RICK SANTORUM IN WEST BEND on MONDAY 4/2

RICK SANTORUM

IN 

WEST BEND 

MONDAY from 1 to 2 
CORRECTED TIME: 
12:30 - 1:30 p.m.

RIVERSIDE BREWERY AND RESTAURANT

255 SOUTH MAIN STREET

GSA Roots go Deeeeeeeeep -----to Bullying and Sex

Well said.

DO ACTIVIST GROUPS BELONG IN OUR SCHOOLS?

There has been recent movement in the West Bend School District to allow the Gay/Straight Alliance school club status. (current clubs and school policy are listed below)

Since schools are part of our community, and citizens are compelled to fund them for educating the children of the community, I thought I’d do some research to find out more about the group that wants to be a school sanctioned club. Their website (found by doing a Google.com search) was the most logical place to begin. I was looking for compelling evidence that this group fits in with the educational goals of the local schools.

If the GSA is granted club status, they will have daily access to all children attending the schools. In the meeting on Monday May 9^th they said they were a “support group” and that they did not support bullying in the schools.

Let’s take a look at what I found.

WEBSITE FACTS:

They call themselves an “activist group”. They want to “transform schools”.

http://www.gsanetwork.org/what-we-do/transforming-schools

This is from Wikipedia and explains what contemporary activism is:

Activism consists of intentional action to bring about social, political, economic, orenvironmental change. Activism can take a wide range of forms from writing letters to newspapers or politicians, political campaigning, economic activism such asboycotts or preferentially patronizing businesses, rallies, street marches, strikes, both sit-ins and hunger strikes.Some activists try to persuade people to change their behavior directly, rather than persuade governments to change laws. Thecooperative movement seeks to build new institutions which conform to cooperative principles, and generally does not lobby or protest politically.

In what ways do they intend to “change your school, transform your school?”

Listed are: activities, books, more about their “activist group”.

http://www.gsanetwork.org/resources/posters-movies-and-more/recommended-books

(some of the listed books are the highly controversial books recently opposed locally)

Several books are recommended on the GSA website. This is just one example of the offerings this school club recommends to kids.

From the report, The Legal Liability Associated with Homosexuality Education in Public Schools: http://www.ccv.org/wp-content/uploads/2010/04/Legal_Liability_of_Homosexuality_Education1.pdf

the novel Rainbow Boys, three 17-year-old boys explore their homosexual attractions. Frequent themes include obtaining pornographic magazines18 and movies19, as well as graphic descriptions of masturbation20. The book features a scene where one of the teen boys has anal intercourse without a condom with a 29-year-old man he has just met via the Internet.

One event listed on their website is the annual “Pride March”.

http://www.gsanetwork.org/pride

READ MORE HERE

Parents Outraged Over SEX Survey for KIDS in West Bend

Referring to the recent SEX SURVEY for 11-18 year olds in the previous post, I've decided to share a few things I learned over the course of the past 24 hours.

I've received numerous calls, Facebook messages and emails from parents/friends who want to know what this is "all about." They have seen a few of the questions from the survey posted here and elsewhere and are outraged. Parents are feeling that a government-run school should not be digging into the sex lives (or lack thereof) of their kids. I agree. This has crossed the line of parental authority.

While the survey letter indicates a parent can opt out, why is this an automatic OPT IN? Why wasn't a return reply envelope included to encourage parents to send their opt OUT response back to the District?

The letter home should have indicated that a response was REQUIRED one way or the other, and included a return envelope.

WB East HS Principal Cassandra Schug has indicated that parents can COME IN to review the "updated" survey, but it has not been made available via the internet. Most certainly this survey can be scanned and posted quite easily.

This is unacceptable.

Call or email your school board members IMMEDIATELY and ask to have this PLACED ON THE AGENDA as an "action item" to be discussed as a board.

Contact info for School Board Members is as follows:

Joe Carlson jcarlson@west-bend.k12.wi.us

Todd Miller tmmiller@west-bend.k12.wi.us

Kris Beaver kbeaver@west-bend.k12.wi.us

Dave Weigand dweigand@west-bend.k12.wi.us

Randy Marquardt rmarquardt@bkoenig@west-bend.k12.wi.us

Doug Ziegler kbeaver@west-bend.k12.wi.us

Tim Stepanski tstepanski@west-bend.k12.wi.us

Doug Ziegler Sworn In to Fill Vacant School Board Seat in West Bend

Filling the vacancy left when former school board member, Bruce Koenig resigned, Doug Ziegler was sworn in tonight to finish off Koenig's remaining three months on the school board.


Left to right, school board members Randy Marquardt, Doug Ziegler and Dave Weigand.

West Bend School District Reviews Complaint & Ethics Policies

West Bend School District Policy Committee met at 5 p.m. today to discuss Complaint and Ethics policies.  

Committee consisted of Dave Weigand, Randy Marquardt, Joe Carlson, Jeff Nennig (and there were a few others present from the Finance dept. - didn't know everyone).

First policy discussed was Policy 872 "Complaints Concerning District Officials and School

Personnel (revised)

Dave Weigand made the point that the School Board has a code of self governance.  

Jeff Nennig explained the policy as one that directs incoming complaints to the School Board president.  From there it is forwarded to the District's legal counsel.

Weigand stated that the District's legal counsel does not represent the board member OR the citizens, and that we leave a lot to the discretion of the District's legal counsel, that there is a lot of latitude for the legal counsel in making recommendations to the board regarding what constitutes an ethics complaint.  Also stated that the legal counsel must be someone who is above standard quality and someone that we trust to be accurate.

Randy Marquardt noted there was nothing in the policy that he felt took away any power from the School Board.

Joe Carlson felt that complaints should also include remedies from the complainant and asked to have that step included in the policy.  We should be "looking for some way to keep it (the complaint) from being fired off to Mary (Hubacher)..."

It seemed that all agreed the policy should be rewritten to include the above and brought back for review.

__________________

Next was review of Policy 165 ETHICS (revised).

Dave Weigand said, "I think a lot of the items on here (the policy) wouldn't fall under the auspices of ethics."  "It's more like a job description."  and "This policy is not meant to be used to be thrown back in someone's face."

Joe Carlson noted it was more of a "code of conduct."

Weigand stated that he was not sure "if that's really ethical.  We already do that (policy) because that's the protocol."  Weigand also pointed out "This policy should not be construed to inhibit a board member from freedom of speech."  Weigand suggested an "umbrella" over the policy that stated the intentions of the policy itself.

When Randy Marquardt questioned Jeff Nennig as to other area school district policies, Nennig offered to get samples for review.

All committee members agreed to review the Complaint and Ethics policies at the next committee meeting.

Carlson suggested making the Ethics policy two-fold; one part could reflect board ethics that includes the state statutes, the other part could reflect the school board code of conduct, which would reflect the expectations of the District.

____________________

Third policy, Fiscal Management,  Policy 620 Purchasing Guides (revised)

Policy states that we purchase from the "most qualified supplier."  All agreed this needs to be defined.  

Bob Buchholz, Administrator of Finance, stated there could be a number of items that could be used to determine qualification, i.e., past provider experience, service, are they local.....

Marquardt did not want to be locked in to the lowest bid as the only deciding factor, and wanted to see some leeway...

Nennig said there is a district policy on vendor preference and that a local vendor would be a preferred choice.

Discussion went around the room concerning prequalification.  Marquardt suggested that prequalification take place for bids of certain dollar amounts, preferably larger bids.

Policy will be rewritten to reflect changes and brought back for review at the next committee meeting.

West Bender Rejects ObamaCare in a Big Way

This appeared in the West Bend News today.  Gotta love it!

West Bend Storm Damage

Cleanup at First Baptist Church on Main Street/West Bend

I was driving home yesterday when these storms blew threw West Bend, so I arrived just after the worst had passed.  We had a partial tree down in our back yard with minor damage.  My daughters had rescued outside furniture and odds/ends.  We lost power from about 5 to 11:30 p.m.  Drove around today and looked at some of the damage.  Pics are below.  There was hardly a street we traveled that did not have folks out with chain saws, rakes, or piles of brush in front of their homes.  Seems like today was work day for all....


Some interesting video HERE from Fox6 and articles HERE and HERE.

Hwy. NN

Tree on top of building in WB Industrial

Park off Rusco Drive

Unfortunate parking location, Maplewynde Subdivision

Most West Bend streets looked like this.

Uprooted tree, Steiner Electric, WB Industrial Park

Downed tree in our subdivision...

Hwy. P between West Bend and Jackson

This one looks more like a lightening strike.

                                                     Men at work.

Maple Drive Subdivision

East Paradise Drive

Finished.

New Signage Posted in Wash. County Sends Message to Liberals

This new sign just popped up at the intersection of Hwy. 33 and Hwy. 144, west out of West Bend going towards Allenton.  The message is clear.

West Bend Memorial Day Parade 2010 - Video

WEST BEND MEMORIAL DAY PARADE - AN HONOR TO OUR VETERANS



RIVER CITY IRREGULARS



OUR VERY OWN TALENTED WEST BEND HIGH SCHOOLS MARCHING BAND

West Bend School District talks cutting positions - forgets WEAC

Notice how WEAC is never mentioned by Herdrich.  Let's put the push for INCREASES by WEAC on the inclusion list for "uknown factors."  Seems WEAC is all FOR tax levy increases in West Bend, just as long as it doesn't affect teacher salaries....


Lest we forget:  Shelly Krueger, co-president of the Teacher’s Union, took the microphone together with Kim Will to announce that the Union and the teachers are willing to work on a compromise to help the School District in these financially challenging times. Words like ‘shared sacrifice’ went along side with ‘contract negotiations’.  

   Recommendations for the the 2010-11 preliminary budget the West Bend School Board received Monday included job cuts that would equal 26.1 teaching positions. 

    Balancing the budget will require the board to make $2 million in reductions. 

    The proposed cuts would mean the elimination of a librarian and a gifted and talented teacher at the elementary level; one dean of students at the middle school level; and a minimum of eight teaching positions and two cheerleading coaching positions at the high school.

......

 Also proposed are reductions in maintenance positions amounting to $125,000 and in system operations, $299,000. 

.....

    Currently unknown factors - such as the staff contract settlement, state aid calculations, potential changes to the levy assumption, and student enrollment will have an impact on what a final budget may look like.

Don't let THE LIBS decide the General Election Ballot for you! Get out and VOTE TOMORROW!

PRIMARY ELECTION IS TOMORROW, FEBRUARY 16

DON'T KNOW WHERE TO VOTE?

CLICK HERE FOR YOUR WASHINGTON COUNTY POLLING PLACES!

BE A RESPONSIBLE AMERICAN - VOTE.

*MARQUARDT*WEIGAND*BASSILL*DUQUAINE*

BWW Blazin' Challenge in West Bend - Girl's Just Gotta Have Fun

Though this was last year, this willowy young gal just makes me laugh as she breaks the stereotype for BWW hot-wing pounders!  12 wings in under two minutes!  UGOGIRL!

School board candidacy closes in West Bend with 8 running

Today was the final day for filing candidacy papers to run for the West Bend School District board.

The following persons have filed:

*Denotes incumbent

Carl W. Knepel (Heard he was going to withdraw from running.  He wouldn't stand a chance in this race anyway.)
Kathy Van Eerden*  (Yes to tax levy.  Yes to harassment policy that gives special protection to only certain classes of kids.  Yes to all things Joe Carlson.)
Bart Williams
Lynn Corazzi* (Filling in for John Duwell who stepped down earlier this year.  Head nodder.  Yes to tax levy. Yes, yes, yes.)
Randy Marquardt
Doug Ziegler
Douglas Rakowski (Library board member - a good thing to take note of)
Dave Weigand

So glad to see Bart Williams' name in the hat.  Smart as a whip, previous experience with New Berlin school board, unafraid.  Randy Marquardt is a strong choice for a candidate as well as Dave Weigand.  With these three in the forefront, I believe this will be a very, very good race for conservatives in spring.

Snow Dumpage

Took a few more pics this a.m. before hitting the coffee pot.  I like the "drive away and leave the mess for the kids" attitude!  (Note tire tracks leaving the garage...)

(Above)  My kids have always referred to this look as a "powdered sugar" day.


Looks like the Christmas bush out front may have to undergo a little rescue operation...   >>>>>>

West Bend School District CLOSED for Wednesday - Official SNOW/PLAY day!

West Bend, Kewaskum, Hartford, Kettle Moraine Lutheran, Jackson - virtually of Washington County is shut down for Wednesday.  Happy faces, kids!  (Secretly working on my chore list now!)


BLIZZARD WARNING IN EFFECT.

Winter's Official Arrival

Snow Total 3-4" today....  SUNBURST SKI RESORT is open with up to 15" of snow base on two runs; three more runs being groomed and ready soon.

West Bend Librarians/ Board Members reach for celebrity status among peers

Here's the latest gossip.


Publication:APD - West Bend Daily News;
Date:Jul 3, 2009;


The fight over which books should be allowed in the young adult category of the West Bend library will be the subject of a panel discussion during the nation’s largest gathering of librarians this month in Chicago.



West Bend Community Memorial Library Director Michael Tyree, Young Adult Librarian Kristin Pekoll, Library Board Chairman Barbara Deters, former library Board trustee Mary Reilly-Kliss and community organizer Maria Hanrahan, who started West Bend Parents for Free Speech, will conduct a panel discussion about the West Bend book controversy Monday, July 13, during the seven-day American Library Association (ALA) annual conference.

......

So, West Bend, how do you feel about the librarians that you pay to represent you appearing as "special guests" to speak about how they shut you down? Use West Bend as their example of how others can follow suit and bow to the ALA's policies instead of community standards? Reduce a community to nothing more than a "yes man" to the ALA? Not only do your tax dollars pay the salaries of these librarians, they pay for them to work against your values as a community. Apparently, they are proud of it, too.

....

No city money is being used to pay for the locals to participate in the ALA conference, Tyree said. Their expenses are being covered by the organization. “It’s a two-hour discussion,” Tyree said, “We’re a new addition to the ALA schedule.” “I’m definitely excited to participate,” said Pekoll, a seven-year veteran of the West Bend library. “I’ve never had an opportunity to go to ALA before.”

.....

I was hoping to receive a thank you note from Pekoll for helping her along to her first ALA conference. It's the very least she could do since she would not have achieved this attention had WBCFSL not brought it to the attention of the community.

....

The panel discussion is sponsored by the ALA’s Office for Intellectual Freedom (OIF), Intellectual Freedom Committee and the Freedom to Read Foundation.

Yes, we know them well. They are the organization that came in and trumped parent/taxpayer wishes. For some reason, the ALA/OIF seems to think they know West Bend better than it's citizens do. We shouldn't be surprised, I guess, since this is their common practice.

....

“Meet the librarians and community members who are fighting to keep library materials on the shelves in West Bend, Wis.,” is how the June 30 ALA news release announcing the panel discussion describes the event.

....

As opposed to WBCFSL, who is fighting to keep library materials on the shelves in West Bend, Wis. Since we agree, we think we should be able to attend, as well! We can explain why our only difference is that we would like the books appropriately placed according to community standards, and that parents really DO care what how their library represents them, and expects them to follow through, as well.



Pekoll said the library is putting together a PowerPoint presentation that includes some graphics, pictures of the library and city and clips from the June 2 Library Board meeting that included more than two hours of public comment about the YA books.

....

Wow. I hope that isn't being done on taxpayer time. We will be asking that this same PowerPoint presentation be made available to the citizens of West Bend. After all, we want to know how we are being represented to the nation!

Saturday's 4th Festivities - West Bend

REGNER PARK - 10:30 am to 4:00 pm

10:30 FREE Root Beer Floats (kids 12 & under)

11:00 Beach opens. Food, Beverages, Desserts & Kids Games

11:30 Marchinig Band Music Concert and Parade Contest Awards

12:00 Duck Derby, Karaoke with Dawn Jones, and Kids Karaoke Contest


RIVERSIDE PARK -- 6:00 pm to 10:00 pm

6:00 Food, Beverages, Snacks & Desserts, DJ Music & Dancing

7 & 8 West Bend Dance Tumbling Troupe

9:30 Westbury Bank FIREWORKS