119.23 Cross-reference
Cross Reference: See also ch.
PI 35, Wis. adm. code.
119.23 Annotation
The Cleveland, Ohio school choice program, which provides tuition aid to parents who may use the money to pay tuition to private, religious schools, does not violate the establishment of religion clause of the 1st Amendment. When an aid program is neutral with respect to religion and provides assistance to a broad class of citizens who, in turn, direct the aid to religious schools through individual choice, the program is not subject to challenge. Zelman v. Simmons-Harris, ___ U.S. ___,
153 L. Ed. 2d 604 (2002).
119.23 Annotation
Milwaukee Parental Choice Program Upheld. Beard. 75 MLR 673 (1992).
119.23 Annotation
The Constitutional Implications of School Choice. 1992 WLR 459.
119.23 Annotation
Opening the Door to School Choice in Wisconsin. Is Agnosti v. Felton the Key? Kimball. 81 MLR 843 (1998).
119.235
119.235
Contracts with private schools and agencies. 119.235(1)(1) The board may contract with any nonsectarian private school located in the city or any nonsectarian private agency located in the city to provide educational programs to pupils enrolled in the school district operating under this chapter. The board shall ensure that each private school or agency under contract with the board complies with
ss. 118.125 and
118.13,
20 USC 1232g,
20 USC 1681 to
1688,
20 USC 3171 to
3197,
29 USC 794,
42 USC 2000d and
42 USC 6101 to
6107, and all health and safety laws and rules that apply to public schools.
119.235(2)
(2) Each private school or agency under contract with the board shall do all of the following:
119.235(2)(b)
(b) Participate in the board's parent information program.
119.235(2)(c)
(c) Offer diverse opportunities for parents to participate in the school's programs.
119.235(2)(d)
(d) Meet insurance and financial requirements established by the board.
119.235(2)(e)
(e) Develop a pupil recruitment and enrollment plan that incorporates all of the following:
119.235(2)(e)2.
2. A pupil selection process that gives preference to the siblings of enrolled pupils and that gives no other preferences except those approved by the board.
119.235(2)(e)3.
3. A statement describing how the plan will serve the needs of low-academic achievers and pupils from low-income families.
119.235(2)(f)
(f) Report to the board any information requested by the board.
119.235(3)
(3) Any pupil enrolled in the school district operating under this chapter may attend, at no charge, any private school or agency with which the board has contracted under
sub. (1) if space is available in the private school or agency.
119.235(4)
(4) The board shall establish appropriate, quantifiable performance standards for pupils at each private school or agency with which it contracts in such areas as attendance, reading achievement, pupil retention, pupil promotion, parent surveys, credits earned and grade point average.
119.235(5)
(5) Annually, the board shall monitor the performance of the program under this section. The board may use the results of standardized basic educational skills tests to do so. The board shall include a summary of its findings in its annual report to the state superintendent under
s. 119.44.
119.235 History
History: 1995 a. 27.
119.24
119.24
Admission of pupils. A pupil may attend a school in an attendance district other than the one in which he or she resides with the written permission of the superintendent of schools. Beginning in the 2000-01 school year, the board shall provide spaces in each school for pupils who reside outside the attendance district for the school, but shall fill any unused spaces with pupils who reside in the attendance district. A pupil who attends a school may continue to attend that school until he or she graduates from the school and each sibling of that pupil shall be given priority over other pupils in the process of admission for that school.
119.24 History
History: 1985 a. 29;
1999 a. 9.
119.25
119.25
Expulsion of pupils. 119.25(1)(1) The board may adopt a resolution, which is effective only during the school year in which it is adopted, authorizing any of the following to determine pupil expulsion from school under
sub. (2) instead of using the procedure under
s. 120.13 (1) (c):
119.25(1)(a)
(a) An independent hearing panel appointed by the board.
119.25(1)(b)
(b) An independent hearing officer appointed by the board.
119.25(2)(a)(a) During any school year in which a resolution adopted under
sub. (1) is effective, the independent hearing officer or independent hearing panel appointed by the board:
119.25(2)(a)1.
1. May expel a pupil from school whenever the hearing officer or panel finds that the pupil engaged in conduct that constitutes grounds for expulsion under
s. 120.13 (1) (c) 1. or
2.
119.25(2)(a)2.
2. Shall commence proceedings under
par. (b) and expel a pupil from school for not less than one year whenever the hearing officer or panel finds that the pupil engaged in conduct that constitutes grounds for expulsion under
s. 120.13 (1) (c) 2m.
119.25(2)(b)
(b) No administrator may be designated to participate in an expulsion hearing if he or she was involved in the incident that led to the expulsion proceeding. Prior to expelling a pupil, the hearing officer or panel shall hold a hearing. Upon request of the pupil and, if the pupil is a minor, the pupil's parent or guardian, the hearing shall be closed. The pupil and, if the pupil is a minor, the pupil's parent or guardian, may be represented at the hearing by counsel. The hearing officer or panel shall keep a full record of the hearing. The hearing officer or panel shall inform each party of the right to a complete record of the proceeding. Upon request, the hearing officer or panel shall direct that a transcript of the record be prepared and that a copy of the transcript be given to the pupil and, if the pupil is a minor, the pupil's parent or guardian. Upon the ordering by the hearing officer or panel of the expulsion of a pupil, the school district shall mail a copy of the order to the board, the pupil and, if the pupil is a minor, the pupil's parent or guardian. A school board, hearing officer or panel may disclose the transcript to the parent or guardian of an adult pupil, if the adult pupil is a dependent of his or her parent or guardian under section
152 of the internal revenue code. Within 30 days after the date on which the order is issued, the board shall review the expulsion order and shall, upon review, approve, reverse or modify the order. The order of the hearing officer or panel shall be enforced while the board reviews the order. The expelled pupil or, if the pupil is a minor, the pupil's parent or guardian may appeal the board's decision to the state superintendent. If the board's decision is appealed to the state superintendent, within 60 days after the date on which the state superintendent receives the appeal, the state superintendent shall review the decision and shall, upon review, approve, reverse or modify the decision. The decision of the board shall be enforced while the state superintendent reviews the decision. An appeal from the decision of the state superintendent may be taken within 30 days to the circuit court for the county in which the school is located.
119.25(2)(c)
(c) Not less than 5 days' written notice of the hearing under
par. (b) shall be sent to the pupil and, if the pupil is a minor, to the pupil's parent or guardian. The notice shall include all of the information specified in
s. 120.13 (1) (e) 4.
119.25(2)(d)1.a.
a. "Early reinstatement" means the reinstatement to school of an expelled pupil before the expiration of the term of expulsion specified in the pupil's expulsion order under
par. (b).
119.25(2)(d)1.b.
b. "Early reinstatement condition" means a condition that a pupil is required to meet before he or she may be granted early reinstatement or a condition that a pupil is required to meet after his or her early reinstatement but before the expiration of the term of expulsion specified in the pupil's expulsion order under
par. (b).
119.25(2)(d)2.
2. An independent hearing panel or independent hearing officer appointed by the board may specify one or more early reinstatement conditions in the expulsion order under
par. (b) if the early reinstatement conditions are related to the reasons for the pupil's expulsion. Within 15 days after the date on which the expulsion order is issued, the expelled pupil or, if the pupil is a minor, the pupil's parent or guardian may appeal the determination regarding whether an early reinstatement condition specified in the expulsion order is related to the reasons for the pupil's expulsion to the board. The decision of the board regarding that determination is final and not subject to appeal.
119.25(2)(d)3.
3. If the superintendent of schools or his or her designee, who shall be someone other than a principal, administrator or teacher in the pupil's school, determines that a pupil has met the early reinstatement conditions that he or she is required to meet before he or she may be granted early reinstatement, the superintendent of schools or designee may grant the pupil early reinstatement. The determination of the superintendent of schools or designee is final.
119.25(2)(d)4.
4. If a pupil violates an early reinstatement condition that the pupil was required to meet after his or her early reinstatement but before the expiration of the term of expulsion, the superintendent of schools or a principal or teacher designated by the superintendent of schools may revoke the pupil's early reinstatement as provided in
s. 120.13 (1) (h) 4.
119.25(2)(d)5.
5. Except as provided in
subd. 6., if the pupil's early reinstatement is revoked under
subd. 4., the pupil's expulsion shall continue to the expiration of the term specified in the expulsion order unless the pupil or, if the pupil is a minor, the pupil's parent or guardian and the board, independent hearing panel or independent hearing officer agree, in writing, to modify the expulsion order.
119.25(2)(d)6.
6. Within 5 school days after the revocation of a pupil's early reinstatement under
subd. 4., the pupil or, if the pupil is a minor, the pupil's parent or guardian may request a conference with the superintendent of schools or his or her designee, who shall be someone other than a principal, administrator or teacher in the pupil's school. If a conference is requested, it shall be held within 5 school days following the request. If, after the conference, the superintendent of schools or his or her designee finds that the pupil did not violate an early reinstatement condition or that the revocation was inappropriate, the pupil shall be reinstated to school under the same reinstatement conditions as in the expulsion order and the early reinstatement revocation shall be expunged from the pupil's record. If the superintendent of schools or his or her designee finds that the pupil violated an early reinstatement condition and that the revocation was appropriate, he or she shall mail separate copies of the decision to the pupil and, if the pupil is a minor, to the pupil's parent or guardian. The decision of the superintendent of schools or his or her designee is final.
119.25 Annotation
Having established the right to an education, the state may not withdraw the right on grounds of misconduct absent fundamentally fair procedures to determine if misconduct occurred. Attendance by the student at expulsion deliberations is not mandatory; all that is required is that the student have the opportunity to attend and present his or her case. Remer v. Burlington Area School District,
149 F. Supp. 2d 665 (2001).
119.26
119.26
Partial annexation of school district. When the city has annexed a portion of the territory of a school district and such annexation does not include the site of any school building of such school district, the school board of the district and the board may enter into an agreement to permit pupils residing in the annexed territory to continue to attend school in the school district, and the board shall pay tuition to the school district for the pupils in accordance with
s. 121.78.
119.26 History
History: 1985 a. 29 s.
3202 (43).
119.28
119.28
Special schools. 119.28(1)(1) The board shall establish and maintain such special schools for children with disabilities, as defined in
s. 115.76 (5), as are required to accommodate pupils of school age desiring to attend school. The board shall prescribe the courses of study and the educational and other activities in special schools.
119.28(2)
(2) The board may employ teachers to give instruction in homes or hospitals to pupils unable to attend special schools.
119.28(3)
(3) The board may provide transportation for pupils attending special schools and provide school lunches for pupils under such terms as it determines.
119.28(4)
(4) The superintendent of schools shall prescribe, with the approval of the committee on instruction, the periods of instruction at special schools subject to amendment, rejection or confirmation by the board.
119.28(5)
(5) Any action under
subs. (3) and
(4) shall be subject to the direction of the state superintendent and the division for learning support, equity and advocacy in the department as provided by law.
119.30(1)(1) The board may establish, conduct and maintain one or more schools for the purpose of giving practical instruction in the useful trades and may purchase the proper machinery, tools and equipment and employ a sufficient number of teachers and other necessary employees in such schools. Such schools shall be known as senior trade schools and junior trade schools.
119.30(2)
(2) Until otherwise determined by the board, only pupils who have completed the 8th grade in an accredited school whose graduates are eligible for admission to a high school in the city shall be admitted to the senior trade schools. Only pupils who have attained the age of 14 years or have completed at least 6 grades in elementary school shall be admitted to the junior trade schools.
119.30(3)
(3) The board may require pupils in trade schools to pay the cost of all materials consumed in the course. In lieu of that requirement, the board may establish a fixed sum to be paid by each pupil in a course which shall be sufficient to cover the cost of materials to be consumed by the pupil in the course. The board may sell any articles made or manufactured in a trade school and determine the use of the proceeds from the sale.
119.30 History
History: 1973 c. 15;
1989 a. 290.
119.32
119.32
Superintendent of schools; business manager. 119.32(1)(1) The board shall elect by roll call vote at a regular meeting a superintendent of schools whenever that office becomes vacant. The superintendent of schools shall be a person of suitable learning and experience in the art of instruction and shall have practical familiarity with the most approved methods of organizing and conducting a system of schools.
119.32(2)
(2) Under the direction of the board, the superintendent of schools shall have general supervision of:
119.32(2)(a)
(a) The public schools and the manner of conducting and grading such schools.
119.32(2)(b)
(b) The assistant superintendents, supervisors, educational department heads, professional assistants to the superintendent of schools, principals, vice principals and teachers in the city.
119.32(3)
(3) Subject to confirmation by the board, the superintendent of schools shall appoint the deputy superintendent of schools, associate superintendent of schools, executive assistant to the superintendent of schools, assistant to the superintendent of schools, assistant superintendent, division director, department director and other supervisory or administrative employees designated by the board.
119.32(4)
(4) The superintendent of schools shall be an advisory member of every committee of the board, except when an inquiry into his or her acts or an investigation of his or her official conduct is under consideration by such committee.
119.32(5)
(5) The superintendent of schools shall assign all teachers and engage and assign substitute teachers at the per diem compensation fixed by the board.
119.32(6)
(6) The superintendent of schools shall collect such statistics and information relating to schools and the population entitled to school privileges in the city as the board directs.
119.36
119.36
Dismissal of superintendent of schools. By a two-thirds vote of the members-elect and upon compliance with this section, the board may remove from office the superintendent of schools for a misdemeanor in office, incompetency or inattention to the duties of the office. Notice in writing of the charges against the accused and of the time and place of hearing and acting upon the charges shall be served upon the accused at least 5 days before the time of hearing and before any action is taken by the board on the charges. On demand, the accused or counsel for the accused shall be heard. Both the board and the accused may produce witnesses who shall be sworn by the board president and shall give testimony subject to the penalty for perjury.
119.36 History
History: 1991 a. 39,
189.
119.40
119.40
Salary schedules. 119.40(1)(a)(a) Annually, the board shall establish a schedule of salaries for all classroom teachers, not including principals and vice principals, in the schools of the city.
119.40(1)(b)
(b) Annually, the board may establish one or more schedules of salaries for all its employees not covered under
par. (a).
119.40(2)
(2) All schedules of salaries annually fixed by the board shall be adopted for the same period and on the same year basis as the annual school budget is adopted by the board.
119.42(1)(1) In this section, "teacher" has the meaning given under
s. 40.02 (55), but excludes the superintendent of schools, deputy superintendent of schools, associate superintendent of schools, executive assistant to the superintendent of schools, assistant to the superintendent of schools, assistant superintendent, division director and department director.
119.42(1m)
(1m) The appointment of a teacher in a 1st class city school district shall be probationary. After successful probation by completing 3 years of continuous service, the appointment shall be permanent during efficiency and good behavior. A teacher who has a permanent appointment shall not be discharged, except for cause upon written charges. After 10 days' written notice to the teacher of the charges and upon the teacher's written request, the charges shall be investigated, heard and determined by the board. The action of the board on the matter shall be final.
119.42(2)
(2) Any teacher employed in a public school in territory annexed to the city, who at the time of the annexation possesses the qualifications required by law and by the rules of the board for probationary or permanent appointment to a teaching position in the city, shall have the status of a regularly appointed teacher in the schools of the city and shall be entitled to all the rights and privileges of regularly appointed teachers in the city. Time spent in teaching in the annexed territory prior to annexation shall be credited to each such teacher as time spent in teaching in the city.
119.42(3)
(3) This section does not apply after December 21, 1995. Any person whose employment is permanent under this section on December 21, 1995, shall retain all of the rights and privileges of such permanent employment after that date.
119.42 Annotation
Teacher tenure laws are in derogation of the common law, creating a contract between the parties by operation of law, and therefore are to be strictly construed. The scope of the tenure created by the statute, or by school board rule enacted pursuant to statute, must be determined from the language of the section and cannot be broadened beyond the intent of the legislature. Farley v. Milwaukee Board of School Directors,
49 Wis. 2d 765,
183 N.W.2d 148 (1971).
119.42 Annotation
A probationer gains permanent status upon completion of six semesters; the school board's letter, sent after the sixth semester stating the plaintiff would not be reappointed, was ineffective. Bufkin v. Milwaukee Board of School Directors,
179 Wis. 2d 228,
507 N.W.2d 571 (Ct. App. 1993).
119.44(1)(1) The board shall file its annual financial report with the city clerk and shall send a copy of the report to the state superintendent.
119.44(2)
(2) Annually at such times as the department prescribes but on or before September 1, the board shall file a verified annual report with the department, on forms supplied by the department. The annual report shall contain all of the following:
119.44(2)(a)
(a) Prior school year attendance data, including all of the following categorized by school, grade, gender and ethnicity:
