Jnvlmom They run for this office to serve us the citizens of Janesville. We vote for them to represent us if they are unable to be there your darn right they owe us an explination as to why they weren't there. I know of family and work committments, and how you can't do everything, but if you are elected to a post you have to take that responsibility and be at your meetings. Expecially when it is to vote on a contract of this importance. If you can not be there then you better have a good reason why and it should be stated at the board meeting by the president as to why someone is not there. Do you think people don't know that there not there because they do. I will not vote for someone who is not at the meeting and does not have a good reason. Your darn right they have to answer to me and the rest of the community. By the way they knew when they ran it was not paid so that is not a valid reason. I serve on many boards and volenteer in many other areas in town I put in thousands of hours with no pay, and if I can't make something I make sure that people know my reason for not being there!!

I just got done talking with Mr. Sodemann to clarify his thoughts as he expressed them at the school board meeting. I'm writing an article for tomorrow's paper that will spell out his reasoning. Thanks for your patience. -- Gazette reporter Frank Schultz

Board members are not paid. They donate their time. They are also people who can get sick or have prior commitments due to work or families. They do not have to answer to anyone on where they were tonight or any night. It is their business. If it were going to be a close vote, I'm sure they would have been there. But it wasn't. Believe it or not, we don't need to know everything about everyone. If you take the time to watch the school board meeting on TV, you will heard Bill's reasons. By the way, why weren't you at this important meeting tonight, Simon?

One more thing, it really is interesting after all this time and all the stress on the people (parents, teachers, students, taxpayers) that two board members were not present. The public deserves an explanation as well.

Yea, really. What is Sodemann's problem? Who in the heck voted for him anyway? "Here's the loop Bill...jump in, hang on!" He seriously needs to explain himself!

I know Bill reads these posts. I am curious his position and reasoning for his opinion.