Sheboygan’s representative in Madison supported a bill that will help school districts considering consolidation.
Assembly Bill 645, which is co-sponsored by Democrat Representative Joe Sheehan, would require the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction to award grants of up to $25,000 for a feasibility study for school districts looking to consolidate.
Things the grant could fund include a population study and the effects of consolidation or whole grade sharing on school districts.
The Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau explains that current law provides additional funding to a consolidated school district during the first seven years after the process is done, and not for feasibility studies.
Rep. Sheehan said he voted in favor of the bill as it would “offer up information so that citizens can make a determination regarding the status of their schools.”
However, the 26th District Representative said he voted against some other bill on state aid for K-12 schools for consolidation.
The former superintendent felt the bills were rushed and, in his opinion, “we should not be pushing school districts to consolidate as the only option to receive additional funding from the state. We all know how important our schools are to our communities, and decisions like consolidation must be made with great care and community involvement.”
Assembly Bill 645 has passed the Wisconsin Assembly and could be taken up in the Senate in the future.
