A couple of prefaces:
1) I was going to do a multi-part well-researched bit with links and quotes, and then I decided not to bother. What’s written here can be easily discovered as truth, I’m just too lazy to document it right now. After all, I don’t really blog anymore. 
2) With only one or two exceptions, every educator with which I have had contact – those my children have had as well as others from extra curricular activities – is spectacular. (One had an unfortunate incident with a Web cam, so he doesn’t get to be in that category; another looked me in the eye and called my kid lazy. I’ve mentally blocked his name, but whoever you are, you aren’t in here either.) The rest of you, and you will surely know who you are, well, I’d walk across a stretch of Oklahoma asphalt in the heat of summer barefoot for you guys. And that’s saying something.
It has been my experience that indeed, those educators working for the Elmbrook school district have a passion for their profession. All three kids have been at one time or another significantly inspired by you. I am eternally grateful. I was fortunate early on to have a teacher (I’m old – that’s what we used to call them) inspire me. It matters so very much.
I sincerely thank you for your really great work.
—
Now that’s said, I have some harsh words for this district.
You – and by you I mean board and administration – are beating a path in the wrong direction. My years in this district have watched you fuss over bricks and mortar when you should have been supporting your employees. You have built palaces and then complained because you can’t afford to air condition them. You have lied to stakeholders claiming you are at budget crisis only to have significant budget excesses at the end of the year.
If I were your employer, and I claim I actually am, I’d call you incompetent. I have no faith in your ability. None. Nada. Zip. Sadly, this situation is deteriorating instead of improving, and what’s worse, you seem content to drag the students into the mix.
Next, you are failing to keep students safe.
I want to know just exactly how you’ve managed to keep the guns – as in real weapons – showing up at Pilgrim Park Middle School out of the news. Combine those weapons with more press than any other district’s received in a decade for educators caught with their pants down or kiddie porn, and you’ve blown it. Honestly, in the real world you would have been fired ages ago for such gross neglect.
Instead you run for re-election or ask for a raise or, and this is my favorite, resign early to run for mayor.
I am holding you accountable. And just as soon as I find ten people who actually give a whip, the group of us will hold you accountable, and hopefully that group will grow until you finally understand that you can no longer behave in the irresponsible manner your lackluster reputation was built.
Because you see, while I’m gleefully having my last child leave this district before you run it into the ground, I still pay your salaries. You work for me. If you don’t like it, I can help arrange for your replacement.
—
Last weekend someone called asking my opinion about the budget crisis. I explained I don’t take you seriously as I’ve lived this roller coaster year after year.
I reiterated my concern that this district is overbuilt as to facilities and that two grade schools need to be closed. I suggested that if the district would quit recruiting students from outside our boundaries, more parents might feel comfortable enrolling children in their home district.
I said I was absolutely a bigot when it came to a student bringing a gun to school.
Decision makers, you really only have a few months to turn this mess around. You have two choices: work your backsides off to make the right decisions and get it done, or wear the label you will have earned as the ones who pushed Elmbrook to the bottom.
I could do it. Are you that brave?
70 responses so far ↓
1 Anthony // Mar 9, 2010 at 7:14 pm
As a student, I am honestly feeling less safe going to school in Elmbrook than I did years ago.
I can tell you one thing. Anybody could get a gun into any Elmbrook school. It’s a fact. There are no security measures against guns whatsoever. I’m not sure what could specifically be done about it, but I’m sure there’s a solution.
There’s another thing that’s beginning to bother me. I am starting to see more Brookfield police cars and officers near East. I’ve also heard more rumors about arrests, most of which are drug-related.
I know what’s causing these problems: it’s Chapter 220 students. They are always the ones fighting, and always the ones stirring up trouble. Just today, a Chapter 220 student insulted and swore at a teacher in one of my classes, causing her to become very angry at our class and immediately giving us new seats.
Every school has its problems, and East is no exception.
2 Whatever II // Mar 9, 2010 at 7:43 pm
Chapter 220 or not: Drugs will still be prevelant at East…and most other high schools
3 Cindy // Mar 9, 2010 at 8:26 pm
And the guns?
4 007! // Mar 9, 2010 at 10:03 pm
Oh come on now – this is the same School Board that keeps on covering up all the problems at PPMS and all the other schools within the District. And please don’t kid yourselves Brookfield and the Grove – those problematic children are NOT all 220′s – they also come from within your precious District. Remember that their lawyer fathers have told us that those darlings are not their children, but rather their clients…
5 Cindy // Mar 10, 2010 at 5:12 am
I’m afraid you lost me with the lawyer father routine. I’d lay money on the gun toters as 220 students. At least that’s what I’ve heard.
6 Kathryn // Mar 10, 2010 at 11:49 am
We do have great teachers. We disagree on the “palace” issue, but we’ve had that discussion before. The rest of the story is in the details.
Detail no. 1: Unfunded mandates.
Since 1993 or 1994, the state has set a cap on district revenues. It also set a floor on compensation packages offered to teachers. The cap let district revenue increase by about 2 percent each year. The floor increased compensation by 3.8 percent. You can see what’s wrong with that picture. The legislature dropped the compensation floor this year, but also adjusted the arbitration rules in a way that stacks the deck against school districts.
Detail no 2: The state pays very little to Elmbrook. At one point, the state agreed to pay 2/3 of education costs. Unfortunately for Elmbrook residents, that meant 2/3 of state-wide costs, not 2/3 of each district’s costs. Elmbrook got much less than that from the state, while some neighboring districts got more–sometimes much more.
Over the years, the state maintained both the revenue cap and the compensation floor, but quietly reduced its portion of statewide costs. It covers something closer to 50 percent now. For Elmbrook, that means we receive about TEN percent of our school funding from the state. The rest of that money the state collects from us (income and sales taxes, etc. to the extent allotted to education) is going to other districts, perhaps funding THEIR 4k programs. Any program WE add is going to be funded by US.
Detail no 3: Elmbrook health benefits are self-insured, meaning the district tries to save money by not purchasing a package from a commercial vendor. That creates a little more risk for which the district must budget, but some years–like last year, results in a surplus. The worst case didn’t materialize. That 1.5 million dollars that bothers some people was 1.5 million saved rather than donated to an insurance company.
Detail no 4: State law requires that teacher contracts (and layoff notices) be offered by March 15. The budget won’t be complete for several weeks yet–perhaps months, depending on how long it takes the state to finalize their budget. That means that every year at this time, administrators have to make their best estimate of a worst case scenario. This year that meant 41 layoffs. It upsets everyone. In the end, many–perhaps most–of those employees are going to be recalled.
Detail no 5: Public sector benefits beat yours and mine in most cases. There is also a nice state pension plan to which the district contributes. Teacher salaries are pretty good. (It’s a public record; you can look them up.) To the extent that things aren’t good, like the vulnerability of newer teachers to the annual lay-off cycle, chances are that is controlled by a collective bargaining agreement or a state mandate. Neither the district nor the teachers have as much power to advocate for ‘good sense’ as one would expect.
Detail no 6: More than 80 percent of school expense in this district is salary and benefits. If we close two schools, (and it isn’t clear we have SPACE to close two of them) the greatest savings will come from firing a lot of employees. That isn’t a pretty picture.
Final point: We are not having a crisis. There is a solid process in place for sorting through these issues. There is a rolling five-year plan, on-going study teams exploring every option, public feedback opportunities, and an enrollment management study that will make recommendations regarding many of the points you raised in your post. However, after many many years of state-mandated imbalance and consequent staff and program cuts, we are approaching a tipping point. The task at hand is to head off a crisis without harming students. That tipping point would be painful.
7 Cindy // Mar 10, 2010 at 1:18 pm
No one said it would be pretty.
The way it’s coming off is a crisis. Furthermore, the number being tossed about is really over several years, but no one is mentioning that.
We do agree on a tipping point. Your timeline started in 1993 -94 – shouldn’t we have a clue how to handle it by now?
8 007! // Mar 10, 2010 at 9:50 pm
The legal client comment goes back to a high school drinking party at a home in the Grove!
9 Whatever II // Mar 11, 2010 at 5:37 am
Kathryn: Thanks for providing the details!
10 Cindy // Mar 11, 2010 at 5:55 am
Oh, thanks. I do remember that now.
11 Cindy // Mar 11, 2010 at 5:56 am
Right. It’s been a problem forever, so it’s really not a problem.
No wonder the district’s in trouble.
12 Libby // Mar 11, 2010 at 8:23 am
I thought they were only looking to close one school – not two. Have I missed a detail?
13 Cindy // Mar 11, 2010 at 8:54 am
No, I think they should close two. That’s all.
14 Kathryn // Mar 11, 2010 at 11:31 am
Oh, it’s a problem all right. It is a big honkin’ problem. I’ll reserve “crisis” for the tipping point.
If you want to know what’s being evaluated, you can get an overview of proposals for next year’s budget here:
http://www.elmbrookschools.org/display/11014.nws
Notice the public feedback sessions scheduled for next week!
For more in-depth information on the proposals and reports from most of this year’s study teams, look here:
http://www.elmbrookschools.org/display/11739.nws
The Enrollment Management Study Team is the one getting into the nitty-gritty of what happens under various scenarios, including school closings. They meet Wednesday evenings, and their agendas are posted here:
http://www.elmbrookschools.org/display/11556.nws
A lot of residents attend these meetings, and they are also recorded. You can watch them on cable.
15 Anthony // Mar 11, 2010 at 1:43 pm
I agree with Cindy on the fact that two schools should be closed. There are way too many elementary schools for a district as small as Elmbrook.
If Kansas City can close 29 out of their 61 schools in one shot, then Elmbrook can close two.
16 Beth // Mar 11, 2010 at 4:36 pm
The district has been making changes since the mid 90s. Some have been incremental. Some have been larger cuts in programming, such as eliminating foreign languages in the elementary schools. We seem to be at a point where small changes won’t be sufficient. The problem that Kathryn explained so well is made more challenging by Elmbrook’s declining enrollment.
The Enrollment Management Team is looking at many things, including the possibility of closing a school. They have not made any recommendations yet. I have seen estimates that closing an elementary school could save $625,000. The Enrollment Team should have updated estimates soon. We would have to make many other changes to get to the projected $15 million needed in savings. The more feedback that the district receives on the possible changes, the better.
17 Anthony // Mar 11, 2010 at 8:00 pm
Well, close Hillside. It’s the smallest and certainly the least used elementary school in Elmbrook. There’s my feedback.
18 Anthony // Mar 11, 2010 at 8:24 pm
I looked at the links Kathryn posted, and a lot of the ideas to reduce the budget made sense.
I like the idea of getting rid of the Assistant Adviser of Key Club and the Assistant Adviser of Student Council, and only having one adviser for each club. I know PPMS did this with their Student Senate, and it’s still going okay.
I also like the idea of getting rid of German in the middle schools. In fact, I like the idea of getting rid of German in the district, period. The language is in low demand, and it would save some money. The same with Latin. It is another language with low demand. Offering only Spanish and French would be a good idea.
The one thing I DO NOT like is a possible parking fee increase at the high schools. No way! I’m not paying $250 to park my car in a poorly maintained parking lot, as I already pay $200 to do that.
19 Cindy // Mar 11, 2010 at 8:31 pm
What a great kid to actually do the homework, Anthony. Kudos!
20 Ryan // Mar 11, 2010 at 10:08 pm
I’ll probably be in the minority, but while you are getting rid of German and Latin, you might as well get rid of French too. Spanish is the future. When the future of the district is in peril, wasting time on dead or dying romance languages should be fairly low on the priority list.
21 Anthony // Mar 12, 2010 at 12:33 pm
I somewhat agree with Ryan. Spanish is the future in the world of languages. Whenever you ask foreign language teachers why you should take their language, only the Spanish ones can prove that you will use their language in the United States, backed with statistics saying that 12% of the nation can speak only Spanish.
22 The Lorax // Mar 12, 2010 at 11:21 pm
I wouldn’t move to a district that didn’t have at least three languages.
23 Anthony // Mar 13, 2010 at 9:10 am
OK, time for me to finish up my last comment. I was in a class yesterday and had to log off before I could finish my comment.
I still think French should be offered because here’s the thing: there are a lot of Hispanic (not 220) students at our school who already speak Spanish. And some students want to become trilingual, so they learn French.
24 Whatever II // Mar 14, 2010 at 2:12 pm
If district’s are really looking to offer languages that are relevant today they would offer Spanish, Mandarin, and Hindi. However, I bet that 90% of high school students only take a foreign language because they need two years for most colleges.
25 The Lorax // Mar 14, 2010 at 3:42 pm
Whatever, whatever. You can argue all day about specific languages that should be taught, but at the end of the day I want variety.
But i’m a Latin lover, so maybe my opinion is as dead as the language.
26 Anthony // Mar 14, 2010 at 3:53 pm
I took Spanish because I want to use it for a future career. Unfortunately, I am stopping my high school Spanish studies after this year, because it’s becoming too difficult. I also have other credits I need to fill.
Unless you are in the medical field, where terminology is based off of Latin roots, I really don’t see a use for Latin in the United States.
27 Kathryn // Mar 14, 2010 at 4:31 pm
Most of our students would benefit from a year of Latin–more than 30% of English is derived from Latin. Interested in better reading comprehension? Latin will help. Better ACT/SAT scores? Latin again. Want an easier time in Spanish or French? Latin is the right foundation. Modern terminology for use in an ancient tongue like Arabic or Hebrew? Latin often works. Careers in science, medicine, law, communications? Latin is useful.
28 Whatever II // Mar 14, 2010 at 5:09 pm
Kathryn: All good points. Is the demand for Latin there? I don’t hear of too many HS’s that offer it.
29 The Lorax // Mar 14, 2010 at 5:42 pm
Most high-caliber schools offer it. Elmbrook has been paring it down for years, though. Maybe it’s inevitable.
30 Cindy // Mar 14, 2010 at 5:43 pm
Well let’s just make Elmbrook all things for all students! I’m sure that won’t cost too much at all.
31 Kathryn // Mar 14, 2010 at 5:58 pm
Demand varies. We have two excellent Latin teachers now, and a fifth-year option that will earn university credits. I expect demand to increase as families become aware of the credit option and the caliber of instruction.
Offering Latin is one thing that sets our district apart as an education destination. If we were to step up academic guidance across the district (by which I mean creating course road maps and steering talented students into rigorous courses,) I believe more students would enroll in Latin–even if they prefer a modern language for long-term study. As I said, even a single year would benefit most of our students.
32 Anthony // Mar 14, 2010 at 6:03 pm
The thing is, there’s also a 5th year college credit option for Spanish, German, and French. You made it sound like the college credit option for Latin is unique, when really it’s not.
So, say that we do keep Latin. What do you have to say, Kathryn, about eliminating German?
33 Kathryn // Mar 14, 2010 at 6:38 pm
You’re right, Anthony, we do have 5th year credit options for the other languages. For Latin, the option is new, which might make the language more attractive than it was previously.
Latin (for reasons cited above) and Spanish (for geographic and demographic reasons) have the most bang for the buck. That said, I am reluctant to cut any language; they have intrinsic educational value. Moreover, the community at large seems reluctant to drop German. Long term, we’ll have to see how it plays out. A creative delivery model could save it.
34 Cindy // Mar 14, 2010 at 7:45 pm
So, describe this “creative delivery model.” Isn’t it time to actually do something instead of talking about it?
35 Whatever II // Mar 14, 2010 at 8:32 pm
What about an on-line models of instruction? Do the high schools ever share classes? Do they ever combine two classes in one time section?
Just throwing things out there…
36 Cindy // Mar 14, 2010 at 8:45 pm
I always thought online made a lot of sense for some of the specialty stuff. And yes, sometimes a section will “make” at one high school but not the other, so a student will drive over for that class. I’ve heard of examples where it’s the first class of the day.
There are lots of options. I still think what we’re ignoring is that we’re trying to please everyone all the time. Maybe it’s time to please most of the student needs most of the time and let the super minority classroom interests find other avenues.
37 Kathryn // Mar 14, 2010 at 8:47 pm
Off the top of my head: Teachers with multiple certifications so they teach German and another subject…Blended model distance learning, so some days classes take place face to face, and other days they are on line or via video or independent study…Combined sections (2 levels in the same classroom)…Every-other-day instruction (like combined sections, but only one level in the classroom at a time)…Semi-immersion environment, in which another academic subject is taught in the targeted language (requiring multiple certification, again.) I don’t know how viable any particular scenario might be–depends on staff and student interest. Principals and teachers do get very creative to meet demand for classes.
38 Anthony // Mar 14, 2010 at 11:01 pm
Teachers with multiple certifications would be an excellent idea, but the thing is, can we find teachers out there who have multiple certifications, one of which is a language? I know some teachers have Spanish/English certifications, so those would work.
There are classes where Latin 4 and 5 are taught at the same time, if you look at http://elmbrookschools.org/display/displayFile.aspx?docid=3355&filename=/Public/BEHS/files/fl.pdf This is definitely an option the district could consider.
I’m not sure if the district can implement online classes in time to save some language programs. We just recently dropped Blackboard, saving the district some cash, and we are using Moodle instead, which is free, and we will be using SharePoint next year along with it.
I’m sure some classes could go on an A/B day schedule, like Pilgrim Park, where they attend the class every other day.
39 Mike // Mar 15, 2010 at 5:03 pm
Safety at PPMS? The girl beaten with 3 foot tree branches, knocked out in hallway, and beaten with track spikes. 3 boys found guilty.
1 brought a knife to PPMS week before beating, but allowed back into PPMS to beat her. He was then offered a seat at East in Sept 2009.
Per another PPMS student, second boy was also suspended during that school year for having a knife.
Now a gun at PPMS
Shuuuuush
It doesn’t happen in elmbrook. Whatever.
NIMN syndrome
40 Dave // Mar 17, 2010 at 4:06 pm
I’ve gotten a lot of good and accurate news from this website over the years, but there were no guns at PPMS. If so, its a bigger cover-up than JFK. Where is the proof?
I also got a chuckle out of the student that wants to cut a foreign language out of the curriculum so his parking dues do not increase 50 bucks.–now thats forward thinking. Who gets to drive to school in high school? What happened to the bus?
Dave
41 Cindy // Mar 17, 2010 at 4:41 pm
The report came to me from a PPMS parent who is also involved with the school board. I tend to believe it’s accurate.
42 Dave // Mar 17, 2010 at 4:57 pm
You’ve had great, insightful, and useful information on your blog, and thank you for operating it, but no offense intended, this sounds like a big old rumor.
No police report? No media? No students/teachers/parents aware of anything? What happened to the student? Was there an expulsion hearing? Was there an arrest?
I was also disappointed (sarcastic) that this blog entry missed the PPMS incident cited at BrookfieldNow of a student pushing and choking a teacher. Include that, and the district is truly going down hill.
Thank you again, but I need proof not rumors.
Dave
43 Cindy // Mar 17, 2010 at 5:09 pm
Dear Dave (no last name), sorry I’m not meeting your expectations. The incident would have involved a minor. Lots of stuff gets hidden that way. You are welcome to question my source, but I’m quite comfortable in what I wrote. The district is very skilled in hiding what they choose.
Why don’t you leave your phone number (*snicker*) and I’ll give a call first thing when something shows up to verify what I heard.
44 Dave // Mar 17, 2010 at 5:39 pm
All the other incidents involved minors and they became public. Why not a gun? You are saying that a student brought a gun to PPMS and admin is hiding it from students, parents, teachers, the media and the general public? Sorry, but I’m giving out a big ‘Come on.’
You can give me a HUGE shoutout here if this becomes public, as your detective skills would be unrivaled (seriously), but until then, it sounds like a bunch of gossip.
45 Cindy // Mar 17, 2010 at 6:18 pm
So you have said – three times now! – dear Dave. Like I’ve said, I’m comfortable with my source.
46 Libby // Mar 17, 2010 at 7:36 pm
Okay – moving back to the previous discussion…. Here is a thought. Instead of students having to drive back and forth between schools for shared classes, they could just Skype.
It’s free!
I would hate to see Latin go. My 6th grader just signed up for the class for next year!
47 Whatever II // Mar 17, 2010 at 8:13 pm
I would be more concerned about the statement”involved with the school board”. At what level? Committee member? Friend? Husband? Wife? It doesn’t look as if the people involved in the district are very concerned about confidenciality laws.
48 Cindy // Mar 17, 2010 at 8:43 pm
I’m sure it’s fine. Besides, being confidential about a gun in a middle school is so much more important than admitting there was a gun brought to a middle school. (Wowser!)
You know, for all the belly aching you guys do, not one of you is willing to spend an afternoon getting to the details. So, until you prove me wrong, my story stands.
49 Anthony // Mar 17, 2010 at 10:03 pm
“I also got a chuckle out of the student that wants to cut a foreign language out of the curriculum so his parking dues do not increase 50 bucks.–now thats forward thinking. Who gets to drive to school in high school? What happened to the bus?”
The bus does not serve the area where I live FYI. . East’s parking lots are poorly maintained, especially in the winter, and I’m not willing to pay an extra $50 to park there. Not being able to find a job, with my only income from the websites I design, doesn’t help either.
50 Mike // Mar 17, 2010 at 11:05 pm
Hey Dave and Whatever. All the doubts about track spikes and the other criminal offenses at PPMS?
Even after arrests and restraining orders many laughed that this couldn,t have happened at PPMS.
Until it was published over 1 year later. Then. …silence…..
You doubt a gun, and ignore a child being beaten with weapons. You deny a student was on a 5 day suspension for bringing a knife to PPMS , then allowed back in for the last two days of school, just to whip a girl bloody with his 2 buddies. Then you ignore the violence on a little girl and ask about the confidentiality rights of the criminals who beat …. one of your own resident children …. Strike that ….just some kid with special needs cause it wouldn’t happen to my kid with Whatever / Dave genes.
Gibson stated there was no threat the girl would have to attend school with the boys , yet this boy with the knife was listed on the girls house list at August registration. 2 months after the knife, the beating, and after the restraining orders. Gibson also stated the boys do not attend elmbrook any more. He didn’t tell you elmbrook offered the boy with the knife a seat at Brook East for the 2009-2010 school year.
Regarding confidentiality elmbrook violated the confidentially laws of a family 15 times and were forced to simply appologize.
They seclude and isolate students without notifying parents, which have hurt children and violated their rights..
I believe you are affiliated with the district, because if you believe the district, you would believe anything.
51 Whatever II // Mar 18, 2010 at 4:36 am
Anthony: Does the bus not serve your area because you live so close? I thought all residents got bus service
52 Whatever II // Mar 18, 2010 at 4:47 am
Mike: “Regarding confidentiality elmbrook violated the confidentially laws of a family 15 times…” My point exactly. The district has a problem with people revealing info they shouldn’t. And sorry Mike, even criminals in this country have rights…even those who beat “one of your own resident children”. Not sure why you felt the need to designate a “resident” child. Makes me wonder if you would have cared if it was a non-resident.
53 Whatever II // Mar 18, 2010 at 4:57 am
Cindy: Not trying to downplay weapons at school. However, if district people are lax in their confidentiality about the people involved and the consequences then it is a huge issue. How would you feel if it was your daughter’s school info?
54 Cindy // Mar 18, 2010 at 5:29 am
I do think there’s a little district overlap, too. If Dave is the Dave from FC, then definitely.
55 Mike // Mar 18, 2010 at 8:05 am
Whatever
I care about all children. Others have posted reasons why their children would not be a victim. You seem to not care.
You have yet to admit such abuse occured and try to redirect and confuse.. You defend the district.
Confidentiality law has been a reason to hide the truth.
Your statements lead me to believe bringing weapons to school should be confidential, like “administration” “advising” a vice principal “not to contact the authoritities” after seeing the welts and cuts on the girl’s body.
You know what happened but your agenda is to protect your friends in the district. You will not change until your child becomes a victim by one who was let off the hook bringing weapons or beating a child. But you won’t know about their past. That’s confidential, and then you can spend your time wondering if your child will ever recover.
Why don’t you lead the charge to remove district employees who broke confidentiality laws? It’s against the law, ya know.
56 Mike // Mar 20, 2010 at 5:18 pm
no response from Dave and Whatever.
No concern for the beating and for the child.
Sounds like former and/or present Elmbrook boardmembers to me..
Come CE come SA .
57 Anthony // Mar 20, 2010 at 8:18 pm
No, this article just ended up like every other FC-like post. Cindy posts it, it gets some attention for a week or two, then it dies as Cindy posts something else of interest to many people. The blogging comments cycle, I call it.
58 Cindy // Mar 20, 2010 at 8:52 pm
And I couldn’t even find a handful of like-minded folks. Oh well. My kids are out of the district in a few months. Timing couldn’t be better.
59 Ana M. // Mar 21, 2010 at 3:23 pm
2 things – could not access your blog at the Brookfield Public Library – your choice or theirs? And anyone hear rumors of Hillside closing and reopening as a Charter School Think Tank for Math and Science with cherry picked teachers from the other existing schools?
60 Whatever II // Mar 21, 2010 at 4:10 pm
Mike: Not now, nor have ever been, a boardmember.
No real reason to respond further
61 Cindy // Mar 21, 2010 at 4:32 pm
No, I’ve haven’t heard the Hillside rumor, but I kind of like it. Interesting. Have to check into the bottom line of a “charter school” but it might work. Then again…it might be a way to let Elmbrook eat their cake and have it, too. This stuff gets so complicated.
Ahem, and my choice about the library. That could change in the next few weeks, but for now it’s doing what it needs to do.
Thanks for checking in.
62 Whatever II // Mar 21, 2010 at 5:44 pm
Charter school would be interesting as would a virtual school. The “Elmbrook” name still carries a lot of weight outside Brookfield. If the Waukesha virtual school can succeed, not sure why an Elmbrook one couldn’t.
63 Anthony // Mar 21, 2010 at 8:31 pm
Closing Hillside and turning it into a Charter School wold not be a bad idea. The matter still needs to be confirmed, however. And I’ve read about Charter Schools having trouble with teachers’ unions due to the fact that Charter Schools do not have the same collective bargaining regulations as regular public schools.
Elmbrook opening a virtual school would be great. If they could get the staff to keep it running. Elmbrook’s IT department is not that large. And they’re still working on getting all of the teachers acquainted with Moodle.
64 The Lorax // Mar 21, 2010 at 10:45 pm
You’re right about that, Anthony. Charter schools are just a back door way of busting unions.
I consistently said that instead of remodelling two high schools at such a high cost, that we should combine into one campus with one high school. Would have saved facilities, maintenance, and would have moved our capacity closer to our long-term enrollment.
65 Mike // Mar 22, 2010 at 12:02 pm
With ya Lorax. As stated years ago, by closing Tonawonda and hillside, , converting PPMS into a grade school, then converting East to a middle school and building one High School campus (whether one or two high schools). The cost to the tax payer would have been zero rather than $62Million and scaled to the population without the huge extra capacity
66 Mike // May 12, 2010 at 11:29 pm
At 4 pm May 12th, 2010, Wisconsin Governor Jim Doyle signed S.B. 154, the anti bullying bill into law.
Present at the signing, by invitation of the legislature and governor, was a young women, formally of Elm Grove, WI – the child victim of extreme, ongoing , physical and emotional bullying (ABUSE) at school, being recognized for her:
“…work on passing Senate Bill 154, the Anti bullying act. Your willingness to share your story was both courageous and inspiring. Because of the work you have done, thousands of Wisconsin kids will have greater protection against bullies. ……
I commend you for your work to ensure that no one else has to endure the pain and suffering that you have at the hands of bullies. Children across Wisconsin are safer because of you.”
As this young women stated, “I never want what happened to me, to happen to any other child”.
As Governor Doyle stated as he signed the bill: “ Now it’s up to the School Districts”
67 Cindy // May 13, 2010 at 5:15 am
Congratulations. I know you worked hard on this. I’ll try to get something together in the next couple of days.
68 Mike // May 14, 2010 at 5:48 pm
Thank you, Cindy
Link to WEAC regarding the Law.
http://www.weac.org/news_and_publications/10-01-12/Empower_students_to_quell_bullying_teacher_says.aspx
69 Cindy // May 14, 2010 at 6:16 pm
Thanks.
70 Anonymous // Jul 18, 2010 at 7:06 pm
http://www.jsonline.com/news/education/98681389.html?sort=most+thumbs+up
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