WiRSA Update - June 3, 2025
Thank You! - WiRSA 2024 Conference Sponsors
Quick Overview of WiRSA Update: BACK TO THE TOP
NREA News - WE HAVE A NEW NREA EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR!
The National Rural Education Association (NREA) is proud to announce the appointment of Dr. Melissa Sadorf as its next Executive Director, effective June 1, 2025.
OSS - Office of School Safety
Summer OSS Training Opportunities
CoSN - Leading Education Innovation
The 2025 State of EdTech District Leadership report provides important benchmarks on emerging AI technologies and evolving cybersecurity measures.
WISCONSIN POLICY FORUM
Submit your Salute to Local Government award nominees!
Innovative Approach to Problem-Solving in Local Government
Awarded to a local government, school district, or governmental unit that demonstrates use of an innovative solution or management technique to address a fiscal or programmatic challenge and produce budgetary savings and/or programmatic improvements.Effort to Advance Racial Equity Award
Awarded to a government, school district, or governmental unit that has developed and successfully implemented a programmatic, service, or policy change designed to advance racial equity.And More
DPI - News
Current News
Dept. of Public Instruction: Free summer meals available for Wisconsin kids through DPI nutrition program
Dept. of Public Instruction: Awards $9.8 million in federal funding to support charter school planning, expansion
News Articles/Webinars
WiSCONSIN PUBLIC RADIO
Wisconsin lawmakers propose dozens of mental health care bills
Trump administration pause on new student visa interviews could affect Wisconsin colleges - May 29th
Schools feed their students using hydroponic Flex Farms designed in Wisconsin
NPR
After-school programs, a boon for learning, could face Trump cuts - May 27th
DA - District Administrator
The Next Wave of AI in the Classroom: Safeguarding Academic Integrity and Student-Centered Deep Learning - June 17 | 2 p.m. ET | 1 hour
Latest Trump ‘skinny budget’ draws a warning from AASA
Here’s one innovative idea to stop cheating with AI
More and more states hang up on K12 cellphones
More federal investigations pile up against school districts
Judge blocks Trump from shutting down Department of Education - May 22
7-WSAW TV Reports
Marshfield Clinic gives grants to 25 schools for 'Social Emotional Learning Life Tools' program
SPECTRUM 1 NEWS
‘Wisconsin cannot afford to play those kinds of games’: Why there’s a push to keep caps on private education spending
What You Need To Know
Current caps on enrollment in Wisconsin’s school voucher program are set to come off in 2026
The result of which would be no limit on the number of students who can participate in the state’s private school voucher program
Since 2017, the enrollment caps have been increasing by 1% each year
A recently proposed bill by Democrats would change state statutes to extend those existing caps
WISPOLITICS
Dept. of Public Instruction: Free summer meals available for Wisconsin kids through DPI nutrition program
Dept. of Public Instruction: Awards $9.8 million in federal funding to support charter school planning, expansion
NREA
National Rural Education Association
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - May 28, 2025
Tucson, AZ – The National Rural Education Association (NREA) is proud to announce the appointment of Dr. Melissa Sadorf as its next Executive Director, effective June 1, 2025.
Dr. Sadorf brings over 30 years of leadership experience in rural education, including her recent tenure as Executive Director of the Arizona Rural Schools Association (ARSA), her service as President of NREA’s Executive Board, and her role as Director of the NAU Rural Resource Center. A nationally recognized advocate, author, and speaker, Dr. Sadorf has built a legacy of lifting rural voices, forging strong state and national partnerships, and mentoring current and aspiring school leaders.
“Melissa’s visionary leadership and deep-rooted commitment to rural communities make her the right person to lead NREA into the future,” said Dr. Devon Brenner, President of the NREA Executive Board. “She has long been a powerful advocate for rural students, educators, and communities—and now she’ll bring that same energy to the national stage.”
In her new role, Dr. Sadorf will focus on expanding NREA’s membership reach, strengthening policy advocacy efforts, building leadership development pipelines, and amplifying innovative practices in rural education.
“I am honored to serve as Executive Director of the National Rural Education Association,” said Dr. Sadorf. “This is a pivotal time for rural education, and I look forward to working alongside our members and partners to tell our story, build capacity, and lead lasting change for rural schools across the country.”
Dr. Sadorf will serve as the NREA Executive Director starting June 1, 2025. For media inquiries or to request an interview, please contact Dr. Sadorf at melissa@nrea.net.
OFFICE OF SCHOOL SAFETY
OFFICE OF SCHOOL SAFETY SAFETY RESOURCES TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES VIRTUAL LEARNING
Summer OSS Training Opportunities
Behavioral Threat Assessment and Management
One of our most requested trainings is being offered 5 times in different locations across the state this summer. June and August BTAM trainings are scheduled to provide school and law enforcement professional development options outside the busy academic calendar and when teams are making plans for the upcoming school year. Training dates/sites are listed below. Registration links are available on the OSS website Training Opportunities page. Please consider joining us!
Monday, June 9th – Lake Mills Municipal Building – Lake Mills
Friday, June 13th – Stevens Point Area Senior High School – Stevens Point
Wednesday, June 25th – Bay View Middle School – Green Bay
Monday, August 11th – Kromrey Middle School – Middleton
Wednesday, August 13th – Gale-Ettrick-Trempealeau School District- Galesville
Comprehensive School Safety: Standard Response Protocol (SRP) and Standard Reunification Method (SRM) Events
Thursday June 19 – SRM (half day) – Wisconsin Dells High School, Wisconsin Dells
Friday, August 1 – SRM (half day) – Menasha High School, Menasha
Tuesday August 5 – SRM (half day) – Sheboygan Falls High School, Sheboygan Falls
Wednesday August 6 – SRP and SRM (full day) – North Central Technical College, Wausau
Monday, August 18 – SRP and SRM (full day) – Brodhead High School, Brodhead
For more information on these and future trainings with OSS, please visit our Training Opportunities webpage.
Informational
Now in its 12th year, the 2025 State of EdTech District Leadership report provides important benchmarks on emerging AI technologies and evolving cybersecurity measures. It also provides valuable insights that can help inform the decisions of other education stakeholders —superintendents, school boards, and business officers—on priorities and budgets. Additionally, the survey findings guide CoSN's resource and program development. Understanding districts' needs enables CoSN to provide the support and the professional development that EdTech Leaders and their teams require to cultivate engaging learning environments.
Some Key Findings:
Digital Connectivity
If the Supreme Court finds that the administrative structure of the E-Rate program is unconstitutional, it will have a major and catastrophic impact on the vast majority of districts (74%) and will affect students in all areas—rural, town, suburban, and urban. Nearly half of respondents (48%) in cities describe the impact to be catastrophic. Only 2% of respondents reported the loss would not have any impact on their district. Support for off-campus broadband access is decreasing post-pandemic, with two-thirds (66%) of districts providing support, down from three-quarters (74%) in 2023.
Artificial Intelligence (AI)
The overwhelming majority (94%) of EdTech Leaders see AI’s potential for positive impact in education, with productivity the highest rated area. Generative AI (Gen AI) was ranked the top tech priority, with the vast majority (80%) of respondents working in districts with Gen AI initiatives.
Cybersecurity
Most school districts do not have dedicated funding to keep their networks and data secure. Districts typically use general funds to pay for their cybersecurity efforts (61%). The vast majority (78%) are spending cybersecurity dollars on monitoring, detection, and response tactics. For many districts (44%) cybersecurity monitoring is being outsourced. It is the most commonly outsourced IT function, likely due to the cost and difficulty of acquiring and maintaining in-house expertise. Perhaps because of these investments, EdTech Leaders overall do not perceive their districts to be at high risk for any of the threats listed on the survey. The biggest concern is phishing, with 27% assessing it as high risk to their network.
Interoperability
The number one barrier to improving interoperability is not the lack of agreed- upon standards—which survey respondents ranked the least problematic— but a lack of understanding by leaders. The chaotic Covid period and ESSR funding resulted, as one respondent lamented, in “the purchase of software licenses with little thought and effort to integrate with other systems.” While there are procedures around the purchase of digital tools, free tools that are downloaded in an ad hoc manner put district data at risk.
EdTech Leaders
While the demographic makeup of EdTech leadership remains relatively unchanged in many respects, this year’s data shows a shift in gender representation. The percentage of female respondents declined to 29%, compared to 37% in the previous year. This drop is notable, though it may be influenced by changes in survey participation, including fewer responses from leaders in rural districts and towns—groups that have historically shown more variability in representation. This degree of year-over-year change in the respondent pool is unusual and should be monitored moving forward.
Informational
Submit your Salute to Local Government award nominations!
Deadline: August 1, 2025
We are now accepting nominations for our 33rd annual Salute to Local Government awards. The Salute recognizes public sector innovation, excellence, and collaboration by governments, school districts, and individuals. We welcome nominations for worthy candidates across Wisconsin.
The award categories recognize outstanding performance by local governments and school districts in the areas of innovative problem-solving, advancement of racial equity, intergovernmental cooperation, and private-public cooperation. In addition, our Norman N. Gill and Jean B. Tyler Leader of the Future awards recognize individual excellence, and our La Follette/Gladfelter award (offered in partnership with the UW-Madison La Follette School of Public Affairs) recognizes innovation in state government.
If you submit a nomination, we urge you to be as thorough as possible. Our judges can only assess the merits of a nominated project or individual if they are provided with sufficient details that spell out those merits. In the past, we have seen many worthwhile nominees miss out on recognition because of the incomplete nature of their nomination.
Innovative Approach to Problem-Solving in Local Government
Awarded to a local government, school district, or governmental unit that demonstrates use of an innovative solution or management technique to address a fiscal or programmatic challenge and produce budgetary savings and/or programmatic improvements.
Effort to Advance Racial Equity Award
Awarded to a government, school district, or governmental unit that has developed and successfully implemented a programmatic, service, or policy change designed to advance racial equity.
Legislative Update
Bill Updates
Bills Introduced
LRB-2916 - Relating to: the pupil participation limit in the state parental choice program.
Even though its passage is improbable, collective efforts on this matter can still drive conversations within the legislature. Remind legislators of the potential financial consequences for your school district and the state if the sunset clause stays in place. Consider having a conversation with your legislator about this proposal. Even though its passage is improbable, collective efforts on this matter can still drive conversations within the legislature.
LRB 2054/1 and LRB 3419/1 relating to: requiring cardiac emergency response plans for cardiac emergencies that occur on school property or at school sponsored athletic events
AB-196 - SB170 - Rehired Annuitants (Wittke, Robert) Rehired annuitants in the Wisconsin Retirement System.
This bipartisan bill would allow WRS annuitants to return to work without suspending their annuity. The bill would require employers to pay into the ETF (Department of Employee Trust Funds) equal to what the annuitant would have paid into the ETF had they forgoen their annuity. It also retains the 75-day break-in-service currently required by law.
SB-228 School Lunch (Cabral-Guevara, Rachael) Prohibiting school boards and independent charter schools from providing ultra-processed foods in free or reduced-price meals.
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Legislative Maps - 2024 & 2022 (Interactive)
You can find your legislator and their contact information by CLICKING THIS LINK and entering your address.
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News / Articles / Webinars
WiSCONSIN PUBLIC RADIO
NPR
DA - District Administrator
The Next Wave of AI in the Classroom: Safeguarding Academic Integrity and Student-Centered Deep Learning - June 17 | 2 p.m. ET | 1 hour
The pace of AI innovation shows no sign of slowing, and district leaders face a familiar pair of questions: What’s next—and how do we get ready? In this rapid-fire, thought-leadership webinar, experts in the field of AI, including an FETC guest speaker, will map the must-watch milestones for the next school year—from multimodal tutoring to agentic AI that assists teachers. You’ll see how forward-thinking districts are meeting these advances head-on, while still safeguarding academic integrity and deep learning.
Grounded in real classroom stories, the webinar highlights both inspiring wins and lessons learned when AI pilots missed the mark. Walk away with an action plan that turns emerging technology into sustainable, student-centered impact.
More federal investigations pile up against school districts
Judge blocks Trump from shutting down Department of Education - May 22
7-WSAW TV Reports
SPECTRUM 1 NEWS
What You Need To Know
Current caps on enrollment in Wisconsin’s school voucher program are set to come off in 2026
The result of which would be no limit on the number of students who can participate in the state’s private school voucher program
Since 2017, the enrollment caps have been increasing by 1% each year
A recently proposed bill by Democrats would change state statutes to extend those existing caps
WISPOLITICS
ELC Education Law Center
From the state of Oklahoma - STATEMENT FROM ROBERT KIM, EDUCATION LAW CENTER EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, ON TODAY’S DECISION IN OKLAHOMA STATEWIDE CHARTER SCHOOL BOARD V. DRUMMOND:
We are very pleased the U.S. Supreme Court affirmed the decisive holding of the Oklahoma Supreme Court that it is unlawful and unconstitutional for the state to establish a religious public charter school. We must continue to work hard at the federal, state and local levels, among policymakers and the public, to ensure religious schools remain separate from our public education systems. This is essential not only to preserve our nation’s foundational principle of church-state separation, but also to maintain public schools that are free, transparent and accountable, and open to all children without any form of discrimination.