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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Bialk and Nielson Explain their vote to Approve FPS 2011-12 Budget

Last Thursday following the Franklin School Board’s special meeting to vote on its 2011-12 Budget Draft #1, we spoke with school board member Janet Evans to get her take on Wednesday night’s Special School Board Meeting and find out who voted for and against the 2011-12 Budget Draft #1, the FRANKLIN INDEPENDENT JOURNAL also sent emails to each school board member asking them to explain their vote, including Mrs. Evans.

On Friday, Jun17, we published replies from Board president Debbie Larson and memberMelissa Klein and Janet Evans.

Over the weekend we received answers from Judith Bialk and Tim Nielson. As of this writing Board vice president Jeff Traylor is the only school board member who has not responded to our request. Board member Linda Witkowski was excused from the Jun 15 meeting and did not vote on the budget and therefore was not contacted by the editors.

Here is Judith Bialk’s reply followed by Mr. Nielson’s

Mr. Keller'

This is my first opportunity to respond to your message regarding approval of the 2011-12 FPS budget.  I believe that Mrs. Larson has adequately addressed some misconceptions you had regarding the deficit figures in that budget, so I do not need to speak to that.  Because I was not present for the June 8th meeting, I had a lengthy conversation with Mr. Jim Milzer, and based upon our shairing [sic] of budgetary facts, I openly stated at the June 15th meeting that I was voting in the affirmative for the 2011-12 budget based on three reasons: 1. The budget is balanced.  2.  There are no cuts represented in this budget, and 3.  The tax levy for our community is going down this year.  I considered those facts significant enough to cast my "Yes" vote for this budget.  I also realize that the budget will not be in its final form unti [sic] October of 2011 and this gives the BOE time to make any significant changes should the occasion arise.

Judith Bialk

* * * *

Mr Keller:
 
Thank you for reaching out to me regarding the 2011-12 proposed budget.  This is my first public office and your communication is welcomed.  My answer would echo what Mrs Larson wrote to you with regard to explaining the graph you referenced.  This proposed budget is balanced with no program cuts that I am aware of--which is good for the kids.
 
My 'yes' vote was more due to the fact that this is a proposed budget that will be coming before the board again in July with the opportunity to make changes if desired.  I am looking forward to diving into the numbers even further and making sure the final budget product is a good one.  If there are any particular changes you would like to see or concerns you have, I would be happy to discuss them with you.
Regards,
 
Tim Nielson
School Board Member
Franklin Public Schools

 Thank you to all those school board members who gave our readers the courtesy of an answer to our question.

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School Board Vice President unsure of how to be 'fiscally responsible'

In our ongoing committment to hold Franklin's elected representatives, including Franklin School Board members, accountable for their actions or lack thereof on the crucial issues facing our City now and in the future and with the Franklin School District facing a $2.5 million reduction in state funding, school board vice president Jeff Traylor asked how can the Board be fiscally responsible?  Mr. Traylor’s remarks were recorded by our cameras during the Franklin School Board’s Special Meeting on April 6, 2011, during a discussion between board members concerning the board’s annual self-evaluation.

After writing Franklin School District facing $2.5 million decrease in state funding about two weeks ago, we decided to take another look at some of the statements and comments made by Franklin School Board members during this meeting, which we had video taped portions of.

Our goal in writing this story was to try to determine whether school board members seemed aware of this potential multi-million dollar decrease in state funding for the District.  We also decided to review the Board’s latest Goals to see how they compared with board members’ views and beliefs.  Following is Franklin Public Schools’ latest Board Goals taken from its website.

DISTRICT FOCUS: CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT IN STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT

STATEMENT of PURPOSE

The primary responsibility of the Franklin Board of Education is to ensure that the District operates under sound fiscal management, that student achievement is our highest priority, and that operational processes and procedures are efficient and effective.

Here is Mr. Traylor’s statement which appears on the Franklin Public School District’s website.

"I serve on the Franklin Board of Education as a way to make a difference in the schools. I want to improve educational opportunities for all students and also keep the district financially responsible to both the students and community."

Here is another quote by Mr. Traylor from our video, which comes at approximately the 3:00 mark in the video.

“We’re here to get the best education for the best price, that’s really the bottom line.

If we spend a whole bunch of money discussing, or wasting time, or wasting the administration’s, then we’re counter-producting [sic] what we’re really doing.  Everybody throws up that word; oh, ya gotta be ‘fiscally responsible.’  Really, okay, how?  What would you like?  Or, should we spend a whole bunch of money looking for hidden ‘air bubbles’—looking for hidden problems, so we wasting a bunch of time; a bunch of administrative time, or are we trying to move things forward…”

We‘ll leave you with this final quote on government.

“Men, to act with [vigor] and effect, must have time to mature measures, and judgment and experience, as to the best method of applying them. They must not be hurried on to their conclusions by the passions, or the fears of the multitude. They must deliberate, as well as resolve.”

—Joseph Story, Associate Justice of the United States Supreme Court, May 23, 1808 – March 3, 1809.

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