MONROE - Although a compromise deal to allow virtual schools to remain open fell apart Tuesday, Monroe school district superintendent Larry Brown said he plans to "fight on."
"We've already proven that virtual schools are a viable option for some students," Brown said. "We know they're good for our kids and good for our families."
The state Senate Tuesday voted 17-16 to allow Gov. Jim Doyle's requests for a study of how well students are being served in those schools and a cap on enrollment at the existing level in the meantime.
Brown said the district plans to go forward with its virtual school, which allows students to take classes on a computer. He said the district will look at contingency plans for the future but will continue to advertise for the virtual school and hopes to increase student enrollment for next year.
"This won't kill the virtual school," Brown said.
The Senate's vote leaves in question the future of about a dozen public schools where some 3,500 students learn over the Internet from home.
Those schools are facing closure after an appeals court in December ruled the state's largest such school was operating in violation of state's open-enrollment, charter school and teacher licensing laws. The same logic could be applied to the others.
Supporters have begged lawmakers to keep them open, saying they are vital for students who do not learn well in traditional schools and for parents who want to educate children from home. Students from kindergarten through high school can attend.
Lawmakers responded by crafting a bipartisan agreement, backed by the state's education superintendent, that would change the laws to allow the schools to remain open but under new rules meant to ensure quality instruction. The schools would continue receiving about $6,000 in tax dollars per student.
Rep. Brett Davis, R-Oregon, who, along with Sen. John Lehman, D-Racine, helped come up with the compromise, said he was disappointed with the vote. Davis is chairman of the Assembly's Education Committee.
"It's clear that special interests were more convincing to Senate Democrats and the governor than the thousands of students, parents and teachers."
Davis said Doyle and the Democrats made virtual schools a "partisan issue."
Brown said what bothered him about the Senate's voting process was the fact there was no amendment available when debate began; the amendment was introduced later in the debate. Brown called it "an interesting way to do business."
He said he was also bothered by the fact the work done between the Senate and Assembly was lost.
"We had senators visit our school and in the last hour we hear the governor say he will not sign the bill without enrollment caps," Brown said. "We've sent him (Doyle) letters asking him to visit (the virtual school), but we haven't heard anything from him."
Davis said there is still a possibility for a compromise that doesn't include enrollment caps; he plans to call for a joint public hearing for the Assembly and Senate education committees to discus new legislation.
"The people's voice was heard once and it can happen again," Davis said.
After the vote, dozens of students and parents watching the action in the Senate chamber left in anger.
"It's a very disappointing backtrack on their word," said Rose Fernandez, president of the Wisconsin Coalition of Virtual School Families who has four of her own children enrolled in one of the schools. "We took them at their word they would support the bipartisan compromise and we saw that didn't happen. We feel betrayed."
She noted students are facing a deadline this month to sign up for the schools under the open-enrollment law and the action creates additional uncertainty. But she expressed hope that lawmakers could still reach an agreement before they adjourn in coming weeks.
Republicans accused Doyle of bowing to the state's largest teacher's union, the Wisconsin Education Association Council, a supporter of the governor that has warned virtual schools drain money from traditional public schools. The group brought the lawsuit against the Wisconsin Virtual Academy that spawned December's landmark court ruling.
Supporters of the schools said the enrollment cap would turn away some students who want the option. The cap would freeze enrollment for two years at next year's level before allowing enrollment to gradually rise to 4,500 in 2014.
If lawmakers and Doyle do not agree on a fix soon, the schools could start closing as early as next school year.
Sen. Jon Erpenbach, D-Waunakee, joined Republicans in questioning why Doyle waited until the last minute to seek changes.
Brown said he appreciated Erpenbach's support for the virtual school.
"He went to bat for the virtual schools and I really appreciate it," Brown said.
Doyle said he has questions about whether students receive enough contact with teachers and about the impact of the schools on existing public schools and property taxes. The Legislative Audit Bureau would perform a wide-ranging audit to answer those questions under the changes adopted Tuesday.
Mary Bell, Wisconsin Education Association Council president, said the Senate's actions were fair.
"This compromise bill enables the students enrolled in virtual charter schools to continue their learning, allows for future growth and establishes a set of requirements for the schools to follow," she said.
- The Associated Press contributed to this story.
"We've already proven that virtual schools are a viable option for some students," Brown said. "We know they're good for our kids and good for our families."
The state Senate Tuesday voted 17-16 to allow Gov. Jim Doyle's requests for a study of how well students are being served in those schools and a cap on enrollment at the existing level in the meantime.
Brown said the district plans to go forward with its virtual school, which allows students to take classes on a computer. He said the district will look at contingency plans for the future but will continue to advertise for the virtual school and hopes to increase student enrollment for next year.
"This won't kill the virtual school," Brown said.
The Senate's vote leaves in question the future of about a dozen public schools where some 3,500 students learn over the Internet from home.
Those schools are facing closure after an appeals court in December ruled the state's largest such school was operating in violation of state's open-enrollment, charter school and teacher licensing laws. The same logic could be applied to the others.
Supporters have begged lawmakers to keep them open, saying they are vital for students who do not learn well in traditional schools and for parents who want to educate children from home. Students from kindergarten through high school can attend.
Lawmakers responded by crafting a bipartisan agreement, backed by the state's education superintendent, that would change the laws to allow the schools to remain open but under new rules meant to ensure quality instruction. The schools would continue receiving about $6,000 in tax dollars per student.
Rep. Brett Davis, R-Oregon, who, along with Sen. John Lehman, D-Racine, helped come up with the compromise, said he was disappointed with the vote. Davis is chairman of the Assembly's Education Committee.
"It's clear that special interests were more convincing to Senate Democrats and the governor than the thousands of students, parents and teachers."
Davis said Doyle and the Democrats made virtual schools a "partisan issue."
Brown said what bothered him about the Senate's voting process was the fact there was no amendment available when debate began; the amendment was introduced later in the debate. Brown called it "an interesting way to do business."
He said he was also bothered by the fact the work done between the Senate and Assembly was lost.
"We had senators visit our school and in the last hour we hear the governor say he will not sign the bill without enrollment caps," Brown said. "We've sent him (Doyle) letters asking him to visit (the virtual school), but we haven't heard anything from him."
Davis said there is still a possibility for a compromise that doesn't include enrollment caps; he plans to call for a joint public hearing for the Assembly and Senate education committees to discus new legislation.
"The people's voice was heard once and it can happen again," Davis said.
After the vote, dozens of students and parents watching the action in the Senate chamber left in anger.
"It's a very disappointing backtrack on their word," said Rose Fernandez, president of the Wisconsin Coalition of Virtual School Families who has four of her own children enrolled in one of the schools. "We took them at their word they would support the bipartisan compromise and we saw that didn't happen. We feel betrayed."
She noted students are facing a deadline this month to sign up for the schools under the open-enrollment law and the action creates additional uncertainty. But she expressed hope that lawmakers could still reach an agreement before they adjourn in coming weeks.
Republicans accused Doyle of bowing to the state's largest teacher's union, the Wisconsin Education Association Council, a supporter of the governor that has warned virtual schools drain money from traditional public schools. The group brought the lawsuit against the Wisconsin Virtual Academy that spawned December's landmark court ruling.
Supporters of the schools said the enrollment cap would turn away some students who want the option. The cap would freeze enrollment for two years at next year's level before allowing enrollment to gradually rise to 4,500 in 2014.
If lawmakers and Doyle do not agree on a fix soon, the schools could start closing as early as next school year.
Sen. Jon Erpenbach, D-Waunakee, joined Republicans in questioning why Doyle waited until the last minute to seek changes.
Brown said he appreciated Erpenbach's support for the virtual school.
"He went to bat for the virtual schools and I really appreciate it," Brown said.
Doyle said he has questions about whether students receive enough contact with teachers and about the impact of the schools on existing public schools and property taxes. The Legislative Audit Bureau would perform a wide-ranging audit to answer those questions under the changes adopted Tuesday.
Mary Bell, Wisconsin Education Association Council president, said the Senate's actions were fair.
"This compromise bill enables the students enrolled in virtual charter schools to continue their learning, allows for future growth and establishes a set of requirements for the schools to follow," she said.
- The Associated Press contributed to this story.