Milton School Board OKs survey plan, not time frame
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A survey will get opinions from Milton residents on a possible school building referendum. The school board voted Monday night to approve the survey plan, but did not set a timeline. The survey results are only good for a year and board members are concerned it might be too soon to conduct the survey. The board also approved layoff notices at its Monday meeting. Kyle Geissler reports. You can read more in Tuesday's Janesville Gazette.
Staff cuts proposed
Milton School District staff packed the middle school library to oppose proposed staffing cuts Monday night.
But just because the board approved preliminary cuts doesn't necessarily mean teachers will lose their jobs, Superintendent Bernie Nikolay said.
The board approved sending preliminary layoff notices to eliminate the equivalent of 2.6 full-time positions:
-- One full-time counselor
-- One full-time library/media specialist
-- A 0.3 position in music
-- A 0.3 position in art
The layoffs would affect five staff members, said Shelly Kress, president of the teachers union.
The district hasn't made a final decision on staff cuts, but the teachers contract requires preliminary layoff notices to go out at least 75 days before they take effect, Nikolay said. In order to keep the option open, the district has to issue the notices by the end of the week.
The district is considering other cuts, including non-union positions, building budgets and athletics, he said.
The proposed cuts would save $153,000 to $190,000 next year, Business Manager Dianne Meyer said.
MILTON — The debate about a proposed community survey turned into discussion of when the Milton School District should go to referendum during Monday's school board meeting.
The district has discussed a possible new high school for two years. In May, it heard a presentation from School Perceptions, a Slinger-based consulting firm, offering to conduct a professional survey to find out what the community supports. But the results would only be good for about a year, and some school board members aren't sure the community will support a referendum by then, they said.
The board approved the survey plan but didn't approve a contract with School Perceptions or set a timeline for the survey.
"Absolutely we need to do it at some point, but it's too soon now," board member Jan Bue-Wells said.
If the board had approved the contract, the survey probably would have been administered in fall. It would have cost $9,300, plus expenses.
A survey could ask about specific aspects of the building plan, such as a pool, green technology and overall cost, Superintendent Bernie Nikolay said. It could even ask if residents would rather build a high school or a less expensive middle school.
Districts that use School Perceptions data have high success rates with referendums, Nikolay said. But because the data only is good for about a year, it would require the district to go to referendum by fall 2010.
But growth has halted in the district and looks to stagnate in the next few years, so the district doesn't have to go to referendum that soon, board member Mike Pierce said.
"Even if you just wait a year (to do the survey), I think we'd still be in good shape," he said.
Board member Wilson Leong encouraged the board to act sooner rather than later. The poor economy doesn't change the fact that some schools are at or near capacity, he said.
"When times get tough, (Milton) people rise to the occasion," he said. "All we have to do is be leaders."
Though Leong didn't convince the board to act right away, members agreed they want to conduct a survey at some point.
The district is not alone in its desire to conduct a survey before going to referendum, said Steve Hintzman, associate executive director of the Wisconsin Association of School Boards.
"It's becoming more common that some sort of survey be done to assess issues and identify problems (before a referendum)," he said.
Many of the districts look to outside sources to administer the surveys, he said.
In 2007, the Beloit Turner School District spent $4,900 for a professional survey. In the referendum that followed, voters OK'd facility upgrades but not spending money to buy land and fix the stadium.
In May, the Parkview School District sent out a survey it created in-house about possible referendums. Results will be presented at the June 15 school board meeting.
Jun 11, 2009 at 6:34 p.m.
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Rocky... I agree! Could we simply focus on the kids' education, and let all this other crap go?
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When I went to school, not only was there no union but no air conditioning, no cafeterias, no teachers' "in-service" days.
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I turned out alright. My generation is - for the most part, strong in conviction, action and family values.
I took on a class to fill a required elective. I chose a Graphic Arts class in 1974, but my Father said I would not succeed... "it's a man's field".
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I did not want to become my "Donna Reed" mother (Google Donna Reed). I didn't want to leave High School, get married, make babies and be domestic. I wanted a career!
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I have been involved in Graphic Arts for 35 years. It has been a profitable industry for me, and I am GOOD at it!
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If they remove the extracurriculars from the options for students to choose from, there will be many kids who will NOT "fit in". Not ALL of them can make a living off of what is left.
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How sad...
Jun 10, 2009 at 8:51 a.m.
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Oh goody - now they are cutting music and art positions, but hiring outside consultants to conduct a survey. How about this instead: Lay off the business director and save the other 5 jobs. Savings would be about the same. Nope - can't cut administration -only cut things that directly effect students.
Jun 10, 2009 at 7:59 a.m.
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The Intermediate school has been up for at least 15 years and is nearly at capacity. It holds the 4th, 5th, 6th grades.
Jun 10, 2009 at 7:46 a.m.
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Didn't Milton just get a new intermediate school? Do they really NEED another school or is this just a WANT?
Jun 9, 2009 at 10:51 p.m.
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flying_monkey: I agree with you on all points. We don't have the money to pay for slick consultants that advertise that they can write the survey in precisely the way that will convince reluctant voters that this plan is worth it. I'll support the next plan that includes provisions for attracting and retaining the best quality teachers, but we're always paying for buildings, buildings, buildings. More money in human capital -- especially teachers -- and less money on glory-projects.
Jun 9, 2009 at 6:12 p.m.
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flying_monkeys... Very true. I guess there could be a justifiable reason to have a survey performed by "professionals" if it is regarding "specific aspects of the building plan, such as a pool, green technology and overall cost". However, I would prefer that this information be added to a survey form that each resident receives via mail, in which we give our own feedback. Who knows better than the parents - what we need, want, or what would benefit our OWN kids?
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A referendum would be more inclusive, if we have the opportunity to participate in its creation. As Milton residents, we absolutely want our children to succeed. It is the reason many of us came to Milton. To raise our kids. I've been here 20 years. My children were raised through this school system.
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I have no kids in the district anymore, but I want to see the quality of education and the exposure to the arts to continue. With that, taxes will have to increase. I don't want to see ANY of the programs cut. There has to be a more creative way to get through this. I think the enrollment will see a "lull" for a few years, with the economy as it is. Put these expansion plans on hold for a while.
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But stay ahead of the "eight ball" and be proactive regarding expansion. Be careful... I believe some of the things we spend at these schools could be replaced by volunteers. And for cryin' out loud... the class rooms of kids could certainly contribute to keeping each room clean. I did, when I was growing up! That would take some of the custodial expenses out of the budget!
Jun 9, 2009 at 5:48 p.m.
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As for the SURVEY... bring it on. Just don't waste our money on hiring someone else to do it.
You already know what you want to ask, do it yourselves.
School board members should already KNOW how their supporters feel, and what answers will come...
or they "should know"; if they are actually "serving" this district.
Jun 9, 2009 at 5:33 p.m.
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Sorry... last comment was re: staff cuts
shown in this article.
Jun 9, 2009 at 5:29 p.m.
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Why is it always the "arts" that get cut? Because parents want their kids
to grow up as STUPID ILLITERATES who can do/appreciate nothing-
other than "slamming" someone, or "sinking" the next shot/making the next goal??
As for ME, in my humble opinion; I'd rather kids were exposed to MORE arts and reading.
A vocabulary, and knowledge of the fine arts will go a whole lot further
than making a shot/goal/tackle etc etc etc. Cut the sports "agendas"! ALL would benefit from it.
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