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Board member Kathy outlines state bills on rehiring retirees, school‑meal ingredients and special‑education aid
Summary
Board member Kathy summarized several state legislative items: SB170 on rehiring WRS annuitants, discussions about boosting high‑cost special‑education aid, AB226 proposing ingredient bans in federally funded school meals, and Act 12 reporting requirements; she noted broader budget negotiations at the state level.
Kathy (Speaker 9) briefed the board on several state legislative developments affecting schools.
She described Senate Bill 170, explaining the measure would allow certain WRS annuitants to return to work without suspending their annuity and noted it retains a 75‑day break in service. "This is because of the teacher shortage," she said, adding the bill has appeared in committee hearings. Kathy also summarized ongoing budget negotiations in Madison and said some lawmakers are discussing increases to high‑cost special‑education reimbursement—an outcome district leaders have advocated for.
On school meals, Kathy noted Assembly Bill 226 would ban certain ingredients from meals provided through the federal school lunch and breakfast programs, citing items such as brominated vegetable oil and red dye number 3. She also described Act 12, which would require reporting of certain incidents on school property.
Kathy said the state is projecting a multibillion‑dollar surplus but that lawmakers face lower revenue forecasts over the next two years; she urged continued advocacy for district priorities as negotiations proceed.
