School Information System

RSS

Search Results for: tpi

New Vision for School Board

A Capital Times Editorial: But assuming that Mathiak and Silveira will be joining the board, we think that this marks a major transition point. Mathiak and Silveira are both smart and independent. They got to know each other well during the many forums that were held during the long campaign that preceded Tuesday’s voting. If […]

Election Link Roundup

Susan Troller: New Blood for Schools: Madison voters want tighter fiscal control from their School Board, said one longtime schools observer in the wake of Tuesday night’s vote. Newcomer Lucy Mathiak unseated four-term incumbent Juan Jose Lopez in one race while Arlene Silveira squeaked past Maya Cole by just 86 votes to win the seat […]

School Board Election is Pivotal

Sandy Cullen: Who wins the two seats up for grabs on the Madison School Board could have a major impact on how the seven-member board deals with challenges ranging from budgets to curriculum. The outcome of Tuesday’s pivotal election could shift the board majority from members some perceive as being too accepting of a course […]

“City Schools Could try Pirating Students”

Susan Lampert Smith takes a light hearted look at the effects of the state school aid formula (based on growing or declining enrollments): In this week’s Crawford County Independent, reporter Charley Preusser writes that school districts out there are so desperate for students (and the $5,900 in state aid that comes with them) that they’re […]

Nutrtitional Battle Lines Form at Schools

Brenda Ingersoll: Mindful of the obesity epidemic and nutritional goals, the Madison School District is thinking of banning soda sales in its high schools, and candy in elementary and middle schools. In the DeForest School District, a committee is mulling giving students more whole- wheat bread and switching to lower-fat milk. In Mount Horeb, a […]

Candidates Split on District’s Direction

Susan Troller: It’s an old truism that our strengths are our weaknesses. When a citizen runs for local office, he or she is likely to learn that in the glare and scrutiny of the campaign, the very qualities that make them an appealing candidate may cause some anguish in the tussle and turmoil of the […]

Bigelow: County Democrats Support Silveira

Wayne Bigelow: Dear Editor: On March 8, almost 100 members of the Dane County Democratic Party endorsed Arlene Silveira for Madison School Board. Although it had been more than a decade since the Democratic Party made an endorsement in a School Board race, we felt that Silveira was an extraordinarily well-qualified candidate who will be […]

Madison Schools’ Potential Food Policy Update

Channel3000: A new controversial, food policy proposal in the Madison Metropolitan School District could take food out of children’s mouths and funding for clubs, activities and supplies. The district’s Board of Education will consider district-wide recommendations on food policy within the next few days that might include a ban on candy, soda and snack food […]

More on Allied Drive Redevelopment

Dean Mosiman:Madison Mayor Dave Cieslewicz is offering a vision for troubled Allied Drive as he tries to get support for buying and redeveloping a series of worn buildings in the heart of the neighborhood. The vision includes buying nine apartment buildings on Allied Drive and redeveloping them with condos and perhaps retail space, supporting “good […]

Lopez, Silveira support one-size-fits-none classrooms

From an article in The Capital Times by Susan Troller: Noting that he grew up poor in a segregated school district, Lopez said firmly, “I don’t like segregating kids.” He said that there are real advantages for all students in classes that reflect the real world. He also said that he believes young people benefit […]

Madison School Board candidates differ on classroom mix

From an article by Susan Troller in The Capital Times: Citing the example of her own family, Madison School Board candidate Lucy Mathiak says she does not believe that a one-size-fits-all approach to teaching is a good idea. Mathiak, who is running against incumbent Juan Jose Lopez in the upcoming April 4 spring election, was […]

Konkel on Madison’s Planned Allied Drive Building Purchases

Madison Alder Brenda Konkel: No, I’m not talking about the residents who live there, I’m talking about the City of Madison. So, we’re probably going to bid at the auction for the “Hauk Properties”. (It still needs council approval.) That is likely a very responsible decision given the alternatives. I feel comfortable with that decision. […]

O’Keefe Student Wins Badger Spelling Bee

Barry Adams: When Isabel Jacobson exited last year’s state spelling bee in the fourth round, the tearful O’Keeffe Middle School student predicted she would be back for another shot at the title. Her prophecy was right on – and then some. The three-time Madison All-City Spelling Bee champ outdueled the La Crosse area’s three-time winner, […]

“Mathiak, Cole would bring Fresh Perspective”

Ed Hughes, writing in the Capital Times: The most important qualifications for a School Board member today are a willingness and ability to grapple with the budget challenges our schools confront under the state’s ill-advised school funding laws. School Board members will have to think boldly and creatively about how best to preserve the quality […]

Keep Focus on Math and Science

Wisconsin State Journal Editorial: The United States is falling behind China and India in producing scientists and mathematicians, raising serious questions about America’s economic future. While the national scene is troubling, Wisconsin enjoys some bright spots. State students consistently score above the national average on the ACT college admissions test, especially in math and science. […]

Learning from Leaders

Susan Troller: Female students at East High School learned in one morning how to be happy in love, what their rights and responsibilities are as young voters, and where to find a skilled, independent job that pays $30 to $50 an hour plus benefits. The presentations were part of a new event at East called […]

New Glarus 4th Grader Wins Art Prize

Ellen Williams-Masson: Fourth grader Jonathan Mattmann may live in a hushed world but his artistic interpretation shouts from the page in the drawing that has won him top honors in a statewide art competition for people with disabilities. Jonathan comes from a family in which sign language is a way of life and lip reading […]

Ogden & Nussbaum: Cole is best pick to serve on Madison School Board

Genie Ogden and Mitch Nussbaum: Dear Editor: We feel that Maya Cole would be an excellent addition to the School Board. She is progressive, and we feel she would represent our children’s interests better than anyone else. She was running the “Opt-Out” campaign. This campaign helps parents opt their children out of the requirement from […]

Elementary school students build cardboard cities

Amanda Becker: After months of constructing miniature cardboard buildings and houses, more than 800 students from 10 Dane County elementary schools brought their box cities to Monona Terrace Friday. The young architects and carpenters-in-training also brought their yellow hard hats with them, and spread their cities, like urban picnics, on green tarps representing the land, […]

Madison Seeks Room to Grow

Dean Mosiman: After decades of gobbling land like a ravenous Pac-Man, Madison is facing the reality of running out of real estate. To share the region’s new jobs, housing and businesses, the city must push outward, which brings tension and conflict with neighbors. Now, the city is negotiating with those neighbors on its final borders, […]

Closing the Gap Forum

Samara Kalk Derby: Kambwa, who served as emcee for the Closing the Gap conference, gave the younger students five guidelines for bridging the achievement gap: Ask younger students how they’re doing in school. Recommend a good book to a peer or younger student. Help younger students with their homework. Quiz them on their knowledge of […]

Carol Carstensen on “No New Ideas”

Carol Carstensen: A letter to the editor Dear Editor: As soon as I saw my words quoted in boldface in the Feb. 21 Capital Times article about the school budget, I knew that someone would make the comments in the following day's Sound Off about the need for new School Board members. I think new […]

Safety in Madison High Schools – Memorial

Channel3000: News 3 examined the data from Madison Memorial High School on Wednesday night. The school outpaces the three other city schools combined. So far this year, Memorial has 68 arrests while West High School has 11, East High School has 18, and Robert M. LaFolette has 15. At the current rate, Memorial would end […]

Madison Schools 5 Year Budget Forecast

The Madison School District’s Finance and Operations Committee reviewed a 5 year financial forecast, starting with this year’s $320M+ budget, prepared by the Administration Monday evening. Video and mp3 audio. Local media comments: Susan Troller: Roger Price, business services director for the district, cautioned that projections beyond the next two years are simply a forecast, […]

Editorial on Tuesday’s Primary Election

The Capital Times: Kelly has not made a credible case for his nomination. Both Silveira and Cole have. We’ve been impressed with Cole’s ability to mix her deep and thoughtful analysis of education issues with a sense of humor that has been sorely lacking on the board. While she’s obviously a very smart and very […]

Maya Cole is best for School Board

Jim Zellmer: Dear Editor: The election of Maya Cole to the Madison School Board is the best choice for Madison’s future generations. Our public schools face a number of challenges, including flat or declining enrollment (despite a growing metropolitan area), providing our children with a world-class curriculum and significantly improving taxpayer confidence in the budget […]

Cole has kids’ best interest at heart

Ruth Robarts: Dear Editor: Maya Cole gets my vote in Tuesday’s School Board primary because she believes that we can do better by our children, she’s actively looking for new solutions to old problems, and she’s committed to bringing parents and the community into policy-making. She’s a mom on a mission to reform how the […]

Nick Berigan: Silveira Belongs on School Board

Nick Berigan: Dear Editor: I’m voting for Arlene Silveira for Madison School Board because she has, with words and actions, shown leadership about school resource policy. From the last year’s dialogue I’ve concluded that candidates need to be judged on how they respond to the complex issues. Does he or she problem-solve or position? I […]

Teach Children Dollars & Sense

WiSJ: Wisconsin students should learn to be financially savvy enough not to succumb to two huge national problems – low savings and high debt. The state Department of Public Instruction, with help from educators, lawmakers, money managers and others, introduced voluntary state standards last week. Now it’s up to local school districts to adopt them.

Notes from Monday’s Madison School Board Meeting

Two interesting notes, among many, I’m sure from Monday evening’s Madison School Board meeting: Johnny Winston, Jr. introduced a motion for the Administration to look at acquiring land in Fitchburg for a new school. This motion passed 5-1, with Bill Keys voting no (and Juan Jose Lopez absent). Ruth Robarts advocated curriculum changes as a […]

East High School Show Choir

Sandy Cullen: Antonio Branch may have gotten off on the wrong foot at Madison East High School, but his tune changed once he started singing and dancing with the school’s Show Choir. “I was with a bad crowd,” said Branch, 18, who saw many of his friends from eighth grade drop out of high school. […]

Allied Drive units a step closer to city buyout

Mike Ivey: The largest property owner on Allied Drive has fallen into receivership, further opening the door for the city of Madison to purchase nine buildings in the heart of the low-income neighborhood on the city’s southwest side. Members of the Allied-Dunn’s Marsh Neighborhood Association have generally been supportive of city purchase of the properties, […]

More on the Swan Creek Petition to Leave the Madison School District

Sandy Cullen: The Madison School Board and the Oregon School Board both are scheduled to address the petition at their Feb. 27 meetings. The land on which the subdivision is located was previously part of the Oregon School District. It was transferred effective July 1, 2003, to the Madison district in exchange for commercial property, […]

Here’s How to Meet School Challenges

Arlene Silveira: A Wisconsin State Journal editorial on Jan. 2 correctly described me as an active Parent-Teacher Organization parent and school issues activist. I am proud of that. But just as important is my long experience working at Promega: It has equipped me with the business and scientific acumen necessary for handling budget and policy […]

Monona Grove Board Dresses Up Referendum

Barry Adams: The Monona Grove School Board looked Monday at more than the bottom line when it considered a spring building referendum. Besides keeping the price tag under $30 million, it also made sure it offered something for both Cottage Grove and Monona. Under the plan, Cottage Grove would get a $23.2 million middle school […]

District Officials Expected Residents to Target them for Budget Cuts

Sandy Cullen: Hardest hit was the area of curriculum research and staff development, which was targeted for reduction by 25 groups, followed by the superintendent’s office and business services. Superintendent Art Rainwater said that in the two groups he worked with, “People first, almost without exception, went to any form of administration.” “We will have […]

Sun Prairie Finalizes Three High School Referenda Questions

Gena Kittner: The first question would be if the district should build one high school, which could be expanded, for 1,400 students on the city’s east side, said board President Mary Ellen Havel- Lang. The other two possible questions would be if the district should build a bigger gym than what’s proposed in the new […]

Schools of Hope Needs More Math Tutors

Sandy Cullen: Expanding on its efforts to increase the reading skills of elementary school students, the Schools of Hope project led by the United Way of Dane County also is focusing on helping middle school students develop the math skills needed to be successful in high school, college, employment and daily life. Since the Madison […]

Latin lovers whoop it up at convention

http://www.madison.com/tct/news/index.php?ntid=70625&ntpid=0

30 Years of Clout: MTI’s John Matthews & the ’76 Teacher’s Strike

Susan Troller: The key architect behind that transformation was the tough young executive director of Madison Teachers Inc., John Matthews, who had come to Madison eight years earlier from Montana. Thirty years later, Matthews is still tough and, more than ever, still casts a powerful shadow across the public education landscape of Madison as a […]

Citizens swing ax at school budget

A story by Sandy Cullen in the Wisconsin State Journal reports on two groups that tried the $100 budget exercise: The State Journal asked 10 people to participate in the exercise led by Superintendent Art Rainwater and his assistant superintendent for business services, Roger Price. District administrators will lead additional sessions of the exercise at […]

Madison school puzzle at crossroads

Sandy Cullen writes: For nearly two years, a wide range of school officials and parents have puzzled over what to do about the lopsided enrollment trends. In the next few weeks, the emotionally charged issue will come to a head as two task forces offer their ideas to the Madison School Board. A next step […]

Eat and Help Memorial Language Students Experience China

CHINESE NEW YEAR’S DINNER Sunday, January 22, 5:00 PM, Peking Palace Dinner provided by Peking Palace & other local restaurants – $10 !

2006 Madison School Board Candidates

I’ve updated the elections page with the official candidate information. There will be a February primary for Seat 1. Thanks to Debra Schmidt in the Madison City Clerk’s office for forwarding the information to me via email. Lee Sensenbrenner talked with some of the candidates earlier today.

“School Candidates Face Tough Issues”

WSJ Editorial: Now they need to offer specific ideas for helping the district meet its many difficult challenges, such as: The projected $6 million to $8 million gap in the 2006-2007 budget. How will the candidates keep educa tion levels high and costs low? What will be their priorities? Shifting demographics. Many schools on the […]

“School Contests Promise to Be Hot”

Lee Sensenbrenner: With this spring’s elections to the Madison School Board, the balance of power on the seven-member body hinges on the outcome of what surely will be two hotly competitive races. Much more on the candidates and the election here.

East High Principal Allen Harris Profile

Sandy Cullen: You can tell something’s different at East High School this year without even going inside. Gone is the “smoking wall,” where for generations, students gathered to hang out and smoke cigarettes before and during the school day. “It was intimidating,” said parent Lucy Mathiak, who admits she was uncomfortable walking past the large […]

Math, Science and Rigor

Sandy Cullen: Gov. Jim Doyle supports the push to increase the math and science proficiency of high school students, which is primarily coming from business leaders. They say a lack of these skills among those entering the labor pool is putting Wisconsin at risk of losing jobs because there won’t be enough qualified workers to […]

“Schools of Hope” is 10 Years Old: 3rd Grade Reading Scores

Channel3000: During its 10 years, the project has been making a difference to local children, WISC-TV reported. Since then, the achievement gap has narrowed between students of color and white students who complete algebra by the 10th grade. At Friday’s Schools of Hope Annual Meeting, the group declared their first goal of closing the gap […]

Tuesday Links

Seat 1 Madison Board of Education Candidates: Maya Cole penned an Op-Ed piece: Put Public Back in Public Hearings, via WisOpinion. More on Maya Arlene Silveira announced her candidacy at Monday’s Madison Board of Education Meeting Video. More on Arlene I am an Asian Parent – Jay Matthews Increasing Criminialization of Children: How did we […]

Monday Morning Links

Madison School District: Anticipate More Busing – Kurt Gutknecht (Fitchburg Star). One of the more detailed articles I’ve seen on the East / West Task Forces. Middleton Teacher Slowdown – Gena Kittner Madison Schools Cut Break – Anita Clark Wisconsin Virtual School Finances and Collective Bargaining Update – Amy Hetzner Public Apathy Leads to Abridgement […]

Wisconsin Charter School News (11/26/2005)

New charter school in Kiel Proposed charter school in Monroe Health professions charter school Call for Conference Proposals (Wednesday Deadline) — This is a final reminder to submit your presentation proposal by Wednesday for the 2006 Wisconsin Charter Schools Conference (scroll down beyond criteria for online submittal form). UW System as charter school authorizer? Proposed […]

Cullen: East / West Taskforce Summary

Sandy Cullen: task force representing schools on Madison’s East Side has voted not to recommend closing any schools as a means of addressing declining enrollments in some elementary schools. Instead, task force members are considering several possible recommendations for using available space in underenrolled schools, including moving Madison School & Community Recreation offices and programs […]

Link Roundup

Tasers, police and school policies, Matt Pommer School taxes up and down across the state Websudoku Happy Thanksgiving!

Local Gang Prevention Task Force

Bill Novak: “Larger numbers of young people are joining gangs, including more girls,” Falk said, highlighting information in a new report by the Dane County Youth Prevention Task Force. “We are renewing our efforts to help keep young people from joining gangs.” Stephen Blue, delinquency services manager and co-chair of the task force, said about […]

Boosters & The Madison School District Budget

Sandy Cullen: In the last five years, the La Follette High School Booster Club has paid for everything from bats to books. They’ve raised more than $260,000 to pick up the tab for balls and jerseys, renovations of weight rooms and training rooms and even taxi fare for students who needed transportation to get eyeglasses, […]

Grant to Increase AP Classes

Matt Pommer: Madison will build on Project Excel, a program started last year to identify promising eighth-graders and provide assistance as they begin their high school years. Assistant Superintendent Pam Nash said the grant focuses on helping those students in the ninth grade. Memorial High School now has a large number of advanced placement courses, […]

Middleton Schools Seek Answers to Failed Referenda

Ann Marie Ames: The School Board wants to know why three of four referendum questions failed last month. Board members on Monday night reviewed draft copies of a survey they intend to send to 400 residents in the Middleton-Cross Plains district. The survey is one way the board hopes to improve communication between the school […]

2M Student System Approved

Matt Pommer: The $2 million for the student information system will be spread out over six budget years. Assistant Superintendent for Business Roger Price and planning and research director Kurt Kiefer said the system will pay for itself through efficiency and reduced staffing needs. Parents would begin to see the impact of the new online […]

9th Grade Madison School District Algebra Data

Matt Pommer: African-American rates increased from 27.5 percent to 49.7 percent in the four years and from 29.8 percent to 50 percent for Hispanic students. Among white students algebra completion rates had improved from 68.9 percent to 82.6 percent, the report said. Related: this week’s Isthmus article on Middle School Curriculum. These report items were […]

Minority Hiring Not as Good as MMSD Touts

A story in today’s Wisconsin State Journal reports carries a headline saying “Schools show big boost in minority staff.” It’s just not so. The MMSD chose to give the paper the number of minority employees in various job categories in 1987 and 2005 — ignoring an MMSD press release issued October 9, 1995, comparing 1987 […]

4 arrested after brawl at Memorial

A story by Steven Elbow from the Capital Times, November 10: A brawl that police say was gang-related led to the arrest of four teenage boys Wednesday at Memorial High School.

Local School News Roundup

Local media posted a number of K-12 articles this morning: WisPolitics: Governor Doyle announced his Milwaukee education package. Responses: Alliances for Choices in Education Response MCBAEO releaseOlsen ResponseDarling ResponseGard ResponseHuebsch ResponseJamaal Abdul-AlimJournal Sentinel Editorial Florence School District plans a spending referendum for Tuesday (Doug Erickson). Steve Loehrke (President of the Weyauwega Fremont School District) addressed […]

One English Program for West’s Sophomores

Matt Pommer: Under the new program targeted for fall 2006, all sophomores will take the same English program in the first semester focusing on the American Dream. In the second semester, students will be able to select from the themes of justice or identity, according to Keesia Hyzer, chair of the school’s English department. In […]

Organized Athletics Taking Away from Kids Childhood?

Rob Zaleski: A group of kids in the 8- to 10-year-old range would gather in a small park just across the street and engage in pickup baseball games, much like Richter, the recently retired University of Wisconsin athletic director, did while growing up on Madison’s east side a half-century ago. “They actually took a hammer […]

Arts & Technology Charter School

The Capital Times: The initial steps toward creation of an arts and technology charter public school in Madison will be held Thursday at 6 p.m. at the Madison Gas and Electric Co. Innovation Center in Research Park. The target date to begin such a program is the fall of 2007, according to Nancy Donahue, a […]

Madison Country Day School Budget Challenges

Doug Erickson: Part of the operating budget for the private school was covered each year by John Frautschi of Maple Bluff, father of school founder Christopher Frautschi, according to Dan Stewart, newly elected chairman of the school’s board of trustees. The elder Frautschi will no longer fill that role, Stewart said. Stewart would not reveal […]

Parents question school safety at Memorial

The Wisconsin State Journal (October 26) carries a story on violence at Madison’s Memorial High School: After a tumultuous two weeks at Madison Memorial High School marked by four weapons incidents, a student hit by a car and a gang fight, about 250 parents gathered to question Principal Bruce Dahmen about school security Tuesday night.

Fights break out, staffer hit in face at Memorial

The Capital Times reports in a story by Lee Sensenbrenner: A staff member at Memorial High School was struck in the face and a fire alarm went off after several fights broke out at once in a crowded hallway of Madison’s largest high school. According to a report by Madison Police Lt. Pat Malloy, eight […]

Mr. Mom’s Transport Service Press Conference

Mr. Mom’s Transport held a news conference Friday. Pat Schneider was there: Peter Munoz, executive director of Centro Hispano, fought back tears as he recounted the company’s generous support of his nonprofit agency. The Smiths’ predicament, he said, “embodies some of the most intransigent problems we face in economic disparity and injustice. “This business cannot […]

Non-Traditional School Finance Discussion

Props to Johnny Winston, Jr. for organizing today’s Madison Board of Education Finance & Operations Subcommittee on Advertising meeting. I think a discussion of alternative funding sources is vital in light of Madison’s generally high property taxes, sluggish economic growth and the biennial state funding battles. A number of possibilities were discussed including: The District […]

A Few Notes on the Superintendent’s Evaluation & Curriculum

Several writers have mentioned the positive news that the Madison Board of Education has reviewed Superintendent Art Rainwater for the first time since 2002. I agree that it is a step in the right direction. In my view, the first responsibility of the Board and Administration, including the Superintendent is curriculum: Is the Madison School […]

Madison Schools Transport Update: Cullen and Pommer on Mr. Mom’s

Sandy Cullen: The district is investigating how long the company was without insurance and also is looking into reports that some bus drivers did not have valid driver’s licenses, Rainwater said. Also last month, the brakes failed on a bus returning students to Spring Harbor Middle School after a field trip, Rainwater said. No students […]

3 of 4 Middleton-Cross Plains Referenda Fail

Barry Adams: Voters in the Middleton-Cross Plains School District narrowly approved Tuesday more elementary space and upgrades to heating and air conditioning at two schools but overwhelmingly rejected three other questions in a $53 million referendum package. Voters said no to a $36 million combined elementary and middle school, a $5.8 million transportation garage and […]

More on East / West Task Forces

Sandy Cullen: Elementary schools considered most at risk are Emerson, Lapham and Lowell – which are at or below 67 percent of their capacity for students – as well as Lindbergh, Cohen said. “We’re rallying around Lindbergh,” he said, adding that the school serves “probably the most fragile” population of low-income and minority families, including […]

Town of Burke Aligns with DeForest

Bill Novak: Madison’s Smart Growth (land use) plan was rolled out this summer, and it put a shiver into Burke residents. “It showed Madison stretching north to Wisconsin 19, which is the southern border of DeForest,” Miller said. “When Burke officials came to us they said the residents of the town go to the DeForest […]

Nichols on Departing Madison School Board Member Bill Keys

John Nichols: No member of the current Madison School Board has been more willing to throw himself into the thick of a debate – even if that meant going it alone on principle – than Bill Keys.

Suburban Dane County School District Growth

Gena Kittner posted a useful article on the growth, both in student population and facilities of suburban Dane County School Districts. Eleven of 16 school districts in the county have shown increased enrollment between 2001 and 2004, according to the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction.Madison is grappling with growth in more than half of its […]

Illinois Teacher Calls Art Rainwater’s Recent Message “Misquided”

Bruce Allardice, a public school teacher in Des Plains, ILL wrote a letter to the Capital Times in response to Madison Schools Superintendent Art Rainwater’s recent article on the need for public education: Dear Editor: If I was grading the Tuesday guest column of Madison School District Superintendent Art Rainwater titled “Free public education is […]

Gangs and School Violence Forum Notes

This evening’s Gangs and School Violence Forum was quite interesting. Rafael organized an excellent panel. We’ll post a link to video and audio files when they are complete. Following are links to local articles and commentary on this event: Cristina Daglas: Yudice said there has been a “huge development in the area of Latino gangs” […]

Some Madison School District Buses Operated Without Insurance

Steven Elbow: A bus service that contracts with the Madison Metropolitan School District is back in business after transporting students without having insurance. One former employee said Mr. Mom’s Transport was operating without insurance for a month and a half. “I think things are back to normal,” said school district spokesman Ken Syke.

RACIAL DIVIDE IN HIGH SCHOOLS MUST BE BRIDGED BY GROUP EFFORT

This is an open letter from Darlinne Kambwa, a high school student at LaFollette. It was published in the Cap Times on September 14, 2005 http://www.madison.com/tct/opinion//index.php?ntid=54049&ntpid=11

The Gang Scene in Madison

Doug Erickson takes a useful look around Madison’s gang scene, including the recent events in Oregon. Erickson also mentions this Wednesday’s SIS supported event, lead by Rafael Gomez on Gangs and School Violence (9.21 @ 7:00p.m.): “It sets a watershed mark for the number of individuals involved in one event,” said Stephen Blue, who has […]

More on Suspended Sennett Middle School Teacher

Sandy Cullen: Police spokesman Mike Hanson said the report of an incident April 1, 2004, at Sennett Middle School “slipped through the cracks,” and was not reviewed by a detective or a representative of the Dane County district attorney’s office to determine if charges should be filed. “It’s an unfortunate event,” Hanson said. “We need […]

Middleton Schools Referenda & New Website

The Middleton-Cross Plains School District has posted information on their upcoming vote on borrowing $53 Million to finance the construction and operation of a K-8 school, a new transportation center, and improvements to several elementary schools. Ann Marie Ames has more. The District also has a new website with the latest news posted on their […]

Jefferson Middle School Spanish Teacher Suspended

Sandy Cullen:A Madison middle school teacher has been suspended with pay pending the outcome of an independent investigation of a sexual harassment complaint filed by 28 parents, district officials said Tuesday. Jefferson Middle School Principal John Burmaster said that when school resumes Thursday there will be a new Spanish language teacher in place of Hector […]

More on the Elimination of No-Cut Freshman Sports

Susan Lampert-Smith: At Memorial, Athletic Director Tim Ritchie said he hopes kids who get cut will find a team in an expanded intramural basketball league through Madison School Community Recreation. “You hope that you have a good intramural program that keeps kids working towards making the team next year,” he said. I worry about the […]

Jefferson Middle School Teacher Accused of Sexual Harassment

Sandy Cullen: Twenty-eight parents have filed a sexual harassment complaint with the Madison School District against a Jefferson Middle School teacher they claim created a hostile learning environment for their children last year. Roger Greenwald, a member of the Committee of Concerned Parents of Jefferson Middle School, said the Title IX complaint was filed Friday […]

Wade Questions Constitutionality of Doyle Budget Vetoes

Fred Wade questions Governor Doyle’s vetoes that recently provided more funds for Wisconsin Schools by moving funds and increasing state debt: There are at least six reasons why the most important vetoes that Gov. Jim Doyle made in the 2005-07 state budget are unconstitutional. The text, history, design and structure of the Wisconsin Constitution all […]

Monday Madison School Board Meeting Summary

Cristina Daglas: The debate about advertising in Madison schools continued Monday night as School Board members came a step closer to forming a subcommittee to examine the issue. After years of stiff opposition to similar proposals, board members are being cautious. In a meeting of the Finance and Operations Committee, board member Johnny Winston Jr. […]

Joe Gotjard, Toki’s New Middle School Principle

Cristina Daglas: He was known as “Big Joe” when he transitioned from student to staff member in the Madison school district more than 10 years ago. But times have changed and titles altered, and “Big Joe” is now Principal Gothard. For the first time in 13 years, Joe Gothard will not be coaching football this […]

School districts adopt boundary changes

Boundary changes were approved by both Madison and Verona school boards last night.

Private funds ok’d for soccer

Private funds for 2 West High Soccer teams were approved by the School Board on Monday, July 11th. The approval is for one year.

Blame State Leaders if Schools Close: WI State Journal Editorial

The Wisconsin State Journal’s July 11th editorial says Blame State Leaders if Schools Close “…state leaders are just as much if not more to blame if the Florence School District shuts down. And don’t be surprised if more school districts, particularly in rural areas, are soon forced to consider such a drastic option.” When will […]

More on the Florence School District

Phil Brinkman takes a look at the Florence School District, which may disband: “I want them to teach our children within their means,” said Tibbs, probably the chief antagonist in what has become a battle between cash-strapped residents and an equally cash- strapped school district over the future of education here. Members of the Florence […]

Are Students More Equal than Others?

Susan Lampert Smith: “West High kids may have more opportunities because their parents are able to pay so they can play”. Evidently, the issue is $6,000 in the Madison School District’s $320M+ budget. Meanwhile, Sandy Cullen discusses an attempt to move extramural sports to MSCR (part of Fund 80) as a response to the elimination […]

Keep School Spending in Check

A reader forwarded this Wisconsin State Journal Editorial: You have to wonder if the members of the Madison School Board couldn’t benefit from a remedial math course. Last week, with the School District facing the prospect of having to cut $3.1 million from its budget, the School Board voted to add $651,400 in spending. No […]

Sherman’s Curriculum Riles Parents

Sandy Cullen’s article in the June 28, 2005 WI State Journal Sherman’s curriculum riles parents notes: On Friday, the state Department of Public Instruction ruled that under Wisconsin law, instrumental music instruction must be available to all students in grades seven through 12 during the regular school day. “It is unusual to pull students from […]

Leopold Referendum Not in Near Term

Cristina Daglas: The Madison School Board flirted Monday night with the idea of holding another referendum to seek funding for a second school on the Leopold Elementary grounds, but then backed away from it for now. The board’s Long Range Planning Committee met with parents from Leopold at the school and heard their pleas for […]

Cap Times Editorial Supports Kobza on Use of $240K

The Capital Times: Newly elected Madison School Board member Lawrie Kobza was wise to move to use $240,000 in money made available by insurance savings to revive Lincoln Elementary School’s Open Classroom Program and to restore “specials” – music, art and gym classes at the elementary schools – to their regular sizes. And the board […]