The current school budget is about 6.1 million for the school On Feb 16 they are asking for permission to spend more.
For the next school year that would be about 775,000 increase over the current budget.
As I understand it this is perpetual.
2010 increase would be 775,000
2011 increase would be 1.1 million
2012 increase would be 1.3 million
Posts
3 months ago
84 comments:
This is a joke. First of all the school is (has been) out of control with spending.
It's so wonderful that our 'poor' school has to come to us with their hands held out to take more money that just isn't there. Didn't everyone just get a 15 - 20% increase in property taxes (I know I did...and I live no where near the lake). Nice job of the city pulling a fast one on us last year just after the reassessments that 'wouldn't substantially increase anyone's property taxes'.
HA...and then they explain it away by saying they erred last year and were making up for it this year! Smoke and mirrors is all it is.
So, good luck with the referendum...try taking the money from the increase I just paid to the city.
I've said it before and I'll say it again...putting the house up for sale as soon as feasibly possible.
Pull it together, City, Town, School, etc., or start making the banners that read - -
The City of Green Lake...RIP!
I agree completely. We simply cannot afford to pay any more money to the school. I understand that school finances and formulas are extremely complicated and that schools are not receiving as much money from the state as they used to. Green Lake is not the only school system undergoing problems. However, Green Lake's budget has gone up substantially over the past 5 years or so, nearly doubling from approx. $3 million to $6 million! And this for a hugely reduced student population! (nearly 400 students down to 275 next year)
Why could former administrators work within a $3 - $4 million dollar budget but Ken Bates cannot even balance out a $6 million dollar budget? This is pure insanity. This man has shown over and over that he is incapable. I was horrified when they renewed his contract last time.
Yes, the problem is overspending. We simply cannot continue to be the "public school that is more like a private school". (My neighbors were actually told this by school staff when they moved to Green Lake and toured the school).
This notion of trying to be a private school is ludicrous anyway. Ten students per classroom? That is just totally irresponsible! We need to clean house and find a school board who has some concept of reality.
VOTE NO!
Chief, your numbers are on target. Just to clarify, though, the referendum would continue to tax the extra $1,380,000 every year after 2012. That fact is lost on many people. Many people think this is only a three-year deal, but it’s much more. It will never end. The school district has been using the phrases “recurring” and “non-recurring” rather than “sunset” and “non-sunset,” which is leading to part of the confusion. Nobody knows what “recurring” and “non-recurring” mean.
An enormous amount of public education needs to happen (within the next month) so that people can actually make an informed decision. Makes you wonder why the School Board is holding the vote in February, rather than the general election in April, which frankly would have been the logical choice. The School Board didn’t even decide on this until three weeks ago.
When is the School Board going to hold a public information meeting? Or explain exactly what budget cuts would be necessary if this fails? All this MUST be done BEFORE the February vote. Otherwise, don't cry when it bombs.
It would appear that our local yokels are taking a page from the present administration in Washington (and Madison)...
If you rush it through; ram it down peoples throats; and basically beat people into submission through a constant barrage of information/misinformation, etc...it will happen.
Come on taxpayers of Green Lake - don't let it happen to you! Whomever posted that we all have to educate ourselves on this referendum is absolutely correct...get all the info before it's too late!
Governor Jim Doyle drove so many businesses out of Wisconsin that there is now a tax shortage. This tax shortage, combined with overspending has left Wisconsin heavily in debt. How far in debt are we? Wisconsin has 4 times more debt per capita than California!
The problem of school funding is not going to be fixed anytime soon. It could take decades. Every school district in the state is going to have to realize that the days of FAT budgets and liberal spending are OVER. The spending here in the Green Lake school district has nearly doubled in less than ten years and this SIMPLY IS NOT ACCEPTABLE. Enrollment is way down and will continue to decline. So WHY has the budget doubled?
I will be voting NO on the upcoming referendum. I personally don't care how many teachers may lose their jobs. It is NOT our role to sustain teaching positions that are not essential. On average, there are about 20 students per grade level. If we need to cut down to one teacher per grade level, then so be it. There are 8 class/hours in a day. If teachers rotate subjects, this would work out just fine.
For example, say there are 80 kids in the high school. Say there is one Science teacher, one English teacher, one Social Studies teacher and one Math teacher. They each teach one class per day, per grade level. That still leaves 4 FREE hours per day, per teacher! So why do we have TWO Science teachers, TWO English teachers, TWO Social Studies teachers, and TWO Math teacher for the high school? This does not make any sense to me. Of course this is a simplified example, but you understand my point. Add to the mix a Phys-ed teacher and foreign language teacher and a "special" teacher for at risk etc. When I was in school, the principal taught classes. Some teachers should have to double up on subjects, like businesses classes. Our students have too many options. Why can't all freshman have algebra, sophomores are taught geometry, etc. Eliminate some of the "choices". WE HAVE TOO MANY TEACHERS AND TOO MUCH STAFF AT THE SCHOOL. If this is not "fixed", then our school will consolidate within a few years, watch and see.
That is very interesting. Why do we have so many teachers at school for such a small student population? How many free hours per day do our teachers now enjoy? I would like to see a study on this.
Governor Jim Doyle drove so many businesses out of Wisconsin that there is now a tax shortage.
Can you document that?
Don't you watch the news?
Sorry to get off topic, but I just had to answer this one.
In the past few years, a tax and spend governor Jim Doyle, working with a tax and spend legislature have successfully created one of the worse business climates in the nation. They succeeded at reducing the capital gains exemption from 60% to 40%, which will cost businesses about $230 million a year. They've instituted a combined reporting law, which will cost businesses about $110 million a year. And they've increased income taxes on the most productive and top earners from 6.75% to 7.75%, which will influence the tactics of small business location. Furthermore, Governor Doyle and the State Legislature have recently signed a budget that will increase taxes by 6% (about $2 billion). All of these decisions, in an effort to raise more government revenue, will cost the state substantially more in the long run. As it stands, Wisconsin ranks 38 out of 50 for having the worst business climate in the nation.
(As of April 2009), Wisconsin has lost more than 140,000 manufacturing jobs since 2000, and the trend continues to escalate. NOTE: these are just manufacturing jobs!
Wisconsin lost 72,550 jobs in 2008 alone, while state government increased by 900-plus jobs. And when you top it all off with the mythical "climate change" taxes there will be nothing left in our wallets to enjoy Wisconsin.
I hope this answers your question.
I believe Will Rogers said during the depression that we are all going to drive are selves to the poor farm. Seems he felt that everyone was suffering from the depression but they still owned a car. That is very true today. Everyone is suffering but we all have cell phones, SUV's and go to the movies. Seems like the ones that cry the most (about taxes)are the ones that can afford it the most. We all have to make change. The school will have to run on 6 cylinders for a while until the whole economy turns around. It is also uncertain that school as we know it now will ever be the same. You all seem to blame the dropping enrollment on the guy that runs the school, when it is a result of the changing society (home schooling, no reason to live here, no jobs, no recreation other than fishing, computer, internet, no housing,) I am voting YES only because I would like to see that tax money taken from all you money hoarders who have hundreds of thousands in the bank and allow it to flow into the local economy as salaries and work for the local contractors because the school is one of the best things we got going here in Green Lake.
Facts and Figures said...
Nice paste from Scott Weber's website.
Actually, it was Scott Walker's website.
Randy Fairwater, you sound like a socialist. Did you ever consider that the people who have money in the bank are in that position because they are FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE.
The present school administrator is anything but FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE. And for the record, the students that I know personally who have left Green Lake for greener pastures did so because of the Bates administration and the drastically changed environment at the school. Even the teachers left in droves, dedicated professionals who simply did not want to put up with the BULL CRAP being inflicted upon them AND the student body.
Why should Green Lake have one of the most expensive schools in the entire STATE? Because Ken Bates and his delusional notions and out of control spending have put us in that position. They have MORE than enough money to educate 275 kids. There is NO WAY they should get any more.
Let's get a FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE administrator AND school board, and see how well the school can run on LESS money. It's either that, or consolidation.
Wow...what a moron Randy Fairwater is! That is the most twisted attempt at logic I've heard in a long time.
It’s hard to believe that someone could actually favor a tax increase simply “to see money taken from all you money hoarders who have hundreds of thousands in the bank and allow it to flow into the local economy.” But apparently, there’s at least one socialist out there. Obama would be proud.
But this is America. The point of a school referendum is not to take from the rich and give to the poor, as Randy Fairwater suggests. It’s to provide a school with additional tax dollars, if necessary. The question should be, “Does Green Lake School need more money?” rather than “How can we get rich people to pay more money?”
So far, the district has done an inadequate job of explaining to the public why this referendum is necessary. Where are the informational meetings? The vote is only a month away, for crying out loud. Also, why exactly is the budget in the red? Is the School Board entirely blameless for that? How exactly did the district come up with the referendum figures? Why doesn’t the referendum have a sunset?
One-liners about “our children’s future” are fine and dandy, but they’re not going to cut the mustard in the voting booth, especially in this economy. The school needs to outline exactly what will happen whether the referendum passes or fails. Only then will voters have the right information to make an informed choice. Nobody seems to know what the district's options are. Until we do know, it would be irresponsible to pay an extra million dollars in property taxes (every year into the future) just because the School Board says so.
My guess is they expect the referendum to fail in February. Then you let the drums start beating with all the doom and gloom, sky is falling and what will be cut from the school since the referendum failed. They'll be all kinds of sound offs in the paper and I told you so and arguments here on this blog, OMG there will be so much hoopla you won’t know what to believe… then they re-vote in April and it passes.
Yep, it's called politics.
The referendum should be canceled if people are not made aware of implications ahead of time. This is not ethical.
The push to move the referendum to February was carefully calculated by Ken Bates to hopefully help secure his job. The school board needs to vote on whether to renew his contract or not this January, and he feels they'll be more inclined to do so if they're pushing for a referendum.....after all why would tax payers vote for a referendum without knowing who is at the helm of the district. WRONG! People will be more inclined
to vote for the referendum if they know that Ken Bates WILL NOT be at the helm of the Green Lake School District. Why give a man who has effectively and single-handedly run the school district into the ground more money to use for his pie-in-the-sky ideas and self promotion.
Ask anyone on the inside.....Ken Bates wouldn't be able to run a school IB program if his life depended on it. He's very good at delegating to those around him....but not so good at getting the job done himself. Did anyone ever hear him speak at the initial referendum meeting???? The annual budget meeting???? Meetings that have to do with IB????? NO because he has no clue as to what he is doing. Could this possibly why we have a full-time book keeper PLUS the retired book keeper from Ripon on they payroll who does all of his talking for him. I wonder what he would say if he was reposible to actually talk at these meetings? Former administrators such as Marty Valasek NEVER pushed these duties off on another person, they were personally reponsible and aware of the district's budget, spending and needs.
WAKE UP GREEN LAKE and voice your opinion to your local school board members before it's too late....we can't survive three more years of this guy....we will definitely be closed by then if he is left in charge.
"I am voting YES only because I would like to see that tax money taken from all you money hoarders who have hundreds of thousands in the bank and allow it to flow into the local economy as salaries and work for the local contractors because the school is one of the best things we got going here in Green Lake."
Very hard to believe you actually put your ignorance into words for all to read and admitted your dumb reasons for giving more money to the school. That kind of thinking is a huge part of the problem that keeps driving us from reaching any sort of solution.
"PLUS the retired book keeper from Ripon on they payroll who does all of his talking for him. I wonder what he would say if he was reposible to actually talk at these meetings?"
Just spit up a little over this one :roll eyes:
What's a socialist? I use to be a Republican but I can't afford to anymore. All the Republicans won't part with their money. Seems all you posters are "morons" You don't get enough brain exercise at your 41,000.00 per year job making toilet paper so you have to post here. Marty Valasek was a little smarter than a sack of hammers. He was around for the last Ref. Hired Hoffman to do the ripoff work. You hire Burns and have to pay her off to get rid of her. You school dist. population and board members are full of your own BS.
Hmnn...I smell a rat in Randy Fairwater clothing! So, which one of the referendum-pushing, kool-aid drinkers are you? Does your last name actually begin with a "Z"erat...something or other? Or are you more Bates-ian in your being?
Just wondering if this is part of the master plan?
Almost every person I have talked to is outraged by this referendum. There was a great letter to the editor in both the GL and Ripon papers yesterday. Excellent questions were asked.
I doubt that the referendum will pass, but if it does, I am pulling my children out of Green Lake and sending them elsewhere. I will also offer to carpool with any other family who decides to do the same thing.
School board members, are you listening to your constituents?
Yes! My husband I were just talking about this. We also will pull our child out of this school if the referendum passes. Together, we can shut this school down if we have to. Also, if Ken Bates contract is renewed, we are pulling our child out of Green Lake immediately.
Green Lake parents need to get organized and fight this referendum and the (possible) renewing of Ken Bates' contract. It has become obvious that the school board cannot be counted on to do the right thing.
Unless you're talking private school, you can't just "pull your kids" out and send them elsewhere. They have to be accepted by the school you wish to send them to. True, they are normally not denied, but if there is a big exodus from GL, you may want to get in-line early. According to the WI DPI web page, application time for open enrollment for the 10/11 school year is February 1-19, 2010. So, if you really want to do it, time is fast approaching.
Does anyone know if there are any students coming to GL from outside our district? I was told, not sure by whom, that there were no additional students who've opted into GL from other areas. Now, I'm not sure if there were any prior to this school year but, don't you think as wonderfully fantastic as our school is with the IB, Charter, Lake Studies, Land Ownership, etc., there would be people coming from far-and-wide to have their children attend?
Hmmmnn...hopefully the free money Bates is getting from the family that sent the solicitation letters will come in handy promoting something people don't want!
I have heard that there was not a single open enrollment student to come to Green Lake. I cannot document this but the person who told me works at the school.
If I cannot pull my kids out and get them enrolled elsewhere, I can always opt to home school them. I have been thinking about this for a long time anyway. The home-school families that I know are amazing, and they are getting more organized and working together. The kids are happy and well adjusted. This referendum might just be the straw that breaks the camel's back, I am SO fed up with this school administration and what they have done to our school.
There are many students open enrolled into Green Lake School. You are posting false information again. There are students at every grade level. And these students are not counted in your 275 students that you keep spouting.
There aren't many in-district kids in this small school district to claim there are MANY out of district students enrolled in it.
If you notice what I asked, it was to confirm the information, whether it was true or false.
So, if you know the answer and there are 'many students open enrolled into Green Lake School'....
How many are there, what grades are they in, etc.
Not too difficult...no false statements...Just the facts, ma'am!
The question to ask would be how many open enrollment students were there PRIOR to the ejon/Bates takeover and how many are there NOW.
That would give you an accurate picture of what has gone on and how the whole place has deteriorated over the past 3-4 years.
Okay...let's ask that question - -
If there are any 'informed' bloggers out in GL who can answer the question on the open enrollment, please shed some light!
I know of 2 families from Princeton school district who open enroll into Green Lake. Combined they have a 1st, 3rd, 5th, 8th, 2 Freshman and 1 Junior.
I know of one family that open enrolled their child into GL last year. They were impressed with the IB program.
I know of one family who drives their children to Markesan every day for school because they can no longer tolerate what is happening in Green Lake schools. Also another family who have a child at Ripon High because that student hated Green Lake High School and was extremely unhappy here. Shall we go on and on?
The bottom line is that this referendum is a bad joke. Green Lake has plenty of money to educate the students properly. They surely don't need more. In fact, I would like to see Green Lake go back to a 4.7 million budget and reduce costs and spending.
I couldn't agree more! Here is the problem with any government entity. We were just talking about this the other day when the snow plows went down our street again, even though they had already been through and there was no snow on the street to plow. If they don't use up their snow plow money this year, they won't get as much money next year for snow removal. So they waste the taxpayer money to ensure that they will get enough money next year to waste. It is a vicious circle of stupidity. You see this same principle at work on federal, state and local levels.
This is where the school has been for the past several years, wasting money left and right and then claiming that they need more. It sickens me to see such waste.
I also would like to see the school budget go back to $4.7 million. Why should they need $3 million more with 100 less students to educate? That's easy to figure out: this administration is greedy and wasteful.
Time out. Penalty on the field. A few posts back, someone wrote:
“There are many students open enrolled into Green Lake School ... There are students at every grade level."
This person is cleverly twisting the facts. The question is not whether open-enrollment students exist in Green Lake. The question is whether the school has benefitted from the program. At last count, Green Lake was at negative 5. That’s because 38 students had open-enrolled into Green Lake, but 43 had open-enrolled out. Those figures were shared by the administration in December. So, no, open enrollment has not exactly helped Green Lake School.
38 students in, 43 out. Period. That should clear up the confusion.
Finally, the facts. Thank you.
Glad to see there’s a primary for School Board. Now the idea of a February referendum isn’t quite as ridiculous. However, the level of public awareness about the referendum is still absolutely pitiful. The district needs to hold some informational meetings, and fast. What’s taking so long? Why isn’t the district actively informing people about the cost and effect of the referendum?
The only kids who open enrolll to GL are home schooled kids.....why because their parent don't know a school distict snow job when they see one because they've always been in charge of their own chidren't education up to this point. Everyting SOUNDS good....until you've lived it day in and day out! Why is the elementary school forced to do reading intervention for 30 mintues per day.... because they've spent all of their time writing IB curriculum rather than writing reading and math curriculum that is necessary....UGH I can hardly stand it anymore!
Interesting...seems that someone (several people) have some factual information that tells a more accurate tale of the school. So, we are at a negative 5 in the opt-in /opt-out open-enrollment game so it is not beneficial. And, time is spent doing IB curriculum work that should be spent on the basic requirements of education (reading?).
What's up with that?
There is no question that Ken Bates involvement with Green Lake schools has been devestating for our little community. I was outraged when his contract was renewed last time, and the idea of even the remote possibility of his contract being renewed again absolutely horrifies me. I know that I am not alone in this regard.
Since the last contract renewal, there has been a few changes to the school board. People, listen up here. We need to make sure that Ken Bates does NOT stay here to do more damage to our school system. He needs to GO. Our school will not sustain and survive if Ken Bates is allowed to continue as administrator.
The two people on the school board who "hold the power" in this decision are Amy Pipho and Meade Grim. PLEASE contact them and let them know how you feel on this matter. It is VERY important that they know how their constituents feel and how their constituents want them to vote. Maybe Washington does not listen to us, but here in Green Lake, we must act in faith that our voices are important and will be heard and respected. Thank you.
Amy Pipho (President)
613 Illinois Ave.
Green Lake, WI 54941
294-3551
Meade Grim
W1779 North St.
Green Lake, WI 54941
229-6204
I agree that Ken Bates needs to go. He has cost our school district millions of dollars and shattered many family's lives. He is a weak leader and did nothing to protect our children from the wild rantings of Tracy, and the damage was vast. He has turned our school into a money-eating machine with his "global" ideas. There is no reason why it should cost nearly $3,000,000 MORE (every year!) to educate 100 LESS students! This is pure insanity.
Green Lake should share an administrator with another local school district. What DOES Ken Bates do all day besides attend meetings for other groups with no relation to the school? He surely does not deserve a SIX FIGURE income with cushy benefits.
If not sharing an administrator, our school is small enough to have the combined administrator/principal role. Do you realize that Green Lake is one of the tiniest school districts in the entire state? Do you realize that we pay more per student than almost every other school district in the state? Ken Bates obviously does not live in the "real world" where you and I live, the world where we are experiencing difficult economic hardships with a very gloomy future for recovery.
We need to go BACK, way back to when we spent FAR LESS educating our children and stop playing these stupid games with our school, our children and our future.
I think an interim administrator (perhaps only part-time), such as an experienced retired supt. should be brought in for a couple of years to bring some sanity back to GL and to make decisions independent of the influence from others (e.g., Bur Zeratsky) and certain school board members. Then let that person hire the new admin.
There are people out there who could and would do this.
You mean like Nancy Burns?#%
She is still a bag full of nuts. NO THANKS!
Nancy Burns was fantastic, compared to Ken Bates. I would take her back any day.
Interesting that there was a letter to the editor of the Ripon paper today, from Nancy Burns. She raised some excellent points about the gross mismanagement of our school system and wasting of our tax dollars under the Bates administration. I encourage you all to read it. Since she probably sent her letter to both the Ripon and Green Lake papers, I can only wonder why it was not printed in today's Green Lake Distorter.
Speaking of distortion, I have now heard from several sources that when the school board was looking for a new administrator (last time), Mr. Ken Bates was not even in the top 3 finalists. And yet two people over-rode the decision making process and hired Ken Bates instead of one of the top 3 candidates. One of these two people to hire Bates was his good pal, Burr Zeratsky. I think this is so &@#! FOUL and corrupt. The result has been years of hell for everyone. The damage has been done, but we can at least get rid of Mr. Bates and move on with someone who knows what the hell they are doing.
Please make your voices heard and contact the members of the school board and let them know: Enough is enough! DO NOT RENEW KEN BATES CONTRACT!!!
I, too, saw that letter from Nancy Burns. Very interesting that she would weigh in. Maybe next week, we’ll see a rebuttal from Marty Valasek or Dr. Roy. Before long, all of Green Lake’s former superintendents will be discussing the referendum more than the district itself. That’s exactly the problem. Issue after issue, the Green Lake School District gets put on the defensive by angry blog comments and frustrated letters to the editor. Yes, citizens have a right to speak up. But all the while, the district sits mum, and responds only after it’s too late to change anyone’s mind. If the School Board expects to pass this referendum, they need to go on offense for a change, rather than responding from a defensive position (or not at all). Green Lake School Board, it’s high time you become proactive, not reactive, about your public relations. The reason so many people are suspicious about the referendum is because so far, the district has done little to show citizens why it’s necessary, what budget items are at stake, and what it would cost taxpayers long term.
Burns’ letter was decent, but she could have researched some of the issues. For example, she criticizes Green Lake’s test scores, as did Randy Shaffer in his letter to the editor this week. Do they even READ the newspaper that they’re writing to? Over and over, that very paper has printed how Green Lake was number one in CESA 6 for the ACT last year, and that the WKCE scores were among the best in the region. If you want to write to the newspaper, knock yourself out. But don’t ask stupid questions when they’ve already been answered.
We agree - the SCHOOL BOARD must get proactive in getting the TRUE facts out. Hopefully Ms. Pipho and Mr. Grim and the other members are going through records and will SHOW US the expenditures, and the income (grants, etc.) The only way this referendum will pass is if the public has those facts in writing. Hopefully someone on the School Board will present them at the informational meeting. Unfortunately no one will believe Mr. Bates or in that case - anyone from the Administration. Including the woman who does the bookkeeping. WE ARE IN FAVOR OF the referendum to keep our school, but need FACTS.
I saw something interesting the other day. It was a pamphlet put out by Markesan School's in regarding to sharing resources.
In the pamphlet it explained how they are looking for neighboring districts to team up and create a regional school 7th-12th grade. By doing this neighboring schools would remain a district (wouldn't dissolve or consolidate) but would contract to send their 7th-12th grade students to Markesan. The brochure states, "it would lower operating costs and enhance student programs".
After reading it and doing some thinking, I believe the board should look it something like this. This is one option where we could maintain our identity and control but drastically lower operating costs. Markesan spends around 9500.00/per students, far lower than what we spend.
I am hoping to get my hands on more of these brochures so I can mail one to each school board member and maybe a couple to Ken Bates.
Markesan wants a neighboring school district to school choice their entire high school (or 7-12)into the Markesan district. How do you see that as a viable option? Green Lake would have a K-6 district????
Green Lake would lose all athletics, all community that revolves around the school. You are giving up your identity. You would be wiser to dissolve the district. A K-6 district with as few students as Green Lake would have, is not an option.
Why do you think Markesan has not gotten any takers for their brochure? Princeton and Montello are both in serious financial trouble. Neither has looked at taking up Markesan on their brochure. Markesan has been trying for two years! If it was such a good deal districts would be lining up. The only winner is Markesan. They built a huge high school that they cannot fill or pay for.
Also, are you aware that taxes are higher in Markesan than in Green Lake? Consolidation with Markesan will cost you more money. I would pay $1200 more in taxes for my home (225,000) on the Markesan tax role than I pay now. How is that a savings???? Think about the section of the lake that is in the Markesan district that was lobbying to join the Green Lake district. This was all about taxes. If they joined the Green Lake district their taxes dropped considerably. So....Green Lake has lower taxes and higher student achievement than Markesan. Where is the win for Green Lake in this?
I was bemused with the editorial comments by Randy Shaffer on the Green Lake school system. He chooses to home school his own children, which is his choice, but Randy complains how much his taxes are impacted by the upcoming referendum in February. You don't get it, do you Randy? Your taxes (and everyone else's) will increase if we consolidate with another district. Why not report the facts, Randy? Why not be honest for once?
Are you listening, Randy and teabaggers? Why would you and people of your ilk support the school when you don't come to a game, attend a concert, visit with your kid's teachers, exchange progressive ideas about education when you have no investment?
So, what's next? Deny taxation by the township? The county? You benefit (and enjoy) the infrastucture paid for by taxes that fund a successful school, small community, roads, emergency services, library, sewer utilities, and more.
Why all the mud-slingging against Bates, Randy? Why call in former dip-shit Nancy Burns? She should be hospitalized at Winnebago. Bates has been more educationally progressive (liberal, Randy?) than all his predecessors combined.
Randy, explain to all of us about state mandates that must be funded without school aid. Tell us why other small school districts across America are implementing charter schools and an IB program.
Randy, you are a loudmouth hoping to intimidate our school board. Back off. It doesn't work. The voters have confidence that our school board is invested in preserving a school here in Green Lake and that it is more than financially viable. You and your pals are deadenders.
Whomever posted the information about the hiring process being bastardized when Bates was brought in...we need more information on this!
And whomever likes to refer to people (Nancy Burns) as a a dip-shit and state that they should hospitalized at Winnebago...I would stay anonymous!
This school district is damn lucky that Burns didn't sue this district for the repulsive manner in which she was treated and unceremoniously ridden out of town. Count your blessings that she is a compassionate human being who was able to put Green Lakes' witch-hunt behind her and move on to successes in her current position.
If we, the people of Green Lake, want this to work...Get rid of Bates, find a way to make it work within the budget (current budget, not referendum $$$)and get a proactive school board that's fiscally responsible and is accountable to their constituents.
I AGREE COMPLETELY! Great blog!
Are any of you (still) disgruntled by your property tax bill? We are! And then we read in the paper last week that the city made a mistake. Not only did they overcharge us this year, now they are claiming that they undercharged us last year. How could this type of irresponsibility be happening in our city government? How are we supposed to trust anything they say to us anymore?
So I got onto the county website and looked at some of the property tax data for some of our neighbors and other city residents. I am shocked at what I am seeing.
Why do several of my neighbors, who have 50% more land that we do have a lower land value? We are all in the same neighborhood and I thought land was land, unless you have waterfront property. Speaking of waterfront property, one neighbor who lives on the channel pays less than half the land/value tax than their neighbors, also on the channel who have less land! Not only that, but they own a corner lot, and I thought corner lots were valued higher.
We feel that we are being overcharged by the city. I would like to know who I can talk with about this. Another concern is that I have heard that there are only two ways of being taxed in Green Lake. If you live on the water, or you don't. Yet when I look at tax data from homes on the lake, they are charged the same "tax ratio" as we are.
We really would like some explanations. Any insight would be helpful.
There is only one mill (tax) rate. That number times your property value equals your tax bill.
There is only one mill (tax) rate. That number times your property value equals your tax bill.
I was recently speaking with a teacher at a private school in the Oconomowoc area. I just looked at their website and wanted to share this with my fellow Green Lake bloggers. Green Lake schools, under the "care" of Ken Bates is spending three times more per student than this exclusive, private school in Lake Country. This is inconceivable to me, that a private school can educate children for a third the cost of our "out-of-control" public school. This is completely unacceptable. Green Lake needs to figure out how to slash costs, NOT increase spending!
IMPACT is a K4-8 school for students who love to learn and whose teachers and parents understand the value of a quality education.
* A private, non-profit school
* Established in Oconomowoc, WI, in 2000 by Rick and Shelly Grothaus, innovative educational leaders with over four decades of teaching experience
* Research-based, connected academic curriculum: reading, writing, math, social studies, science, Spanish, and technology
* Life-sport physical education program
* Strong music and fine arts programs
Tuition:
Grade Tuition*
K4 $ 4,000
K5 $ 5,500
Grades 1-6 $ 6,800
Grades 7-8 $ 6,950
OUR LEARNING
AT IMPACT School...
* Each child receives an individualized education that challenges and motivates him or her to reach his or her maximum potential.
* Each child actively experiences an exciting, comprehensive, challenging educational program where we maximize authentic student learning through high expectations and research-based practices of effective instruction.
* Each child learns cooperation and teamwork in our multi-age groups.
* Each child explores integrated topics and themes through our flexible scheduling.
* Each child receives individual attention in small classes from highly qualified, experienced teachers.
* Each child learns in a caring, supportive environment where kindness and respect are the norm.
I now hear that the Polling Area for the Township of Green Lake will NOT be open for the Green Lake School District Referendum Vote in February. All Green Lake School District residents who live in the Township of Green Lake will have to cast their votes in another polling area… sounds wrong to me! Is ACORN involved in this?
To the poster comparing the public schools to private school costs:
While I may share some of your concerns about the need for a referendum, comparing a private school to a public is not really a fair comparison. (I know because I sent my children to parochial schools K-8.)
First, private schools don't have to take everyone - so they don't have to deal with the physically, mentally and emotionally disabled children that can be so costly to educate. Second, they usually have other funding sources - whether it's endowments or supporting organizations (like churches or alumni clubs). Third, they are not subject to all of the unfunded mandates that apply to public schools. Fourth, they usually pay their teachers a fraction of what the public schools pay - in my experience, the teachers are wonderful people who have a second source of income and/or consider their work to be a calling or service, not just a job. Fifth, alot of the big expenses (sports teams, bands, academic extras like AP classes) start in high school. (Again, I know because my kids went to public high school.)
I'm not commenting on the Green Lake Schools need for more or less money - I'm just saying you need to compare apples to apples - and comparing the cost of educating elementary age children in a small private school to the cost of providing a comprehensive high school experience in compliance with all state and federal mandates - it's not a fair comparison!
Wow...I went to private/parochial schools my entire life and have sent my kids to private schools.
I still don't pay $20,000 per year for them to go to school.
Heck, I've got 2 kids at UW Madison and GLHS isn't that far behind in expense...
Sorry but...the bottom line is the bottom line. If Bates and the School Board can't figure out how to make it work within the existing budget, then it's time to clean house and find those that will.
Several comments to several posts, beginning with "I too, saw that letter from Nancy Burns." Marty Valasek has already spoken publicly at a meeting, and is a property taxpayer in the district just as Nancy Burns is. So any tax increases here in the Green Lake district would impact both of them along with the rest of us.
Test scores--the stats are available at the DPI website, and the scores from last year don't tell the whole story. Of those students eligible to take the ACT, a smaller percentage of students took the test in Green Lake than did in most other districts, and those who did take the test in Green Lake were exceptionally talented. It was a special group. So the scores skewed higher than they normally would. If this trend continues, we can celebrate!
Another comment said "We are in favor of the referendum to keep our school-----" Does this mean that if the referendum does NOT pass, we will lose the school? Have you attended school board meetings? There has been NO talk of closing the school, not officially by the board at any time. If anyone is telling you that the school will close if the referendum does not pass, that is a lie. We are, if not the top spending per pupil district in the state, almost at the top. If other districts can successfully educate their kids for much less, so can we. There MUST be areas where spending can be cut without hurting the quality of education. We need to face reality, and cooperate and share resources with other districts. Some local people need to get over their elitist attitudes about who Green Lakers are.
As to the vicious, foul-mouthed rant against Randy Shaffer, here are the facts. I just reread Randy's letter. He makes no reference to consolidating with another district. Mud-slinging against Bates? Randy never mentions Bates. Call in Nancy Burns? What evidence does Ranter have of that? Ranter, you need to get YOUR facts straight.
Randy has no time to attend events at school except for some school board meetings. You see, the economy has hit him hard, and he works 2 jobs to support his family. When he's home, he helps his wife teach. He knows about lesson plans, preparation, subject matter, what it really takes to help kids learn, what works and what doesn't work. In that regard, he's probably more qualified to comment on education than most of us. And he has grown children who did go thru the public school system, giving him plenty of experience in that regard. Randy and his wife at one time owned and operated a daycare business. So he has experiences as a businessman along with child care and education. Randy is just looking for the truth, THE TRUTH, as we all are.
We need the TRUTH about where the money is REALLY going. How many consultants are there and why? How many aides are there, and what do they do? Why are the legal fees so high? How much is spent on traveling, especially at a time when computer web conferences on the internet are being promoted by business to foster saving money? Is the school still keeping Goose Blind and Christiano's in business? (Don't misunderstand--I love both businesses, but they seem to make frequent runs to school.)
In this current economy, it is the height of irresponsibility and gall to demand that the voters, who are seeing their resources dwindle, give more money from their pockets to the school, so that the school can slosh around in and waste even more dough!
Kudos to the last poster! Excellent points all the way around.
And thank you for setting the record straight on Randy Shaffer.
The end is near! Last one out turn off the lights.
Shadow, why don't you just turn off the light and go away. If you have nothing worthwhile to contribute, then please don't.
For those of you who do not receive the Ripon Commonwealth, I would like to post Nancy Burns letter to the editor so you have a chance to read it:
Greetings, fellow community members. WHAT? Does the Green Lake School District- with almost 100 fewer students than four years ago- need a permanent tax increase approaching 20 percent in order to operate effectively?
This will be on top on any addition in the revenue cap authority; this could cause school taxes in Green Lake to soar over 25 percent this year, for a school district that already supports students at one of the highest rates in Wisconsin at more than $17,200 per student and permanently exceeds the revenue cap by $600,000 per year. Audacious and unjustifiable!
As the former Green Lake district administrator, current Green Lake taxpayer and district administrator of a Wisconsin school district that operates at $10,200 per student in new, fully equipped buildings and grounds for 1,753 students, I am amazed.
Most Wisconsin schools only exceed the revenue cap for the issuance of bonds for school construction.
Is it true that the lunch prices were kept low and citizens paid more than $7,000 for student lunches and $13,000 was spent for child care for families under Fund 80 last year? Do the majority of classes have fewer than 10 students and are as small as five?
How can all but a few students in grades seven and eight be in a separate charter school? What does this cost?
Why is there an International Baccalaureate program, when 80 percent of the jobs in Wisconsin require a two-year technical school degree?
Why are Green Lake students' scores on state tests consistently lower than the majority of area school-district students? Why are students leaving the district at such a high rate?
Citizens in a democracy have a responsibility to know what is occurring and delve into the solutions for fiscally unsound governmental operations.
Board members must learn how other schools operate and achieve better results.
Experts can be brought in to present ways to improve the operation of this school district. The budget must be analyzed at a public meeting, so that fiscal responsibility is instilled into the school's operation.
In these uncertain economic times, citizens must rise up and become concerned about what is in the best interest of the community and children's futures.
No one wants to see more businesses close and home values collapse due to high taxes and additional students leave the district. The choice is yours.
Will there be a "Tea Party" in the Green Lake harbor?
Concerned taxpayer, Nancy Burns
Where are home values collapsing in Green Lake?
I believe it states "more" business closing AND home values collapse. If something isn't done to squash the referendum AND get the right people in place to operate the school in a fiscally and ethically responsible manner...you'll see both!
Thanks Nancy for a very insightful letter.
I agree, very insightful. Great to get the perspective from a past (and current) administrator.
You will not see home values collapse, just more Illinoisians purchasing them for weekend homes, as they already have of over half the homes in the city. This is a problem for the school, as well as local businesses, since families are outbid on the modest houses.
A previous poster stated: "You will not see home values collapse, just more Illinoisians purchasing them for weekend homes, as they already have of over half the homes in the city."
Is it a fact that half the homes in the city of Green Lake are owned by people from Illinois?
Could someone from the City government - Donna Moore? - inform the readers of this blog what percentage of homes in the city are non-primary residences owned by people from another state?
Families are not being outbid by Illinoisians buying modest homes. The same modest homes have been on the market here in Green Lake for years. If families want to move here and buy a house, there are plenty to choose from. Families don't want to move here, there are no jobs and the TAXES ARE HIGH. Passing a referendum and increasing taxes will only make things worse, it would be suicide for the school.
The Burns letter says it right, with 100 less students, the budget should be SMALLER than four years ago, and yet it has nearly doubled under Ken Bates and his wild plans and spending. VERY irresponsible, we need him gone ASAP and we need to vote NO for more money for the school.
If those homes have been on the market for years, then the prices are too high for what the properties offer. The owners know the market isn't going to collapse here and they are hanging on.
Young families need reasonably priced homes.
I'm certainly not hearing that there are bargain homes in Green Lake.
And other than Fabriko, I can't remember that Green Lake ever offered job opportunity.
We live here because we grew up here and love it and found some way to earn a living in the area, or moved here later in life with income.
The speculation of the last dozen or so years and the resulting high property values have completely changed the game here. It has narrowed the field of who can participate. The middle class is being squeezed out, and the middle class is the life blood of community life. The middle class provides the kids for the school, the customers for local business, the volunteers for the fire dept. and EMTs, and also for events. Not much of any of that comes from the condo class.
That's not to say that the condo class shouldn't be here, it's just that the balance has shifted too much one way. And, yes, I know that they contribute to the tax base.
A vital discussion would be on how to push GL a little more towards being a middle class community and a little less a high-end weekend spot. Maybe it can't be done. If so, a wonderful place is lost.
If this referendum passes, families will leave Green Lake. The taxes are already too high.
Ken Bates has been spreading "misinformation" (call it what you like) about the repercussions of a failed referendum. First he stated that nine teachers would probably lose their jobs. Then it was seven, then it was six...He is trying to scare people into voting for this ridiculous increase in taxes and spending. His tactics are unethical and should not be accepted. Yet another moldy cherry on the top on Bate's serving of bullcrap.
There is a chance that two teachers would be let go if the referendum fails. I say, if we don't need them, we should not be paying them. I am in favor of more cuts than this if necessary.
Also, I am extremely distressed about the possibility of the school board renewing Bates contract. Please talk with your school board members! They are going to vote on this in ONE WEEK. Their contact info is on the school web site. Mr. Bates does very little to earn his six-figure income and cushy benefits. He delegates most all of his work and spends much of his "school" time off of the premises attending Rotary meetings, GLA meetings, and other meetings for other groups he is involved with. He has hired two bookkeepers to do HIS work, the work he is paid handsomely to perform. Bates is basically nonfunctional except when it comes to wasting OUR money.
Our tiny school does not need an administrator AND principal These two positions should be combined. Our school district needs to use common sense and be fiscally responsible for a change.
Green Lake deserves better than this!
Nancy Burns is one of the main people that started to overspend on a school with declining enrollment. We actually can blame her for a lot of the problems we are in now at the school.
She was totally behind the school's purchase of the house on N. Lawson that cost a fortune for the school, sat empty for months after it was rented and now has been sold for less than the school paid. That is only one example of Nancy Burns overspending. I wish you all would get the facts. I am against a referendum. The school is too small and the community is too small. Time to face the future facts....it is a matter of time before we have to close.
I want anyone to explain this to me--Green Lake school is funded mainly by property taxes and receives no state funding. If the school consolidates with another district, how will that impact my taxes?
Whomever wants to start finger-pointing at past administrators/administrations...grow up. We need to deal with the here and now, not something that may have started whenever! Even if it is true on the overspending...Shouldn't the focus be on STOPPING it, not how it started or who supposedly started it. The world is a completely different animal than it was 2, or more, years ago. Massive economic downturn, stock market took a crap, most everyone is less financially secure by a big margin.
So, perhaps we can look upon the present school board, and school administration, and one day say...they were the best thing that happened to our community when they
"started listening to their constituents, started listening to the people of Green Lake...and made the right decisions to keep our school a viable part of Green Lake".
After what happened in Massachusetts yesterday...I think the people of America are coming together and saying, enough is enough. We need people in office-- all levels of office-- who are there to serve the best interests of the public...those who put them there to carry out their wishes.
Take heed, Green Lake school board and Mr. Bates...find a way to make it work and find a way to REDUCE expenses...not spend, spend, spend!
Amen to Common Sense! This is exactly what we need to take place in Green Lake to save our school.
I agree, but with Bates at the helm, this will never happen. He does not know anything about fiscal responsibility.
What does Massachusetts mean when members of Congress are all beholden to special interests? Doesn't mean much. Just more stalemate while healthcare costs soar.
Both parties are corrupt and not working for the people, or they would be working together to find common ground and deal with the many issues.
As a current student at Green Lake High School, I must say that we are spending all the money on stuff that we don't need, but we're ignoring the basics. For God's sake, the heating is different in every room! In one class it is 50 degrees, but in another it's 85! We're spending our time and money into new programs that just cost more, but with the new IB program, I only know of maybe one person who is going to do it in my class, and half of my class has high honors! It's pointless I tell you! This referendum may just push my parents to pull me out of the school system, and move somewhere else. My mother and father are already working full time, and we're just barely staying here. If taxes increase by this much, then why stay here? The school is going downhill, there are no jobs, so why bother to stay here?
To the previous blogger, "You Are Not Welcome Here" -- you are obviously no youngster. Maybe the parent of a Green Lake student, but you are blogging undercover. It's not necessary to get your points out there.
Green Lake School is a great school. We need it in our community. I have no problem paying more taxes to keep it there. Ken Bates is an intelligent, creative man. The IB program is brilliant - students that graduate from this school leave the area - they deserve a competitive education. Every year there's a new person the community picks on. No one is perfect. We need a school.
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