[Madison, Wisconsin] Holding signs that read "Don't kick me out of school, I didn't do anything wrong" and "This Vote Will Go on Your Permanent Record!" a crowd of more than 1100 students, parents and educators rallied at the Wisconsin State Capitol Wednesday afternoon.
"In school, you study history," Rose Fernandez, President of the Wisconsin Coalition of Virtual School Families said to the boisterous crowd. "But today, you're making history."
Faced with the prospect of a court-ordered closure of a half dozen online public charter schools in Wisconsin, the group rallied in support of AB697 a bipartisan bill, which had a public hearing later in the day. The rally attendees did not return to their hometowns when the speakers were done, however. The throng went to the legislative committee hearing to register their support and then spent the afternoon visiting their lawmakers.
"While the Supreme Court decides whether to take up the appeal in the virtual school case, there are several well-intentioned legislators looking for a legislative fix," said Fernandez. "We have union dues paying teachers, parents, kids, school administrators and those well-intentioned legislators on our side. The teachers union, which wants to close these schools, stands alone with their allies at the state Department of Public Instruction. We hope this massive civics lesson today will help bring even more allies our way. AB697 is the only legislation out there that will keep these schools open."
In December, a state appeals court ruled that the state must suspend funding of the public Wisconsin Virtual Academy and indicated state statutes must be updated to reflect the growth of this emerging educational reform in order for it to continue.
"3,000 kids could be kicked out of the public school that works best for them if this legislation doesn't pass," said Fernandez. "I want those who oppose this bill to look these little ones in the eyes and say 'Tough luck, kid, I have to side with WEAC on this one, now hit the road.' "
Representative Brett Davis, the author of the Bi-partisan AB697 immediately began working with the various affected parties to craft a narrow legislative fix that addresses only the concerns raised by the court. It must pass both houses of the legislature and be signed by the Governor this year.
Buses collected rally attendees from stops in Brookfield, Green Bay, Appleton, Wausau, Plover, Westfield, Eau Claire and Tomah. Hundreds more made their own way to the rally in Madison despite the short notice and sub-freezing temperatures.
"This is just the start," said Fernandez. "We're going to do all that we can to see this through and save these schools."
|
