Craig Maher: Key to the discussion about state and local fiscal policy is the shared revenues program. While few would disagree with the premise that the shared revenues program was conceived in the early 1970s to compensate local governments for the State’s exemption of the manufacturing property and equipment, one cannot ignore the effect the … Continue reading TABOR: Missing the Mark→
David M. Herszenhorn writes: In the context of the system’s regular budget of about $15 billion a year, $311 million might seem insignificant. But the tax dollars come with so many strings that the administration has viewed private money as crucial for research and development and an array of experimental programs. “You are able to … Continue reading New York City’s Big Donors Find New Cause: Public Schools→
Susan Lampert-Smith: At Memorial, Athletic Director Tim Ritchie said he hopes kids who get cut will find a team in an expanded intramural basketball league through Madison School Community Recreation. “You hope that you have a good intramural program that keeps kids working towards making the team next year,” he said. I worry about the … Continue reading More on the Elimination of No-Cut Freshman Sports→
This season’s Concerts on the Square kicked off with an interesting medley of polka/waltz/cancans, but the best reason to have attended was the performance of a Dvorak piece by a 16-year old violinist from Janesville Parker, Saya Chang-O’Hara. Put simply, she was brilliant. Juilliard should be knocking on her door any day now. It was … Continue reading Simply amazing→
I was asked to post the following letter from Robert Rickman, MMSD instrument teacher, to Rita Applebaum, MMSD Interim Fine Arts Coordinator: 6/15/05 Dear Ms. Applebaum, I was recently informed that you spoke to Mark Messer, Memorial High School orchestra teacher, about the 4th and 5th grade Strings classes. I am shocked to hear that … Continue reading Dear MMSD Interim Fine Arts Coordinator –→
Madison East High School parents, staff, and community members have been working since the beginning of 2005 to create an advocacy and support organization for this key East side school. The group was named at the June 2 meeting: EAST HIGH UNITED A parent-teacher-staff-student-community organization The organization meets as a whole in the East High … Continue reading East High United – June 2 meeting outcomes→
Posted in PDF format here Highlights: – Expect several public appearances related to the Sherman strings/band programs ALSO – Articulation of committee goals for 05-06 – Recommendations regarding transfer of parcels from Middleton-Cross Plains and Verona districts and related boundary changes – Purchasing recommendations
Since the May 24th referenda, I began looking at other blog sites such as the Madison.com/ post and the Isthmus “Daily Page.” Here are a few highlights of the Good, the Bad and the Ugly.
The following letter was written by a parent of an East High Student to Carol Carstensen, President of the Madison School Board. The writer expresses concerns over the Sherman Middle School proposal to place curriculum band and orchestra classes in afterschool and the layoff Thursday of 8.55 FTE music teachers. Based upon my review of … Continue reading Erosion of music instruction is the wrong direction, especially for non-traditional learners→
On Thursday, based upon Superintendent Rainwater’s recommendation, the Madison School Board approved 20 FTEs for layoff. These layoffs included 60% of the elementary string staff – the largest percentage of one academic personnel group ever laid off in the history of the Madison Metropolitan School District. How come a program that cost less than 1/10 … Continue reading MMSD Teacher Layoffs Target Elementary String Teachers→
The school district comments line (comments@madison.k12.wi.us) for school board members has been getting several messages regarding the “Freshman No Cut Sports Program.” Regardless of what happens with the operating referendum on May 24th, this particular program will cease to exist. The Freshman No Cut Sports program has been a staple in the school district for … Continue reading Goodbye Freshman No Cut Sports→
Jim Koloen (appeared in the Capital Times): Dear Editor: It is perplexing that the Madison School Board can approve a labor contract without actually having read it except through a summary provided by the administration. Why bother with a board at all if it simply behaves as though the administration and the board are one … Continue reading Koloen: School Board Should Question Health Care Costs→
Take the string survey – results will be tabulated and forwarded to the school board. I’ll be posting comments from the survey on this website: survey comment response: “Don’t cut music. I was never in a strings program, but rather played trombone. I think that my experiences in music helped shape my teenage years more … Continue reading String Survey – Comments→
Please share this information with others who may be interested in helping to create a revitalized PTO at East. March 30, 2005 UPDATE ON EFFORTS TO BUILD AN EAST HIGH SCHOOL PTO ______________________________________________________ Upcoming meetings: Thursday, April 14 Thursday, May 12 All meetings are held at East High School and begin at 7 p.m., with … Continue reading News and Update on Initiative to Form a PTO at East High School→
Several westside PTO’s hosted a candidate forum Wednesday evening. The candidates discussed a wide variety of questions, including referendums, the budget process, strings, local education media coverage and differences with their opponents. Listen to the entire event (34.6MB mp3 audio file), or click on the links below to review specific questions & answers.
Here’s a copy of the statement I used to address the Long Range Planning Committee on October 18. After my statement, discussions with and among the Committee clarified that the annual additional cost of operating a new school falls in the range of $300,000 to $400,000 annually, not $2.4 million as I had calculated. The … Continue reading Reactions to statement on new school on Leopold site→
I’ve summarized my recent emails to and from MMSD Board of Education President Bill Keys below. I want to thank Bill for taking the time to respond to my notes. I’ll post any further messages and/or links.
Believe me when I say that I never intended to spend my time over the past three years studying the MMSD budget, even though I have worked professionally with very large budgets. But I love public education, and I love the fine arts. My husband is principal bassist in the MSO and a music teacher … Continue reading Next Steps – A Vision with a Roadmap→
I sent this mail to the Madison Board of Education regarding the current budget discussions (comments@madison.k12.wi.us): First, thank you for all that you do. You truly have a thankless role on the MMSD BOE. I am writing to pass along a few comments on the current board budget deliberations: a) I urge you to apply … Continue reading Email to Board of Education→