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Board debates WASB/WOSB delegate resolutions including paraprofessional-to-license language and funding decoupling
Summary
The board reviewed CLE committee recommendations on several state resolutions — opposing an amendment to allow paraprofessional pathways without a bachelor’s degree, debating decoupling public/private funding, and weighing early-childhood funding proposals — and will direct its delegate in January.
During the meeting Elmbrook’s CLE committee summarized recommended positions on several Wisconsin Association of School Boards (WASB) and Wisconsin Organization of School Boards (WOSB) resolutions that will be voted on at the delegate assembly Jan. 22. The board discussed the committee’s guidance and asked questions to inform how to direct their delegate representative, Linda Boucher.
Key items:
- Paraprofessional pathway (resolution 225-02): Committee members reported a unanimous position opposing the proposed amendment that would add the word "or" to allow candidates without a bachelor’s degree to qualify for a pathway to licensure. Supporters of opposing the amendment argued a bachelor’s degree demonstrates commitment and learning skills educationally relevant to teacher certification; opponents voiced concern that alternative pathways (tech-ed, apprenticeships) and local hiring flexibility may be constrained.
- Decoupling public/private funding (resolution 205-04): Committee opposed decoupling, citing risks to transparency and the potential need for hundreds of millions in new state funding to offset local property-tax shifts; trustees asked for more operational detail about how decoupling would be implemented.
- Early childhood funding (resolution 6) and reporting/transparency amendments (resolution 5): Trustees discussed inclusion of 3K, full-day 4K funding and the desirability of apples-to-apples reporting for voucher-funded schools receiving state dollars; views split on scope and fiscal impact.
The board will take a formal mini-vote on each resolution at its January meeting to guide the district’s delegate at the state assembly. Trustees emphasized this is advisory guidance to the delegate and not legislation.
