Yes, the big one. I imagine that we will begin our unfinished business section of the agenda around 8:30pm, depending on how many public appearances will take place. First order of unfinished business is the discussion and possible approval of the consolidation of Maywood and Winnequah Schools. This will be followed by the possible approval of some/all/none of our administration's budget reduction proposals. Also to be discussed are the revisions to Board Rule 343.2 Class Size Guidelines and 2010-2011 open enrollm
ent applications. A couple of thoughts- I believe that one of our district's greatest attributes is the passionate and dedicated parental involvement in our schools. Our parents can't be accused of being complacent, they really get out there and advocate for their children and their beliefs. I admire that resourcefulness and encourage it. But when that passion starts edging over the line of common courtesy and decorum, as it did at our last Board meeting, people need to take a moment to reel it back in and regroup. I get it. I get the anger, the desire to be heard, the need to be listened to. Those needs ultimately drove me to run for the Board of Education last year. But I have to tell you, sitting on the other side of the table on the 10th, surrounded by all the booing, hissing and heckling, I was mentally running through all the plot lines of MacGyver episodes and trying to devise an exit strategy with the use of a microphone cord, a ballpoint pen and some bubble gum. I am listening, it's just a lot easier to do when I'm not down in a duck-and-cover. Let's keep it clean, people. See you on the 24th.
ent applications. A couple of thoughts- I believe that one of our district's greatest attributes is the passionate and dedicated parental involvement in our schools. Our parents can't be accused of being complacent, they really get out there and advocate for their children and their beliefs. I admire that resourcefulness and encourage it. But when that passion starts edging over the line of common courtesy and decorum, as it did at our last Board meeting, people need to take a moment to reel it back in and regroup. I get it. I get the anger, the desire to be heard, the need to be listened to. Those needs ultimately drove me to run for the Board of Education last year. But I have to tell you, sitting on the other side of the table on the 10th, surrounded by all the booing, hissing and heckling, I was mentally running through all the plot lines of MacGyver episodes and trying to devise an exit strategy with the use of a microphone cord, a ballpoint pen and some bubble gum. I am listening, it's just a lot easier to do when I'm not down in a duck-and-cover. Let's keep it clean, people. See you on the 24th. 
Good luck on the 24th! Maybe you should pack some extra MacGyver-ish items, just in case... like a paper clip, a ski pole, and a shoelace. Man, I loved MacGyver. Do you think we could get him back on the air? He's probably not as cute now as he was then, but what the heck.
ReplyDeleteNo one should have to re-live macGyver...
ReplyDeleteI agree with you, but it is difficult when some board members seem to love tossing fuel on the fire.
ReplyDeleteJam the pen into an outlet to kill the power and the lights (insulate yourself with the gum), and use the cord to climb out a window to the lower level. Then climb into your bamboo plane and head toward Miami.
ReplyDeleteYes, finally some advice I can use!
ReplyDeleteI have not been paying as close of attention since all the "conspiracy" theories started to be thrown around. But could you enlighten me on the class size issue and what the board plans to do about it? I sure hope that we can keep it at the 24/25 student level at the younger levels. I know in my child's class (at the maximum) the teacher has not done as many "cool things" this year as was done last year (when there was only 17 in the class) probably because there are too many in there to do them... Please don't raise it higher.
ReplyDeleteJessica-
ReplyDeleteI hope you come out alive. Myself, while strongly opinionated and always willing to share my views, will not be there as I cannot take the absolute rudeness of folks who disagree with me. But given the peek I just had at Peter's list, I am pleading with you to give closing Maywood a serious thought. I would hate to see that second tier of cuts happen- and those are things that will really affect kids and programs-So if that is our choice, please have the kids go the extra block. For them.
Thanks for serving
I also thank you for serving. But I also ask that you not give in to bullying, including threats such as recall. So far, you have shown the mental toughness that is needed. Keep up the good work. If you run again, you will be rewarded. If you don't run, you can leave assured you did what you thought was right.
ReplyDeleteWhy exactly do we have to cut anything and gut our wonderful school district to the bone? Let's fix this and preserve our programs and maintain flexibility for Monona's growing population. Delay the closure of Maywood and plan for a fall referendum to preserve Monona Grove's quality schools reputation. Give the people a chance Jessica!
ReplyDeleteMike Meulemans
Here are the savings from closing Maywood per the School District itself - closing Maywood saves about $259,000 (this is a gross amount as we are not including remodeling costs at Winnequah) which leaves $4,741,000 in other cuts that need to be made. In other words, closing Maywood only addresses about 5% of the district’s operating budget shortfall over the next five years. Folks arguing to save programming and Maywood guess what – you are on the same side – we all need more funding – we all need a referendum and we need each other to get the votes to pass one.
ReplyDeleteWhoever you are, anonymous, we agree. If we close Maywood and cut $741,000 in programs in 2010, guess what? we'll have to go through this drama each year in 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2014 to cut $1 million additional each year. I'd hate to see what's left. I don't want my kids to go through that... my 6 year-old first-grader is thinking about this daily as it is.
ReplyDeleteClose it-the rational to keep it open is one that has operating a Winnq. that is partially empty and cutting programs and teachers.
ReplyDeleteThus-until another option is on the table-night-night Maywood.
sorry
Your six year old is thinking about it? Why is that? What is wrong with the adults in this community that they have conversations right in front of children that are inappropriate for such young kids? I had a Mom come to my door this weekend with her little girl asking for signatures to save Maywood! This involvement with the small kids is really pathetic. Kids need your reassurance, not your alliance in your petty adult dramas.
ReplyDeleteJessica - keeping Maywood open another year would serve no purpose. We will just be back here next year fighting over it again, only this time we will be $259K further in the hole. The majority of Monona agrees that it is time to let go to keep programming.
ReplyDelete"Jessica - keeping Maywood open another year would serve no purpose. We will just be back here next year fighting over it again, only this time we will be $259K further in the hole. The majority of Monona agrees that it is time to let go to keep programming."
ReplyDeleteAlso, putting the alt hs in Winneq would be educational unsound. I suggest closing Maywood for the children and keeping the alt. hs where it is and not with a bunch of el. ed. kids.
Even if Mike (who is a wonderful dad. His children are so lucky to have him and his wife as parents) had walked around and talked only after their children were sleeping, the talk of Maywood closing is all over school. By lunchtime, the day after the school board decided to vote on closing Maywood, it was all over school. I think it is better to keep your children informed than hear 3rd hand from other kids what is going on. The school is their WORLD. It is scary to hear that it is closing. So, when people like you suggest so flip to close the place...understand adults are not the only people attached to Maywood.
ReplyDeleteWhich is why the kids need reassurance. Involving them in a door-to-door petition drive is inappropriate. And who said I suggest we close Maywood? I will vote for your spending referendum either way. But I am not so sure other people will be so generous.
ReplyDeleteJessica-
ReplyDeleteGotta say, I am so disappointed. We have a whole bunch of very talented folks who will lose their jobs as a result of last night's vote. And then the same "Save Monona Schools" folks will be upset about class sizes going up and not enough attention to the kids. Well quess what. Everytime this district loses a teacher, our overall ratios of adults to kids goes up. And yes, that will affect every kid. So I am saddened that you chose to set this community up for another year long battle over Maywood. It is already pitting neighbor against neighbor and kids against kids. Now another year- and we lose lots of talented teachers in the meantime. Very Very sad day for Monona.
A concerned Monona Mom
I am for keeping Maywood open, but not at the expense of the teachers and aides we are going to cut to make up for the $250,000. I sure hope you found a way to come up with 250 besides cuttings those library aides and music teacher.
ReplyDelete"I am for keeping Maywood open, but not at the expense of teachers and aids....."
ReplyDeleteSeriously? What did people who advocated for Maywood think would happen? Where's your creative decision making now? How about you find that money for board since the save Maywood group has been quacking about how there must be another way. You got what you wanted, now find the money to save art and music.
Wow. I can't believe that Jessica and the rest of the School Board caved to "politics" and the vocal minority in Monona. I really thought that the School Board would vote close Maywood (for now, hopefully reopening if enrollment went up in five years or so) so that we could move on to worrying about WHAT educational programming our children are getting rather than WHERE they are receiving it. Right now I'm wishing our family had chosen to live in Waunakee over Monona Grove... This is indeed a sad sad day for our students and our staff.
ReplyDeleteWaunakee does look good, doesn't it? Plus, they have better ACT scores...3 years on the board and that upsets Manning so much she has done...nothing. NO MORE MANNING!
ReplyDeleteWhat I can't figure out is why all of these "concerned" citizens, including the Mayor of Monona and the CG Village President, didn't care to stay at the meeting and hear the discussion and vote on the budget cuts. One has to wonder if they aren't really concerned with the welfare of the students and the district, but rather the single issue of Maywood. Sad.
ReplyDeleteI am sad too.....by all the mud slinging that's going on on this site and Peter Sobol's.
ReplyDeleteIt was a tough decision, but now it's made and the time has come for work.
There are a lot of creative options floating around and I hope that they will come to life and make a difference as intended.
Please, let's stop arguing over what has happened and work together to deal with what we are faced with. We were facing a referendum and possibly lost programs and/or teachers regardless of last night's outcome. We need to come together to preserve what makes our communities special.
Thanks for your thoughts, Anonymous. I agree with you one hundred percent on the mudslinging. I'm torn about leaving it up, but I guess there's really no point to having comments on a blog if you only allow positive ones. It's my hope that people will see through the negativity, eventually get tired of participating in it and start redirecting their energy.
ReplyDeleteHere is what I wonder did anyone board members during the debate ask gerlach-what is best for the children and district?
ReplyDeleteNope-the brd played to the politics (Sue Fox stated this fact) and for weeks you have been talking about what is best for the children.
Art Teacher = good for children
Libarians = good for children
class sizes= good for children
Buildings that are under capacity are allowed to continue for what-empty campign promises? The hard thing to do would have been to say-I am sticking to what is good for children...and I have changed my mind.
Will the learning environment be degraded for Maywood students and other students in the district because we did not close Maywood and will be forced to layoff teachers?
ReplyDelete