Local 81- or Jodymac-You haven't heard about the custodians or aides or secretaries because they are the LOWEST paid and they don't have the contract deadlines like the JEA. So don't worry that pretty little head of yours-they are coming.

Yesterday was a sad day for Janesville. Many teachers were laid off. We need faces and names with #of years experience and positions. The tax payers need to be informed. Please Gazette print all the needed information.

WOW no response from local81 all weekend. Maybe a little truth to what I said? So far she isn't going too far with the "Get rid of everybody and put Kandu in there" Junk. We'll see how long that lasts.
Have a nice day and God bless everyone! :-)

Jenai23- you must be way off with your taxes. My home is assessed at 137,700 in the city of Janesville, and my taxes are just under $3500. The mill rate in Janesville is 0.02635047 per $1000 of assessment meaning at 150000 assessed taxes are around $3600 not $5500.

We should also think about how many administrators have come to our district to obtain their free PhD and then left within five years of finishing their degrees. "Thanks, SDJ, but.... see ya."

I have an appropriate area of savings for the district. Teachers are required to pay for their own classes to further their education. How about the district stops paying for administrators' PhDs? That has to be a huge expense. Marshall Middle School alone is currently paying for both the principal and assistant principal's PhD program. And can someone explain to me how it is fair to pay for administrators' PhD programs but not teachers' classes, when it's the teachers that are closest to the children?

Part of the area north of 14 is in the Janesville School district. That includes the areas that WalMart and Menards are on. I don't remember when the laws, maybe the early 80's, changed but if land is annexed to another area that area doesn't have to switch the school district those children go to. The area that is in the JSD was annexed before that time.

Skippy31: You are so uninformed. The teachers in the Janesville school system are not worthless people. We have some of the best teachers there are right here in Janesville as proven by recent test scores of students. We are very fortunate.

local81-(jodymac/cass)?
Wait until tuesday. The board will be voting on that exact thing. Custodial will at least loose 11 full time custodians and possibly more drastic than that depending on what the board decides.
IMO- Have you read the paper in the last couple of weeks?? Janesville schools have done better than ever with test scores. Much better than the private schools. Not for long with this trend I am sad to say.

rizzo.....Your comment, "I'm very thankful that I don't live in the Janesville School District. This is what you get when people put lower taxes higher on their list of priorities than a high quality education for all children." makes absolutely no sense. Wisconsin tax rates, both property and tax, are 25% higher than the national average. It is painfully obvious that no matter how much money you throw at the current system, it cannot be fixed. Removing the power from the greedy and corrupt unions will be a step in the right direction........

carlitosway: It is a myth that paying people less will cause the education to be less. This would only be true if merit has nothing to do with it. If you are able to keep your job by merit, not senority, then you would have to do a better job or you wouldn't have one. I would be willing to bet that you are almost broke in your home life, cause you feel the need to spend money on something that doesn't require it. This great nation was built out of a one room school house with chalk. Why can't people do a job like teaching because they value it. Why do these things always come down to getting more pay or I won't do a good job. That is crazy. For all the teachers that need more money or they won't do a good job, get out of this state, cause I am sick of paying for worthless people.

Hmmmm Maybe the average person does not really understand the outrageous property taxes in the city of Janesville. My home is only assessed at $82,000 and my taxes were $2800.00 We are building a new home outside of the city because of this, if our new home was in this city our taxes would be almost $8000. The average $150,000 home in the city pays almost $5500 in taxes. Get a clue people. I am sure most people on here are not even home owners paying in the taxes.

Hey thanks Honorfirst for building some mcmansion house that only serves to raise my taxes. Under your system there won't be any schools for your kids to go to when they are ready to go. Some teacher will be grossly under paid trying to educate children with parents like you.

Troyjans-Thank you for the map link. I was looking for something like that would show the facts.

skinnypuppy- I think your cousin needs some financial counceling if she has been teaching for 10 years and cannot afford a nicer home.
She should be making around $40-50 by now!
How many kids does she have to support? That can affect the home you have.

skinnypuppy- I pay close to 5 and I am not in some ritzy neighborhood. It is mostly rentals where I am. Sorry I think this is way to high for wher eI live as well!!
I am sure if he is paying $6k ever think the home is paid for? If it is who wants to pay those taxes. Those numbers are just stupid but he isnt going to leave his home becasue of it.
Mine have gone up over $1k in the last 4 years. STUPID!!
I know some homes in Court House hill area are over $7,000 and the values certainly don't reflect having to pay $7k+.
I would like to reasses but fear they will stick it to me even more!!
According to the market we lost $75k in value in the last 2 years.

We live on the other side of Hwy 14. We chose to have our kids continue with Janesville schools when we moved. Out of our taxes we pay every year only the portion for school taxes go to Milton everything else goes to Janesville. With saying that because our kids stayed with Janesville schools Milton has to turn around and give that back to Janesville schools.

http://www.janesville.k12.wi.us/Portals/... The Janesville School District Map I have linked shows the afformentioned business are in the district bounderies.

Good lord people...where do you live that you pay $6000 or $10,000 a year in property taxes? You must be making a decent living if you have purchased and kept a home in an area with those taxes yet you think teachers have too much? My cousin is a single teacher, has worked for ten years, and she ended up having to buy a small home over in Look West neighborhood b/c it's all she could afford. I am sure her property taxes aren't 5-10 thousand bucks a year! I think I make a decent living but couldn't afford a home in a place with those kinds of taxes either. Jeez!

I hate to say it, but private school here we come. I love my daughter’s school and all her teachers. She has excelled so much, and the Title 1 program has helped her tremendously this year. I don’t know where she would be with out it. I can not believe that the school board even thinks that these cuts are a good idea; I would not want to admit that I was on this board and voted to cut some of these positions. I understand we need to fix the budget, and that this is a hard choice, but cutting teachers that help our students, closing schools…..but we can keep all these darn Charter schools. Oh wait the rumor mill was saying that they will move these Charter schools into one of the schools they close, yep I see where that is a good idea, I think maybe, we should move the kids from the Charter schools into a school that is already staffed and operating. I don’t think making these kids go to school like every generation before them is a bad idea. If they need the extra help or direction, well the money you are saving by not paying rent & utilities in an un-needed building, well I would think that will pay the wage of at least one teacher (probably more) that can be helpful to that student and others. I’m sorry, I know kids, now adults, that have been through the Charter program, so yes it has been a few years, ….what a joke, at least when they were there. Even they have said so themselves. I am not going to debate this with anyone, I am stating my opinion and I am going to leave it at that. I agree with the comments about sports becoming more self staining, I think that might be more of an option than cutting our teachers, our children need these teachers……..what kind of future are we giving the children of Janesville. This is so sad, I can’t believe how as a city, people will fight to build a skate park or another ice rink or whatever else, but the need for education, just slips through. I know there are many people who do care, I just wish some of those who will donate large sums of money to an ice rink or whatever, could take the time to invest in the education of our future.

frogger, the area north of 14 is the Milton school district. Kids who live there are supposed to go to Milton schools. So it would make sense that businesses in the Milton school district would pay property taxes to Milton but I don't know for sure. As for Eric Levitt having anything to do with it???? That's crazy since most of those businesses were located there long before he came to Janesville.

I agree to cut some of those TECH classes. Some of you are saying the same but don't seem to get that those classes are taught by the TEACHER. So teachers would be cut no matter what.
Second- is this true about the properties North of 14 have their taxes going to Milton districts???? Some said Our main man in the City did this.
Is this true? What an idiot if this is true!!
I think Milton area is building enough homes IN MILTON to cove rtheir OWN taxes for school.
This could expalin the huge deficit for sure!!

We don't have a failing school system in this district, we have a pretty good one. But if these cuts happen, we will have a failing school system. And private schools are not always so good. I know of people who have had terrible teachers in private schools, so don't try to paint private schools as some sort of panacea. Many of them are failing our children, too. There are methods that have been proven for what makes a good school and this district has most of those methods in place now. Too bad we aren't willing to step up and continue them.

"The tax which will be paid for education is not more than the thousandth part of what will be paid to kings, priests and nobles who will rise up if we leave the people to ignorance."
-Thomas Jefferson

To bad this was not in effect when some of you werein school, as then you would be unable to comment in here as your skills would be as limited as some of your comments THIS IS ABOUT THE CHILDREN and apparently a majority don't have any or their kids are out of school and this won't hurt them or You have NO value for your children if you have any. That is to those that think this is right. Also for those that had kids in the schools and have graduated and thus you don't see where you need to support the schools with the taxes, Well you used the schools to educate your children on others money along with your own that felt the same as you do now and I bet you did not agree with their complaining then did you? If you don't want to pay for the things in your community that benifit the children then move to a retirement community where the KOCH's and the likes of them can give you free taxes.Not going to happen as they don't want the likes of you. You are not in their income level and never will be as they are taking everything you have right along with the rest of us.

skippy31 a quality education is about the money Pay people less money and you will not get the best out of them Take the jobs away and we can't send the kids to school as we won't be able to dress them properly. This is terrible and anyone that thinks bigger classrooms will make smarter kids is crazy. Lets get the Charter schools going so the PRIVATE sector gets the money Now is that going to help the shortfall in our school district OMG How dumb do they think the people are. The GOP are not the only educated people many of us have a good education when education was an important issue. Let the GOP take the learning away and then send their kids to private schools Then the can really say we are dumb as we have not any educational skills because we won't have the money to get them. Well 130 without jobs here and how many in other districts will lose theirs? So much for creating JOBS Walker keep taking from the people and putting more in poverty WOW nothing the GOP does can amaze me anymore as we have nothing left to lose and if we do they will get that also.
Walkers own words if I recall was kids learn to read in grades 1 thru 3 and we need to look at cutting the unneeded programs after that and what more is needed basically was what he was saying.IMO A man that was expelled for school is making judgements for our kids IMO he has a personal hate to the Education fields as he could not even achieve an Education.

Again, people throw out that they are willing to pay more. Let them! I pay $6000.00/yr in property taxes and have no child in the public school system at this point. I pay way more than my share of taxes only to see the teachers union running to grab every damn panny they can get their greedy hands on. Enough is enough, stop throwing money at a broken system and try a new model. Voucher system, contract teachers, contract custodial services, etc.

"You want to take as much money as possible away from public education and give it to private."

Interesting interpretation.

What I want to do is allow parents to determine where the money allocated for their childrens' education goes, much like we see in colleges. It is not "taking away from public education" unless it is forcefully taken from people without their consent and given to public education in the first place.

The purpose of education dollars is not to keep public schools open and guarantee them a revenue stream regardless of how well they do their job, but to educate students.

"KingRizzo believes all children should be forced into government schools to help the minority of students who need extra help."

Interesting interpretation.

I believe all children should have access to the best education we can provide. You want to take as much money as possible away from public education and give it to private, which is where the best performing students will have to go to get a quality education, leaving the worst performing students with the least amount of money in public schools or in the private schools with the lowest standards. That's a great recipe for achievement, isn't it?

"The current system is failing."

You mean the system that has produced higher-than-average test scores in this city with such a high poverty rate?

If IMO or NoLeftist had a real accurate understanding of the challenges faced by a large number of students who are less fortunate than they were, they wouldn't be so quick to spout such nonsense on these threads.

"Ross...a rather unfair statement seeing as how the repair bill is stalled in the courts."

Yes...? And...? Do you know WHY schools are already preparing their cuts? Because DPI has already released the revenue limit calculation worksheets to school districts with the budget bill changes incorporated (~$615 less per pupil - 5.5%). The districts aren't working under the assumption that the budget hasn't been approved yet because they already have their marching orders from the state. The budget cycle requires districts to meet certain deadlines in order to secure staffing and funding for the subsequent year. The budget may not have passed yet, but by the time we DO have one, the damage will already have hit school districts because we'll have already cut positions and services.

The next logical statement is... "well all those positions could be recalled if the budget isn't approved!"

...and you would be correct. However, have you ever DONE a layoff-recall? It's not as simple as calling someone and telling them, "Oh, whoops! We DO need you to come back to work next fall! How's Monday at 8AM sound for you?" Sometimes people get other jobs, lose trust after going through it, or simply don't want to come back. It affects the kiddos too to watch their teachers go through it. I've seen it. It's not pretty.

KingRizzo believes all children should be forced into government schools to help the minority of students who need extra help.

It's for the kids, of course.

"Of all tyrannies a tyranny sincerely exercised for the good of its victims may be the most oppressive. It may be better to live under robber barons than under omnipotent moral busybodies. The robber baron's cruelty may sometimes sleep, his cupidity may at some point be satiated; but those who torment us for our own good will torment us without end, for they do so with the approval of their own conscience."

C.S. Lewis

King Rizzo - If we followed your pattern of thinking we would never do anything because there might be difficulties in the task. The current system is failing. How about trying something else. Do not be such a negative person and you might accomplish something despite yourself. Start a school for childrens with disabilities why don' t you. I know of many children in private schools without high IQ's.

And what do you suppose we do with the children who have low IQ's and aren't accepted by any private schools? How about those with special needs who aren't cost-effective enough for the private schools?

Ah, yes, we'll put them to work in the mines. Perfect! Amiright Koch_Bros?

Why not close the schools and give all the kids vouchers? Then we would have real choice. And no, I don't care about charter schools. There are plenty of private/parochial schools that are doing a much better job with much less already. Open your own school if you are so worried about the kids. My kid go to private school all out of pocket plus I pay to send your kids to a lousy school. Parents do us all a favor and pull your kids out of the government schools and we would not be having this discussion at all. I want all the kids to have an opportunity for a great education. What do we want? Vouchers! When do we want them? NOW! Heh, heh! Ho! Ho! The public schools have got to go.

+1 westorbust

Solidarity!! Oh wait ...

Leave it to the ignorant to disparage foreign language studies in schools. How about we teach kids how to dig ditches, mine for coal, and make sure they learn the fantasy of biblical creation. Race to the bottom! America is failing, not because of it's schools, it's because of you, the purpose driven willfully ignorant, who are comfortable living in fantasy worlds and reducing everything, including the life and education of our children, down to a cost benefit analysis. My kids won't need public school to teach them the importance of reason, science or morality, because thankfully, I have a brain. Something it seems some people didn't get in line for.

A unanimous vote.

This is so wrong. There are many non curriculum programs that can be cut to keep as many teachers as possible. The biggest problem is that no one wants their program cut. Just because a program gets cut doesn't mean we cant bring it back after things get better. Anything that is after school or not apart of a normal education day should be cut before the teachers are. After school sports is a large cost that I believe can be put on hold. I played after school sports in school and believe that many good things come from it, but in a money crisis as an adult I also have learned to cut the extras to get by. Just my opinion =)

Told my son they might cancel Chinese. He said,
"Why can't they take away math instead? They are going to take all the fun stuff, aren't they."

I found that funny until I thought about how hard it can be to keep him excited about school and then thought about the other kids who are hard to motivate and don't have parents who even try. Those will be the kids we lose if we cut too deep. There has to be fun as well as core classes and there have to be enough staff members to make those kids feel like someone cares that they get an education. These proposed cuts are way too deep. I am willing to pay more to support this community and keep our schools strong. Is there going to be a referendum?

Using Fund Balance would be a mistake. It's one time money that will be a larger sum the year after.

This is going to be a rough year, but cutting 130 FTE makes me nauseous. Yeah, loving those "tools" Walker...

Chinese? they don't need Chinese to get by. If they want Chinese they can learn that outside of school and pay for it. When is this insanity going to end?

This includes all counselors? How on earth are high schools supposed to function without their counselors? And cutting Title 1? No learning support teachers? No librarians? And no police presence? Does anyone "at the top" even realize the extent of what these people do? This is beyond stupid - it's completely unacceptable !!

http://janesville.k12.wi.us/LinkClick.as... Heres where I got my numbers from If you take into account that P4J wasn't available in th 02-03 school year enrollment has dropped 10% with that being said 10% of 1400 employees is about 140. If my employer has to make less widgets he needs to cut workforce to stay "profitable"

JasonTh I'm guessing your as you put it a "bastard state worker" I never put blame on the state worker I most simply stated that the vast majority of private sector employees have made concessions or lost their job over the past 10 years while, these government jobs have maintained thier level of benefits and pay on the taxpayers shoulders.

"Murray said the impending layoffs force him to look deeper into the district budget, including the need for a Chinese language program that was started recently in the elementary and middle schools.

"If Chinese has to go, it has to go, even if it's a popular thing," said board member Lori Stottler."

Chinese in the elementary and middle schools? That sounds totally unnecessary to me. I don't think it is even necessary in high school. Who cares if it's popular or not? It's not essential to basic education! With the budget cuts that are necessary right now, it is much more important to keep the teachers jobs to maintain basic education than provide optional courses like Chinese!
_
I heard that the counselors got their layoff notices today. I really think they need to keep at least 1 counselor in each of the high schools and middle schools to guide the kids towards the correct courses for college and help them enroll in college.
_
I see only 1 cut in the Educational Services Center support staff - the program support teacher - and no cuts in the administration. There has to be a lot more consolidation that can be done there without much impact to the schools. There could be big gains if they cut out a couple of administrators.

Spending money on education doesn't mean that it is better or higher. Apparently you all just don't get it. Getting better things just takes responsibility off the person learning. I know this for a fact. I am responsible for all the training in my job. The other thing I know is now, the school system is not about reading wrighting and math. They are about programs for the students, that are supposed to promote learning, but in the majority of the cases don't. My mother is a teacher and has a child in her class that is in a wheelchair. She now has to push this child around all day and take care of her every need. If parents keep the student out of school for the day, when the child returns to school, the teacher has to repeat everytyhing from the day before so the student who missed is up to speed. Lets get the school system back to actually teaching and get rid of the senseless stuff. The teachers have all they can do to get kids to learn and pay attention. There is too much babying of the kids, no wonder they can't learn. They are not being held accoutable. Parents are also not being held accountable to make sure that kids are doing what they are supposed to and putting effort into their studies. There is a joint accountablility in students learning.

Sorry teachers. It has to happen. We cannot keep running this city as if the revenue from GM was still present. When you tug 250 million out of a small economy like Janesville, all the businesses are hurt and so the multiplying effect of the dollar is dramatically slowed. This means less taxes. That means the only way Janesville could keep all the teachers is by raising taxes. Hopefully, most of you will move away and find teaching jobs in communities that are thriving.

"And FYI: Local 81 = Joel Rodgers."
.
So how long before local 81 gets taken off/banned as did Cass and jodymac?

On their boards, that is . . . it's late . . .

How many other school districts have not one but *two* former country chairmen for the republican party on them?

"If all the other factors remained equal, these enrollment numbers would mean a loss of $135,000 in the 2011-12 budget, Pennington said."
(From what Caddyshack said)

Other local school districts are not facing these kind of cuts right now. My heart goes out to the Janesville teachers affected by this, and I hope that this serves as a wake up call to the city of Janesville. We need to educate our kids, and to do so, we need to fund education.
*
And FYI: Local 81 = Joel Rodgers.

http://gazettextra.com/news/2011/jan/29/...

In fact, enrollment is only 252 students less than the 1995-1996 school year.

Enrollment - it went up in 2008 by 188 students, and yes it was down this year by 133. Projected for next fall is down by 105. That's not enough to justify 50 positions. The real projected enrollment cuts are due to enlarging class sizes.
Also, the other 80 are not because of enrollment, but because of the "gap" that cannot/will not be filled with help from the fund 10.

Allfor1and...Walker has been creating positions in the Industrial Reserve Army

I'm very thankful that I don't live in the Janesville School District. This is what you get when people put lower taxes higher on their list of priorities than a high quality education for all children.

Still, I am curious as to how the JSD got into such a huge deficit. How was this not foreseen? What are the contributing factors to this defecit? What was done at the moment of realization in regards to handling the situation? Why did they wait until it was too late for anything (besides laying people off) to be done? Why did so many principals decide to resign this year? Why isn't the Fund 10 being used to offset the disparity? Why are teachers vilified and blamed for this mess instead of the people responsible for managing the district?

Hey troy, maybe you need to return to school so you can learn to read a newspaper. The way I see it, the unions conceded all fiscal points the second week of debate. Walker wouldn't take it until he got the collective bargaining removed, also. This lead to the senators leaving the state.

Then when they trimmed the fiscal parts out of the bill and passed it anyway all they had to do was wait 24 hours - he could have passed the act without violating the open meeting laws.

But let's blame those bastard state workers for all the problems today... it's so much easier to blame someone else for these problems.

I am ashamed that it has come to this! My children's education is going to suffer because no one wants to fund these schools. Are you kidding me? This is what we have come to? I have four kids! I would pay tons more in school fees to save these positions. Also, cut the sports, cut the the stupid classes like animal care, chinese language, etc... there are plenty of amenity classes that do not need to be there. Those classes are why we have college! Take fourlough days! My hubby works for the gazette. They have had to take several week long fourloughs over the past couple of years. There has got to be another way to save these positions!!!!

just_tryin-My apologies. I'm used to constant opposition to many things regarding education, or funding for education, that my intuition is off...I agree with you, yet I worry that people only view the great additions to our school as only an extension of athletics as opposed to what they were originally intended for; which was to accommodate the number of students enrolled in Phy Ed. It is also hard to make cuts based on a perceived level of importance over other programs. Just like athletics, Chinese and French is used to bring in students from other districts that don't offer them.

Jobs were due to be cut in Janesville schools as enrollment numbers have steadily decreased since 2002. Walkers budget bill cuts funding to the extent that had the union employees given in to the request for payment on health and pension funds, no other jobs would have been lost. Our country is in a finacial mess, we all need to put our feet down and demand real change. I as well as many union and non-union private sector employees have made concessions to keep our jobs, health care, and benefits as well as went through several years now that my IRAs haven't been funded/or matched by my employer. So what would you do as an employee to see your company (public or private) to succeed?

Vigilandy,
I think it is a waste of fantastic facilities to continually have people suggest cuts to athletic programs before some others. Is it more important to cut funding for sports for the hundreds that participate (using these facilities) instead of programs such as Chinese or French, when only a few participate (very limited space is used)?

Looks like Walker's plan really is creating jobs. What a joke! 50-130 jobs lost in the school district= a lot more than just more unemployment, it means less money in the local economy and most likely a lot of people relocating. A friend of mine that is getting a pink slip isn't going to wait around for Schulte and the Board to figure this mess out, but instead is going to apply and take whatever he can get elsewhere.

It is funny the only cuts being made are to the union positions. Is it possible to slash the staff at the district office. I would think we could close the distrct office and move those offices into one of the schools. The district would have one less building to maintain and we could keep positions that acually help kids succeed.

just_trying-I sensed that your question was rhetorical and laced with sarcasm. Otherwise, what was your point in asking?

truthteller-So what your saying is the "taxpayers" are essentially looking out for their own well-being, and people that do that are bad...? Seems like you are being something that starts with an "H" and ends with an "ypotrical." Plus what mblack said.

Vigilandy,
You are correct; "those facilities are used more on an hourly basis for physical education needs as opposed to the 2-3 hours for sports that you are referring to". However, that is not what I asked. Please re-read my post and answer the initial question.

Why don't the taxpayers open their pockets? The teachers DO NOT set the budget, nor do they approve spending. The teachers did not do this. If people in Janesville want to have a good school, open your wallets. Teachers did not open their contract due to protecting classroom size, value of teachers improving themselves through education and professional development, and more. AND, they were also told that even IF they paid in (money they took in leiu of raises to begin with) more, it would NOT guarantee any fewer cuts than what is now. THose were SHULTE's words. So, why would a teacher want to pay in more, just to still have their peers cut?

One does not fail to notice that no administrative positions have been cut.

Truthteller-Whom are you blaming?

If all the teachers would open up their contracts many jobs could be saved. I guess they just care for their own well being and not that of their co-workers with less senority. I have seen other employee's at private business take pay cuts from very modest wages to save a freinds job. just kind of sad the tax payer gets the blame here.

This absolutely disgusts me and shows the school board really doesn't care that much about the students or their employees. I feel very bad for every student who has to try and make it through high school without the guidance of a counselor. They are turely amazing people who help students with everything. Who is going to be responsible for helping students with scheduling, scholarships, college, financial aid, personal problems, etc?

Athos...intriguing! LOL!

This is the school system that the citizens of Janesville have chosen through the elected leadership of Sodemann and his cronies. The "journey to mediocrity" that the superintendent is facilitating as her strings are being pulled by the BOE will go down in infamy as the demise of the Janesville schools. The BOE has a superintendent that they COMPLETELY control. We have a BOE that has put a quality education of our children as a secondary consideration compared to drinking the kool aid that Sodemmann and his cronies are serving. The number of quality leaders that have left and continue to leave our system is unsettling at best. Our board deliberated the costs of student parking fees at the high schools longer than they discussed cutting all counselors, LMC persons and support staff. So when my children and/or their peers have needs I am sure that the "S" brigade will be there to help them. (Sodemann, Severson D., Stottler, Schulte and Sperry). I will bet that Quint "S"tuder will really be excited to market and share the many successes of our "S" brigade. Too many "S"'s spoil the Superintendent, our Schools and our Students successes! Himmler had an "SS", Schutzstaffel ("Protective Squadron") brigade and that didn't bode well in world history. One can only hope that the peril and losses for our students and our schools will not be as daunting!

Just_trying...Try harder. Those facilities are used more on an hourly basis for physical education needs as opposed to the 2-3 hours for sports that you are referring to.

Tired,
I heard from some craig students today that the pricipal was going to call an assembly tommorrow and hand out all of the layoff notices to the teachers infront of the entire student body. Gazette staff you better be there or I will stop reading your paper for free online! Not only that but I will not post on this blog anymore either! What are you 12.

Tired- you and your sources are WRONG. Notices arent coming this week or "in front" of the students. Your comments about indoctrination are silly and not very smart. Wouldnt expect more form someone in Janesburg. This community is FULL of highly uneducated loudmouths.

I'm hearing from some Craig students that formal notices are being given out tomorrow during school - This came from a teacher today. If this is true I don't care who gives the notice weather it be the union rep's or school admin. it's plain wrong in front of the kids and absolutely defines indoctrination! Gazette, you better be there to cover or atleast confirm this story.

Now this is interesting.
From Saturday, Jan. 29, 2011: Janesville School District enrollment drops again

"If all the other factors remained equal, these enrollment numbers would mean a loss of $135,000 in the 2011-12 budget, Pennington said. The district says the average teacher’s pay plus benefits cost about $60,000, so $135,000 equates to two teachers plus change."

Now how is this budget crisis the teachers' faults?

http://gazettextra.com/news/2011/jan/29/......

If sports were cut, wouldn't it reduce the use of the fantastic field houses, weight rooms, wrestling rooms, etc. that we paid millions of dollars for?

Why not cut sports? Probably because that is used as an incentive to bring in students from other districts via school choice. Sure, raise the fees, I agree. But to completely cut sports or any other extra-curricullar activity would cause many parents to go to different schools that have them, or no fee to participate. This would mean less enrollment in the JSD, and also less money. Schools compete for enrollment with other schools because of school choice. More classes, more extra-curriculars=more enrollment. Besides, isn't charging more for extra-curriculars just another form of tax aimed at a specific group of people? Maybe the JSD should charge just the parents of students with learning disabilities a fee for additional support in the classroom. Their are many forms of intelligences; one of them being bodily-kinesthetic intelligence. Some write poetry, some draw beautifully, some can sing or play an instrument, some can solve equations, some can paint on the canvas of the playing field, whatever that might be. If we are a society that is going to pay millions for professional athletes in the form of buying Packer Super Bowl Champion hats etc., maybe we should support the efforts of our local athletically inclined students that feed those industries?

Hi ______,

Thanks for all the kind words. I am also looking forward to all the good times ahead. I have been busy calling all the politicians from President Obama all the way down to our local representatives...and not a single one of them took my call. So, I left my name and contact info with all of them. No one has called yet.

This is crazy and a "sleeping giant" metaphor of people whom are going to wake up and stand up tall, yawn, stretch, walk into the bathroom, take aim, (you know), and then flush this huge toilet full down the drain. Too much hearsay and not enough do - say. I want to do! What the heck can I do? There are no options!!! It is time to push through these dark depressing days and focus on a clearer and brighter path into the future. All is not lost however and much is to be learned every day that we are here on Earth, no matter where we are or what kind of a predicament we are in.

Somehow, someway, there has to be a decisive moment that turns hope and prayers into livable conditions for this great nation. I say that it is time to start doing again. Wipe this slate clean no matter what the problems are, and find the strength to get past and leave the pain behind. I am so heart-struck by the situations that we have put ourselves in. There is so much blame, and finger pointing. However, I know that this is just a hurdle to get over: now we dig into make sure we are ready to leap again.

I love you,
_______

The budget shortfall is a City of Janesville problem. We all should be a part of the solution. We cannot expect the entire budget shortfall to be paid for by a few hundred teachers in a city of 60,000 people. I find it hard to stomach that so many are so willing to throw the teachers under the bus and want not one cent to come out of their pockets to ensure we maintain great schools. This will devastate the City of Janesvile school system.

How do cut all councilors? Is this some sort of tactic or are people going crazy? Who is going to help kids at the high schools get college letters out, keep on track for college, etc. etc. etc etc.? Yes, supportive, educated parents can guide their children, but you know darn well we have a lot that do not do that for their children in this town.

No librarians or learning support staff? This is insane. Education is getting set way back in this district if these cuts are all truly executed. Quint Studer, where are you now?

Idle threats gardenkiller. I am far from retired. $50 does not even begin to cover the costs. Why should taxpayers pay for sports when they don't want to pay for education? I would be ashamed if my kid could throw a football, but can't read.

"Another 50 full-time-equivalent teaching positions from all or most grade levels were eliminated based on lower enrollments." Come on Frank, these cuts weren't due to enrollment levels at all. That round of cuts was due to the school board raising class sizes.

Sports teams should fund themselves. There are very few kids who would be left out. Scholarships from inside the boosters could cover them. Really~alot of money spent for VERY few!

mblack, parents pay $50 for each sport their child plays! Shulte should make more than the teachers! Same degree plus more education and responsibility! You must be retired and collecting social security, I should call Walker up and maybe he will cut that to.

Why doesn't the district cut the sports programs instead of teachers? If the kids want to be in sports, then the parents should pay. Why spend money on sports when you can't afford academics? How much would that save the district? It is so tiring when people complain about teachers as if they are the cause the district doesn't manage their money well! Maybe Shulte shouldn't make six figures a year. Teachers sure don't! Paras don't! Janitors and other support staff don't! Lower operating expenses and keep teachers teaching. The public will complain when teachers don't have time for their child when they have 40 kids in their classes. They will complain when there are no guidance counselors and no one to listen to a child at school when their parent is sick, dies, or goes to jail. Bullying? No guidance to teach kids how to behave. Are the teachers supposed to do it? Your gifted kid isn't being challenged? Your learning disabled kid isn't getting help? Sorry! There aren't any staff to help them.

As most school districts are~I suspect Janesville might be a little heavy in administration. Furlough days, a wage freeze hurt~but take some off the top. That's where the bigger bucks may be found!

you are a bit. the Ice thing is a City Council program. This is School Board decision making here

But the ice thing is more important then the teachers,am i missing something here??