On Janesville School District’s WKCE scores exceed state averages

Posted on April 26 at 10:21 p.m. ( Suggest removal )

Test scores are up....it must be the teacher dress code....oh wait that goes into effect next year. Wow, wait until the teachers stop wearing jeans--that will really boost the scores!

On U.S. News & World Report gives high marks to local schools

Posted on April 24 at 11:03 p.m. ( Suggest removal )

"We need to be more competitive than we've ever been," Schulte said.

Correction....we need to be more collaborative than ever before.

On Sodemann to step down from Janesville School Board presidency

Posted on April 13 at 4:50 p.m. ( Suggest removal )

Zorg:
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Government 101: The Founders believed ... the majority has no legitimate power to vote away or otherwise abridge the natural rights of political, ethnic, religious, or other minorities. The Founders had great respect for the will of the majority, but also understood that, as James Madison wrote in Federalist No. 10, “the great danger in republics is that the majority will not respect the rights of minority.”
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http://billofrightsinstitute.org/resourc...
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In this scenario, I respect Comm. Sodemann's right to represent the voice of Janesville's political minority--Walker apologists--as an elected school board commissioner. I contend he, however, does not represent the will of Janesville's majority as school board president, when, in fact, his views do not jive with Janesville's plurality.
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By many accounts, Comm. Sodemann is "a kind and decent man" and has "guts," but these traits should not transcend the will of most Janesville voters--who stand against Walker's agenda. His stepping down seems to indicate he understands the basic principles of our government--majority rule, minority rights.

On Sodemann to step down from Janesville School Board presidency

Posted on April 13 at 12:05 p.m. ( Suggest removal )

TCB:
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Wow. You are all over the board. Your condescending and elitist comments about the majority of local voters contradict your original defense of minority rights. You complain about people complaining- what a paradox.
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Sorting through all your contradictions and distractions, you prove my point precisely. Comm. Sodemann represents an elitist minority group of constituents, like yourself--who care more about Walker's ways--than what is best for Janesville.
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Your rants expose how you and Mr. Sodemann's views are not in line with the larger local community. Local school boards should not be focused on partisan state and national politics. Janesville's school board president should be about representing what is best for our community, students, and staff--not what Walker and his Tea Party cronies (inside and outside the state) want. Mr. Sodemann surely cares about students, staff, and our community, but often he puts his partisan beliefs before what is best for Janesville's public schools.
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For example, the recent board resolution vote on the voucher exposes Mr. Sodemann's partisanship. Moderate GOPers, the usually GOP-leaning Wisconsin Association of School Boards, and districts across the state recognize that vouchers are mostly for elitists, do not improve public education, and are bad for local public schools. Yet, Comm. Sodemann was the lone school board vote supporting Walker's vouchers in a recent vote. That's beyond guts. It is blind Walker loyalty above what's best for the SDJ. He is entitled to this radical vote on vouchers, which certainly represents some Janesvillians' thinking. However, lone rangers should not serve as board president representing the larger community and the school board.
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TCB, we can keep up this divisive exchange made possible by Walker's "divide and conquer" politics or you can put aside the hyperboles and focus on the future board. Comm. Ardrey is an honorable and able leader who will put Janesville's best interests above state and national politics.
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Comm. Sodemann undoubtedly worked hard as school board president and will continue to serve on the board in a worthwhile way representing ably a minority segment of Janesville voters.

On Sodemann to step down from Janesville School Board presidency

Posted on April 12 at 9:16 p.m. ( Suggest removal )

TCB:
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What does your fiction-laced (for instance, tenure does not exist for public school K-12 teachers), bitter rant against unions have to do with this discussion?
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Again, you are deflecting the discussion from reality. The truth is the less-connected and growing majority in Janesville and Rock County stand against the GOP/Walker agenda that moves the well-connected forward by moving middle class families, public workers, and public education backwards.
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The great silent GOP majority you speak of does not exist in Rock County. The voting record shows that increasingly Rock County voters are growing tired of Gov. Walker's and his Tea Party supporters' antics.
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I fully realize Comm. Sodemann does not owe the majority anything. I do appreciate that he speaks openly about his political beliefs. Again, I realize he serves an important role speaking for many GOPers and business leaders in our community.
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However, just because he is gutsy, outspoken, and well-connected with powerful people in our community--it does not mean he should be the spokesperson for my kids' school district. The majority of voters in Janesville do not support the political beliefs driving his agenda for the SDJ. Representing a minority voice, Comm. Sodemann is rightfully assuming a minority role on the board by "stepping down" from the board presidency.
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Comm. Ardrey better represents our larger community. This is what democracy should look like.

On Sodemann to step down from Janesville School Board presidency

Posted on April 12 at 2:55 p.m. ( Suggest removal )

TCB:
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I retract my abrasive comment about you living in a fantasy land. I see you do not follow. I will try to explain again.
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I am a actually a big fan of majority rule, minority rights. This is why I object to the WI GOP/Walker way of largely ignoring the voices of minority groups--like teachers, union workers, public workers, environmentalists, Native Americans, and predictably more.
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Commissioner Sodemann was indeed democratically elected. He adds value to our school board by rightfully giving voice to an already influential segment of Janesville's community. He, however, was not elected by a majority of voters to be our school board president.
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Following board tradition, longevity put Mr. Sodemann into this role. This is a demanding, time-consuming position less-available board commissioners are often grateful to give up to someone else with more time. Commissioner Sodemann's flexible business owner schedule gave him an upper hand in retaining this position.
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When presuming a leadership position that speaks for others, one must be cognizant of the larger community's wants and needs. Sodemann's disdain for unions, support for vouchers, pro-Walker mantra, and some other political views do not sync with the majority of voters in Janesville. Thankfully, the larger board recognizes he does not speak for the larger community. Hopefully, Mr. Ardrey will serve the School District of Janesville better in this capacity.
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Relax, TCB. You can rest assured that we have not heard the last of Com. Sodemann. In his relegated role, he will continue to speak loudly for those who share his partisan views. Plus, Bliss Communications loves his media-selling comments so much I predict we'll hardly notice he is no longer school board president.

On Sodemann to step down from Janesville School Board presidency

Posted on April 12 at 10:44 a.m. ( Suggest removal )

TCB:
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Mr. Sodemann is not gone. He still rightfully represents on the board a relatively large, powerful minority group in Janesville.
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Comm. Sodemann simply should not be the mouth-piece for community built on union-fought for wages and a where a majority of its voters have consistently voted against his politics.
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Since Nov. 2010 election, the majority of Janesville/Rock County has voted for Barrett, Feingold, Kloppenburg, Ardrey, Barrett (again in recall), Zerban, Obama, Baldwin, Kolste, Myers/Dommerhausen/Hesselbacher, Evers--all of who stand against Walker's extreme agenda.
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http://www.co.rock.wi.us/election-result...
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TCB--you stand with a loud, strong minority in Janesville. Guard yourself from reality all you want to make yourself feel safe.

On Sodemann to step down from Janesville School Board presidency

Posted on April 12 at 8:32 a.m. ( Suggest removal )

“Not that they’re upset with me but probably because of the politics,” Sodemann said.

Correction....They are upset with Mr. Sodemann because of his politics. This is precisely the point. Partisanship has no place in the board presidency of my kids' school district. Voting for vouchers, blindly supporting Gov. Walker's initiatives, and opposing my kids' teachers' union are politically-motivated positions that do not represent what is best for the students of Janesville.

Sure, Mr. Sodemann works hard, communicates often, and runs respectful meetings. Sure, Mr. Sodemann represents well the interests of many in our community with strong ties to business, high finance, and GOP politics. Sure, Mr. Sodemann is entitled to his opinions and to represent those who share his partisan views.

However, Mr. Sodemann does not represent the majority of Janesvillians who have voted consistently against GOP/Walker politics in recent elections. Ardrey feels like a breath of fresh air with his focus on kids and fostering a collaborative climate in our school district.

On Why you should be optimistic about Janesville

Posted on January 25 at 6:26 p.m. ( Suggest removal )

As exposed in "As Goes Janesville," the "ambassadors of optimism" were self-appointed spokespersons who divided our community by hitching their wagons to the Walker machine and excluding labor in a long-range community plan.
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When our community most needed unity, the PR ambassadors alienated teacher, public workers, union workers, and democrats. The hypocrisy of the whole thing is that Janesville was built and grown on union-fought-for wages.
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The very definition of community involves common ownership. As proven in the recent local elections that rejected Walker, Ryan, and Knilans--the one voice of Rock 5.0 is the voice of a minority group.
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Optimism starts from the ground up. Let's start over and bring all of Janesville together in a comprehensive community building plan.

On Ryan's VP run is top local story

Posted on December 31 at 10:01 p.m. ( Suggest removal )

Ryan's VP nomination was the top local story, but the rest of the top story was Ryan losing his hometown, Janesville, and Rock County in both the executive and the legislative elections.

http://www.co.rock.wi.us/results11062012...

Ryan and the GOP represent powerful forces, but not the People of Janesville and Rock County. This was the top local story.