Sunshine Review: Madison School District

The good

• 2011-2012 budget information is provided, but previous budgets are not available.
  
• Budget gap and tax impact options are provided.[1]
  
• School board members and their individual contact information are listed.[2]
  
• School board meetings and minutes are posted.[3]
  
• Administrative officials in differing departments are listed.[4]
  
• Recent budget information is provided.[5]
  
• Some information is provided on contracts and employment.[6]
  
• Audits are posted.[7]
  
• Recent statewide test results are posted.[8]
  
• Background check information is briefly reviewed in the employment tasks information.[6]

[edit]The bad

Does not archive past budgets.
No public records information is provided.
[edit]School board

The school board is comprised of a superintendent and "such other officers as the legislature shall direct." The superintendent is appointed by the state legislature in the same manner as members of the Wisconsin Supreme Court. The superintendent can hold office for 4 years.[9] According to the state constitution the board of education may not prevent a non−union teacher from speaking of a bargaining issue at an open meeting, as was ruled in the U.S. Supreme Court case Madison School District v. Wisconsin Employment Commission.[10]

I support the Sunshine review initiative. However, the last paragraph, regarding the Superintendent, is of course incorrect.

Posted by Jim Zellmer at August 24, 2012 3:37 AM
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