David Weigand for School Board: A GOOD START TOWARDS BALANCING THE BUDGET

Wednesday, January 27, 2010

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

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THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT

It is an honor for me to have advanced to the April 6th general election for West Bend school board. It excites me to know that I have an opportunity to join the team that holds our schools accountable as they prepare our kids to enter adulthood. Whether they choose to enter technical school, the workforce, the military, become moms and dads, or attend college, our goal is to help them become responsible Americans and community members with the strong work ethic that built our great country. I know we can do better. We have community resources that will make our schools better and our families stronger; we must tap into those resources. Doing this will build a stronger community, and will allow us to provide sustainable high quality education in our district by fully expecting to achieve maximum value for the generous support our community already provides. We must explore this. We know that McLane and Jackson elementary schools produce the highest test scores in the district. We must look at what those schools are doing and replicate it throughout the entire district instead of trying to “reinvent the wheel” elsewhere. I have many ideas and am excited that I am one step closer to bringing them to the table. We can do better. Thank you again for your support. David Weigand, West Bend School Board Candidate

Support Marquardt, Weigand for School Board

The West Bend School District faces many challenges such as improving communication with and participation by the community, student academic performance, budgetary constraints (especially with high unemployment, limited state aid, etc.), facilities needs, compliance issues and more.
Students are the ultimate customers of our schools and represent our future, and the school district’s shareholders (taxpayers) make it all possible.
Because I couldn’t support any of the candidates who had filed as of Dec. 23 to run for the School Board, I threw my hat in the ring. At the time, there were only four candidates. That number has since doubled to eight, including two I fully support – Randy Marquardt and Dave Weigand.
Randy and Dave share my vision that our School Board should be an independent oversight body diligently, fairly, reasonably and respectfully balancing the needs of all stakeholders – students, taxpayers, parents, teachers, district administration, businesses, etc.
Randy and Dave know district residents deserve maximum value and effectiveness from their generous support of our schools. They will enhance the communication/partnership between the community and our school district to ensure educational excellence, responsible decisions, properly maintained facilities, and independent, accountable and open/transparent board oversight.
They will effectively represent you on the School Board of your district.
With Marquardt and Weigand, we won’t have to worry about expensive tax-increase referenda followed a few months later by the maximum 10.9 percent tax increase, all during the worst recession in decades. I welcome their common-sense, financially responsible approach to our School Board.
I’ve had the honor and privilege of School Board service (one elected term in New Berlin before I chose not to run again for family reasons). I am proud Marquardt and Weigand are running for the School Board, and I ask all residents to please join me in supporting them.

Bart Williams West Bend

WITH REGARD TO TEACHING EVOLUTION OR CREATION IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS

Because I was asked, in a nutshell, this is what I believe:

1. Origin studies, (whether Creation or evolution) and the idea of “millions of years” does not belong in the science classroom because these are not testable, repeatable or observable; they are philosophical and accepted by faith.
2. If evolution is taught in school, students should be taught the truth about it and the scientific data surrounding it. Ideas that were once championed by evolutionists are no longer valid, much like the false science behind man-made global warming. Students deserve the truth.

A return to fiscal sanity

The federal government begins its take-over of the health industry, and also takes control of the student loan business at the same time. The state of Wisconsin is looking to spend a fortune on a Milwaukee to Madison train that no one will ride because we already have roads that run to the same places. Our West Bend school board is unable, or unwilling to make cuts and reel in spending, instead considering yet another referendum to bridge the budget shortfall gap. And the city of West Bend thinks low income housing is the answer to reviving our downtown. We need to stop the fiscal insanity and foolish decision making at all levels of government. These government hand-out programs, and uncontrolled spending are unsustainable. Anyone who takes the time to think it through should realize that the only way to avoid financial ruin of the country is to massively increase taxes at all levels on all taxpayers, and even then the economic future of the country would still be bleak. When the government takes all of your money via taxes, what incentive remains to build up a business, to invest wisely, or even work for that matter. It is time to return fiscal responsibility and a voice of “we the people,” to the ranks of our elected officials. And you can start at the local level by voting for 4 citizens that will bring common sense back to government. Get out and vote on April 6th for Randy Marquardt and Dave Weigand for school board, for Ed Duquaine for Alderman in District 3, and for Mike Bassill for county supervisor in District 5. The future of our country is counting on us. Adam Schensema town of West Bend

‘College or car wash’ theory not good for kids

As a local business owner, I would like to commend the West Bend School Board on the quality of the education our children are receiving. What a wonderful addition to our team the new candidates Randy Marquardt and Dave Weigand will be.
I would like to point out an area where our local school systems fall short in serving our children. It is the “College or Car Wash” theory. In other words, if you don’t go to college, you are worthless to society. An interesting concept when the man running the car wash has reliable full time employment right now. Much of my family and friends with associate’s, master’s and bachelor’s degrees do not.
I am faced year after year with the same problem. Recent high school graduates have an attitude that noncollege careers are degrading, below them and when absolutely necessary only to be used to pay their way through college. They also seem to feel the world owes them everything, want the world handed to them on a silver platter and have poor interpersonal skills.
The School Board and teachers are comprised of great individuals, however, it is not their job to raise our children. While our children are coming out of high school with the ability to further their education and work in an office, they are lacking the ability to show up for work Monday though Friday at 7 a.m. for a job that takes care of an office (service/construction).

Dave Weigand and Randy Marquardt are familiar with this trend. Weigand and Marquardt will help balance practicality and a change to our current situations/ struggles with the strong academic success our current School Board is already achieving. What a wonderful addition to an already exceptional School Board they will be.

Aron Rodman West Bend

Van Eerden not an asset to WB School District

I have been hearing again and again what an asset Kathy Van Eerden has been to the West Bend School District and how much she has done while on the School Board.
If she has been such an asset, why did she never make it known that during her tenure as a board member, the maintenance on Badger Middle School and other maintenance as well was neglected? If she knew money from the maintenance budget was being used for other things, it was her duty to make sure the taxpayers were informed. If she did not know this was happening, why not?
As a School Board member, perhaps that wasn’t where most of her efforts were directed, but she most certainly was responsible over nine years on the board to be aware of funds that were misappropriated from the maintenance budget to other places and to make sure the taxpayers were informed. This was not just about $10-$20, but tens of thousands.

We, the taxpayers of Joint School District #1, need to have people representing us who are going to keep track of everything that goes on in the district and where every penny of taxpayer funds is spent. Only by extreme diligence on the part of the people we elect will we know exactly what is being done with the tax money and exactly how careful the School Board is while spending the funds entrusted to them. The money is not there.
It is time we elected people who have pledged to make sure that funds entrusted to the school district are carefully and appropriately used. Dave Weigand and Randy Marquardt have pledged to do that. They are businessmen who are able to give of their time and experience as School Board members. We need their determination, expertise and honesty.

Mrs. Robert De Tuncq West Bend

Corazzi Makes Absurd Statement

West Bend School Board incumbent Lynn Corazzi and I interpret Tuesday’s election results differently. Mr. Corazzi stated, “The vote shows there are more people in the pro-education camp.” His camp includes fellow incumbent Kathy Van Eerden. This implies remaining candidates must be anti-education. They should be insulted. Who would run for School Board not wanting the best education for each student? Corazzi’s statement is absurd.
Primary results show incumbents receiving 43.5 percent of the total vote. That’s hardly a ringing endorsement for his “pro-education camp.” Most votes came from district employees, their families or those with vested interest in leaving things as they are. Of the remaining 56.5 percent of votes, most see a board that needs change.
Recently we have seen a number of incidents that raise concern. With constant talk of overcrowding, we are building a new Badger Middle School for $27 million that provides no increase in student capacity. There is little transparency to the board, and less after President Joe Carlson’s beat down of member Tim Stepanski.
Talk of referendums and levy increases at a time when the public can least afford them is alarming. Contrary to their public statement, the teachers union is going to arbitration and surely getting a raise, while many city union workers took a voluntary wage freeze. Now the district is rewriting policies that strip the elected board of some of its power and gives it to administration.
It’s been a challenging few years for the board and I’m not satisfied with their performance. On April 6 I will vote for Randy Marquardt and Dave Weigand. They bring common sense, transparency and respect for the taxpayer that’s been in short supply, without losing sight of an obligation to provide quality education.

Bernie Newman West Bend

Reject Incumbents, Elect Newcomers

In the recent School Board primaries there was a lot of talk about “incumbents” and newcomers. Here are some points to consider: Kathy Van Eerden has been on the board for 9 years. In that time she has voted for a minimum of 15 levy increases either via referenda or yearly tax increases. And what have we received? Five years of declining test scores. ACT results below state and national averages and falling (on a 3 year decline). As for Lynn Corazzi – can you even use the term “incumbent”? Corazzi lost his election bid for School Board. He was not elected; he was selected to fill a vacant seat. Selected by the board. Selected by the administration. Rejected by the citizens of West Bend. If these are the “incumbents,” maybe it is time for some “newcomers” who will actually be elected by and representative of the electing citizenship.

James Vickery West Bend

WHY I ENTERED THE SCHOOL BOARD RACE

While attending a few school board meetings last fall, I became concerned that a very large segment of our community was not being represented by the school board. As a parent of a high school student, and a taxpayer, I decided to get more involved and run for school board in order to be a voice for those in the community not being represented.
I believe that less government and more local input is best. As Ronald Reagan stated, "Government is not the solution to our problems, government is the problem." While talking to folks in West Bend, I have heard them state the same.
As I have sat in on committee meetings I've been disappointed that board members do not ask more questions and have more input into the decisions the administration is making.
We in the West Bend school district have a lot to be thankful for. There are some very good teachers teaching our kids. And many of them understand the fiscal problems state and community are facing and would like to work with the school district to solve some of the problems. I also have thought of some ideas that will help us overcome the problems that resulted from a lack of good school board priorities and decisions in the past.
In order to bring my ideas to the table, I need a seat on the school board.
Feel free to contact me to discuss any issue. David Weigand, School Board Candidate

HOW TO FIND A CONSERVATIVE MIND

School days, school days, We’ve lost the Golden Rule days. The 3 Rs were a perfect base, But now they are in second place.

We bus ‘em in, make sure they’re fed, Then down a slippery slope they’re led. If it’s anti-God that’s intellect. We must be sure it’s politically correct. We must appease the NEA, A parent don’t know, but they can pay. Only dollars will solve our needs, The poor taxpayer the coffer feeds.

The School Board needs a conservative mind, Who knows one and one still make two. Dave Weigand I believe is such a man, Check him out, see if it’s true.

John Landvatter West Bend

IT'S TIME FOR INCUMBENTS TO GO!

Years of deferred maintenance. Costly referendums to make up for past mistakes. An exorbitant tax levy that laid guilt trips on parents. Failed teacher negotiations. And now the recently canceled (and wasteful) Challenge Day psych fest for students.

Kathy Van Eerden has been a nine-year incumbent that has lost the trust of the taxpayers in the West Bend School District. Brand new incumbents Dave Weigand and Randy Marquardt hold the greatest promise for our schools and our children. They offer the rebuilding of integrity, transparency and communication with district families and taxpayers.

Vote incumbents out. It’s time to move on West Bend. Cast your votes for Dave Weigand and Randy Marquardt on Feb. 16.

James Weston West Bend

Vote Weigand, Marquardt for School Board

Program cuts, deferred maintenance and referendums, oh my! We need new leadership, strong voices for the people.

With Randy Marquardt’s architectural and CFAC-2 experience, and David Weigand’s expertise as a local independent contractor, we believe they will clearly lead the way for an exciting, new and productive School Board in West Bend.

Marquardt and Weigand are lifelong community members who are in touch with you and me. Cast your vote for Dave Weigand and Randy Marquardt on Feb. 16.

Mark and Diane Fechter West Bend

School Board needs fresh perspective

Our West Bend School District needs true leaders on its board to address the real issues facing us, such as maintaining buildings we already have, making sure students’ academic performance doesn’t decline, and a poor economy that still has the look and feel of a recession. As we’re seeing nationally, higher taxes are not the answer. Randy Marquardt and Dave Weigand understand this. Randy works for a consulting engineering firm, while Dave owns a construction business. Both are very experienced in properly and promptly solving significant problems without simply throwing money at them. Randy and Dave have both lived in West Bend more than 15 years each. Each has children in our district’s schools. Marquardt and Weigand realize that just as families and businesses need to live within a budget and make ends meet, so too does our school district. Endless tax increases and constantly putting unaffordable referenda on the ballot are the wrong path. Budgeting including only what is truly necessary would cut out the wasteful spending that continues to be carried in the budget each year. Randy and Dave have specific ideas on how to end divisive taxing-and-spending currently taking place. They also have good ideas about how to make our education better within the funding the district already has. Their business backgrounds and straightforward manner in resolving issues would be of real value on the School Board, as will their fresh perspective and taxpayer advocacy. On Feb. 16 vote for Randy Marquardt and Dave Weigand. Keith Keehn West Bend

Vote for school candidates with sense

It is with pleasure that I write a letter of endorsement for both Randy Marquardt and Dave Weigand. For the first time, I am very hopeful that positive change could be coming to the West Bend School Board. Both Randy and Dave have been endorsed by Common Sense Citizens of Washington County. Common sense describes both of these candidates and reassures voters that they will be represented according to the standards of the community we live in together. We have seen enough taxation and referendums with the current incumbents. We need change we can trust from people who are community members like the rest of us. With the experience and talents they possess, Randy Marquardt and Dave Weigand have instilled in me the confidence that West Bend will have a brighter future in the years to come. Vote for Marquardt and Weigand on Feb. 16; vote for common sense. Jean Weymier West Bend

Time for new board in challenging times It‘s time for a new West Bend School Board unencumbered by administrative and financial decisions of the past to be seated. Fortunately, two highly qualified candidates have come forward to run for the two seats open on the school board. Dave Weigand and Randy Marquardt represent the community’s best chance to meet the academic, financial and other challenges facing the school district. These candidates will promote a level of transparency and accountability that will foster a greater level of communication between the school and the community. This is especially important as all indications suggest that the school district will need to operate in an economic environment that may not recover for two or more years. The present School Board pushed an enormous referendum and increased the tax levy to 10.9 percent. In the new environment in which the district will have to operate, the trust of the taxpayers is problematic. Weigand and Marquardt will bring new ideas to maximize the school’s finances. Moreover, because they both have children attending the school district, their ideas will not be implemented at the expense of the academic programs. We believe the election of Weigand and Marquardt to the school board is an important moment in the history of the school district. The problems of public education have never been more challenging, and it is very important that qualified individuals are elected to the School Board. We hope that the residents of the school district will cast their votes for these outstanding candidates. Robert and Rhonda LeMay West Bend

Great to see conservative candidates

I think it’s great to see so many conservative candidates running for local offices. Ed Duquaine is running for District 3 alderman, Randy Marquardt and Dave Weigand are running for School Board, and Mike Bassill is running for a seat on the Washington County Board, just to name a few. I wholeheartedly support each one of these candidates in their run for office. I wish all of our elected officials were hard working family minded people like these men. I have talked to all four of them and I feel they will make a positive impact on our community. I encourage anyone that has conservative values and wants to be represented by an official that will work for them to go to the polls and put these gentlemen into office. Paul Wilke West Bend Mark Peterson shows intolerance, lack of sense When Mark Peterson’s column first appeared in the Daily News, I thought it was just written in a manner to get a rise out of the locals, in a predominantly conservative region. As the weeks went by and he spouted off on ridiculous topic after ridiculous topic (including the recent, most-amusing one about how great a senator Russ Feingold has been for the state of Wisconsin), it became clear that the guy really believes in the stuff he is writing. I find it odd that a teacher of philosophy and intro to religion seems to go out of his way to bash and trash anyone who has strong religious beliefs. I also find it pathetic that a person who comes across as a literary wizard, with the big words and terms he attempts to dazzle us with each week, in the end just resorts to name calling, using derogatory terms to refer to citizens attending tea parties, and calling anyone that has political ideals contrary to his own neocons. It would also figure that Mark Peterson wants to discredit School Board candidates Randy Marquardt and Dave Weigand because of their answers on a meaningless survey; since he is the king of quoting obscure surveys and polls as the primary basis of fact to his columns. I believe it is time to rid ourselves of the career politicians and bureaucrats, beloved by the likes of Mark Peterson, that are steering this country in the wrong direction. I encourage you to vote for Randy Marquardt and Dave Weigand, candidates that provide the fiscally conservative common sense values that this community needs. Adam Schensema West Bend