Incumbents hold on to Janesville School Board posts
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Janesville School Board election results
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New school board member Scott Feldt chats with current school board member Karl Dommershausen while watching the returns come in at the Rock County Courthouse.
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Kevin Murray
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Bill Sodemann
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Scott Feldt
JANESVILLE — Tuesday’s vote for Janesville School Board sets up a race for president of the board and might shift the board to the right.
Voters chose the two incumbents and a newcomer. Kevin Murray and board President Bill Sodemann were re-elected to their third three-year terms.
Scott Feldt, a former Rock County Board member, defeated John Burt, Kirk Henry and Fred Shahlapour to take the third seat.
Feldt will replace Peggy Sheridan, who did not run for re-election.
The shift of one member on a nine-member board can make a difference. The current teachers contract, for example, was approved on a 5-4 vote. Sheridan and Murray were among those voting to approve it.
It’s sometimes hard to use conservative and liberal labels when it comes to the school board, Sodemann said, but it would appear that Feldt could shift the nonpartisan board at least slightly to the right.
Sodemann noted that Feldt is former chairman of the Rock County Republican Party, as is Sodemann. Sodemann said he encouraged Feldt to run.
Murray said he will run for president of the board, while Sodemann said he planned to seek another year as president. Board members choose their president.
Sodemann said he offers continuity and experience in the president’s chair.
Murray said people have told him they wish the board would act more quickly.
“We’ve got some tough choices to make, and I think my agenda would be to make sure we take action—more action than what I see going on,” Murray said.
Atop the board’s agenda is its $13.4 million projected budget deficit for 2011-12.
Murray said he and Sodemann don’t always agree, but they get along very well personally and respect each other. Sodemann is honest, sincere and you always know where he stands, Murray said.
“Bill has done a great job, and I hope I can do as well as he has done,” Murray said.
The president’s vote counts the same as those of the other nine members. The biggest power is to run the meetings as he or she sees fit.
Sodemann hopes to work on a merit-pay system for teachers, and he wants the teachers involved because they know best what makes an effective teacher, he said.
Sodemann said merit pay is unlikely to be implemented before the current teachers contract runs out in 2013, but that gives the district time to devise an equitable system.
Murray said building a fair system will be a challenge.
Feldt said Job 1 is to listen to other board members and learn as much as he can, although he said he would voice his opinions.
After the budget is dealt with, Feldt said, he’d like to focus on getting more communications technologies integrated into classrooms. He sees technology as key to capturing students’ interest in learning.
Apr 7, 2011 at 9:12 a.m.
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Gunslinger, I care. If he feels that our schools are not good enough to send his children to (grade school for example).
Just like the Govenor sending his children to private schools but then cuts funding for public schools, while increasing vouchers to rich kids families to go to private.
Apr 7, 2011 at 7:49 a.m.
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Gunslinger=redneck idiot. Pay attention!!
Apr 7, 2011 at 12:23 a.m.
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LucyLu-Who cares!
Noexcuse-you are clearly uneducated when it comes to how the board works. Based on your comments it appears you are one of those teachers who doesn't have a clue.
Apr 6, 2011 at 10:44 p.m.
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Just curious Bill I was under the assumption that your children were home schooled until high school, is this a correct assumption?
Apr 6, 2011 at 10:02 p.m.
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way to go rednecks. You reelect Sodeman who as President only led the way to 13 million in debt since he's been on the board. Every year he conned us into "low tax is fiscally responible" and led to this. He knew the formula and played us perfectly. No choice but to cut teaching position, kill good programs and make private schools and vouchers look better down the road. (He could be the only successful Repub to do this since the QEO). We lost 3 million in state aid last year because he led the no tax bandwagon. If a businessman ran a business this way, he'd be bankrupt. Oh wait we are. Now let's hear you rednecks use the old Republican mantra "the greedy union teachers got their sweetheart contract." Yea 2% did it baby. Put us 13 mill. in debt. Idiots
Apr 6, 2011 at 9:29 p.m.
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To the entire board. Please work quickly to implement a merit pay system. We need to encourage teachers to join the rest of the world for payment based on performance.
Apr 6, 2011 at 7:57 p.m.
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Okay Local81, Are you saying that nobody else pays taxes? If it was up to Bill we would all be privitized working poor. I am certainly not rich by any means either. I do have to say, Bill you didn't seem to argue with the rest of my post so that must be the truth you speak of so highly.
Apr 6, 2011 at 2:28 p.m.
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Mr Sodemann,
I am very sorry that I mis-spoke. I was mis-informed. I don't check my e-mail often but I will as soon as I finish this post. I just want to appoligize publicly on here so everyone can see that I did so. Unless you havent figured it out I am one of the employees of the district that will be affected by one of the votes tonight. My emotions got the best of me and I shot my mouth off before thinking. Again I am truly sorry.
Apr 6, 2011 at 2:13 p.m.
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christforlife: Often, when people say untrue things about me or my family, I send them a private email to correct them as I did for you earlier today. Either you have not read your email or you are intentionally not wanting to acknowledge the truth, which does not seem to fit your blog name.
To repeat, although it should not matter, I have 2 children who presently attend Parker and have 3 more who have graduated from Parker. As a proud father, I would be glad to spend hours telling you all about their successes if you would like me to.
Sincerely,
Bill Sodemann
Apr 6, 2011 at 1:18 p.m.
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I have to apoligize. That was a little harsh on my part. Just emotions running on high about what will happen tonight.
Apr 6, 2011 at 12:43 p.m.
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He obviously doesn't have enough faith in the district to send his kids to our schools what does he care about being on the board for? Oh thats right he wants to run it like his business and bust the unions just like walker.
Apr 6, 2011 at 12:40 p.m.
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It should be is all I'm saying.
Apr 6, 2011 at 12:40 p.m.
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Kevin Murray for president!!
Apr 6, 2011 at 12:39 p.m.
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I didn't know that having kids in the school district was a pre-requisite to run for school board?
Apr 6, 2011 at 10:27 a.m.
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I can't believe a person that does not even have kids in the school district he is on the board of got re-elected. WOW!!
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