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3 months ago
Tuesday, September 25, 2007
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- Chief Highknocker
- You aren't local until you have at least three generations in the cemetery.
117 comments:
I'm confused about how much the referendum would cost individual homeowners. Like any parent, I want the best for my kids, but that doesn't mean I'll pay for any referendum proposed. The two newspaper stories I read this past week gave totally different answers about individual cost.
has anyone noticed the price of pumpkins this year? Rediculous.
Call me old fashioned, but I believe in living within my means and think that the school should do the same. They've overspent for years and just can't seem to accept the fact that they need to adhere to a sensible budget.
We live in the city and our taxes are already outrageously high, I will vote against any referendum for more money. Our kids went through the GL school system, and we were very dissappointed in the "quality" of education they received, (and that was with GL High School receiving more money per student that any other public school in the state!) Now Bates wants more money to buy laptops for the kids and make the entire school a HiFi hotspot, how ludicrous! The kids don't need more computers. We didn't have them when I was a youngster, and I had no problems learning.
If you want to improve the school system, the teachers salaries should be performance-based. Just because a teacher has a master's degree does not mean that they are an effective teacher. Did any of you see John Stossel's "Stupid in America" report on ABC recently? It showed that a school can spend LESS money per student with better results. Public education is failing our children. Green Lake schools do not need more money, they need new ideas and some creative, energetic new blood.
I am also voting no for the referendum. I have no idea where this money will go - nor do I trust the board or all how many administrators there are now to use it for the best interest of the students.
I thought the paper said it would be about a $5 increase on our taxes?? But then again, I think that is what the repeater said..
Yes, the newspaper stated "the tax increase averages $5 extra per year on a home valued at $100,000."
I am against any tax increases, for any reason. Anyone else notice how many houses are for sale in the city, and how long they are staying on the market? The city taxes are already much too high, with little to show for it but Monday morning garbage pick-up. The streets are a mess, full of cracks and potholes, the sidewalks are a joke, the bridges in the parks are a safety hazard, the city maintenance garage/grounds are a complete eye-sore! I would like to know where all the tax dollars are going, as this truly is not evident.
The school district already receives enough money to run a K-12 school, they just need to use the money they receive more intelligently. How ironic that the school board totally screwed up the Markesan deal, costing our school hundreds of thousands of dollars, and then they have the balls to want to increase our taxes to make up for their own ineptitude! They cut the electives and then try to use them to barter to raise our taxes.
The school needs to realize that many students would benefit from vocational type classes that would actually prepare them for a career. Instead, Jan Hauer pushes everyone towards a 4 year college, as if she has her own agenda, without considering the needs and goals of the students. Enrollment is declining, gee, I wonder why?
Drug dog at school, let's get the word out. Why would Mr. Tracy go into the classroom and tell the students that IF they have drugs at school, they should get them out because we will be having the K-9 unit in sometime in the next 10 days. This came to me from multiple students that he actually came into the class room and made this announcement. What are we afraid of? Of course we have drugs in our school, but let's try to handle it ourself, or better yet cover it up, and maybe it will go away. We can not always be "best" friends with the students, this goes back to the no discipline issue. What are we doing, and who are we trying to kid. There are problems at the top of the hill, and they start at the top. Instead of going off chasing some type of rainbow with all of the new things we are doing at school, why don't we go back to the basics, and get the train back on the track before it is too late.
Maybe if we worked on the issues instead of trying to constantly push the blame off on others we could make some progress. Good luck to us all--we need it.
Which newspaper said it would only cost $5 for a $100,000 home? It can't possibly be that little to raise three-quarters of a million dollars a year.
it was in the ripon commonwealth or the green lake repeater...last week's
Anyone who's wondering about cost should check the Ripon paper this week. There's a full chart on how much is will cost homeowners and why. And here's a hint: It's a little more than $5 a year.
Taxed out and anonymous who wrote about the drug dogs are right on!Wake up taxpayers - before the school ship completely sinks.
We all must remember, the "$5.00 a year increase" was a quote from KEN BATES himself...Can you trust what comes out of his mouth…talk with people down in Columbus…he about ran their school dry also…
This $750,000 is with "NO-SUNSET" meaning it's recurring year after year
I agree with what back to basics said. (But it’s WiFi hotspot) not HiFi, but we knew what you meant.
I do not feel the overspending is with our teachers, but more with the Administration...$10,000 to air condition the fitness center
Tracy getting a new office with new furniture and secretary… $10,000 plus
Have any of you parents who email Tracy with questions, been getting responses back from him?
Paying overtime to two teachers who lie about how much of their time is spent fund raising for the senior class…yah! You know who you are…what a joke. These teachers get a stipend to be the advisors…but that’s not enough money.
Talk with Harley Reabe…he is the sole Board member who voted against this Referendum….
Bates, Tracy and board some boards members are saying that if this referendum fails, it because the teachers have been talking bad, spreading gossip out into the public…Just remember Bates, Tracy and others…just because YOU MAY THINK THIS does not make it the truth, no matter how hard you say it. It’s up to you to sell this referendum idea to us WHO LIVE IN THE DISTRICT, you guys won’t be paying any extra taxes and remember TRUST has a lot to do with it…
When the last time any of you saw Bates or Tracy at any City Functions or sporting event…not to often I bet…and WHAT about you going into several class rooms telling the kids your going to have the drug dogs come in, so if you have any thing, you better get rid of it…smart heads up play that was! Oh yah, it was cute how you ended your speech to the kids by reminding them not to have sex either…thank you again for giving them such great advice…
We lost a lot of great staff members due to the way Tracy and Bates treated them….it time for all of us to wake up and get these two clowns out of town…
In response to voting no....
Mr. Bates was at Harvestfest on Saturday. He was selling brats at the Rotary stand. Didn't see Tracy, but saw the school board president a couple of times, walking around town with an open can of beer.
What great staff did we lose because of Tracey and Bates?
Let's clear up the $5-a-year increase that was printed in the Green Lake Reporter.
It's wrong. NOT because Ken is a lier, but because the quote was taken out of context. Ken was talking about the difference between a $700,000 referendum and a $750,000 referendum. He was NOT talking about the difference between zero and a $750,000 referendum.
If you want the real figures on the $750,000 referendum, see the Setemeber 27th issue of the Ripon Commonwealth. It details exactly what each property owner would pay, and it's accurate to a T.
I agree with Voting No that we need to get Bates and Tracy out of town, and the sooner the better. If Tracy did in fact alert the student body of the drug dogs, that alone should be grounds for dismissal. Are there people willing to testify that he did this, and how can we now go about firing him?
Since enrollment is declining, the school should be planning on more job cuts and LESS spending, not more. That is only common sense. Some of the classes are small enough to combine, and other schools do this all the time with good results. If we lose teachers, oh well, nothing personal against them.
Does anybody actually have a shred of evidence that Bates or Tracy have lied or done anything worth losing their jobs? I bet not. This is just like every other Green Lake controversy. People in this town get hysterical without knowing all the facts, and this is a perfect example. Please, enlighten us. What, specifically, have Bates or Tracy done that's worth firing them? Don't just give us wild accusations or heresay. Tell us exactly who, what, where, when and how these supposed events took place. I'm tired of the character assasination every time someone has a problem with authority in that school. On a related note, Bates DID provide accurate information about the referendum and its cost. It was the Green Lake Reporter that got the facts wrong.
Do you actually want a list of things that Tracy should get fired for? This last thing with the drug dogs is more than enough, and his abuse of power and treatment of students and staff is also reason enough. (And don't forget to look into the reason he was booted from his last job.) He never should have been hired in the first place! The school board totally screwed up.
Keep in mind that Nancy Burns was driven out of town, and from what I discerned, she never did anything wrong. The articles in the local newspaper mentioned that she had some typos in the school newsletter. There never was one good reason for making her leave, at least not one that the media would reveal. Apparently a valid reason is not needed.
Tracy, on the other hand, is another story. Besides his totally inappropriate behavior, he simply is not good for this school, the students, the teachers or the overall well-being of the community. Maybe they should drug test him, and then kick him out on his ass.... e good riddance.
Have you talked to Mr. Tracy and asked him about the drug dog coming? Also, give specifics on his treatment towards staff? I think he has been more than fair, considering one of the teachers that used "physical discipline" was given a second chance. Please tell us why he got fired from last job...did the school he worked for tell you they fired him? I find that unlikely! You would think that if he abused his power he would have the drug dogs come in all the time...Please talk to Mr. Tracy and find out more on the drug dog situation and let us know or did you hear this from a high school student (which is not always very reliable).
I have talked with staff and parents who have been victimized by e Jon Tracy. There is more than enough "facts" to get him fired. Why is this guy still working at the school?
Is anyone out there interested in organizing a petition, in order to go through the proper motions to get rid of him?
We can do this if we all work together.
Hey, "time to go" and "one, two, three": bring it on! Time is just wasting away while you continue to eat dream whip for breakfast.
All this heresay and opinion is wonderful, but I still haven't read any specific facts about why Tracy should be fired.
"Time to go" wrote: "I have talked with staff and parents who have been victimized by e Jon Tracy. There is more than enough 'facts' to get him fired."
First of all, consider your sources. Are they people who already have a problem with Tracy? What you're printed is pure opinion, not facts. Relaying the so-called "experiences" of other people shows you don't have any real proof of your own.
I challenge those who hate Tracy: Show us a point-by-point analysis about his "wrongdoings" in a specific who, what, where, when and how fashion. Then maybe you'll be perceived as credible. Don't just tell us that "you heard from someone that..." or "so-and-so says Tracy..."
Let's have some real evidence.
On the issue of taxes; have you checked out the tax rates in surrounding districts? I know it sounds strange, but paying a little extra to keep our school open is a lot more cost effective than closing our school and then paying a lot more in a higher tax, neighboring district.
I agree with the person who said we need more facts about Jon Tracy than just heresay. "Heard if from a friend who ..." may be a great REO Speedwagon song, but it doesn't do much for the claim that he should be fired. If there's another rampage brewing against Tracy, let's hear some real, credible evidence for a change.
"Time to go", your proof was?????
Nothing, right? Just what I thought. Maybe you are jealous of that old guy.
I personally know at least five people who have been abused by Tracy's inappropriate behavior. It is not my place to say who/what has taken place regarding the Tracy controversies. That does not mean that they did not happen. One of the main problems with "disciplining" e Jon Tracy is that some of us have kids at the school and we still have to contend with their well-being and success until graduation. Sadly, what I say is true. I personally have no other reason to speak out against Tracy , except for that fact that I pay his salary and am not happy with his performance in what is supposed to be a very professional position. His actions have fallen far short of the acceptable range for high school principal.
The best thing to have happen would be if the students, staff and parents who have been mistreated by e Jon Tracy would all come forward in a systematic and organized manner. There really is enough evidence to put the wheels in motion if everyone would do the right thing.
Time to go, I repeat: name one specific instance of abuse and back it up with facts or .... well.... how about shutting up because you don't have anything.
"Time to go", you are truly pathetic and revolting. Let me see, 5 months after you tried to play the "he'll ruin my daughter's graduation and take her scholarship away" card you are now trying to play it again? You have to be a red neck or a cracker of the worst kind to try to pull this in Green Lake again. Do you have any morals at all? How sad that you are apparently the mother of one of the students in the school. Perhaps you should show your own mother what is coming out of your mouth. She should be raising your children.
"Time to go", you need to get out of Dodge or get more treatment. You are a very sick person.
Red Rubber Ball, what on earth are you talking about? I think you have me confused with someone else.
Regarding specific instances of abuse, like I said, since I am not one of the persons involved, it is not my place to go into details. It is also not my place to name names. Apparently you would just deny it anyway, and continue to support e Jon Tracy in spite of the truth about his inappropriate behavior.
If people want to come forward on their own and elaborate on why this school district needs to get rid of Mr. Tracy, that would be great. I am not a gossip. This is a serious matter and needs to be delt with.
"Time to go", are you clueless as well as mindless? Do you read what you post before you actually publish? Do you read your previous comments before adding anything new? Did your brain take a cab to Florida? Were you raised by wolves and just recently discovered near the lake? Are you related to the caveman on the television commercial? Are you that caveman?
The school has a new reading teacher and the psychologist is back. Please sign up for reading lessons and an I.Q. test. Then watch at least 100 episodes of the old tv show "To Tell The Truth."
"Hey, look the Packers are playing the Bears down at the football field." "Wow! How do you know?" "Time to go said a street person told her so." "Ok, then it's true."
"Time to go", is it really true that you told someone that Elvis is in the Class of 2008? (Maybe he just doesn't come to school much because of all the abuse.)
There is nothing wrong with my reading level or my IQ. I am simply trying to show basic human respect for those people that are involved, including (believe it or not) Mr. e Jon Tracy.
On the other hand, you hamilton, joe frank and reynolds, are rude and immature. Anyone can see that e Jon Tracy has torn our school in two and divided the community as well. All because he did absolutely nothing wrong???
Take your blinders off or stay in denial as long as you want to. I don't really care what you think.
I agree with Time to Go, and firmly believe that Tracy will eventually be fired. I've heard enough of what has transpired with Tracy to understand that we have a serious problem on our hands.
If Tracy hasn't done anything wrong, then I guess he has nothing to worry about. As a parent and a taxpayer, I think it would be fair to know exactly why Tracy was let go from his last position and any other positions before that. Are we allowed by law to review the details of his last termination? If not, why not?
Also, I believe that Ken Bates and certain members of the school board are also responsible for the mess that our school is in.
Time to Go, this is ridiculous. We've asked you over and over for some credible proof about Jon Tracy, and all you do is pretend to have some while saying "It's not my place to name names." That's bull. For one, you're already operating anonymously like the rest of us. So if you have some proof, then say it. Don't just hide in the shadows and pretend to have all the answers about the administration if you're afraid to mention specific, credible examples about the alleged wrongdoings. You obviously have nothing on Jon Tracy that's credible, otherwise you wouldn't be afraid to tell it.
"Time to go", haven't you moved back to Princeton or to Jena, LA yet? You would fit in better in either place than you do in GL. Jena might be the best place for you. You could actually wear your white sheet outside the house down there. Everything you would say in Jena would be true. No proof is required there.
"Time to go" just saw 10 Russian sailors in a row boat on the lake. They were in a waterfight with Batman. However, she said the Band On The Run almost saved the day until they were bitten by the drug dogs. Then a dragon and a Japanese Zero got into a slapping match but the Michigan football team came out of the Blue and started singing What Becomes Of The Broken Hearted.
I bet "Time to go" is exhausted from spy catching and ghost writing. Yikes! Be careful Santa and the Easter Bunny are walking tall on Mill Street and looking to get even with someone.
Newsflash! "Time to go", there is a commie under your bed. Finally, your chance to get some help from all the hippies in the park.
Time to go, right on!!! Don't let Tracy's circle of love crew get you down...their name calling just shows how out of touch they really are...keep up the good posts.
hhhmmmmm.......
I've been going through the various comments. Lots of comments about comments.
But the one that really struck me for the height of pettiness and hurtful comments was from "Annonymous" from
October 2nd, 5:53 PM, titled " In response to voting no.
What important school related issue does this blogger decide to
speak to? That our school board president was seen walking around Harvest Festival with...... what?
a gun? drugs? A shirt promoting the death of America?
No..... it was..... an open can of beer.
How incredibly small minded and hurtful can someone be to make this observation, and post it to a blog in an effort to smear our school board president
or make an inference that she was doing something inappropriate.
I am wondering if the writer of that blog can ever name one time in our town when Wendy Schultz has ever been known to close up a bar, or have been pulled over by the
police for reckless driving or been cited for public intoxication, or anything remotely resembling that? How about a time when Wendy was drinking before coming to a school function.
The answer is you can't, because Wendy does not conduct herself like that. We're not talking about someone who had 10 beers, or 5 beers or 3 beers at Harvest Festival. We're talking about a citizen at a public event who, like hundreds and hundreds of people there, bought a beer from a vendor, at a tent manned by our citizens, many of them business leaders, Rotary Club members, or just other normal people, selling a legal beverage at an event sponsored by our own chamber of commerce. So... what is she guilty of? Having a beer.
This is the same Wendy Schultz who has been a cub scout leader over the years, supported school and church events, helped raise funds for school band trips, marched in Memorial Day parades, worked with her son for his Eagle Scout badge to re-landscape the front of the school property, led the charge to create a celebration of the 100 year history of Green Lake School,
invited speakers from other parts of the state to help educate us as citizens about school issues, organized volunteers to help young students struggling in school with their reading, just to name a few.
This is the same person who works as a hospice nurse, trying to comfort people in their darkest hours.
Wendy works hard to benefit the school and our community any way she can, giving up countless hours to support teachers, students, parents and administration because she believes in trying to make Green Lake a better place for our kids and families.
So, what is she guilty of? Living in the same town as some ignoramus
who would make a feeble attempt to sling mud at her just because she was enjoying the day, like everyone else.
That is why people should not be on this blog..You never know who is writing what. For all we know the same person could have written 33 out of the 36 blogs posted. Some of the people on here just write stuff to try and get people worked up because they like drama. Half the time they don't even agree with what they write. I don't anyone cares if Wendy was drinking a beer...at least I don't. Last time I checked the legal drinking age was 21! It is too bad that people have to say things about someone that attacks them personally. But you know what they say..misery loves company and most people on this blog are unhappy and love to create drama.
Last two posters - you're creating your own drama, you are perpetuating the myth by repeating it over - can't you see just how mindless/senseless your posts are? Talk about pouring gasoline on your own house as it burns...
First; If our School Board President is wrong or being scorned for having a beer at a community festival, then I need to move far away from this town. I had a beer at the harvest fest too. Did anyone else out there have a beer at Harvest Fest? Seems to me like they sold a lot of beer at the Festival, ah, what a great time it was. I can’t wait till next year.
Secondly, on the Tracy issue. I worked with him once on a concern and he was more than pleasant to work with.
I do get a little concerned with some of the comments my daughter says that she says is repeating what he has said. It seems he needs to learn what is proper to be discussed amongst faculty and staff and what is appropriate to be shared with students. Will I call him and ask him about this, no, it’s a staff issue. If the board or Bates hear enough of it, they will have to deal with it. That’s their job, it’s what they do. Get yourself voted on the board if it bothers you.
Aside from that, I think the school just has a bad case of growing pains from a lot of change. Yes, it's not like it was when you were a kid. You can get over that too, just like Ms. Schultz having a beer. Are you over that one now also? Gosh, I've worked up a thirst, I think I'll go have a beer. Cheers!
"Nice guy", Bates and the BOE will have to deal with what? You believe the principal said something to your daughter that should have been reserved for the faculty. If he has to learn what he should talk to students about and what should be reserved for teachers, then why not tell him what's on your mind?
Did you notice in your commentary that you said you had a good experience with him but your daughter said..............
It might not hurt to trust your own experience.
Back to the referendum.
I think you are going to have to move past the personality issues and focus on what is coming up in about 120 days: the vote.
If you are considering voting "no" then this is what would happen if the referendum does not pass. Between $400,000 and $500,000 of expenses will have to be cut from the 2008-09 budget and more from the next year. More than a million over the next two years. Just think what cutting $150,000 (or less) a year for the last two years did to the school. There aren't any positions or "things" left to cut.
It seems simple to me, pay more in taxes to keep the school open or pay even more to send students to another community for their education. It isn't five years away. It's right now (February.) There isn't any way of keeping the school open if the referendum doesn't pass.
To Anonymous said...
Lot's of people will say inappropriate or out of line comments to my daughter throughout her lifetime. It's my job as her father, as I see it, to help her learn right from wrong, appropriate from inappropriate, and how best to deal with these things. Should I call her boss in a few years when he or she says something wrong? There are processes that work to deal with these situations. The comments that have been repeated by my daughter have not been derogatory or personal attacks on anyone. There are just things that from a business or professional standpoint, IMO shouldn't have been repeated. In the business world you wouldn't lose you job for it, but you might be reprimanded.
Now, the day I hear of personal slander or a derogatory remark out of a school officials mouth, I’ll be on the phone and start my letter writing campaign so fast they won’t know what hit them. I’ll stop being a “Nice Guy”.
Former nice guy, I take it back, you aren't so nice. Don't bother talking to anyone at the school. You are among the ranks of the know it all folk of the community. Get your attorney and sue, because someone might slander your daughter in 2015. Is the lake water pumped directly into your home?
Some Tough Issues...
Ok, I'm ready to get slammed on this one, but what I have heard from multiple parents is, they want the school to just hold on until their kids graduate. If your kids graduate in two years, that's rather selfish for those kids who graduate in four years.
What this means is, you have to be looking for a permanent fix, if there is one. Don't look for something to just buy us a few years. $750,000 is not a lot of money anymore.
What I would like to hear, from those who know more than I, does this $750,000 give us a permanent fix or just put off the inevitable end of school in Green Lake.
Gee, now I get insulted for sharing my opinion. I guess I'll shut up and leave it to the know it all folks on the other side of the fence, because they must be right and I'm wrong.
Good luck, I'm outa this mess! Solve it yourselves. Besides, sounds like you all got your rail and you're ready to ride them all out of here anyway. Bring in the next bunch, you won't like them either.
Hey, I have the perfect solution to the schools financial crisis: everybody should home-school their own kids and let the school close. Our taxes could go way, way down and our kids would get a better education than they are now.
I've seen some of you rednecks, God help your kids if you home-school them.
DB
You think if the school closed, your taxes will go down????
You don't get it... taxes would
go up, because we would be taxed at the "Ripon rate" or other area school rate, which the state would determine because the kids in our district have the right to a public education. And that would mean Ripon or Princeton, Berlin, and it is a fact those districts have higher property taxes for their schools.
The blogger of "back to the real world" has their numbers pretty much on track. This is a real scenario where, because of the way the state set up the school funding system, our district is required to build in a certain increase for teacher benefits, but we are not allowed to increase the annual levy.... it is a system designed, for Green Lake anyway, to create a negative cash flow for the district. Only way out, if you want a school in Green Lake, is to pass a referendum to address the built in gap the state has created. I guess we could make deep, deep cuts, (we're not talking about living within our means, we're talking about deep cuts, but what would we have left as a school? We already saw two years of cuts and the community had a hard time accepting that. This is nothing new. Green Lake had
to do this about 6-7 years ago, but the system has caught up with itself. So we have to go to referendum again.
The question the referendum will really be asking the community is...do we want a decent school here forour kids and our future, or
not.
Many districts around the state have had to face this issue.
Check it out on the Department of Public Instruction web-site,and look up the issue of referendums around the state to address the funding gap.
The most cost effective, from a tax point of view, is a referendum to keep a decent school in Green Lake.
The strongest statement we can make to ourselves as a community that cares about itself, is a referendum to keep a decent school in Green Lake.
Rednecks homeschooling their kids??
Scary.
FYI everyone ... Check out the Ripon paper this week. There's a big Homecoming photo spread and a story on Green Lake's enrollment.
You obviously know nothing about home schooling! The home-schooled kids score much higher than the public school students overall. These families are not "rednecks" in any sense, they are caring, committed people who choose to educate their own children and not allow them to be products of an inferior system. Public education is a disaster and needs serious reform.
I would rather see deep, deep cuts in school staff than have our taxes raised any higher. The class sizes in Green Lake are so small that they could easily be combined. Other districts do this and it works out fine. Green Lake needs to join the real world. What this actually boils down to is that the teachers don't want to lose their jobs. Oh well, too bad. If it were a factory or business office or any other type of job it wouldn't even be an issue, jobs are eliminated all the time for financial and other reasons. Teachers need to realize that they are only people and that their job is not sacred. I don't mean any disrespect by this, truly. We as a district need to be fiscally responsible and paying more (the referendum) when we need to figure out how to pay less is totally unacceptable in my book.
Thankfully for the sake of my kids, I don't have any.
You people with kids should start to realize that everyone is having to pay to educate your brats, not just you.
Based on some of the kids I've seen around this town I'd sooner put my tax money into a new fishing pole and an extra bucket of bait.
Raise your kids to appreciate the value of a good education and teach them to make the most of and appreciate what they have....then the rest of us might be more incentivised to cough-up more from our meagre salaries to support your offsprings education.
But to be honest, with all the whining and moronic behaviour exhibited by you parental units on this website, your kids really don't stand a chance. They're gonna report for duty in society equipped with the same tools and attitude as you, their parents. Moaning and expecting a free ride, back-stabbing and making snide remarks about the way in which our public institutions are run, but never having the courage to stand up for their cause without hiding behind anonymity.
I think home-schooling is a great idea, get them off the street and take away the burden to the taxpayer.
DB
To proud GL parent: Yeah, the Ripon paper had Homecoming pics, but Green Lake had some too. And what about the articles on Dennis Deyo and Rita March? Nice to see them getting some due praise.
Um, I'm just letting people know about other photos/stories about Green Lake if they're interested. Relax.
Green Lake needs to do something about the school but being mean is not going to solve the problems.
Seems to me that the school will continue to operate as long as it can support itself on the revenue they receive and other grants available. The taxes will continue to raise just as they have every year for the past 200 years. Seems like the only people concerned with their taxes going up are the ones with a million dollars in the bank. What concerns me is why can't I buy a good steak for $4 anymore or fill my gas tank for $10 anymore. I thought that was the reward for living in America. Right now my property taxes are the only thing I can afford.
I see in the newspaper the Green Lake teachers want a 4 percent raise while the school district is offering 2.75. This could get interesting, especially with the possibility of higher taxes because of the referendum.
How much do each of the 3 administrators make?
Did you ever notice how some of you guys can only hold out for about four or five posts before you return to that same old worn out red neck theme "let's blast the administration again".
Ok, idiot let me lay it out for you one more time: there are two administrators; the superintentdent and the principal, Deb is a curriculum coordinator not an adminstrator. Now, since you are either in the union, a former union member, or the mother of a senior girl, you already know that, but you just can't resist the temptation to extract some red neck revenge for something that you aren't even sure of (meaning it didn't happen).
The teachers asked for a 4% pay raise plus 2.2% to cover the increased cost of benefits. So, since you may be teaching our children or getting one or more of them ready to go to school five days a week, duh, would that be 6.2? Who gets that kind or raise? Only union members that have the smallest classes in any public school in the state and a few of them want continue to try to upset the public by pointing at others. My advice: shut up and teach or finger print anyone that might touch your daughter's diploma. Be careful, the Joker might steal it and give it to Cat Woman. Apparently he already kidnapped your brain.
Does anyone know if it is true that the teachers have lost their health insurance and they have to find their own?
No,they didn't have to give up their health insurance. That's just another story made up by the union leadership or whoever wrote the question. It's a plea for the sympathy vote in the community. "We're so badly treated by the world." Get over it.
Go back to the referendum, that's where your concern has to be. It (the referendum) puts the spotlight on the future of our students, not on adults looking for a 6.20% raise. The BOE is a board of education that has a focus on children, it's not an employment board for cry babies.
WOW! the administration team is made up of several people...Bates, Tracy, Kneser, Hauer and Allen.
so there was not a meeting last week with the teachers in regards to a proposal of having them lose their health benefits?
Are we all on the "duh squad" here, or what? Some leadership teams have parents and teachers on them, that doesn't make those people administrators. (Or, if is does, it is only in G.L. and not any where else in the world.) Allen, Kneser and Hauer are not administrators, it's as simple as that.
There wasn't any meeting last week where there was a discussion about teachers giving up health benefits. It's just a comment made by someone to get you going.
Relax same old song and please!
No need for childish namecalling. I didn't realize that asking how much administrators make is "bashing" them. How sad you seem to think that teachers or union members are "behind" anything you deem to be negative and are trying to "upset the public". I am confident GL teachers are not out to seek "redneck revenge" (What's up with the redneck thing?) There are many great teachers at GL, but unfortunately for the students, many of them did "Get over it" - they left. That just doesn't "happen" when several of them had been there for over a decade. I have read enough here and have heard and seen enough in the community (not from GL teachers, mind you) to know how I am voting for the referendum. If you truly believe that the BOE has a focus on the children - good luck to you. You'll need it. (FYI - not a parent of a senior girl, whatever that means).
A lot of bizarre things seem to be happening only at GL school and not anywhere else in the world!
and on this website
Remember the $750.000 proposed in the referendum has no sunset...plus it's on top of the $600.000 passed several years back, also with no sunset. Sooooooo if this new Referendum passes we will have $600.000+$750.000 for a total of $1,350.000 over the Revenue cap EVERY YEAR!!! FOR EVER!!!!!!!! That's what "no sunset means"
Lets see Bates and Tracy take a pay cut or freeze like the administrators are willing to do in Princeton…They are also asking their voters for a referendum to exceed the revenue cap, but they (Princeton Administrators) are willing to take a cut FOR THE BETTERMENT of the Princeton School District….Better yet, if the Princeton Administrator does go down to 50%, lets get him to Green Lake as a 50% administrator…and we can say good bye to Bates.
Hey, last post, do you have any actual proof of wrondoing by Bates? No? That's what I thought. It's all smoke and mirrors for you hysterical Green Lake people. Your outrage is a mile wide and an inch deep. Let's hear some real, credible, reliable evidence about the supposed "wrongdoings" by the administration before jumping into fantasy land.
Finally, someone (two posts up) is making sense. Pay cuts and freezes are exactly what is needed in the GL school administration. Downsizing is the only sensible option. Referendums for more money for a shrinking school is ridiculous! We are already spending too much money per pupil.
One big problem Thrifty, if the referendum fails, the admin will just cut more of our teacher-classes or events, not their salaries. As far as proof, the wrong doing is how he treats people, and his lack of caring. As far as the two Administrators, there is no better predictor of behavior than past behavior. Their track records speak for themselves.
As far as 4% raise comment, it’s called NEGOTIATING, the employer has their starting figure and the employees have theirs. As far as the increase in benefits, the teachers have no control over that and any increases will count as part of their percentage.
FYI Myth buster sounds like he may live in Fond du Lac (It's all smoke and mirrors for you hysterical Green Lake people) Kinda proves my point if you ask me.
Yo, moron: 4 + 2.2 = 6.2. Get it?
No, or course you don't because you are probably in the union or the president of the union, or just another loser with a grudge.
Bates? What did he do that would predict he's going to do something bad? Well, of course nothing, that's why idiots like you have to use those red necked smoke and mirrors to create the "end is near" rumor on a daily basis.
Do you wear a Cracker Head hat when the Packers are playing, or just when you post on the blog? Get at least one fact before you make a fool out of your self in public again.
I hope when you get to work tomorrow that you have at least a 50% pay cut waiting for you. Maybe then you can go to the BOE meeting with a fact. (You're only half the man you used to be.)
Oh, wait a minute, I bet you are the person that was referred to in an earlier post that actually lives in Jena, LA. You don't need any facts, just talk stupid and it will be true. You are good at talking stupid. You are a mind in your own legend.
Myth Buster lives in Fond du Lac? No, I think not.
Hey smoke and mirrors, do you have anything at all, or are you all "I got a D in math in my senior year"?
Just because you still live with your mom doesn't mean that you can't think for yourself. So, what do you have?
I was just in Fond du Lac. It's like heaven. Walgreens, Star Bucks, lots of angry people. A lot like G.L. Didn't see Myth Buster. I don't think any myths have been busted there for a long time. I did see Ike, Elvis and and some white wall tires, and maybe the Nina, the Pinta and a Russian Mig. Skylab was landing at the airport as I was leaving town but just then the Galloping Ghost flew by on his way back to Cham-Bana.
Does anyone have the score of the Michigan game?
Yes, Michigan beat Illinois in a really good ball game. Both teams are much improved since the beginning of the season. Michigan looked tough.
What nobody realizes is that the salaries for Bates and Tracy are approved by the School Board. All this talk about "voluntary pay cuts" is nonsense. Your beef is with the School Board that approves their salaries and has the power to negotiate them.
To the anonymous person several posts up who wrote:
"As far as proof, the wrong doing is how [Bates] treats people, and his lack of caring. As far as the two Administrators, there is no better predictor of behavior than past behavior. Their track records speak for themselves."
That's not proof. That's just more heresay and accusation. I asked for proof, you gave me more of the same about this and that. We've heard it before, and it's getting old because there's simply no backing to it. Some people just have a grudge against Bates/Tracy and will do anything to turn others against them, even if there's no proof of anything.
Once again, does ANYBODY have any solid proof of wrongdoing by Bates or Tracy? No? Then let's end this.
How many GL administrators are you hysterical people going to ride out on a rail? No wonder this town is the laughing stock of the area.
If Green Lake is the laughing stock of the area, it is because the school board keeps hiring incompetent administrators.
For you to say that we who are concerned are "hysterical" is simply nonsense on your part. We have every right to be concerned. There is an OBVIOUS problem with the current administration.
"There is an OBVIOUS problem with the current administration."
Well then what the hell is it, if it's so obvious?
All you people have are these wild accusations about "problems" and "concerns," but NEVER any proof or actual, detailed examples.
What, exactly and specifically, are these so-called "problems" with the current administration, and how exactly are they any different than any other district in the state? Yes, Bates and Tracy are paid well. They should be, just like any other administrator in the state. That doesn't prove they're corrupt.
So, please, enlighten me. What proof does anyone have of corruption?
I'm beginning to suspect the teacher's union is behind this constant effort to tar and feather the administration.
1 - They've overspent for years and just can't seem to accept the fact that they need to adhere to a sensible budget.
2 - Our kids went through the GL school system, and we were very dissappointed in the "quality" of education they received.
3 - Jan Hauer pushes everyone towards a 4 year college, as if she has her own agenda, without considering the needs and goals of the students.
4 - Mr. Tracy goes into the classroom and tell the students that IF they have drugs at school, they should get them out because we will be having the K-9 unit in sometime in the next 10 days.
5 - ".....KEN BATES himself...Can you trust what comes out of his mouth…"
6 - [overspending] - is with our teachers, but more with the Administration...$10,000 to air condition the fitness center
7 - Tracy getting a new office with new furniture and secretary… $10,000 plus
8 - Have any of you parents who email Tracy with questions, been getting responses back from him?
9 - Paying overtime to two teachers who lie about how much of their time is spent fund raising for the senior class
10 - When the last time any of you saw Bates or Tracy at any City Functions or sporting event
11 - We lost a lot of great staff members due to the way Tracy and Bates treated them
12 - saw the school board president a couple of times, walking around town with an open can of beer
13 - If Tracy did in fact alert the student body of the drug dogs, that alone should be grounds for dismissal
14 - [Tracy] and his abuse of power and treatment of students and staff
15 - Nancy Burns was driven out of town, and from what I discerned, she never did anything wrong
16 - I have talked with staff and parents who have been victimized by e Jon Tracy
17 - I personally know at least five people who have been abused by Tracy's inappropriate behavior
Once again, the nonsensical accusations abound.
Most of the above statements are pure hearsay. Just because someone "heard it from a friend who heard it from a friend who..." doesn't make something factual. On top of that, many of the above items were simply copied from other ignorant posts in this same forum, so that doesn't tell me anything new, let alone prove anything. Ignorant and stupid posts don't become more effective or factual just because someone copies them again.
Even if the above statements were indeed true, the majority are the responsibility of the School Board. Bates and Tracy have not been here very long, so why are they accused of "overspending for years" and other long-term issues, like the education supposedly being better three decades ago. Your beef is with the School Board in the majority of the instances, if they're even true at all. These are the people we elect to OVERSEE the administration. They also approve the spending. Ken Bates can't just spend whatever he pleases, despite popular belief on this blog.
Parents are being "victimized" by Bates/Tracy? Bull. Tell us who, when, where and how — then we'll talk. Wendy Schultz had a beer at a city festival where hundreds of others did the same? Let's get her! Jan Hauer encourages kids to go to college? Horrors! We certainly don't want THAT in Green Lake.
Maybe if more Green Lake people HAD gone to college, this community wouldn't constantly be plunging into hysterical chaos every time someone drops a pin or (gasp!) has a new idea.
It's hardly even worth trying to talk sense into these Green Lake people anymore. They'll believe what they want to believe, no matter how illogical or how many times they've been told the real facts.
If you’re looking for names of victims, you’re not going to get them, not from me anyway...the last thing they need is to be re-victimized. Naming staff issues will only place a larger target on the back of the staff still at GL Public. Can you deny the overspending? No…what people are trying to say is this…If money is sooooooooo dam tight, then why spend what money we have on luxury items…why fly all over the country in search of the perfect school, how much is that costing the tax payers…how many staff will be flying to Miami Florida, yes this bill is coming next. So keep blaming the union, keep calling us Green Lake people names, it just kind of proves our point…if Green Lake is as bad as you obviously think it is, do us a favor and get the hell out…
Oh, please, don't use that "I'm not going to re-victimize the victims" excuse. The reason you won't share any evidence aside from theory and accusation is because you have none. It's really that simple.
Ok, if you won't name names, then I challenge you to provide specific details about who did the alleged victimizing, how it was done, and where and when it happened. I suppose you can't provide any of that, either? Well then your case is full of holes.
Sorry, but I'm not going to "get the hell out." I'm going to keep following this issue and others to expose the liars and naysayers who want to run this school through the mud because they have their own agendas and grudges. If you would just ask the school administration instead of accusing them, you'd find the answers you want, and I'll bet a bag of donuts that your anger will dry up. But no, you'd rather make wild claims with no support. That's what Green Lake does.
The reason I call Green Lake people names is because, frankly, many of them deserve it. Has anyone come across another community so dysfunctional? I don't think one exists. Let's review the highlights of our quaint little town:
It's taken us 10 years to decide what to do about the courthouse. People constantly freak out about routine school issues. We kicked out Nancy Burns, and still, no one seems to know why. We can't build a new band shell even though the current one is dilapidated — instead we have to "save" it. Potential developers get run through the mud because people are afraid of change, even when it's none of their business. Green Lake gets news story after news story documenting the antics of its hysterical residents. It goes on and on.
For whatever reason, this community just cannot get along, and many of us are tired of it. I think most of the fighting is due to this community having so many deep family roots and traditions. Everyone wants things to be the way they were back in the day. But times change, and we must change with them. But this community can't seem to accept that. In Green Lake, change is something that is fought, even when it makes sense. That's what makes Green Lake backwards.
MB
Myth Buster - all of the comments 1 through 17 were copied from posts on this website, not just "most" of them. That was the point, to bring together the catalog of complaints into one post. Doing that seems to establish at least a common theme, that there is indeed a number of unresolved problems at the school. Let's do nothing more than categorize them as follows -
A - Poor communication between school officials and parents.
B - A lack of understanding exhibited by school officials when dealing with pupil issues.
C - A lack of trust by parents, casting some doubt on the integrity of some school officials.
That's enough in my opinion. People have been asking for the facts, I believe the facts have been presented, without naming names and citing specific instances. Let's just group A,B and C under one main heading of "A perceived lack of integrity" and there's enough to support that claim and enough to warrant bringing the issue to the attention of the BOA.
Now the question is, what, if anything, are parents prepared to do about it?
DB
apologÃa sincera
That would be BOE of course and not BOA. I'm feeling constricted by my poor use of acronyms.
DB
I am still curious what great teachers were forced out...please don't say the teacher that flirted with her students and was very inappropriate every time I saw her
In regards to the guidance counselor encouraging 4 year schools...the problem is that she tells students to not apply to certain schools b/c they won't get in and she does not appear to think highly of tech schools...when in reality I know people who are making more with an Associates Degree as opposed to those with a four year degree. She needs to be meet the needs for all students....and encourage them to apply to schools even if she thinks they can't get in...
DB,
Like Myth Buster I have decided to stay on this blog and slap down the right wingers and to preserve the American Way. God bless America.
Before you drag your sorry self down to Selma or Jena, or better yet to some miserable place like Karachi, listen up(and then get out of town please):
The point of attempting to let you in on a well known secret was that the 17 reasons aren't reasons. They are the themes of the desperate: doesn't communicate, doesn't get students, right wingers and red neckers don't trust them because they don't wear sheets. Really, do you think that either one of those guys are going to get fired for that kind of bull? No. Didn't you go to the "community lynch mob" sessions or the "take our school back" meetings or the party at Marsha's house? (Same theme: the school is mine and I must take it back, so I can make $5,000 dollars per period with one or no students in my class). Maybe those teachers know they aren't employable anywhere else, that's why they tried so hard to regain control of Ft. GL. When it didn't work, some of them left.
So, anyway, back at the ranch, none of those tactics worked. No one is going to get fired. The two administrators already know that there are some lost people in the community that no one could please. They both got raises and new contracts. So, pal you are stuck with them. If you think you have something, step up big time and show your stuff. You won't because you are just another sorry excuse of a citizen that has no smack what so ever. Better yet, go to the school and introduce yourself as the person that you are. If you are the president of the union, a parent, or just an irrational individual, you are indeed a sorry mess. I double donkey dare you to go talk to the principal or the superintendent. Of course, you won't; you would rather try to score points with your pathetic fan club. I would hate to be your child or your spouse. Your's is a sorry home.
Last minute update for you DB: fade to black, game over. Pull the sheets over your head and listen to the fat lady sing.
You're done son.
That's all hogwash baby,
You're full of yourself on a blogsite, I bet you're a miserable whimp face to face.
I simply cataloged people's comments, then made the point that "there is a perceived lack of integrity"....can you deny that there is a perceived lack of integrity? Do you think that nothing should be done to challenge people about these issues?
Instead of blowing hot air, why not offer something constructive?
To Baby, its you said..
could you please define what the word "smack" means?
Mr Cat and Mouse says it best: "There is a perceived lack of integrity"
He's absolutely right. It's perceived, not real.
About the 17 comments, he wrote, "That was the point, to bring together the catalog of complaints into one post. Doing that seems to establish at least a common theme, that there is indeed a number of unresolved problems at the school."
So in other words, as long as certain people SAY there are problems, it must be so! How do we know all those comments weren't originally posted by the same three or four people?
Now on to more important stuff: Do you guys remember that one time when Ditka and 100 Mini Bears (1 inch tall) beat the Giants, like 5000 to nothing? Ok, wouldn't this be an answer to the SoCal fires: have Manning and the Colts take on the Witch Fire. I think Manning and the Colts would win; the Witch Fire would never score on them; especially if you think that the Jags only got 7 points and they practice everyday. The Witch Fire never practices. Manning and the Colts 9,000, the Witch Fire 0 (at the most). So, how could you disagree with that?
If it is true that both Ken Bates and e Jon Tracy are receiving a raise in salary, then I am angry beyond words. What on earth is our school board thinking? Here we are, cutting down on teaching staff and other expenses (as we should be since we are in financial trouble) and yet these two get more money??? Their job performance has been questionable to say the least, (in my opinion totally unacceptable). They should both lose their jobs, not receive raises! The school board should be ashamed of themselves for acting so irresponsibly. I want to see some accountability here, this is too inappropriate to let go by without consequenses. Enough is enough. Their salaries are already too high, as is Jan Hauer's. I think that pay-cuts are in order to meet the school budget, and if they don't like it then we can find other people to fill their jobs. There are many qualified canditates who would take these jobs at a reduced salary and probably do a much better job.
Comments on this blog are actually more entertaining than some of the choices on TV.
However, I can't imagine what people from other communities must think of us in Green Lake for the trash we are spewing on this blog.
Why are we jumping on Jan Hauer all of a sudden? She is guilty of encouraging students to attend a 4 year college? So what? Yes, it is true, there are a number of trades out that that require two year courses, and college is very expensive and not for everybody.
However, we had a young man stop by our house last week who graduated from a nearby high school a few years ago. He just came back from a factory job he held up in Green Bay and was laid off for work slowdown. He told us he put in applications in Green Bay, Appleton, Oshkosh and in our area. And could not find a job.
Alliance Laundry systems just hired him..... it's temporary work, less money than he made in Green Bay, and he is up at 4:00am to get to work for the early shift.
His only comment about the whole experience was that he "should have gone to college" and is now going to try to figure out how to get started part-time.
College may not be for everyone, but the statistics bear out the truth that college grads make more money vs. non college grads over their working lifetime. And there are more and better choices for them with jobs with better benefits. I know as soon as I print this someone will claim they know know someone who is making more money than their friends who went to college. That's probably true in some instances.
I am just saying that I think Jan Hauer is trying to challenge our students to think about the future, and strive to get the best education they can get. So what's so bad about that? Ask a guy who has to work outside in mid-January, to dig up a frozen pipe or put a roof on a house, if he would rather do something that pays more money and offers better working conditions.
I am grateful that our school has staff like Jan Hauer pushing our kids to think about being the best they can be.
I would hope we all want our kids from here to do well, in whatever they choose.
Are you kidding me??
It is not encouragement when you tell a student they will not get into a college so do not even bother applying...and then they actually get in. I think we all know it is probably a better choice to go to college..but that doesn't mean only a four year school. It could mean a tech school.
Jan Hauer spends more time gossiping in her office or off the school premises (out for another botox injection?) than she does working. Telling a student what she thinks they should be interested in and what the student is actually interested in are two different things. Pushing kids in a direction they don't want to go is unacceptable. She's been here too long, gets paid far too much and should be replaced by someone half her age who relates to young people and actually knows what is going on in todays modern society. The school district needs to start spending less money, NOT MORE MONEY, and replacing Jan Hauer would be a good place to start. Also, I agree that giving ANY pay raises now when the school district is going through a difficult financial time is not appropriate.
I’m sure happy I don't live in Green Lake. My family and I live in Ripon, and every week when we get the newspaper, we have a good laugh at how dysfunctional your city is. It’s one thing after the next with Green Lake. It seems your community only knows two words: Chaos and controversy.
It's nice to live in Ripon, where people are actively involved with the city and school but we’re civil and orderly about it. For some reason, your screwy little town can't do anything without nonsense and hysteria erupting. Well, keep it up. It's fun read about in the paper without having to be associated with it.
How long will it be before you fire another school administrator for an "undisclosed cause"?
Thanks again for the good reading.
Hey there....not everyone in Green Lake is "dysfunctional"! I also read the blog for entertainment! As rumors spread I can assure you that RIPONITES also have "dysfuntion" and like to talk S#!t about people. Dont include all of Green Lake in your disgust! Thanks for budding into our community though : ) We love your opinion! By the way, maybe try a different lake next summer as ours is apparently not good enough for you!
Ripon, jeese, whatta fricken dump that is. Having a crap blog site and listening to dipshits moaning is nothing compared with having to live in Ripon.....you have my sympathy you poor soul
yeah, that and Berlin
To "No kidding said" on October 29th. You talk about Jan Hauer being in her office gossiping.
How would you know that for sure, unless you yourself are working at the school? If you don't, then it's hearsay with no real merit, which just makes you a gossip as well, like a lot of the trash thrown on this blog.
If you do work at the school, how would you have time to watch what she is doing all day, if you were staying focused on doing your own job? So, if you have time to watch her, then maybe it's your job that needs to be eliminated to save on costs. Maybe you could give your letter of resignation in, with a comment that you really believe less money, not more should be spent.
Jan Hauer only pushes private, liberal arts colleges…she attempts to talk kids out of going into the UW system…It’s all about the money to her…what about all the lost, misplaced or late college applications or scholarships that happen every year? I know of kids and their parents, who drive to the college for a visit, only to find out Hauer forgot to set it up…or lost the paperwork. I advise parents to take these matters into their own hands and send these items in themselves…the only problem doing this is you might as well rule your student out of receiving any local scholarships….
Who the heck would go to a college visit without knowing for sure the correct date and time? Seems to me some people are fishing for reasons to badmouth Jan Hauer.
Jan Hauer is a dim bulb. She stumbles over herself only to help students that she believes has money or their parents have money. As far as she is concerned all the other students should become dental hygienist, bekose you kan make ovur 40,000.00 a year. That's a 4 and a knot,knot,knot,knot,dot knot,knot.She is so stupid it's scary.
Seems like we could use a few positive comments about school, so here's one. Our family attended the Jr. High & High School band concert this past Thursday.
John Roti-Roti had assembled a whole music program based on the theme "Green". The music ranged from contemporary, classic, spiritual, and international pieces. A number of the band members had the opportunity to be featured in different selections.
The bleachers were full of students, parents and teachers. Yes, Ken Bates was there as well supporting the event. The level of difficulty in the pieces gave a clear indication that John is stretching the students to achieve
a good range of musical abilities.
He then announced that they would be participating in a regional school competition on Monday, working with another piece they had prepared. Two of the students took time to publicly recognize Andy Zeratsky for all of his volunteer work in handling sound for our school events.
Though not every student at Green Lake participates in the band, a lot do, and this is a very good experience for them, introducing them to a variety of music styles, learning how to work together as a group, learning how to discipline themselves with practice and performance, and learning how to represent their school and community at sporting events, holiday parades, school competitions, and other activities.
These are examples of lessons they can use well the rest of their lives. Green Lake does do a number of things well that we can all enjoy and be a part of and our school music program for our students is one of them.
Right on about the music program.
We have some very cool things our kids learn, like in Mr.Eddy's science classes.
I get so aggravated when I hear people whining about needing to cut expenses because programs like these might be affected leaving very little for students to learn or enjoy beyond the basics. I hear people like Harley Reabe trying to push for user fees for programs like these as a way to pay for them. I don't agree with that idea because these programs are also an important part of education and many families just cannot afford instrument rentals or private lessons. Education should include a variety of subjects and activities as part of the whole experience of learning about the world we live in. You go, John Roti-Roti!!!! And all of the other staff who teach these extra programs to the kids at Green Lake.
We have put three kids through the Green Lake School System. We are not rich, our kids were not stellar students. But I will say that Jan Hauer helped us out so much with college entrance issues and all that went with it. We took on our part of the responsibility and she took on hers. It is not her job to do the work, and if I remember correctly she has a wall of college materials from many many colleges, both public and private.
After the kids graduated from High School and we had trouble with one of the kids, it was Jan whom I called and she helped me out greatly with love and guidance. No one is perfect, myself included. But I will always be thankful for teachers and school staff like Jan Hauer.
And....in case your parents did not teach you...."if you can't say something nice about a person, then say nothing at all"
My parents taught me to speak up for myself and I did. The reason this country's educational system is in trouble is because your type just stay out of it. You won't judge the demons, we must be tolerant, but you sure judge the plaintiff.
holy cow. Have another drink..roger
I saw on the news this morning that the voters in West Bend shot down a record $119 million school referendum, the largest in Wisconsin history. Good for them! School spending is out of control and the tax-payers are sick of it. Take note, Green Lakers! A brief investigation on my part came up with these interesting facts:
Public school per-pupil spending, taking inflation into account, is now 14 times higher than it was 70 years ago. On average, public schools now spend close to $7,000 per student per year, twice the average at private schools. In some inner-city public school districts, such as Hartford, Connecticut, Washington, D.C., Baltimore, Maryland, etc. an annual outlay of roughly $9,000 per pupil is so poorly managed that many schools are falling apart and failing even to supply their own bathrooms with toilet paper.
So you see, it's not what you have, it's what you do with what you have. The fact is that education was far superior decades ago, and the cost per student was a fraction of what we are spending now on education. We don't need computers in every classroom, small class sizes or vending machines selling junk food in the hallways. We were better off when I was in school with 30+ kids per classroom and a dedicated teacher at his or her desk. The tax-payers don't need to hand over more money for the Green Lake school district, the schools have plenty to work with. Everyone should just quit whining and do their damn jobs.
Very well said....
Remember that 30 years ago life was very different, whether we like it or not, it was different. Teachers now have to be counselors as well as teachers,technology is life in the 21st century, schools have to be so much more to children than they were 30 years ago, right or wrong, good or bad it is the way it is. All people have struggles in this life, single parenting, income issues, health issues, mental issues. Kids come to school with whatever their homelife delt them, right or wrong, good or bad, this is the way it is. Now, our schools/ teachers/ administrators have to do the best the can to help all the students. This is a huge job and one that many of us who do not work in a school can always understand or appreciate. We all come at a public school with our own set of values, beliefs, and wants for our kids and they could be very different from one another, not good, bad, right or wrong, just different. Now a public school (democratic institution) has to try to find a middle ground and work with all the differing opinions and desires. This has to be an incredibly difficult task. I hand it to the many who try.
"Enough is enough" from the Nov. 7th blog stated some facts about Baltimore,Md and Washington, DC. I wonder if you have actually driven through some of those neighborhoods and understand what those schools have to deal with, the problems these kids come to school with and the challenge of actually trying to teach them something. The list of their issues are incredibly bad, and I can't imagine trying to teach in that environment, let alone worry about toilet paper. Just comparing dollars and students does not tell the whole story in different communities.
I realize that does not compare to a place like Green Lake, but still, today kids go to school with a whole host of issues that may not have been in your generation 30 years ago. Just think about how many mothers were working 30 years ago, and how many are now, just as one example. So,,, kids do not get the care they once did at home, homework does not get done, kids are not served a decent breakfast, more kids have things like Attention Deficit Disorder ( I don't know why that is, but it is true.)
The divorce rate is higher so you have more single parents raising kids, or in some cases grandparents raising kids. These are real problems, right in our school. And the state requires more of certain services, testing,
etc. And.... everything is more expensive. Just look at the gas stations. I too do not want to pay more taxes, but I think we have a system designed by the state that builds in a deficit every year, with this Qualified Economic Offer. And the school has already made cuts. Did you see the Ripon paper this week. $500,000 has to be cut from their budget, on top of cuts they made last year. Some declining enrollment, but mostly it's about the QEO and then the state not allowing a school to levy the number needed to cover the costs of school.
You can say life was better 30 years ago, but I think kids today have a lot more they have to learn, new things to learn, more technology to learn. Actually, we do need computers in every classroom. These kids need to be able to compete in a global economy, and compete against kids from other communities in our more immediate area who do make the commitment to technology. You are right,,, we don't need computers in every classroom if we are planning on our kids growing up to qualify to work in a factory, or take care of the weekly recycling.
Not that there is anythng wrong with doing those jobs, but if we want to give our kids the opportunity to compete and reach some of their dreams, we have to give them the tools to succeed.
This is not 1977. It is 2007.
We have to think about the future of these kids because they are our leaders of tomorrow.
I feel we need a change in the current school board. Dennis Deyo, Amy Pipho and William Boutwell are all running...all in favor of change, give them your support.
Top Heavy:
Below are the salary and fringe benefits amounts for the Green Lake School District Administrative team. These figures represent the 2006-2007 school year.
Salary & Fringe
K.Bates $100.000.00 - $35,419.00
j Tracy $75.000.00 - $5,738.00
D. Kneser $51,839.00 - $16,727.00
J. Hauer $54,285.00 - $26,403.00
M. Allen $52,422.00 - $26,030.00
School Library Media Specialist:
L. Norton $50,383.00 $25,716.00
Wow! For a school with around 300 kids K-12
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