|
 |
8/20/2007
Green Bay, taxpayers are watching....
The Green Bay Referendum Task Force met last Thursday as they continue to carefully put into place the structure for innovative, open discussion and ultimately, decision-making. Well, Referendum Task Force isn’t the group’s formal name, but if it has a formal name, it’s long and hard to remember. It was formed in the wake of a failed $69M referendum last February that would have built a 5th high school in Green Bay. Its purpose is to address the physical needs of the school district, given projected growth.
If the Task Force truly is being unbiased and will be seriously considering all possible solutions to high school overcrowding, and not just a referendum for countless millions, I say hallelujah. Still, to me, they’re the Referendum Task Force. I guess I just want to get used to the idea….
The Task Force is huge – 50+ people, representing every Green Bay business, cultural and educational group know to man. GB Schools Superintendent Daniel Nerad has kept his enemies close by including on the Task Force a representative from the Taxpayers Association, as well as last February’s primary nemesis, former East High School principal Terry Fondow. Nerad also insists he is not the leader of the group, merely one participant among the many. (Hmmm – would you buy that?)
A group facilitator was selected Thursday, retired CESA 7 administrator Jim Coles. A moderator was also selected – a UWGB professor – again, coming with a background in education and as a public sector employee. Kind of a red flag, I’m thinking.
Richard Parins, president of the Brown County Taxpayers Association, when he learned of the two leadership appointments, said “…appearances are everything and it appears like the school system has control of the Task Force. What a waste. We're going to drag this whole deal [the research and deliberations of the Task Force] through the papers and it will be reported that progress is being made, but I'm willing to bet the outcome [i.e., a referendum for $70M] is little different [from that proposed a year ago].”
Here’s what’s critical at this juncture: Voters – Americans – can do great things when they get together in a civil atmosphere and carry on deliberate, constructive discourse. I’m counting on these guys getting it right, for the sake of a democracy and of representative government that really works. The new facilitator, the new moderator, Dr. Nerad, and all members of the Task Force must prove themselves open and receptive, independent of natural biases. The taxpayers, the voters, of Green Bay are definitely watching.
COMMENTS
It is my sincere hope that the G.B. community can put together a "workable" solution that is innovative, sincere, and cost effective.
From what you said Jo, I expect the school district is definately in control of the advisory group. I expect a very large referendum.
Dale (Mon Aug 20 07:24:09 2007)
Accepting the district's latest enrollment projections at face value, the district's own numbers prove conclusively that there will be no need for another high school or middle school in Green Bay or at least 10 - 15 years. According to the district projections, high school enrollment in Green Bay peaked last year at 6,417. The projected number for this year is 6,342. High school enrollments will decline in Green Bay for the next four years, reaching a low of 5,981 in 2011/2012. High school enrollment is not projected to return to the current level until 2016/2017, when the projected number is 6,342.
The capacity of the four high schools is 6,310. If the district projections are correct, enrollment will exceed capacity by only 32 sudents ten years from now. The district's projected number includes over 300 students who attend alternative programs and are not attending the regular high schools during the regular school day. Taking those students out of the count means that the actual number of students attending the four high schools will be less than the capacity by 268.
The projected enrollment for the middle schools in 2016/2017 is projected to be 4818. This is 172 less than the capacity of the existing middle schools.
Based on the district's own numbers, it is clear that Green Bay will not need another high school or middle school for at least 15 years. The real problem is not too many students. The real problem is the unequal distribution of students. Preble High School is projected to have 2,471 students enrolled in 2016/2017. Subtracting the approximately 100 Preble students that are in alternative programs puts Preble's projected actual enrollment at 2,371, or approximately 400 over capacity. This is the problem that needs a solution. Building a new high school is not the appropriate solution for this problem because there is excess capacity in the other three high schools and there are many other options that could reduce Preble's enrollment.
The other two legitimate issues facing the district are enrollment problems at some elementary schools and the need to address high priority deferred capital maintenance projects. Instead of wasting the time of 50 people trying to fool them into endorsing construction of a secondary school that is not needed, the district should focus attention on the three legitimate issues that deserve serious consideration. What the district needs is more leadership, not more management.
Terry Fondow (Thu Sep 06 13:25:48 2007)
|
|
Blog Archives
| 2010 |
  December
|
November
|
October
|
September
|
August
|
July
|
June
|
May
|
April
|
March
|
February
|
January
• Solberg: Healing After an Abortion
• Basketball fans eyeing extension of Miller Park sales tax
• Nanny sex-ed bill goes to Doyle
• A first. Village limits pension contribution for employees
• Nanny State update: Toothbrushing mandated
• Obama pushes education inflation
• WI Investment Board votes to borrow to juice up returns
• So Republicans have brought nothing to the table?
• You have got to be kidding me
• Nygren: Governor Continues Terms of Failure in State of the State
• Sen. Fitzgerald: Governor down the wrong track at high speed
• Phosphorus is the new CO2. $Billions in Wisconsin
• More Obama giveaways
• A reprimand? Would you keep him on the job?
• Burri: Sarah Palin for Prez troubles me
• Quote of the Day – Obama after the pie-eating contest
• Populism, abused and trampled
• Fitzgerald: Senate Republicans Propose Real Job Creation Agenda
• Stripped down health insurance – it’s about time
• Ok GOP, scrap the Party of NO; time to lead
• No way Feingold is a Coakley. Is Wall a Brown?
• Burri: Conservatives off the chart for a RINO?
• Paltry quid pro quo?
• Doyle says ARRA has ‘created or retained’ 44,000 WI jobs
• Does most of the public fall for this stuff?
• When you get signatures, always get a couple extra
• Blame it on the outmoded computers
• Scott Brown victory does not scuttle health bill
• 8th Congressional Candidate Forum, Jan. 25
• Scott Walker Meet-and-greet, Monday, Jan. 18
• Aren’t consumers taxpayers too?
• MORE taxes on investment income - dreadful and wrong
• Join the blaze orange army and say ‘Enough is Enough’
• The future of government-run health care
• Tax on banks is a really bad idea
• Roth, Savard on the stump, grassroots style
• Savard speaking in Appleton, 8 PM, Wed., Jan. 13.
• Rahmlow: Savard, Bies frontrunners for State Senate
• Burri: Failing Political Correctness 101
• School contracts and Race to the Top
• Senator Feingold worrisome and big red flags
• Psephological?
• This is really important. Contact Rep. Kagen. Now. Please.
• This is exactly what we need from Governor Doyle
• This guy is my hero
• Why am I not surprised?
• Talk health reform with Feingold (Th), Petri (today)
• Give the Mayor power over MPS - if he can break contracts
• Burri: Yup, Dems really are going to bypass a conference
• The $2.7 billion Wisconsin deficit no one told you about
• Walker launches county accountability website
• Rahmlow: Why is Van Hollen dodging the Nebraska deal?
|
| 2009 |
December
|
November
|
October
• The Lawton-Bader files
• Yup, it’s the TAX LEVY, not the tax RATE
• Ellis: costly automobile insurance laws must be rolled back
• If not Barrett, who?
• The subsidy game
• Burri: Bailouts, Banks, Health Care, and the Mob
• Attend Appleton Schools budget meeting tonight
• A public option WON’T increase costs? That’s delusional!
• Appleton Schools budget meeting Monday
• Wisconsin should be screaming for accountability
• Burri: If anything, we need more obstructionism around here
• WI on the leading edge - in the wrong direction
• Rep. Montgomery: Utility Customers Join State’s Crime-Fighting Efforts
• Public Conservation and Recreation Lands Total 16.5% of State
• In the crow's nest of the Titanic, shouting 'Iceberg!'
• Is Rep. Nelson a political hack?
• Health care: The road ahead will be brutal
• Kagen's pandering again
• Birthers - good stuff for you
• How much do we bend over backward for seniors?
• The trouble with health care is paying for it
• Two-parent families: The Gold Standard
• Burri: Kids... the joys and blessings
• Very, very worried about health care
• Rep. Huebsch: Wisconsin is proof government health care isn’t the answer
• School district contracts push up tax levy
• What? Obama, the Peace Prize?
• TODAY - hearing on Campaign Finance Reform
• Appleton School District tax levy up way too much
• CBO report is out - and the bill isn't even written yet?
• So, how much do YOU budget for health care?
• Burri: Copenhagen trip was amateurish
• “Sotomayor, you have blood on your hands...”
• Cap and Trade. Always follow the money
• Rep. Kagen gets (almost) free health services
• I actually agree with Rep. Kagen
• Future Wisconsin Conference for Conservatives, October 10, Wauwatosa
|
September
|
August
|
July
|
June
|
May
|
April
|
March
|
February
|
January
|
| 2008 |
December
|
November
|
October
|
September
|
August
|
July
|
June
|
May
|
April
|
March
• Important votes Tuesday, including Appleton Common Council
• Democrats are becoming supply siders??
• Further debunking Hillary myths
• WEAC has created an unsustainable monopoly
• From Mark Gundrum: One of the greatest honors an American can experience
• 'Operation Chaos' working?
• Joe Martin the best candidate in Appleton's 8th
• State programs to cut? - Volume II
• Oh the naivete of youth
• Not just disingenuous - flat wrong
• Steve - you will be missed
• Make cuts only AFTER you're elected....
• Getting serious: What programs can we cut?
• Rep. Steve Kagen joining me on Jerry Bader Show today
• Rep. Van Roy: Dental Care Pilot Program
• Has Dave Obey turned the corner on earmarks?
• Speaker Huebsch: Governor turns down Federal Aid?
• Mark Rahmlow: "We're Broke."
• As taxpayers, how do we know if it's a Chevy or a Lexus?
• This is trash talk - about a veteran
• Frank Lasee: Take time to get the Compact right
• 'The Gableman Ad' - is it racist?
• Roth thankful, Kagen shaking money tree
• Gov. Doyle's office not enamored with Freedom of Information
• Governor Doyle will never do it
• Leadership on smoking ban? Not Hanna
• Rep. Van Roy speaks out about smear ads
• You're threatening me about potholes?
• Losing the Hastert seat is NOT a trend and NOT curtians for the GOP
• First suggestion for 'slashing' programs
• Big money-saver for municipalities
• More one time fixes. Nuts.
• Any chances???
• I'm doing the Jerry Bader Show, today, the 11th
• Representative Frank Lasee: Final Waltz of the Season
• Guest Blog: It's not the county's business to be in the nursing home business
• Yup, Hillary won Texas and Ohio
• Gableman/Butler race featured - and it isn't pretty
• Lies from Planned Parenthood and NARAL
• He who sacrifices liberty.....
• Duh.
• The Troha sentencing, Doyle and that $200K
• Guns, passion and "originality"
• How hard is it anyway, to shut down a government program?
• Voting is a PRIVILEGE. And so are property taxes....
• Guest Blog: Governor Doyle, cancel your Ireland trip
|
February
|
January
|
| 2007 |
December
|
November
|
October
|
September
|
August
|
July
|
June
|
May
|
April
|
March
|
February
|
January
• Lots of ideas. No money.
• The Cigarette Tax - "Poor Policy Instrument?"
• School budget Lite?
• Frankenstein - not in the library, but in the legislature
• A librarian, a legislator, a president
• $1.25/pack - NO, NO, NO, and NO
• Kagen and Reagan in the same breath?
• Menasha: behind the 8-ball, but not biting the dust
• Any way you slice it, Wisconsin government wants (further) in on health care
• The World is Flat...what about health care?
• The PAC - too precious to fail. Day 3
• News follow-ups: Appleton West, Kagen at the White House
• Fox Cities PAC - too precious to fail - Day 2
• Fox Cities PAC - too precious to fail
• New Transit Tax coming your way
• Rep. Petri has his finger in the dike - I guess
• AASD Retirement Costs Burdensome
• Health care, health care, health care, health care
• Water rate increase was no slam dunk
• Education for all is just a bad dream
• New Year's resolutions from a parade snob
|
| 2006 |
December
|
November
|
October
|
September
|
| 2000 |
May
|
|
