A Few West Bend School Board Facts

Your West Bend School Board:


...is not only running with the $27K referendum, but trying to pull off a HUGE tax increase right along with it.  (Guess your "yes" vote wasn't enough.)

..West Bend was paid $29,084,419 in the 2008-2009 school year.  For this budget, they are projecting $31,291,816 for the same things in the 2009-2010 school year.  In other words, state aid is actually going UP in real dollars.  It appears that the district is playing the favorite game of politicians in claiming that aid that falls short of their expectations are a “cut.”  (Owen did the math.)


...School Board Chairman, Joe Carlson, doesn't believe the public should know about the tax levy.  This is evidenced by his numerous claims of  "disappointment" when challenged by board member, Tim Stepanski to take his opposition behind closed doors.  See here, here and here.


...On the flip side, fiscal conservatives have advocates in Stepanski and Koenig, who appear to be unafraid to represent the constituents who elected them, giving solid representation in a forthcoming and transparent manner.


...Seems Carlson, et. al, are a tad bit disingenuous about the state aid.  (Ya think?) This is being used as the driving force behind justifying district spending, which is scheduled to go down for a vote on Monday night, the 28th at 7 pm at the District Offices.


...Seems some "back door" games are being played to squeeze more $$$$ out of taxpayers. 


Let's flashback to the questionnaire from the last school board election.  


WILL IT TROUBLE YOU TO OPPOSE A BOARD MAJORITY ON AN ISSUE?


STEPANSKI:  No.


TELL US WHAT APPROACHES YOU WOULD EMPLOY TO HOLD MANAGEMENT ACCOUNTABLE FOR MISMANAGEMENT OF DISTRICT RESOURCES?


STEPANSKI:  District resources belong to the taxpayer. It is important that the citizen is made aware of the situation. It is also important that after a complete investigation, the person responsible would be disciplined up to and including termination and possible prosecution.


WHAT IS YOUR PHILOSOPHY ON BALANCING A DISTRICT BUDGET IN DIFFICULT TIMES?


STEPANSKI:  A budget is to be balanced no matter what the situation - good or bad. We are accountable to the taxpayer and it is imperative that we can prove we will operate within our means.


Seems Stepanski is showing he's made of the stuff he promised his constituents.  A very good representation, indeed.


HERE'S AN UPDATE ON THE FIGURES.  OWEN DID SOME RECALCULATING.  CHECK IT OUT HERE.

West Bend School Board takes beating from Belling

Curtsy to Boots and Sabers

Mark Belling spent 20 minutes on his show today covering the reason we have open meetings in America, why they are important, and why West Bend School Board Chairman Joe Carlson’s comments are so out of line. 

Here’s the podcast.  He starts talking about West Bend at about 12 minutes.  He mentions B&S at about 20:50. 

Sensenbrenner Town Hall Meeting in West Bend TODAY

Sunday, September 20th

4:00pm            West Bend City Hall

                        Council Chambers (2^nd floor)
                        1115 S Main St, West Bend

                        ***Please use entrance in rear of building. 
                         There is an elevator to the 2^nd floor

Eagle Forum's Education Reporter now available online

The Eagle Forum's newspaper "The Education Reporter" has now been made available online.


Some interesting reads this issue:

• Obama Unveils Plan to Send Every Student to College
  
• California ACLU Strives to Ban Abstinence Education
  
• Republicans Return to Conservative Roots in Choice of Education Policy Leader
  
• Traditional History Courses Are in Decline
  
• 'Stimulus' Requires States to Put All Students on a Database

But when we get behind closed doors - West Bend School Board - Part 2

Carlson continues on with a 2-minute dissertation on why Stepanski shouldn't be disagreeable on camera stating "I am very disappointed" and that he "needs warning" to discuss any opposition to the issues so the board can "come up with a compromise."


Stepanski's question "What kind of compromise?" to Carlson went unanswered.  Maybe we already know the answer to that one.


Carlson goes on to imply that Stepanski's actions make them appear to be a dysfunctional board.  Oh, and he said "I don't like surprises in my business, and I don't like surprises in situations like this."  So I guess it's about him then.


Sorry, Tim.  Took guts to do what you did, and thanks for trying!  

West Bend School Board should be discussing differences of opinion BEHIND closed doors...and so it goes. PART 1

Sorry for the lag.  You get the idea. 


Stepanski's strategy to bring forth his opinion in healthy debate was not welcomed by School Board President Joe Carlson.  From "his perspective" it should be discussed in "closed session" where the public doesn't hear.


Carlson calls Stepanski's honesty "disappointing."  But wait, there's more.  See Part 2 in next post.

West Bend Library Director Tyree slanders City Councilman Vrana at ACLU fundraiser

Overheard at the ACLU fundraiser in Madison tonight ~


Special guest speaker West Bend Library Director, Michael Tyree, was noting how the Common Council refused the reappointment of four library board members.  He then went on to discuss the fact the many of the City Council members did not own library cards.


Bringing up Alderman Terry Vrana, this is how Tyree characterized him:

 “he may be familiar with porn shops, but he's not familiar with the library” 


West Bend needs to think twice about the character and integrity of a city employee who goes outside of the city in order to slander it's council members and verbally rape it's citizens.


Also in attendance, Mary Reilly-Kliss, Bob Deters and Maria Hanrahan.


A total of 21 were in attendance at the shindig.  

Journal Sentinel reports seniors are "confused"

This headline alone should tick off anyone who falls into the "senior" category.  It's belittling, and it makes older adults sound like Alzheimer's patients.  Nice stereotyping.

Boulton and Umhoefer clearly miss the mark in this article with their biased and laughable take on how seniors really feel about Obamacare.

Seniors increasingly wary, confused about health reform

By Guy Boulton and Dave Umhoefer of the Journal Sentinel

"Nobody seems to be able to explain it in a way I can understand, and I understand common language," said Beulah Mihm, 75..

...

INTERPRETATION:  See?  Old lady - clueless and confused.  Poor thing.

"Don't pay attention to those scary stories about how your benefits will be cut," Obama said during his prime-time appeal to Congress."

..................

INTERPRETATION:  Pay no attention to the swiper behind the presidential podium. 

"The idea of taking money from Medicare to expand coverage for people without health insurance doesn't sit well with some seniors."

..................

Which proves the point that we can truly say to Obama "YOU LIE!"

Discrediting and humiliating the senior sector of our nation is typical leftward lunacy.  Old people don't know 'nuthin.  

Of course maybe, just maybe, the very people who have been witness to the changes in health care over the years, studies their choices, and live in the MediSCare world of health care might, just might, be the very people we should be listening to.  Experience speaks volumes.  

Rock on, 60 Plus Association!