At the first meeting of the Governor’s Task Force on Educational Excellence, Governor Jim Doyle announced today the launch of a new web site that will not only provide the public with information on the task force and its members, but will also give citizens the opportunity to offer their opinions of how to best improve our schools. The web site is http://edexcellence.wisconsin.gov.
"I have challenged each member of the task force to approach this job in a thoughtful, thorough manner that allows for broad input from all points of view, and results in concrete recommendations to improve our school system," Governor Doyle said. "I’ve also challenged them to reach out and make the task force accessible to all Wisconsin citizens, whether it be teachers, parents or taxpayers. As one step, today we are unveiling a new web site that allows Wisconsin citizens to follow the work of the Task Force and offer their opinions on how we can best improve our schools."
The Governor established the Governor’s Task Force on Educational Excellence through Executive Order on August 22, 2003. The Task Force will study and make recommendations to the Governor on several key areas in our educational delivery system: school finance, special education, teacher recruitment and retention, student achievement, and early childhood education.
Members of the public can express their views on how to improve our schools by going to http://edexcellence.wisconsin.gov/comments.asp. They can also find background on the Task Force’s charge and its members, links to information about Task Force meetings, and more at http://edexcellence.wisconsin.gov.
The Task Force is comprised of 29 members, including parents, teachers, community leaders, school administrators, school board members, business leaders, and organized labor representatives. Members come from urban, rural, and suburban districts, richer districts and poorer districts alike.
The Governor has asked the Task Force to report back to him and to the State Superintendent by the end of the year, with final recommendations in the spring.
