MG Contract & State Budget Impact Summaries

MG Board President Susan Fox provided these documents. Peter Sobol also blogged the contarct: Board agrees to MGEA contract extension (with modifications). Click to enlarge.

The Favorite Indoor Sport Gets Rough in CG

While it's tempting to brush off the current hooraw out in Cottage Grove as the early signs of the Silly Season, it is just too much fun watching this train wreck - from the outside.

Check out the letters to the ed in this week's Herald. I expect Jane Curtin and Dan Ackroyd to show up anytime now and do Point-Counterpoint.

According to the Herald, the latest edition appears to center around the use of a room at the EMS building for a political meeting of four people, including current trustee and village president candidate Diane Wiedenbeck, former trustee and EMS volunteer Jack Henrich, former trustee Harvey Potter, and former Board candidate Jeff Simpson. Apparently the informal meeting was barely under way when the current President Mike Mikalsen showed up to show them the door.

Am I missing something? Wasn't this meeting a 'so what, who cares' event? What made this meeting a big enough deal for someone to call the Village President and for him to apparently rush down to the EMS building? Why are people falling over themselves to apologize for (brief and small) meeting at the EMS building? Did it violate an established policy? Did the meeting itself disrupt any EMS operations?

The meeting was characterized as a 'political meeting', but that is a dicey basis for objecting to the use of a room in a public building.

The blood seems to have gotten so bad out there that all acts are seen through that distorting prism.

It's hard to break out of that pattern of behavior - as we know here in Monona from the school referendum wars - we have the scars to prove it, but they are finally healing (although I'm sure someone will point out to me why I am mistaken in that belief).

But I'll admit it is fun to read about from the outside.

***

"Hooraw" was a term used by Festus Haggen on the Gunsmoke TV show to describe a dust up or a contretemps. It could also be used as  a verb, as in "Doc was hoorawin' around down at the Long Branch."

Festus also liked to say: "Golly Bill!" or "You ornery ole scutter."

Brewers Blogger Has Local Roots

I recently learned that Jim Breen, the blogger who broke the news about the Brewers' trade for pitching star Zack Greinke, grew up in Cottage Grove and graduated from Monona Grove high school.


Jim's uncle Matt lives in Monona and passed along the news. Jim Breen writes a blog called Bernie's Crew blog. Breen scooped the nation by being the first to announce the trade that brought Greinke to Milwaukee. Breen beat national writers like Buster Olney and Ken Rosenthal as well as Tom Haudricourt, Brewers beat writer for JS Online.
You can also follow him on Twitter.
Along with the earlier acquisition of Shaun Marcum, the Greinke trade propels the Brewers' rotation from a major problem to a major plus. Whereas the Brewers rotation had consisted of one #1 (Gallardo), one #2 (Wolf), and three guys who might be #5's, it now includes two #1's (Gallardo & Greinke), two #2's (Wolf and Marcum), and a #5 (Narveson).

They gave up a lot of young talent in the trade, but they weren't going to get what they needed for Fielder so it makes sense to keep Fielder and go for it in 2011. They do need to shore up the defense up the middle. 

MG Student Competes in Cable Contest - You Vote

Andy Hagen of the Monona/MG community cable sent this message:

Hello Everyone,

Connor Stevens, one of my students/employees from the Cable Department is one of five finalists for the Fox 47 MSG2TEENS video contest. He produced a 30 second commercial to warn other kids about texting and driving. You can watch all of the finalists and vote for your favorite at this website:

http://www.fox47.com/sections/contests/msg2teens/

If his video wins, the commercial will air on Fox 47 early next year, Connor gets a new laptop, AND the school district gets $2,500! If you have a few minutes, please watch his video, and vote. Connors is number 3.

Thank you,

Andy

I am not suggesting that you cram the ballot box, but after you watch you won't hesitate to vote for Connor. Watch all five. It takes about 3 minutes and they are all really well done.

Monona Pancake Breakfast - December 11

The Monona Grove Optimist Club is hosting a Pancake Breakfast with Santa on December 11 at the Monona Community Center (lower level).



Date: Sat - 12/11/2010



Time: 8:00 AM


Location: Monona Community Center - Senior Center

Join the Monona Grove Optimist Club for the 3rd Annual Pancake Breakfast with Santa on Saturday December 11, 2010 from 8 am - 10 am at the Monona Community Center. All you can eat pancakes!

There will be a coloring contest for the kids and an opportunity to get your picture taken with Santa!
Cost is $5 per person, $2.50 for children ages 3-10, 2 & under are free.

***

Pancakes? And for all these years I thought Santa liked cookies and milk.

MG 21 Replies to Mayor's Ideas

I received this letter from Rebecca Fox-Blair responding to some of the ideas floated by Mayor Kahl recently.  Peter Sobol has also posted it on his blog. Since I posted the original letter and since I am on the MG 21 Board, I thought I should post the letter in its entirety rather than just a link to Peter's blog.

[begin letter]
Craig Gerlach, Superintendent, Monona Grove School District


Susan Fox, President, Monona Grove School Board



November 23, 2010

Craig and Susan:

We write to address issues concerning the future location of MG21, the Monona Grove Liberal Arts Charter School for the21st Century.

As you know, Monona Mayor Robb Kahl recently proposed moving MG21 out of our current location in Nichols School and into space now occupied by the Monona Senior Center in the bottom floor of the Monona Community Center. The Monona Grove School Board briefly addressed the issue at its November meeting.

We have deep reservations about this proposal. We do not think it would provide an adequate learning environment for our students, nor do we think it is in the best long-term interests of our charter school.

(Some background that might be helpful: There seems to be confusion about the identity of our school. The Monona Grove Alternative School ended its charter with the district and the State of Wisconsin on June 30, 2010. The Monona Grove Liberal Arts Charter School for the 21st Century is newly chartered and opened its doors on September 2, 2010 at Nichols School. MG21 currently serves 25 students in grades 10-12 who have not had success in the traditional high school. Students apply to attend this school. MG21 is not the same as the MGHS EXCEL program, which is also housed at Nichols in a separate location from MG21.)

Among our concerns are the following:

 The space currently provided by the school district for MG21 in Nichols School is ideal for the needs of our students, and our long-term plans for MG21. We now operate as a Project-Based Learning (PBL) school, which requires more space than the previous alternative high school. In particular, we now offer students independent work stations, with individual computer terminals, to replicate the college and work environment our graduates will encounter when they leave MG21. We have two work station areas, totaling 28 computer areas and cubicles, in MG21 – one occupying the computer lab adjacent to the old library, and a larger area occupying roughly half of the former library space. We also have an area set aside in the library for large-group instruction and lectures, as well as the use of two classrooms directly across the hall. Current square footage of MG21 in Nichols School totals approximately 5,140 square feet. We also have access to the gymnasium at Nichols School for recreational and physical education use by our students, and potential use of the Nichols School multi-purpose room should our program grow in enrollment in future years.

In contrast, the space at the Senior Center is considerably smaller than what we have now (roughly 2,600 square feet), and not at all adequate for the current PBL-based approach of our school. The senior center space lacks adequate room for our individualized computer work stations, and there is inadequate instructional space for our academic classes. Our ability to carry out our PBL-based instructional program – the cornerstone of MG21’s educational approach, and one funded in part by a recent $175,000 grant from the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction – would be severely compromised with a move to the Senior Center.

 Moving to the Senior Center risks the potential for growth in MG21’s enrollment. Our school will always remain a school geared toward Monona Grove high school students not finding success within the traditional program offered at the Monona Grove High School. But we also envision MG21 becoming a school of choice both within the MG school district, and for students from neighboring districts, attracted to our PBL-based instructional program and our emphasis on developing 21st Century learning skills. Already MG21 is generating student revenue to the district through enrollment of students contracted by a neighboring district. The space at the Senior Center provides little if any room for growth in MG21. We are not even convinced we could adequately educate our current student population of 25 students in that space; we would have to examine closely our current instructional program, to see if we could maintain our current enrollment, if forced to move into the Senior Center.

 The Community Center is in the heart of Monona, and thus is quite busy, with people using the building seven days a week, from early-morning hours into the evening. We are concerned this could be a counter-productive learning environment for our students. The programs offered at the Monona Community Center are considerably different than the needs of our charter school, and the many and varied uses of the community center do not strike us as compatible with the learning needs of our students.

 We have significant concerns for our computers and work stations, along with classroom and curricular materials, should the city follow through on plans to rent MG21 school space by outside groups during the summer months. Our school program and space is not designed to be used as a rental facility during the summer months.

 We also have concerns about access and egress to the community center is it relates to housing students in a school. As you well know, the school district has taken significant steps to upgrade safety measures at our schools. The Monona Community Center has several access points; issues of security and access to MG21, should it be forced to move to the current Senior Center, would have to be addressed, and could lead to diminished access to the community center.

 The cost to relocate MG21 should also be considered. Because we are a project based learning school, we require extensive computer cabling, and wiring to support this.

 Finally, we would need to work closely with the school board and city officials to address both the short- and long-term occupancy of the Senior Center space if forced to re-locate there. How long could MG21 count on remaining there? Will the terms of MG21’s occupancy of the space be subject to a contract between the city and school district? How would routine, day-to-day maintenance issues at the school be addressed?

Although we recognize the school district is facing budgetary and facility challenges, we have significant concerns about MG21 being used to help alleviate them by moving our program to the Monona Senior Center. We believe that such a move is not in the beneficial to our students, and is not in the best long-term interests of our school or this school district. We look forward to working with you on a solution that will best serve the needs of all interested parties.

Thank you for your time and consideration.

Rebecca Fox-Blair, MG21 Executive Director


William McDonald, MG21 Faculty

[end letter]

Headgear recommended?

So from now on when I post anything related to our local schools, I'm wearing headgear. The problem is - too many choices!

I'm going with aluminium - it's got science behind it.

MG Charter School Meeting this Sunday

Passing along a press release I received:

Monona Grove

Charter Middle School

Update Meeting

Sunday, November 21, 2010

6:30 pm

Monona Public Library

Community Media Room

A group of parents, educators, and professionals has been meeting to discuss the formation of a charter middle school in the Monona Grove School District.

The general public is invited to their next meeting for an update on the progress they’ve made and their plans for the future.

Mayor Kahl Offers MG a Plan

November 17, 2010


Mr. Craig Gerlach

Superintendant

Monona Grove School District

5301 Monona Drive

Monona, WI 53716

Mrs. Susan Fox

President

Monona Grove School Board

5301 Monona Drive

Monona, WI 53716

Dear Craig and Susan,

As the Monona Grove School District is reviewing its facility needs for next year and beyond, I would like to offer a concept I feel could provide a balanced solution that can benefit both the District and the City of Monona.

The City’s current Senior Center is located in the lower level of the Community Center. Due to the annual increases in the number of individuals utilizing this facility, we have a significant need for more space. Frankly, this has been a need brewing for a few years now, and we need to make some decisions. As such, I ask you to consider a joint facilities plan that would involve relocation of the Senior Center into the Maywood School building. Specifically, I propose the following:

NICHOLS:

It is my understanding that the Nichols complex is currently about half-occupied with uses including the District offices and the Monona Grove Liberal Arts Charter School for the 21st Century (MG21). I also understand the District has discussed the long-range possibility of moving one or more of these uses to Maywood. I would propose that the movement of District offices to Maywood take place now. As you know, the City has been approached with multiple potential development concepts for the Nichols site and I am confident that any of these potential uses would garner the district income substantially in excess of the recent appraised value of this property. As you also know, nothing can happen to further discussions of these and other unknown potential development options until the District indicates it is ready to seriously consider the possibility of redevelopment of this property. Vacating Nichols would send such an indication that the District is at least willing to open the doors to a discussion on this facility’s future while not obligating the

District to make any final determinations regarding sale or redevelopment. Additionally, I understand that keeping the offices at Nichols would require the District to make improvements to the facility, involving capital costs. It therefore may make better sense to instead put that money into moving the District offices to Maywood now versus spending some money for remodeling at Nichols when the future use of that facility is in question.

MAYWOOD:

Even with a move of the District offices to Maywood, there would still be more than enough space for the Monona Senior Center to also be located within Maywood. Additionally, I would ask you to consider allowing early childhood and 4K students to continue attending Maywood. I make this latter request because this combination would present unique intergenerational learning opportunities for our seniors and very young students, afford the District a great volunteer base of seniors ready and willing to contribute their talents to meet the needs of our very young students, and leave room at Winnequah to meet the anticipated space needs of the charter middle school. I also understand that retaining 4k and early childhood at Maywood would still achieve staff savings related to IMC, food services and administration that are motivating the District’s contemplated facility changes. In such a scenario, I would propose that the City make a financial contribution toward some of the District’s general capital improvement costs at Maywood (e.g. central air conditioning), as some of these would also be necessary for our Senior Center and yet present the City with a cost savings when compared to the investment a newly constructed Senior Center facility would require. In addition, I presume the costs specifically related to redevelopment of the Senior Center space would be borne by the City and trust that the kitchen and cafeteria/gym space would be available for use by the Senior Center.

COMMUNITY CENTER:

With the Senior Center at Maywood, MG21 could be moved to the lower level of the Community Center which currently houses the Senior Center. This location has multiple spaces including a kitchen, computer lab, offices, restrooms and dividable meeting rooms. It is my understanding that the District would not need these spaces during the summer months when our pool is in operation and we would therefore seek to utilize at least part of that space for pool-related rental parties if determined by the City that such a use would be viable.

WINNEQUAH:

To make room for the new uses at Maywood discussed above, I am assuming that kindergarten, first and second grades would be moved to Winnequah. This K-5 grade configuration would hopefully achieve the staff cost savings you need and also leave room for the charter middle school currently under development to be located in the lower level of Winnequah. The charter middle school is progressing on a track that would have the first group of sixth graders attending in the fall of 2012, and locating that school at Winnequah would utilize the recently remodeled science labs, occupy other remaining available space in that facility and provide access to other natural science learning environments given its proximity to Lake Monona, Winnequah Park and the Aldo Leopold Nature Center.

I want to reiterate that this conceptual partnership is one that is subject to approval by the city council and other city boards, and we therefore have a few steps to take in the coming weeks to effectuate these changes if this is a discussion the District is interested in pursuing. I hope you concur that this plan provides the

Page 2 of 3

benefit of meeting our collective space needs in a cost-effective manner. I trust you will also find that implementation of this plan affords you the opportunity for an open discussion on the future of Nichols School now versus in staggered, drawn-out phases of decision-making that lacks the finality on this topic that residents of Monona and Cottage Grove desire.

Respectfully,

Robb B. Kahl

Mayor

City of Monona

cc: Monona Grove School Board

Monona City Council

Page

Monona Alt School Open House - December 2

The Monona Grove Liberal Arts Charter School for 21st Century Skills or MG 21 for short, the new charter school located in Monona, will host an open house Thursday, December 2 from 6:30-8 p.m. at the Nichols School Building. All are welcome.

[Beware the subliminal messages.]

[Cookies.]
MG 21 -- the Monona Grove Liberal Arts Charter School for 21st Century Skills -- opened this past fall in the former library and related classroom space at Nichols School. The school, chartered by the Monona Grove school district and the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction, provides a project-based learning environment for students in grades 10-12. The school also incorporates skills outlined in the Partnership for 21st Century Skills as critical for student success in the coming years. The school recently received a major state charter school grant to help implement its programs and curriculum.

[Cookies.]

All are welcome to attend; parents and students interested in attending MG21 are especially encouraged to attend. MG21 teaching staff and students will be at the open house, and a brief presentation on the school will included. Cookies and punch will be served.

[Cookies.]
Entrance to MG21 are the doors immediately east of the Nichols School parking lot, and just south of the entrance to the school district offices.

[Cookies.]
Thursday, December 2 from 6:30-8:00pm.

Where: The Nichols School Building 5301 Monona Drive

For interested Community Members, Students, Parents, Staff, Administration and Board Members

Please come for Cookies, Punch, and Information.

We look forward to seeing you!

Tel: 221-7660 ext. 334

e-mail: rebecca.fox-blair@mgschools.net

[Cookies.]

Monona Grove Alt School Receives State Grant

The Monona Grove alternative high school (now rechristened as the Monona Grove Liberal Arts Charter School for the 21st Century) school has been selected to receive a $175,000 grant from the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction, under its charter school grant program. The grant will be used to develop school curriculum, train staff, and purchase new technology. (I am a member of the board of education for this school.)



Details here from DPI:

http://www.dpi.state.wi.us/eis/pdf/dpinr2010_98.pdf

Cottage Grove Road Closed

According to my information, Cottage Grove Road will be closed to all traffic for most of this week at the railroad tracks located immediately west of Stoughton Road. The railroad plans to completely rebuild the crossing, which requires closure of the roadway. This work typically takes at least five days, but my understanding is the railroad plans to try and complete the project by Wednesday (July 14). (Don't know if the project started this morning or not.)

Channel 3000 Launches Monona / Cottage Grove Community Page

Channel 3000 has launched a new community page featuring news and commentary from Monona / Cottage Grove. Channel 3000 is offering 16 such community web pages. Channel 3000 is the web branch of WISC-TV in Madison.

Demonstrating their insight, Channel 3000 invited yours truly, Monona Doug, to participate as community blogger. I will be posting teasers at http://mononagrove.channel3000.com/ which will link to original blog post (assuming that one can tease news about the Monona city council when we aren't talking stop signs, chickens, or sidewalks).

As far my blog content goes, Channel 3000's community page will only be providing a path to my blog. My blog won't change. They did promise to triple my blog income. (What's three times zero?).

That Rumor You Heard? It's Wrong

Here's a good example why you should not beleive everything you hear. The rumor said that the MG Eagles Youth Football program had put money and sweat into developing a field at Ahuska Park - so far the rumor is true, here comes the part that is wrong - and then the rumor wrongly continued the City of Monona decided to yank the turf out from under them and kill the deal. That part is wrong, incorrect and untrue.

I checked with Monona Park & Rec Director Jake Anderson and both Jake and Denny Davidson, director of the youth football program. To quote Denny Davidson: "As a community we are fortunate to be able to combine our resources and work together...The City is not backing out, in fact they are leading the charge!"

Take note that the community that is working together is the Monona Grove community, three words we don't hear used together often enough.

Jake Anderson provided more details:

"We are working on a facility use agreement that will guarantee them Tuesday night game space at Ahuska that would place them above MGHS Soccer, Youth Soccer, and even Parks & Rec events. They would also like Thursday nights as a rain back up which is the sticking point. The High School would like that as an option if their field is not playable, or if they have Freshman/JV football and need a facility for soccer. They also preferred that there be a certain number of uses in the Fall and Spring by Monona Grove Youth Soccer. Doug, we are making sure that Ahuska Park will be available for Youth Football, High School, Youth Soccer, and Monona Recreation."

The rumor is dead.

Monona Grove Energy & Sustainability Fair, May 22 at MGHS

Monona Grove Energy & Sustainability Fair

SATURDAY, MAY 22, 10:00 TO 3:00

MONONA GROVE HIGH SCHOOL -- FREE!

The Monona Grove Energy and Sustainability Fair will heat up the high school with fun exhibits and eye-opening presentations from a mix of students and experts. This free fair is for parents, families, students, and community members of all ages.


Enjoy and learn from students' art and educational posters, booths and demonstrations, poetry, a musical performance, and more. (The Global Impact Class will even put the proper air in your tires while you're at the event!)

SATURDAY, MAY 22, 10:00 TO 3:00

Community nonprofits, energy providers, and sustainability experts of all stripes will provide a wide range of materials, information, and opportunities for you to join your friends, neighbors, and the students of the Monona Grove School District in creating a sustainable future.


Exhibits

Exhibits/exhibitors include: Geothermal at Glacial Drumlin,
Carbon-O-Meter,

Vermiculture,
The Natural Step Monona,
Energy Upgrades in the School District,
Energy savings tips from Alliant Energy & MG&E,
MG&E Solar Trailer and Energy Bike,
Focus on Energy, Climate Change: 101, Reduce/reuse/recycle tips,
Food and Sustainability,
LED Lighting,
The End of Cheap Stuff,
Alternative Energy,
Carbon-o-meter,
Environmental Library Items,
What's green in your kitchen, Solar oven,
EnAct: Steps to greener living,
Community Car, Tire Inflation Booth,
Aldo Leopold Nature Center, and
What's your carbon footprint?


Enjoy environmental art projects, poetry, and at 1:00 a performance by Winnequah third and fourth graders: "Assignment Earth: What Kids Can Do to Save the Planet."



Energy Fair Presentations include:

Extreme Makeover: World Edition - Building a Sustainable Future, with Heather Gates of The Natural Step Monona;

Monona Grove - Energy Performance Contract Overview, with Nathan Nygaard, and James Rognstad of McKinstry Corporation;

How to Build a Better Window, with Ross Depaola;

Who Said That Ant Can't? Looking at Innovative Ways to Produce Biofuels, with Garret Suen PhD & Frank Aylward of the UW-Madison Currie Lab;

Permaculture and Community Resiliency, with Zach Ferdinand;

Eat Fresh, Eat Local, Eat Fast, with Sandye Adams;

The Future of Oil Resources, with Justin Bloesch and Ross DePaola;

Starting a Community Garden - Act Locally to Think Globally, with Aaron Adams; and

Dane County Energy Initiatives, with Robin Schmidt, Dane County Board Supervisor.



Following the Fair


After the fair, local bands Checkerboard Regalia, Space Hardware, and Recluse Under Fire perform from 3 to 6 p.m. (Admission is $3 for this extra program, with proceeds benefiting the Monona Grove Environmental Club.

Please attend the fair and show our younger generations that you care about the steps they are taking to learn about and improve our world, and that you are willing to make the journey to sustainability alongside them!




Organizers of the Energy and Sustainability Fair are the Monona Grove Energy and Sustainability Education Subcommittee, Energy and Sustainability (Core) Committee, High School Global Impact class, and the High School Environmental Club, with assistance from Alliant Energy, MG&E, McKinstry Corporation, and a number of community members.




TNS Monona Blogs the Fair

City of Monona News; MG School District to Hold Energy & Sustainability Fair May 22

Petition for Music Excellence at MG Schools

Passing along a message that floated in on the Ee-lectronical ether mail about retaining music excellence at MG schools.

Hello-


As many of you know, a group of CG and Monona folks have gotten together to express concern about the staffing of our strings program given the potential cuts in several music teachers for next year. In short, if both elementary strings teachers are cut, but the program is retained it may be taught by a teacher who is technically certified, but not experienced or qualified to teach strings.

Andrew Taylor has composed an excellent online petition asking the board to consider qualifications such as experience and ability when staffing our music programs. Please take a peek at the link below, and if you agree, sign and forward on. It would also be very helpful if the Board and Administration (principals) got individual emails and if people came to the 4/28 board meeting.

To be clear, this has nothing to do with not making necessary cuts, or with the closing or non closing of Maywood. We are simply asking that within the context of the retained programs and teachers, that many factors be taking into account.

Read the petition. He says it better. :)

Please give it a reading, sign your name, and forward the following link to all your friends and neighbors!

http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/mgmusic/

Also be sure to contact your school principal today if you can, since they're beginning to hash through the music teacher assignments today.

Monona Chooses

In yet another extraordinarily close election, Monona voters returned incumbent alders Jeff Wiswell, Sr. and Dennis Kugle to office, but chose political newcomer Scott Munson over long-standing alder Kathryn Thomas.

The spread between leading vote-getter Wiswell and fifth-place finisher Matt Aro was just 155 votes.

The tally:

Wiswell 1100
Kugle 1028
Munson 1022
Thomas 986
Aro 945


Long-time political observers were mildly surprised by the city council change. Conventional wisdom had the city council incumbents all winning, but CW figured Aro was more likely to break through than Munson. Observers speculated that Munson's lifelong ties to Monona provided the slight edge he needed to pull off the upset.

According to Monona in the Making, History of the City of Pride, 1938-1975 , Kathy Thomas was first elected to the city council in 1979 and served until she ran for mayor and lost to Tom Metcalfe in 1993. The voters returned her to the council in 1994 and she won reelection seven more times. That streak ended tonight. Kathy has served on the city council for a total of 30 years. Her last city council meeting will be April 19, 2010.

I supported Scott (and Matt), but nonetheless Kathy's defeat leaves me feeling a bit melancholy. Sudden endings and decisive outcomes are inherent in elections. No matter how close the vote tally, if you finish out of the money, you are out of office - and you are 100% out. The message is a bit stark. Everyone is expendable, nothing is guaranteed, and long service does not entitle any one to hold an elected office.  

If you see her around town, tell Kathy Thomas "thanks". She earned it.

***

Don't misunderstand, I'm really excited about working with Scott Munson. He's got the smarts, he's new to the political scene, and he's got a fresh perspective - all things that we really need in our city government. He's got a lot of work to do to get up to speed, but he will do what it takes. 

But tonight, for me anyway, reflection is in order.

......And maybe this is just a sign that I am well on the way to being an official old fart.

***

School Board incumbents Susan Manning and Peter Sobol won reelection as did County Board Supervisor Robin Schmidt.

And Another Monona Blog

Monona Park Director Jake Anderson mentioned yet another Monona-related blog last night - The Monona Rag debuted on March 7, 2010. Interesting reading; so far mostly about schools and Monona city council - and everyone's favorite topic, Winnequah Road.

The blogger's name is Janus Dent Masters, but the "About" page doesn't tell the readers anything about the author. I don't know Janus - in fact, I've never met anyone named Janus, the two-headed Roman god of doors and beginnings, although I did invest some money at Janus Funds and did OK.

Anyway, hoo-rah for Monona, blogging-growth capital of the world.

Monona Community Cable to Sponsor Two Candidate Forums

The forums are TOMORROW, Sunday, March 21. 

From Andrew Hagen, our Cable Guy Extraordnaire, comes the following important news:


Monona School and Community Cable (Channels 98 and 990) will sponsor two Candidate Forums on March 21st before the April 6th Election.


The first forum, for the Monona City Council, will be held from 4:00 to 6:00 on March 21st in the Community Media Room of the Monona Public Library. Questions for the candidates may be written at the forum, or called in during the live broadcast, to (608) 442-6601.


The second forum, for the Monona Grove School Board, will be held from 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm in the Monona Grove High School I.M.C. Questions for the candidates will also be accepted at the forum or by phone. However, questions for the School Board must be phoned in between 12:00 and 3:00 pm on March 21st to (608) 221-7666 extension 3133. Staff will not be able to answer the phone during the taping.


The League of Women Voters will provide an impartial moderator for each event, and both forums will be rebroadcast on Monona Community Cable Channel. Copies will also be available for viewing at the Monona Public Library, and on www.mononatv.com a few days after each taping.

Monona Mayor Kahl's Analysis of the MG School District Budget

Dear Editor:


Residents of the Monona Grove School District are hopefully by now beginning to fully understand the dire financial situation confronting our district. However, I think a quick recap is in order to ensure everyone fully comprehends the extent of the problem.

This is not a $1 million dollar budget hole that can be fixed this year with cuts including closing Maywood School. The district’s problems are much larger than that. Superintendent Gerlach has often referred to this as a $15 million dollar operating budget deficit and I know there are many questions of how he comes to that total. Quite simply, using a five year projection the total amounts to $15 million because the district needs to make $1 million in cuts each year in addition to the money cut in preceding years. The chart below shows how this amount is calculated.


Year 1 2010-2011 Needed Cut of $1 million

Year 2
2010-2011 Needed Cut of $1 million PLUS
2011-2012 Needed Cut of $1 million

Year 3
2010-2011 Needed Cut of $1 million PLUS
2011-2012 Needed Cut of $1 million PLUS
2012-2013 Needed Cut of $1 million

Year 4
2010-2011 Needed Cut of $1 million PLUS
2011-2012 Needed Cut of $1 million PLUS
2012-2013 Needed Cut of $1 million PLUS
2013-2014 Needed Cut of $1 million

Year 5
2010-2011 Needed Cut of $1 million PLUS
2011-2012 Needed Cut of $1 million PLUS
2012-2013 Needed Cut of $1 million PLUS
2013-2014 Needed Cut of $1 million PLUS
2014-2015 Needed Cut of $1 million

Total Deficit if No Cuts Made = $15 million


Frankly the number is higher if you project out longer and it could be alternatively described as $5 million in new cuts that are sustained. However, for discussion purposes we can agree to the district’s description of the situation and look at this over the next five years and agree the problem is $15 million.

The multi-faceted state funding mechanism for public schools is not going to change anytime soon so revenue from that source will flatten off at best and more likely decrease in coming years. That leaves us with the option of either raising property taxes or cutting operational costs. It is apparent to anyone with a calculator that the district will need to go to a referendum to raise more property taxes and do so soon as it is simply unfeasible to make the total amount of needed cuts. The “plan” of the district is prior to going to that referendum to have some “blood in the streets” in their own words by undergoing significant cuts to programming and closing Maywood School. After this blood letting, they will then come to the citizens of the district within the next year or so and ask for permission to exceed the property tax levy limits.

Monona pays 55% of the property taxes that fund our school district, the Village of Cottage Grove 27% and the townships account for the balance of 18%. My question to the school board and administration is why would Monona agree at that time in the near future to step up and cover 55% of that levy increase if you have already imposed immediate reactionary cuts disproportionally impacting Monona without formulating a long-range plan to address this entire $15 million dollar operating budget deficit? That plan could involve cuts, referendum or a combination of both but nonetheless it would be a plan with a timeline and a clear objective of eliminating our entire operating budget deficit. What is before us now is not a plan by any definition of the term and that is why I think so many in this district are struggling to grasp the severity of the situation because the focus has been on these short-term cuts without putting those cuts into proper long-term context.

Let me attempt to provide some context by discussing the $5 million in needed cuts to avoid the $15 million dollar deficit. Using the district’s own math, closing Maywood saves about $259,000 (this is a gross amount as we are not including remodeling costs at Winnequah) which leaves $4,741,000 in other cuts that need to be made. In other words, closing Maywood only addresses about 5% of the district’s operating budget shortfall over the next five years. Where will the rest of the needed 95% in savings come from assuming additional revenues are not achieved? Personnel costs account for about 80% of the district’s budget so it is obvious that this is where the majority of cuts will need to be imposed. As an example, let us assume to address our budgetary deficit we eliminate 25 teacher positions in the district. While this is a large number, that cut is roughly only $1.5 million dollars in salary and benefits and it only addresses 30% of our budget shortfall. I want to make clear that I am certainly not advocating for this cut, but simply pointing out that even draconian cuts to staff, which will in turn correlate to significant negative impacts on programs, still leaves us with a huge budget gap that we will need to close. Specifically, those personnel cuts combined with closing Maywood only gets us to about 35% of needed cuts, leaving approximately 65% or about $3,241,000 more in needed cuts over the next five years to balance the budget. It is evident the district cannot cut its way out of this entire problem.

So if the district can’t cut its way out of this situation and a referendum is a foregone conclusion, why are we not having that candid discussion about our long term plan right now? If the district wants to pass the inevitable forthcoming referendum, I would respectfully suggest the following be done immediately and prior to the implementation of any cuts:

1) The problem has repeatedly been described in terms of five years but the solution in terms of one year. Please present the residents of the district with a five year plan of what cuts will be made without a referendum. A clear picture needs to be provided so the facts can come out versus the misconception of many that the current cuts being proposed are the only cuts needed to solve our budgetary problems. We need to face the real possibility that a referendum does not pass and we need to see what our district looks like under that scenario.

2) Since it is obvious the district will eventually need to go to referendum, please tell us when that is happening and how much you plan on asking for from the taxpayers.

3) Move the administrative offices from Nichols to Maywood and leave early childhood through 1st grade there with Winnequah then housing 2nd through 6th graders. Alternatively, and preferably from a capital cost perspective, move administration to Winnequah and otherwise maintain current grade configurations. Either way, I would expect some of the district administrators and support staff to be able to help with administrative duties at Maywood or Winnequah similar to my expectation in these difficult times that all city staff including management wear multiple hats. I would also hope to see operating savings in closing Nichols similar or higher than that proposed by closing Maywood. Moving forward we then must act thoughtfully and expeditiously to make a final determination about the long term plans for Nichols. If the decision is to never again bus Cottage Grove students into Monona elementary schools then do we need this facility? If it appears that Nichols is not a long-term needed school facility, I would then ask the board to discuss and decide if it should be leased or sold? I understand that the Madison School District has expressed an interest in renting Nichols. I also have at least two developers potentially interested in redeveloping the site right now with different options for the district on how it would partner and benefit from said developments. However, until the district decides whether Nichols is needed as a district facility and understands the realistic value of this site, all these other options are in limbo.

4) Explain to us the space capacity issues in Cottage Grove schools and how the proposed transfer of Monona 6th graders to Glacial Drumlin would impact those issues and, just as importantly, how this move saves the district money over five years.

We find ourselves in a precarious position and many have taken a great deal of time to point fingers at anyone and everyone as if finding someone or some institution to blame will somehow alter the state of our reality. I am not here to point fingers as it is frankly time to move on and fix the problems confronting our district. We must now focus on what comes next and not what went wrong because the former we can do something about and the latter only works to divert our focus at this critical juncture. This is a district-wide problem that will not be solved by eliminating 4th grade strings or closing Maywood School. The situation confronting us is too complicated and important to not have a long-range solution prior to implementing immediate reactionary cuts. Without a plan that is shared now with everyone in the district, I trust the residents of the district are going to be reluctant to once again step up to support an increased property tax levy when asked to do so via a referendum that reality dictates is coming in the very near future.


Sincerely,


Robb Kahl
Mayor
City of Monona