Empower Wisconsin | Sept 14, 2020

MADISON — Dane County private schools are set to welcome back students today after the Wisconsin Supreme Court late last week slapped an injunction on the local health department order barring in-person learning at Dane County Schools. 

“Starting Monday, for those parents that need in-person education, they will be able to bring their kids to school to learn in person,” Angela Hineline, enrollment manager at St. Ambrose Academy, a Madison Catholic school for students grades 6-12, told Empower Wisconsin’s M.D. Kittle Friday on the Vicki McKenna Show. 

Hineline said the school will continue to offer virtual learning for students, as well. 

“We are fully set up, following all of the guidelines, and ready to go,” she said. 

The court has agreed to hear three lawsuits against Public Health Madison & Dane County. And the court’s briefing schedule keeps the preliminary injunction in place for the next couple of months before justices hear oral arguments. 

Joe Voiland, attorney for one of the plaintiffs, said the language of the decision suggests the conservative-led court is looking to go beyond whether public and private schools may hold in-person education. 

“It’s going to be about what we want it to be about, which is the (unchecked) power of government to restrict private choices. That’s for schools, parents, students, businesses, bars, churches, sports team,” Voiland said. 

Hineline and Voiland are our guests today on PowerUp, Empower Wisconsin’s podcast.