So, is it news??

It isn't normal for me to post here, but given the topic and the abuse we (more Michelle than me) on another site, I felt this should be highlighted.

The title should say a lot. Is it news? Is it credible enough to report the "rumors" that Heilmann took a student out of state on a trip and was "investigated" for it? Apparently some media outlets feel that it is because there are several that ran stories on it throughout the state. As usual though, Oshkosh takes up the rear when it comes to reporting. Take a look at some of the following from:

The Leader Telegram and another and another

WQOW News 18 Eau Claire and another

Wisconsin Rapids Tribune

WEAU NBC in Eau Claire

Manitowoc Herald Times Reporter

WBAY Green Bay

and finally, The Oshkosh Northwestern

So, is it a story? I would say that it is given the attention it has gotten. We DID NOT contact any media at ANYTIME regarding Dr. Heilmann. Michelle was called by several people in Eau Claire for information. She was not able to provide much because we weren't able to verify much. Hard to imagine for some, but true. We would love to know who contacted the lawyers and started this mess. We would love to know who contacted the media (likely the same person). Certainly they felt the issue was of importance. Either way, it has led to more questions than answers.

Too bad that others in the community don't believe in the possibility that the accusations have merit. Why else would Heilmann tell WQOW that he didn't tell the ECASD BOE about the investigation because he didn't know what the OASD BOE would find? If he didn't do it, wouldn't he know what they would find? What about Heilmann simply saying to Oshkosh, "I was mistakenly accused of an incident involving a student. It was a false accusation. The BOE investigated this situation to protect the interests of the community and found the allegations to be without merit." No breach of confidentiality. No breach of Executive Session. No revealing the alleged victim. Simple.

Speaking of the "investigation", why is it that only the BOE here and in Eau Claire are looking at this? Shouldn't a case like this be handled by the District Attorney or some other level of law enforcement agency (typically the DOJ)? I wonder what resources each BOE used to "dismiss" these allegations (or rumors).

Certain blog administrators choose to bury their heads in the sand or look the other way. Maybe they are jealous that they were not contacted by media and want others to believe that we are making this crap up. Certainly a good way to divert attention away from the person accused of an inappropriate act with a child and onto a concerned citizen that had nothing to do with any of it. One thing is for sure, they do like talking about us. Too bad the person that left the comment on another blog isn't very smart either. They probably co-wrote the "article" to begin with. Neither one of them can stand us and love to take every opportunity to show it. I say go ahead... KM

Eau Claire Exonerates Heilmann

According to a recent news report by Channel 18 News in Eau Claire, the Eau Claire Area School District school board has done their own closed door investigation and found that the allegations that Dr. Heilmann took an out-of-state trip with an Oshkosh area student were unfounded. Dr. Heilmann traveled to Eau Claire today to hold a press conference in front of his future employer and residents of Eau Claire to clear his name after News 18 broke a story about the closed door OASD investigation that took place even as representatives of ECASD were visiting Oshkosh and Dr. Heilmann to evaluate him for a position in their school district. So far, the ECASD is confident in their hiring of Dr. Heilmann.

In March, the OASD school board had done their own closed door investigation based on a tip to a law firm. The OASD school board found the allegations unfounded. The primary difference in the two investigations is that the Eau Claire community knew what was going on the entire time, though the actual meetings took place behind closed doors. That community had the opportunity to know up front that their future Superintendent could have been a victim of false accusations, it was investigated, and he was exonerated as far as two school boards were concerned.

Here in Oshkosh where Dr. Heilmann is still employed, our community had no idea what was going on except what some knew through rumors. While information that some in Oshkosh appeared to have seems to be only part of the true story, the rumors were allowed to get so rampant that Eau Claire became concerned. Some people, myself included, who heard the rumors questioned if they should be concerned about their own children and questioned Dr. Heilmann's character. In a case like this, who do you go to for reassurance? The BOE has taken a "no comment" position and didn't seem to want anyone to know in the first place. I do not trust asking the accused considering the nature of the incident. Contacting various agencies that deal with these types of investigations usually gets the inquisitor neither an acknowledgment nor a denial of a possible ongoing investigation.

It is wonderful for Eau Claire that their new Superintendent was responsible enough to face them in person and address any concerns and questions they may have. I am disappointed that the same courtesy was not extended to the community that has been home to Dr. Heilmann for ten years and is his current employer.

Some on the BOE thought keeping silent would save Dr. Heilmann suspicion and embarrassment. Keeping silent also allows rumors to spread and grow if left on their own with no comment from those with the answers. In this instance, the secret OASD investigation that was to save Dr. Heilmann humiliation, caused suspicion and almost cost him his job.

With all the accusations against teachers and administrators around the country and in our own state, school districts should rethink secret investigations. Most certainly do what you need to do, but realize that there is a way to communicate with your community what did or did not happen without humiliating either accuser or accused and without violating confidentiality and Executive Session laws. Just like Eau Claire, we deserve reassurances and have the right to have confidence in our Superintendent.

Heilmann Calls A News Conference

No, you are not misreading the title. There really is going to be a news conference called and starring Dr. Ron Heilmann. The news conference will not be here in Oshkosh reassuring parents/residents that none of the rumors about Dr. Heilmann are true. Local news stations do not seem to be aware and even Stew at the ONW seems to be either without information or an opinion on the matter. So far, there has been nothing said and is not anticipated to be said in Oshkosh about an internal investigation of the Superintendent by the OASD BOE as Board members have been asked by the current BOE president, Amy Weinsheim, to direct all inquiries to Mrs. Weinsheim.

Some discussion has already taken place on another thread on this subject and will (hopefully) move here. Channel 18 has been contacting people and organizations around Oshkosh looking for anyone that can substantiate the rumors or provide insight into the allegations in an effort to reassure Eau Claire residents that they are not getting a person of questionable character. Eau Claire's concern stems from a current investigation of possible fraud by their former Superintendent, one BOE member, and an employee regarding the former Superintendent's contract.

Several members of their community and press have been googling Dr. Heilmann in an effort to make sure they are getting what they are paying big bucks for. They have found blogs, like this one and the ONW, Oshkonversation, forum and have been in contact with residents of Oshkosh seeking information. If anyone has credible information, contact WQOW TV in Eau Claire. If anyone has something nice to say about Heilmann, I can put you in touch with a few Eau Claire residents that could use some good news.

Update: Click this link for an article from the Eau Claire Leader-Telegram on the subject.

Below is an article from WQOW TV in Eau Claire which also has other links about their investigation(s) of Dr. Heilmann.

Closed Session: Board to Question Incoming Superintendent

The Eau Claire School Board will interview incoming superintendent, Dr. Ron Heilmann, on Tuesday about the recent investigation that involved him in Oshkosh.

Word of the investigation surfaced after a report by News 18 on Friday. According to open records requested by News 18, the Oshkosh School Board reviewed an allegation about a trip between its superintendent, Dr. Heilmann, and a student. The board reviewed it with its lawyer both on March 5th and the 19th. On the 19th, the board determined there was nothing to the allegation, so the investigation ended.

That happened one week before Heilmann was named Eau Claire's new Superintendent.

School board members in Eau Claire say they are concerned that at no time during their visit to Oshkosh or during interviews with Heilmann was this investigation ever brought to their attention. They say they never knew about it until News 18 contacted them last week.

“I was surprised to be honest with you. I think other board members were surprised because we didn't have access to that information but as we're looking into that and learning more about it, it was an internal review that the district should have done. I think it was an appropriate thing and they found ultimately that there were not any merit to any of the allegations," says Dr. Carol Craig, who was elected president of the Eau Claire School Board Monday night.

Dr. Heilmann will be interviewed by the board in closed session on Tuesday, beginning at 4:15 p.m. He has requested a press conference to address the investigation in Oshkosh with the Eau Claire media following that closed session. That press conference is scheduled for 5:15 p.m.

Dollars and Sense

Eau Claire seems to be in a bit of a tizzy over their new Superintendent's contract and their current Superintendent's contract. By the way, in case you were on vacation, their new Superintendent is our own Dr. Heilmann, provided nothing comes up to change that.

It seems the former Super Dr. Kraus and the former BOE President backdated his contract to allow him to collect his early retirement stipend before actually retiring. Of equal concern is the fact that Eau Claire's school district, according to local TV News 18 "will pay more than 200 former teachers and administrators over $2.3 million in early retirement stipends this year alone." The stipends will/has come to an end for teachers hired after July 2004 and administrators hired after July 2008. I wonder if Dr. Heilmann made it in under the wire.

Of course the stipends already part of various contracts get compounded over the next ten years or more. That amounts to tens of millions of dollars Eau Claire's cash strapped district is contractually obligated to pay and taxpayers had no say in, and probably no knowledge of. Money that does not in any way impact the quality of education received by students. So much for union and politician arguments, ad nausea, that "It's About Students." Let's not forget that practices like these retirement and preretirement stipends take money away from teachers who are busting their butts and funding their own classroom needs out of their family's budgets.

In a comment on the Eau Clarie Leader-Telegram, it seems Wisconsin's governor makes $137,092. That does not include his free stay in the Governor's mansion or any other benefits. That makes Governor Doyle the 17th highest paid governor in the country. Governor Doyle might want to consider a career in Congress which gets paid a pittance of $165,200 plus benefits according to Stateline.org.

What will Dr. Heilmann get in his new position? $162,000 plus a raise in a year to $168,000 and 100% of his benefits paid by their district. In one year, our Dr. Heilmann will make more than a Congressman and without having to campaign and face an election. What a deal. Like I have said before, if he can get it, kudos to him. I really can't fault a guy for asking what he thinks he is worth. The problem is that BOEs seem to forget that they have the option to say no. They also neglect to consider what impact their decisions have on the rest of us. Yes, Eau Claire's "generosity" really does affect OASD.

According to the Wisconsin Association of School District Administrators the number of openings is expected to exceed 95 this year. At least 95 school districts are going to be put in a precarious position and districts like Eau Claire have set a scary precedent. In order to get a Superintendent, OASD is looking at some steep competition with districts who can afford to pay more. We also have to consider looking outside the state borders. That will increase our search expenses particularly if we have BOE members traveling out of state to meet the candidates on their home turfs like Bowen did traveling to Texas to meet Heilmann to see him in action. A necessary expense we have to take into consideration.

Once we have candidates in our sights, we have to start hashing out a contract. I see two questions in our future with only one being of importance to our current board. The BOE should be asking, what can we afford and how much are we going to pay. Unfortunately, the former will go the wayside in favor of the latter. What we can afford as a community becomes irrelevant when districts like Eau Claire pay through the nose for a new hire who may or may not be worth it.

We do have the option of promoting Todd Gray to Superintendent. He did send a letter of interest to the BOE members several weeks ago. He is experienced in school district management and issues. He has been a part of the facilities process recently and has gotten up to speed in record time. He seems to be able to work with all factions on the BOE. Without a doubt, he has a good grasp of school district finances. He does come from a larger more innovative school district. Could we afford him? Would we be better served keeping him in the finance office where we need his expertise more? Do we stand to lose him to the other school districts looking for Superintendents with his experience?

Clearly we cannot afford $162,000-$168,000 per year plus 100% benefits and $400 per month travel allowance. However, that is what Eau Claire is paying, so what will candidates expect of the OASD? Can our BOE stand up to that kind of pressure in order to ensure our tax dollars are kept for student programs and not thrown out the window for bloated administrator salaries? I see the BOE meetings regarding a future Superintendent contract as this:

Picture Mrs. Bowen saying this because she often pleads these cases the best: "This candidate is highly qualified and exactly what we need in our district to keep moving our facilities plan forward. It was a tremendous loss to our community when Dr. Heilmann left. He is irreplaceable and he left some pretty big shoes to fill. This candidate shows a lot of promise. While no one can replace our beloved former Superintendent, this candidate is the closest we will come. In order to ensure this candidate decides to choose us, we need to pay him/her what he/she is worth. We need to look at what other districts are paying and meet that price or we will lose this candidate to another district. Eau Claire paid..."

Of course this speech will be given with several bobblehead nods of agreement from Weinsheim, Kavanaugh, McDermott, and Lemberger. Likely Becker for sure and Traska possibly will ask if it is within our budget and miraculously it will be. If we are lucky those same common sense voices of reason will further question if it is within the budget on into the future and which student programs will get cut or which school will be closed to pay for the compounding expense of a contract almost four times the annual salary of the average community member.

There will be drama about if we do not pay through the nose and give the candidate whatever he/she wants, we will have no Superintendent and the facilities plan and the referendum will be in jeopardy, sky will fall, the earth will stop rotating on its axis, the Fox River will flow backwards, and the OASD will sink into the twelfth level of Hades, yada, yada, yada. Commons Sense will be outvoted and OASD will carry on the tradition of giving bloated pay raises some even less fortunate school district will be tied to.

Of course, we will blame the state funding formula and shake our fists at Madison and curse their bipartisan BS for taking money away from education. We might even shoot an email to the Wisconsin Association of School Boards and WEAC and ask when they are actually going to lobby for a change in the funding formula instead of simply collecting dues from teachers and school boards. [What do they do with that money?]

It has never been about the students, Oshkosh's or otherwise.