West Bend School District - PLAY BALL!!!

It's going..........



    Teachers in the West Bend School District received a letter Friday afternoon from School Board members explaining the effect salary negotiations could have on the upcoming budget.

    The two-page letter, signed by each member of the school board, states that the “current collective bargaining process is going to directly impact the amount that has to be reduced for next year’s budget.”

.......


It's going................

    School board vice-president Kathy Van Eerden said the letter was designed to connect directly with staff to talk about the budget as discussed earlier this week at a School Board work session. School board president Joe Carlson was unable to be reached in time for publication.

    “We wanted to share our concerns directly with staff members so it was clear to them the impact the reductions could potentially have,” she said.

    School board members also wanted staff to be fully informed about the potential implication of the association’s proposal on the budget, Van Eerden said.

    “We wanted the staff to be fully aware of the position the district finds itself in, and to emphasize the board’s commitment to the district and to acknowledge how much we value them and the work they do,” she said.

.......


It's going...............



    The letter states:

    “We are committed to reaching a voluntary settlements and will work tirelessly to do so. However, the fiscal challenges facing our district are very real and will likely compound in the future....."


...AND IT'S OUTTA THE BALL PARK!!!

    Shelly Krueger, president of the West Bend Education Association, said she was still digesting the information.

    “I understand where the school board is coming from,” she said, but declined to comment further. 


______________________________________________________________________________


Funny how Joe Carlson couldn't be reached for comment on his cell phone!  I don't believe I've ever witnessed that statement in our newspaper before!  


Funny how it was Kathy Van Eerden that made the statement, 'specially since the District is in need of a savior right now, and 'specially since Van Eerden is vying for her  seat at the moment.


Funny how the School District is bemoaning our difficult financial situation NOW. 


Funny. 

GREEN BAY Catholic Diocese CUTS TIES with ESTHER/JOSHUA/GAMALIEL

The Roman Catholic Diocese, in particular Bishop Ricken and Rev. Doerfler, need to be applauded for the strong statement they are sending by disassociating with ESTHER AND JOSHUA a/k/a WISDOM a/k/a GAMALIEL Foundation, all Chicago-style community organizations that have aligned themselves with pro-choice establishments and promote sugar-daddy government.  These are the organizations that are lobbying our legislators for in-state tuition for illegals, government-run healthcare, drivers licenses for illegals, are in favor of Regional Transit Authority (RTA) and repeal of the QEO, opposed to voter photo ID, opposed to the statewide voter registration list, opposed to property tax freezes and support restrictions on 2nd amendment rights of Milwaukee County residents.  Need I say more?

The Roman Catholic Diocese of Green Bay said Wednesday partisan politics played no role in its decision to call for two Fox Valley interfaith groups to sever their ties from their state organization.

Bishop David Ricken sent a letter Saturday to ESTHER of the Fox Valley and JOSHUA of Green Bay asking them to make the move and calling a meeting with Catholic members of the two groups in March.

In the letter, Ricken says ESTHER and JOSHUA’s affiliation with WISDOM, the state umbrella organization of interfaith groups, is problematic because WISDOM is affiliated with the Gamaliel Foundation, a national group whose strategies run counter to Catholic teachings.

“The end does not justify the means,” the Very Rev. John Doerfler, the diocese’s vicar general and chancellor, told The Post-Crescent on Wednesday.

And here's some wisdom from WISDOM.  DISTURBING.

A metropolitan organization is a mass based, multi‑institution, peoples organization that exits for the purpose of amassing and exercising collective power on a local and regional level to address inequality, injustice, poverty and oppression. Its job is to shift the balance of power by aligning the poor and working class urban population with a (predominantly) white, suburban, working class constituency. Metropolitan Organizations will seek to dominate and even dictate public policy decisions without direct engagement in electoral or partisan politics or through purely legal means. Instead, it will rely on the real power of massive and overwhelming numbers and strategic action to win major issue campaigns and further expand its power. Ultimately, these Metropolitan Organizations will be linked together by their staff and key leadership and will have the power to exercise greater influence on a national scale. As the social and physical condition of the urban areas continues to erode and the economic status of the suburban working class deteriorates, the power and importance of Metropolitan Organizations will grow. They may be the only organizations prepared and willing to take regional power to transform the metropolitan area and redistribute wealth and power. And if enough regions are transformed, America is transformed.

Healthy Youth Act/Sex Ed Bill signed into law today by DOYLE

Yes, the Planned Parenthood faux Healthy Youth Act (SB324/AB458) has now finagled its way into our schools thanks to GOV. DOYLE.  All in favor of opting out........

Geography of a Recession - A Real EYE OPENER

Watch as the map progresses from 2007 to 2010.

Click HERE TO SEE THIS MAP IN ACTION.

SB484 BADGERCARE PLUS BASIC is TABLED by Assembly today

State Senate Majority Leader Russ Decker sent the SB484 back to committee today....  Just proves that when the pressure is on during election time, great things can happen!  Keep it up, folks!


FYI...

Senate Bill 484, often referred to as BadgerCare Plus Basic, was scheduled in the State Senate today, Tuesday, February 23. 


BadgerCare Plus Basic is health insurance for the 21,000 people on the Badger Care Plus Core plan waiting list due to the enrollment cap the Department of Health Services implemented in the fall of 2009. BadgerCare Plus Basic is intended to be funded entirely by premiums paid by enrollees. Here is a link to the bill.


MORE FROM THE MACIVER INSTITUTE:

However, critics argue Erbenbach’s plan is impractical.  First of all, at $130 a month, it is cost prohibitive to low-income individuals, they say.  Also, since it may only serve five thousand people, the insurance pool is too small, bringing in only $7.8 million a year to cover medical costs. 

“If you get a couple of hits, boom, that sucker’s gone!  And that’s the life of being a government insurance company, and that’s the problem,” argued Sen. Ted Kanavas (R-Brookfield). 

Senator Kathleen Vinehout (D-Alma) also disagrees with Erpenbach’s plan.  “Badger Basic, continues everything that’s wrong with our current health care system,” she said bluntly. 

“Because the state doesn’t have any extra revenue, the plan is supposed to be paid for with premiums. But with 50% of the potential population without income, so it’s hard to set a premium low enough that covers costs,” Vinehout continued.  “Badger Basic puts the risk on the state and taxpayers.”

.......

Erpenbach admits BadgerCare Plus Basic is far from ideal. 

“It’s not like we’re going out and saying ‘Hey, come on.  We’ve got this great plan."

Planned Parenthood breaks the law - AGAIN. Tells minor how to get around disclosing RAPE.

Library Parking Lot looks like.....books!

"Novel" idea!  Curtsy to Safelibraries!

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.

Electoral College at Risk

Seems the electoral college is a liberal [sic] threat.  National Popular Vote an UNpopular move.

From Eagle Forum:

The EC represents the genius of our Founding Fathers and it was part of the
great compromise which transformed us from 13 rival colonies into a
constitutional republic.

· This great compromise gave us a Congress consisting of the Senate based on
equal representation of the states and the House based on population. The
EC is the mirror image of this compromise and allows all states to be players
in the process of electing our President.
· The EC is the vehicle that gives us a President who achieves a majority in a
functioning political process.
· Without the EC, we would always be saddled with minority Presidents
without an adequate basis of support for leadership.
· The EC ensures that no single faction or issue can elect a president because
he must win many diverse states to be elected.
Conclusions:
· This campaign effort is likely just the beginning of an effort to bring national
government under the control of large and liberal states.
· The abolition of the EC contradicts our constitutional republic’s state and
federal government sharing of powers.
· Choosing presidents is one of our states’ powers, and we should not remove it
to begin a centralized national American government

First in the hearts of his countrymen - Happy Birthday, Mr. Washington

"First in war, first in peace, and first in the hearts of his countrymen, he was second to none in humble and enduring scenes of private life. Pious, just humane, temperate, and sincere; uniform dignified, and commanding; his example was as edifying to all around him as were the effects of that example lasting; correct throughout, vice shuddered in his presence and virtue always felt his fostering hand. The purity of his private charter gave effulgence to his public virtues." --John Marshall, official eulogy of George Washington, delivered by Richard Henry Lee, 1799

Just for fun...Chuck Norris

Just for fun.

Go to Google.


Type in "Find Chuck Norris" (without the quotation marks, of course)


Click on "I'm Feeling Lucky"


Enjoy!

Steven Crowder on... Global Warming

Adopt a Liberal

Liberty Counsel has this to offer:

We have produced a deck of cards, similar to baseball trading cards, as a part of Liberty Counsel's Adopt A Liberal™ program, which garnered international attention by encouraging prayer for those in leadership to restore poor leaders to right thinking.

One side of each card displays the picture of a liberal, and the back lists some of their liberal positions or policies that negatively impact life, liberty and family. The deck of liberals includes Democrats, Republicans, Independents, and those who are not political leaders but whose leadership and actions affect our lives.

.......

Order yours for a donation of $20.00 or more by calling Liberty Counsel at 800-671-1776, or make a donation online and be sure to make a note in the comment box that you want the cards.

.......

Adopt a liberal from the list below, or select the "unknown liberal." Click on a name for more information about these misguided leaders.

Mayor Michael Bloomberg
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton
Congressman Barney Frank
Director John Holdren
Mr. Barry Lynn
Secretary Janet Napolitano
President Barack Obama
Senator Harry Reid
Speaker Nancy Pelosi
Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger
Senator Olympia Snowe
Alan Colmes
Keith Olbermann
Rachel Maddow

Too Late to Apologize

Curtsy Boots and Sabers via James T. Harris:

West Bend School Board Incumbents

PLEASE, NO MORE SONG AND DANCE ROUTINE......

Personalize funny videos and birthday eCards at JibJab!

Stavros Flatley - For your mid-week viewing entertainment!

STAVROS FLATLEY:  Father/son duo does Greek dance on Great Britain's "You've Got Talent" -




For the Riverdance version, go here for a real treat!

Planned Parenthood Valentines promote risky sex - CONDOMS AND TIC/TAC/TOE

How's this for an eye-appealing Valentine?  Maybe you could stock up with discounted product for next year?  Message inside - "I like playing with you!"

(YES, THOSE ARE CONDOMS)

or how about this for that someone you love.....

Message inside reads "I always stay safe with my pants on the ground."

NICE.

Another card features a cartoon penis ogling a female condom and saying, "Looking good sexy thing!" The inside states, "We were made to be together."

The inside of each card contains a square box that says "Place condom here."

These products brought to you courtesy of 

anti-life, baby killing organization

"Planned Parenthood"

Planned Parenthood's commitment to promoting abstinence is outright LAUGHABLE.

Afterthought:  

Wonder if they'll offer these as part of their educational platform in the public schools?  

Conservatives are....."anti-education????"

Let the cartoons begin.

West Bend Daily News today:


  “I think it is very clear there are two sides of this debate,” said Corazzi. “There are two candidates who are committed to no tax increases and two candidates dedicated to maintaining quality education. The vote shows there are more people in the pro-education camp.” 


So let's try to understand what Corazzi is saying here.  Quality education means higher taxes and more money. Period.  No options.  If you don't agree, you are "anti-education."  Uh huh.  Right.  It appears that this is just an attempt to smear while giving thanks for passing the primary.  I noticed nobody else seized that opportunity.  Maybe it's because they have class.


That's okay.  Go ahead, Mr. C, do your thing.  


Tax and spend, Mr. Corazzi.  Tax and spend.

Election Results will appear HERE - FINAL NUMBERS IN

Watch for election results here this evening.

OR go HERE to check on results for your area - Hartford, Cedarburg, Germantown and Richfield

ELECTION RESULTS BELOW:

TIME:  9:31  FINAL

3rd District Alderman



West Bend Alderperson #3            
REPORTING100%



  LuAnne Salmon     255   43%

Ed Duquaine         228   39%

Dan Krier                109   18%

West Bend School Board	REPORTING	100%
	Kathy Van Eerden (inc)	1,386	22%
	Lynn Corazzi (inc)	1,379	21%
	Randy Marquardt	1,339	21%
	David Weigand	1,326	21%
	Doug Ziegler	652	10%
	Douglas Rakowski	173	3%
	Carl Knepel	76	1%
	Bart Williams	47	1%

VOTE IN TODAY'S PRIMARY ELECTION

GET OUT AND VOTE TODAY - PRIMARY ELECTION!

DON'T KNOW WHERE TO VOTE?

CLICK HERE FOR YOUR WASHINGTON COUNTY POLLING PLACES!

Thieves in the night..... Corazzi and Vaneerden signs appear - Duquaine signs are stolen

Word on the street.


Over 45 signs belonging to Ed Duquaine, candidate for 3rd District Alderman, were stolen overnight.


For the second time, Corazzi and Vaneerden signs have appeared without permission on private property located at 18th and Decorah.


The monkeyshines have begun.  Wonder if the incumbents know?


This kind of behavior is inappropriate and hurtful to campaigners.  For shame.

VOTE TOMORROW - PRIMARY ELECTION!

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*

I really must ENDORSE...

....the incredible and innovative new..........


KITCHENAID BEATER!


My daughter gave this to me for Christmas and we had to exchange for the correct size.  Just used it this week.  AMAZING!  LOVE IT!  If you own a KitchenAid, you know the frustrations of having ingredients collect at the bottom of the mixing bowl.  Problem solved!  This attachment is way, WAY cool!  Highly recommend it!  Got mine HERE.

West Bend School Board Candidate Forum - Video

You can read a synopsis of the event HERE at Boots & Sabers.  No need for me to reiterate as I agree with Owen's take.  The questions were fair and balanced.  An overall well done forum.

I shot some footage.  I was unable to catch all the questions on the video, but you can get the gist by the answers of the candidates.  I believe I missed one of Randy Marquardt's answers on one of them.  Sorry 'bout that.  For what it's worth....

West Bend School Board CANDIDATE FORUM tonight - 6:30 p.m.

Glacier Hills Credit Union is hosting a candidate forum tonight.  SCHOOL BOARD CANDIDATES will be participating.

Moderator:  Craig Farrell, West Bend Area Chamber of Commerce

WHERE:  Council Chambers, 1111 S. Main Street (in back of Police Department)
TIME:  6:30 p.m.

Consider attending!

TOWN HALL MEETING, SENSENBRENNER, MONDAY - WEST BEND

Topic: Town Hall

Official: Rep. F. James Sensenbrenner (R-WI 5th) 

When: 02/08/2010

Starts: 07:00 PM

Where: West Bend City Hall 

1115 South Main Street 

West Bend, WI 53095

MONDAY NIGHT - West Bend School District Discusses Challenge Day/POLICIES

NOTICE OF MEETING

BOARD INSTRUCTION COMMITTEE

Badger Middle School

710 S. Main Street

Room 210

5:30 – 6:15 pm

February 8, 2010

Call to order

1. School Improvement Plan Fair Park (M. Murphy) 10 minutes

2. Action Research Proposal (T. Neitzke) 5 minutes

3. 4 Year Old Kindergarten Feasibility Study – discussion: (T. Neitzke)

15 minutes

4. AODA Grant Update - Challenge Day (K. Zarling) 10 minutes

5. Virtual Update (J. Levash) 5 minutes

Adjourn

From 6:20 – 6:50 p.m., members of the Board of Education will meet in the Badger Middle School Library to dialogue with parents and staff.

FOLLOWED BY...

Regular Board of Education Meeting

Badger Middle School – Buddy’s Den

710 S. Main Street

West Bend WI 53095

February 8, 2010

7:00 p.m.

AGENDA

7:00     1. Call to Order

            2. Star Spangled Banner, sung by Badger 7th grade student Caitlin

Brunner

7:03     3. Approval of Agenda

7:04     4. Recognition of ProStart 1 students for passing the National Servsafe

exam for national certification and 5 year license

7:09     5. Recognition of Jennifer Spors for obtainment of National Board

Certification

7:14     6. Student Reports – update on high school events

7:17     7. Superintendent’s Report-update on recent as well as upcoming events

7:20     8. Public Participation

7:22     9. Board Briefs – update on community events

          10. Discussion

7:32        a. Leverage Point: Student Performance & Trend Data

Badger Middle School Improvement Plan (15 minute

presentation, 5 minute Q & A)

7:52 Leverage Point: Strategic Infrastructure (Policy)

              b. First Reading of Revised Board polices: 

185 Board Committees,

823 Procedures for Release of Records, 424 Participation of

Non-Public School Students in District Programs/Activities, 432:

School Attendance Area and New Board policy 167: Conflict of

Interest

          11. Action Items

7:57       a. Consent Agenda

• i. Minutes of the January 25, 2010 Regular Board Meeting
• ii. Disbursements Posted to February 8, 2010
• iii. Ratification of Contracts

7:59       b. 2010-2011 School Calendar

8:05   12. Committee Reports

              a. Board Instruction (2/8)

              b. Facilities (2/8)

8:08   13. Key Topics for Board Bits article

          14. Future Agenda Items

8:10       a. Board meeting calendar

8:11   15. Adjourn

West Bend School District scrambling to rescue $12,000+ grant money going down the toilet

Challenge Day.    It's baaaaaaack........

This time, though, the disctrict administration is trying to work through issues to save the $12,000+ AODA grant money they decided to use for this inappropriate and wasteful program.  This grant was ok'd by the school board, but the program never was.  When parents caught wind, they decided to get vocal, calling the district administration with their opposing viewpoints concerning the way this program operated and could potentially affect and harm district children (with deep roots in religion, by the way).  In reaction, the school district allegedly shut down Challenge Day in a closed session without it ever appearing on the agenda.  Ouch.  A real no-no.

Now it seems that Ted Neitzke, Supt. of Curriculum and Instruction, is trying to salvage the UNREFUNDABLE $12,000.  Kathy "I don't have to respond to your open records requests" Zarling is scrambling to whip up a program of some kind that will dump Challenge Day on our teachers in what is being deemed a "modified" version. 

In this case, the school district has abused, and lost, some solid financial grant money that could have been put to good use on an AODA program (it's original intent).  Instead, the originally planned psychfest has been vomited into the laps of our schoolteachers.

Just wondering...will they get paid for taking part in this 6-hour session?

And who exactly brought this program to the district?  It's rumored that retired Supv. of Curric., Mary Jane Burdge, had something to do with it....

Challenge Day.  Indeed.

South Milwaukee **State of EMERGENCY** - Don't Drink the Water

Heads' up, South Milwaukee.

SOUTH MILWAUKEE, Wis. --  The City of South Milwaukee is declaring a State of Emergency.


Residents are warned that tap water may be contaminated and that it should not be used for drinking, making ice, brushing teeth, cooking or bathing of infants.

Boiling water prior to use will not make it safe at this point in time.

.....

Residents with any questions can call the South Milwaukee Health Department at 414-768-8055 or visit http://www.ci.south-milwaukee.wi.us/.

02/05/10 UPDATE:  SOUTH MILWAUKEE WATER DECLARED SAFE

Green Bay taking the hit with open enrollment - losing 600+ students; West Bend next?

Parents, do you like where your children are going?



GREEN BAY (AP) — Wisconsin’s school districts are competing for students and state aid with the beginning of the open enrollment period today.
From viral videos to newspaper ads and front page links on school district Web sites, recruiting efforts are under way.
The open enrollment period, from Feb. 1 to Feb. 19, allows parents to apply to send their children to any public school district of their choice. Last school year, more than 28,000 students participated.
WLUK-TV reports that school districts are faced with tight budgets and are competing to fill their buildings in order to avoid cuts. School districts receive nearly $6,500 in state aid for each student enrolled.

Summing up liberals - Belling

OPEN ENROLLMENT - The "other" school choice

OPEN ENROLLMENT applications are now available at the DPI website from today until February 19.

"Wisconsin's inter-district public school open enrollment program allows parents to apply for their children to attend school districts other than the one in which they reside."

Click HERE for the brochure, information and application.

Looking for choices other than public schools?  West Bend/Jackson has plenty to offer!

St. John's Grade School (K-8)
Holy Angels Grade School (K-8)
Living Word Lutheran High School (Jackson)
Kettle Moraine Lutheran High School (Jackson)
Morning Star Lutheran Grade School (K-8) (Jackson)
David's Star Lutheran Grade School (K-8) (Jackson)
Good Shepherd Lutheran School (K-8)
St. Frances Cabrini Grade School (K-8)
St. Mary's Grade School (K-8)