Will Agreed-Upon Compromise Pass or Will Lock-Out Amendment Kill Deal
February 18, 2008
MEDIA ADVISORY
For Immediate Release, February 18, 2008
Contact: Rose Fernandez, 262-565-7844 Future of Public Virtual Schools on Agenda Tuesday
Will Agreed-Upon Compromise Pass or Will Lock-Out Amendment Kill Deal
[Madison, WI] The much-praised Bipartisan Public Virtual School Rescue Plan is scheduled for a vote on the floor of the State Senate tomorrow. By tomorrow evening, Wisconsinites will know whether lawmakers honored their word or made last minute alterations to the agreement that killed the compromise.
“At the 11th hour, some supporters of SB396 are saying the Governor wants a new amendment that locks out new families from pursuing this public educational option,” said Rose Fernandez, President of the Wisconsin Coalition of virtual School Families. “We don’t know this to be a fact, as we have not heard directly from the Governor, but after a march on the Capitol that brought more than 1,100 people out on a cold January day, after two public hearings and more than 16 hours of testimony after a bipartisan vote in committees in both houses, including a unanimous vote in the Senate Education Committee, the time has come to approve SB386, without amendments, tomorrow.”
Fernandez said an enrollment cap Lock-Out not only radically alters the compromise, no one has offered a meaningful reason for supporting such a change.
“Tomorrow is Election Day,” said Fernandez. “The candidates for President, including the one supported by our Governor, have railed against the influence of special-interest lobbyists, pledged to work in a bipartisan manner and have expressed hope and optimism about changing politics as usual. Well, tomorrow we’ll find out if Wisconsin policymakers will actually put those words into action.”
What: Press Conference on Virtual School Vote
Who: Dozens of Kids, Teachers and Parents Will Be in Attendance
When: 10 am, Tuesday, February 19th Where: Assembly Parlor, State Capitol
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