Political Flier Handed Out On School Grounds
Here is a flier that was reportedly handed out on school property including at several open houses.
Political_flyer_handed_out_on_West_Bend_Schools_property_-_page_1.doc
Political_flyer_handed_out_on_West_Bend_Schools_property_-_page_2.doc
You’ll note that there isn’t any information on the flier as to who paid for it or who is handing it out. It’s clearly propaganda aimed at supporting another “tax to the max” budget. In other words, it’s political advocacy taking place on school grounds. I’d really like to know who paid for it, but the only contact information on the flier sends me to the district. Was this put out by the school district? I don’t know.
I do want to point out one of the pieces of false information presented in the flier. It says:
The district has been making budget cuts for the last 17 years.
That’s a lie. Here are the numbers:
Can anyone please point out to me a single year where spending decreased either on a per-pupil basis or in total? There are two years where per-pupil spending decreased, but that was more than made up for in subsequent years. Total spending went up every single year - usually well above the rate of inflation.
The notion that the district has been cutting for 17 years is laughable. It’s also utterly false.
So in other words, they’re holding the line on spending the same way that Scott Walker holds the line on spending. This is really awesome - it’s like anyone can claim fiscal responsibility these days by simply asserting that someone else could’ve raised spending even more.
Posted by Recess Supervisor on September 08, 2010 at 1729 hrs
C’mon RS… Really. Everybody here can plainly see that you are twisting the truth pretty wildly.
Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on September 08, 2010 at 1735 hrs
The most telling number is that in the two school years the number of additional students is basically zero, but spending went up over 10% in that time.
Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on September 08, 2010 at 1801 hrs
In 17 years…. 10% total increase in enrollment, better than 100% total increase in expenditures…. Anyone wanna bet that average teacher salary increased more than enrollment?
Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on September 08, 2010 at 1809 hrs
These dorks are at every open house and event trying to hand out propaganda. Next time anyone attempts to hand me anything my cell phone will quickly capture there image for identification purposes.
Once we match names with faces, we can check them out on Wi circuit court and see what outstanding people they are.
Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on September 08, 2010 at 1820 hrs
A school district supported flier? An open records request will verify. A follow-up here on the ORR would be appreciated.
Since it’s alleged more than one piece of false information appears on the flier, a follow-up here would be appreciated disassembling the false information.
Besides labor costs, what other expenditures could have possibly have increased over 17 years?
Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on September 08, 2010 at 1838 hrs
Owen, your table really should include inflation-adjusted numbers. I understand that the district’s spending has gone up over the last 17 years even using those numbers, but the increase isn’t nearly as dramatic as you make it appear.
When you take into account inflation, along with several other factors (large increases in health insurance costs, a recent renewed committment to previously deferred maintenance projects, etc.), the increases in the budget don’t appear nearly as outrageous as you are making them out to be. A reasonable person should also be able to understand that the district HAS been forced to cut in many areas of the budget due to reductions in state funding, even though the actual total budget has increased.
Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on September 08, 2010 at 1848 hrs
Kevin,
I did publish the numbers adjusting for inflation some time ago and district officials complained that the inflation in respect to the district’s expenses were actually higher since so many of the costs are tied up in labor. Whatever. The numbers are accurate.
The fact is, however, that the assertion that the district has been cutting for 17 years is complete fiction.
Posted by Owen on September 08, 2010 at 1936 hrs
I would like to see the school district publicly state they have/had nothing to do with this propaganda. Let’s see if they will.
Seeing this was handed out on school property, WHERE WERE THE SCHOOL PRINCIPALS?
This is unacceptable, and the lies are offensive to the community.Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on September 08, 2010 at 2036 hrs
Owen,
Regardless of what the district told you about their labor costs, comparing a budget from 1992 to one from last year without adjusting for inflation is misleading.
Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on September 08, 2010 at 2204 hrs
The flier reads “The opinions expressed are not sponsored
or endorsed by the West Bend School District or its personnel.”The following info on p1): Newsweek, Red Quill, standardized test scores, school property taxes, state aid is factual and documented.
The following info on p2): state aide, budget caps, budget (program) reductions, student transfer financial effects, increased class size and fees, the 2011-2012+ cuts plan, the $4.6 mil budget reduction over two years, pay freezes, self-insurance savings, and AA bond rating is factual and documented.
The 17+ years making “budget cuts” would be better worded as “17+ years of program reductions and building maintenance reductions” (which maintained exceptionally low school property taxes, compared to neighboring districts as well as districts statewide, as many in the community desired (and continue to desire)).
Fact: The updated “Revenue Limit per Member” ranking for 09-10 school year places West Bend as the 5th lowest in the State of 426 school districts. In 08-09, we were 13th from the bottom. WB has been under the State Average for Revenue Limit per Member since the inception of revenue limits back in 1993-94.
Facts are facts are facts.
Any Realtors who blog here? Do strong schools sell a house or a community and maintain property values? High crime rates negatively affect property values, correct?
Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on September 08, 2010 at 2225 hrs
Just for everyone’s information, not taking sides here:
Using some dumb “inflation calculator” website
http://www.westegg.com/inflation/
I entered the numbers for 1992.If I’m reading this right, and I’m pretty sure I am, the amount of money they spent in 1992 is equal to spending just over $53.1MM in today’s money. I guess this is what they should have spent this year if they really “held the line” for the last 17 years.
So they’re not “really” spending 100% more, according to my admittedly extremely basic calculations, they’re only spending about 50% more now than they did in 1992
Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on September 08, 2010 at 2244 hrs
Bah! It’s easy to say “We’ve cut budgets for 17 years” when all you have to do is propose a large budget, then cut a little off, and still end up with a budget that’s larger than the previous year and say “see, we cut $2 million” from this years budget! Smoke and mirrors learned from both political parties.
Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on September 09, 2010 at 0758 hrs
Kevin,
Go ahead and run the inflation numbers. 1-2% inflation (max) will hardly mitigate these cost increases.
Posted by Smeety on September 09, 2010 at 0811 hrs
JP
Strong schools do play a part in home sales. But all summer the district has been complaining that everyone is bolting from the district, students are jumping ship at a fast rate, students and parents alike cant get away from this district fast enough.Facts are facts are facts, Jason.
Something as simple as open house, a time when parents can meet the kids new teachers and check out the school should be an enjoyable time. Everyone knows how vital it is to keep parents involved with with the kids and there school and now they cant even do that without political propaganda being shoved in there face.
Imagine a few more will jump ship after this stunt, still need a hint as to why they are running away?Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on September 09, 2010 at 0940 hrs
What if some organization produced this flier, ran it past administrators, asked to be able to hand them out at open house, and was granted permission? We don’t know that this was shoved in people’s faces. Could be that a stack was sitting on a table with a volunteer sitting nearby. Owen’s dubious claims of lies and utterly false content have been adequately called into question by previous commenters. So if its not lies, and the district managers approve, what’s the fuss?
Methinks its another in a long line of instances where the political right seeks to squelch opposition to its ideas using fear or intimidation. Silly.
Posted by Mike on September 09, 2010 at 1103 hrs
The brochure people were not a shaved head, unwashed, tatooed mob in black trenchcoats & engineer’s boots with doberman pinchers, tasers, billy clubs and threats to force people to watch a 5-hour condo presentation with free beer and no bathroom breaks? No more jokes.
Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on September 09, 2010 at 1131 hrs
I would like to see the school district publicly state they have/had nothing to do with this propaganda. Let’s see if they will.
Seeing this was handed out on school property, WHERE WERE THE SCHOOL PRINCIPALS?
This is unacceptable, and the lies are offensive to the community.Mary, Will your husband be the one to do it? Doubtful.
Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on September 09, 2010 at 1145 hrs
Mike- Maybe it is just that the political right is tired of having their money taken from them, spent on things they do not approve, including taking MORE money from them to produce propaganda urging MORE money being taken from them for purposes they oppose.
And even adjusting for inflation, there are apparently significant falsehoods in the fliers as others have described.
You have no idea how many debates I participated in over the last 3 decades, where I showed up and was opposed by a “public servant.” In other words, I financed both sides. But NO ONE paid me for my time to be there, and often if not usually, my opposition was.And we have not even broached the subject of political propaganda in the classroom posing as “public education.” Took me about a dozen years to get over the indoctrination I received, and now about 30 years later, I am still upset by the in class lies that were told to me.
At a minimum, if this type of flier is made available, those with contrary opinion should be able to present their side too. And the school should NOT pay for either flier.
Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on September 09, 2010 at 1809 hrs
Here’s a must-watch video - New Jersey Governor Chris Christie at his best:
Governor Christie Responds To Teacher During Town Hall
A few key points: New Jersey received one-time $1 Billion Federal funds - all of it spent in one year by former Governor Corzinne. Left New Jersey with $1 Billion budget shortfall plus declining state revenue. New Jersey spent $280,000,000 more in state funds than Governor Corzinnes’ budget the year before the $1 Billion federal assist, yet Governor Christie accused of “cutting state support”.
Governor Christie asked teacher unions to accept one-year pay freeze and contribute 1.5% of salary to health insurance. Union blasted it as “the greatest assault ever on public education in the history of the State of New Jersey”.
Other points: Federal government pays 66% of employe’s health insurance, State of New York 83%, State of New Jersey 92%, average New Jersey school pays 100% for full family medical/vision/dental coverage, some benefits for life.
Asking for a 1.5% contribution ($55,000 average salary would equal $750 a year), he was accused of “destroying public education”.
This is really a great video - follow the link!
Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on September 09, 2010 at 1930 hrs
Mr. Van Doren,
At least you attach your name to your posts.
You have proof the flier in question was paid for by this particular school district?
I’m going to get back to my Basic Research Methods class so I can better indoctrinate students to, ...successfully research. The class stresses reliability, validity, consistent/clear/valid/reliable measuring tools, completely informing the audience, consulting experts, identifying bias, ...
Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on September 09, 2010 at 2102 hrs
How about a flier that states:
Dear Student:
You have less teachers because extravagant health care is more important than teaching….
Posted by Smeety on September 09, 2010 at 2107 hrs
Where’s the outrage over 30% increases in health care costs directed at the perpetrators of the increase? Teachers don’t make those rates go up. The fat cats in the corner offices with actuaries financing their vacation homes have increased the costs. I have gotten nothing more for that 30% increase…nothing. My insurance policy has not changed, but has gotten more expensive. Yet I’m the greedy one sucking at the tit of the public dole. That’s a bunch of shit. I work for a living and I work hard. I deserve my pay and have bargained over the last fifteen years for my benefits when the pay wasn’t there. Now the right wants to take that away. I’ll fight like hell to keep it, thank you very much. I plan to win that fight.
Posted by Mike on September 09, 2010 at 2219 hrs
... and the kid’s be damned, huh Mike…
Posted by Smeety on September 10, 2010 at 0818 hrs
Amazing, the only people who find no fault in this are the union thugs. Gee what a surprise.
Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on September 10, 2010 at 0953 hrs
The fat cats in the corner offices with actuaries financing their vacation homes have increased the costs.
Wow, that’s sure an interesting take on what has driven up health insurance costs.
Washington County Daily News - 9/2/2010 article about students, teachers returning to school mentions a new principal to the district, as well as her husband:
****‘s husband, who has a background in actuary science, is starting the first year of his teaching career in the West Bend High School math department….
So, he changed from actuary to education so he can have a bigger vacation home?
Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on September 10, 2010 at 1105 hrs
Thug?
1. A cutthroat or ruffian; a hoodlum.
1. a tough and violent man, esp a criminal
1. thug - an aggressive and violent young criminalI recall, Smeety, that teacher pay was beneath your skill set.
You can keep 30-60 studyhall kids stay absolutely quiet for 45 minutes? You can keep 30-150 students a day focused on relevant, meaningful challenging tasks and not disturbing others’ rights to learn in a quiet, safe enviroment? You can make a kid feel an A- paper is nothing and a C paper is the greatest accomplishment ever? You annually create 30-150 civil humans for the country, the military and employers? You can make make parents tremble in fear when you call to tell them their child did something honorable today? Make kids criticize, wonder, and question even though their rich, poor, strong, weak, abused, spoiled, sick, tired, wired, arrogant or broken?We make people, Crucher and Smeety, and as I recall, there is still a strong demand for quality services from this sector. Figure out how to farm out teaching jobs to China and India using the Internet and Skype and market it to the masses how compassionate your idea is for the taxpayers and parents and you’ll be rich men.
Have a great weekend.
Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on September 10, 2010 at 1109 hrs
You can keep 30-60 studyhall kids stay absolutely quiet for 45 minutes? You can keep 30-150 students a day focused on relevant, meaningful challenging tasks and not disturbing others’ rights to learn in a quiet, safe enviroment? You can make a kid feel an A- paper is nothing and a C paper is the greatest accomplishment ever? You annually create 30-150 civil humans for the country, the military and employers? You can make make parents tremble in fear when you call to tell them their child did something honorable today? Make kids criticize, wonder, and question even though their rich, poor, strong, weak, abused, spoiled, sick, tired, wired, arrogant or broken?
I don’t like name dropping, but you have basically asked. I was a Drill Sergeant @ the United States Army Infantry Training Centr @ Fort Benning, Georgia for a time. I have completed every task you have noted above in spades; part of my ‘overqualified’ skillset.
Posted by Smeety on September 10, 2010 at 1137 hrs
I guess the teachers Smeety and myself had installed in us to criticize, wonder, and question as you suggest, but now you dam us because we do.
By reading Jasons skill set you would think he was step from sainthood. No mention of the teacher fired for having contact with a student last year. Nothing about any teacher killing people while drunk driving. Wasnt another female teacher given jail time a few years back for having sexual contact with a student? Sorry fella I dont think there is much of a demand for these attributes.
Why are people leaving the district ?
Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on September 10, 2010 at 1200 hrs
No Mr. Penterman, you do NOT make people. God does. You have proven what is wrong with public education. You are not God. You are not the parent. Responses like yours helps remind me why my husband and I make the sacrifices we do to homeschool our children. Why are people leaving the school district?
Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on September 10, 2010 at 1647 hrs
omg. Wow, Mr. Penterman, you do know how to exaggerate your own importance, don’t you? LOL You don’t “make people.” You’re simply a teacher. Sure, you have some influence over some students, but you don’t “make” them.
You don’t coach drama, by any chance, do you?
Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on September 10, 2010 at 1822 hrs
Smeety is a step away from Sainthood too. I wish at times I had joined. Crusher, you could apply your cherry picked bad apples out of our 700 staff and tack the same argument tactic to the U.S. military’s bad apples, which is fallacious BS.
Beth, never claimed to be your god or anyone’s for that matter, but teachers do model many of the attributes of good parents. I respect your adjustments to home school your children. I don’t think anyone should sacrifice or compromise your values. Hopefully, West Bend’s or some other school district’s virtual programs may be of service someday; however, the home schooling parents have a solid support network.
Wendy, why is that an exaggeration? You value education. You and your children have experienced great teachers, yes? Is a person like a teacher not supposed to have pride in his or her job? Or are we supposed to be the best yet turn to mice when criticized. I’d expect anyone who has pride in themselves, their career, their families, their actions, etc., to have the same pride when unfairly criticized. Great teachers (and great parents) make kids into great people, but a great teacher can make up for a lesser parent and vice-versa. Taught forensics for 5-6 years by the way. Handy skills.
Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on September 10, 2010 at 2104 hrs
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