Vechinsky leaves school board
Photo 
Dennis Vechinsky
JANESVILLE — The Janesville School Board had just finished setting up the process for replacing one of its members Tuesday night when another board member tendered his resignation.
“I can’t do this anymore,” Dennis Vechinsky said, and then he read a short resignation statement he had prepared.
Vechinsky’s was the second resignation in less than two weeks. Amy Rashkin resigned May 30, saying she intended to apply for a job with the school district.
Controversy erupted before Rashkin’s resignation, when board member Tim Cullen said the superintendent should not have put the board in the position of creating a job for which a board member would apply.
Vechinsky said after the meeting that his resignation was not connected to Rashkin’s. He said he believed her when she said she needed a job and said she had been a good, hard-working board member.
Vechinsky said he did not like the way some board members questioned the administration, and he didn’t like Superintendent Tom Evert’s integrity questioned.
Vechinsky was first elected in 1998. He served one year as board president.
Vechinsky said he didn’t like the board delaying action and not getting work done.
“The leadership on the board doesn’t seem to have a handle on stuff,” he said.
The personnel committee, which Cullen chairs, last night postponed a decision on the creation of the administrative position in which Rashkin was interested. The committee instructed Evert to find a way to get the job done without spending more tax dollars.
Rashkin, who attended Tuesday’s meeting, said afterward that she didn’t know why Vechinsky resigned.
“You should probably ask him about that. I wasn’t aware this was coming,” Rashkin said.
Vechinsky said he didn’t want to get to the point where he would explode in anger at a meeting.
“They’re acting like little kids,” Vechinsky said, adding that some board members seem to see devious goings-on behind every decision or have been mean spirited.
Asked for an example, he said he didn’t like Bill Sodemann comparing a large public school district to the way private schools do things.
“What people are forgetting is that the reason they’re here is for the kids,” he said. “I think they’ve forgotten that.”
Board President DuWayne Severson said he didn’t see this coming. He thanked Vechinsky for his service: “He has done an excellent job in representing the best interests of students and teachers. On behalf of the school board, we wish Dennis all the best in the future.”
Severson said he didn’t know whether the board has to set up a separate process to replace Vechinsky, or whether the board could choose two candidates from the process already established.
An advertisement will be published soon in The Janesville Gazette, asking for interested residents to apply.
Cullen noted that he supported Vechinsky when Vechinsky tried to get re-elected as board president, although that effort failed when Debra Kolste won the seat in 2007.
“I wish him well. I like Dennis,” Cullen said. “I think he served a lot of years and deserves credit for that.”
Other business
The Janesville School Board on Tuesday:
n Approved a partnership with Head Start to allow the agency to run a 4-year-old kindergarten site at Jefferson Elementary School when the district’s Preschool 4 Janesville program starts in September. Director of Instruction Donna Behn said she’d like to see Head Start establish more programs in other Janesville elementary schools.
-- Discussed replacing Amy Rashkin, who resigned from the board May 30. Board President DuWayne Severson appointed a committee of Tim Cullen, Debra Kolste and himself to review candidates’ applications.
-- Approved Becky Bicha as the new principal of Wilson Elementary School and Steve Schroeder as principal of Parker High School.
-- Approved 6.5 hours a day of additional clerical time at the district’s enrollment center, on a 6-2 vote. Tim Cullen and Kevin Murray voted no.
-- Approved the second and final borrowing to pay for the expansion/remodeling projects at Craig and Parker High Schools. Members authorized issuance of $37.79 million in bonds. Taxpayers are scheduled to make the final payment on the debt in 2028.
-- Held a public hearing on the 2008-09 budget. No one spoke. Severson encouraged residents to speak on budget issues at future board meetings.
Jun 13, 2008 at 6:34 a.m.
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Pixie and others criticizing Mr. V obviously do not know him and know nothing about the amount of time, energy, thought, sweat and stress he put into his job as a school board member. Mr. V cares, A LOT, about students and the health of the district as a whole. It was never about him. Do you really think he was upset that board members were asking questions, or was he dismayed by seeing the board evolve into a dysfunctional unit? There is a big difference between questioning Dr. Evert and questioning his integrity. As for his exit being 'dramatic,' well, maybe he felt he needed to make a point. Mr. V, I know how hard you worked and how much you care and I wish you a happy, stress-free retirement because you have earned it, sir.
Jun 12, 2008 at 6:52 p.m.
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Sounds like he enjoys the limelight and was practicing his acting skills.
Also, there is absolutely nothing wrong with members of the board asking questions. Asking questions is how one gets answers.
Jun 12, 2008 at 6:19 p.m.
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I did NOT say HE was classless. I said the way he resigned was classless. There is a difference.
I have always liked him and think he is a good person. However, he could have bowed out more gracefully.
Jun 12, 2008 at 1:14 p.m.
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So it is classy to stand up and suddenly make a speech and quit in the middle of a meeting? He couldn't wait until the end or privately announce it? He had to make a spectacle of the event? Sorry, not to diminish his past accomplishments, but that was grandstanding and disruptive.
Jun 12, 2008 at 12:51 p.m.
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Most of you probably don't have a clue of the fine work Mr. V. has done for our community. He has spent endless hours visiting schools, talking to both teachers & students. Mr V is seen at many community functions talking to people about the issues at hand. I've seen him at the fair, Porkfest, Dairy Breaksfast, etc... He will be sadly missed. As for him being classless??? That man has more class & dignity than anyone I know. I would be proad to call him a friend, a colleague, or acquaintance.
Jun 12, 2008 at 1:02 a.m.
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My previous comments were based on newspaper and radio accounts only.
After watching the taped school board meeting, I would say; Mr. V obviously had this in mind before the meeting began.
His execution was classless.
Jun 12, 2008 at 12:18 a.m.
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I like Mr. V. But his forte' was teaching, not politics.
The school board is finally living up to the responsibility they were elected to, representing the electorate. The one's who foot the bill.
.
As shown by past referendums, we will step up to the plate and do what is best for the kids, but we also expect fiscal responsibility and accountability.
I think Mr. V showed that during the last teacher contract situation, but then he seemed to forget it when other commissioners questioned other situations that he didn't agree with.
You made the right move Dennis.
Thank you for your service.
Enjoy retirement.
Jun 11, 2008 at 11:58 p.m.
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These two resignations are big loses for the STUDENTS of the school district as they seem to be the only ones trying to do what is good for the kids. Now we are left with a couple of members who are trying to get their names known to further their own future political ambitions, another basking in past glory and yet another pushing a personal agenda of morality. This group is ineffective, dysfunctional and downright rude to each other and their employees. I am not an attorney, but it seems to me that some of this behavior borders on harassment. Makes you wonder what criteria they will use in selecting the "replacements."
Jun 11, 2008 at 6:37 p.m.
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Goodbye, Dennis Vechinsky! You have become a rubber stamp for Dr. Evert and have betrayed your community and it's children. Since it's beginning, you have said you would always vote against 4 year old kindergarten and that you did not feel it was best for our little ones and our community. You continued those comments to many up to a week before the vote, then you showed up at the meeting and voted for it, surprising everyone, including board members. And you wonder why anyone would question integrity and wonder about devious goings on! Look in the mirror! I'm glad our current school board is doing it's job and not voting for every taxpayer funded program Dr. Evert brings up! Keep up the good work, especially Kevin Murray, Duane Severson, Bill Sodemann.
Jun 11, 2008 at 5:36 p.m.
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I'm sorry to see someone leave a situation like that. I used to do that when I was younger, but I ended up feeling worse. Now I feel worse upfront when I realize I'm not walking away from something I really want to run from. After that subsides a little I start thinking how someone stronger than me might handle the problems, and hopefully proceed to do the next right thing. I won't disagree with his personal decision, however, because I've done it before, and I'll probably do it again at some point.
Jun 11, 2008 at 5:14 p.m.
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Vechinsky said he didn't like the way some board members were questioning the administration and that he didn't like Tom Evert's integrity to be questioned. That attitude sums up one of the biggest problems in the district for many years - the board sees itself as the promotional arm of the administration. But that is absolutely not the function of the school board. They have every right to question the administration and we should always expect them to do that. They can do this and still be respectful. But the purpose of an elected school board is NOT to rah-rah for the administration. The purpose of a school board is to keep watch and question and we haven't had that happening in Janesville for many years. Goodbye Mr. Vechinsky. You put the administration above the students. Don't let the door hit you on the way out.
Jun 11, 2008 at 2:35 p.m.
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To all of those that want to be in politics: Government is and needs to be ran more like a business in todays society. Businesses are becoming lean and for the most part better, however some people will feel hurt along the way. While I was not any meetings (I devote my spare time to other public services) I agree with comparing the BOARD to a business. We need to reduce waste and look at the big picture of what is needed and what is a "nice to have". It seems that most of the public employees, be it schools or government, need to step back and look at where there funding comes from. We need more business people on the board and less former teachers and government employees running the district budget. I hope the replacements are more business orientated. However, To Mr V.; I do want to thank you for your past involvement.
Jun 11, 2008 at 2:15 p.m.
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Is this a big lost ?? Two members in two weeks. Did they really want to be there ?? Maybe,but was it for the right reason .Sounds to me they gave up real easy .
Jun 11, 2008 at 11:34 a.m.
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Dennis Vechinsky has served this district well. I have found his decisions and comments to be fair-sided and thoughtful. Although my knowledge of school board interactions comes only from reports in the press, I do think the Board might want to do a little soul-searching to discover if discussions or comments could have been handled more appropriately. Being a school board member or administrator takes a LOT of time and energy and questioning the motivations or integrity of either is counterproductive. We all need and want high quality public education; keep your focus on the goal, not the individuals involved.
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