It has been brought to my attention that I left out a very important reason on why I am supporting a proposed RUSD referendum. In my earlier post, I had said I wanted to know EXACTLY where the money was going before supporting any additional spending, and I meant it.
Although not reported by the any media, the RUSD Referendum Chairperson (Mr. Nielsen) had suggested the district will provide the voters and citizens of our community a detailed list on the districts website. Once a month, this list would be updated with the projects done, the cost of each, and perhaps a running balance.
In this way, the voters can see where EXACTLY the money is going, and how much of their money is left. Unfortunately, this kind of transparency is needed before the district brings forth any new spending. There is a level of distrust among the voters who do not follow the districts finances on a regular basis.
At least three board members (McKenna, Dey and Bangs) are also looking for more details before approving any amounts, and rightfully so. They will be held personally accountable at the polls, so they to need to make sure they know EXACTLY what they are approving.
The administration of our district MUST provide both the board members and the citizens of the community a detailed and transparent list of expenditures if they expect any referendum to pass. I will support a referendum, as I am sure many others will, if the district acts in a transparent and open way.
Friday, March 23, 2007
Thursday, March 22, 2007
I support a RUSD referendum
The title of this post is not a joke; I really do support the idea of a referendum and I am going to tell you why. Over the last year, I have been very public in my criticisms of the school district on this forum. Administration and board members have both been targets of my wrath at times and rightfully so. However, there has been progress, albeit slow and painful, in the district.
First, and foremost, RUSD is finally getting their financial house in order. They have streamlined the transportation department saving $400,000. They have switched their 3rd party health-care administrator saving what is projected to be $6 M. They are currently trying to streamline the special education area to be more cost efficient; there are not any numbers yet on this issue but I have been told the savings will be significant. (Of course, I am sure that Mr. Roger Dickson will point out countless other savings he has identified, but remember he and his partners were paid a bonus on many of the savings they found.)
Are there still areas that need to be looked at, of course there are but many of those areas where there are still savings cannot be arbitrarily changed because of the union contracts.
Unlike many in the community, I have pored over the annual budget and have asked many questions. There really isn’t much left to be cut. The current school funding formula may be part of the problem. While I appreciate the control the revenue caps have against the bloated budgets of the 1980s and early 1990s, the formula does not address the changes we have seen since that time. A school district is only allowed to increase its spending 2% each year, yet the QEO offers a guaranteed minimum increase of 3.8% to its teachers.
I realize that the equation is not really that simple. Other variables like rising property tax rates (which RUSD has no control over) and equalized funding also are part of the formula, but Racine with its declining population and depressed property values are not helping RUSD in reaching its budgetary needs.
The residents of Wisconsin need controls over government spending; however, I am not entirely convinced our current school funding formula is doing an adequate job. I know the legislators meant well back in 1993, however the current solution is not working for RUSD (or any school district for that matter). It is time to look for new ways to fund our public schools. Other states have schools and do not have the enormous property tax and state tax bills we have here in Wisconsin.
So where does it leave us here in Racine? The district has finally addressed the real needs our schools have in technology and facilities and are asking voters to authorize the spending. When board members asked what if would take for me to support a referendum in past years, I have always stated “Get a handle on rising healthcare costs, streamline operations and tell me EXACTLY where my money is going, and I’ll be the first in line at the polls voting yes.”
Regretfully, I guess its time for me to put my money where my mouth is….
First, and foremost, RUSD is finally getting their financial house in order. They have streamlined the transportation department saving $400,000. They have switched their 3rd party health-care administrator saving what is projected to be $6 M. They are currently trying to streamline the special education area to be more cost efficient; there are not any numbers yet on this issue but I have been told the savings will be significant. (Of course, I am sure that Mr. Roger Dickson will point out countless other savings he has identified, but remember he and his partners were paid a bonus on many of the savings they found.)
Are there still areas that need to be looked at, of course there are but many of those areas where there are still savings cannot be arbitrarily changed because of the union contracts.
Unlike many in the community, I have pored over the annual budget and have asked many questions. There really isn’t much left to be cut. The current school funding formula may be part of the problem. While I appreciate the control the revenue caps have against the bloated budgets of the 1980s and early 1990s, the formula does not address the changes we have seen since that time. A school district is only allowed to increase its spending 2% each year, yet the QEO offers a guaranteed minimum increase of 3.8% to its teachers.
I realize that the equation is not really that simple. Other variables like rising property tax rates (which RUSD has no control over) and equalized funding also are part of the formula, but Racine with its declining population and depressed property values are not helping RUSD in reaching its budgetary needs.
The residents of Wisconsin need controls over government spending; however, I am not entirely convinced our current school funding formula is doing an adequate job. I know the legislators meant well back in 1993, however the current solution is not working for RUSD (or any school district for that matter). It is time to look for new ways to fund our public schools. Other states have schools and do not have the enormous property tax and state tax bills we have here in Wisconsin.
So where does it leave us here in Racine? The district has finally addressed the real needs our schools have in technology and facilities and are asking voters to authorize the spending. When board members asked what if would take for me to support a referendum in past years, I have always stated “Get a handle on rising healthcare costs, streamline operations and tell me EXACTLY where my money is going, and I’ll be the first in line at the polls voting yes.”
Regretfully, I guess its time for me to put my money where my mouth is….
Sunday, March 11, 2007
Is it too soon?
Is it too soon to be talking about who is going to the next president of the United States? I think that it is, but I haven't had a chance to show my support for my candidates in the past presidential elections. The candidates I favored were out of the primaries by the time the voters of Wisconsin had a chance to vote.
As you can see, I am again on the fence. If by chance both of them make it to the general election, I will have a very difficult decision to make - but then again, I 'm worrying for nothing.
Thursday, March 08, 2007
Jot this date down, please
Please take the time today to pull out your Treo, cell phone, planner (or whatever it is that you use to keep yourself organized) and make this entry: Tuesday, April 3rd – VOTE.
Spring elections are notorious for having low turnout, and this frustrates me to no end. Our local leaders, and the decisions they make, have a far greater impact on our day-to-day lives than some yahoo in Washington, DC. As a bonus, these are the same people you see at the grocery store, church or local watering-hole, and may actually LISTEN to you. Compare this with trying to communicate with President Bush on an issue that is of importance to you.
Consider this post, and the others to follow, as simply a public service announcement to the members of the community. I will probably have a post in the future about the candidates I am supporting, and the reasons why I am supporting them. I will not ask you to vote for them, but I will be asking you to please VOTE.
Spring elections are notorious for having low turnout, and this frustrates me to no end. Our local leaders, and the decisions they make, have a far greater impact on our day-to-day lives than some yahoo in Washington, DC. As a bonus, these are the same people you see at the grocery store, church or local watering-hole, and may actually LISTEN to you. Compare this with trying to communicate with President Bush on an issue that is of importance to you.
Consider this post, and the others to follow, as simply a public service announcement to the members of the community. I will probably have a post in the future about the candidates I am supporting, and the reasons why I am supporting them. I will not ask you to vote for them, but I will be asking you to please VOTE.
Doyle fails a simple math test
"First and foremost, this budget maintains the state's commitment to fund two-thirds of the cost of our kids' education." (Governor Doyle in the Feb 13th budget speech)
As a parent of children in RUSD, I know our students are able to compare percentages, decimals, and fractions and determine if the numbers are equivalent. Apparently our governor, Jim Doyle, does not possess these rudimentary mathematic skills.
It has been reported that in the upcoming budget cycle, the state has not lived up to its promise of 2/3 funding for the state’s public school system. For the 2007-2008 school year, his budget includes funding of 65.3%. Both my children (5th and 6th grade) are able to state (with much confidence!) that 65.5% is LESS than 2/3.
Doyle aide Matt Canter insisted that the governor lived up to his promise. "This is two-thirds funding," (JS 3/6/06)
I know what you’re thinking – come on, it’s pretty close – cut the guy some slack. But consider this – public schools cost $9.2 BILLION dollars so every percentage point represents about $92M. This is not pocket change, my friends.
So the shortfall is about $100,000,000 – that’s a lot of zeros to be made up. I’m not debating whether it was the right thing (fiscally) to do; I’m trying to examine why he feels the need to lie about it. Does he think we wouldn't notice?
As a parent of children in RUSD, I know our students are able to compare percentages, decimals, and fractions and determine if the numbers are equivalent. Apparently our governor, Jim Doyle, does not possess these rudimentary mathematic skills.
It has been reported that in the upcoming budget cycle, the state has not lived up to its promise of 2/3 funding for the state’s public school system. For the 2007-2008 school year, his budget includes funding of 65.3%. Both my children (5th and 6th grade) are able to state (with much confidence!) that 65.5% is LESS than 2/3.
Doyle aide Matt Canter insisted that the governor lived up to his promise. "This is two-thirds funding," (JS 3/6/06)
I know what you’re thinking – come on, it’s pretty close – cut the guy some slack. But consider this – public schools cost $9.2 BILLION dollars so every percentage point represents about $92M. This is not pocket change, my friends.
So the shortfall is about $100,000,000 – that’s a lot of zeros to be made up. I’m not debating whether it was the right thing (fiscally) to do; I’m trying to examine why he feels the need to lie about it. Does he think we wouldn't notice?
Saturday, March 03, 2007
The RUSD political shell game
On Feb 7th, the RUSD Board of Education’s Legislative Committee held an unprecedented meeting with the trustees of the surrounding suburban villages. The intent of this meeting, I believe, was to establish some kind of ongoing dialogue with the leaders of our community. I believe this was a good first step, however, I think the mayor and the county executive should have been there, too.
The meeting was not confrontational as many had predicted it would be; it was a “warm and fuzzy” love-fest of epic proportions. At the end of the meeting, many village leaders asked “Where do we go from here?” The RUSD Legislative Committee promised that they would meet, break down the area of concerns (safety, student engagement, busing, etc), and get back to the village leaders with more concrete plans to address the concerns. I assumed (don’t ever assume anything!) that this would be done in a timely manner.
On March 26th, the Legislative Committee is finally meeting to discuss this initial meeting – 47 days later – nothing like addressing the problem head-on! At this point, do they even remember what was said at the meeting?
I have come to expect nothing less from any elected official – I think this is simply another political shell game that masquerades as “progress”. I hope I am wrong, our schools are in need of change and it will take all the stakeholders in this community to right the wrongs of past leadership.
The meeting was not confrontational as many had predicted it would be; it was a “warm and fuzzy” love-fest of epic proportions. At the end of the meeting, many village leaders asked “Where do we go from here?” The RUSD Legislative Committee promised that they would meet, break down the area of concerns (safety, student engagement, busing, etc), and get back to the village leaders with more concrete plans to address the concerns. I assumed (don’t ever assume anything!) that this would be done in a timely manner.
On March 26th, the Legislative Committee is finally meeting to discuss this initial meeting – 47 days later – nothing like addressing the problem head-on! At this point, do they even remember what was said at the meeting?
I have come to expect nothing less from any elected official – I think this is simply another political shell game that masquerades as “progress”. I hope I am wrong, our schools are in need of change and it will take all the stakeholders in this community to right the wrongs of past leadership.
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