MADISON, Wis. (Gray) – Republican lawmakers pressed the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction on transparency and spending after a report revealed the agency spent nearly $370,000 on a four-day conference at a water park resort in the Wisconsin Dells.
“You are setting a very impactful policy on academic standards for students throughout the state. You have no parents present. No legislators present. No members of the public involved,” said state Rep. Amanda Nedweski, R-Pleasant Prairie.
DPI said it works with the Data Recognition Corporation every year to update the state’s Forward Exam for students.
The Dairyland Sentinel reported the department spent the money on its test standards meeting in 2024.
“It’s pretty mind-blowing to spend $400,000 on a conference for 88 people and one vendor,” Nedweski said.
Rich Judge, assistant state superintendent for DPI, said the conference was routine and test questions are proprietary information.
“We don’t want anybody to have these test questions in advance,” Judge said. “While these charges may seem, in isolation, in a vacuum, out of line…we are currently paying less than almost every state in the country at $30,000 per grade level for total services,” he said.
The committee also raised concerns about the time it takes for the department to fulfill open records requests.
“It’s just kind of disheartening to see that it’s taken so long to get this information in the hands of the people who requested it,” said state Rep. Tyler August, the Assembly majority leader.
The judge said the department has only four staff attorneys to handle the open record caseload and investigate misconduct or licensing concerns.
“So we’re constantly juggling,” Judge said.
Nedweski, the committee’s chair, said they plan to meet again in the coming months.
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