916WI, the average salary of Janesville teachers is $44,000. Really? Are they the only(or most) people who can shop in Janesville?

You can rationalize all you want, actions speak louder than words. Buying a bunch of crap is more important than education here.

BTW--A good portion of those cars could have been the teachers and the administration of the school system. They have enough money to do all the shopping they want:)

sluggo......So that's how you gauge the financial condition of a city? By going to the only mall in Janesville on a Saturday afternoon. Find a couple of hundred cars in the parking lot and that equates to everyone in the city being rich?? Too funny! It's getting really good in here!

Did anyone go to the mall today? I am thoroughly disgusted with this town. I couldn't even find a spot! The lines were super long too! But we can't afford to fund education? What a crock!

Although with this board and superintendant Janesville schools will soon be headed downward quickly, will you blame fluff then too?
Maybe new leadership is needed, time to vote out the sodapop crew janesville, they are ruining your schools.

and just so we are clear I have given to the Save Janesville schools , and have been to all of their fundraiser events. An excellent IDEA and more of you should participate. Thans to all the local businesses who donate to the events, you are truley the pillars of the community.

Cass dont forget about that awful union event where the greedy selfish teachers are helping at the local food banks, time and substance, more than you give I would bet.

""It would be wonderful if Janesville Schools could obtain national ranking in student testing. That my improve ability for Janesville to obtain future employers.To do this Janesville would need to focus on core education.""

And your answer is to cut teachers, outsource workers, cut curriculum, cut funding? I guess someone just isn't very bright at all. I wish I could simulate a slow talking speed for you so you could understand. NOTHING that you suggest would increase the quality of education in Janesville, NOTHING. At least you admit that having a quality school system would be helpful in attracting businesses, a large step in the right direction for someone as handicapped upstairs as you seem to be.
Cass- its like when you go to the liquor store and buy Boones farm wine, you can get really drunk off of it, but it tastes like bad koolaid and you have a 3 day hangover. If you actually spend some money and buy a nice bottle of wine it tastes nice makes you feel nice , and you wake up the next day without a headache. Trying to put it in terms that might work for someone who isn't very bright as I am guessing that you frequent the liquor store often, you must.Try to remember , you get what you pay for.
No offense to Beloit, but are you really suggesting that the Beloit Schools system is better than Janesville? Now that one makes me laugh so hard I won't even bother you with STATISTICS, because you won't be able to interpret them anyways.
Maybe if we outsource all our food service to Kandu, wed get some tech companies, right Cass? Nighty night troll.

fear said, "Cass- You have been told over and over by many on this site that your outsourcing idea, will not , can not work, yet you continue to push the same old rhetoric again and again. since you have so many "ideas" why not try something else?"
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fear, Cass is using repetition fallacy -- hoping the reader believes that the more often they read the same thing, the more true it becomes. If you want a great read about how fallacies are used in modern day America, you should really check out Jamie Whyte's book "Crimes Against Logic: Exposing the Bogus Arguments of Politicians, Priests, Journalists, and Other Serial Offenders"

fear, some posts are so outrageous that they aren't worthy of a response. Don't feed the troll.

Please help Marshall Middle School students win a pair of tickets to the Superbowl. They are one of five schools in the nation that were chosen as finalists for a video they submitted. The school with the most points by the end of today wins. Please go to http://www.schooltube.com/contests/fuel-... and VOTE FOR VIDEO #5.

Sadly, many STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) classes were cut last year. Bad choice, IMO.

Vato- End school by 10th grade? Obviously thats when you stopped paying attention!! Cheesh, wake up, between you and the fluff idiot, better known as Cass/jodymac/local81/taxandspend you two would literally be out tested in all the essentials by many fourth graders here in Janesville.
Cass- You have been told over and over by many on this site that your outsourcing idea, will not , can not work, yet you continue to push the same old rhetoric again and again. since you have so many "ideas" why not try something else? Instead you rip apart Public education by using terms like fluff? Sounds to me like thats exactly what you have living between your ears. Just because you repeat it over and over doesn't make it true.

It is such a happy day when clueless...

therefore, ohhappyday must have many happy days.

May she live a long life.

Love that one taxandspend... Lost my home due to my workplace closing up like so many others. Easier to leave now. And you can get stuck paying the tax bills here. I am having to start over so why not do it elsewhere where my kids can have their fair shake in life? Because this isn't it.

Don't feed the troll.

Karl, thanks for your input here. Do you know how much money was foregone for next year's budget by not taxing to the max this year? I don't understand why the Board would raise taxes a little bit - when raising them just a little bit more could have provided much-needed benefits next year.

So, without reading all of this, why not open the contract and renegotiate, you know, pay a little, then cuts won't be necessary. This ought to fire you all up. Love it. GO WALKER!

We should have closed Jefferson Elementary and repurposed the building. We could still sell the central office to the city for a new firestation and move the offices to space in Franklin Middle School. All rooms are wired for internet. The cubbies that many people work in could easily be moved into those spaces. Our district has trucks and could move the equipment. Book storage could be distributed to vacant space in other buildings if necessary. The book inventory is on computer so it does not matter where they are stored.
We should also have raised the tax levy more. Each year we fail to do so lower amounts of state money given to our district and increases our deficit.

Well then let's change the State Statute -- they have been changing everything else--why not this?

There are good questions being asked and there are answers, so I encourage you to attend the listening sessions and ask for an explanation. There also is extra time after the sessions that some commissioners can stay around for a one-on-one conversation.

If none of the different times that we have made available to you work, then I would be glad to meet with you personally.

I am available many weekends and would welcome the opportunity to meet at my office. I also take many phone calls and welcome them. If I do not know the answer I will find it. I believe most of the other board commissioners would attempt to do the same, but I cannot commit them.

Karl Dommershausen
Janesville School Board Commissioner
(608) 774-8660

Good Questions. It only applies to the students home school. If a parent wishes to send their child to a different school other than their home school, the parent would have to provide for the transportation. Now there are some exceptions under IDEA(special education) law but we won't go there. So in the example of someone sending their child to Milton and they reside in the Janesville District no transportation is provided. Parents are advised of the that when they fill out the School Choice paperwork.

Ok, I’m not trying to argue I am trying to understand. So what I am getting is that we have a state statute that says transportation has to be provided if a student lives more than two miles away. At the same time Wisconsin is an open enrollment state. So my take on this is, if I live in on the far east side of Janesville and want to send my child to a south side school, the district will have to provide transportation? What if I live in Janesville and want to send my child to Clinton school, will the Clinton school district have to provide transportation? Now I am sure that you will say that this is my choice to send her to a school that is not with in my two miles, but my argument will be, is it not the choice of the parents who chose to live almost in Afton to be more than 2 miles away from their school?

State Statute says that transportation has to be provided if a student lives more than two miles from their school, not relevant if it is rural or not. The School Board can't do anything about that except to comply with the law.

I personally agree marge123. Like you said most of the kids who ride the bus now it is not because their parents are living out there trying to make a living, it is because they chose to move there and live a new subdivision. I think it would be very reasonable to ask parents to pay a yearly fee for their children to be transported to school. I have to pay/worry about how my child is getting to school, why should it be any different for those who have choosen to move outside of town.

sorry--that's bus fare

Charge the "country" parents the same amount as the "city" parents have to pay in bus fair. (Most are in subdivisions--not "country")Every one should be required to get their own children to school--no "free" ride.

Why do we pay rent for Charter schools? What is the exact purpose of these schools? The impression I have is not a good one. From past experience I find these schools to just be a place for kids who don’t feel the need to attend the regular public school system, so they just don’t go, for whatever the reason. Then when they are on the edge of failing we pick them up, brush them off, hand them a bottle and send them to a charter school. Same with the girls who are choosing to get pregnant while in high school. If my interpretation of the charter school is correct, my question is…….. why????? Why are we not preparing our children for life? I am sorry, but if I don’t come to work everyday on time, the company I work for does NOT feel sorry for me, because my family life isn’t perfect, or I find myself distracted easily, they DO NOT create a different environment where myself and other coworkers who seem to have the same issues can go to work and succeed. No, what they do is they tell me, life is not fair; it sucks a lot of the time, but suck it up and deal with and get to work on time every day and do your job correctly or don’t work for us. When I was pregnant, they did NOT create a separate work place for me, they did NOT pamper me because I chose to start my family, instead I went to work just like my coworkers every day and followed all the same rules in the same building. So I want to first know and understand the purpose of these Charter Schools, because I will admit I may be way off base and if that is the case I definitely want to understand so I can make an informed decsion.

taxandspend I don't know where you got your 3 million dollar for the Ice Arena try about half of that, I know this for a fact! Also you think for only 65 people you REALLY DON'T know your facts. Sorry to get off the subject. I feel they need to cut from the top down, not take away teacher and programs from the kids, thats only hurting them.

There is no easy answer. Raising taxes can not be it. There are to many people already at risk of losing there homes. I know many families that have cut back and have given things up. I work in accounting and if the numbers are not close then something is really wrong. There should be a spreadsheet done of all expenses then take money getting received in and go from there. Its not rocket science. You would have a better idea of what needs to be cut. You are not going to be guaranteed the same amount from the state so allow a little breathing room. Things may have to tighten down bad at first but as it gets better then slowly add back in.

taxandspend-
1:There are a certain number of students who need a certain number of credits to graduate.
2: The school only offers a class if enough students sign up for the class.
3: If those students were not in "French 4" or whatever other classes you consider "fluff" then they would have to be in "Math 4" or "Reading 4" or some other "non-fluff" class in order to get their credits for graduation.
4: Therefore, cutting "fluff" classes will not save money because those students will still need a classroom and a teacher.
5: Cutting "fluff" classes will only drive students away who want to take those classes or who open enroll here to get those classes.

NOTICE-

There is another opportunity to have your SDJ board members answer questions and enter into discussions beyond the formality and constraints of the regular board meetings. Our monthly listening session “Community Conversations in Excellence” will be held next Tuesday, November 15, 2011 at Franklin Middle School from 11:00 AM until 1:00 PM.

In additional, I challenge those who have all of these amazing ideas to go to the Educational Services Center at 527 South Franklin Street and ask for Nancy Hewes. She will present you with all needed information and forms to run for the Janesville School Board. One only needs 100 people who agree that one should be on the ballot. We need people who care about our community, care about our youth, willing to work long hours for nothing, willing to make decisions that will not please all, and most of all, understand the financial intricacies of school finance.

Oh, by the way, you will need to let people know who you are!

To those who do this, I thank them for taking the first step toward joining us in some of the most difficult times this community has faced and attempting to steer the SDJ through this gauntlet. There are and will not be simple answers, just hard work, and the need for research and cooperation.

Karl Dommershausen
Janesville School Board Commissioner
(608) 774-8660

Anyone not wanting to waste their time out in the cold picketing on Nov 15th, can got to Culvers on Milton Ave for Scoopy night. Bring the kids in for some fun, instead of being selfish and making them stand out in the cold.

I'm telling you taxandspend, run! I don't live in Jtown so I can't. Shake things up a little.

I see the district is in full gingerbread man mode, leading the school board a merry chase through the budget minefield. The names and the faces may change, but the game will go on forever.

taxandspend-the only comment that mentions blaming someone is YOURS! "If you want to blame someone blame Janesville's City Manager Eric Levitt "

taxandspend: ideas are what we need. other posters are rather good at shooting down ideas and name calling, but not so good at providing options. so keep coming up with ideas. the breeders may not like to hear an idea that forces them to pay more for their prodigy, but so what.

taxandspend- Your ideas??? Like firing the city manager????(nothing to do with schools, just your crazy obsession) Like charging parents $3000 per child??? (not legal!) Like outsourcing/privatizing??? (rarely saves money...ask Walker about outsourcing the security in Milwaukee).
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Here are some other ideas:
-How about the idea of visiting the schools and seeing what we are getting for our tax dollars and talking with the kids and parents about what they have already lost due to cuts. Then how about raising the taxes enough to at least maintain what we have left? Our tax rate is low compared to other cities this size.
-How about the article about how juvenile crime is down and the credit that goes to schools and school/police partnerships? Think about how much money the taxpayers will save over the life of those kids if they have been diverted from a life of crime??? How much is that worth???
-Some things are worth paying for and a quality school system is one of those things.

taxandspend: I seem to recall that you do post a lot of ideas but that you also recently stated that you would not run for office. So here's my idea: Seems to me if you want your ideas to take route you should back them up with action & throw your name in the ring.

Has anyone done a research in Wisconsin cities as to what there tax base for schools is compared to Janesville. I have a feeling Janesville tax base to schools is much lower and yet you want the same education as cites of same size that pay more into taxes then Janesville. Janesville is a very very cheap city and it js showing now. The homes in Janesville has been on the gravy train for ever and the train is headed for disaster. It is time you folks wake up and smell the coffee before it is to late.

Taxandspend is a school dropout that never amounted to anything, and thus doesn't want anyone to amount to anything. Crawl back into your hole taxie.

taxandspend (current username of many) is obviously mentally ill and needs to seek help! Turning a school article comment into your obsession with Eric Levitt? GET HELP!
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Coach is right, no city will grow without a quality school district. So if we let our schools fail, the rest of the city won't be far behind.

"District Chief Financial Officer Keith Pennington said after the meeting that his estimate from several months back of a $9 million budget gap for 2012-13 might be either high or low. He is working on a new estimate." Hhhmmmmmm.......might be high, might be low, no clue as to where anything really sits - maybe his inability to provide solid numbers has something to do with the ongoing problems????

taxandspend - fbcoach is correct, students will leave to go to other districts. They don't need to sell their home. We have open enrollment in Wisconsin. http://dpi.wi.gov/sms/psctoc.html

There's only one group that has not sacrificed. Take one guess fbcoach66. How many of your younger colleagues got sacrificed? Thumbs up to you for being such a protector of education I guess. LOL

You better fork over that money or businesses will leave or worse yet all the students will leave! If you don't buy that argument we'll accuse you of hating children. "Taxes have to go up." Really? Good fear mongering. What's the next play in the union playbook fbcoach66?

I am one of those thinking this is my kids last year here in janesville. This school system is broke. We are driving good teachers away thanks to the Fitzwalkerstan syndrom and with more cuts on the way she will not get what she needs. I've had three other children go thru school here and it has been a downslide for years. Too many administrators and not enough focus on the right things. I mean really Chinese? Open up your eyes. And I thank Walker for showing all of us this is not the way to get things done. All it has done is divide this state and made people very ugly on both sides of the fence. Good leadership would bring people together to make things right, not drive wedges between neighbors. Recalls acomming.

People, you must realize that taxandspend is a kook and her posts aren't worthy of a response. Don't feed the troll.

What taxandspend does not understand is that education is now a competetive business with open enrollment. Cut all these programs, and students leave by the hundreds maybe even 1,000+ to Milton, Beloit-Turner, Edgerton etc.

Then our state aid is cut by even more and our budget is in worse shape. All the while people are complaining, the newspaper is reporting our resulting plummeting test scores.

Now what businesses want to move to Janesville with education in such a state? So unemployment continues to go up, taxes have to increase more as homes get foreclosed on etc.

Thank goodness taxandspends reality is not what is being done by our school board. BTW tax and spend find me one scientific study were school system quality is not listed in what businesses look for in were to open new factories or relocate and I will recant my post.

Recall Walker Rally 4:30 PM Tues, Nov. 15 at Job Center in Janesville.
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Nov. 19th, 11 AM Recall Walker Rally at Capitol in Madison.
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Let's Ride the Ohio Tide

taxandspend-Your repetitive posts are getting old. I haven't seen too many people ever support your ideas. Are you under the impression that if you say something enough, it eventually becomes true? Could you come up with an original idea that is actually feasible? Your idea of cutting all non-core classes is simply ludicrous. Under your idea, Janesville would have smart, chubby kids who would have few creative outlets besides writing. Oh, and I'm sure the students would love it and there would be no pushback.

Get ready for the excuses to come fast and furious to justify raising the taxes - AGAIN. If the school board worries so much about the children getting a good education why don't they worry about those families where those children are from as well. Those same families are hurting financially and many are doing without either in necessities or in luxuries. But the school board - um, not so much.

Here we go again! The cuts are already negatively impacting the kids and families...but let's cut some more!