FOREWORD
April 11, 1861
AN ACT to create the office of County Superintendent of Schools.
The People of the State of Wisconsin, represented in Senate and Assembly,
do enact as follows:
SECTION 1. There shall be chosen at the general election held on the
Tuesday next succeeding the first Monday in November, of the year
1861, and biennally thereafter, a county superintendent of schools for
each county of the state.
June 10, 1964
AN ACT to repeal all statues from 39.05 to 39.20 referring to the County
Superintendent of Schools.
One-hundred three years have elapsed since the creation of the county
superintendency in Wisconsin and during that time, a great many changes
have taken place in the field of educational progress. Two of the greatest
changes, however, have occured within the past three years.
The greatest impact on the Wisconsin school system occurred with the
passage of a bill making it mandatory that all school districts become a
part of a larger district operating a high school. With the great number
of small rural districts in the state, it was natural there would, be some
opposition to the new law. To comply with the law, county school commit-
tees were formed, hearings held and school consolidations affected. With
improved roads and transportation, the one or two-room school was no
longer needed to fulfill the educational needs of the community.  This
need was met by providing educational opportunities in large multi-roomed
schools, with the best in heating, lighting and new equipment.
The second greatest impact on the educational pattern of Wisconsin
schools, came with the passage of a bill abolishing the county superintend-
ency and creating 19 Educational Agencies. All of these agencies have
now been formed and the Board's of Control are presently organizing, hir-
ing coordinators, establishing procedure, policy and making provision to
provide various services requested by the participating schools within each
agency. Although the state provides the major expense for the adminis-
tration of each agency, complete control of the agency is in the hands
of the local Board of Control.
The 1965 annual report pictures many of the rural and village schools'
in Rock County. For many, it may recall over-crowded classes, poor
heating systems, and inadequate books and equipment.
The small rural school met the educational and community need for
many years. Families and communities were never closer, nor were the
individual needs of children ignored. There was some unidentified to-
getherness that has not been captured by the new consolidated schools.
With the passing of the rural schools, county superintendency and
their replacement with well-equipped new buildings and a new adminis-
trative structure, the people in most Rock County school districts look
forward to a different, but bright future.