PROJECT ABC
+44 (0) 0000 000 000
Project ABC, Advocating on Behalf of Children, advocates for educational excellence in the Waukesha School District by inspiring the State Legislators, the Board of Education, the District administration, and the community to provide a superior learning environment that places a high emphasis on the needs of the children.
welcome
project abc : news and views
July 15: Project ABC informational meeting August 4th at Waukesha Public Library
Public concern regarding the potential closing of schools has generated renewed interest in understanding the financial challenges faced by the Waukesha school district.
Project ABC will be holding an informational meeting at the Waukesha Public Library, August 4, 7:00 p.m. to explain how the state school funding law is forcing school districts across the state to reduce opportunities for children by cutting valuable programs, closing schools, and, in some cases, voting to dissolve (see stories 2 and 3). Ruth Page Jones, President of Project ABC, uses Legos © to explain how the current school funding law is a 'Going Out of Business Plan'. She has presented this information to more than 30 school and community groups throughout the state in the last two years.
July 15: Backpack Coalition collects school items for children in Waukesha Schools
The backpack coalition is seeking donations of backpacks, schools supplies and money to help children in Waukesha schools. Drop of donations from now until August 1st, Mon-Fri between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. at the Child & Family Centers of Excellence, N4 W22000 Bluemound Rd (across from Sam's Club). Monetary donations can be sent to Waukesha County Backpack Coalition, PO Box 1094, Waukesha , WI 53187-1094. To volunteer to help sort or pack, call Marcy at 262 547-7367.
The Waukesha County Back Pack Coalition consists of several local Social Service Agencies that have united to help provide financially challenged children and families with school supplies & backpacks. In 2007 over 1800 backpacks and school supplies were distributed to students in Waukesha County.
July 8: New parent group organizes public meeting to discuss school closings
A group calling itself, SOCS (Save Our Central Schools) has organized as a result of the Waukesha school district announcing potential school closings .
Here is an article about this organization.
http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=770606
July 2: Five schools on list of possible schools to be closed
Blair, Saratoga, Hadfield, Randall and Whittier possible choices
By ERIN RICHARDS
erichards@journalsentinel.com
Posted: July 2, 2008
Waukesha - Five elementary schools - three more than had been previously identified - are now on a list of candidates to be closed because of tight finances and empty classrooms in the district.
Here is the article about the school closings.
http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=768812
June 29: School-funding formula claims Wausaukee School District
Another Wisconsin school board, this time in Wausaukee in Marinette County in northeastern Wisconsin, has voted to close its doors because of unequal and inadequate funding (http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=767322).
When it happened, many said the Florence County School District would be only the first of many districts dissolving. Since that time several others have held public discussions on the subject, including Weston, Rio, Montello, Waukesha, Wisconsin Heights, Markesan. Lending further credence to the claim of the spreading crisis, one-quarter of the districts in Wisconsin responding to a recent survey said they were considering consolidation or dissolution (WEAC/WASDA 2006-07 study, http://www.weac.org/Capitol/2007-08/march08/revcap08.pdf).
According to EHEXTRA.com, the dissolution vote followed the failure of a second referendum, this one for $575,000 to exceed revenue limits (http://ehextra.com/main.asp?FromHome=1&TypeID=1&ArticleID=
1506&SectionID=12&SubSectionID=35). The vote was 544 for the referendum and 563 against (http://www.peshtigotimes.net/?id=9549).
Wausaukee School District to dissolve? Let's talk about it (From WAES newsletter)
When it happened in Florence, school funding reformers weren't sure what to do. Now, the Wausaukee School District Board has decided to dissolve in the best interest of the community's children. What comes next?
There are several opportunities online to talk about what comes next. It's about more than the hearings and soul searching that will go on over the coming months in northeastern Wisconsin. It's also about what it means to the other 424 school districts in the state. We need to learn the lessons of Florence and Wausaukee, map out a strategy, and stay on the road to reform.
There are several "places" you can take part in statewide discussions about school-funding reform. A good starting point is the WAES website at http://www.excellentschools.org. Or, you can show your support and network with other people working to change school finance by joining the Wisconsin Alliance for Excellent Schools Facebook cause and start talking. Another reform discussion leader -- and member of WAES board of directors -- is John Smart, school board member from Park Falls. His comments on what's happening in Wausaukee and around Wisconsin can be found on the AMPS website at http://madisonamps.org/2008/06/29/our-schools-are-in-danger-and-some-are-just-throwing-stones/ (another WAES member). Finally, there is a discussion ongoing on DemocraticUnderground.com at http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=186x25765.
June 22: School District will lose two more administrators
The district is losing two of its newer administrators, the business manager, Erik Kass, and the Director of Curriculum and Instruction, Mike Hansen. Both of these individuals have only about one or two years in the position they are leaving. I can't help but wonder if this an indication that our financial woes are going to make it difficult for this district to recruit and keep highly skilled staff who are being recruited by other school districts.
http://www.gmtoday.com/news/local_stories/2008/June_08/06212008_ 05.asp
June 12: School Board hires Todd Gray for new Superintendent
http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=761436
Gray's appointment as superintendent of the Waukesha School District was formally approved Wednesday by the School Board.
In selecting Gray from a pool of nearly 20 applicants, the board landed on a school finance expert who has overseen four successful referendum efforts in two school systems and has experience as a teacher, accountant and personnel director. He is to start his post in the Waukesha district July 1.
School Board may close one or two elementary schools in Waukesha
http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=753996
By AMY HETZNER
May 24, 2008
Excerpts from the article
"...board members called for a district committee to explore the possibility of closing another elementary school and redrawing attendance boundaries. That committee is slated to send its recommendations on possible school closings to the superintendent by the end of this month. He is expected to make his recommendations to the board in June".
Closing a school would save between $250,000 and $400,000 annually, administrators have said in the past. That comes mostly through staff reductions - one fewer principal, secretary and custodian - as well as maintenance and utility costs.
To some, that amount has been insufficient in the scope of recent annual budget shortfalls, which have amounted to millions of dollars, to justify the hurt feelings it would generate among parents whose children see their schools close or are forced to switch schools in the aftershocks of a closure.
But as the board explores the possibility of holding a referendum to ask voters for a boost to the district's operating budget, closing a school could convince the community the school system is serious about limiting spending."
Summer Learning in Waukesha
June 1, 2008
Check out some of the opportunities in Waukesha for summer learning for children.
Waukesha Civic Theater
Carroll College Summer Academy
Waukesha Park 'N Rec
UW-Waukesha
YMCA
Long Summer Science Academy for ages 11-14
June 1, 2008
UW-Waukesha offers week-long science academy for ages 11-14. July 28 to August 1. The week long academy offers students a chance to learn more about science topics such as meteorology, archaeology, mathematics, ecology and more. Classes are taught by college professors. Classes run from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. and cost $299 per student. To register, call 521-5460.
Wisconsin Way Public Forum in Waukesha July 21
June 1, 2008
Excerpted from a e-mail communication from Wisconsin Way:
Wisconsin Way organizers have been working diligently with industry economists, private sector policy analysts, UW-Madison public affairs faculty members and a prestigious advisory panel to research and frame you and your fellow citizens' comments and visions into potential policy solutions. The progress of the research and advisory panel will be shared in our second round of public forums this summer, and residents are encouraged to attend and provide feedback.
We are in the process of securing all of our forum locations, but would like to announce the dates and communities we will be visiting this summer:
The Wisconsin Way Public Forum Schedule Summer 2008 (abbreviated List)
Waukesha Forum-Monday, July 21, 6-8 p.m.
Milwaukee Forum-Monday, August 11, 6-8 p.m.
Madison Forum-Tuesday, August 19, 6-8 p.m.
Ultimately, these ideas will be distilled into specific policy recommendations, presented to the public in a third round of public forums and shared with elected officials at all levels of government. More than 5,000 people have already participated in this inspiring example of civic engagement, and we encourage you to invite your friends and neighbors to join our conversation.
We hope you will be able to attend for one or more of our public forums this summer, and encourage you to register for a forum on our forum registration page of our Web site, www.wisconsinway.org. Please note that Web site registration is separate from forum registration. Our site will maintain your contact information, but if you plan to join us for a forum, you will need to select the forum and verify the registration data.
If you should have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact us at wisconsinway@wcgpr.com or 800-919-3012.
The Wisconsin Way Team
Have Legos© will Travel, Project ABC Community Outreach
May 1, 2008
Ruth Page Jones, President of Project ABC, has been using a Lego© model to demonstrate how the current funding formula is a Going Out of Business Plan. In 2007 she presented this more than 20 times in the Waukesha community. Lately Project ABC has been invited to present this model to organizations in Wales, Wauwatosa, Superior, Brookfield, and Mequon.
Contact Ruth at 262 521-9403 or at projectabc@projectabc.org, if you would like to bring this presentation to your school or civic group. The Lego© building blocks are used to visually explain how, after 15 years, the 3 components of the formula, QEO, Revenue Limits, and 2/3 funding are sending schools into a downward spiral. In addition, the speaker, Ruth Page Jones, will relay the most current information regarding efforts for statewide reform of the public school funding system.
Superintendent Search - Public Meeting May 5
May 1, 2008
The School Board has initiated a search for a new superintendent, as David Schmidt is retiring at the end of this school year.
The board has retained the services of a search firm to help with the identification and selection of superintendents. The public is invited to share their thoughts about desired characteristics on Monday, May 5, 6:30 p.m. at Central Middle School, 400 N. Grand.
Board shuffles several principals in Waukesha School District
May 1, 2008
Heyer Elementary School Principal Joe Beine will replace Kathy Nelson as principal of Lowell.
Meadowbrook Elementary School Principal Greg Deets will replace Beine.
Pleasant Hill's Principal, Don Charpentier, will move over to Meadowbrook.
Hillcrest Elementary School Principal Mike Sukawaty is to add the principal's role at Pleasant Hill, where the two schools merge to serve students in different grades from the same area.
West High School Principal Doug Straus is retiring.
South High School Assistant Principal Melissa Thompson will take over Straus' post for the beginning of the 2008-'09 school year.
Thompson's role will be filled by South Assistant Principal Paul Mielke.
North High School assistant principal, Dan Domach, will take over Mielke's duties at South.
Butler Middle School activities director Tim Paulson will move to the same position at Central Middle School.
Half referenda failed April 1; 26 districts back to square one
May 1, 2008
As reported in the Wisconsin Alliance for Excellent Schools April School-funding Update
The mantra of opponents of school-funding reform has long been: "If school districts have to go to referendum, that is a good thing. It shows that the system is working."
That mantra is wrong. First of all, budgeting by referendum is ineffective and inefficient. Second, referendum are costly to hold for municipalities and school districts. Third, in most cases they drive a wedge into the community creating a false choice for voters between holding down property taxes and providing needed revenue for schools and children. Finally, we know that passing a referendum doesn't solve the problem of inadequate and unfair school funding. The system is designed so that any new money coming via a referendum is eventually "used up" and districts must resume the cycle of more referendum, laying off staff, increasing class sizes, and/or cutting programs and services.
Now, we also know that only half of the districts going to referenda are successful and getting even the most basic and short-term relief. On the last election day, April 1, 52 school districts held 61 votes. Thirty (in 26 districts) passed and 31 (in 26 districts) failed (http://www.madison.com/wsj/home/local/280065). These results have held virtually consistent since the state's school-funding law went into effect over a decade ago (you can do your own data analysis at https://www2.dpi.state.wi.us/safr/all_referenda.asp).
For analysis of the referenda results go the websites of WEAC (http://www.weac.org/News/2007-08/april08/election.htm) or Advocates for Madison Public Schools (http://madisonamps.org/2008/04/05/we-are-not-alone-20/).
Just in -- Two more school districts talking dissolution
As reported in the Wisconsin Alliance for Excellent Schools April School-funding Update
School boards in Rio and Montello, both north of Madison, are putting dissolution on their agendas as the result of failed referenda ().
In Rio, a $1.27 million vote to override revenue caps is scheduled for a special election on May 20. A similar referendum was defeated, 501to 483 in February. "If we don't pas this referendum in May," said district administrator Mark McGuire, "we will be in existence next year and possibly the year after that; if depends on where the boards wants to go." In Montello, the board is considering a third override referendum and, as in Rio, officials may consider dissolving the district it another vote fails.
Meanwhile, in a scene reminiscent of watching Nero fiddle while Rome burned, the Legislature passed a law designating a state tartan (which is, by the way, "muted blue with scarlet, gray, black, dark green, dark yellow and dark brown woven in" ). The Wisconsin Alliance for Excellent Schools (WAES) is a statewide, independent, membership organization of educators, school board members, students, parents, community leaders, and researchers whose lone goal is the comprehensive reform of Wisconsin's school-funding system. If you would like more information about the organization or becoming part of this effort, contact Tom Beebe at 920-650-0525 or tbeebe@wisconsinsfuture.org.
The Wisconsin Alliance for Excellent Schools (WAES) is a statewide, independent, membership organization of educators, school board members, students, parents, community leaders, and researchers whose lone goal is the comprehensive reform of Wisconsin's school-funding system. If you would like more information about the organization or becoming part of this effort, contact Tom Beebe at 920-650-0525 or tbeebe@wisconsinsfuture.org.
WPR.org Waukesha schools, Milwaukee schools
Wednesday, Mar 28, 2007
At Issue with Ben Merens: During this month's Education Today, Ben Merens and his guests examine schools in suburban, metropolitan, and rural communities.
Guests:
- David Schmidt, superintendent, Waukesha Public Schools.
- William Andrekopoulos, superintendent, Milwaukee Public Schools.
Listen here
Project ABC March Newsletter
March 29, 2007
This is an updated version of the newsletter we distributed at the March 12 Forum. It includes a table showing all programs that were reduced or eliminated since 2000. There's a handy 'Parent's Guide to School Funding' and a list of elected officials.
click to read PDF newsletter
Project ABC Membership Drive
March 29, 2007
Project ABC has initiated a membership drive to help expand our network of supporters, invite people to sign-on as volunteers. and raise some working capital to help further our mission of building strong schools in Waukesha.
Membership is open to anyone who agrees with our mission, age 16 and over for $10 per household. We will graciously accept donations over $10.00.
Project ABC has always been a non-partisan organization. We have members from both political parties and members with no political affiliation in our group. Since we started in 1997, we have focused on issues and policies relevant to schools. Project ABC does not support or endorse candidates for political office.
click to join
Waukesha Groups Host Local Legislators for School Funding Forum
March 12, 2007
Several Waukesha school and community groups will be hosting a forum on school funding with six local legislators on March 12 at 7:00 p.m., North High School, 2222 Michigan Ave, Waukesha. Legislators who have confirmed their attendance are state Senators Mary Lazich and Ted Kanavas, state Representatives Mark Gundrum, Bill Kramer, Scott Newcomer, and Rich Zipperer.
click to read more
Keep Waukesha Schools Strong
Ruth Page Jones, President, Project ABC, Mar 12, 2006
Waukesha is so proud of its school system. Our above average test scores, our award-winning music, sports and art programs, and the successful programs that help struggling students are all evidence that we have created a strong school system in Waukesha.
For the prosperity of our community and the future of our children, we need to maintain this strength. Unfortunately, the state funding formula forces annual program cuts that puts our school system at risk. Some schools in the state are close to bankruptcy. All public schools in Wisconsin are in jeopardy. We need a new funding formula and we need financial stability.
click to read more
Parent's Guide to School Funding
-Mar 12, 2006
Get answers to commonly asked questions about school funding and school costs
click to read more
Successful Communities need Successful Schools
-Mar 12, 2006
The measure of a thriving, successful community is one where more people want to move in than move out. The move-in-ers care about good schools, attractive housing, well-kept parks, cultural opportunities, and convenience to employment. When communities decline, move-out-ers look elsewhere for better schools, nicer neighborhoods, a healthier housing investment, and higher-paying or more secure jobs.
Waukesha schools have long been an enticement for the move-in-ers. If nothing changes to ease the financial pressure on schools to cut, cut, cut, the move-in-ers will soon become move-out-ers. The new move-in-ers, no longer attracted by the quality of the schools, low crime rate, and a good property investment, will be attracted by the stagnant or decreasing housing prices they can now afford. Will this start a stampede of families and empty-nesters hoping to cash in on their housing investment before prices go lower?
click to read more