Schools search for savings
Other business
Also Tuesday, the Janesville School Board:
-- Heard a presentation on homeless students from district social worker Ann Forbeck, who said 276 students have been identified as homeless for at least some part of this school year. Forbeck said funding is being sought to open a short-term shelter that would accommodate up to eight homeless minors at a time. Lutheran Social Services would run the shelter.
-- After meeting in closed session, agreed to a contract for Superintendent Karen Schulte. Schulte has been filling in since the early retirement of Tom Evert in February. She was chosen to replace Evert, however, and this contract would begin July 1. Details were not announced because they are not finalized, Personnel Director Steve Salerno said.
-- Recognized school board member Debra Kolste for her nine years on the board with, among other things, a standing ovation. Kolste did not run for re-election this year.
-- Swore in the returning incumbents and Kolste's replacement, Diedre Richard, whose first board meeting will be April 28.
-- Agreed to join the Madison Area Diversity Consortium, a group of school districts that advertise to attract minority staff members. Cost will be about $5,200 a year.
-- Accepted the retirements of Mary Boylen, second-grade teacher at Roosevelt School, 20 years in the district; Susan Buscemi, special-education teacher at Van Buren School, 29 years; Carole Kettle, fourth-grade teacher at Van Buren, 33 years; Laurel Schulze, early childhood teacher at Adams School, 34 years; Thomas M. Moore, fifth-grade teacher at Washington School, 38.5 years; Janis B. Nenahlo, English teacher at Parker High School, 30 years; and Rod Montanye, district math, science and staff development coordinator, 33 years. The teachers' retirements all are effective June 12. Montanye's is effective June 30.
-- Removed "interim" from the title of Rick Lehman, interim assistant principal/athletics director at Parker High School.
JANESVILLE — As the Janesville School Board discussed how to balance its 2009-10 budget Tuesday night, some members suggested adding expenses.
Peggy Sheridan called for a part-time security coordinator.
Sheridan said crime might be on the rise because of the bad economy, increasing risks to students.
Sheridan said someone such as a retired police officer could evaluate and recommend changes to landscaping and lighting, for example, to make schools safer.
Tim Cullen called for reducing class sizes at Wilson Elementary School, which has, by far, the biggest low-income population in the district.
Wilson already benefits from 15-to-1 student-teacher ratios in kindergarten through third grade, thanks to a state grant program. The board recently voted to add a fifth-grade teacher at Wilson, and Cullen said adding one more teacher could help even more.
Lori Stottler called for bonuses of $20,000 to encourage teachers to retire. It wasn't clear how the bonuses would affect the teachers' retirement benefits. Stottler noted the district could avoid layoffs if more teachers retired, and it could save money by trading a higher-paid veteran teacher with a new teacher fresh out of college.
Superintendent Karen Schulte has added new items to the budget-cutting discussions, including:
-- Reduce the athletics budget by $24,000.
-- Eliminate the district athletics director, saving $113,000. The high school assistant principals/athletics directors apparently would take over those duties. Schulte has not given any details about how that would work or addressed how assistant-principal duties would be affected.
-- Ask retired administrators to substitute-teach. Schulte said that if each of eight retirees substituted 10 days a year, the district would save nearly $10,000. As part of their contracts, administrator retirees are obligated to give the district 20 days of "consulting services" a year, if asked.
Schulte has listed these and other cuts on a worksheet for the board to consider, but she will not make recommendations until the board's meeting April 28.
Apr 17, 2009 at 10:43 a.m.
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I think what Sheridan was referring to was the phenom known as the self-fulfilling prophecy. If YOU expect me to be stupid and deviant, then over time, due to that labeling, I WILL act stupid, deviant, etc..,
Labels are very very dangerous to place on ANY person.
Unless, of course, you are Bernie Madoff: then label away--even with pretty colorful words :)!
Apr 16, 2009 at 6:03 p.m.
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Tater her starting wage was less than 12 and college is a long term investment. You still have to show you have the skills and the knowledge to earn a nice living. A degree is just a stepping stone not a given to cash cow earnings.
Apr 16, 2009 at 11:43 a.m.
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Poverty may be a factor in crime, but more precisely, I think lack of hope (desperation?) is what drives a lot of crime. Look at Brazil, where the poor have no hope and the rich have to live in walled estates and drive armored cars.
Apr 16, 2009 at 11:23 a.m.
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I grew up poor in Janesville. Fortunately we didn't have Peggy Sheridan and other school board members who felt that meant we would turn to crime. She has insulted everyone who grew up without a lot. Low income is not related to crime. Crime is the result of a lack of character and the old fashioned notion of sin. Ms Sheridan would probably have been happy to have Bernie Madlof is her schools.
Apr 16, 2009 at 10:31 a.m.
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I'd like you to show me a paycheck stub of a auto mechanic that shows their HOURLY wage is $30-$40. Just because that is what you pay in labor doesn't mean it is all going to the mechanic. I do know a "mechanic" who makes that much, BUT he works in research and development of a large corporation/manufacturer.
Apr 16, 2009 at 10:06 a.m.
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The schools are looking for savings? Heres a brite idea Cut the high paying positions salaries such as Karen Schulte who is going to be getting $145,000.00 a year plus bonuses. What a joke.
Apr 15, 2009 at 10:43 p.m.
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So rep - was your wife's starting wage $12 or less an hour? Did she know this before starting college? If not, would she have still gone to college had she known this is what was awaiting her after her stint?
Apr 15, 2009 at 9:59 p.m.
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fbcoach66 $12 is a fair starting wage. Accountability in teaching would be a good goal to achieve more pay. My wife graduated college and had to take a starting wage in her field. She wasn't entitled to huge sums of starting pay because she had 4 years of college. Public school teaching is not held on a pedestal to be looked up as some gift. Its a personal career choice with long hours and summers off. Take the good with the bad teachers. When the economy picks up, then go after what is being put on hold. The vast majority of working people understand the need to cut back as it's part of life right here, right now.
Apr 15, 2009 at 9:47 p.m.
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fb-I think i'm missing something. Who said the teachers are only making $20,000 a year? I see the part that says a teacher may get a $20,000 as an incentive to retire....
Apr 15, 2009 at 9:46 p.m.
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I don't know why I even bother, but here goes: A decent living off of $20,000 per year? What planet are you on? Do you still live in your parents' basement? $20,000 is poverty level for a family of 4. Even for a family of 2, no one would call $20,000 a "decent" living. I'm done here.
Apr 15, 2009 at 9:21 p.m.
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$20,000 a year is only about $12 an hour for a 4 year bachelor degree holding PROFESSIONAL. Is that a fair wage? We pay auto mechanics $30 to $40 an hour. Don't get me wrong that is a fair wage for an important job, but my kids brain is more important than my car. I'd like a teacher that makes more than $12 an hour for my kid. These teachers should be paid like any professional which they are not. Now this "dude" want to lower it. "Dude" what color is the sky in your world, and how dumb will the next generation be.
Apr 15, 2009 at 8:50 p.m.
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I believe the word is "decent" not "descent". The closest thing to a "descent living" would probably involve downward mobility, something which most avoid. You're welcome.
Apr 15, 2009 at 6:41 p.m.
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How about eliminating full tuition reimbursement for administrators. How much would that save each year? I don't think teachers get any of their tuition paid for.
Apr 15, 2009 at 5:52 p.m.
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Dude, you are smart and I can't wait to see more comments from you in the future. Have a great day Dude.
Apr 15, 2009 at 3:07 p.m.
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"dont not"..........Mes Englush Edumuncation!
Apr 15, 2009 at 2:12 p.m.
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tjncj - Was that post clear enough for you? Do I get an "A" in english now?
Apr 15, 2009 at 2:10 p.m.
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tater: I mean yes everyone at some point would like to make a descent living but you could make a descent living off of 20,000 a year, its all about priorities and spending, we need to stop thinking about what we dont not have and think about what we have.
Apr 15, 2009 at 1:36 p.m.
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I'd cut the job of whoever taught the "dude" english.
Apr 15, 2009 at 12:59 p.m.
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Dude - (Consider seperating all your thoughts into readable sentences to make your post more understandable.) I suggest that maybe you should think before you post as well. Sure teachers may love teaching much as a cook loves cooking and a car mechanic loves working on cars, but eventually EVERYONE wants to make a decent living to enjoy life. Your assumption that teachers should only be there for the love of teaching is silly.
Apr 15, 2009 at 12:59 p.m.
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My sons, and now my daughter, have all participated in high school sports and I believe that is has helped them in many areas. Getting up early to lift weights when friends are still sleeping, working extra hard to try to earn a position on the team, dealing with coaches and other players, mentoring younger athletes, and on and on allowed my kids to develop many of the 'core values' that biknik alludes to. I truly believe that sports are an integral part to develop a young person. The fact that some pro athletes are bankrupt doesn't have anything to do with high school sports, so don't muddy the waters.
Apr 15, 2009 at 12:55 p.m.
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darwin1 : because they do not complete there education and they are to cocky to realize life. could you agree
Apr 15, 2009 at 12:40 p.m.
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If sport and athletics teaches core values then why do so many professional athletes end up bankrupt after they are out of sports?
Apr 15, 2009 at 12:34 p.m.
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weeeellllll bignik you obviously have everything fiqured out huh, let think about what i said, i said why not cut teacher pay so get rid of the teachers who are just there for a pay check and not for the kids, so where would we be lacking top notch education, and then i said we should cut stupid jobs like the micro managing jobs such as the DISTRICT athletic director, what do we need him/her for if we already have AD's in the school, come now lets think before speaking next time.
Apr 15, 2009 at 12:24 p.m.
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Speaking of stupid............"dude"........Our children are deserving of a top notch education..Part of a young students education is learning good core fundamental values in life...Sports / Athletics teaches these things to our children.What happens when we eliminate an athletic budget? Crime, drugs, gangs..........Yep, lets eliminate the AD's job and cut athletics all together so this glorious city can go further in to the sewer in 3-4 years! HOOOOOORAY JANESVILLE!!!!!!
Apr 15, 2009 at 12:12 p.m.
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are the teachers there for the kids and young adults or are they there for the paycheck. cause you can always cut teacher salaries, you should only be there for the love of teaching anyway, am i right or wrong, and cut the stupid jobs like district athletic director and positions like that, all that is, is micro managing
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