Wisconsin 2021-2022 Regular Session Status: To Executive 4 R cosponsors

AB 966 — Relating to: reorganizing the Milwaukee Public School System into four to eight school districts and creating a Milwaukee Public Schools Redistricting and Implementation Commission. (FE)

Last action — Failed to pass notwithstanding the objections of the Governor pursuant to Joint Rule 82

  1. ✓
    Introduced
  2. ✓
    In Committee
  3. ✓
    Passed Assembly
  4. ✓
    Passed Senate
  5. 5
    To Executive
  6. 6
    Enacted

This bill died with 2021-2022 Regular Session. It reached “To Executive” and never advanced before the session ended, so it can no longer move — a new version would have to be reintroduced in the current session.

This bill is no longer active — its legislative session has ended, so there are no live odds of enactment. It would have to be reintroduced in the current session to move again.

Bill Text

What changed in the latest version

112 added · 193 removed

Plain-language change summary

The bill AB 966 has undergone significant changes that focus on reorganizing the Milwaukee Public School System. It proposes to dissolve the current system and create between four and eight new districts, ensuring that each one operates grades K-12 with locally elected school boards. This change is intended to enhance educational management and responsiveness by decentralizing authority, and it includes the establishment of a commission to oversee the redistricting process. This reorganization is slated to have implications for governance and educational outcomes in Milwaukee, making it a crucial development for the community.

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- 2022 LEGISLATURE LRB-5983/1 KRP:cjs ASSEMBLY BILL 966 February 8, 2022 - Introduced by Representatives ITTKE, THIESFELDT, RANDTJEN , G UNDRUM , K NODL, KUGLITSCH , MACCO , MAGNAFICI, M URPHY and V ORPAGEL , cosponsored by Senators D ARLING and R OTH .
Date of enactment:
Referred to Committee on Education.
Assembly Bill 966 Date of publication*:
A N A CT to renumber 119.9000 (1);
WISCONSIN ACT A N A CT to renumber 119.9000 (1);
Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau Effective July 1, 2024, this bill dissolves the Milwaukee Public Schools (MPS) and creates in its place four to eight city of Milwaukee public school districts.
The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in 119.02(1) “Board” means the board of school direc- senate and assembly, do enact as follows:
Each new school district must operate grades kindergarten to 12.
tors incharge of the public schools of a city of the 1st class other than those public schools transferred to the oppor- S ECTION 1.
Each new school board must consist of seven members elected at large for three-year terms.
Chapter 119 (title) of the statutes is tunity schools and partnership programs under s.
The initial election of school board members occurs at the 2024 spring election.
119.33 amended to read:
The bill creates a Milwaukee Public Schools Redistricting and Implementation Commission consisting of the governor, two members appointed by the governor, the state superintendent of public instruction, the mayor of the city of Milwaukee, and two members appointed by the mayor.
or subch.
No later than October 1, 2022, the commission must determine the number of new school districts and the boundaries of those new school districts and submit to the legislature recommended changes to the statutes necessary to organize and operate the new school districts.
The commission must recommend legislation to do all of the following:
- 2022 Legislature - 2 - LRB-5983/1 KRP:cjs ASSEMBLY BILL 966 1.
Transfer school buildings from the city of Milwaukee to one of the new school districts.
2.
Address the taxing and borrowing authority of each new school district.
3.
Ensure that employees of MPS prior to its dissolution are employed by one of the new school districts after the dissolution of MPS.
4.
Provide for the continuation of the Milwaukee Parental Choice Program, under which an eligible pupil who resides in the city of Milwaukee may attend a private school at state expense under certain conditions.
5.
Provide for the continuation of any charter school authorized by MPS.
The bill directs the Department of Public Instruction to provide staff support and funding to the commission and to assist each new school district created under the bill.
For further information see the state and local fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill.
The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do enact as follows:
SECTION 1.
Chapter 119 (title) of the statutes is amended to read:
CHAPTER 119 FIRST CLASS CITY SCHOOL SYSTEM SYSTEMS IN FIRST CLASS CITIES OTHER THAN MILWAUKEE SECTION 2.
Subchapter I (title) of chapter 119 [precedes 119.01] of the statutes is amended to read:
CHAPTER 119 SUBCHAPTER I FIRST CLASS CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT DISTRICTS IN FIRST CLASS CITIES OTHER THAN MILWAUKEE SECTION 3.
119.01 of the statutes is amended to read:
LRB-5983/1 - 2022 Legislature - 3 - KRP:cjs SECTION 3 ASSEMBLY BILL 966 119.01 Applicability.
This chapterubchapter applies only to cities of the 1st class.
SECTION 4.
119.02 (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:
119.02 Definitions.
(intro.) In this chapter subchapter, unless the context clearly requires otherwise:
SECTION 5.
119.02 (1) of the statutes is amended to read:
119.02 (1) “Board" means the board of school directors in charge of the public schools of a city of the 1st class than those public schools transferred to the opportunity schools and partnership programs under s.
119.33 or subch.
SECTION 6.
CHAPTER 119 SECTION 6.
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119.02 (2) of the statutes is amended to read:
119.02 (2) of the statutes is amended to FIRST CLASS CITY SCHOOL SYSTEM read:
119.02 (2) “City" means a 1st classty of the 1st class other than the city of Milwaukee.
SYSTEMS IN FIRST CLASS CITIES 119.02 (2) “City” means a 1st class city of the 1st OTHER THAN MILWAUKEE class other than the city of Milwaukee.
SECTION 7.
S ECTION 2.
119.04 (1) of the statutes is amended to read:
Subchapter I (title) of chapter 119 [pre- SECTION 7.
119.04 (1) Subchapters IV, V,d VII of ch.
119.04 (1) of the statutes is amended to cedes 119.01] of the statutes is amended to read:
read:
CHAPTER 119 119.04(1) Subchapters IV, V, and VII of ch.
121, and ss.
SUBCHAPTER I 121, and ss.
66.0235 (3) (c), 66.0603 (1m) to (3), 115.01 (1) and (2), 115.28, 115.31, 115.33, 115.34, 115.343, 115.345, 115.363, 115.364, 115.365 (3), 115.366, 115.367, 115.38 (2), 115.415, 115.445, 118.001 to 118.04, 118.045, 118.06, 118.07, 118.075, 118.076, 118.10, 118.12, 118.125 to 118.14, 118.145 (4), 118.15, 118.153, 118.16, 118.162, 118.163, 118.164, 118.18, 118.19, 118.196, 118.20, 118.223, 118.225, 118.24 (1), (2) (c) to (f), (6), (8), and (10), 118.245, 118.25, 118.255, 118.258, 118.291, 118.292, 118.293, 118.30 to 118.43, 118.46, 118.50, 118.51, 118.52, 118.53, 118.55, 118.56, 120.12 (2m), (4m), (5), and (15) to (27), 120.125, 120.13 (1), (2) (b) to (g), (3), (14), (17) to (19), (26), (34), (35), (37), (37m), and (38), 120.137, 120.14, 120.20, 120.21 (3), and 120.25 are applicable to a 1st class city school district operating under this subchapter and board but not, unless explicitly provided in this chapterpter or in the terms of a contract, to - 2022 Legislature - 4 - LRB-5983/1 KRP:cjs ASSEMBLY BILL 966 SECTION 7 the commissioner or to any school transferred to an opportunity schools and partnership program.
66.0235 (3) (c), 66.0603 (1m) to (3), 115.01 FIRST CLASS CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT (1) and (2), 115.28, 115.31, 115.33, 115.34, 115.343, DISTRICTS IN FIRST CLASS CITIES 115.345, 115.363, 115.364, 115.365 (3), 115.366, OTHER THAN MILWAUKEE 115.367, 115.38 (2), 115.415, 115.445, 118.001 to S ECTION 3.
119.01 of the statutes is amended to read:
118.04, 118.045, 118.06, 118.07, 118.075, 118.076, 119.01 Applicability.
This chapter subchapter 118.10, 118.12, 118.125 to 118.14, 118.145 (4), 118.15, applies only to cities of the 1st class.
118.153, 118.16, 118.162, 118.163, 118.164, 118.18, S ECTION 4.
119.02 (intro.) of the statutes is amended 118.19, 118.196, 118.20, 118.223, 118.225, 118.24 (1), to read:
(2) (c) to (f), (6), (8), and (10), 118.245, 118.25, 118.255, 119.02 Definitions.
(intro.) In this chapter sub- 118.258, 118.291, 118.292, 118.293, 118.30 to 118.43, chapter, unless the context clearly requires otherwise:
118.46, 118.50, 118.51, 118.52, 118.53, 118.55, 118.56, S ECTION 5.
119.02 (1) of the statutes is amended to 120.12 (2m), (4m), (5), and (15) to (27), 120.125, 120.13 read:
(1), (2) (b) to (g), (3), (14), (17) to (19), (26), (34), (35), * Section 991.11,ISCONSISTATUTE:
Effective date of acts.
“Every act and every portion of an act enacted by the legislature over the governor’s partial veto which does not expressly prescribe the time when it takes effect shall take effect on the day after its date of publication.” Wisconsin Act − 2 − 2021 Assembly Bill 966 (37), (37m), and (38), 120.137, 120.14, 120.20, 120.21 (d) The commission terminates upon the earlier of (3), and 120.25 are applicable to a 1st class city school the following:
district operating under this subchapter and board but 1.
The date the commission makes the determina- not, unless explicitly provided in this chapterubchapter tions under sub.
(4) (a) or the date the commission sub- or in the terms of a contract, to the commissioner or to any mits the recommendations under sub.
(4) (b), whichever school transferred to an opportunity schools and partner- is later.
ship program.
2.
October 1, 2022.
119.04 (2) of the statutes is amended to read:
119.04 (2) of the statutes is amended to (4) C OMMISSION;
119.04 (2) The board shall exercise the powers, perform the functions, and be entitled to all school aid under sub.
POWERS AND DUTIES.
(1) insofar as the same are relevant to cities of the 1st class.
No later than read:
The board and the schools in cities of the 1st class a school district operating under this subchapter shall be governed in all matters by the general laws of the state, except as altered or modified by express amendments.
October 1, 2022, the commission shall do all of the fol- 119.04 (2) The board shall exercise the powers, per- lowing:
form the functions, and be entitled to all school aid under (a) Determine the number of public school districts, sub.
(1) insofar as the same are relevant to cities of the 1st which shall not be less than 4 nor more than 8, created in class.
The board and the schools in cities of the 1st class the city of Milwaukee under sub.
(2) and the boundaries a school district operating under this subchapter shall be of the school districts.
To the extent practicable, the com- governed in all matters by the general laws of the state, mission shall make the population in each school district except as altered or modified by express amendments.
119.50 (3) of the statutes is amended to read:
119.50 (3) of the statutes is amended to roughly equal.
119.50 (3) The superintendent of schools shall keep separate accounts of all money raised and apportioned for 1st class cityes of a school district purposes operating under this subchapter.
The commission shall consider the loca- tion and capacity of school buildings when drawing the read:
The money shall be disbursed in accordance with this section and s.
boundaries under this paragraph.
66.0607 (5) and shall be paid from the proper funds.
119.50 (3) The superintendent of schools shall keep (b) Submit to the legislature recommendations on separate accounts of all money raised and apportioned for 1st class city purposes of a school district purposes oper- legislation needed as a result of the creation of the city of Milwaukee public school districts under this act, on any ating under this subchapter.
SECTION 10.
The money shall be dis- other legislation required to implement this act, and on bursed in accordance with this section and s.
119.9000 (1) of the statutes is renumbered 119.9000 (1s).
66.0607 (5) related matters deemed by the commission to be desir- and shall be paid from the proper funds.
SECTION 11.
able or necessary to organize and operate the school dis- SECTION 10.
119.9000 (1e) of the statutes is created to read:
119.9000 (1) of the statutes is renum- bered 119.9000 (1s).
119.9000 (1e) “Board” has the meaning given in s.
tricts created under this act, including the appropriate allocation of assets and liabilities under s.
66.0235 (2c) SECTION 11.
119.9000 (1e) of the statutes is created to each of the school districts created under this act.
The to read:
commission shall recommend legislation under this para- 119.9000 (1e) “Board” has the meaning given in s.
graph to do at least all of the following:
119.9000 (1m) of the statutes is created to read:
119.9000 (1m) of the statutes is created 1.
119.9000 (1m) “City” means a 1st class city.
Transfer each school building and grounds and each school site from the city of Milwaukee to the public to read:
SECTION 13.0Nonstatutory provisions.
school district created under this act within which that 119.9000 (1m) “City” means a 1st class city.
(1) D EFINITION.In this section, “commission” means the Milwaukee Public Schools redistricting and implementation commission created under sub.
SECTION 13.
(3) (a).
Nonstatutory provisions.
(2) DISSOLUTION OFMPS ;
school building and grounds or school site is located.
CREATION OF NEW SCHOOL DISTRICTThe Milwaukee Public School System is dissolved.
(1) DEFINITION.
The territory comprising the dissolved school district is divided into new school districts as determined by the commission under sub.
In this section, “commission” means 2.
(4) (a).
Address the taxing and borrowing authority of the Milwaukee Public Schools redistricting and imple- each public school district created under this act.
LRB-5983/1 - 2022 Legislature - 5 - KRP:cjs SECTION 13 ASSEMBLY BILL 966 (3) M ILWAUKEEP UBLICSCHOOLS REDISTRICTING AND IMPLEMENTATION COMMISSION.
(a) There is created a Milwaukee Public Schools redistricting and implementation commission that consists of the governor, 2 members appointed by the governor, the state superintendent of public instruction, the mayor of the city of Milwaukee, and two members appointed by the mayor of the city of Milwaukee.
(b) The members of the commission shall receive no compensation or reimbursement for their services or expenses.
(c) The department of public instruction shall staff and provide funding for the commission.
(d) The commission terminates upon the earlier of the following:
1.
The date the commission makes the determinations under sub.
(4) (a) or the date the commission submits the recommendations under sub.
(4) (b), whichever is later.
2.
October 1, 2022.
(4) C OMMISSION;
POWERS AND DUTIES.
No later than October 1, 2022, the commission shall do all of the following:
(a) Determine the number of public school districts, which shall not be less than 4 nor more than 8, created in the city of Milwaukee under sub.
(2) and the boundaries of the school districts.
To the extent practicable, the commission shall make the population in each school district roughly equal.
The commission shall consider the location and capacity of school buildings when drawing the boundaries under this paragraph.
(b) Submit to the legislature recommendations on legislation needed as a result of the creation of the city of Milwaukee public school districts under this act, on any other legislation required to implement this act, and on related matters deemed by - 2022 Legislature - 6 - LRB-5983/1 KRP:cjs ASSEMBLY BILL 966 SECTION 13 the commission to be desirable or necessary to organize and operate the school districts created under this act, including the appropriate allocation of assets and liabilities under s.
66.0235 (2c) to each of the school districts created under this act.
The commission shall recommend legislation under this paragraph to do at least all of the following:
1.
Transfer each school building and grounds and each school site from the city of Milwaukee to the public school district created under this act within which that school building and grounds or school site is located.
2.
Address the taxing and borrowing authority of each public school district created under this act.
Ensure that persons employed by the Milwaukee Public School System on June 30, 2024, are employed by one of the public school districts created under this act on and after July 1, 2024.
Ensure that persons employed by the Milwaukee mentation commission created under sub.
4.
(3) (a).
Public School System on June 30, 2024, are employed by (2) D ISSOLUTION OF MPS ;
CREATION OF NEW SCHOOL DISTRICTS.
The Milwaukee Public School System is dis- one of the public school districts created under this act on solved.
The territory comprising the dissolved school and after July 1, 2024.
district is divided into new school districts as determined 4.
5.
by the commission under sub.
Provide for the continuation of any charter school authorized under s.
(4) (a).
118.40 by the board of school directors in charge of the Milwaukee Public Schools.
(3) M ILWAUKEE P UBLIC S CHOOLS REDISTRICTING AND 5.
(5) R ESPONSIBILITIES OF THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC INSTRUCTION.
Provide for the continuation of any charter school IMPLEMENTATION COMMISSION.
The department of public instruction shall provide assistance to the city of Milwaukee public school districts created under this act, including planning for the operation of the school districts.
authorized under s.
(6) MEMBERS OF NEW PUBLIC SCHOOL BOARDS.
118.40 by the board of school direc- (a) There is created a Milwaukee Public Schools tors in charge of the Milwaukee Public Schools.
(a) Each of the city of Milwaukee public school districts created under this act shall be governed by a school board consisting of 7 members elected at large as provided in s.
(5) R ESPONSIBILITIES OF THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC redistricting and implementation commission that con- sists of the governor, 2 members appointed by the gover- INSTRUCTION.
The department of public instruction shall nor, the state superintendent of public instruction, the provide assistance to the city of Milwaukee public school mayor of the city of Milwaukee, and two members districts created under this act, including planning for the appointed by the mayor of the city of Milwaukee.
operation of the school districts.
(6) M EMBERS OF NEW PUBLIC SCHOOL BOARDS.
(b) The members of the commission shall receive no compensation or reimbursement for their services or (a) Each of the city of Milwaukee public school dis- expenses.
tricts created under this act shall be governed by a school (c) The department of public instruction shall staff board consisting of 7 members elected at large as pro- and provide funding for the commission.
vided in s.
The initial members of each school board shall be elected at the 2024 spring election and shall take office on July 1, 2024.
The initial members of each school Assembly Bill 966 − 3 − 2021 Wisconsin Act board shall be elected at the 2024 spring election and (7) U NIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT LAWS APPLY.
LRB-5983/1 - 2022 Legislature - 7 - KRP:cjs S ECTION 13 ASSEMBLY BILL 966 (b) The initial terms of 4 of the initial members of the school board for each city of Milwaukee public school district created under this act shall be 2 years.
Each city shall take office on July 1, 2024.
The initial terms of 3 of the initial members of each school board shall be 3 years.
of Milwaukee public school district created under this act (b) The initial terms of 4 of the initial members of the shall be a unified school district under subch.
For the initial election, in filing nomination papers and a declaration of candidacy, each candidate shall specify whether the candidate seeks office for a 2-year or a 3-year term.
Successors to the initial board members shall serve for 3-year terms.
(7) UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT LAWS APPLYEach city of Milwaukee public school district created under this act shall be a unified school district under subch.
120 and shall operate grades kindergarten to 12.
120 school board for each city of Milwaukee public school and shall operate grades kindergarten to 12.
SECTION 14.Effective dates.
district created under this act shall be 2 years.
This act takes effect on the day after publication, except as follows:
The initial S ECTION 14.0Effective dates.
(1) The treatment of ss.
This act takes effect terms of 3 of the initial members of each school board on the day after publication, except as follows:
119.01, 119.02 (intro.), (1), and (2), 119.04 (1) and (2), 119.50 (3), 119.9000 (1), (1e), and (1m), subch.
shall be 3 years.
For the initial election, in filing nomina- (1) The treatment of ss.
119.01, 119.02 (intro.), (1), tion papers and a declaration of candidacy, each candi- and (2), 119.04 (1) and (2), 119.50 (3), 119.9000 (1), date shall specify whether the candidate seeks office for (1e), and (1m), subch.
119 (title) and SECTION 13 (2) and (7) of this act take effect on July 1, 2024.
119 a 2−year or a 3−year term.
(END)
Successors to the initial board (title) and SECTION 13 (2) and (7) of this act take effect members shall serve for 3−year terms.
on July 1, 2024.
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Action History

  1. Failed to pass notwithstanding the objections of the Governor pursuant to Joint Rule 82

  2. Placed on calendar 5-17-2022 pursuant to Joint Rule 82 (2)(a)

  3. Report vetoed by the Governor on 4-15-2022

  4. Presented to the Governor on 4-13-2022

  5. Report correctly enrolled on 3-11-2022

  6. Received from Senate concurred in

  7. Ordered immediately messaged

  8. Read a third time and concurred in, Ayes 19, Noes 12

  9. Rules suspended

  10. Ordered to a third reading

  11. Read a second time

  12. Placed on calendar 3-8-2022 pursuant to Senate Rule 18(1)

  13. Public hearing requirement waived by committee on Senate Organization, pursuant to Senate Rule 18 (1m), Ayes 3, Noes 2

  14. Available for scheduling

  15. Report concurrence recommended by Committee on Education, Ayes 4, Noes 3

  16. Executive action taken

  17. Read first time and referred to committee on Education

  18. Received from Assembly

  19. Ordered immediately messaged

  20. Read a third time and passed

  21. Rules suspended

  22. Ordered to a third reading

  23. Read a second time

  24. Placed on calendar 2-22-2022 by Committee on Rules

  25. Referred to committee on Rules

  26. Report passage recommended by Committee on Education, Ayes 7, Noes 6

  27. Executive action taken

  28. Public hearing held

  29. Fiscal estimate received

  30. Representative Wichgers added as a coauthor

  31. Read first time and referred to Committee on Education

  32. Introduced by Representatives Wittke, Thiesfeldt, Brandtjen, Gundrum, Knodl, Kuglitsch, Macco, Magnafici, Murphy and Vorpagel; cosponsored by Senators Darling and Roth

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

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10 sponsors · 0 co-sponsors · 122 not signed on · 8 voted No

Sponsors (10)

Co-sponsors (0)

None.

Not signed on (122)

122 members have not signed on to this bill.

Show all 122 →

"Not signed on" means a member has not sponsored or co-sponsored this bill — it does not imply opposition. Members flagged Voted No have a recorded No vote on this bill.

Whip count is in markup. Polling the chamber and every recorded vote this session. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Calling the roll · Tallying · Engrossing

Votes

CONCURRENCE

Passed 19 Yea · 12 Nay · 2 Other
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Unaffiliated 6402
Republican 13000
Democrat 0800
Total 191202
% of votes cast 58%36%0%6%
How each member voted (33)
Member Party Vote
BERNIER — Yea
STROEBEL — Yea
COWLES — Yea
DARLING — Yea
PETROWSKI — Yea
ROTH — Yea
AGARD — Nay
KOOYENGA — Nay
BEWLEY — Nay
RINGHAND — Nay
BALLWEG — Not Voting
ERPENBACH — Not Voting
Carpenter, Tim Democrat Nay
Johnson, LaTonya Democrat Nay
Larson, Chris Democrat Nay
Pfaff, Brad Democrat Nay
Roys, Kelda Democrat Nay
Smith, Jeff Democrat Nay
Taylor, Sequanna Democrat Nay
Wirch, Robert Democrat Nay
Bradley, Julian Republican Yea
Felzkowski, Mary Republican Yea
Feyen, Dan Republican Yea
Jacque, André Republican Yea
Jagler, John Republican Yea
Kapenga, Chris Republican Yea
LeMahieu, Devin Republican Yea
Marklein, Howard Republican Yea
Nass, Steve Republican Yea
Stafsholt, Rob Republican Yea
Testin, Patrick Republican Yea
Wanggaard, Van Republican Yea
Wimberger, Eric Republican Yea

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Subjects

education
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Frequently asked questions

Who sponsors AB 966?
AB 966 is sponsored by Vorpagel, Murphy, David (Republican), Magnafici, Macco, Kuglitsch, Knodl, Daniel (Republican), Gundrum, Rick (Republican), Brandtjen, Thiesfeldt, and Wittke, Robert (Republican).
What is the current status of AB 966?
This bill died with 2021-2022 Regular Session. It reached “To Executive” and never advanced before the session ended, so it can no longer move — a new version would have to be reintroduced in the current session.
Where can I track AB 966?
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