Experts have told WCRIS that in the coming months, school copier leases could be subjected to large pricing increases, heavy-handed sales techniques, and suggested “simple” 5-year lease renewals from dealer salespeople. Industry watchers are warning that copier vendors are ramping up their seller-favorable language, which could mean higher costs for WCRIS schools. As a result, [...]
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Current Events
A library of WCRIS weekly E-letters that keeps you updated on issues of concern to private schools
Congress Reviewing COVID Relief for K-12 Schools Before Christmas
December 07, 2020
Congress is quickly assembling a new package of COVID-19 relief, including aid for K-12 education. Your urgent action is needed now. The interests and concerns of WCRIS schools are being represented in D.C. by our lobbyist at the Council for American Private Education (CAPE), of which WCRIS is a charter member. Things are moving rapidly. [...]
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Assembly Proposes COVID-19 Relief Plan
December 03, 2020
The Assembly Republicans unveiled a COVID-19 response plan this week. The proposal contains some education-related provisions, which WCRIS is actively monitoring. WCRIS will continue to ensure that private schools are included but not mandated to participate. The response package needs approval by the Senate, which says it won’t be meeting any more this year, and [...]
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School Lock Down Orders Head to High Court
December 03, 2020
The Wisconsin Supreme Court will hear oral arguments Tuesday on the WCRIS challenge to the Dane County schools lock-down order. The court has frozen the Dane County order. It also granted an injunction on a similar order by the City of Racine, which WCRIS is also challenging. The court’s decision in these cases, which are [...]
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Quarantine Periods Being Reviewed
December 03, 2020
Like all grand and successful human endeavors — settling the western frontier, developing a polio vaccine, flying to the moon — there are many adjustments and changes along the path to success. These are not failures. They are features of the journey. Recently, the Center for Disease Control (CDC) issued its revised guidelines on quarantining. [...]
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WILL Files Lawsuit for WCRIS Schools to Stop Racine Closure Order
November 19, 2020
The Wisconsin Institute for Law and Liberty (WILL) is representing WCRIS in a case before the State Supreme Court to stop the recent City of Racine Public Health order closing schools until January 15. This is the second case of its kind, the other being the case against a similar order in Dane County. The [...]
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From the Nation’s Capitol: News from CAPE
November 19, 2020
The following information is from the Council for American Private Education’s (CAPE) November newsletter. Members of WCRIS are automatically in CAPE, which represents private K-12 schools in Washington, D.C. US Education Department Issues Revised Guidance The Department of Education recently revised its CARES Act guidance on how ESSER funds may be calculated and used. Some [...]
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Tell Gov. Your Thoughts on Upcoming State Budget
November 12, 2020
Gov. Tony Evers and Lt. Gov. Mandela Barnes are hosting four virtual, issue-based listening sessions with Wisconsinites while the Governor builds a proposed 2021-23 State Budget, to be introduced to the Legislature in February. Two of the sessions are of particular interest to WCRIS schools: Budget Listening Session on Healthcare and Public Health Tuesday, November [...]
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School Safety Deadline Reminder
November 12, 2020
By January 1, 2021, every school board and governing body of a private school must file the following information with the Office of School Safety [Wis. Stat. 118.07(4)(e)]: a copy of its School Safety Plan, including the most recent date on which the school board or governing body reviewed and approved the school safety plan; [...]
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State Requires Pupil Count Report
November 05, 2020
Private schools in Wisconsin are required by state law to annually file a PI-1207 form documenting student enrollment. The form is now all online. But DPI officials report that about 300 private schools have not completed it for this school year. It’s important to know that it’s a forward-looking document and once filed, it leaves [...]
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