(d)
(d) If the appropriation under
s. 20.292 (1) (am) in any fiscal year is insufficient to fully fund the fee remissions under
par. (b), the district board shall notify the joint committee on finance.
38.24 History
History: 1971 c. 154,
211,
228;
1975 c. 39,
224;
1977 c. 29,
418;
1981 c. 20;
1983 a. 27;
1985 a. 29;
1987 a. 27;
1989 a. 31,
107,
336;
1991 a. 39 ss.
1103 to
1108m,
1117;
1993 a. 16,
223,
491;
1995 a. 27 s.
9126 (19);
1995 a. 77,
228;
1997 a. 27,
163,
292; s. 13.93 (1) (b).
38.24 Annotation
Guidelines for determination of the district of residency of a VTAE (technical college) student and statutes affecting attendance at a particular VTAE (technical college) school are discussed. 61 Atty. Gen. 151.
38.24 Annotation
VTAE schools (technical colleges) are not "district schools" within the meaning of Art. X, sec. 3. 64 Atty. Gen. 24.
