MONROE - After months of debate and compromise Gov. Jim Doyle signed a virtual school bill into law Monday.
The law allows statewide virtual school enrollment to increase from about 3,400 to 5,250 for the next two years.
Virtual schools allow students to take classes through the Internet.
Monroe is one of 12 school districts that operate virtual schools in Wisconsin, with an enrollment of about 400 students.
Monroe Superintendent Larry Brown said he expected the governor to sign the bill but it was a good feeling to see him actually do it.
"The law addresses concerns that many people had," Brown said.
Monroe school district Business Manager Ron Olson said he was relieved to see the bill signed into law.
"I'm feeling positive that we have some resolution. We'll finally be able to go forward," Olson said.
Brown said the Monroe virtual school received almost 300 applications for the 2008-09 school year; he expects a third to a half of the students to actually enroll in the district.
"Our enrollment will be fine next year," Brown said. He said there were some questions about how many students would apply at the school due to the uncertainty about the future of virtual schools in the state.
Brown said the school district will continue to contact applicants and meet with the students and their parents to provide information about Monroe's virtual school.
Olson thanked the legislators involved with the process, including Rep. Brett Davis, R-Oregon, and Sen. Jon Erpenbach, D-Waunakee.
Davis said the law shows that the Legislature is able to accomplish important things.
"I'm pleased the governor signed the bill," he said. "It's a win for students who attend the schools."
Davis said he still wants the virtual school issue to be in front of the public and said he expects the Legislature to take it up again to address the need for enrollment caps.
In December, an appeals court ruled that the state's largest virtual school was operating in violation of open-enrollment, charter school and teacher licensing laws. The same logic could be applied to the others.
In February, the Republican-controlled Assembly had approved a bill to bring the schools in compliance with several state laws while allowing them to keep growing rapidly. Gov. Jim Doyle announced he wouldn't sign any legislation that didn't include an enrollment cap. The Democratic-controlled Senate included a two-year enrollment freeze in the first version of the bill it passed.
Leadership in the Senate and Assembly, along with Senate Education Committee chairman Sen. John Lehman, D-Racine, and Assembly Education Committee chairman Davis worked to arrive at a compromise to settle the issue.
The law allows statewide virtual school enrollment to increase from about 3,400 to 5,250 for the next two years.
Virtual schools allow students to take classes through the Internet.
Monroe is one of 12 school districts that operate virtual schools in Wisconsin, with an enrollment of about 400 students.
Monroe Superintendent Larry Brown said he expected the governor to sign the bill but it was a good feeling to see him actually do it.
"The law addresses concerns that many people had," Brown said.
Monroe school district Business Manager Ron Olson said he was relieved to see the bill signed into law.
"I'm feeling positive that we have some resolution. We'll finally be able to go forward," Olson said.
Brown said the Monroe virtual school received almost 300 applications for the 2008-09 school year; he expects a third to a half of the students to actually enroll in the district.
"Our enrollment will be fine next year," Brown said. He said there were some questions about how many students would apply at the school due to the uncertainty about the future of virtual schools in the state.
Brown said the school district will continue to contact applicants and meet with the students and their parents to provide information about Monroe's virtual school.
Olson thanked the legislators involved with the process, including Rep. Brett Davis, R-Oregon, and Sen. Jon Erpenbach, D-Waunakee.
Davis said the law shows that the Legislature is able to accomplish important things.
"I'm pleased the governor signed the bill," he said. "It's a win for students who attend the schools."
Davis said he still wants the virtual school issue to be in front of the public and said he expects the Legislature to take it up again to address the need for enrollment caps.
In December, an appeals court ruled that the state's largest virtual school was operating in violation of open-enrollment, charter school and teacher licensing laws. The same logic could be applied to the others.
In February, the Republican-controlled Assembly had approved a bill to bring the schools in compliance with several state laws while allowing them to keep growing rapidly. Gov. Jim Doyle announced he wouldn't sign any legislation that didn't include an enrollment cap. The Democratic-controlled Senate included a two-year enrollment freeze in the first version of the bill it passed.
Leadership in the Senate and Assembly, along with Senate Education Committee chairman Sen. John Lehman, D-Racine, and Assembly Education Committee chairman Davis worked to arrive at a compromise to settle the issue.