2007 Emails Reveal Unethical Behavior by Franklin School Board Members

The following emails present a glimpse of the corrupt, unethical behind the scenes actions, coordination of tactics and strategies between the Franklin School Board, various school administrators, teachers and a pro-referendum group around the time of the  failed 2007, $78 million school referendum in 2007.

These emails were first brought to light in our story ”Franklin School Board Deserves Close Scrutiny During Run-up to Likely School Referendum” were provided to  by current school board member Janet Evans.  The emails were sent between April 4, and April 30, 2007.  For your benefit here is the “cast of characters” in these email exchanges surrounding the 2007 school referendum:

• Bill Szakacs, District Superintendent.
• Sue Huhn, School board member/Treasurer.
• Jim Ward, school board member/Vice President.
• Scott Bauer, school board member/ President.
• Mary Karolewicz, school board member and former City of Franklin Economic Development Commission (EDC) member.
• Debbie Larson, elected to the school board in 2003 and currently board president.
• Jeff Traylor, elected to the school board in 2007 and presently vice president

We found it interesting that some school board members chose to use personal email accounts when communicating with other members concerning District business.  Now why do you suppose they wouldn’t use their official government-provided email address when conducting District business?

 2007 School Referendum Emails

 

Franklin School Board Deserves Close Scrutiny During Run-up to Likely School Referendum

I see from Bryan Maersch’s “Wag the Dog” blog that our untrustworthy school board is gearing up again for a possible school building referendum for the November, 2012 general election.

With the exception of now-school board President Debbie Larson and Jeff Traylor the current school board has no members remaining from the 2007 board which placed the $78-million school referenda on the April 2007 ballot.

After the referendum failed, rumors persisted that the then-school board had ignored, manipulated and mislead voters into believing a pre-referendum voter survey called for a new high school, when in fact, the new high school reflected the personal agendas of certain board members, completely dismissing the input and wishes of Franklin voters.

There were also rumors that voting-age high school students were taken out of class to attend a propaganda assembly concerning the referendum.  Around the district a pro-referendum group had convinced some school administrations and teachers to include pro-referendum materials in student take-home literature provided by the group, while the school board remained clueless to what was happening under their noses.

Catching wind of all this, Franklin citizen Janet  Evans made an open records request to the school district for email between school board members. To determine whether there was any truth to the rumors or among other accusations, culpability between the board, teachers the pro-referendum group concerning the growing scandal.

Now a school board member, Janet Evans has been kind enough loan THE FRANKLIN INDEPENDENT JOURNAL 132 pages of these emails between board members and then-District Superintendent Bill Szakacs, particularly emails from April, 2007.

Look for these emails here tomorrow.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Update on Monday, January 2, 2012 at 9:13 AM by Basil Ryan

Due to a glitch with our scanner, the 2007 referendum school board emails scheduled for publishing today, will be postponed  until Wednesday, January 4 at the lastest.

Caught on Tape: Teachers Union President's Outrageous Remarks

Chicago Teachers Union President or standup comic?  You make the call…

Here is Keynote Speaker Karen Lewis, Chicago Teachers Union president, American Federation of Teachers vice president, October 1, 2011, Northwest Teaching for Social Justice Conference, Seattle, WA.

Education Action Group Foundation (EAG), Inc. a national organization headquartered in Michigan has a seven-person full-time staff. EAG is a non-partisan non-profit organization with the goal of promoting sensible education reform and exposing those with a vested interest in maintaining the status quo. 

In a recent piece at Public School Spending.com the online publication wrote:

Some well-meaning people still cling to the notion that teachers union collective bargaining is healthy for public schools. 

We feel comfortable stating that we believe that a minority faction of Franklin School Board members and administrators would probably agree with that.  For evidence of this, we point to remarks made to a group of Franklin school teachers concerning health insurance benefits during the August 18, 2011, school board meeting when president Debbie Larson assured those teachers in attendance that the Board and the District would get their input in making the decision [on the insurance carrier].  Read our story Wisconsin’s Second Largest Group Health Insurer owned by WEAC.

RELATED MEDIA

• Truths and Excesses Do Battle in Speech by Teachers Union Leader (NYT)
• Angry Teachers Union President Spews Insults—blames media for backlash (Big Government.com)
• Unions Use Scare Tactics to Frighten Schools Away From Outsourcing and Big Savings (EAG)
• Public School Spending.com

Majority of Franklin’s Elected Representaives Ignore Survey

On Monday, September 29, we emailed a two question survey to all elected officials in Franklin government, including the Franklin School Board, asking each where their primary academic background lies and asked for their cooperation in participating in our survey.  The story generated the following comment from one of our readers:

"Unfortunately, you can have all the degrees available to you.   But, unfortunately there are no classes taught in 'common sense'.”

Amen to that!

To-date we have not received responses from the following school board members: President Debbie Larson, vice president, Jeff Traylor, Linda Witkowski.  That represents 's three out of seven elected representatives.  It certainly seems reasonable to conclude that the aforementioned school board member HAVE NOT read or choose to ignore the District’s Communications Plan.  From City Hall, only District 1 Alderman Steve Olson and District 3 Alderwoman Kristen Wilhelm have responded.  That's two out of seven elected aldermen and Mayor Taylor that ignored the survey.  In alphabetical order, here are the responses we received.  When included by the respondent, additional comments are included in this story.

 JUDITH BIALK, Franklin School Board.

Question: What do you consider to be your primary academic background?

Answer: My primary educational background is in education.

Question:  If you hold a college degree, what was your major?

Answer: My first college degree was earned at Alverno College in 1964.  It was a Bachelor of Science in Education with my primary focus on elementary education.  I also hold two minors, one in Speech, the other in English.  I earned licensure and certification as a Reading Clinician and Diagnostician from the National College of Education in Evanston, Illinois, and I hold a Master of Art degree in Pastoral Studies from St. Francis Seminary, Milwaukee.

JANET EVANS, Franklin School Board.

Question: What do you consider to be your primary academic background?

Answer: History

Question:  If you hold a college degree, what was your major?

Answer: None.

Additional comments: I’m sure you wouldn't find a large percentage of local public officials in smaller cities such as Franklin who had political careers in mind when they made their educational choices. Also, very often citizens are reluctant to step up as candidates for School Board.

That said, generally, in public schools the Business Manager has most of the control over the budget process, with the help of other administrators including the superintendent, directors and principals. The final budget comes to the school board for approval. Note I said “generally,” as I believe there are key stakeholders being left out of the process.  Some school districts that have figured this out and are using other budget processes.

Too often I have heard it stated at our Board meetings, regarding the administration, “They’re the experts” when it comes to issues from building and grounds to budget. But the majority of the administration has backgrounds in education.

As far as the article you reference, as a citizen of the U.S, while I would prefer the congressional "supercommittee" on finding deficit reduction have backgrounds in economics, I prefer our congress be representatives of our people as a whole, and therefore, have diverse backgrounds.

Lastly, if the public is unhappy about the educational paths of elected officials are we going to blame them or ourselves? I'm sure there have been plenty of politicians without business backgrounds who have been elected because they are better public speakers.

MELISSA KLIEN, Franklin School Board.

Question: What do you consider to be your primary academic background?

Answer: Engineering and business administration.

Question:  If you hold a college degree, what was your major?

Answer: Growing up in central Illinois, I attended elementary and high school in a very small county-wide public school district. Shortly after earning an engineering degree from the University of Illinois in 1990, I moved to Wisconsin. In 2001 I completed a master's of business administration degree from UW-Milwaukee.

TIM NIELSON, Franklin School Board.

Question: What do you consider to be your primary academic background?

Answer: Business/Finance.

Question:  If you hold a college degree, what was your major?

Answer: Accounting.

Alderman STEVE OLSON, Alderman, Franklin District 1.

Question: What do you consider to be your primary academic background?

Answer: My major area of study was broadcast management with a declared minor in Business Administration. 

Question:  If you hold a college degree, what was your major?

Answer: I have a Bachelor of Arts degree from Marquette University in Speech Communications.

I have a Bachelor of Arts degree from Marquette University in Speech Communications.  My major area of study was broadcast management with a declared minor in Business Administration.

Additional Comments:I am a thesis short of a masters degree in communications from Marquette but not pursuing it.  I have additional schooling from the American Management Association, MSOE and 35 years [of] experience in business management as an employed manager.  Also, see City website.

KRISTEN WILHELM, Alder woman, Franklin District 3.

Question: What do you consider to be your primary academic background?

Answer: my primary academic background in Organizational Management and Development.

Question:  If you hold a college degree, what was your major?

Answer: I hold an Associate of Applied Arts and Sciences Degree, with a major in Electronics Technology and a Professional Certificate in non-profit management.

Additional Comments:  Your question should also address work experience. Academic background helps with an application but work experience provides knowledge. A rounded background is needed for aldermanic duties.  8-years as a volunteer in the city; ordinance and plat review, and more than 3 years on the Finance Committee as an example of some of my hands-on experience. Let us not forget Robert's Rules (Thanks to Dad and the USAF, I can also do my own brakes ; )

Thanks to those elected representatives who took the time to respond to our survey.

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Wisconsin’s Second Largest Group Health Insurer owned by WEAC

Would you be surprised to learn that the Wisconsin Education Association Council (WEAC) created and owns WEA Trust insurance?  We were.

In a July 14 story entitled Franklin School Board to Discuss, Insurance Bidding Process, we wrote in-part:

For the sake of Franklin taxpayers let’s hope the “insurance” being discussed by the [School] Board is employee health insurance.

In its May publication Wisconsin School Reformer, a publication of Education Action Group Foundation (EAG),reported that the limitations placed upon teacher’s unions collective bargaining will leave school boards and their districts free from costly WEA Trust insurance. Baraboo School Board got a jump on the rest of the state in May when it voted to dump WEA Trust employee health coverage in favor of similar coverage through the Dean Health Plan. According to the report, the Baraboo school District will save an estimated $660,000 per year by making the change. Eighty-eight percent of the savings will go to the district, while the other 12 percent will be split among insured employees, according to wiscnews.com.

Wisconsin School Reformer also wrote that the money the district saves will almost certainly help salvage a few teaching positions and student programs over the next few years and goes on to state that the bidding competition at Baraboo was really not competitive at all.

The family premium proposed by WEA Trust was $1,630 per month, while the premium proposed by Dean Health was just under $1,400 per month. The WEA Trust plan would have cost the district about $5 million per year, while the Dean plan will cost $4.3 million.

Since that meeting and as previously noted, we have learned that, according to its website, the WEA Trust was created by the Wisconsin Education Association Council (Wisconsin Teachers Union) to provide insurance, and retirement and investment services to Wisconsin public school employees and their families.

We noted in a related story on July 21;  Teachers Flood School Board Meeting, Franklin Teachers made up the majority of the audience at last night’s school board meeting.   During Citizen Comments school board president Debbie Larson a former teacher permitted Franklin teachers to comment on agenda item 9. a. Board Discussion, [health] insurance bidding process. Fear of the unknown and satisfaction with the status quo (WEA Trust) seemed to be the motivating factor behind most of the comments.

Larson assured these Franklin Teacher’s that the Board and the District would get their input in making the decision.  It is unclear whether Larson can make that claim without the approval of the full school board.

The Franklin School Board can certainly learn  from the Baraboo board.  We found this statement from Baraboo officials  especially interesting concerning its bidding process:

"...the bidding competition at Baraboo was really not competitive at all."

The Franklin School Board plans to conduct its search for a new insurance provider with the help of an outside consulting firm.

If you would like to discuss this or other education issues regarding the Franklin School District please contact a member of the Franklin School Board or Franklin Schools Superintendent Steve Patz at 414-525-7603.

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EDITORIAL: Franklin School Board sets the Bar for Dysfunctional Government

As we previously reported Franklin Teachers made up the majority of the audience at the July 20 school board meeting and that during Citizen Comments school board president Debbie Larson allowed Franklin teachers to comment on agenda item 9. a. Board Discussion, [health] insurance bidding process. Fear of the unknown and satisfaction with the status quo seemed to be the motivating factor behind most of the comments.  After listening to several teachers, Larson assured these Franklin Teacher’s that the Board and the District would get their input in making the decision.  Didn’t Governor Walker’s Act 10 do away with public sector union collective bargaining?  Meeting with teachers to discuss possibly changing health insurance carriers is ridiculous and smacks of quasi-collective bargaining.  For those of you working in the real world, private sector, how many times have you participated in choosing your employer’s employee health insurance program?  Mrs. Larson and the school board will certainly open a Pandora’s Box if they open this process up for employee input.  This matter is solely the job of the school board—NOT some hybrid-collection of teachers and school board members.

Conflict of Interest?

Debbie Larson’s school distinct website bio includes the following statement:

"Being a board member is important to me because I have dedicated my adult life to education. I am a life long learner and a teacher. (Emphasis added).  I believe I bring a different perspective to the table as both an educator and a parent. With five children, one of which has graduated and four that are currently enrolled in the district, I only want a world class education for not only my children, but our entire community. This is why I work as a board member."

Consulting Firm to be Hired

During the Board’s discussion on employee health insurance, Human Resources Director, Judith Mueller reported to board members that the District will be working with The Horton Group, an employee benefits consulting firm on the employee health insurance question and expected to have a change in place by this time (July) next year.

According to its website The Horton Group began in 1971 as a single location, eight-person insurance agency in Orland Park, Illinois. Today, Horton is a large, broker that delivers complex solutions to thousands of customers. The company currently features seven offices in four states.  Not only is Horton an employee benefits consulting firm,  it also happens to be one of the largest, privately owned insurance brokers in the Midwest and is among the Top 60 in the U.S.  How convenient.

How Much For Horton?

During the meeting school board member Janet Evans eventually pried a "ball park figure of $10,000-$20,000 out of Business Manager, Jim Milzer.  Milzer added that Horton generally saved its clients five times its fee. Not one board member asked Milzer for evidence of this claim.  Does the District really need to spend up to $20,000 or more taxpayers dollars with a consulting firm (who also sells health insurance), to find the best health insurance plan for its employees?  I don't believe so.

What is included in a Human Resources Director’s job Description?

According to one source, compensation and benefits administration falls under the Human Resources Director’s job description.  As we recently reported Franklin Public Schools’ Human Resources Director, Judith Mueller was paid $142,487 in salary and benefits in 2007, $172,036 in 2008, $182,714 in 2009 and 2010, and is scheduled for the same in 2011.   The question is: Why isn’t Judith Mueller doing all the leg-work to obtain RFPs(Request for proposals) from health insurance providers, and why, according to Mueller will the process take one year to accomplish.

During the meeting new Board member Tim Nielson questioned the length of time Mueller proposed for this change, suggesting  that  it could be accomplished much sooner, thereby saving taxpayer dollars sooner than later.

DON'T WAIST OUR TIME OR MONEY WITH CONSULTANTS WITH "SKIN IN THE GAME."

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Franklin Teachers Flood School Board Meeting

Franklin Teachers made up the majority of the audience at last night’s school board meeting.   During Citizen Comments school board president Debbie Larson permitted Franklin teachers  to comment on agenda item 9. a. Board Discussion, [health] insurance bidding process. Fear of the unknown and satisfaction with the status quo seemed to be the motivating factor behind most of the comments.

Larson assured these Franklin Teacher’s that the Board and the District would get their input in making the decision—quasi-collective bargaining?

We recently published an article explaining how the Baraboo School Board, in May, voted to dump WEA Trust employee health coverage (Franklin’s current health  insurance provider) in favor of similar coverage through the Dean Health Plan which District officials estimated would save the District $660,000 annually.

During the Board’s discussion on this item Human Resources Director, Judith Mueller reported to board members that the District will be working with The Horton Group,  an insurance, risk management and employee benefits consulting firm on the employee health insurance question and expected to have a change in place by this time next year.

Board member Tim Nielson questioned the lengthy amount of time Mueller proposed, suggesting  and voiced his opinion that  it could be accomplished sooner, thereby saving taxpayer dollars sooner than later.  Nielson also asked what the Horton Group’s fee. was and was told by Business Manager, Jim Milzer said that it would depend upon the consulting package the District chose.  Eventually Janet Evans pried a "ball park figure of $10,00-$20,000 out of him.  Milzer added that Horton generally saved its clients five times its fee.

School Board President Debbie Larson also resurrected a so-called “board meeting debriefing,” a past Board practice whereby each member publically evaluates the meeting based on a number of specific survey questions.  What ever its purpose, this exercise, from this reporter’s vantage point only seemed to divide the Board further and stoke the flames of animosity that already exists between some members.

Larson also seems repared to move forward with a suggestion from a Franklin Teacher in attendance, to video tape Board meetings and post them on the District’s website although the Board never discussed or voted on the matter since it did not appear on the meeting agenda.

On the hiring front, Superintendent Patz confirmed that in the coming weeks the District will be adding a communications specialist to its staff.

Also, with the job elimination of Adria Day, Administrative Assistant to Superintendent Patz, for the short-term, the Superintendent has taken it upon himself to take and publish the board meeting minutes, a task which is relegated to staff and the City Clerk for Franklin Common Council Meetings.
Finally, the annual Meeting of the Electors will be held on August 24, 2011, Agenda to follow.

RELATED MEDIA

• Wisconsin Schools Already In Line to Save Hundreds of Millions of Dollars Through Newly Negotiated Teacher Contract

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School Board President Explains Vote to approve $50 Million Operating Budget

This morning we received responses from three school board members explaining their vote on the District’s $50 million 2011-12 budget Draft #1.

Yesterday, THE FRANKLIN INDEPENDENT JOURNAL reported the Board’s action to approve the budget during its June15 Special Meeting.

Board members Jeff Traylor, Judith Bialk and Tim Nielson have yet to respond.  Board member Linda Witkowski was excused from the Jun 15 meeting and didn’t vote on the budget and therefore was not contacted by the editors.

The following explanation came from School Board President, Debbie Larson.

Mr. Keller,

The graph that you are referring to on page 4 shows the deficits that the District would have faced had it not made reductions in expenditures or added revenue in the five previous budget years indicated. It has nothing to do with the 2011-12 budget. In each of those previous years the District reduced expenditures and added revenue as it indicates on pages 5, 6, and 7. Looking at the five years in total, the District added $1,237,097 in revenue and reduced expenditures by $4,332,201 to make sure that the budget was balanced. These two amounts total $5,569,298, which was rounded to $5.6 million, or the total amount of the projected deficits. All of these pages in the budget presentation deal with past budgets and not the 2011-12 budget. I voted for the 2011-12 budget because it maintains excellent educational programs for the students of the Franklin Public Schools and it reduces property taxes.

Sincerely,

Debra M. Larson

Franklin Board of Education-President

We received this explaination from school board member Melissa Klein.

Mr. Keller,

Thank you for contacting me for clarification regarding the budget that was approved last night. The $5.6 million deficit that I believe that you are referring to is what the cumulative (since the 2003-2004 school year) budget deficit would have been had the district not made $4.3 million in cuts and also added $1.2 million in revenue during the same time period (this is detailed in pages 5-7 of the budget document). Last week the district's business director, Jim Milzer, and I discussed changing the title of the graph on page 4 to make it more clear in future versions of the budget. I apologize for any confusion that this may have caused.

I voted in favor of this budget because it is balanced, it reduces the tax levy and tax levy rates, and also because it does not cut current programs or services for our students. I am very thankful that, due to past sound fiscal decisions, we are able to maintain class sizes and programming for the coming school year, unlike many of our surrounding school districts who will be required to make significant cuts to balance their budgets.

Please don't hesitate to contact me in the future if you have any additional questions.

Sincerely,

Melissa Klein

Here is school board member Janet Evans’ response.

Dear Mr. Keller,

Thank you for inquiring as to my reason(s) for voting NO in the adoption of the Franklin Public Schools 2011-12 Preliminary Budget at our Special Board meeting June 15, 2011.  As you are aware, the Board originally voted 3-3 on the budget on June 8th.  The budget presented on the 15th did not contain any changes from the June 8th budget.

My reasons for voting NO on the 8th and the 15th were due to what I view as a lack of transparency in the budget and the budgeting for a 2.68% wage increase.  Also, after listening to Board member requests at both meetings to revisit the budget in July for the purpose of making possible adjustments (rather than waiting until October as listed in our Budget timeline) I am not confident a look at the budget in July will see any changes come to fruition.  The responses during the discussions at both meetings were peppered with the words, “not enough time.”

I will thoroughly weigh all activity between July through the final adoption of the budget in October before I cast my vote.  While I acknowledge the budget does not raise property taxes (as mandated by the Budget Repair Bill/Act 10) and the budget is balanced, I believe there is still room for improvement in the budget.

Regards,

Janet Evans

RELATED STORY

• Franklin School District facing $2.5 million decrease in state funding

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