EXACTLY!!!!! why cost us money because they screwed up royaly.

The taxpayers are owed the the truth. Not some BS. If the this is a morality issue, what two consenting adults do on their own time is their own business. garrow was hired to do a job. The Milton School Board is not judge and jury. Stop entering in to no disclosure contracts with contract employees. Mr Garrow..own up, be a man (General P. did it) apoligize and move on. School Board..mind your own business. your not the morality police. Unless there is a crime involved. Pretty sick of people who get on the school board and cost taxpayers money because they don't look before they leap

nicksmom...get over it already, we are not paying for them and yes grant money is and these kids are doing better for it...they need to learn tech. so they can use it when they get old enough to actually work...I wish I had been taught this stuff as a kid, I would be better for it as an adult. I have 2 boys who are in useing the program and their grades are sky rocketing and they are now on honor roll were before they did well but not this well. We are now informed better as parents too. I feel like I know whats really going on not what I am told or shocked by at a conference..Now to ask you what does this have to do with the LIES GARROW AND THE DISTRICT are telling us?

It doesn't matter where the iPad money comes from - it's a waste. A friend of mine is a super & he agrees it's a waste. In his district laptops are made available to students who do not have them. Why just hand out this stuff like free donuts? There are other cost issues such as maintenance, theft, damage, changing techology etc... It seems that this school district has an entitlement mentality so people wonder why the super does? Gee, who were the morons that gave him a contract allowing this to occur? Pay out his contract, move on and go after the idiot(s) who negotiated this contract. Case resolved.

I'm going in to my boss's office this morning and say, "Excuse me sir, but I would like the next 8 1/2 - 9 months paid time off while I pursue my dreams".
.
However, I expect him to say, "Go join the dreamers club and pursue those dreams. . . . on your own dime".

Sandman...not thrilled myself, but although I am not positive, I think the iPad money might be from grants (OK, probably still taxpayer dollars but maybe not out of local property taxes). I do think you would agree we are getting a lot more for our expenditure on iPads than we are out of paying this guy for "pursuing his dreams."

oldvet...you should be talking about a cuckoo clock instead.

Oldvet, your statements are getting stale. Time to reload. Might want to check your windage and elevation too.

In a school district that can waste tens of thousands of dollars of taxpayer money buying iPads for kids (and thereby primarily contributing to the expansive wealth of Apple, Inc), ANYTHING is possible (at taxpayer expense, of course), and frankly nothing would surprise!

I expect the truth will eventually come out on this, though mostly because of the open records law and hardly at all because of the investigative talent and tenaciousness of this "news"-paper's crack staff!

When will Milton residents reach their limit? Time will tell. In the interim, folks (and "people"), "Keep your feet on the ground and keep reachin' for the stars!"

"Garrow has said that that the leave has allowed him time to grapple with his father’s death earlier this fall, and that going forward, it will allow him to pursue his dreams"
These are some of the "free stuff" you can get when you vote for Socialists. Isn't it simply W O N D E R F U L ?

All dreamers are instructed to report to the Clock Tower Inn for a "How to get more free stuff" conference.

"For the second time in the five weeks, Leong hinted at the option of a referendum to ask voters for permission to augment district operating costs—the bulk of which are tied to employee pay and benefits."
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Who would want more money going to these yahoo's?

Did Paula Broadwell make stops in Milton?

Well it certainly was not the first...and yes the truth always lies somewhere in the middle...HOWEVER....this dream chase, family death lie, is just that. We all know in Milton or in Janesville they are smallish towns and in a small town people talk and people are always looking into other peoples business. Now if the rumor mill is true then Garrow ought to have known better and handle himself appropriately. Once again not dragging tax dollars into the fiasco. A "MESS" is not exactly what the school board should be asking the tax payers to swallow. Everyone is certainly in tune with tax dollars today, these people just keep comming to the well to many times for their indiscresions. The budget needs to be balanced and the right people need to be hired for the job. I certainly will not be cast my vote for any of the incumbants. We need new blood with a defined purpose...this used to be one of the best district to send our kids to school, now we have this "MESS" and it takes away from what I think all of our ultimate goals are. If we pay Garrow (off) and allow this to go on and then pay someone else to do his job..what message are we sending to our kids and the community. What legacy are we leaving our families? What type of community are we living in? The whole thing just makes me sick.

Lets play the hypothetical game for a minute...

If I were on a school board and did something terribly unfair to a member of the district, Administrator or otherwise, We would do market research for a way to get out of it.

Option 1- Be mature adults, tell the truth and accept the consequences.

Option 2 - Create a way to disclose it by paying off the person involved

Option 3 - Plant a rumor that terrorizes yet ANOTHER district employee, successfully misdirecting the public and taking advantage of their thirst for juicy gossip. All the while knowing that the local community can be counted on to repeat what they hear instead of question it.

I wonder which two of the options were chosen in Milton?

"For the second time in the five weeks, Leong hinted at the option of a referendum to ask voters for permission to augment district operating costs—the bulk of which are tied to employee pay and benefits."
That was from Neil's story regarding funding overcrowded classrooms and solutions to that issue from an article dated 11/14/12.
Hrrrmmm...nope...not suspect at all based on the comment from Leong....(I can't even type it with a straight face)
I have an excellent solution on how to come up with the estimated $130k needed to implement a plan to alleviate the overcrowding issues: STOP PAYING THE GRIEVING DREAM CHASER. There: problem solved.

@frogger - Apparently so. Who knew chasing dreams...or whatever....could be so incredibly lucrative and litigious all at the same time?
As a Milton resident on and off for 20+ years, having gone to school there myself, and as one with children in the district this all saddens me and in many ways amuses me. Peyton Place it has become and mostly by their own doing all while piggybacking off of the confidence and funds of voters and tax payers. Well played, Roy & company...well played.
As far as voting any of the current members back in - not me. Someone should have had the guts to stand up and not only say NO but demand an end be put to the insanity. If this teaches us nothing else, remember: never pick up other things where you also pick up your paycheck.

really...do you know the other person involved?....read through the comments before you critique....think about it...wait wait wait...there you go you might be on it now

""pursue his dreams,""
lol it that what they call it now?

Superintendents are not members of the teachers union so it's not likely a teachers union attorney is advising him and/or the board who also are not members of the teachers union.

It's actually kind of funny that your refer to that as a "pretty educated guess" when it misses the mark on something as basic as this.

and it is speculation (however a pretty educated guess) that a teachers union lawyer is involved as to the way this is ending...plus there are 2 people involved...add it together

Why possibly I can....contracts and cover up... and paid leave till June put it all together

redder, can you tell me how the union has anything to do with the superintendent?

Did the Gazette ever give the real scoop about the JSD superintendent that left a few years back?

If they can drag the good General through the mud why not clear the air.....its quite wrong that we have to pay this guy for his indiscressions...and the other involved as well. The Gazette should be honest with the public as well. Why write the story if your not going to tell the story as it comes. Just tired of the crap they feed us...only part of the story.

WisconsinResident — Garrow's contract is up on June 30. No coincidence that's when his leave ends. It's at the board's discretion whether he returns, not his.

WisRes - not sure it's up to Garrow whether he is going to return...a contract would have to be offered, and it seems like this is steering away from that road.

Fully aware my previous comment might get deleted, but so be it if it does. We're in complete agreement, abass80, about the need for both parties to resign. Admitting their mistakes like adults and stepping aside at the start of all of this probably just makes too much sense though.
Looking forward, candidates for school board can start taking out papers soon, I believe. I'm willing to give Betsy Lubke the benefit of the doubt as a first-term board member, but I think Rob Roy's time is about up. We've had some really good new candidates run in the past couple years, new blood with progressive ideas like John Fons and Jason Busch, who likely lost because they weren't Milton lifers. Well, we can see where that gets us. Hopefully they, or similarly minded individuals who have their priorities straight—strong teachers make strong students, who make strong schools—will run again and breathe some much-needed fresh air into this board.

Well in my opinion what I would do is at least start recruiting candidate for Mr.Garrow just in case he decides not to return for the 2014 school instead of waiting to see what he will do. This way the position can be filled in the event Mr. Garrow decides not to return.

Careful @mexicron07....staff on the site have been deleting comments eluding to anything to do with what we already know...but thanks for opening eyes in such a tactful way ;-)
Fired? Maybe not. But is it a distraction away from the function of his job and the other parties job at hand? ABSOLUTELY. They should both resign and deal with their private matters privately. But since it seems Peyton Place wants a circus then, by all means, they are getting it.
At least Petraeus resigned as gracefully as possible. Maybe some others should take notes and not accept pay for being a dream chaser

Thank you for the info on FMLA, Neil.
This is all so ridiculous. The board should just come out with it - but all of it and not just their version of the matter. Most of us know already anyway. No amount of butter will make it go down more smoothly but as concerned parents, community members, and taxpayers we have the right to know what the big secret is in which allows our elected school board members to pay a man a potential six-figure sum of money to be a professional dream chaser. I, for one, will be interested to see what happens at the next board meeting. Chances are they will skirt the issue again. And again. And again.

Finally people seem to be catching on to the fact that this extended leave has nothing to do with the death of Garrow's father. As for whether the most repeated rumor, if true (and the evidence certainly points that way), can/should lead to the outright dismissal of Garrow and another district employee, I don't see how it's grounds for firing. Inappropriate and immoral? Maybe. But certainly not illegal, or even against school district rules. My guess is the district recognizes this—after all, there are board members with HR experience—and is simply letting Garrow's contract run out and not renewing it. It's paying him to go away when he wouldn't have had the confidence of staff had he stayed. If Garrow had an integrity he'd just resign, but I expect he'll be needing the extra money for what one can only assume will be his personal legal battle ahead. Personally, I don't care how Garrow spends his free time—or with whom—but the board should be better prepared with its next superintendent contract and willing to include a clause allowing for dismissal for any conduct detrimental to the district, or at least unpaid leave. That the rest of us are paying for Garrow's dalliance-related extended vacation is really my only gripe.

Neil - just to play devil's advocate - FMLA would come into play if a person did develop their own medical (read - psychological) issues after the death of a loved one. Not saying that is the case at all here - in fact the evidence would suggest nothing of the sort. Just stating how FMLA could come into play after a death.

According to an attorney at the Wisconsin Association of School Boards, Family Medical Leave Act generally only covers pay for leave in the case of the death of a loved if part of a person's leave occurs while the deceased was in the midst of hospitalization or other medical care.

Neil Johnson
The Gazette

WATCH HERE COMES THE CENSORS

The reason this is news is because its all a giant lie....something else is at the root of this...listen to the rumor mill in Milton folks...and alot of people actually know! THIS IS A GIANT LIE..and the school board is covering up that lie, to keep the egg off their own screw up. Again...its wrong because the tax payers are being held hostage by the union and its henchmen. Get to the truth...GAZETTE tell the people the truth and then watch this this erupt

my question is why is this constantly in the headlines when there are other stories going on? This is like the 3rd time I have seen it on here. I think we all know by now. I once saw it at listed on the same page (internet) 2, maybe 3 times, all at the same time. Why?

Why do anyone owe this person a pay check for not working. He is leave for wome reason. Let him go for goodness. This is how we treat those in charge. If I am on leave I do not get paid. I pay taxes and I say he should not.

I cannot see ANY good reason to pay somebody for 7-8 months of work (and NOT be working)and he has only been then for just over 1 1/2 years. And then say I may not even come back!!
ANYBODY? Women are pregnant for 9 months they don't get paid and be off of work.

garyprimer, I'm not surprised, either...but really, with all this cloak and dagger stuff, it was just an example of the extreme theories people are coming up with when it might very well be something simple and boring, although I doubt it when there are all these allusions to something significant.

I am not surprised.
It is not outside the realm of speculation
and speculation is all you got.
I might add that there is no shame in pursuing your dream if that is what you desire.
You go, girl!
Or not!

abass80 - when you said,"I may bring a bucket to the next school board meeting," I thought it was a lead-in to how nauseated you would become at what you heard (or didn't, as this case seems to be). Wish I could hang around this virtual watercooler to get a clue....garyprimer, I won't do it, but don't be surprised if someone asks for your comment to be removed at this point in the game.

Well if he is getting his annual pay rate, it must be nice to get a tick over $10,000/mo. to sit on your butt and not perform your job! GRAVY! I can understand bereavement pay and maybe some vacation pay, but not being paid for 8 months of leave and the very good possiblilty of not returning next year. Any other job, if you didn't declare under the Family Medical Leave Act, 8 months off would probably be grounds for dismissal. Just saying...

That is one of my favorite quotes from the piece. Except for one problem: staff is already talking. Quite loudly. It is like an exceptionally fun game of "telephone". I just listen, smile, and nod. It gets better and better every time I hear it.

IDEA: start a "Fantasy Superintendent League". We all pick our favorites and place our bets based on the awesome decisions made by the school board. We could all get some fun out of this besides what is rolling around the rumor mill of Peyton Place.

It just gets more and more cloudy. Thank goodness for Mr. Johnson and his persistence otherwise Miltonians would be subjected to Mr. Roy's game of smoke and mirrors. I agree with JoyM - it is time to end this and end it now. Although considering the "mess" that already existed I doubt the district has the residual cash on hand to pay him out. Again, I do not know of any employer who will pay out an employee a substantial amount and allow leave to grieve and pursue their dreams. I also know of no employer who would pay a high level employee to be on leave if it were a suspension or disciplinary issue.
Just so I am understanding this correctly: classrooms at Northside are overcrowded posing issues with education and safety of the children, other facilities are in disrepair and too small, minimal changes were made to the transportation matter which supposedly was to cost too much money to do (they did make some changes), there are other issues all over the district and all of them requiring money to resolve...and Garrow gets paid leave for pursuing his dreams and grief. EXCELLENT.
I may bring a bucket to the next school board meeting. Since it is apparently raining money over there with little to no concern of what the kids need then we should ALL bring buckets. Heck, since the board is so great at decision making I should have my dog apply for the job of super. Given the track record and common sense of the board, I think ol' Fred the Hound/Black Lab has a real shot at getting the job!

http://gazettextra.com/news/2011/apr/08/...

Not much vacat time coming only started here in 2011.

I wish I would get paid for 7 months of work to "pursue my dreams" doubt you have 7 mo of vacat time left. Now you have to pay somebody else as well. I think the tax payer should be told WHAT is going on and soon!!

We just need to be done with this. If we are legally obligated to pay him, accelerate the payment and send him on his way. Since he obviously feels he has better things to do than perform his job, we have better things to do than to have this hanging over us. The turn of the phrase by Rob Roy regarding a mess is very telling indeed.