People who worked to pass referendum look at schools with pride
JANESVILLE — It was the most expensive school referendum in state history.
And a group of taxpayers worked for three exhausting months to get it passed.
Today, the results of all that work will come to fruition when Janesville's Craig and Parker high schools open their doors to students.
In 2006, voters passed a $70.8 million referendum, which at the time was the largest in state history. The referendum included significant improvements to both high schools. Gyms and classrooms were added, cafeterias were expanded, science labs were updated and air-handling systems were improved.
It's a big moment for the people who worked to get it passed.
Larry and Cindy Squire headed up a group called TLC—"Tomorrow Lives Through Our Children."
Larry is the president of Johnson Bank, and Cindy has been active in PTA and has worked with the Wisconsin Alliance for Excellent Schools, a group that's working for school funding reform. She's also served on the school district's legislative committee.
"My wife and I agreed together that the schools needed to have some updates and changes for kids to have a quality education," Larry Squire said. "Hopefully, we make a pretty good team."
They did.
TLC did something unprecedented: Working with a private economic development organization, it hired a consultant.
That consultant helped TLC create a survey to help them understand the community's concerns about the referendum. Using those comments—and other research—TLC was able to create an effective campaign.
"We wanted somebody to come from the outside, somebody that didn't have any preconceived notions about the referendum," Larry Squire said.
Then came the real work.
More than 60 people volunteered to call voters, send out information, buy advertising and generally get the word out.
"I think we spoke to every service group in town," Cindy Squire said.
In the end, TLC convinced the voters.
What's it like now to see all that work come to fruition?
"I can't wait to go through them," Larry Squire said. "I've been through about two-thirds of Craig High School."
The Squires have a daughter entering Craig this year.
"We weren't doing it for my children, we were doing it for the future," Cindy Squire said.
She went with her daughter to registration and is pleased to see how the renovations have eased crowding.
Don Dyke, a retiree, also worked on TLC.
"I thought at the time that the science department at Parker High School was important—it was close to nonexistent," Dyke said. "When I took a tour of the schools, it was clear that they badly needed a lot of things."
Dyke hasn't had a full tour of the schools yet, but he saw the science rooms before they were complete.
"I'm pleased," Dyke said about the schools.
Marlene Bysted is active in PTA and spent time making phone calls about the referendum.
Two of her children have graduated from Parker High School, and she has a third daughter who is a junior.
Her favorite improvements include the science labs and gym space. Her kids were actively involved in sports, and her daughter is on the swim team.
"I had a son who was practicing until 10 p.m. at night," Bysted said.
The locker rooms now have lockers able to store all of the students' gear, and the walking track and weight rooms are very nice, she said.
She also likes the changes in the front office area.
"It's very nice, very welcoming," Bysted said.
Sep 2, 2009 at 3:06 p.m.
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Many thanks to everyone who voted "yes" on the referendum and to those people who worked hard to get it passed. Every student who passes through the doors at Craig and Parker over the next 30 years will benefit from this investment. Instructional needs change over time, folks!
Sep 2, 2009 at 2:50 p.m.
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jmags: I agree with a lot of your posting. I think it is great that these two schools underwent renovations and understand that upgrading was necessary. My question, however, is this: When is the upgrade excessive and beyond what is needed to ensure our students are offered a quality education? Again, $73 million is A LOT of money. I now understand why teachers feel they need pay raises in these tough economic times. I would also if my company spent this much money on upgrades.
Sep 2, 2009 at 1:24 p.m.
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You don't need "NEW" schools to teach children. You need Teachers with "NEW" teaching ideas/skills. This can be accomplished without spending $73 million dollars. I'm not sure about declining population in Janesville, but I'm sure the level of income in Janesville is declining (middle class). Schools new/old don't teach children...teachers do. It's amazing everyone can do without a new home or new business building and still accomplish what is required, but our children need air conditioning for 2 months to learn better? If it were truly for the children, then we should spend the money (73 million) on computers, teachers, and learning materials.
Sep 2, 2009 at 1:05 p.m.
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Joker - Once again, you just proved how much of an idiot you are because I have a very good job. Keep talking crap. My chirping is making all you constant complainers realize how pathetic you all sound. Unfortunately for some, the intelligence level can't grasp the obvious. You're right about the pie in the sky attitude. It's called forward, positive thinking. You'd be surprised where it might get you. You're comparing yachts and cars to schools? Are you kidding me? And why do you continue to bring up the mall? What happen to all the other places you were mentioning? You run out of excuses?
Sep 2, 2009 at 11:38 a.m.
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Spark, based on your constant chirping on these boards, I take it you must not be working. Hmm...interesting. Look, I am sorry to say this, but Janesville is on the decline and is already seeing a large population shift. The Janesville Mall is being hit hard by this situation and it's future is not certain. Everyday, look at what is happening in our city and the negative change that is resulting from lost jobs, foreclosures, etc.
But to you and Janesvillian, everything is rosy in your spend and spend some more mentality. I love how people like you have a pie in the sky outlook on life and how the kids should have the luxury of brand new this and that. But who pays for this? We do. How do you expect the average citizen who is barely making it to be able to afford increased property taxes every year? Like most people, I want what is best for kids. I also would like a yacht, a home in Maui and a Lamborghini Gallardo. Reality needs to step in here before it is too late.
Sep 2, 2009 at 11:15 a.m.
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I love the ridiculous solutions people come up with. The School District no longer owns Marshall! The idea that Janesville's population will decline to needing just one high school is pretty silly. In fact, keeping Janesville's educational facilities top notch is one of the best investments we can make in our workforce so that we can attract employers who will make up for the loss of GM. What's the first thing anybody unemployed thinks of doing? That's right, going back to school, so they can prepare for a new career. That's how important education is and how closely linked it is to economic success. Start our students out right so they're ready for the jobs of the future.
Sep 2, 2009 at 10:04 a.m.
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Velheim
Sep 2, 2009 at 1:25 a.m.
Suggest removal Its a waste of money, they could have just as easily generated more room for students by turning the Marshall apartments back into a school.
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They would have needed to purchase the apartments back and then renovate them. I doubt that bill would have been less, but believe what you want.
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That is why I voted against the refferendum. Some of those teachers ran kids out of school by suspending and expelling students at every chance they had guranteeing them a lifeless future in this scum town we call Janesville.
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FACT:
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Expulsions are way down from just a couple years ago. In addition, expelled students can attend a great program called the TATE Center, where they can earn credits toward graduation, and get back to school after just 1 semester.
I've seen the stuff these people don't write about. Thats why I'm going to become a jouranlist one day and smoke you out with my own website and news paper.
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Good luck with that, but please, don't forget to hire an EDITOR...yikes!
Sep 2, 2009 at 10 a.m.
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Joker - Seriously, get some new material. How many times are you going to say the same thing about one school and spending money, blah, blah, blah. You still have never been able to prove your theory. Just like you can't and never have proved the crap about Janesville having the same population of Beloit. Give it up. By the way, the school upgrades started before GM was lost. You've been informed of this more than once also. I know you like to base everything you say around GM.
Sep 2, 2009 at 9:56 a.m.
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I wonder if these same people who are so proud and beaming over the millions of dollars spent on our 2 high schools, will still be smiling and proud of higher taxes, higher overhead costs and unused space at both schools. I love how we plow ahead with spending money we do not have on renovations that we do not need right now. Worst of all, we are losing students and families daily due to the economy. Special interests of the few pushed this wasteful project. Who will be proud and smiling when we are forced to only have 1 high school for our city?
Sep 2, 2009 at 8:04 a.m.
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Cindy Squire has worked with Wisconsin Alliance for Excellent Schools (WAES). WAES is promoting "State Tax Reform" and "new resources" for school funding. The basics of this plan is increasing the state sales tax. Any property tax relief will be temporary, as evidenced in other states. The teacher's union, WEAC, is aligned with this goal. These groups seem to still believe more money equals better education. I urge you to follow the activities of these groups.
Sep 2, 2009 at 8:03 a.m.
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Velheim - They could have created more rooms at the Marshall apartments? That was a middle school. It was a high school about a million years ago. Would they build one big hallway then from Craig down to Marshall to connect the two or would you prefer three separate high schools instead? Makes zero sense.
Sep 2, 2009 at 1:45 a.m.
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Velheim: That's a nice goal you have, but please hire a good copy editor to help with your spelling and punctuation.
Sep 2, 2009 at 1:25 a.m.
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Its a waste of money, they could have just as easily generated more room for students by turning the Marshall apartments back into a school. That is why I voted against the refferendum. Some of those teachers ran kids out of school by suspending and expelling students at every chance they had guranteeing them a lifeless future in this scum town we call Janesville.
I've seen the stuff these people don't write about. Thats why I'm going to become a jouranlist one day and smoke you out with my own website and news paper.
Sep 1, 2009 at 9:49 p.m.
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It's true about the showers, they don't get used. That being said, I think these upgrades are needed and the schools are nice, very very nice.
Sep 1, 2009 at 9:43 p.m.
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Given the size of the investment and the accountability that schools are famous for, I have no doubt that over the next couple of years this author will be posting the inevitably higher academic achievement that this investment will generate.
Sep 1, 2009 at 9:26 p.m.
Sep 1, 2009 at 7:59 p.m.
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all I ever see is my property taxes going up
Sep 1, 2009 at 6:27 p.m.
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I am just curious why they wasted money on installing showers in the gym locker rooms when they do not encourage,nor even allow time for showers after gym class. I thought we were supposed to be teaching the kids life skills like good hygiene. The only time I have seen them used is for a quick splash before swim lessons for summer school.
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