Ola Lisowski analyzes some of the latest education data in Wisconsin, while reviewing past data that will not be updated this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It’s a State of Education unlike any other. Read More The MacIver Institute’s State of K-12 Education: 2020 Edition
A new report was released by the Department of Administration that shows 69% of all public school districts ask their employees to pay 12% or more of monthly premium as required by Act 10. 8 school districts still require their employees to contribute nothing toward their monthly premiums. Read More Wisconsin School District Employees Pay On Average $82 A Month For Health Insurance Single Plan; $200 A Month For Family Plan
A budget audit by the nonpartisan Legislative Audit Bureau found $1.33 billion in “slush fund” balances for the University of Wisconsin System. Read More UW System Audit: Program Reserves Top $1.3 Billion
The school board for Madison Metropolitan School District (MMSD) has unanimously voted to include two referendum questions totaling $350 million on the November ballot, asking Madison voters if they want to raise their own taxes and take on more debt. Read More Amidst Pandemic, Madison Metropolitan School Board Approves $350 Million Referendum Ask
Wisconsin schools will receive more than $765 million in federal relief from the CARES Act. K-12 schools are set to receive upwards of $221 million. This report details the current plans for the K-12 grant money. Read More CARES Act and K-12 Education: What Does It Mean For Wisconsin?
Institutes of higher education in Wisconsin will receive more than $544 million in federal relief from the CARES Act. Read more to find out where that money will go. Read More CARES Act and Higher Education: What Does It Mean for Wisconsin?
Legislative Leaders React to MPS Retirement Benefits Expansion During Financial Crisis June 9, 2020 By Ola Lisowski As the state begins surveying the fiscal shortfalls resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic, two prominent members of the Wisconsin Legislature spoke to MacIver about Milwaukee Public Schools’ (MPS) recent decision to expand retirement benefits. The school board’s …
The Milwaukee Public Schools (MPS) Board of School Directors unanimously approved its $1.22 billion budget for 2020-21 early Friday morning. Numerous amendments will spend at least $11 million more than the original proposal. The budget includes an expansion to employee retirement benefits, effective July 1 of this year. Read More MPS Board Approves $1.2 Billion Budget, Expansion of Retirement Benefits, $15 Minimum Wage
By Ola Lisowski – The Milwaukee Public Schools school board will vote on its $1.22 billion 2020-21 budget at its May board meeting this week. The board will also consider whether to increase the district’s unfunded pension liability by another $95 million. Read More MPS Eyes Costly Retirement, Pension Benefit Expansion Amidst Looming Fiscal Crisis
In light of the COVID-19 changes that the University of Wisconsin System had to adapt to, the system has put current proposals on a fast track. That means specializing campus focuses, streamlining administrative operational functions, and, by this summer, having a unified model for delivering education online. Read More Facing COVID Challenges, UW System Eyes Efficiency, Specialization