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As we reported last week, Franklin Teachers made up the majority of the audience at the July 20 Franklin School Board Meeting night’s school board meeting. As Franklin teachers took turns voicing their concerns and opinions to the Board regarding the District’s up-coming employee health care insurance bidding process, one audience member was busy handing out the following “Education Employee Bill of Rights,” flyer, supposedly from a group named “Milwaukee Metro Common Platform.” THE FRANKLIN INDEPENDENT JOURNAL (FIJ) intercepted one of the flyers and following the meeting gave it to Superintendent Steve Patz, who was unaware of what had taken place in the audience during the meeting and we asked him about the legality and/or appropriateness of passing-out this kind of literature during the school board meeting. Dr. Patz said he wasn’t sure of the answer to either question and wanted to read the flyer before saying anything.
On July 22, FIJ emailed Dr. Patz and asked: Does the District have a comment or statement to make regarding the flyer that was distributed at the July 20 School Board Meeting?
To-date Dr. Patz has not responded to our request for comment.
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."
Despite company claims that there is absolutely no expansion of the quarry with the approval of this project, it would require a willing suspension of disbelief for any reasonable person to accept this as fact.
In a recent article we suggested that Mayor Tom Taylor and his “boys,” Aldermen Solomon, Taylor and Skowronski, were conducting “business as usual “ by quietly permitting the quarry; more specifically, Payne & Dolan, Inc. to prepare for an expansion of the east side of its quarry on 51st Street. Since our firts report, the "berm enhancement" appears to be progressively edging closer to 51st Street.
Here is the so-called “Neighbor Letter” and an aerial view of the quarry, highlighting the project’s location we received from Cliff Weninger, Area Manager, Payne & Dolan, Inc. Read it carefully with a syndical eye. There must be a mammoth number of noise complaints from neighbors in the immediate area of the quarry for Payne Dolan to go through this, what appears to be great expense to buffer its operations noise from its neighbors. Neighbor Letter From Payne Dolan, Inc.
In a JSOnline article published last Friday, referring to Mayor Tom Taylor’s Ryan Creek Sewer Project, Milwaukee County Board Supervisor John Weisan said “Rather than spending millions of dollars beginning in 2015 to pay for a proposed sewer serving rural southwest Franklin, the Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District (MMSD) should invest the funds in flood control efforts throughout the metropolitan area...." Coincidently flash flooding effected many parts of Milwaukee exactly one year ago to the day, last Friday (July 22).
Weishan will introduce a resolution opposing both the sewer plan and Franklin's use of eminent domain to acquire land for the sewer project from any owners unwilling to sell their property. The resolution will be discussed today at a meeting of the County Board's Intergovernmental Relations Committee. THE FRANKLIN INDEPENDENT JOURNALis covering today’s meeting.
Supervisor Weishan provided us with the following letter this morning.
We also recently received the following comments from a reader.
Who should be assisting and standing up for the American taxpayers and closely analyze this project for impacts that outweigh the fictitious benefits?
Governor Walker – His promise to cut wasteful spending is missing this target. Taking people’s land by Eminent Domain for costly and un-necessary projects does not put the people and families of Wisconsin first.
Franklin Mayor Tom Taylor - This project is contrary to today’s economic situation and the spending cuts promised by our Governor (who he supported). The project works against the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s purpose and programs including The Farm Land Preservation Act, The Wisconsin Working Lands Initiative and the Food Security Act. The impact on local farmland compromises any future opportunity to support U.S. farmers by buying American, locally-grown food. By putting other lands at risk for severance and development it is also contrary to the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative. As part of this project, Franklin officials have graciously agreed to include and pay for sewer lines that will extend into Muskego, serving Waukesha County.
Mayor Taylor is blatantly promoting the project as economic development. This is NOT the purpose of the Federal Clean Water Fund Loan Program, which is the source of the money requested for this project. This $40 Million of taxpayers’ money is going for unneeded infrastructure. Mayor Taylor is also working against his own community by increasing associated spending to keep the project alive for the benefit of his supporters, while spouting typical rhetoric that speculative development will ultimately lower taxes.
The Army Corp of Engineers – A project this scale ($40M) is significant and the scale too large to slide under the non-public input of the general permit process.
WI Department of Natural Resources – Same - Public Notice the permits for this project and justify its need and ranking. How does their internal documentation under NR150 support their decision on this grant?
The U.S. EPA- Federal Funds administered to the State should have an obligation to the taxpayers to cut spending by oversight of funding abuse.
Southeastern WI Regional Planning Commission – SEWRPC stands on the sidelines by virtue of ultimate population forecasts in their long-range planning document. The projected population served by this sewer is 20,000, where only 440 live today. It will take decades to reach the forecast population level.
Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District – MMSD has the responsibility to protect our drinking water by not adding additional burdens to the system, fixing current problems, and help keep sewerage tax rates under control. Promotion of speculative development is not part of the MMSD mission.
Coalition for Property Rights–The CPR monitors government abuse of Eminent Domain, working to protect the American Dream and Affordable Homeownership.
Wisconsin Historical Society – Historic properties are in the path of this 5-mile pipeline project. How will they be protected or avoided under Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act- Protection of Historic Properties?
Great Lakes Protection Organizations – While water groups are being distracted on Lake Michigan water diversions and return paths through Underwood Creek, they may be missing the larger pipe being pushed right past their noses. Another aspect is the need to address water quality issues and question how increasing sewerage flows will solve these needs.
Mark
Living the economic hardship caused by unjustified government spending.
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.
For the sake of Franklin taxpayers let’s hope the “insurance” being discussed by the 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 allow school boards and their to free their districts 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, he 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. Read more.
A check of this Wednesday’s (7/14/11 Revised) Franklin School Board Meeting agenda shows item 9. a. Board Discussion, insurance Bidding Process. Other topics we found interesting on the agenda include:
Discussion Regarding 2011-2012 Budget
Superintendent’s Report:
a. Trails Committee Update
b. Economic Development Committee Update
c. SWSA Resolution
d. Architects Hiring Update
e. Retreat Update
Look for our report on Wednesday night's meeting on Thursday, July 21.
It was inevitable. First, tear down the homes and buildings on the west side of 51st Street. Let any rumors and scuttlebutt (e.g. quarry expansion), as to why these buildings were demolished abate. Then, when all has quieted down, move in the bulldozers and earth-movers and hope no one notices or bothers to speak out until it’s too late. That’s how Mayor Tom Taylor and his “boys” (Aldermen Solomon, Taylor and Skowronski) on the Franklin Common Council like to work. Is that this group’s idea of open government.
Driving south on 51st Street yesterday, between Rawson and Drexel, I noticed a bulldozer and a couple other pieces of earth-moving equipment operating on the east side of the quarry’s burm. Today I checked with my alderman and sure enough the quarry is being expanded as part of a years-old agreement with the City. Franklin pols will tell you “'Technically,' it’s not being 'expanded.'” Evidently this is due to the language in the agreement.
The berms to the east are being moved further east so that mining can take place beneath where the berms once stood.
"We are returning to frugality and making the long-term decisions to balance our budget now and more importantly into the future. We will do the heavy lifting to protect our children and grandchildren from having to make the hard decisions that were once avoided."
—Gov. Scott Walker, March 1, 2011
In its 2011-12 Budget Draft Franklin Public Schools (FPS) asks: What in the World is Affecting Franklin Public Schools? Here are the answers provided by FPS’ administration.
The Economy
State Budget Problems
Possible State Law Changes
Revenue Limits
More Federal money means more time spent reporting
Like any government monopoly, over-spending didn’t even make the list.
"Since our primary purpose is to be advocates for the students in our community, it is imperative that we place some of the best teachers in our state in front of our students for a quality educational experience to occur.”
—Steve Patz, Superintendent, Franklin Public Schools, FPS2011-12 Budget introduction : Looking Back, and Forward
Huh?! I thought the school district's primary purpose was to educate its students.
In his July 5 story entitled: Franklin schools tackle challenging budget by FranklinNOW’s Rick Romano we get a good sense for what some Franklin School District administrators and school board members think of the 2011-12 Franklin Public Schools (FPS) budget and budgeting process in light of Governor Scott Walker’s two-year $66 billion state budget deal designed to balance the state’s budget and close the $3.5 billion budget gap without raising taxes or fees, while reining-in local government’s taxation and spending. (e.g. public school boards and municipalities).
From Romano’s piece:
Quoting Franklin’s complaining Superintendent Steve Patz, Romano writes “Every school district is different, but we all face difficulty that has been complicated by the state budget process this year. Just like in every year, we approve a budget and then wait until we have the final student count in October to finalize the numbers."
How did our neighbors in New Berlin react to Walker’s budget?
"Contemplate the mangled bodies of your countrymen, and then say, 'What should be the reward of such sacrifices?'”—Samuel Adams (Father of The American Revolution)
We have all enjoyed the fruits of prosperity that our forefathers and past generations of Americans purchased at great sacrifice, many with their lives. With the current unprecedented assault upon Liberty, each and every one of us is called to make our own great sacrifices, now and throughout the remainder of 2011. Our posterity deserves no less.
Thursday, July 28, 2011 at 1:46 PM 
