One Passes. One Fails.
The final tally is in for the two referendum questions for the West Bend Schools. Here are the results.
Referendum-1 West Bend School
YES 5632 47.13%
NO 6317 52.87%Referendum-2 West Bend School
Total Votes 11868
YES 5971 50.31%
NO 5897 49.69%
Also interesting, incumbent Alderman for District 2, Krochalk, was defeated. Going to the School Board will be Tim Stepanski and incumbent Kris Beaver.
It was a lot smaller turnout than I expected - less than 25%. That seems curious to me given the heat in a couple of these issues. In any case, the second question won by 74 votes. As usual, every vote counts, folks.
Could it be we will wake up in the morning and find out that they miscounted Ref. #2? Please say yes.
Posted by GAMazy on April 07, 2009 at 2300 hrs
Doubtful unless someone contests it, but that’s unlikely to happen without a candidate to challenge it. In any case, it would be hard to miscount by 74 votes unless you live in Milwaukee.
Posted by Owen on April 07, 2009 at 2302 hrs
I’m content with the referendum results. I voted against both, but repairs are needed at Badger. It’s the other crap that’s unnecessary.
Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on April 07, 2009 at 2310 hrs
Sorry GAMazy, the voters have spoken. I don’t think there was the same heat over these referendums. A low key approach by the District was clearly a better strategy. If the losing referendum had just been Jackson elementary, perhaps it would also have passed. Building with these interest rates and a buyers market for construction will save the taxpayer a lot of money in the long run. I’m proud of the voters of West Bend.
Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on April 08, 2009 at 0022 hrs
“If the referendum gets killed, which it will, that means NOTHING will get done. IF, however, it is postponed, with time to knock some sense into the school board to do some reasonable revisions, then perhaps it will be a win/win when it comes around.” - GAMazy, February 14, 2009
Yeah. So much for that. Perhaps I was right after all. Perhaps that cry for postponement really was driven by nothing more than a fear that the referendum would pass.
Anyway, like Charlie said, at least you’re getting a good price for the money you’re borrowing.
Posted by Recess Supervisor on April 08, 2009 at 0046 hrs
I am not sure I would call it a low key approach (phone calls, home parties, mailings, door to door visits) seemed to be just as frequent as last time. The only difference I could see was the Its Time group was not as visible (I know technically that is not the District). I do think the split question and removal of the twin middle schools is more likely the reason question 2 passed. I hope the message that voters will accept reasonable needs will be recognized by Dr. Herdrich and the School Board.
Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on April 08, 2009 at 0658 hrs
No apology needed, Charlie. I agree with Rich2 about the message that was send to the School Board and Pat. While, like Wendy, I voted against both, the strong community message is what is important here. I am content as well.
Posted by GAMazy on April 08, 2009 at 0704 hrs
Does anyone else find it “curious” that Tim Stepanski, who was outspokenly against the referenda, came out easily on top of the other school board caididates, but the voting on the referendum was not reflected as such?
Posted by GAMazy on April 08, 2009 at 0706 hrs
I would not necessarily call it curious. I believe the voters are conceding Badger for lack of a better plan. Voters are also acknowledging the need for at least one board member who looks out for their interests.
Do you think Charlie will have Tim over for a few beers, hor’dourves, and his opportunity to give a group of voters the fiscally responsible side of the referendum story (in the future)?
Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on April 08, 2009 at 0908 hrs
Speaking of that aldermanic race, there is something unusual going on in recent West Bend council races.
Over the last 2 election cycles all 8 districts have had elections, with 4 seats uncontested and 4 contested. Over that span of time the incumbents are 0 for 4 when they’ve been challenged.
Not sure what to make of this.
Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on April 08, 2009 at 0935 hrs
I don’t think it’s “curious,” Stepanski’s votes and the “no” votes are about the same.
Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on April 08, 2009 at 0941 hrs
At least part of the discrepancy was from the fact that not all people thought to turn over the ballot to see the referendum questions.
Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on April 08, 2009 at 1117 hrs
Stepanski was not “outspoken”. He was on the fence until right before the election. We’ll see what he thinks a year from now. Both “anti” candidates in the recent past have changed their tune when confronted with the actual situation. Smitty, you can join us for a beer and explain why crumbling schools are in our best interests. And Ginny, I am sorry that your insatiable lust for 15 seconds of fame have made West Bend a laughingstock for my customers across the nation.
Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on April 08, 2009 at 1146 hrs
A bit off topic, eh, Charlie?
Posted by GAMazy on April 08, 2009 at 1154 hrs
Off topic or not. That would be a burn Ginny.
Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on April 08, 2009 at 1156 hrs
Um, you are wrong about Stepanski, Charlie. One week after the questionnaire was filled out Stepanski had done his homework and made his decision. He DID share that with everyone who was supporting him and beyond. Maybe you weren’t LISTENING?
Posted by GAMazy on April 08, 2009 at 1201 hrs
Actually not, anon. My skin is a tad bit thicker than that.
Posted by GAMazy on April 08, 2009 at 1209 hrs
Ginny,
Without fail you are the ugliest person in West Bend.
Not your physical being, which can change the gender specification of even the most secure individual, but your spiritual being, which thinks of those unlike yourself as grotesque and salacious and in need of your superintendence.
You are not the norm and election after election confirms that. You are out of step with your own community, and others (some of which you call friends) are growing quite tired of your sanctimonious ranting. You have become drunk on the adulation your media whoring has bestowed upon you and you are an embarrassment to Washington County.
Stop now while you still have some modicum of dignity. Scratch the dignity bit –just stop it.
Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on April 08, 2009 at 1240 hrs
I don’t care what you say Ginny, keyser just burned you.
Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on April 08, 2009 at 1300 hrs
um…SNAP!
Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on April 08, 2009 at 1332 hrs
Keyser,
I don’t have a dog in this fight. I’m not from West Bend, but it seems to me that most of the elections has shown Ginny’s views to either be the majority or in the case of this one losing referendum, at least a very mainstream view.
And the only person that an ugly personal attack like that reflects poorly on is you. Bitter looks bad on a loser, but it looks even worse from a winner. Grow up.
Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on April 08, 2009 at 1451 hrs
Will the people of West Bend ever vote to help Jackson’s school? They gladly accept Jackson’s tax money, but the school’s age, location, and overcrowding need to be addressed!
Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on April 08, 2009 at 1501 hrs
Erin - I’ve not yet seen the election results by municipality, but if recent trends are continued, the people of West Bend show greater support for a new Jackson school than do the folks from the Villlage and Town of Jackson. I do agree we need to do something about Jackson elementary. It is odd that people who live in Jackson do support this.
Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on April 08, 2009 at 1511 hrs
Unfortunately, Curt is right. You can tell that by the newspaper with our “fair and balanced editorials page” Who is the liberal? Bill O’Reilly?
One thing that I found odd was the story of the woman complaining that her social security was barely enough and didn’t want to raise taxes for the schools…um…weird
while Ginny’s views on the referendum may be in the majority here, I don’t believe her idea on “book banning” is that main stream.
Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on April 08, 2009 at 1511 hrs
And, I meant, “not support this”.
Hey Owen - we need do overs.Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on April 08, 2009 at 1512 hrs
Erin, those of us in West Bend that do agree that Jackson needs a new school are also turned off when they tack on the other pieces that are not supported. Many, many, many people believe the safe entrances and traffic re-routing and energy upgrades should be handled through the operations budget. Had they put the question as just the Jackson school and the cost reduced accordingly, I believe you would have your new school.
Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on April 08, 2009 at 1526 hrs
“while Ginny’s views on the referendum may be in the majority here, I don’t believe her idea on “book banning” is that main stream.”
Book banning? WHO is book banning?
Amusing how we have people using this blog to turn the conversation to the library…
So, how ‘bout them Brewers?
Posted by GAMazy on April 08, 2009 at 1528 hrs
Rich2, nicely said.
Posted by GAMazy on April 08, 2009 at 1529 hrs
Perhaps I completely misunderstood the library situation. I was under the impression that people were trying to ban certain books from the library. If this is not the case, please set the record straight (no pun intended)
Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on April 08, 2009 at 1540 hrs
Here is the record.
NO.
We are asking for five policies to be put into place at the library that protect children.
http://wissup.blogspot.com/search?updated-max=2009-03-31T11:01:00-07:00&max;-results=6
Sorry, Owen. I just am not going to go there. Putting the link to the petition requests.
You can always take the conversation back over to where Owen started it: http://www.bootsandsabers.com/index.php/weblog/permalink/porn_in_the_west_bend_library/
This post is about the referendum, elections, etc., etc.
Charlie, I am afraid your hate post opened a can of worms. Let the arrows fly where they may….
Words. Just words.
:zzdeadhorse:
Posted by GAMazy on April 08, 2009 at 1548 hrs
Hey folks, let’s keep the bullshit 5th-grade personal attacks to ourselves, mmmmmmmkay? We can disagree about the issues without spending 300 words being an asshole. If you have a problem with this, start your own blog.
Posted by Owen on April 08, 2009 at 1555 hrs
Rich2 and Charlie-Hope you are right that perhaps WB would support a new Jackson Elem.
I hope that the board continues to look for ways to “fix” the mess that other boards got our community into. Unlike most of the others on this blog, I voted yes for both questions. (But I consider myself a right-moderate voter and I think most on here are quite conservative). I would like to see what the next steps are…are we still talking about split shift in the HS in 4-5 years? I can’t imagine what that would do to our children’s educations, not to mention our property values! What family would move to WB or Jackson knowing their kids are going to school in trailers and their high schooler is going to school at 6am?! Sorry this is so long…just had to vent.
Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on April 08, 2009 at 1630 hrs
Why would anyone move to WB or Jackson when there are no businesses here? That’s our big problem. The schools are already ranked well among others regardless of the buildings that house them. No one says, “Wow, their schools are palaces. Let’s enroll our kids there and then look for a job in the district!”
Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on April 08, 2009 at 1652 hrs
Amen Wendy! Noone moves to an area for a school district. They move there for work, and the availability of other work. I had a great job offer for Rhinelander. Id love to live there when I retire - but I turned it down. If I the company went under or had a bunch of layoffs, there would be no jobs for me to move to!
They also look at taxes and other amenities. School district is number 90 on the list.
Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on April 08, 2009 at 1657 hrs
You guys can continue making up what the business community would like, or can face the FACT that business leadership in West Bend overwelmingly supported the referendums. And, Erin, the municipality totals have been posted and once again the Town and Village of Jackson voted against the Jackson school while a number of West Bend districts voted for it. I’m not sure that would be true if only the Jackson school was in the question. Perhaps we will find out.
Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on April 08, 2009 at 1743 hrs
Charlie, I know business leadership supported the referendums - but they are a small subset of the business community. I still can’t get past the fact that Manpower, a huge company, moved INTO Milwaukee. Moving OUT of the Glendale-River Hills district for the Milwaukee district, in my opinion, would be a negative move. Direct Supply, another very successful company, continues to expand its Milwaukee operations. All the while, Gehl decided to keep their headquarters here in West Bend.
How long to you propose we wait before we can say whether a new Badger has an impact on businesses here in West Bend? I am guessing a year, even 2, after Badger opens, we will still be talking about why the business community here is suffering.
Just my opinion though. I have never owned a business, but the business owners I know and talk to are far more concerned about the tax climate.
Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on April 08, 2009 at 1818 hrs
Who cares what businesses already here wanted? How many businesses will flock here because the taxes are now higher and schools provide exactly the same level of education that they did when the taxes were lower and they didn’t come?
Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on April 08, 2009 at 1836 hrs
We moved to the area for the school district a few years ago. My husband works in Fond du Lac, but we preferred to be in mid to northern Washington county and could have chosen any community. Schools were the most important thing to us and the first thing we looked at. We didn’t need palaces, but good test scores, good teachers, low class sizes were important. For sure we wouldln’t be moving here now with the options on the horizon of 5th graders to the middle school and split shifts at the high school and increasing class sizes. Any family with kids going to public school will put schools at the top of their list when looking for a place to live.
I’m glad though that one of the referendums got thru- it’s a good start.
Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on April 08, 2009 at 1842 hrs
So the decrepit condition of the school buildings didn’t matter?
Exactly.
Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on April 08, 2009 at 2006 hrs
Amazing how people believed all the crap they were spoon fed by the media. Trailers, and split shifts and school shootings, oh my!
Posted by GAMazy on April 08, 2009 at 2011 hrs
To be honest, at the time our oldest were just entering elementary and we mostly looked at their grade school- middle school still seemed very far away. At the upper levels we looked at the statistics (test scores, AP exams, college bound, etc). I didn’t do my homework enough and tour Badger or realize how overcrowded the schools were getting. We had heard about Jackson school- we wouldn’t have chosen to move there with the state of that school. If we were moving now and with my kids being older- yes, the decrepit state of the Badger would have really mattered.
Old deteriorating buildings is not great, but in my mind the overcrowding and not having enough space to put the kids with class sizes creeping up is worse.
Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on April 08, 2009 at 2037 hrs
Like WBMomof4, I too, think schools are an important thing when looking for a community to live in. Although we already had a house and a neighborhood that we liked, I “shopped” around when enrolling my oldest last year. I knew what WB schools had to offer and what many of the buildings look like, having gone to WB public schools K-12.
My main concern at the elementary level was class size due to overcrowding. I believe Jackson is nearly 100 kids where they are “supposed to be”. Although, we were just dealing with kindergarten, I did look beyond elementary school. The middle schools and high schools really need to have decent facilities to be able to adequately offer science, technologies, etc. If the facilities don’t meet the needs, then our teachers won’t have the appropriate resources. Once again, class sizes is a real concern for me.
For my family, we are keeping our options open for the future. What the district and community does with the schools in the next 4-5 years will determine if our children will start in and remain in WB public schools. (Our children will NOT go to a split shift HS!) And I know for a fact that we are not the only family with this point of view.
Charlie - where can I find that breakdown for curiosity’s sake?
Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on April 08, 2009 at 2218 hrs
Erin, I’m not Charlie, but I think this is what he might have been referring to:
http://www.co.washington.wi.us/uploads/docs/CLK_SOVCResults04_07_09.pdf
It’s a big PDF file (123 pages), but the breakdown for Question 1 is pages 120-121; Question 2 is pages 122-123
Village Jackson was 48.18% yes on #1 (District-wide was 47.13% yes) & 45.32% yes on # 2 (District-wide was 50.31%)
Every ward, except Village of Jackson, showed an increase in the number of votes when they got to Question # 2.
Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on April 09, 2009 at 0638 hrs
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