Reporting certain crimes and other incidents that occur on school property or school transportation and granting rule-making authority. (FE)
Impact
The impact of SB82 extends beyond mere reporting; it aims to enhance transparency and awareness regarding school safety conditions. By requiring schools to report crimes occurring between specified hours, it aligns statistical insights with educational accountability measures, enabling stakeholders, including parents and educators, to utilize the information in assessing safety within schools. However, the bill explicitly states that the DPI cannot consider reported crime statistics when evaluating school performance, which raises questions about the direct implications of these findings on the schools' reputations.
Summary
Senate Bill 82 introduces significant requirements for public and certain private high schools in Wisconsin regarding the reporting of crime statistics and incidents occurring on school property or during school transportation. Starting with the 2024-25 school year, schools will be obligated to collect data on a range of violations including homicide, sexual assault, burglary, battery, arson, and violations of municipal disorderly conduct ordinances. This data must be collected under specific conditions and shared with the Department of Public Instruction (DPI) as part of an annual accountability report.
Contention
Notable points of contention surrounding the bill include its scope and the potential burden on schools to accurately report incidents while ensuring student privacy. Critics might argue that the statistical reporting could stigmatize schools with higher incident rates, regardless of the context, leading to an unfair assessment of their overall effectiveness. Additionally, the exact parameters for what constitutes a reportable incident and the fear of legal ramifications for not complying with the reporting requirements may lead some stakeholders to question the practicality of implementing such measures.
Reporting to law enforcement certain crimes and other incidents that occur in or on public school buildings and grounds, requiring certain schools to employ armed school resource officers, and allocating federal American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 funding to reimburse schools for costs of employing armed school resource officers. (FE)
County and municipal aid; imposing a city sales tax and an additional county sales tax to pay the unfunded actuarial accrued liability of city and county retirement systems; requiring newly hired city and county employees of certain city agencies and counties to be enrolled in the Wisconsin Retirement System; fire and police commissions of first class cities; eliminating the personal property tax; reporting certain crimes and other incidents that occur on school property or school transportation; advisory referenda; local health officers; local public protection services; exceptions to local levy limits; local regulation of certain quarry operations; emergency services; local approval of projects and activities under the Warren Knowles-Gaylord Nelson Stewardship 2000 Program; requiring a referendum; and granting rule-making authority. (FE)
County and municipal aid; imposing a city sales tax and an additional county sales tax to pay the unfunded actuarial accrued liability of city and county retirement systems; requiring newly hired city and county employees of certain city agencies and counties to be enrolled in the Wisconsin Retirement System; fire and police commissions of first class cities; eliminating the personal property tax; reporting certain crimes and other incidents that occur on school property or school transportation; advisory referenda; local health officers; local public protection services; exceptions to local levy limits; local regulation of certain quarry operations; emergency services; local approval of projects and activities under the Warren Knowles-Gaylord Nelson Stewardship 2000 Program; requiring a referendum; and granting rule-making authority. (FE)
Reading instruction in public schools and private schools participating in parental choice programs, an early literacy assessment and intervention program, providing an exemption from rule-making procedures, and granting rule-making authority. (FE)
Reading instruction in public schools and private schools participating in parental choice programs, an early literacy assessment and intervention program, providing an exemption from rule-making procedures, and granting rule-making authority. (FE)