Review Agenda Item
Meeting Date: 7/29/2021 - 5:30 PM
Category: Reports and Communications from the Board Clerk/Chief Officer, Office of Board Governance
Type: Action
Subject: 3. Action on a Resolution and Participation Agreement with the Southeastern Wisconsin Schools Alliance (SWSA)
Strategic Plan Compatibility Statement:
Goal 1
Academic Achievement
Goal 2
Student, Family and Community Engagement
Goal 3
Effective and Efficient Operations
Policy:
Attachments Southeastern Wisconsin Schools Alliance Agreement and Resolution Packet
File Attachment:
Background: The mission of the Southeastern Wisconsin Schools Alliance (SWSA), which comprises school districts in southeastern Wisconsin, is to support and to promote world-class schools through research, advocacy, public policy, and effective communication for the benefit of students and the economic vitality of the region. In striving to achieve this mission, the goal of the Alliance is to identify issues on which member districts can agree and for which they can advocate. Pursuant to Section 66.0301 of the Wisconsin Statutes, member school districts agree to enter into the agreement as attached to this item and as defined by the Southeastern Wisconsin Schools Alliance's resolution, which is also attached, to achieve this goal. It is of benefit to all of the Alliance’s members to discuss and to refine their positions on issues, whether or not consensus on those issues is ultimately reached. A lack of consensus, however, should not prevent individual districts or groups of districts from advocating for issues on their own.

The School District of South Milwaukee serves as operator and fiscal agent of the SWSA and, as such, establishes and maintains records in accordance with the uniform financial accounting system prescribed by the Department of Public Instruction.

The Milwaukee Public Schools has been a member of the Alliance since 2002. Until 2014, MPS covered the cost of its membership through the provision of in-kind services through the Office of Governmental Relations Services. In 2014, however, due to the expanding efforts of the SWSA and the group's increased level of advocacy on behalf of K-12 education, MPS agreed to join the other member districts in providing a $3,000 annual payment to the organization. In 2017-18, the payment was increased to $3,200. The payment for 2021-22 remains at $3,200.

Also attached for the Board's information is a packet containing the resolution and agreement to be adopted, along with SWSA's 2020-21 annual report and a list of projected participating districts for the upcoming year.
Fiscal Impact Statement: The Southeastern Wisconsin Schools Alliance's annual participation fee for 2021-22 is $3,200.
Implementation and Assessment Plan Once the Board has adopted the resolution and approved submission of the Participation Agreement, the Office of Board Governance will forward the signed documents to the SWSA.
Recommendation: The Office of Board Governance recommends that the Board:

1. adopt the resolution, as attached to this item; and

2. authorize the Board's President and the Board Clerk to sign and to submit the attached Participation Agreement, along with the $3,200 membership fee, to the Southeastern Wisconsin Schools Alliance (SWSA).
Approvals:
Recommended By:
Signed By:
Jacqueline M. Mann, Ph.D. - Board Clerk/Chief Officer