School Board Members Respond to November 30 Board Meeting Comments by Union Rep

See up-date at the end of this story.

To- date we have received responses from Franklin School Board Members Mr. Tim Nielson and Mrs. Janet Evans concerning our December 6 story “Did Franklin School Teacher and Union Rep Threaten School Board Member's Kids?”  This was the first time we have offered any elected officials an opportunity to comment before a story involving them was published and in hindsight we realized that board members have day jobs and it was not  fair of us to ask members to respond by a 500PM publishing deadline.  Therefore, School Superintendent Dr. Steve Patz and those elected school board members who have not responded to the story are welcome to comment.  Ms. Marquerite Dargiewicz a teacher’s union representative and Art teacher at Ben Franklin and Country Dale Elementary Schools was also given the opportunity to respond to our story.   At this writing we have not heard from Ms. Dargiewicz.

Here are the emails we received from Evans and Nielson.

From: Evans, Janet (Janet.Evans@Franklin.k12.wi.us)

Dear Mr. Keller,

Regarding your reference to what went on in the audience, Board members sit in the front of the room and I did not hear the conversation your parent said transpired, so I will not comment on it.

As far as the discussion on the Employee Handbook and benefits, I have studied the handbook. Dr. Mueller (Human Resources Director) was not present at this meeting as she was at a conference. Health insurance is due to be reviewed in January. I would prefer changes would occur prior to January. I believe we should have implemented changes last July.

I am of the opinion some of the remarks made directly to Mr. Nielson by Mrs. Bialk regarding the fact that he has not been on the Board long enough to address insurance were condescending. I also brought up the topic with Dr. Patz that he had given the impression to the Board that it is "punitive" to make some of the changes to benefits that other districts have been making, and I didn't feel it was right as leader of the district for him to do this. The Board is going to need to consider making changes and if he is saying it is punitive it doesn't help the situation.  He insisted it was punitive and that some districts are just making change because they "can."  I maintain changes to insurance benefits are something we "can" do to save money.

There was some discussion about including staff in discussions on benefits.  I'm curious as to whether Board members might be included in a discussion or two on benefits. What I do know is no "negotiating" is allowed regarding benefits since Act 10.

This process (or lack thereof) has been painfully long, and in the end, painful for the taxpayer.  After the meeting on the 30th I am left wondering if some would rather consider cutting staff and programs rather than what some might consider perks. Certain Board members consistently state they are there for the students, yet appear to not want to make the hard decisions when it comes to benefits so more funding can go where it belongs - to education.  Keep in mind, there hasn't been a vote on "benefits."

Regards,

Janet Evans

School Board Member

* * * *

From: Nielson, Tim (Tim.Nielson@Franklin.k12.wi.us)

Fred:

I am compelled to explain myself a little bit here...While the situation may have been personally uncomfortable for me (who wants to be the center of negative attention?) I can't go so far as to concur with the comments I was shut down. I had plenty fo time to state my case. Judith had an opinion to express and she got the chance to do so. It wasn't argumentative. It was civil. Her and I may disagree on how many sick days per year is enough but that's OK.

Dr. Patz also expressed his opinion at the meeting and to the Board in that we (the Board) should be careful before implementing any policies that will take away benefits "just to take them away". I can appreciate that position and I can assure you and anyone who will read this that this has never been my intent.

I spent hours reviewing the Distict's handbook and wanted to have a substantive conversation about some options that may need to be explored in the upcoming budget. I used the word "proposal" with my Board colleagues which I feel was taken as an action word so I think they, as well as the people in the audience, were expecting a whole host of motions to be made for Board consideration. I recognized this while I was speaking and even addressed this in the meeting.

The benefits topic of discussion is one that strikes to the core for District employees and I completely understand that. I am not spending my free time trying to find creative ways to limit the benefits the District offers. I am merely attempting to take my business background and infuse that kind of budgetary thinking into how we can best run the District financially. It doesn't all have to do with cuts but rather efficiencies. I am not even suggesting the District is inefficient but how else can we continue to improve on how the District is run if conversations like these are not taking place? Uncomfortable, sure. But people that know me also know I can be reasonble too. I absolutely want to retain the best talent we can to teach our kids as I feel we have wonderful programs in place. The District's future is bright.

With regard to the comment if I have children in the district...I do. My two daughters are wonderful, bright, & get excellent grades. I have never had a negative comment from teachers or other staff made towards them...at least that got back to me. They volunteer and are leaders. I am not sure why an inquiry like that was made (if it was made) and I do not have a comment with regard to it.

Regards,

Tim Nielson

 School Board Member

Franklin Public Schools

Update on Friday, December 9, 2011 at 9:03 AM by Basil Ryan

To-date we have not heard from Superintendent Steve Patz, School Board president Debbie Larson, Vice president, Jeff Traylor or the balance of the Franklin School Board members or Ms. Marquerite Dargiewicz a teacher’s union representative and Art teacher at Ben Franklin and Country Dale Elementary Schools.

For those of you interested in a response from your elected representatives, as-well-as Franklin Public Schools teacher Marquerite Dargiewicz,  Patz can be reached at 529-8230 and Marquerite Dargiewicz at 525-5042. Click here for a list of school board members’ email addresses.  Disrespectful?

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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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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“Board's Eye View” is back on FranklinNOW

THE FRANKLIN INDEPENDENT JOURNAL welcomes back Janet Evans and her Board's Eye View blog back to FranklinNOW.  We higly recommend that you visit Janet’s blog regularly for the latest insight on what's happening in the Franklin Public School District.

Janet and her husband have lived in the community of Franklin for over 34-years and have two married children who attended Franklin Public Schools. Our friend Janet is a hard-working, conscientious school board member and an outstanding baker (Mmmm… almond cake) and cook.  She is in the third year of her first three-year term serving the people of Franklin as a member of the Franklin School Board.

To comment privately on this article or any other aspect of this publication click here.