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
The authority of school boards to contract for services and facilities for "academically and socially retarded" children is discussed. 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 employees 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 employees. The board may require any officer or employee of the board to give security for the faithful performance of the officer's or employee'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 employee.
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 employees 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.
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(1)(c)
(c) "Summer choice average daily membership equivalent" means the summer average daily membership equivalent of pupils who were attending a private school under this section on the 2nd Friday of January of the school term immediately preceding that summer or whose applications have been accepted under
sub. (3) for attendance at the private school in the school term immediately following that summer.
119.23(2)(a)(a) Subject to
par. (b), 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 state superintendent of its intent to participate in the program under this section by February 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) 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 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)(a)(a) Annually, on or before October 15, a private school participating in the program under this section shall file with the department a report stating its summer average daily membership equivalent and its summer choice average daily membership equivalent for the purpose of
sub. (4m).
119.23(4)(b)
(b) Upon receipt from the pupil's parent or guardian of proof of the pupil's enrollment in the private school during a school term, the state superintendent shall pay to the parent or guardian, from the appropriation under
s. 20.255 (2) (fu), an amount equal to the lesser of the following:
119.23(4)(b)1.
1. The 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.
119.23(4)(b)2.
2. The amount paid per pupil under this paragraph in the previous school year multiplied by the sum of 1.0 plus the percentage change from the previous school year to the current school year in the total amount appropriated under
s. 20.255 (2) (ac) and
(r) expressed as a decimal, but not less than zero.
119.23(4)(c)
(c) The state superintendent shall pay 25% of the total amount under
par. (b) in September, 25% in November, 25% in February and 25% in May. The state superintendent may include the entire amount under
sub. (4m) in one of those installments or apportion the entire amount among one or more of those installments. 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.
119.23(4m)
(4m) In addition to the payment under
sub. (4) the state superintendent shall pay to the parent or guardian of each pupil enrolled in a private school under this section, in the manner described in
sub. (4) (c), an amount determined by multiplying 40% of the payment under
sub. (4) by the quotient determined by dividing the summer choice average daily membership equivalent of the private school by the total number of pupils for whom payments are being made under
sub. (4).
119.23(5)
(5) The state superintendent shall 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:
119.23(7)(a)1.
1. At least 70% of the pupils in the program advance one grade level each year.
119.23(7)(a)2.
2. The private school's average attendance rate for the pupils in the program is at least 90%.
119.23(7)(a)3.
3. At least 80% of the pupils in the program demonstrate significant academic progress.
119.23(7)(a)4.
4. At least 70% of the families of pupils in the program meet parent involvement criteria established by the private school.
119.23(7)(am)
(am) Each private school participating in the program under this section is subject to uniform financial accounting standards established by the department. Annually by September 1 following a school year in which a private school participated in the program under this section, the private school shall submit to the department all of the following:
119.23(7)(am)1.
1. An independent financial audit of the private school conducted by a certified public accountant, accompanied by the auditor's statement that the report is free of material misstatements and fairly presents pupil costs under
sub. (4) (b) 1. The audit under this subdivision shall be limited in scope to those records that are necessary for the department to make payments under
subs. (4) and
(4m).
119.23(7)(am)2.
2. Evidence of sound fiscal practices, as prescribed by the department by rule.
119.23(7)(c)
(c) A private school may not require a pupil attending the private school under this section to participate in any religious activity if the pupil's parent or guardian submits to the pupil's teacher or the private school's principal a written request that the pupil be exempt from such activities.
119.23(7)(d)
(d) By August 1 before the first school term of participation in the program, or by May 1 if the private school begins participating in the program during summer school, each private school participating in the program under this section shall submit to the department all of the following:
119.23(7)(d)1.
1. A copy of the school's current certificate of occupancy issued by the city. If the private school moves to a new location, the private school shall submit a copy of the new certificate of occupancy issued by the city to the department before the attendance of pupils at the new location and before the next succeeding date specified in
s. 121.05 (1) (a). A temporary certificate of occupancy does not meet the requirement of this subdivision.
119.23(7)(d)2.
2. Evidence of financial viability, as prescribed by the department by rule.
119.23(7)(d)3.
3. Proof that the private school's administrator has participated in a fiscal management training program approved by the department.
119.23(8)
(8) There is created a pupil assignment council composed of one representative from each private school participating in the program under this section. Annually by June 30, the council shall make recommendations to the participating private schools to achieve, to the extent possible, a balanced representation of pupils participating in the program under this section.
119.23(10)(a)(a) The state superintendent may issue an order barring a private school from participating in the program under this section in the current school year if the state superintendent determines that the private school has done any of the following:
