Funding request raises tension at meeting
Photo 
Kevin Murray
Photo
Dr. Thomas Evert
JANESVILLE — Kevin Murray blew his top at the Janesville School Board meeting Tuesday night.
To understand why, you need to recall that the board is expecting to make painful cuts in next year’s budget.
You need to recall that the board is under pressure as it negotiates an overdue contract with the teachers union.
And you need to remember that the board split rather emotionally when it agreed to start a new program—called Preschool 4 Janesville—on Dec. 10.
That vote for P4J approved spending about $1.45 million a year to provide preschool for any 4-year-old whose parents want it, starting Sept. 1.
That amount included a new position, someone to oversee the new program that would serve an estimated 500 children.
That person—called a coordinator—was slated to begin work on July 1.
But at some point, the district administration decided that the massive effort of preparing the new program would require the coordinator to start right away, this month.
So the administration asked the school board Tuesday for permission to use $56,000 to pay for the coordinator’s salary and benefits from Jan. 28 through June 30.
The extra expense was not mentioned until after the board voted.
Had he known about this Dec. 10, he would have been up on the table “yelling and screaming,” Murray said.
Murray was particularly upset about the rate of pay for the new position. The administration estimated it would cost about $112,000 a year to pay salary and benefits. “That’s just ridiculous. I mean, that’s the rate we pay principals,” Murray said.
Lori Stottler had similar concerns. She said she was “sticker shocked.”
Superintendent Tom Evert reminded board members that a good portion of the $112,000 pays for benefits.
“The fringe benefits in this district are, of course, excellent, but it does add to the sticker shock,” Evert said.
Director of Instruction Donna Behn said the amount was average for curriculum coordinators in the district.
Murray was not mollified. The administration can find money for its “pet projects,” and yet it asks the board to cut teachers, Murray railed.
“I am angry at the direction we are heading,” Murray said. “I just don’t understand what’s going on with this.”
Bill Sodemann, who along with Murray and DuWayne Severson voted against the program Dec. 10, said it would be unfair to handicap the program at the start, so he abstained on Tuesday’s vote.
P4J supporter Tim Cullen said he understood Murray’s feelings, but the most crucial time to have someone coordinating the new program is in the first eight or nine months.
But after that, the position should be considered for budget cuts just like everything else, Cullen said.
Board member Amy Rashkin said she couldn’t believe the administration could not do a better job of anticipating the program’s needs.
Severson wanted to know when administrators decided they needed to hire the coordinator early.
Behn said she knew on the day of the vote that the administration had a lot of work ahead of it, but she didn’t know which way the vote would go.
Why didn’t the administration just say on Dec. 10 that it would need another $56,000? Sodemann asked.
“In hindsight, we should have done that,” Behn replied.
How they voted
-- In favor of funding the new coordinator of Preschool 4 Janesville starting for the next five months: Tim Cullen, Debra Kolste, Amy Rashkin, DuWayne Severson.
-- Opposed: Kevin Murray, Lori Stottler.
-- Abstaining: Bill Sodemann.
-- Absent: Todd Bailey, Dennis Vechinsky.
Where does the money come from?
The $56,000 to pay salary and benefits for the coordinator in the coming semester comes from a contingency fund set up specifically to pay for unexpected staff needs.
What's in a compensation package?
Human resources director Steve Johnson was asked to break down salary versus benefits in the $112,000 annual compensation package for the new coordinator. He estimated that about $38,000 would pay retirement, health insurance, social security and other benefits. That would leave around $74,000 for salary.
A coordinator works 12 months, making comparisons to nine-month teacher positions dicey, Johnson added.
How does that stack up?
The average salary of a Janesville principal is $92,431. The average salary of the district’s 5.5 curriculum coordinators is $83,265.
Watch the meeting
The meeting was recorded and will be shown on Janesville cable Channel 13 on Thursday and Sunday. Telecast times are midnight, 3, 6 and 9 a.m., noon, 3, 6 and 9 p.m.
Feb 5, 2008 at 8:34 a.m.
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I really am upset with the SDJ. I have support for the district teachers and want them to stay in Janesville.
Jan 10, 2008 at 8:14 a.m.
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Yup, The city council and the school board and administation are all crooked! It's the "good old boys" up to no good! However, I do give Mr Murray a hands of applause for speaking up and nailing it to the head! I did vote no on the referendums, And when the city council and school board elections come up, I'll be voting for those who really care about the average Janesville taxpayer.
Jan 10, 2008 at 12:32 a.m.
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P4J = Money drain for the taxpayers. WOW this program is a very expensive child care that we the citizens will be paying for. 1.4 million for day care. Oh yes plus some change that amounts to $56k more for start up cost. Mr. Cullen states it is important to have a coordinator help orgainize and get the program off the ground and after 8 to 9 months this coordinator could be put in the mix for budget cuts. Here's a thought. Make sure as a board that ALL angels are reviewed and all possible funding decisions are looked at up front not after the proposal is a go and then oh by the way we need some more $$$$$... come on guys work with us the taxpayer's of this fine city... I see a new slogan for Janesville: Janesville city of (parks) no.. city of tax poor citizens. Before someone says that the school district will get funding from the state next year for this program. Think where does the state get the funding to send back to cities...Our State Income Tax that we each pay each year....
Jan 9, 2008 at 11:41 p.m.
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Mostly assumptions on my part Caddyshack, but I have the feeling this is the direction things will take. Thanks for the clarification.
Jan 9, 2008 at 10:20 p.m.
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spunky: In regards to the wellness program, according to Mr. Sodemann: "The only initial requirement to qualify for the 5% premium is to partake in a "health asessment" which will take less than 1 hour. I don't know what will be discussed in the future but you would not be required to join a health club etc. The goal is to educate and have people choose a healthier life style." So, this crucial wellness program, which Mr. Sodemann says will save JEA members $780 in insurance premiums, right now consists of less than an hour. The JSD sees it as critical, but only requires less than an hour. Now let me see if I understand Mr. Sodemann correctly describe the "wellness program" aspect of the insurance impasse: 1: Each JEA member must participate in a "health assessment" which will last less than an hour. (Probably a life-changing half-hour.) 2: He does not know what else the program entails. (What, not important enough to JSD to figure this out before demanding JEA participate in this required program? It IS January '08, and contract negotiations began around Spring '07. JSD just hasn't had enough time to figure this one out yet.) 3: JEA would not be required to join a fitness center. 4: JEA will be educated and choose a healthier life style. (In less than an hour.) So THIS is how the JSD cares about the wellness of the JEA. All in an hour or less.
Jan 9, 2008 at 9:41 p.m.
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concerned: very good point! How can they call say this passes when if the 2 absent members vote against it, it would be a tie! Hmmmm...
Jan 9, 2008 at 9:39 p.m.
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The first step in a wellness program is to attend a class: hoop number 1 (like we don't have enough of those). I would ASSUME the next step (hoop number 2) would be to join some fitness program; so as long as you are on your stairmaster paying a membership you could probably qualify. So for all of the beer guzzlers and cigar smokers we get a discount for stair stepping instead of raking leaves, jogging the neighborhood, splitting wood, etc. Nothing like running in place to get a discount. Kind of resembles the unofficial mission statement of the SDJ: hoop jumping trumps any productive professional development OR physical fitness. Anybody stay awake long enough to remember the last $6,000 speaker at the Parker inservice?
Jan 9, 2008 at 9:07 p.m.
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These types of stories about backstabbing and leaving out crucial details when presenting information is exactly why the teachers need to stand strong in their contract negotiations. What the JSD presents to the public, and in this case its own board, and what will actually happen are two different things. If the teachers give up what they have now, thinking that will be all they have to sacrifice in the future, I think they will be sadly mistaken.
For instance, the district has started a new Wellness program that they are trying to get all teachers to participate in by giving them a break on their insurance if they participate. What isn't known are any of the details. If anyone has any information on this program could they please post some of the details and what is needed exactly in order to qualify for the insurance break. Also, if the district tries to say they are starting this wellness program because they want their staff to be healthier, b.s. The only reason the district does anything is for monetary reasons that they don't allow the public to know about. 4k-I really doubt they want to start this because it will help preschoolers but more along the lines of I am sure they are being compensated very well if they do it.
Jan 9, 2008 at 8:55 p.m.
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No the classrooms are being built first at PHS. Anyway the order that things are built doesn't necessarily show the priority, because the first referendum work at Parker was the student parking lot. Maybe parking is the new priority of the SDJ
Jan 9, 2008 at 8:13 p.m.
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Looks like people are starting to understand that you have to be careful what you believe from the district. Yes much of what they say with the teacher contract stuff may be true, BUT there are big parts and if's, and maybe's attached to that. They do not seem to tell the whole truth too often. They like to say what looks good not what is necessarily true
Jan 9, 2008 at 6:24 p.m.
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The School Board and the City Council are a joke. They are both robbing peter to pay paul.
Jan 9, 2008 at 1:51 p.m.
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Here we go again. The school administration is up to their old tricks. Remember past referendums when money wasn't available or was voted down on a particular project and then lo and behold, after the project is completed they "find" the money for the extras that weren't included. Does fancy furnishings and swimming pool ring a bell? As far as I'm concerned the credibility of JSD is non-existant. The voters should remember. Fool me once shame on you. Fool me twice shame on me.
Jan 9, 2008 at 12:59 p.m.
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Mr Vechinsky, whom I voted for originally when he ran; is truly proving he has no idea how the electorate really feels. He was probably absent this time so people don't realize that he doesn't care how taxpayer money is actually spent. Dennis wake up and smell the coffee. You have lost the true focus.
Lance N.
Jan 9, 2008 at 10:27 a.m.
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If four voted for funding the surprise cost, two voted against, one abstained, and two were absent, did the majority really approve it? How did it pass? I'm not even sure how I feel. I think we have to support the program (though I didn't think the program itself should have even been approved with all the cuts in the district). It seems like a pretty sneaky move on the part of the administration.
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