120.13(9m)
(9m) Legal services. Retain an attorney or attorneys to represent the board or school district in any action or proceeding brought for or against the board or district and provide for any other legal service for the welfare of the school district.
120.13(10)
(10) School food service. Furnish school meals to pupils and pay for the meals out of school district funds. The school board may charge pupils and employees for the cost of school meals.
120.13(11)
(11) Nurses and dentists. Employ qualified public health nurses, school nurses, registered nurses and licensed dentists who shall cooperate with the local board of health, as defined in
s. 250.01 (3), and the department of health services.
120.13(12)
(12) Historical records. Under
s. 44.09 (1), transfer title to any school records to the state historical society which are no longer needed for the proper administration of the school district and which the society determines are of permanent historical interest.
120.13(13)
(13) Prekindergarten classes. Establish and maintain classes for children less than 4 years of age under such regulations as it prescribes. The school board may accept and receive federal funds for such purpose and expend such funds in conformity with the purposes and requirements thereof. The school board may charge a reasonable fee for attendance at such classes but may waive the fee or any portion thereof to any person who is unable to make payment.
120.13(14)
(14) Day care programs. Establish and provide or contract for the provision of day care programs for children. The school board may receive federal or state funds for this purpose. The school board may charge a fee for all or part of the cost of the service for participation in a day care program established under this subsection. Costs associated with a day care program under this subsection may not be included in shared costs under
s. 121.07 (6). Day care programs established under this subsection shall meet the standards for licensed day care centers established by the department of children and families. If a school board proposes to contract for or renew a contract for the provision of a day care program under this subsection or if on July 1, 1996, a school board is a party to a contract for the provision of a day care program under this subsection, the school board shall refer the contractor or proposed contractor to the department of children and families for the criminal history and child abuse record search required under
s. 48.685. Each school board shall provide the department of health services with information about each person who is denied a contract for a reason specified in
s. 48.685 (4m) (a) 1. to
5.
120.13(15)
(15) Special high school courses. In a union high school district or a common school district operating elementary and high school grades, establish and maintain courses in industrial arts, home economics, agriculture, commercial subjects and such other courses as the school board determines.
120.13(16)
(16) School board organization; fee. Pay the membership fee in an organization of school boards in this state and the actual and necessary expenses of its representatives incurred in attending meetings of such organization.
120.13(17)
(17) Temporary use of school property. Grant the temporary use of school grounds, buildings, facilities or equipment, upon such conditions, including fees not to exceed actual costs, as determined by the school board, to any responsible person for any lawful nonschool purpose if such use does not interfere with use for school purposes or school-related functions. Fees received under this subsection shall be paid into the school district treasury and accounted for as prescribed under
s. 115.28 (13). The user shall be primarily liable, and the school board secondarily liable, for any damage to property and for any expense incurred in consequence of any use of school grounds, buildings, facilities or equipment under this subsection.
120.13(18)
(18) Property for ecological, agricultural or vocational instruction. Subject to the authority of the annual or special meeting to approve the acquisition of real property, acquire real or personal property for ecological, agricultural or vocational instruction, experimentation or other school-related purposes.
120.13(18m)
(18m) Renewable resource facilities. Construct or acquire, borrow funds to construct or acquire, own, operate, and maintain a renewable resource facility, and use the energy generated by the facility for school district facilities or sell the energy generated by the facility at wholesale, if the school board's share of the installed capacity of the facility does not exceed 5 megawatts and the school board incorporates information about the facility in its curriculum. In this subsection, "renewable resource" has the meaning given in
s. 196.374 (1) (j).
120.13(19)
(19) Community programs and services. Establish and maintain community education, training, recreational, cultural or athletic programs and services, outside the regular curricular and extracurricular programs for pupils, under such terms and conditions as the school board prescribes. The school board may establish and collect fees to cover all or part of the costs of such programs and services. Costs associated with such programs and services shall not be included in the school district's shared cost under
s. 121.07 (6).
120.13(20)
(20) Options to purchase real property. Solicit and obtain one or more options to purchase real property and, upon approval of the annual or special meeting, exercise such option.
120.13(21)
(21) Lectures. Provide free lectures on educational subjects in school buildings, public library buildings or other suitable places, and provide for the further education of the adult residents of the school district. The school board may purchase books, stationery, charts and other things necessary to conduct such lectures and may designate a person to manage such lectures.
120.13(22)
(22) Cable television and data processing services. Enter into leases for a term not exceeding 20 years for acquisition of cable television or data processing services and facilities for educational purposes.
120.13(23)
(23) Bonds for officers and employees. Require an officer or employee of the board to give security in such form and amount as the board determines, and may require at any time additional bonds and sureties of any officer or employee.
120.13(24)
(24) Contracts with other governmental units. Participate and enter into contracts with school boards and other governmental units as provided under
s. 120.25.
120.13(25)
(25) Lease school property. In addition to any other authority, lease school sites, buildings, and equipment not needed for school purposes to any person for any lawful use at a reasonable rental if approved at an annual or special school district meeting.
120.13(26)
(26) Contracts with private education services. Upon the approval of the state superintendent, contract with private education services for pupils who need concurrent education and treatment services, the educational portion of which is not available in the schools in which the pupils are enrolled. Private education services provided under this subsection may not include religious or sectarian teachings or instruction.
120.13(26m)
(26m) Contracts with county children with disabilities education boards. Contract with a county children with disabilities education board for special education services. The costs of such services shall be included in the school district's shared cost under
s. 121.07 (6). This subsection applies beginning on the effective date of a resolution adopted under
s. 115.817 (9) (c).
120.13(26r)
(26r) Contracts for mental health and developmental disabilities services. Contract with the department of health services for services under
s. 46.043.
120.13(27)
(27) Transportation of persons who are not pupils. 120.13(27)(a)(a) Subject to
par. (b), the school board may use or allow the use of school buses owned and operated by the school district to transport persons who are not pupils of the school district. School buses may be used by persons who are not pupils of the school district during school hours if such use does not interfere with the transportation of pupils of the school district. The school board shall charge a fee for use of the school buses under this subsection. The fee shall be an amount equal to the actual cost of transportation under this subsection, including but not limited to costs for depreciation, maintenance, insurance, fuel and compensation of vehicle operators. If the school board denies a written request for use of the school buses, the school board shall provide the requester a written statement of the basis for the denial within 14 days after the denial.
120.13(27)(b)
(b) No school bus may be used to provide transportation under this subsection unless the vehicle is insured by a policy providing property damage coverage and bodily injury liability coverage for such transportation in the amounts specified in
s. 121.53 (1).
120.13(27m)
(27m) Transportation of indigent pupils. Provide transportation to and from school for indigent pupils who reside in the school district and who are not required to be transported under
s. 121.54. In this subsection, "indigent pupils" means pupils who are eligible for free lunches or reduced-price lunches under
42 USC 1758 or who are members of a Wisconsin works group, as defined in
s. 49.141 (1) (s), with a member who is participating in Wisconsin works under
s. 49.147 (3) to
(5) or any combination thereof, as determined by the school board. If a school board determines to provide transportation under this subsection, there shall be reasonable uniformity in the transportation furnished such pupils whether they attend public or private schools. The cost of transporting pupils under this subsection may not be included in the school district's shared cost under
s. 121.07 (6) (a).
120.13(28)
(28) Records custodian. On behalf of any school district authority as defined in
s. 19.32 (1), including the school board, school district officers and any subunit of the school board or school district, designate one or more persons to be legal custodians of records.
120.13(29)
(29) Borrowing. Borrow money and issue municipal obligations, as provided in
chs. 24 and
67.
120.13(31)
(31) School crossing guards. Upon the adoption of a resolution to do so and approval of the resolution by the governing bodies of all of the cities, villages and towns located in whole or in part within the school district, provide for the appointment of adult school crossing guards for the protection of persons who are crossing a highway in the vicinity of a school. The school crossing guards shall wear insignia or uniforms which designate them as school crossing guards and shall be equipped with signals or signs to direct traffic to stop at school crossings.
120.13(32)
(32) School board orientation. Provide for the orientation and continuing education of school board members and persons who have been elected to the school board but have not yet taken office in the general duties and responsibilities of the school board and the school district, and pay for the actual and necessary expenses incurred.
120.13(33)
(33) Spending authority. During the period between July 1 and the final adoption of a budget by the school board after the budget hearing under
s. 65.90, spend money as needed to meet the immediate expenses of operating and maintaining the public instruction in the school district.
120.13(35)(a)(a) A school board may adopt rules applicable to persons who enter or remain in a building operated by the school board, including requirements that such persons identify themselves and sign in when entering or remaining in the building or any specified portion of the building and designating time periods during which such persons may enter or remain in the building or any portion of the building.
120.13(35)(b)1.1. Except as provided in
subd. 2., any person entering or remaining in a building or portion of a building in violation of the school board's rules is subject to a forfeiture of not more than $1,000. Any person entering or remaining in a building or portion of a building in violation of the school board's rules under circumstances tending to create or provoke a breach of the peace may be fined not more than $10,000 or imprisoned for not more than 90 days or both.
120.13(35)(b)2.
2. Subdivision 1. does not apply to pupils, parents of pupils, school district employees or officials or agents of a certified or recognized representative of school district employees who are included in a collective bargaining unit.
120.13(36)
(36) Prekindergarten and kindergarten program agreements. Enter into an agreement with a licensed public or private nonsectarian day care center to lease space for prekindergarten or kindergarten programs offered by the school district or to place school district employees in day care centers to provide instruction in prekindergarten or kindergarten programs offered by the school district.
120.13(37)
(37) Awarding high school diplomas to veterans. 120.13(37)(a)(a) Notwithstanding
s. 118.33 (1), award a high school diploma to a person who meets all of the following requirements:
120.13(37)(a)2.
2. Attended high school in the school district or attended high school in this state and resides in the school district.
120.13(37)(a)3.
3. Left high school before receiving a high school diploma to join the U.S. armed forces during a war period under
s. 45.01 (13).
120.13(37)(a)4.
4. Served on active duty under honorable conditions in the U.S. armed forces or in forces incorporated as part of the U.S. armed forces.
120.13(37)(b)
(b) Award a high school diploma to a person who received a high school equivalency diploma under
s. 115.29 (4) after serving on active duty under honorable conditions if the person meets the conditions of
par. (a) 1. to
3.
120.13(37)(c)
(c) Award, upon request, a high school diploma to a person who has died, but who, before dying, satisfied the conditions of
par. (a) 2. to
4.
120.13(37m)
(37m) Single-sex schools and courses. Operate one or more schools that enroll only one sex or provide one or more courses that enroll only one sex if the school board makes available to the opposite sex, under the same policies and criteria of admission, schools or courses that are comparable to each such school or course.
120.13(38)
(38) Hunting in school forests. Allow hunting in its school forest, as defined in
s. 26.39 (1) (a), except that the board may not allow hunting for a wild animal when there is not an open season for that animal on land adjacent to the school forest. This subsection does not affect the authority of the department of natural resources to remove a wild animal under
s. 29.885 (2) (a).
120.13 History
History: 1973 c. 94,
290;
1975 c. 115,
321;
1977 c. 206,
211,
418,
429;
1979 c. 20,
202,
221,
301,
355;
1981 c. 96,
314,
335;
1983 a. 27,
193,
207,
339,
370,
518,
538;
1985 a. 29 ss.
1725e to
1726m,
1731;
1985 a. 101,
135,
211;
1985 a. 218 ss.
12,
13,
22;
1985 a. 332;
1987 a. 88,
187;
1989 a. 31,
201,
336,
359;
1991 a. 39,
226,
269;
1993 a. 16,
27,
284,
334,
399,
450,
481,
491;
1995 a. 27 ss.
4024,
9126 (19),
9145 (1);
1995 a. 29,
32,
33,
65,
75,
225,
235,
289,
439;
1997 a. 27,
155,
164,
191,
237,
335;
1999 a. 9,
19,
73,
83,
115,
128;
1999 a. 150 s.
672;
1999 a. 186;
2001 a. 38,
98,
103,
105;
2003 a. 254;
2005 a. 22,
194,
290,
346;
2005 a. 443 s.
265;
2007 a. 20 ss.
2738,
9121 (6) (a);
2007 a. 36,
70,
97.
120.13 Annotation
A school board may issue a subpoena to compel the attendance of a witness at an expulsion hearing. Expulsion may be partially based on hearsay statements by school staff. Due process is discussed. Racine Unified School District v. Thompson,
107 Wis. 2d 657,
321 N.W.2d 334 (Ct. App. 1982).
120.13 Annotation
Neither sub. (1) (c) or (e) expressly or impliedly authorizes the state superintendent to review a challenged suspension when the superintendent reviews an expulsion decision under those provisions. Madison Metropolitan School District v. DPI,
199 Wis. 2d 1,
543 N.W.2d 843 (Ct. App. 1995),
94-0199.
120.13 Annotation
Section 66.185 [now s. 66.0137] does not prohibit providing health insurance benefits to persons not listed in the statute if authority is granted by other statutes. Sections 120.12, 120.13, and 120.44, broadly construed as required by s. 118.001, grant broad powers, including that of providing insurance to persons not listed in this section. Pritchard v. Madison Metropolitan School District, 2001 WI App 62,
242 Wis. 2d 301,
625 N.W.2d 613,
00-0848.
120.13 Annotation
The section (intro) expresses the legislature's intent to give school boards broader powers and wide discretion in exercising its powers, but it does not mean that, when the legislature had previously authorized a board to take particular actions using specified procedures, the board has the authority to follow other procedures in taking those particular actions. While school boards have powers beyond those enumerated in subs. (1) to (37), they do not have the power to violate the provisions of subs. (1) to (37). Madison Metropolitan School District v. Burmaster, 2006 WI App 17,
288 Wis. 2d 771,
709 N.W.2d 73,
05-0875.
120.13 Annotation
The only reasonable construction of sub. (1) (e) 3. is that, if a school district elects to have a hearing officer conduct an expulsion hearing, the district must comply with the procedures specified in that paragraph. Because sub. (1) (e) 3. provides for review by the board of a hearing officer's decision only if the officer has ordered expulsion, the board does not have the authority to review and reverse the hearing officer's decision not to order an expulsion. Madison Metropolitan School District v. Burmaster, 2006 WI App 17,
288 Wis. 2d 771,
709 N.W.2d 73,
05-0875.
120.13 Annotation
The duties and powers under ss. 118.001, 120.12 (14), and 120.13 extend to individual teachers as employees of the school board. It would be absurd to require teachers to obtain special permission from the school board with respect to every detail of their teaching. Summer homework, particularly for an honors class for which students receive additional credit, fits comfortably within the range of what is reasonable and is not unconstitutional. Larson v. Burmaster, 2006 WI App 142,
295 Wis. 2d 333,
720 N.W.2d 134,
05-1433.
120.13 Annotation
Because of a lack of statutory authority, speech therapists may not supply services to students attending therapy sessions in parochial school buildings. 63 Atty. Gen. 8.
120.13 Annotation
Students may have bus riding privileges suspended without being suspended or expelled from school. However, both public and private school students must be afforded due process under sub. (1) before such a suspension can take place. 63 Atty. Gen. 526.
120.13 Annotation
School boards have authority to enforce policies that mandate the manner, conditions, and content of police interviews with students on school premises during school hours.
81 Atty. Gen. 126.
120.13 Annotation
Sub. (1) (f) does not allow a school board to deny enrollment to a pupil who is currently expelled either from an out-of-state public school district or from a private school.
OAG 5-08.
120.13 Annotation
Democracy in the classroom: due process and school discipline. 58 MLR 705.
120.13 Annotation
In Wisconsin Expulsions, We Don't Have to Leave Children Behind. Kratochvil. 91 MLR 1213 (2008).
120.13 Annotation
School Expulsions: Not all are Equal. Julien & Engel. Wis. Law. Oct. 2001.
120.135
120.135
Capital improvement fund. 120.135(1)
(1) By July 1, 2000, by a two-thirds vote of the members elect, a school board may adopt a resolution creating a capital improvement fund for the purpose of financing the cost of acquiring and improving sites, constructing school facilities and major maintenance of or remodeling, renovating and improving school facilities if all of the following are true:
120.135(1)(a)
(a) A tax incremental district that is located in whole or in part in the school district is terminated before the maximum number of years that the tax incremental district would have existed under
s. 66.1105 (7) (am) or
(ar).
120.135(1)(b)
(b) The value increment of the tax incremental district exceeds $300,000,000.
120.135(2)
(2) In each year in which the school board adopts a resolution by a two-thirds vote of the members elect expressing its intention to do so until the year after the year in which the tax incremental district would have been required to terminate under
s. 66.1105 (7) (am) or
(ar), the school board may deposit into the capital improvement fund the percentage, not to exceed 100%, specified in the resolution of the school district's portion of the positive tax increment of the tax incremental district in that year, as determined by the department of revenue under
s. 66.1105.
120.135(3)
(3) The school board shall use the balance of the school district's portion of the positive tax increment of the tax incremental district to reduce the levy that otherwise would be imposed.
120.135(4)(a)(a) Money in the capital improvement fund may not be used for any purpose or be transferred to any other fund without the approval of a majority of the electors of the school district voting on the question at a referendum. If a referendum is adopted authorizing the use of moneys in the fund, the legislative audit bureau shall conduct an audit to determine whether the moneys have been used only for the purposes specified in
sub. (1).
120.135(4)(b)
(b) The school board may not deposit into the capital improvement fund any amount other than the percentage specified under
sub. (2).
120.135(5)
(5) The school board shall submit a report by January 1 of each odd-numbered year to the governor and the joint committee on finance describing the use of the moneys deposited into the fund under
sub. (1) and the effects of that use.
120.135 History
History: 1999 a. 17;
2001 a. 30.
120.14
120.14
Audit of school district accounts. In a common or union high school district:
120.14(1)
(1) At the close of each fiscal year, the school board of each school district shall employ a licensed accountant to audit the school district accounts and certify the audit. The audit shall include information concerning the school district's self-insurance plan under
s. 120.13 (2) (b), as specified by the commissioner of insurance. If required by the state superintendent under
s. 115.28 (18), the audit shall include an audit of the number of pupils reported for membership purposes under
s. 121.004 (5). The cost of the audit shall be paid from school district funds. Annually by September 15, the school district clerk shall file a financial audit statement with the state superintendent.
120.14(3)
(3) The annual meeting may authorize and direct an audit of the school district accounts by a certified public accountant licensed or certified under
ch. 442.
120.14(4)
(4) The department shall establish by rule a standard contract and minimum standards for audits performed under this section.
120.14 Cross-reference
Cross Reference: See also s.
PI 14.03, Wis. adm. code.
120.15
120.15
School district president; duties. The school district president of a common or union high school district shall:
120.15(1)
(1) Countersign all checks, share drafts or other drafts for disbursement of school district moneys.
120.15(2)
(2) Defend on behalf of the school district all actions brought against the school district.
120.15(3)
(3) Prosecute, when authorized by an annual meeting or the school board, actions brought by the school district.
120.15(4)
(4) Prosecute an action for the recovery of any forfeiture incurred under
chs. 115 to
121 in which the school district is interested. If the school district president has incurred the forfeiture, such action shall be prosecuted by the school district treasurer. Of the net sum recovered under such action, one-half shall be paid into the school district treasury and one-half to the county treasury for the benefit of the school fund.
120.15(5)
(5) Act as chairperson of school board meetings and see that minutes of the meetings are properly recorded, approved and signed. In the absence of the president, the vice president or, in the case of a 3-member board, another school board member selected by the school board, shall act as chairperson of school board meetings.
120.16
120.16
School district treasurer; duties. The school district treasurer of a common or union high school district shall:
120.16(2)
(2) Apply for, receive and sue for all money appropriated to or collected for the school district and disburse the same in accordance with this subsection and
s. 66.0607. Disbursements from the school district treasury shall be made by the school district treasurer upon the written order of the school district clerk after proper vouchers have been filed with the school district clerk. Such disbursements shall be by order check, share draft or other draft and no order check, share draft or other draft is valid nor may it be released to the payee unless signed by the school district clerk and school district treasurer and countersigned by the school district president. In a school district having 5 or more school board members, another school board member may countersign such order checks, share draft or other draft in lieu of the school district president. No order check, share draft or other draft may be drawn for the payment of which money has not been appropriated according to law. The school district treasurer may receive money raised in extracurricular activities. The school board may by resolution authorize the use of facsimile signatures as provided in
s. 66.0607 (3). A certified copy of the resolution shall be filed with the school district clerk and each public depository concerned.
120.16(3)
(3) Enter in the treasurer's account books all money received and disbursed by the treasurer, specifying the source from which it was received, the person to whom it was paid and the object for which it was paid.
120.16(4)
(4) Present to the annual meeting a written statement of all money received and disbursed by the treasurer during the preceding year.
