Wisconsin bill would require rules for communications with staff, students

(The Center Square) – A bill that will require each Wisconsin school district to define appropriate communication between staff and students has passed an Assembly committee and had a public hearing in the Senate Committee on Education on Wednesday.

The amended bill will require school districts to adopt a policy by Sept. 1 that includes punishments, up to firing, for those employees and volunteers who violate the policy in their official capacity.

“Importantly, this bill preserves local control,” Rep. Amanda Nedweski, R-Pleasant Prairie, wrote in testimony on the bill. “It does not mandate a one-size-fits-all policy. Instead, it allows each school district to determine what communication standards work best for its community, while requiring that districts establish clear expectations for appropriate staff student communications during and outside of school hours.”

The bill is part of a group of laws in a push by Nedweski and other legislators to root out in...