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.

To comment privately on this article or any other aspect of this publication CLICK HERE

Franklin School Board Retreat: Reading between the Lines

Not having attended the Saturday, August 6, 2011, Franklin School Board Meeting/Retreat I decided to read the minutes of the meeting and wanted to share my following observations with readers.

Item 2 indicated that School Superintendent Steve Patz conducted a so-called “ice-breaker” activity involving board members and those administration employees in attendance.  No further details were provided concerning this activity.

It appears to me that the retreat was well-intended and sought to improve the effectiveness of the Board by incorporating four key priorities which were identified as conceptual goals for the Board for 2011-12.  These are the four priorities according to the minutes.

1. Define and Implement Products and Processes.
2. Develop Board Leadership and governance skills
3. Superintendent /Board of Education partnership and role clarification
4. Positive image of Board

With respect to long-range planning, Superintendent Patz recommended to the Board (which it seems to have accepted), that this item be tabled.

The Board was informed by Patz that there will be Architects presenting at the September 7 Board meeting and that the foundation for future planning is tied to the responses from the community survey. 

Architects presenting at the September 7 Board meeting?  Here we go again!

Reading Between The Lines

• Superintendent Patz indicates that Architects are presenting at the September 7 Board meeting.  What exactly has the School Board authorized these architects to design?
• This Board has been together for a number of years, and interact regularly at Board meetings, with the exception of Nielson who is the newest Board member, so what’s with the “ice-breaker activity?”  By definition an “ice-breaker” is:  an opening remark, action, etc., designed to ease tension or relieve formality.
• It seemed unusual to me that the subject book  of the book study was entitled  Five Habits of High Impact School Boards, yet the Board choose to incorporate only four key priorities which it  identified as conceptual goals for the Board for 2011-12. It can't become a habit unless it's a practiced priority, can it?
• We're also courious about priority number 4 (above); does the Board believe it has a negative image?

To comment privately on this article or any other aspect of this publication CLICK HERE

Report: Congress Members—Just over 8 percent majored in economics

A recent report from the Employment Policies Institute found that only one in five (20 percent) members of Congress have an academic background in business or economics.   The organization looked at lawmakers' college degrees and found that most of them—55.1 percent—majored in either a government-related field or "humanities." Just over 8 percent majored in economics, while almost 14 percent studied business or accounting.  This report sparked us to take a look at the business or economics backgrounds of our local elected officials.

On Friday, August 26, the following email was sent to each elected official in Franklin government, including the Franklin School Board.

[We] recently read that a report from the Employment Policies Institute found that only one in five members of Congress have an academic background in business or economics.   The organization looked at lawmakers' college degrees and found that most of them—55.1 percent—majored in either a government-related field or "humanities." Just over 8 percent majored in economics, while almost 14 percent studied business or accounting.

THE FRANKLININDEPENT JOURNAL (FIJ) is asking each elected official in Franklin government where their primary academic background lies, and is asking for your cooperation in participating in our survey.  The results will be published in an upcoming story in FIJ. If you wish to participate in this two question survey please answer the following questions—if not, please let us know that you will not participate in this survey.

1. What do you consider to be your primary academic background?
2. If you hold a college degree, what was your major?

Thank You for your participation and cooperation in this survey.

To-Date we've recieved four responces; two school board members and two Aldermen.

Look for our story on this survey on Wednesday, August 31.

To comment privately on this article or any other aspect of this publication CLICK HERE

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.

To comment privately on this article or any other aspect of this publication CLICK HERE

'What Can You Do?

Today we present the final episode of our 9-part special video series presentation of the documentary film “Kids Aren’t Cars,” produced by Education Action Group (EAG) Foundation. The final installment is presented in two parts.

We hope through this special series that you have gained a greater insight into some of the problems faing education in America. If you have missed any previous episodes in this series you can find it at the Kid’s Aren’t Cars website.

If you would like to discuss 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.

To comment privately on this article or any other aspect of this publication CLICK HERE

Education Reforms That Work

Today we present episode 8 of our 9-part special video series presentation of the documentary film “Kids Aren’t Cars,” produced by Education Action Group (EAG) Foundation.

Charter schools - typically publicly-funded institutions - often deliver a better education to children and those students outperform their peers in the same neighborhood. While charter schools are no silver bullet to fix the education system, this is the story of one school in Indianapolis that took up residence in a former grocery store and because of quality instruction, flexible work rules and parental involvement, those students are excelling.

 If you would like to discuss 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.

If you have missed any previous episodes in this series you can find it at the Kid’s Aren’t Cars website.

To comment privately on this article or any other aspect of this publication CLICK HERE

City's Short-sighted thinking on Display, Again

This article is a follow-up to our August 11, 2011, editorial;  Achieving the Height of Incompetence: A not so hypothetical Case

Below are drawings of roadway cross-sections of the latest South 76^th Street reconstruction drawing (60% complete) and an older drawing (30% complete) which the latest proposed drawing replaces.

Here are some of the contentious issues related to the latest project drawing.

Below are drawings of roadway cross-sections of the latest South 76^th Street reconstruction drawing (60% complete) and an older drawing (30% complete) which the latest proposed drawing replaces.

Here are some of the contentious issues and question related to the latest project drawing.

1. How this “major roadway” in the latest drawing going to feed more than $1.2 billion in development in the southwest side of Franklin as Mayor Taylor proclaimed in JSOnline article Franklin: The final frontier created due to the controversial Ryan Creek Interceptor?
2. This roadway will be more unsafe than the previous design.  This is no longer a rural country road or subdivision street, this is going to become a major artery.
3. Next year, or soon after, the remainder if Highway 100 is going to be widened from the Root River to Hales Corners - Why doesn't this improvement extend through the intersection of 76th Street and Ryan Road?
4. For easier reading click the full screen button.

South 76th Street 30 Percent Cross-section Drawing

South 76th Street 60 Percent Cross-section Drawing

Please contact Mayor Tom Taylor or your Alderman with anyquestions you may have concerning this project.

To comment privately on this article or any other aspect of this publication CLICK HERE

Choose Your Boss: Electing Politicians

Today we present episode 7 of our multi-part special video series presentation of the documentary film “Kids Aren’t Cars,” produced by Education Action Group (EAG) Foundation.

Public education is one of the few sectors of society where employees can spend money to elect or defeat political candidates that affect their personal interest. Those that have been in the trenches - and have been on the receiving end of special interest negative campaigns - discuss what it's like to be opposed by some of the biggest spenders in state politics.

If you would like to discuss 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.

If you have missed any previous episodes in this series you can find it at the Kid’s Aren’t Cars website.

To comment privately on this article or any other aspect of this publication CLICK HERE

Years Trump Effectiveness: Tenure and Seniority

Today we present episode 6 of our multi-part special video series presentation of the documentary film “Kids Aren’t Cars,” produced by Education Action Group (EAG) Foundation.

What if your value to your employer was decided by the sum of the last four digits of your social security number? Or you win nationwide recognition for your teaching achievement, only to be fired the next day because someone else had been there longer. It happens in American public schools every year. Do tenure and seniority benefit students and their success?

Franklin Public Schools Mission Statement

Franklin Public Schools educates every student to his/her highest level of personal excellence through learning experiences that focus on student needs in active partnerships with family and community.

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

To comment privately on this article or any other aspect of this publication CLICK HERE

EDITORIAL: Mayor Taylor to the Rescue?

After reading Franklin mayor promotes redistricting fight in the FranklinNOW, we cannot understand Mayor Taylor’s interest in picking a fight with the Milwaukee County Board of Supervisors, over its vote on a plan to reduce the board by one seat, from 19 to 18, or why it matters to "his honor" that in drawing the map for the new districts, the North Shore's 6th District was eliminated. The Board’s plan cuts Whitefish Bay in half and leaves Supervisor Joe Rice without a job.

We hardly heard a peep out of the mayor when the Harley Davidson Distribution Center in the Franklin Business Park pulled up stakes in Franklin, eliminating 150 jobs and leaving another tenantless building in the business park.    Mayor Taylor needs to  reset his priorities and get to work for the taxpayers in the City of Franklin.  There is plenty for Mayor Taylor to do here, without getting himself involved with issues involving North Shore suburbs.

To comment privately on this article or any other aspect of this publication CLICK HERE

"Social Promotion"

In episode 5 of our nine-part special series "Kids Aren't Cars,” we see how Union leaders fight for control to represent the interests of adults while students and parents are left behind.

To comment privately on this article or any other aspect of this publication CLICK HERE

EDITORIAL: Achieving the Height of Incompetence: A not so hypothetical Case

Let’s say, hypothetically, you are the mayor of a city of 35,451 with pathetically little to no economic growth, a city where more businesses are leaving than setting up shop, and yet despite all of this, in the midst of a deep recession, you decide to gamble more than $31 million of taxpayer dollars for a sewer project to create a so-called “building boom” that would add an unsubstantiated $1.2 billion to the city's property tax base by 2025.  Here is how this “hypothetical case” might play-out in the newspaper.

But as mayor, you want this controversial project completed by 2014, 11-years early (coincidently, a mayoral election year).

If you were mayor of this hypothetical city wouldn’t you work closely with County and State officials to reconstruct South 76th Street to ensure a potential main artery into your “$1.2 billion” revenue project had an adequate roadway?

We will have more coverage on the hypothetical roadway issue in the days ahead.

Follows is a letter pertaining to the Ryan Creek Interceptor Project from my Alderman, Kristen Wilhelm (District 3) sent to her constituents this month, Kristen Wilhelm (District 3) sent to her constituents this month.

AUG 2011 Alderman Wilhelm Letter to constituents

 To comment privately on this article or any other aspect of this publication CLICK HERE

2012 City of Franklin Aldermanic Map

TheFranklin City Clerk has provided   THE FRANKLIN INDEPENDENT JOURNAL the following 2012 City of Franklin Aldermanic Map.

Franklin Aldermanic Map

To comment privately on this article or any other aspect of this publication CLICK HERE

Unions vs. Good Teachers

Here is episode 3 of our multi-part video series presentation of the documentary film “Kids Aren’t Cars,” produced by Education Action Group (EAG) Foundation.

The core belief of teachers unions is that all teachers are equal and this is reflected in a collective bargaining agreement. There is no incentive for innovation or hard work. In this episode, public school teachers discuss their profession and pro-teacher reform they'd like to see.

THE FRANKLIN INDEPENDENT JOURNAL will bring our readers all nine parts of this series in the coming days.

To comment privately on this article or any other aspect of this publication CLICK HERE

An Epic Failure: Detroit

In episode 4 of our nine-part special series "Kids Aren't Cars, union leaders fight for control to represent the interests of adults as students and parents are left behind. Is there hope for the kids of Detroit?

To comment privately on this article or any other aspect of this publication CLICK HERE

“Give Up the Bucks!”

Here is episode 2; “Give Up the Bucks!” of our continuing our special video series "Kids Aren't Cars.”

Look for Episode 3: Unions vs. Good Teachers, tomorrow.

To comment privately on this article or any other aspect of this publication CLICK HERE.

"'Assembly-Line Education"

Here is episode 1 of our daily special video presentation of the documentary film “Kids Aren’t Cars,” produced by Education Action Group (EAG) Foundation.

Look for episode 2: “Give Up the Bucks!,” tomorrow.

To comment privately on this article or any other aspect of this publication CLICK HERE.

Kids Aren’t Cars

“No people will tamely surrender their Liberties, nor can any be easily subdued, when knowledge is diffusd (sic) and Virtue is preservd (sic). On the Contrary, when People are universally ignorant, and debauchd (sic) in their Manners, they will sink under their own weight without the Aid of foreign Invaders.”

--Samuel Adams letter to James Warren, November 4, 1775

* * *

Today we begin a daily special video presentation of the documentary film “Kids Aren’t Cars,” produced by Education Action Group (EAG) Foundation.

Although the film focuses on Detroit Public Schools, we believe it’s relative to the culture and mindset permeating across America’s Education System and exposes the Teachers’ Unions for what they are truly all about; and as we’ve suspected all along, it is not the kids.

America's assembly line public school system is hurting kids' education and causing us to slip further behind globally.  According to Education Action Group (EAG) Foundation, Last year, McKinsey & Co. reported American students were 25th globally in math scores and 24th in science, behind countries like Iceland and Hungary.

Does this documentary validate Governor Scott Walker’s budget repair bill and Act 10?  Watch and decide for yourselves.

To comment privately on this article or any other aspect of this publication CLICK HERE.

StudentsFirst.org - Michelle Rhee Answers Members' Questions

In May we introduced you to StudentsFirst, an organized movement to transform public education, in an article entitled StudentsFirst: Save Great Teachers—End Last In, First Out.

THE FRANKLIN INDEPENDENT JOURNAL is a member of this group which was founded by Michelle Rhee.  StudentsFirst mission is to build a national movement to defend the interests of children in public education and pursue transformative reform, so that America has the best education system in the world.

Furthermore, to accomplish its mission, StudentsFirst is working with parents, teachers, administrators, and citizens across the country to ensure great teachers, access to great schools, and effective use of public dollars. Together, we'll demand that legislators, courts, district administrators, and school boards create and enforce policies that put students first. We'll make sure politicians and administrators recognize and reward excellent teachers, give novice teachers the training they need, and quickly improve or remove ineffective educators. We'll work to ensure that every family has a number of options for excellent schools to attend, so that getting into a great school becomes a matter of fact, not luck.  And we'll make sure all Americans understand that our schools are not only an anchor for our communities, but an absolute gateway to our national prosperity and competitive standing in the world economy.

Click here to learn more about StudentsFirst and to join this movement.

To comment privately on this article or any other aspect of this publication CLICK HERE.

Ryan Creek Sewer Project Stinks to High Heaven

The City of Franklin: Where Honest and Transparent Government Goes to Die. What you don't know can hurt you

According to the NewBerlinNOW, it is highly likely that the New Berlin, like Muskego, is looking to take advantage of Franklin tax payers thanks in-part to Mayor Tom Taylor’s highly controversial $31 million Ryan Creek sewer(Interceptor) project. Much like Mayor Taylor’s plan, New Berlin seeks to extend a sewer so that an area with the biggest chunk of remaining farmland in eastern New Berlin could be opened up for development. The plan is expected to win Common Council (New Berlin) approval Tuesday night. The Agenda for Franklin’s Common Council Meeting, also on Tuesday, August 2, makes no mention of the actions taking place in New Berlin. Will New Berlin and Muskego reimburse Franklin for the expenses the City has incurred to-date for this project? Read more.

Some observers see New Berlin’s controversial move as “back door” preparations to buy Lake Michigan water in a few years by side-stepping the Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewer District (MMSD), aided and abetted by Franklin Mayor Tom Taylor and his staunch supporters on the Franklin Common Council; Aldermen Steve Taylor, Timothy Solomon and Ken Skowronski.

Unanswered Questions

Is New Berlin, a suburb of Waukesha County planning to connect to Franklin’s Ryan Creek Interceptor with its project? Since this is technically a MMSD project, will New Berlin residents pay a portion of their property tax to MMSD, like Franklin taxpayers and other MMSD customers throughout Milwaukee County, or are taxpayers in various Milwaukee County cities footing the bill for New Berlin to receive Great Lakes water?

To voice your support or opposition to the New Berlin project or the Ryan Creek Interceptor Project, or for answers to these or any other questions related to either project, we suggest you contact Mayor Tom Taylor or your Alderman.

RELATED STORIES

• Click to read previous FRANKLIN INDEPENDENT JOURNAL stories pertaining to the Ryan Creek Sewer Project.
• Click to read previous stories pertaining to the Ryan Creek Sewer Project posted on our sister publication BATTLE JOINED.

To comment privately on this article or any other aspect of this publication CLICK HERE.