A GOOD START TOWARDS BALANCING THE BUDGET

I attended Monday night's presentation by Cassandra Schug, East Principal. This is the latest coming from the cluster groups to be presented to CFAC:

Reduce classroom budgets-$28,000.00
Freeze Site/Central Office Supply Budgets-$60,000.00
Reduce Pupil Service Staff-$219,000.00
Increase High School Class Sizes-$552,680.00
Eliminate 1 Alternative Teacher/Replace with Aide-$29,000.00
Eliminate 4 High School Aides (Parking lot attendant, In-School Suspension, Counseling, Library)-$78,950.00
Eliminate 1 of 2 High School Librarians-$67,400.00
Eliminate JV Girls Golf-$3,709.00
Eliminate substitutes for aides-$75,000.00
Reclassify 4 custodians to janitor IV-$75,000.00

I thought the reductions were ones that would have the least impact on core classes and programing. Some of the reductions are covered by county social service agencies.
A good start.

During the meeting I also raised the question about potential savings through virtual classes. I was told they are in the beginning stages of offering virtual classes and that there is potential for additional savings by using them.
I agree. Many students will do very well in virtual classes. The means of educating students is changing as technology changes. These changes could be used as savings to the district while benefiting our students.

Dave

"Race to the Top" Leaves Parents at the Bottom

http://www.frc.org/washingtonupdate/race-to-the-top-leaves-parents-at-the-bottom

About the school district suing the state.....

I wonder if the board and administration have asked themselves who wins when one government agency sues another? and WHO LOSES when one government agency sues another government agency?


Dave

Our administration has some right ideas, but some need to be adjusted..

I just finished reading an article in the Wisconsin School News(good publication), titled "The Economic Impact of Schools, How the West Bend Joint School District #1 Boosts its Local Economy", by Ted Neitzke and Pat Herdrich (top two in the district). They had some things right. A local school district does impact a community. Trickle-down economics is a valid point.
In the article they pointed out the number of jobs created and sustained in the county that come from the West Bend School District. They believe that trickle-down economics works.
So do I, however we differ when we realize where the trickle-down begins. They suggest it starts with tax-funded government schools. This is not the definition of trickle-down economy. No new money has been created in the Neitzke/Herdrich scenerio; it is money given by the taxpayers and redistributed in the community.
I believe, if an ecomony is to endure and have long term benefit to a community, it needs to begin in private business arena where "new" money is created, and taxes are lowered. That defines trickle-down economics as Ronald Reagan spoke of it. We also called it "Reagonomics".
Hopefully our kids understand how it works.
Of course the schools need money to function, but let's not deceive ourselves into thinking the schools are the economic base of our communities.

Dave

THINKING OUTSIDE THE BOX

I would like to congratulate the former school board members who moved the school district into being self-insured. Many years ago (no one from the current board) the West Bend School District moved from using the WEA (Wisconsin Education Association-teacher's union) health insurance plan to one that allows us to be self-insured. This move has saved our district millions of dollars every year since. KUDOS to those Board members.
Since that time our district has lacked that type of "thinking outside the box".
In order to continue to meet the needs of our students we will need thinkers on the School Board. As a businessman, I often need to think things through in order to meet the needs of my customers. I offer the same for the school district and the community.


David

I'VE DONE SOME CHECKING

I've found a few interesting items:

• Dollars spent per student in a school district does not mean better test scores. La Crosse, for instance, spends over $12,000 per pupil and their test scores are not any higher and, in some cases lower.
• West Bend, Slinger and Kewaskum all spend about the same per pupil (it looks like Slinger spends the least and has among the best scores in the area).
• Germantown spends more per pupil but is not a self-insured district. That means they spend millions more on insurance for their teachers and administrators by using WEA Trust. If we calculate what West Bend saves per pupil by self-insuring their staff we would be very close in terms of dollars spent per pupil. (I am attempting to get details on the amount saved by self-insuring from the West Bend School District but they are not giving me that information. I do know though that it is in the millions of dollars)

Yes, schools need money to run, but does MORE money mean BETTER schools? It does not appear so................

For the Community of West Bend,

David Weigand

Have you been disappointed in local government?

I know I have been disappointed at times with our school board. Like you, I attended the meetings last fall and felt betrayed when our voices were ignored.
I've done some research from around the state and found that districts spending more money per student do not have better test scores. In fact, I found the opposite.
I applaud our district for offering quality education at lower cost. I believe we can continue to do the same, but it will require strong resolve from school board members, something that has been lacking in the current board. WEAC has been running the show for too long. These are OUR schools, and this is OUR community!
I am a true conservative who believes in local input into matters of policy, and I support less intrusive government. If you want a voice on your local school board who supports community values, I am the candidate for you!