Board debates WASB bylaw amendment and decoupling resolution; majority opposes decoupling
Summary
Board members discussed proposed WASB convention resolutions and a bylaw amendment to create two tiers of WASB membership. Members broadly favored most resolutions but a majority said they would not support a resolution to 'decouple' public and private school funding, citing risks to public education and special-education funding.
Members of the Sheboygan Area School District Committee discussed resolutions and an amendment to the Wisconsin Association of School Boards (WASB) bylaws that would create a two-tier membership and allow districts to decline certain WASB lobbying positions.
Speaker 3 summarized the packet of items that delegates will consider and said, as an individual, they would support all items except the decoupling resolution (identified in the packet as resolution 10). Multiple board members voiced concerns that decoupling public and private funding could establish two distinct funding systems and provide voucher schools incentives to avoid the standards and costs associated with public-school special-education services.
"The decoupling is really just the very first step in the total dismantlement of public education," Speaker 7 said. Speaker 1 warned that decoupling would not address special-education shortfalls and argued the state has the money but not the will to fund public education adequately. Speakers debated whether a proposed two-tier WASB membership was autonomy-driven or financially motivated and expressed worry that it could weaken the association’s lobbying power.
Speaker 2 asked for direction; Speaker 3 summarized the group’s consensus as supporting most resolutions while opposing the decoupling measure. The discussion ended with the board providing advice to their delegate ahead of the WASB convention; the transcript does not record a formal vote on the board’s recommendation.
Board members also discussed a separate new resolution seeking additional funds for special education; Speaker 3 described it as uncertain in its prospects at the state level.
Next steps: the district’s delegate(s) will represent the board at the WASB convention, with the board’s expressed preference to reject the decoupling resolution and to consider support for other listed resolutions.
