Myturn wrote on Aug 28, 2008 11:41 AM:
" Mr. Kember- Let's look at it this way. Half of our population is contributing $1.00 for his retirement. Take his salary, then take 11.7% of that salary which you and I contribute to his WRS retirement fund. Then add $10,500 for another annuity for retirement. It is at or around $27k! Our population is around 54,000. Half of us contribute $1.00 for just Kembers retirement fund every year? SICK!!! The worst part is that most of these Board members can not identify with this sickness. "
Myturn wrote on Aug 28, 2008 11:36 AM:
" Think of the money we could have saved! Instead we conduct meetings, burn time, spend money and pruposely manufacture the appearance that we were not headed to 'referendum' a long time ago. This is 'damage control' at it's finest, or worst. Depending where your heart is, or who fills your pocketbook? Let's deliver those 'free' HVAC units. So we can start paying for them! "
*PrivateSectorDoesIt Better* wrote on Aug 27, 2008 12:49 PM:
" Poor BlueStateBruce, he has to go all the way to Philadelphia, the arm pit of liberalism to show us his idea of failure. This example is like changing the crew on the Titanic after hitting the iceburg to validate your liberal views. Fact, there were no vouchers! Where was the free market? Did parents get their choice to pull their kids from those schools? No they did not. The kids still had to go to those same schools and could not transfer out to private schools of their choice. How about our private schools here in La Crosse, such as Aquinas? How about Milwaukee and New York city where it is a success? http://www.aei.org/publications/pubID.17640/pub_detail.asp "
Vindicator wrote on Aug 27, 2008 7:46 AM:
" BSB whats the problem? Caught between a rock and a
hard place? Since local education is doing fine(your words) and the district is flush with cash why the need for a referendum? LOGICALLY one could REASON things are looking peachy. Oh, wait I forgot, it's Bush's fault, is that the best you can do Brucie? Or should I say rickey? "
Blue State Bruce wrote on Aug 27, 2008 12:21 AM:
" The private sector does it better? Check out how they really do and see if you agree.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/06/28/AR2008062801637_pf.html "
Blue State Bruce wrote on Aug 27, 2008 12:17 AM:
" Looks like evolution caught up with you there Darwin... you can't vote to keep our schools or our wallets immune from Bush's inflation. The Beagle just called. You've missed the boat. "
*PrivateSectorDoesIt Better* wrote on Aug 27, 2008 12:00 AM:
" jersey66, they already have 33 million of our money and won't spend it on our kids. Just how much more do you think they need?
The time has come for citizens to demand school vouchers and get our kids out of the liberal controlled public education system. This would create competition, create a better environment for our children, lower our property taxes and improve the overall quality of your childs education. "
*PrivateSectorDoesIt Better* wrote on Aug 26, 2008 11:37 PM:
" Great, lets have a referendum when the college kids move back to La Crosse so they can vote to have our property taxes raised. "
Darwinism wrote on Aug 26, 2008 8:12 PM:
" BSB: Great, things have not gotten worse and have stayed the same. I'm cool with that. Then no need for a referendum or any changes. Guess I'll vote to keep things the same. "
Blue State Bruce wrote on Aug 26, 2008 6:12 PM:
" Nice try, Vinnie. Logic 101 starts over at UW-L next week in case you're interested.
What I asked (you can see it on this webpage, how neat!) was for Senior Advocate to enlighten us how education in the La Crosse, Wisconsin Public Schools has become poorer, as SA wrote in his/her statement. I then went on to say that things have not gotten worse.
My apologies if your school did not help you learn to reason adequately. "
Vindicator wrote on Aug 26, 2008 4:44 PM:
" re: Blue State Bruce
So BSB are you saying local education has gotten better? Hmmmm...interesting, must be due to the No Child Left Behind Act. Thanks for pointing that out.
Usually we hear how the kids are falling behind due to the fact we can't keep good teachers and administrators because of the low wages and benefits. Not to mention the poor facilities.
Thanks for reaffirming that is not true. Sounds like what your saying is we don't need this referendum because local education is doing fine. "
wakeup wrote on Aug 26, 2008 1:44 PM:
" This needs clarification: "proposed $600,000 donation from Trane" - is that all the air conditioning they want to "donate" (and then we have to pay the electricity bills until the end of time?) or what other strings are attached to this "donation." NO AIR CONDITIONING! unless the SB goes to year round school. "
WDJS wrote on Aug 26, 2008 1:44 PM:
" WELL SAID, Senior Advocate! Run for the school board on this platform and you would have every tax payer's vote! In my profession (not teaching), we see teachers as very cheap and whiney about the little money they make. THEN GET A DIFFERENT JOB! "
JBK wrote on Aug 26, 2008 10:41 AM:
" Last observations:
- About four Board members appear concerned about the plight of the La Crosse taxpayer in the current economy, and are sensitive to the positive/negative messages that are being sent to the public via the use/non-use of the $33M fund balance.
- The rest seemed too concerned about protecting what they perceive is their money and their schools. The $33M fund balance was decribed as a rainy day fund or for emergencies only. However, there does not seem to be any policy in place which defines exactly when it would be appropriate for the fund balance to be used. Thus, the majority of Board members would rather keep the money that has already been gathered, and ask the taxpayers via a 'total package' referendum to fix everything that has been neglected in our schools. "
JBK wrote on Aug 26, 2008 10:09 AM:
" More observations:
- One Board member stated that the $33M fund balance was the only money the school had that was working for them via interest income. She doesn't seem to realize that all the money the school district receives is working for them. Every taxpayer in La Crosse who owns property works hard to provide tax money to the school district. These same taxpayers are the same source which provided the $33M fund balance in the first place.
- One Board member wanted to expand the school system though charter schools and academies, despite the ongoing declining enrollmment figures. She claimed this would attract more families and children to the district. She didn't consider that high property taxes are driving families with children out of La Crosse. Most families are not leaving due to the quality of the schools. "
banger wrote on Aug 26, 2008 9:51 AM:
" School board is burning brides with these referendums every year. We need some new leadership with ideas other than throwing money at problems. "
never cease to amaze me wrote on Aug 26, 2008 9:46 AM:
" Thank you JBK for at least attending the meeting. It helps when people know facts and not just make stuff up on here. "
JBK wrote on Aug 26, 2008 9:37 AM:
" A few observations from last night's meeting:
- A few Board members kept referring to the $33 fund balance as THEIR money. Twice, other Board members had to correct them with a reminder that it is TAXPAYER money.
- The defeated motion was to use $3M for critical security and safely improvements immediately. Those opposed to the motion claimed they were not opposed to the improvements, but wanted the money to come from the future referendum, not money they already had in the fund balance.
- There was an attempt to explain that the fund balance wasn't really cash on-hand. However, the definition of the fund balance was very confusing. "
ToeJam wrote on Aug 26, 2008 8:51 AM:
" I hate kids anyway "
enuffalready wrote on Aug 26, 2008 8:50 AM:
" To Vindicator:
Just like my kids. Whatever you do, it's just not enough. "
Blue State Bruce wrote on Aug 26, 2008 8:49 AM:
" Perhaps you could enlighten us, Senior Advocate, as to how education in La Crosse, Wisconsin, has become 'poorer?' You won't be able to do that, because it hasn't. Go ahead and try, though. It should be interesting. "
Senior Advocate wrote on Aug 26, 2008 8:17 AM:
" Giving money to our childrens schools is not the answer, when you get no results but poorer education. notice they again cut facility repair costs, no salary cuts, no benefit cuts, no administrative cuts, no perk cuts, how can you be positive when you are dealing with this type of mentality. They always come at the public by the old, "but it's for the children, how can you cut and hurt the children". You can do more for the Children by getting rid of administrative greed. Good luck. "
jersey66 wrote on Aug 26, 2008 7:40 AM:
" No, it's not enough when we're driving around our SUVs with $4/gallon gas, spending $100 to get our hair done, buying our cigs and beer or building mansions...it IS however too much when it comes to giving money to our children's schools. "
Vindicator wrote on Aug 26, 2008 6:50 AM:
" It's never enough, is it? "
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