MADISON - The state's virtual charter schools are virtually dead in the water, until Republicans and Democrats find a compromise plan to keep the schools open.
"It's a political game now," Monroe District Administrator Larry Brown said. Monroe is home to one of 12 virtual schools in the state. "The school district has weighed in. We've done everything we can; it's in their hands now."
The Republican-controlled Assembly voted 53-44 early this morning to approve a bill to bring the schools in compliance with several state laws while allowing the online learning option to continue growing rapidly. The Assembly bill installs an enrollment cap of 1 percent of the statewide student population, or about 8,760.
Rep. Brett Davis, R-Oregon, offered the compromise legislation for the Assembly vote.
Davis said Republicans were "going more than halfway" toward Gov. Jim Doyle's position, but Democratic Leader Jim Kreuser of Kenosha told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel this morning that Davis "negotiated with himself and then called it a compromise."
Brown said the compromise is a step in the right direction.
"There were a lot of confident people, on both sides, between three and four (o'clock) this morning," Brown said. He said some representatives knew the bill was going to be "dead on arrival at the governor's office.
"As it gets to the governor's Office, someone is going to have to meet with the governor and say it's reasonable," Brown said.
By a 17-16 vote, the Senate Feb. 19 passed a bill that included an enrollment cap at 3,500, near current enrollment. Gov. Jim Doyle said he prefers the Senate's bill and has hinted he would veto the Assembly plan.
Rep. John Nygren, R-Marinette, said the Democratic version of the bill was brokered between Doyle and the state teachers union. "This isn't compromise," he said. "This is the governor shoving it down 3,500 students' throats."
The Senate version of the bill would keep enrollment at current levels until the 2011-12 school year, when it could grow by about 875 students, and then to 4,500 students by 2014.
Brown said he preferred the Assembly's plan over the Senate's.
"I don't understand the concept for (the cap and freeze); although I've heard all the arguments for it," he said.
Lawmakers plan to adjourn March 13.
If lawmakers don't get a compromise bill together before leaving, Brown said his school is "really rolling the dice with the court system."
About a dozen virtual schools that enroll 3,500 students across the state are facing the prospect of closing. An appeals court in December found online schools were operating illegally, and ruled that at least one school is not eligible for state aid.
"It's a political game now," Monroe District Administrator Larry Brown said. Monroe is home to one of 12 virtual schools in the state. "The school district has weighed in. We've done everything we can; it's in their hands now."
The Republican-controlled Assembly voted 53-44 early this morning to approve a bill to bring the schools in compliance with several state laws while allowing the online learning option to continue growing rapidly. The Assembly bill installs an enrollment cap of 1 percent of the statewide student population, or about 8,760.
Rep. Brett Davis, R-Oregon, offered the compromise legislation for the Assembly vote.
Davis said Republicans were "going more than halfway" toward Gov. Jim Doyle's position, but Democratic Leader Jim Kreuser of Kenosha told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel this morning that Davis "negotiated with himself and then called it a compromise."
Brown said the compromise is a step in the right direction.
"There were a lot of confident people, on both sides, between three and four (o'clock) this morning," Brown said. He said some representatives knew the bill was going to be "dead on arrival at the governor's office.
"As it gets to the governor's Office, someone is going to have to meet with the governor and say it's reasonable," Brown said.
By a 17-16 vote, the Senate Feb. 19 passed a bill that included an enrollment cap at 3,500, near current enrollment. Gov. Jim Doyle said he prefers the Senate's bill and has hinted he would veto the Assembly plan.
Rep. John Nygren, R-Marinette, said the Democratic version of the bill was brokered between Doyle and the state teachers union. "This isn't compromise," he said. "This is the governor shoving it down 3,500 students' throats."
The Senate version of the bill would keep enrollment at current levels until the 2011-12 school year, when it could grow by about 875 students, and then to 4,500 students by 2014.
Brown said he preferred the Assembly's plan over the Senate's.
"I don't understand the concept for (the cap and freeze); although I've heard all the arguments for it," he said.
Lawmakers plan to adjourn March 13.
If lawmakers don't get a compromise bill together before leaving, Brown said his school is "really rolling the dice with the court system."
About a dozen virtual schools that enroll 3,500 students across the state are facing the prospect of closing. An appeals court in December found online schools were operating illegally, and ruled that at least one school is not eligible for state aid.