MADISON - The state Assembly's version of a virtual school bill passed out of committee by a 6-4 vote Tuesday afternoon.
Rep. Brett Davis, R-Oregon, led a vote of the Assembly Education Committee on the same bill Davis and Sen. John Lehman, D-Racine, negotiated earlier this month with the addition of an audit of the virtual schools.
Davis said an audit will show exactly how money for virtual schools is spent and where the students come from. He said virtual schools have nothing to hide, and the audit will show the schools are run properly.
The Assembly bill does not include an enrollment cap, which was added to a version of the bill approved last week by the Senate. Gov. Jim Doyle has said he will veto any virtual school bill not including an enrollment cap.
The bill is scheduled for a floor vote in the Assembly on Thursday. Before the vote, Davis said he will continue to work with the governor's office and the Senate.
"Right now, all options are on the table," Davis said. "We owe it to the students of the virtual schools to make sure we put forth a good faith effort.
"You never want to draw a line in the sand."
Davis said in conversations with him, Doyle continues to stand by his enrollment cap demand. Davis hopes there is some room to negotiate.
"We hope there's some flexibility," Davis said. "We're certainly open to talking about it, but I'm continuing to negotiate on behalf of the virtual schools.
"Whenever you enter into negotiations, you have to be somewhat flexible," Davis continued. "Not everybody gets what they want."
The committee's six Republicans voted for the bill; its four Democrats voted against it. Davis said he expected the vote to go that way.
Davis said if the Assembly should approve the bill Thursday, it's not the end, but the beginning of what could be a long process of negotiations between the Senate's version (passed Feb. 19), the Assembly bill and Doyle's demands.
The Senate bill would allow for students to enroll for virtual school classes next year and allow students now enrolled to attend the schools. It also would enable siblings of current students to enroll in the virtual schools.
"I just want to make sure that virtual schools happen, and we do what's best for them," Davis said.
Monroe has one of 12 virtual schools in the state. Under the Senate bill, District Administrator Larry Brown said the district will be able to enroll as many students as it wants next year. There are about 400 students in the virtual school this year. The number of students enrolled in the virtual school in September of this year will be the number the district can have for the next two years if a freeze is put in place, Brown said.
Rep. Brett Davis, R-Oregon, led a vote of the Assembly Education Committee on the same bill Davis and Sen. John Lehman, D-Racine, negotiated earlier this month with the addition of an audit of the virtual schools.
Davis said an audit will show exactly how money for virtual schools is spent and where the students come from. He said virtual schools have nothing to hide, and the audit will show the schools are run properly.
The Assembly bill does not include an enrollment cap, which was added to a version of the bill approved last week by the Senate. Gov. Jim Doyle has said he will veto any virtual school bill not including an enrollment cap.
The bill is scheduled for a floor vote in the Assembly on Thursday. Before the vote, Davis said he will continue to work with the governor's office and the Senate.
"Right now, all options are on the table," Davis said. "We owe it to the students of the virtual schools to make sure we put forth a good faith effort.
"You never want to draw a line in the sand."
Davis said in conversations with him, Doyle continues to stand by his enrollment cap demand. Davis hopes there is some room to negotiate.
"We hope there's some flexibility," Davis said. "We're certainly open to talking about it, but I'm continuing to negotiate on behalf of the virtual schools.
"Whenever you enter into negotiations, you have to be somewhat flexible," Davis continued. "Not everybody gets what they want."
The committee's six Republicans voted for the bill; its four Democrats voted against it. Davis said he expected the vote to go that way.
Davis said if the Assembly should approve the bill Thursday, it's not the end, but the beginning of what could be a long process of negotiations between the Senate's version (passed Feb. 19), the Assembly bill and Doyle's demands.
The Senate bill would allow for students to enroll for virtual school classes next year and allow students now enrolled to attend the schools. It also would enable siblings of current students to enroll in the virtual schools.
"I just want to make sure that virtual schools happen, and we do what's best for them," Davis said.
Monroe has one of 12 virtual schools in the state. Under the Senate bill, District Administrator Larry Brown said the district will be able to enroll as many students as it wants next year. There are about 400 students in the virtual school this year. The number of students enrolled in the virtual school in September of this year will be the number the district can have for the next two years if a freeze is put in place, Brown said.