This is a conflict of interest pure and simple, and I think we should evaluate the use of private contractors in any capacity with government on all levels. I would hope that the corporate welfare promoted in the Bush era would be revisited in this one. Although the promise was always that the use of private contractors would result in a leaner, more efficient government, it actually resulted in a larger, less responsive one. We can solve our problems, including our educational one, if we go back to the basics. Give teachers more respect, more money, and smaller classes, and the education will improve. We could do that tomorrow if we simply took a hard look at all non-teaching staff -- the staff that likes to employ such private companies.

Good reporting Gazette.

SarahB

Yes, in looking further you are correct on the "free" part.

http://www.gazettextra.com/news/2008/dec...

Still there is an advantage to be had by Studer, from the continued association, assuming it works well and they can sell it to others. Evert controls that association, so I still think seeking employment there, at this point in time, isn't a good idea.

"At Jan. 13 school board meeting, board President DuWayne Severson asked Evert whether any district employee had been looking for a job with Studer Group.

“Has that come up at all, that you are aware of?” Severson asked.

Evert answered, “No.”"

Might his answer now be....Oh, you mean anyone but ME?

As a citizen, having asked him a point blank question before, his answer to this question is no surprise.

Isn't the Studer group doing this work for free here?

Folks in Janesville might want to wait for further news before judging the superintendent positively or negatively.

Dr. Evert shouldn't be looking for a job with a firm he controls the hiring/firing of. Not ethically proper.

"Trust in the Superintendent is critical?" Does that not go both ways Mr. Editor. If the Board President has a question to ask, why beat around the bush. If it was a LOADED question as the gazette appears to suggest, why is the president not man enough to ask it up front or better yet to his face man to man. This is the problem with some public officials in that they use their seat as the bully pulpit as though they are some how uncovering some sort of scandal. Get real! If this guy wants to look for a job after he is done who really cares. He has fulfilled his duty to the district and from my understanding is very well respected by those who have worked with him for the fact that he knows his job. There are many school districts out there that would be lucky to have someone who has stayed put and loyal to this district for as long as he has.

Why would The Janesville Gazette stir up negative publicity for the SDJ? I always thought the editor-in-chief's wife was an educator within the district. Good grief! Some people can't read ANYTHING without tying it to some conspiracy theory.

I second what Janesvillean just said. Long live the Gazette and the spirit of Benjamin Franklin!

Everyone has been yammering about the closed door meetings and here is the answer on a silver platter.
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I thought people wanted to know what's going on. We're in a period of declining newspapers and that has the potential to leave us with nobody to actually report on local issues with public institutions. If you think it's bad having the Gazette tell you what's going on, just wait until there's no Gazette and the only people who know what's happening are insiders.
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Jefferson imagined a democracy without newspapers as a nightmare. I actually wish that complainers could be forced to live in such a world, but unfortunately the rest of us would as well.
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Good reporting, Gazette.

I think ihavealife is the closest to figuring this riddle out ...

Garyprimer wins the prize (in my opinion at least). But the Gazette had to give us a huge clue before we figured it out. A long time ago, a mentor taught me to beware of trails left by emails ...

Clearly, the answer to this entire question hinges on the definition of "is". ;-)

The Gazette has no interest in tearing down the school district. Why would we? We editorialized in support of the $70 million referendum, and we consistently talk up the quality of our local schools and educators.

This is also not about what Evert does when he retires. That is his business.

This is about whether Evert was truthful when asked directly at a school board meeting whether he knew of anyone employed by the district who had been looking for a job with Studer Group. He answered "no."

These e-mails raise questions about that response.

Is there a connection to the closed meetings?

Clearly, at least some members of the school board were interested in the topic, and trust in the superintendent is critical for the school board.

Stay tuned. We should know more after tonight's meeting.

Scott W. Angus
Editor
The Janesville Gazette/gazettextra.com

Simon, Do you really believe the Gazette needs to promote negativity towards the school district? I personally feel the school district, and their practices, do a fine enough job of creating it itself.

Is this what the closed meetings were about?

if there is a conflict of interest of some kind, maybe itshould be spelled out so we all understand what it is. otherwise, what is the point of the story? there seems to be an implication that something sneeky is taking place...in janesvile politics!!!!

This is the Gazette's effort to promote more negativity toward the schools, teachers, and administration. What Dr. Evert does after he retires should be of no concern to anyone and isn't common practice to use your connections when looking for a job or help of some sort!?

This is a story. Who cares! Report something of significance. This is like reading the Beloit Daily Snooze. Try to REPORT news instead of trying to MAKE news.

I don't get it. This is news? Who cares what this guy wants to do after he retires? I say good for him...