Thought I would pass this link along - it was written by a former St. Francis School board member. The post is somewhat lengthy, but please read the whole thing...
As many of you know, PBCG has done work with many school districts across Wisconsin and this is not the first time that PBCG has created havoc within a district.
Thursday, August 30, 2007
We're #1
The good news:Racine is finally number 1 at something!
The bad news: We’re number 1 for our jobless rate…
My perspective on this is simple; it’s the schools, stupid!! Companies will not, and are not, moving to this area because we have a low-performing school district.
I ask this question of all the community leaders in the Racine area, “Please, please, please help RUSD solve their problems!”
We cannot continue to have the local politicians wring their hands and look the other way. I’m so bleeding tired of hearing, “RUSD is a separate taxing body. We cannot do anything! Blah, blah, blah, blah, blah.”
The schools belong to everyone, and everyone needs to step up and do their share. If we do nothing, the situation will NEVER change.
The bad news: We’re number 1 for our jobless rate…
My perspective on this is simple; it’s the schools, stupid!! Companies will not, and are not, moving to this area because we have a low-performing school district.
I ask this question of all the community leaders in the Racine area, “Please, please, please help RUSD solve their problems!”
We cannot continue to have the local politicians wring their hands and look the other way. I’m so bleeding tired of hearing, “RUSD is a separate taxing body. We cannot do anything! Blah, blah, blah, blah, blah.”
The schools belong to everyone, and everyone needs to step up and do their share. If we do nothing, the situation will NEVER change.
Wednesday, August 29, 2007
Who's to blame for RUSD fiasco?
Everyone I have talked to about the recent happenings within RUSD is looking for someone to blame. Some blame the consulting group PBCG, some the (now former) superintendent, Dr. Hicks, and finally some are blaming the board for their lack of oversight.
Having watched all three parties in action over the years, I would agree that all 3 (Hicks, PBCG and RUSD board) are culpable in the matter. Hicks may be guilty of abusing his Executive Limitations, PBCG may be guilty of fleecing the district and the board is definitely guilty of not providing any oversight over both of them.
Policy Governance, the governing style the board adopted in January 2006, is the main culprit (in my humble opinion). This governing style is a “hands-off” approach, the board members do not approve payments on a regular basis and the superintendent has near-autonomous control over everything. The board "clarifies" their needs, and the superintendent goes about trying to meet those needs anyway he sees fit.
You can quickly understand how RUSD got itself into this mess…
But I hear very little about another party that can be blamed for this fiasco; the voters and taxpayers of eastern Racine County. If we (as a collective group) continue to vote board members in that do not understand the true meaning of accountability – this scenario will keep playing out again and again. Do yourself a favor next April; actually try to make an INFORMED vote. Go to a forum, call the candidates, but just get acquaint yourself with the candidates!!
And if you are not apprised of the issues or candidates, please do me a favor and stay away from the polls on Election Day.
Having watched all three parties in action over the years, I would agree that all 3 (Hicks, PBCG and RUSD board) are culpable in the matter. Hicks may be guilty of abusing his Executive Limitations, PBCG may be guilty of fleecing the district and the board is definitely guilty of not providing any oversight over both of them.
Policy Governance, the governing style the board adopted in January 2006, is the main culprit (in my humble opinion). This governing style is a “hands-off” approach, the board members do not approve payments on a regular basis and the superintendent has near-autonomous control over everything. The board "clarifies" their needs, and the superintendent goes about trying to meet those needs anyway he sees fit.
You can quickly understand how RUSD got itself into this mess…
But I hear very little about another party that can be blamed for this fiasco; the voters and taxpayers of eastern Racine County. If we (as a collective group) continue to vote board members in that do not understand the true meaning of accountability – this scenario will keep playing out again and again. Do yourself a favor next April; actually try to make an INFORMED vote. Go to a forum, call the candidates, but just get acquaint yourself with the candidates!!
And if you are not apprised of the issues or candidates, please do me a favor and stay away from the polls on Election Day.
Bangs calls for more resignations
The Journal Times is reporting that Randy Bangs, a RUSD school board member, is calling for the resignations of some of his fellow board members. While I wholeheartedly agree that certain board members should voluntarily resign, I respectfully question his methodology.
This district is in absolute turmoil; the resignation of Hicks and the uncertainty of PBCG’s relationship in the district is certainly bad enough, isn’t asking for resignations via a newspaper article a little brash? There has got to be a more subtle way, although Bangs is not known for his subtleties.
(Of course, that is akin to the pot calling the kettle black; I am not known for my subtleties either!)
I believe that board needs to get together informally and have a little heart-to-heart with one another. I am certain after a fashion, the 9 of them can come up with one or two board members that need to “take one for the team” and resign.
This district is in absolute turmoil; the resignation of Hicks and the uncertainty of PBCG’s relationship in the district is certainly bad enough, isn’t asking for resignations via a newspaper article a little brash? There has got to be a more subtle way, although Bangs is not known for his subtleties.
(Of course, that is akin to the pot calling the kettle black; I am not known for my subtleties either!)
I believe that board needs to get together informally and have a little heart-to-heart with one another. I am certain after a fashion, the 9 of them can come up with one or two board members that need to “take one for the team” and resign.
My thoughts on Hicks resigning
It's been a couple of days, and I think I have finally figured out exactly how I feel. I know the feeling is not "happiness" - yet it's not "sadness" either. I do, however, feel somewhat vindicated because I now have a 5 page report that validates my every thought for the last 4 years, but I find absolutely no joy in being right.
I wish I could just say "bite me" to all the people that have called me a whack-job (or even worse) for years, but I cannot. I will not be high-fiving the people on the street either. Hicks stepping down may be a reason to celebrate for some, but not for me.
He has done (possibly) irreparable damage to this district over the last 6 years, but he is not the only person to blame. The board is as guilty as Dr. Hicks, but that is a whole other story for another time...
I wish I could just say "bite me" to all the people that have called me a whack-job (or even worse) for years, but I cannot. I will not be high-fiving the people on the street either. Hicks stepping down may be a reason to celebrate for some, but not for me.
He has done (possibly) irreparable damage to this district over the last 6 years, but he is not the only person to blame. The board is as guilty as Dr. Hicks, but that is a whole other story for another time...
Monday, August 27, 2007
120 seconds
That’s all it took for tonight’s meeting, 120 seconds. In that very short amount of time the RUSD board approved both Dr. Hicks’ resignation and removing PBCG as the COO and CFO. Talk about anti-climatic…
They also released the long-anticipated 5 page report from the legal firm that conducted the recent audit. I’m sure I will pick this report apart for days, but here are my initial thoughts on some of their findings…
Preliminary Finding C: There was insufficient oversight for PBCG payment.
The law firm points out that “nearly all the payments were based on future estimates, which contradicts the requirement that PBCG achieve “actual savings” before it is compensated.”
Ya think?? Hey didn’t I say that over 1 year ago??
The law firm also points out that Energy Education Inc, another consulting firm hired to find savings in the district’s utility bills “contacted RUSD to initiate a relationship before PBCG began working for RUSD”. This means PBCG should not have been paid a bonus on the anticipated savings.
Wait, I think I said that over a year ago, too!
Perhaps, if the board had listened to me and others like me, the district would not have had to shell out $200,000 for an audit that states that the district’s contract “problems” stem from having little oversight for the CEO.
Ya think?
They also released the long-anticipated 5 page report from the legal firm that conducted the recent audit. I’m sure I will pick this report apart for days, but here are my initial thoughts on some of their findings…
Preliminary Finding C: There was insufficient oversight for PBCG payment.
The law firm points out that “nearly all the payments were based on future estimates, which contradicts the requirement that PBCG achieve “actual savings” before it is compensated.”
Ya think?? Hey didn’t I say that over 1 year ago??
The law firm also points out that Energy Education Inc, another consulting firm hired to find savings in the district’s utility bills “contacted RUSD to initiate a relationship before PBCG began working for RUSD”. This means PBCG should not have been paid a bonus on the anticipated savings.
Wait, I think I said that over a year ago, too!
Perhaps, if the board had listened to me and others like me, the district would not have had to shell out $200,000 for an audit that states that the district’s contract “problems” stem from having little oversight for the CEO.
Ya think?
Sunday, August 26, 2007
Finally, some answers?
According to the Journal Times, the RUSD board will be meeting Monday at 7:00 to discuss Dr. Hicks' contract and the 1st phase of the PBCG audit.
I will not speculate on tomorrow's meeting; what I think might happen is simply my opinion and I prefer to hold my comments until after the meeting tomorrow.
However, I do hope the APATHY the permeates this district takes a permanent vacation. This brouhaha (hopefully!) has opened many eyes, and I certainly expect that the board room will be packed tomorrow evening to hear the information firsthand.
I will not speculate on tomorrow's meeting; what I think might happen is simply my opinion and I prefer to hold my comments until after the meeting tomorrow.
However, I do hope the APATHY the permeates this district takes a permanent vacation. This brouhaha (hopefully!) has opened many eyes, and I certainly expect that the board room will be packed tomorrow evening to hear the information firsthand.
It's about time...
Updated at 9:06AM 8/27/07:
Nevermind, the redistricting work session has been cancelled due to the "special meeting" tonight at 7 and the "secret meeting" at 5:30.
In my never-ending quest for documented information regarding the PBCG contract, I recently visited the RUSD website. What I found was surprising, at least to me anyway. I found a notice of a scheduled work session meeting that will discuss redistricting.
My first thought was, “WHAT IS THE BOARD THINKING??? DON’T THEY HAVE MORE IMPORTANT THINGS TO TALK ABOUT??
(Actually that is not exactly what I was thinking, but Racine’s Report Card is a family-friendly blog, so you will have to put up with my edited version)
However, I quickly recovered and started thinking about past board actions (or should I say inactions??). As I see it, NOTHING ever gets done because important and EDUCATIONALLY BENEFICIAL decisions are always put on the back-burner as the board flits from managing one crisis to another.
(Yes, I realize this crisis may be more serious than past ones, but I digress)
Thankfully, it appears that this behavior has come to an end! Going ahead with the business at hand, while still managing the current crisis IS the right thing to do. I wholeheartedly applaud the board, and its new leadership in Mr. Baumgardt, for trying to accomplish what we, as taxpaying voters, elected them to do.
It’s about time…
Nevermind, the redistricting work session has been cancelled due to the "special meeting" tonight at 7 and the "secret meeting" at 5:30.
In my never-ending quest for documented information regarding the PBCG contract, I recently visited the RUSD website. What I found was surprising, at least to me anyway. I found a notice of a scheduled work session meeting that will discuss redistricting.
My first thought was, “WHAT IS THE BOARD THINKING??? DON’T THEY HAVE MORE IMPORTANT THINGS TO TALK ABOUT??
(Actually that is not exactly what I was thinking, but Racine’s Report Card is a family-friendly blog, so you will have to put up with my edited version)
However, I quickly recovered and started thinking about past board actions (or should I say inactions??). As I see it, NOTHING ever gets done because important and EDUCATIONALLY BENEFICIAL decisions are always put on the back-burner as the board flits from managing one crisis to another.
(Yes, I realize this crisis may be more serious than past ones, but I digress)
Thankfully, it appears that this behavior has come to an end! Going ahead with the business at hand, while still managing the current crisis IS the right thing to do. I wholeheartedly applaud the board, and its new leadership in Mr. Baumgardt, for trying to accomplish what we, as taxpaying voters, elected them to do.
It’s about time…
Wednesday, August 22, 2007
Racine's Report Card opines over PBCG audit
By analyzing my StatCounter, I can only assume my few remaining loyal readers are looking for me to comment on this or this. But folks, that’s not going to happen, or at least not yet. That’s right, kinda like the RUSD board holding back the report, I will hold back any comments until I see the full report of the audit.
I’m not doing this in the name of integrity or anything noble like that; I’m just so flippin’ tired of caring about RUSD. I think I'm just going to let y’all carry the slack for awhile...
P.S. If you really want to know how I feel, check out my archives.
I’m not doing this in the name of integrity or anything noble like that; I’m just so flippin’ tired of caring about RUSD. I think I'm just going to let y’all carry the slack for awhile...
P.S. If you really want to know how I feel, check out my archives.
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