Determining WRS Reportable Earnings with Employee Separations and Settlements

Brian P. Goodman | 04.20.22

Sometimes, a school district provides something of value to an employee in exchange for an employee’s separation from employment and the employee signing a waiver of potential claims against the district. This is often referred to as a separation agreement (but may have different titles). There are a variety of legal issues involved in drafting an effective and enforceable separation agreement. One area of potential confusion is how monetary payments made to employees via a separation agreement should be treated for purposes of the Wisconsin Retirement System (WRS).

Richard F. Verstegen, Douglas E. Witte, Brian P. Goodman | 03.02.22

During the second half of the school year, Wisconsin school administrators and boards are usually planning for staffing for the succeeding school year. As part of this planning process, administrators and boards need to be aware of issues related to the renewal and nonrenewal of teacher contracts, which is an issue that may be governed by statutes that have April, May, and June deadlines. This article addresses some of the issues that should be considered during the renewal and nonrenewal process. However, each situation may vary based on the circumstances, and districts should seek legal counsel if they have questions before making decisions.

Douglas E. Witte | 02.28.22

The Center for Disease Control (CDC) issued new guidance on February 25, 2022, that reduced mask requirements for schools and included some clarification with respect to whether masks are required on buses. Under the new guidance, schools are no longer considered in a unique category when it comes to masking recommendations. CDC now recommends universal school masking only in communities where COVID-19 levels are high.