Happy Birthday Ben Franklin

I had the pleasure of attending a really fun event held yesterday at Franklin Elementary School. It seems yesterday was the 300th birthday Mr. Franklin. Though I am sure he was very busy with speaking engagements in his honor, he made a special stop at Franklin Elementary to unveil the "Key To Learning." After a great deal of hard work staff and parents developed an extraordinary vision statement for their school. It is as follows:

Key To Learning
Every person
Every Day
Will help others
Feel valued
And respected
While we learn
And grow together

In addition to Mr. Franklin's energetic jump out of a birthday cake, several creative and brave staff members put on skits for the students to help them see the new vision in action. I thought it was excellent to perform the wrong way and have the kids shout out "REWIND, WHAT'S THE KEY TO LEARNING!" The staff rewound and performed the skit to the vision. Several staff members also sung the new key and encouraged the students to sing along. Even the principal, Mr. Kindschuh grabbed a microphone and sang along with the students.

I was very impressed with the way the students behaved and paid attention to the presentation. They are an amazing school community and should be very proud of the hard work they do every day living their new vision. By the way, you should see the incredible artwork hung on the walls. There is some real talent in that school. I want to thank Mr. Kindschuh, for extending the invitation to the Board and Board Candidates. I would also like to thank the staff of Franklin for the hard work they put into the program. Finally, I want to thank the students for the energy boost. Just being in the room was an incredible lift after all the dreary weather we have had.

School Board Notes Jan 11, 2006

As usual I attended the school board meeting last night. It was a lengthy one so I do not have the notes completely transcribed yet. I was frustrated listening to the workshops and more frustrated reading my notes. Here are some of the highlights. I will post my notes as soon as they are finished.Workshop 1 was an introduction to the new facilitator company. Not much there except they are already over the $38,000 budget. Their estimate is $39,125. If they need to spend more, they will take it to the board. I found it interesting that when Dan Becker asked about that, Barbara Grant from PMP commented they would have spent a little more time and came below the budgeted amount if they had known.Workshop #2 was on collaboration. According to Eickstadt and Muza the principals of our schools have kept them informed that there are NO problems with the current early release Wednesdays. The two claim that parents are asking that the calendar NOT be changed. They have concluded in their report that the general opinion of the community and parents is to keep the early release Wednesdays. Then they went on to say they would be sending out a survey with report cards. Ben Schneider challenged the "evidence" and the board agreed to hold a public meeting on February 15 to allow the public to state their feelings and suggestions for the calendar. Mr. Sween stated that if there are no complaints, as far as he is concerned, everything is working fine. If you don't respond to the survey, don't complain. Heilmann stated that we have kids that go home to an empty house other days. What can the district do to help? Eickstadt says we have to keep this going for 3 to 4 more years to evaluate.Workshop #3 was the budget reconciliation. Mrs. Bowen expressed concern for the lost VIP and Teen Parenting program's special attention for those students. Mrs. Weinsheim said lets just do it and see what happens. Heilmann and panel reassured that this restructuring to save $30,000 would not hurt the kids. The social workers and guidance councelors, as well as, the core teachers would be able to pick up the slack and get the kids in touch with community services if needed. Heilmann stated that kids are more flexible than we give them credit for. Schneider expressed a hope that the public would contribute more feedback and ideas. No one commented on my challenge to look at the administratorsThat's the short version unembellished. Feel free to check the replay of the meeting if you like. The full notes will be posted soon. One last thought for now, is Eickstadt right? Does the community and do the parents really want this every other Wednesday calendar?

FULL NOTES
School Board Meeting January 11, 2006

All Board Members present

Presentation by Journeys and Oshkosh East

NONAGENDA FORUM
Dan Lynch: Teen Pregnancy and smoking. Smoking causes birth defects including lower IQ, miscarriages, SIDS. Article in On Wisconsin, UW Madison Alumni magazine. Appleton Alternative School had problems with behavior. Turned to Natural Ovens to help nutrition which led to extraordinary turn around.

Gordon Doule: Allowing teachers to pray under First Amendment, Freedom of Speech will bring business.

AGENDA
Michelle Monte: In the Major Points section of the report on Collaboration time, section L states that the Collaboration Planning Team, the Board, the District Administrator, and OEA will work together to ensure opportunities for parent and community input is included in the developing of the ‘06-’07 calendar. It goes on to state, and I quote, “ongoing feedback from parents and the community suggests the community prefers that another calendar change not be made, but rather that the district maintain the current professional development calendar allowing parents to continue the child care arrangements currently in place.” What feedback? When was there an effort made by the district ever to find out what the parents think of this calendar since school started?
In the very next section it states that “The group is developing a survey to elicit feedback from parents regarding the actual impact of the 05-06 calendar…” Aren’t you supposed to do the survey first before drawing conclusions that the parents and community want this calendar? Are you going to survey the secretaries of each of the schools to find out how many kids are left waiting at the doors or on the playground because parents can’t get there to pick them up early? Do you really think parents are going to admit that their children are now latch-key kids who come home to an empty house? What parent is going to tell you that they have to leave their elementary aged child home unsupervised because they can’t get off of work two or three Wednesdays per month and can’t afford care, that’s if their school has it? And if you already have the conclusion you want, why are you spending hard earned and limited tax dollars on a survey?
The district professes the necessity of this calendar is to allow teachers from different schools to collaborate across grade and discipline. When is the district going to address the question of how that is possible with the distance between schools and the differing bell schedules? By the time teachers at one school are ready to get to work. Teachers from other schools are off the clock or nearly so.

My final questions are regarding the Budget Reconciliation Plan. This Board argued over and eventually approved the middle school and high school restructuring projects. The plan included hiring up to 10 new staff. Now, according to The Northwestern, the district plans to pay for the restructuring with its 10 positions by cutting 5 teachers and 4.5 paraprofessionals. Can someone please explain this seemingly idiotic notion of cutting positions to pay for the hiring of positions? If we can’t afford this wonderful Cadillac plan, as several board members have referred to it, isn’t there a less expensive back up plan? Or a plan that could be phased in allowing the cost to be spread over a number of years freeing up money for roofs on the schools? Has anyone looked at a way to raise revenue in this district besides raising taxes? You may want to ask your facilitator that question during the first workshop.
Finally, I would like to point out that we are one of four districts with just over 10,000 students. The DPI ranks districts by size. Eau Claire is 8th largest, Janesville is 9th, We are 10th, and Sheboygan is 11th. Janesville, slightly larger than us has three administrators, not counting principals, who get paid $410,511 in salaries and benefits. Sheboygan, slightly smaller than us, has 4 administrators, not counting principals, and spends $578,000 on salaries and benefits. Oshkosh has 7 administrators, not counting principals, and spends $752,400 on salaries and benefits. We spend more than $340,000 more than the next larger district in the state. Other districts of our size seem to be getting along with less on top, we should look into that.

Ann Havland (sp?): VIP and Teen Parent programs at the high schools need to be kept. 48 teen parents. 17 part of program last year. Have 50 to 75 or 80 students each year caseloads. Have also had at middle school level. Teen parents need extra support to be successful. 4 core teachers cannot teach 125 students and special needs of teen parents. Not enough social workers to pick up slack. If we lose this program more students may drop out negatively affecting them, their parents, and their children.

Susan Weblo (sp?): Do not cut teen parenting program. 04-05 got $5400 from state per student. This program has CNA program for students. House teachers cannot do it. Why isn’t their money cut from gifted and talented? Why only from the bottom?

Laura L: Think of a twelve year old you know. Do they have the education and experience to be able to have a baby and take care of it and themselves? I got pregnant when I was twelve. I would never have made it without this program. Was pregnant in 7th grade. Peers cannot support physical or emotional. This program helped me understand need for education and parenting. Graduated w/CAN, currently in 2nd semester of college to be Spanish teacher, learning dog grooming for work. There are others who need this program.

Deb S: Parent and taxpayer. Graduate of school parent program currently a nurse. Definite need for this program.

Kirk Havland (sp?): Lived with this program for 13 years as spouse of Ann. This program is needed. This program is greatly utilized. Get calls 24/7/365 from kids in need. Cutting this program and depending on 2 social workers is inadequate. Look carefully and cut something else. Think about cost of drop out w/ a dependent. 20-30 new pregnancies per year who could end up dropping out.

Alan Frost: VIP Instructor. Speaking for kids who can’t speak for themselves. Think about kids. Talk to staff, kids, and parents. Look into closely. In the past we dropped at-risk programs and drop out rates spiked. Don’t repeat history.

SUPERINTENDENT’S REPORT
Hawaii moving toward a universal preschool.
Brown University- High School students need to start school later.
Students from E. Cook and Shapiro
Opera for the Young Be a Designer Contest
Winners’ art will be incorporated in sets that will travel around state
March 23 show of Barber of Seville
Herzog, Pieper, Weinert are presenting at National School Reform Faculty Winter Conference
Merrill Middle collected 600 food items
Oshkosh West 3rd in Quiz Bowl
Franklin completed visioning statement
Assembly Tuesday Jan 17 at 1:30 for Board Members and Candidates.

POLICY AND GOVERNANCE
Weinsheim: Policy 344.62, 344.6 ready in February. Honor Roll, Gifted and Talented, still working on. Next meeting is Feb 7 at 4:15.

CONSENT AGENDA
Voted unanimously

WORKSHOP #1: FACILITATOR
Facilitator introductions
Bowen: We have ongoing processes we are committed to. How will you fit and what will you do if there is a conflict.
PMP (Facilitator Company): May require communication and education effort to bring two sides closer. Goal is to find what community thinks.
Bowen: Will this help in future?
PMP: There are a range of tools to choose from that will build on each other. Don’t want to stop a successful process because it can build on others for the future.
Kavanaugh: This seems to be a good arrangement to gain info through independent means.
McDermott: Future agenda includes a Feb 1 special board meeting to set parameters for process.
Schneider: In past cases you were brought in to rally support.
PMP: We turn vision into reality. Tony and Gary bring educational aspect missing from past experience.
Becker: Budget was not to exceed $38,000?
Heilmann: Yes.
Becker: Proposal is for $39,125. Extras come into play. How will costs stay within budget?
PMP: If we had known budget constraints we would have come under. If we have a large expenditure, we will take it to the board as it happens. See this as staying as budgeted. We will keep board aware of spending.
Becker: Timeline. How quickly can you start and show results.
PMP: We’ll be ready before district gets invites out. We’ll help district get ready.

WORKSHOP #2: COLLABORATION
Eickstadt: How do we do better? This report is what we are doing. National movement to standards based learning. Research indicates challenging students, align curriculum to create effective learning. Collaboration is key to effective teachers in classroom. Need to look ahead. Can’t predict what kind of jobs today’s kindergarteners will have. Imbedded professional development. Waivered DPI for a few less days and use time for collaboration. 04-05 started with Mondays and Fridays. Creating problems getting teachers together so moved to Wednesdays. Students released at 2 or 2:15 then teachers collaborate for 79 minutes. Teachers work longer on those days. Parents made the district aware they were not involved in decision. District did surveys and found child care and transportation were problems for families. We have found “folks are working with it.” Principals say people are telling them you’re likely to keep this so keep it as it is now and don’t change it again. Committee meets whenever issues arise. We have a continuing need for more diverse professional development opportunities. Chart indicates goals. Have met a considerable amount of them. Need more formal way of evaluating goals. Have met K-12 standards and benchmarks almost 100%. Instructional Technology almost completely aligned. Working on Reading and math. Beginning unit development. Working on electronic curriculum software that allows updates to curriculum, grading, and benchmarks and standards. Skyward is also working with us on this. Need to continue that process. Teachers are required to learn new skills and need opportunitites.
Muza: Periodic checks with principals. Not hearing anything. Everything seems to be smooth. Survey will go out with report cards. Have board hold public forum to allow community to talk to board.
Heilmann: Is the information in the report Mrs. Monte brought up in sections L and M anectodal?
Eickstadt: We used informal information gathering.
Muza: Principals say everything is fine. There are no complaints. A survey will fo out in the report cards on Jan 26/27.
Bowen: When is the public forum?
Muza: Late January or Early February?
McDermott: Is March 1 too late?
Weinsheim: What about third Wednesday in February?
McDermott: February 15th in lieu of March Fifth Wednesday.
Becker: For public input. We could do this a second time after the calendar is negotiated.
Muza: There are tentative drafts. Could add to the survey.
McDermott: Not sure that we have one that is ready to distribute.
Sween: Should have forum on 15th then direct the negotiating team based on public input.
Schneider: Wednesdays is what we are going to do in the future?
Muza: Wednesday is the day. That’s what parents have said. They don’t want the calendar changed.
Schneider: Talk to the secretaries and custodians. Don’t make blanket statements based on anecdotal evidence. I have seen kids letting themselves into garages after school. Parents won’t come forward because they are afraid of repercussions. I hope this information is accurate. Parents have asked when the calendar will be discussed. Principals don’t have all the answers.
Sween: If they don’t respond, that means everything is OK. It is like if you don’t vote, you can’t complain. Collaboration will draw people in. If you don’t respond, don’t complain.
Heilmann: We have children on other days that go home to an empty house. What can we do to help?
Kavanaugh: Parental involvement is increased by scheduled topics. Check with parochial schools. Everyone says give us time to plan, don’t surprise us. What evaluation are you talking about?
Eickstaedt: Actual products of teachers’ work. Summaries of meetings are required and spot checked periodically. We go out to groups as well and observe. Need to formalize a structure. Teachers are asking for more opportunities for professional development.
Muza: Plan would have ways to evaluate. Students for the first time know what is expected of them.
Kavanaugh: This is an inconvenience but kids are benefiting. If this isn’t true, we may need to change something.
Eichstaedt: Have some evidence. Need 3 to 4 years to see a trend. Need at least another two years.

WORKSHOP #3 BUDGET RECONCILIATION
From Slides: BOE priorities: Grades 6-12 restructuring, At-Risk restructuring, Facility/Maintenance, Long-Range Facility Plan, Budget Development Process.
Prepare Students for the Future: Changing Delivery Model Based on Research, Grades 6-12 Restructuring, At-Risk Restructuring, Align Resources to Meet Student Needs.
The Process: BOE Priorities as a guidepost, Determined needs, Determined “stop doing,” Developed the proposed reductions.
Determined Needs: Beginning Structural Deficit $526,000, Grades 6-12 Restructuring Cost $315,000, At-Risk Restructuring Cost $231,000, Data Retreat/ Professional Development $78,000, Pupil Services Initiatives $61,000, 4-yr-old Kindergarten Pilot $36,000, Total $1,247,000.
Proposed Reductions: Reduced Secretarial Cost $40,000, Reduced Custodial/Maintenance Cost $50,000, Reduced Athletic Cost or increased fees $25,000, Reduced Department Budgets $59,000, Transfer 1.0 FTE Special Ed to IDEA $52,000, Reduce 3.0 FTE teachers $156,000, Reduce 2.5 paraprofessionals $75,000, Transfer MS Athletics-Fund 80 $150,000, Modify School Age Parent $30,000, Eliminate VIP teachers 2.0 FTE $104,000, Eliminate 2.0 FTE Special Education paraprofessionals $60,000, Combine Two Positions of paraprofessionals $30,000, Site Allocation Change $176,000, Budget Assumption $240,000, Total $1,247,000.
Roofing Funding: Identified Roofing Needs $2,676,000, Funding from CIP Funds ($676,000), Funding from Fund 38 Debt ($640,000), Funding from Fund Balance ($1,360,000), Balance $0.
Conclusion: Progress is not disrupted by budget deficits. OASD continues to excel under the revenue limits and within budget parameters. OASD continues to improve services to students based on current research.
Presentation panel: Industrial Model creates new programs to solve problems. No longer useful. Need to adjust to diverse population. How do support systems fit? Now whole school needs to look at integration approach of core teams integrated with special teachers. Allows smaller integrated communities. VIP and Teen Parent. National Summit for School To Work. Separatist approach messed up kids and faculty. Changes occurred that need to be addressed. Separate = social marginalization. Poor stay poor. 32 at North, 18 at West in VIP. Most are seniors who will graduate so few numbers enrolled next year. Most are seniors who will graduate so few numbers enrolled next year. Most receive other services to compensate. This program is high cost for low enrollment. NCLB scores are low. Are we preparing them properly? If not true, and is not typical, can cut. VIP at North will have core teams instead of VIP. Existing will have councilors for existing VIP. We have services available for teen parents in other areas. VIP has one teacher. Next year will have four core teachers. Team approach will maintain personal advocate for each student.
Sween: Class sizes? Core with 120 students could lose students that VIP wouldn’t. Losing students = losing funding. Doesn’t sound like we’ll catch all the kids.
Panel: Four teachers do function better because each teacher is focused on every kid.
Weinsheim: Supports integrated plan, including cutting VIP and Teen Parenting, to see if it will work.
Bowen: Very concerned about consequences to the kids these programs serve.
Sween: Cost?
Panel: Guidance Counselors are being restructured and getting them more clerical help.
Sween: If had enough funding would these programs still be cut?
Panel: Yes, others are also being looked at to cut.
Sween: Whole plan should be presented. Suggest we add VIP students to core next semester before jumping into whole plan.
Heilmann: Kids are more flexible than we give them credit for.
McDermott: Need to move on and possibly workshop more later.
Schneider: Would like to hear other ideas form the public.

Boundary Questions

I have been asked what my opinion of school boundaries is. I am assuming the interested person is asking if I would consider consolidating schools and/or changing boundaries. I have to admit that is a loaded question. A legitimate concern, but loaded with so many complications.

I have talked to members of the community, some who have children attending the same schools they did. The Oshkosh Northwestern recently ran an article indicating some families have had three generations attend the same schools. I know how attached I was to my schools, especially high school. I graduated from Sheboygan North and my husband graduated from Sheboygan South. We still occasionally argue about whose school was better. We still reminisce about some of the wonderful teachers we had and some of the teachers and classes we hated. I would have hated having to change schools half way through high school. I do understand what it feels like to have to change schools, though. My elementary school years involved moving every year because of rent raises, unemployment, and we were just plain broke. I missed out on having any kind of attachment to an elementary school community that a lot of my middle school and high school peers had. If presented with the issues about the district boundaries, I would take all of those things into consideration.

I would also consider the research about the number of transitions a student goes through in the course of their education. Currently, students transition from elementary school to middle school and middle school to high school at a minimum. Research shows that the more transitions a student experiences, the greater the possibility of negative effects on the student. Not all students have problems, but the risk is still there. However, if transitions are handled with appropriate support, negative risks are dramatically decreased.

Hang in there, I am getting to my ideas. I wanted to make it clear what information and experience I draw on to make my case.

In Oshkosh, we have some schools that are bursting at the seams and some whose halls echo. Some schools are in good shape and some drip filth into the classrooms when it rains. How do we solve this? Start small. Before uprooting students, find out exactly what we are dealing with. If the lunch period at Oshkosh West is overcrowded and all four grades eat at the same time, can we stagger the grades over multiple scheduled lunch breaks? Are there families living on the borders of two schools who would voluntarily switch at the end of a school year to alleviate some overcrowding? Could we redraw some of the borders allowing the maximum benefit with the minimum negative impact? As much as I would hate to consider closing schools, we have to ask if it would be more cost effective to repair a school building and keep it open or close it and consolidate it with a building better capable of housing students? The safety of the students and the burden to the taxpayers must both be considered. I would like to explore as many options as possible before moving large numbers of students, shutting down schools, and shuffling students; but I know at some point in the future, it may be necessary.

I don't have all the answers, just ideas and questions based on the limited information I have had to this point. I would appreciate any suggestions anyone else has.

The Campaign Trail

I hope everyone's Holiday visits and New Year parties went well. I have been busy with all of our festivities. I make homemade gifts because we are on a budget and our family has turned it into somewhat of a tradition. This year I made scented candles and apple butter. We have one more family get together in a couple of weeks, so I am still making candles and apple butter and truffles (diabetic and diabolic).

In addition to Holiday celebrating, I was going door-to-door collecting signatures for my nomination papers. I was successful in getting all the signatures I needed with a few to spare. I turned in my paperwork yesterday, met with Bethany Warner from The Northwestern, and had my picture taken for the paper. Those articles should be in the paper in the next couple of weeks; hopefully sooner.

One of the most frequent questions I have been asked in the last couple of days is if I am going to raise taxes. I am running for school board because I am sick of my taxes getting raised. I am even more sick of taxes going up with little to nothing to show for it. In dealing with the budget, I want each department to justify what they are spending and how they are staffing their departments to see if we can do things more efficiently and less expensively. We should look at possibly not filling positions opened by retirements unless they are vital to the district and cannot be done by anyone else or spread over several people. We should look into health care spending. I would love to pay teachers what they are worth in salary and benefits, but this district cannot afford to continue on the path we are on. We need to open the health insurance for every district employee to bidding by other insurance companies and see who can give us the best deal for the best price that our district can afford. It is unrealistic to stick with what we have if we can't afford it just because that is the way it has always been.

I also have an idea on how we can raise funds for the district without selling candybars and magazines. I noticed, at the park across from Oshkosh West, that the light poles around the ball fields have brackets on them. Last summer, one had an old advertising sign still attached. I am guessing that these used to be sold/rented to local businesses to advertise during ball games. Why isn't something like that being done at district fields. Professional teams put signs and banners on their fences surrounding ball fields during ball games. Why can't we do something like this at our ball fields. As long as the businesses advertising are appropriate for the student body, there shouldn't be a problem. Maybe Policy and Governance should look into that instead of allowing alcohol on school property. This also allows the local business community to support the schools in a way the average taxpayer may not be able to. We could sell/rent space by the season or per game. The federal government and state government keeps cutting education funding and we need to look ahead to a time where we need to be self-sufficient or risk closing our doors like Forest County nearly did. In addition to government cuts in funding, who pays for all the charter schools once their grants run out? The taxpayers. If we want to keep them to benefit those children who cannot be successful in a traditional environment, we need to have a plan to pay for them, preferrably without raising taxes.

Speaking of businesses, do we have any kind of mentoring or internship program to allow high school students to get on-the-job training while still in high school? What a great experience that would be for businesses and students and it wouldn't cost the taxpayers a dime.

As for students gaining experience, know any who are considering going into journalism, printing or publishing. How about having students do a monthly newsletter for the district? Partner with one or more local printing companies and have the students learn how to design a newsletter/newspaper, set type, print, and deliver a district-wide, once per month, newsletter/newspaper. The District office could contribute news from them and the Board for parents and taxpayers, the schools could contribute information and special events, and the students could contribute articles. Communication for minimal cost and maximum experience and benefit.

Well, those are just a few little ideas I have been toying with. We have to start somewhere and we have to start now. Any questions?