The WIAA is proposing a realignment of state football play, eliminating conferences and grouping schools by size in 7 divisions of 64. Each division would have 8 districts of 8 teams. The proposal would place MG in Division 2, District D with Baraboo (1,018); DeForest (1,043); Monona Grove (934); Oregon (1,231); Reedsburg (889); Sauk Prairie (879); Stoughton (1,091); Waunakee (1,121). Only current Badger South conference opponents Oregon and Stoughton would be in the new district.
If approved the new system would take effect in the fall of 2010.
Wednesday, July 29, 2009
Monday, July 20, 2009
Hello again- just back from a week's vacation camping in the Adirondacks. We had a lovely time, thank you.
One of the first things to great me was the WSJ headline in the stack of newspapers and mail:
"Wide Racial Gap In State Schools\ Disparity In Students' Reading, Math Scores Exceeds National Average Gap"
Results from the 2007 NAEP (National Assessment of Educational Progress) show that Wisconsin has the largest gap in performance between minority and white students. Wisconsin's large achievement gap isn't news, we have been aware of this issue for some time. But the NAEP results frame this result in national terms and will hopefully spur some statewide discussion and action. While other states have been making significant progress on this issue, Wisconsin seems to be falling behind.
The decision to eliminate the board committees has generated some discussion here, on Doug Wood's Blog and in the Herald-Independent. It's been repeated that committees contribute to "factionalism" but my experience on this board has been that the board does its best work on committees - issues are more thoroughly examined and have wider support when they have been through the committee process and don't come directly to the board.
BTW, the H-I's website has been significantly updated. Adam and the staff are doing a good job making it a much more current and interactive resource for the community. Check it out!
One of the first things to great me was the WSJ headline in the stack of newspapers and mail:
"Wide Racial Gap In State Schools\ Disparity In Students' Reading, Math Scores Exceeds National Average Gap"
Results from the 2007 NAEP (National Assessment of Educational Progress) show that Wisconsin has the largest gap in performance between minority and white students. Wisconsin's large achievement gap isn't news, we have been aware of this issue for some time. But the NAEP results frame this result in national terms and will hopefully spur some statewide discussion and action. While other states have been making significant progress on this issue, Wisconsin seems to be falling behind.
The decision to eliminate the board committees has generated some discussion here, on Doug Wood's Blog and in the Herald-Independent. It's been repeated that committees contribute to "factionalism" but my experience on this board has been that the board does its best work on committees - issues are more thoroughly examined and have wider support when they have been through the committee process and don't come directly to the board.
BTW, the H-I's website has been significantly updated. Adam and the staff are doing a good job making it a much more current and interactive resource for the community. Check it out!
Thursday, July 9, 2009
Thanks but no thanks...
Sorry about the light posting lately, I've been busy, but also not much has been going on at the board or committee level.
The July board meeting (which took place tonight) is usually when the board appoints citizen members to the standing committees. This year 14 people applied for the various openings- (My thanks and appreciation to those of you that applied for your willingness to help out the board and the district.) But after some discussion the board voted to abolish the standing committees (Curriculum, Policy and Business Services) and instead move to two meetings of the entire board each month. Concerns were mostly expressed about the inefficient use of staff time under the current system.
My feeling is that we risk distancing ourselves from the community and will have diminished working relationships with the administrators. My observation has been that the board's best work gets done at the committee level as items well vetted in committee tend to be broadly supported by the board. I am worried about the efficiency of trying to work out the details on issues with the larger group, this issue already came up tonight when it was suggested we would need a special policy committee to work through several pending policy issues.
On other matters we did make progress on the Kids Safari busing issue, by adding a "2nd Run" bus route we can provide service for these kids to after school daycare for about $8000 - the board consensus is that a reasonable approach would be to offer to provide this service at cost.
The board also approved a request from the Superintendent for a 1/2 time HR director for the district. Adding a position at this time may seem counter to the budget tightening times we live in, but this has been an identified need for several years. Craig believes that the position can be filled with little increase in overall costs to the district thanks to changes in the office staff and potential savings in legal fees if some of the contract negotiation duties are shifted to the HR director from legal counsel.
The July board meeting (which took place tonight) is usually when the board appoints citizen members to the standing committees. This year 14 people applied for the various openings- (My thanks and appreciation to those of you that applied for your willingness to help out the board and the district.) But after some discussion the board voted to abolish the standing committees (Curriculum, Policy and Business Services) and instead move to two meetings of the entire board each month. Concerns were mostly expressed about the inefficient use of staff time under the current system.
My feeling is that we risk distancing ourselves from the community and will have diminished working relationships with the administrators. My observation has been that the board's best work gets done at the committee level as items well vetted in committee tend to be broadly supported by the board. I am worried about the efficiency of trying to work out the details on issues with the larger group, this issue already came up tonight when it was suggested we would need a special policy committee to work through several pending policy issues.
On other matters we did make progress on the Kids Safari busing issue, by adding a "2nd Run" bus route we can provide service for these kids to after school daycare for about $8000 - the board consensus is that a reasonable approach would be to offer to provide this service at cost.
The board also approved a request from the Superintendent for a 1/2 time HR director for the district. Adding a position at this time may seem counter to the budget tightening times we live in, but this has been an identified need for several years. Craig believes that the position can be filled with little increase in overall costs to the district thanks to changes in the office staff and potential savings in legal fees if some of the contract negotiation duties are shifted to the HR director from legal counsel.
Thursday, July 2, 2009
Pie Party III
You may have been totally square and missed last year's Monona Pie Party, but by now you've heard what a great time it was and you won't make the same mistake again. So mark your calendars and pull out your best recipes because this year's date is Saturday October 3rd- from 1-5 pm in the Monona Community Center.
This time the party will be a fundraiser to provide Early Childhood Literacy Materials for the Monona Public Library Children's Department. Stay tuned for more info-
This time the party will be a fundraiser to provide Early Childhood Literacy Materials for the Monona Public Library Children's Department. Stay tuned for more info-
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