Tuesday, January 22, 2008

Conflict of Interest here in Eau Claire

Folks,

Here is an editorial by Tom Giffey about the recent news that WEAU and Sacred Heart Hospital were collaborating about "exclusive" coverage of healthcare issues. This stuff is NOT HEALTHY for our community and we have our own version of it on the ECASD BOE. As the second to the last paragraph indicates, this was furthered by the fact that the WEAU general manager is married to the director of communications at Sacred Heart.

Maria


Business deals shouldn't shape news coverage
The issue: WEAU-TV's news director Glen Mabie resigns over a station plan to give special consideration to Sacred Heart Hospital in its news coverage.

Our view: Mabie did the right thing. Interference by commercial interests in news decisions compromises journalists' integrity.

Like the United States itself, the American media have long recognized the separation of church and state.

In the media's case the phrase is figurative: The "church" is the newsroom, with its mission of objectively reporting the truth free from outside interference; the "state" is the business side of the media, selling ads to bring in the money that keeps the outlet operating.

Traditionally, putting a wall of separation between news and advertising has served the media well. The "church" doesn't tell the "state" who to sell ads to, and the "state" doesn't tell the "church" which stories to cover. Newsrooms maintain their objectivity - and their credibility with the public - by avoiding the appearance they are beholden to advertisers. In turn, media outlets benefit financially because advertising representatives can offer space in reputable publications or broadcasts.

In the political arena, some view church-state separation as misguided, pointing out the phrase doesn't appear in the U.S. Constitution. Likewise, business interests sometimes try to break down the newsroom wall for financial gain. Those who own and manage media outlets may seek the favor - and advertising dollars - of businesses by giving them fawning, unbalanced news coverage. When disclosed, such ethical breaches receive the well-deserved condemnation of journalists.

Sadly, it appears just such a breach was contemplated - if not perpetrated - in Eau Claire. Executives at WEAU-TV (Channel 13) apparently negotiated a deal with Sacred Heart Hospital in which the station "would run medical stories featuring personnel from that hospital and its affiliates but not employees of other Chippewa Valley hospitals or clinics," reporter Julian Emerson wrote in Tuesday's Leader-Telegram.

Such an arrangement would knock a sizable hole in the "church-state" wall and taint the newsroom's objectivity. The situation troubled news director Glen Mabie so much that he quit his job at the NBC affiliate.

"My problem with this is it was going to dictate newsroom content," Mabie said. "I told myself that I could not with a clear conscience go into that newsroom and tell the staff that this was a good thing."

David Gordon, a professor emeritus of journalism at UW-Eau Claire, said he hadn't previously heard of such blatant commercial interference in TV news.

The appearance of undue influence on news judgment "just destroys the credibility of the newsroom," Gordon said in an interview.

"It's a question of who calls the shots, and if you have an agreement that you can't report on other hospitals in the area ... (then health coverage is) not news; that's advertising being passed off as news," he said.

Terry McHugh, the station's vice president and general manager, wouldn't comment on the proposed agreement, while a Sacred Heart Hospital representative said she knew nothing of a deal with WEAU. Their silence leaves many questions unanswered: Would the station be compensated for its exclusive coverage of the hospital? Did the fact that McHugh's wife, Jennifer Block, is Sacred Heart Hospital's communications manager have any bearing on the proposed quid pro quo?

Unless station or hospital officials reveal information that vindicates them, it appears they've been plotting to compromise WEAU's journalistic integrity in a deal that ultimately would have tainted both institutions' public images. Mabie did the honorable thing in resigning to protest this commercial interference. We hope his sacrifice - and the publicity surrounding it - will encourage WEAU and other media outlets locally and nationwide to maintain respect for the wall between the newsroom and the business office.

- Tom Giffey, editorial page editor

Everybody is hurt by Conflict Of Interest

Here is an excellent analysis of the outrageous news that WEAU and Sacred Heart Hospital were "in cahoots" for a collaboration in news reporting which is a scary local example of Conflict of Interest and the harm it can cause. Apparently the general manager of WEAU is married to the Director of Communications for Sacred Heart Hospital. This is not only bad for the station's credibility, it damages the integrity of Sacred Heart Hospital and the confidence in our community that news will be unbiased. Here in the ECASD many of us have been equally concerned about the same issues and the potential conflict of interest for elected officials who also have monetary interests via spouses and employers.

Maria

Updated: 1/18/2008 5:22:02 PM
Deal bad for station's credibility

By John Ganahl
As the former station manager of WQOW-TV and recently former director of communications and public outreach for Sacred Heart Hospital, I was uniquely curious about the departure of WEAU-TV News Director Glen Mabie over that station's alleged partnership with Sacred Heart Hospital.

I can't shed any light on the specifics of the alleged relationship. Prior to leaving Sacred Heart Nov. 24, I was not included in nor aware of any such discussions. That said, I offer these perspectives and questions based solely on the information supplied in Tuesday's Leader-Telegram.

First. I applaud Mabie's ethical fortitude. I spent 35 years in the broadcast television industry. The one tenet observed above all others was the wall between journalistic content and influences from other sources in the building. Most specifically, sales. To me, this proposed "partnership" with Sacred Heart is troublesome.

But why should anyone care? Let me pose this cascading scenario: Imagine a controversy arises from practices (medical or administrative) at Sacred Heart.

1. How does WEAU cover this?

2. Given the exclusive relationship with this news entity, how do other media in the area treat the story if they are allowed to cover it at all in a timely manner?

3. What kind of response or cooperation does Sacred Heart provide to other media in a timely and open manner?

4. As a patient at Sacred Heart, what critical information am I potentially not getting because one news organization has a relationship with the hospital and others are locked out?

Now, imagine a similar scenario: A controversy arises from practices (medical or administrative) at Luther Midelfort.

1. How does WEAU cover this?

2. Given the exclusive relationship with Sacred Heart, how cooperative with WEAU is Luther Midelfort likely to be?

Do you see how a news organization crossing the journalistic line creates a ripple of potential problems that not only challenges their objectivity, but also chills the willingness of those being covered to cooperate? On the other hand, the potential to "hide" controversial information as a result of such a partnership can potentially hurt patient care and most certainly damage public trust.

One last observation from my television experience. If I enter into an exclusive relationship with one business, how willing is its competitor to do business with me? In other words, does a decision like this say to Luther Midelfort, "We're not as interested in your business?" Maybe not. But if I'm Luther Midelfort, I've got to ask the question.

I have an enormous amount of respect for WEAU General Manager Terry McHugh. He's an excellent businessman and - from my personal experience - a man with high ethics. So my suspicion is there is more to this story than alluded to in the article. The broadcast industry has changed since my day, but this change is not one I could endorse. It has the potential to benefit Sacred Heart but damage WEAU's credibility.

Ganahl lives in Eau Claire.

It's Officially the end for Little Red....

Updated: 1/21/2008 11:22:01 PM

The final bell?
One step remains before Little Red School would be closed
By Christena T. O'Brien
Leader-Telegram staff O'Brien can be reached at 830-5838, 800-236-7077 or christena.obrien@ecpc.com.
Little Red School is expected to stand empty when students return for the 2008-09 school year.

The Eau Claire school board voted 6-1 Monday to accept recommendations - which included closing the town of Brunswick elementary school - from a committee appointed last year to study how to best use the school.

In addition to closing Little Red, the recommendations accepted by the board call for preserving the building and surrounding land for future district use; appointing a standing committee to provide annual recommendations to the board regarding boundary issues, capacity updates, demographic trends and other relevant data; and directing administrators to develop a plan to move the Montessori Charter School from its present site at the former Lincoln School, a three-section building by May 2008.

Before those actions become final, the board must act on the recommendations one more time at its next regular session, scheduled for Feb. 4.

If Little Red were closed, its 122 students would be moved to Putnam Heights School, a move district officials will begin addressing before the end of the current school year, said Gregg Butler, interim deputy superintendent.

Before the board took action Monday, several people, including former school board member Robert G. Janke, asked the board to leave the rural elementary school open.

"We put a lot of money into it, and I think it's worth saving," said Janke, one of four candidates seeking a seat on the board in the April 1 election.

Over the past seven years, the district has invested about $1.5 million in the one-section school - a school with one section per grade. (In its proposal, the committee recommended that all single-section schools be held to the same standards for fiscal accountability as multiple-section schools.)

Less than a year ago, the school board voted to close Little Red as a cost-saving measure because of a budget shortfall. The board reversed its decision and appointed the committee to determine whether the school should remain open past the 2007-08 school year.

"Fiscal issues have to be considered," said Mike O'Brien, board president and one of three members to serve on the study committee. He added that he hoped the building will be used again in the future.

Before making a decision on closing a school and moving the Montessori program, board member Trish Cummins, who voted against accepting the committee's recommendations, said those decisions need to be part of something bigger. Her comments drew applause from the audience that packed the board room.

Closing Little Red is estimated to save about $500,000 a year, according to district officials who are projecting a $2.8 million budget deficit for 2008-09.

Janke encouraged the board to explore options to save on health insurance premiums and to be transparent in their efforts.

Tanya Miller, a Little Red parent, had hoped to raise $500,000 to keep the school open for another year. To date, she has raised only $219, she told the board Monday, but she hopes to raise more funds before Feb. 4.

"Little Red is an exemplary school," she said. "If it is closed for a year, (my fear is) it will not reopen."

In its recommendation to close Little Red, the committee did not suggest closing the school permanently, said board member Carol Craig, who also served on the committee.

"I'm hedging my bet on the fact that (the district) will need a two- or three-section school down where Little Red is located" at some point, as the south and west segments of the district continue to grow, she said.

In addition, she said she believes the committee's findings and the board's decision to close the school "will be the catalyst to push us into ... long-range planning."

Another One Bites the Dust.....

The Jan. 21st BOE meeting began with a few announcements about Butler, Faanes and Craig representing the ECASD at the Chamber of Commerce sponsored "State of the County": event last week. Also, WASB convention later in the week in Milwaukee. School Board elections are in April and all of the contenders were present in the audience. Open Enrollment period is Feb. 4th until Feb. 22nd. Public Comments were made as follows:

Bob Janke spoke long and eloquently but ineffectively about all the rural schools that have been closed and also was critical that the district is not using GIS to predict enrollment. He criticized considering spending upwards of $20,000 on the community survey and volunteered that if they gave him a few bucks for beer he would head out to a couple of taverns and give them more information than they will get from a survey. Interesting plan.

Then Tanya Miller, a LR parent spoke about the sadness of losing a school and more about integrity and honesty , etc.. her son raised $200 to help. Bill Garton the custodian at LR spoke as well.

And, of course, yours truly requested that none of the Board members express their dislike of closing a school because the translation of that is that they just dislike planning. When they closed Park School 10 years ago, then Cleghorn, then Lincoln, now Little Red and recommend that Montessori move it just means that there is NO PLANNING at all going on. Blah, blah, blah....

There was some snarl with approving the Consent Agenda as Comm. Cummins had a question about the Closed Session Minutes, but that will be handled in Closed Session. Then during the approval of the payment of bills and payroll I noted that Pres. O'Brien and Comm. Faanes abstained (due to spousal employment) but Comm. Kneer (an ECASD employee herself) approved. But I also heard through the Locust Lane grapevine that Comm. Kneer resigned her employment just recently because she had a "Conflict of Interest". Hmmmm, she and the majority of the BOE has always insisted that there has been NO Conflict of Interest but maybe in the development of the Conflict of Interest Policy (which has been in the works for months) the light finally turned on.

Pres. O'Brien again thanked the LRSC members and especially Comm. Craig for a "yeo-person's" job of managing this huge effort. Other committee members were introduced. The charge of the committee was read and then the recommendations were presented:

1. Creation of an standing committee for boundaries issues (this has been completely under the control of G. Butler for many years and from all accounts the great and powerful "Boundary Wizard" working with the data behind the curtains has wielded his authority without public input.) Again, that this analysis and data sees the light of day with multiple minds working on solutions is a HUGE step in the right direction.

2. That LR be closed and students re-located to Putnam Heights. Time frame is at the end of the 07-08 school year.

3. That all single section schools be held to the same fiscal standards as multi-section schools and therefore they recommended that Montessori be moved.

4. That the LR school and surrounding land be preserved for future district use.

Dr. Butler spoke of the operational and relationship based concerns required for this move and assured everyone that it would be smooth. There was a brief discussion about the need to move 2 Early Education programs out of Putnam Heights to South Middle School as part of the transition as well. Gregg was coy about the location of the program but it seemed clear that South MS was the only option. Comm. Craig responded to information presented by Tanya Miller about south side development and indicated that there is no guarantee that that will mean more students in those houses. She again re-iterated that the LRSC recommendations should be seen as the catalyst for doing Comp, Cummunity Planning.

Comm. Bollinger indicated the need to communicate what the district means by neighborhood schools compared to what the community might think and to see if the community will financially support less cost effective but more neighborly schools.

More discussion about the 1988 (20 years ago!!!) ECASD recommendation to phase out 1 section schools in light of the 1999 decision to add onto LR. Also discussion about transportation issues that are already underway to assure that no student has a bus ride greater than one hour.

More discussion about the Montessori move and r. Butler indicated that it was nearly impossible to move by next school year. There were many questions about whether or not the Montessori program would ever grow enough ( enrollment data comparing the number of students in 2002 was 165 compared to only 145 in 2007). Comm. Craig said that the "heart of the issue is equity" and that Montessori is a 1 section school in a 3 section building. "Moving Montessori is an integral part of the recommendations."

NOTE: Many minutes earlier Comm. Wogahn had moved to accept the committee recommendations and this had been seconded by Comm. Kneer. After this there were multiple violations of Parliamentary Procedure before Comm. Wogahn called the question to stop discussion and vote. His statement that he did not disagree with the discussion about single section programs but also supported Carol (Craig) was extremely confusing.

Comm. Bollinger made a "Friendly Amendment" to recommendation #3 that the plan to move Montessori be developed by May 2008. Comm. Cummins and Craig voted "NO" to calling the question. But then the BOE voted and 6 of 7 members approved the recommendation with Bollinger's amendment. Only Cummins dissented due to it not being part of a more comprehensive plan.

Another lengthy and confusing discussion about the community survey possibilities. Dr. Leary indicated that community engagement should be an ongoing process with BOE and Admin. people being active members across the community (this is a good idea but flies in the face of the ECASD BOE member style to be the opposite of open and inclusive and welcoming of community input). Leary warned BOE members that they need to come together and define what they want to know and how they will use the answers. Thankfully, Comm. Faanes volunteered to head up a 3 member committee with Kneer and Wogahn to brainstorm the questions.

The next Clear Vision meeting will be during the WASB meeting in Milwaukee. Some discussion of WASB resolutions about state aid formulas that was understandable only by Mr. VandeWater, bless his heart! Comm. Cummins asked about the Conflict of Interest policy and that will be presented in Feb.

Adjourn!

BOE Meeting, Jan. 7th, 2008

Both Comm. Wogahn and Comm Bollinger were absent for this meeting. I think a future topic for the blog will be attendance by BOE Members to Board meetings as well as their record for attending their committee meetings. I have heard some anecdotal information about a couple of board members who are essentially AWOL for their committee work. But I want to get the record straight. I think that at the most basic level, attendance is something we can expect of elected officials. Maybe the Truancy policies that are enforced in the high schools could be used to motivate them!

Dr. Leary gave an update on the Superintendent search which was that by Dec. 21st 6 people had passed Stage 1 and 2 people had submitted credentials for Stage 2. He said this was not unusual and normally there is a lot of activity on the last couple of days. Final days for candidates to submit their application materials are Jan. 18th.

Misc. other announcements about a NCLB Forum at Delong MS and that the BOE members will be going to Milwaukee later in January for the WASB convention.

In the Public Comment time I reprised my role of St. John the Baptist crying in the wilderness for the urgency of Comprehensive Planning. I did thank the BOE for the LRSC (Little Red Study Committee) process which was open to all and made input from the public easy but I still believe that it was done in a vacuum. My comments were that any other $115 million corporation experiencing cutbacks similar to those at the ECASD would not take 3 full years or business cycles to complete a comprehensive analysis of their operation and yet that is what the school district is doing. They were all hanging on every word and nodding their heads in agreement and scribbling notes to follow up on as soon as possible. NOT!!

The new guidelines for Public Input were approved. I think it allows for community members to sign up 5 minutes in advance of the meeting, speak for up to 5 minutes, not repeat what already has been said and then, maybe ask questions or give additional input after presentations. But there was NO copy of the policy available for those attending the meeting and my steno skills are lacking so I am guessing as to the details.

Then the Principal from Meadowview came up with 3 students who gave a little presentation about raising money to buy books for disadvantaged children (is that the proper nomenclature ?) The students did a great job and were thanked by the board.

Pres. O'Brien then thanked all of the members of the LRSC who had done such great work. Tentative recommendations were in the Leader Telegram and the final meeting of the group is Jan. 15th and then it will be presented to the BOE on Jan. 21st. Included in the recommendations are: 1. ANOTHER recommendation for Comprehensive Community Planning, 2.) an ongoing committee for boundaries review, and 3. a committee to review budget options and referendum possibilities.

It was announced that Dr. Klaus will be appointed to serve as the MS representative on the McKinley Board.

Dr. Leary gave an update on the Community Survey process which has 2 different organizations in the mix for providing the service. (Please go to the Label Comprehensive Community Planning on the left hand side of the blog and you will see my comments about the presentations that these firms made back in JUNE!!!) Pres. O'Brien indicated the Comm. Wogahn is soliciting money from the community to cover the costs of this survey. Comm. Cummins indicated that WEAC also provides this kind of service and JoEllen Burke was invited to make a few comments. She felt it would be at a much lower cost and a WIN-WIN situation for the district to do this kind of collaboration. Comm. Kneer likes the firm that uses voter registration files for the survey. Comm. Craig reminded the BOE that the Comp. Community Planning process was approved by the BOE LAST SPRING (March 2007) and was supposed to begin in Sept. 2007 so this process should be put on the "fast track" to approximate the time we will have a new superintendent and board members. Comm. Faanes again asked "What is our mission for the survey? To ask questions about budget cuts or a referendum?" He stressed the need to give them clear instructions about our needs. Comm. Kneer agreed saying "or we will just look like we are floundering around."

Dr. Leary indicated that there could be a short discussion on Jan. 21st when one of the consultants could answer a few questions. Comm. Craig reminded everyone that last Spring's motion binds them to not go forward without community input. Comm. Cummins questioned the timing of discuss a survey on the 21st and then acting on Little Red before the survey is done. Pres. O'Brien indicated that the BOE has already had many meetings and they are NOT making decisions in a vacuum (I beg to disagree) and there is no need for an RFP because they already saw the presentation.

Comm. Faanes AGAIN reiterated that the goals and parameters for the process must be set by ECASD before choosing firms. Comm. Cummins said that the previous presentations were so broad and unfocussed that it is difficult to know what they really are offering. (I totally agree. The presentations were generic marketing presentations because the ECASD had done NO work at all to define what they were asking.) Comm. Kneer suggested going with the least expensive firm. Dr. Leary said he would follow up with both firms and WEAC and bring it to the next meeting.

Comm. Wogahn arrives.

The update on BoardDocs was that Bob Scidmore says he can replicate 15 to 20 items in the ECASD website without spending more money to buy the software. The information will be presented at the Feb. 5th BOE meeting. Comm. Kneer: "I would like to hear Bob. I have not been in favor of BoardDocs if we can do it in-house."
Comm. Faanes suggested doing a cost-benefit analysis to see if there would be overall savings. Comm. Craig thanked the ECASD staff for all their help in posting the information for the LRSC on the website. Comm. Cummins indicated that it would be important to n=know how much time and money it cost to do that in house.

Legislative report from Pres. O'Brien about the WASB recommendations, and that the Bush Administration eliminated Medicaid funding of SCHIP extension. His question: "Do we really still have 3 branches of government?" I like that!

The update about the Clear Vision Community Planning was given by Anna, one of the students, who said that there was no ECASD representation at the Education group (I think it was the same night as the LR Public Input(?))

Some discussion about the process on Jan. 28th or 29th when the board will review candidate applications and choose the top 6 for interviews.

Comm. Wogahn updated his information about soliciting funds for the Community Survey which was not definitive in terms of dollars pledged or received.

Comm. Cummins indicated that she would like to see High School Reform on an agenda in the future.

Adjourn!

Wednesday, January 16, 2008

School Board Member and Conflict of Interest

Here is an interesting article about a school board member in MN who is being represented by the ACLU when the district's legal counsel indicated that she should voluntarily resign or be removed from the board with cause. An INDEPENDENT hearing officer will review the case. VERY INTERESTING...... Unlike the situation in EC where the President of the School Board is a partner in the law firm that represents the district and there has been NO INDEPENDENT REVIEW of the situation.
Maria

ACLU will represent Mounds View school board member in conflict-of-interest case
Husband's union job in district is conflict of interest, Murphy told

BY ELIZABETH MOHR
Pioneer Press
Article Last Updated: 01/16/2008 12:05:10 AM CST

The American Civil Liberties Union of Minnesota will represent Mounds View school board member Susan Murphy in the conflict-of-interest case brought against her.

Murphy was informed immediately after being sworn in last week that her husband's union membership - he's a custodian in the district - poses a conflict of interest for her because the school board is set to negotiate the union contract.

Murphy, elected last November to the school board, now faces removal from the board.

"The ACLU took the case because her removal from the board would not only deprive her of her civil liberties but would deprive the 2,900 people who voted for her in the school board election," Chuck Samuelson, executive director of the ACLU-MN, said Tuesday.

The ACLU will offer Murphy legal counsel as the process goes forward.

The district's attorney, John Roszack, said at the Jan. 8 meeting that Murphy could voluntarily resign or could be removed from the board for cause. But before either happens, a conflict of interest must be proven.

The board approved the hiring of an independent hearing officer who will look into whether a conflict exists.

The law defines the issue as "voluntary personal interest or benefit in that contract," Roszack said prior to the school board meeting. That means the hearing officer will need to determine whether Murphy has a financial interest in her husband's salary.

"It's not about spousal relationship," Roszack said. "It's a question of financial gain."

The case is unique, according to John Sylvester, deputy executive director of the Minnesota School Boards Association.

While there is a statute allowing a school board to remove a member "as it determines," that law has "never been tested," he said.

There have been numerous cases in which a board member has a spouse who works in the same district. In most cases, a board member is allowed to recuse herself from conflict-of-interest topics, with no adverse consequences, Sylvester said.

The outcome of the hearing officer's findings could have far-reaching effects.

"If the only resolution (to the problem) is removal of school board members, we're going to have hundreds of board members (statewide) who will need to be removed," Sylvester said. "And we're not just talking school boards, we're also talking city councils."

Because this case may set a precedent, "there's a lot of interest in the legal community," Samuelson said. The selection process to choose an attorney for Murphy should conclude soon, he said.

The hearing process is scheduled to begin Jan. 22. Roszack has said he expects it to take just a few weeks.

Murphy, when contacted at home Tuesday, said she was unsure whether she was able to comment.

"I don't have anything to say right at this moment," she said.

Elizabeth Mohr can be reached at emohr@pioneer press.com or 651-228-5162.

Superintendent Salaries across Wisconsin

This is a letter to the Editor in the Stevens Point paper about Supt. salaries across Wisconsin.

Maria

LETTER: District needs to look at superintendent position
January 15, 2008
In 2002, the superintendent for Stevens Point school district retired.
At the time of retirement the superintendent salary was $109,459 and
cost of benefits was $30,871.


In 2005, the superintendent for Stevens Point school district left our
district for another job. At the time the superintendent salary was
$130,392 and the cost of benefits was $31,543.


In 2007 our current superintendent for Stevens Point school district
announced plans to retire in June 2008. The current salary is $140,000
and cost of benefits is $40,252.


In six years our district has had three Superintendents. Salaries have
increased 28 percent, and cost of benefits have gone up 30 percent.
Maybe it's time the school board hires a person from our district. I
know we have qualified people to run the district. We need a person
that will be here for more then three years.


When the school board decides on making an offer, please look at
salaries and benefits now being offered in various school districts.


Here are the salaries and benefits for the following school districts'
superintendents:


DC Everest: salary $133,653, benefits $37,848; Eau Claire: salary
$137,636, benefits $53,432; Appleton: salary $147,119, benefits
$45,578; Green Bay: salary $132,132, benefits $44,210; Kimberly area:
salary $121,153, benefits $38,798; LaCrosse: salary $127,576, benefits
$46,838; Wausau: salary $132,864, benefits $61,208; Port Edwards:
salary $98,580, benefits $36,267; Oshkosh: salary $116,896, benefits
$28,669; Nekoosa: salary $101,400, benefits $45,481; Mosinee: salary
$115,708, benefits $34,866; Marshfield: salary $123,630, benefits
$41,890; Iola-Scandinavia: salary $90,200, benefits $35,891; Wautoma:
salary $103,030, benefits $43,801; Wisconsin Rapids: salary $85,500,
benefits $6,541. Wisconsin Rapids is based on 190 work days; all
others are based on 260 work days.


Source of Information: Wisconsin Dept. of public instruction
Statistical information www.dpi.state.wi.us/lbstat


Bob Larson


Stevens Point

UPDATE: EC Superintendent Search

Three seek Eau Claire schools' top job
Stress may be creating shortage of candidates, consultant says
By Christena T. O'Brien
Leader-Telegram staff O'Brien can be reached at 830-5838, 800-236-7077
or christena.obrien@ecpc.com.
Three days before the deadline, a trio of candidates has applied to
become the Eau Claire school district's next superintendent.

Eau Claire, one of more than 20 districts in the state looking for new
superintendent, has set Friday as the application deadline.

"Going in, we knew it was going to be like this because there were so
many openings (statewide) for superintendents," said Mary Kneer, the
only school board member who was on the board when Bill Klaus was
named superintendent. "That's just the way it is."

Nineteen candidates applied for the post during the district's last
search in 1998. Klaus, then deputy superintendent of curriculum and
instruction, was selected to replace Superintendent Lee Hansen.

In west-central Wisconsin today, the Black River Falls, Bloomer,
Cumberland, Menomonie and River Falls school districts have
superintendent vacancies. However, Paul Blanford has accepted the
position in Black River Falls, and the River Falls school board is
expected to make a hiring decision as early as Monday.

Dennis Richards, a search services consultant with the Wisconsin
Association of School Boards, which is assisting the Eau Claire school
district in its search, is telling officials to expect 15 to 17
applicants.

"I think you have to take those early numbers with a grain of salt,"
said Richards, who has seen at least a half-dozen applications come
trickling in at the last minute, including in Menomonie.

Thirteen candidates have applied for the Menomonie superintendent
position vacated by Jesse Harness, who stepped down last year to take
a job with Cooperative Service Educational Service Agency 11.

The deadline for applicants seeking the superintendent's job in
Bloomer is Feb. 1. Bloomer school board members will receive an update
on the district's search Wednesday night. Michael Wallschlaeger, whose
consulting firm is conducting the search, said Monday that 23 people
have asked for application materials.

"I think as a general rule there are fewer people out there wanting
these positions," said Richards, who served as Black River Falls
superintendent for 23 years before retiring June 30. "Dealing with
declining enrollments ... and budget constraints can make these pretty
stressful jobs."

Richards, one of about 40 superintendents to retire last year, is
assisting seven districts with searches and said candidates are
applying for multiple positions.

Klaus, Eau Claire's superintendent for nine years, left the position
to become principal at Northstar Middle School. Klaus made $141,766
and had a $10,926 annuity as of June 28, 2007.

James Leary, president of an educational consulting firm based in
Holcombe, was named interim superintendent last summer.

In addition to the three applicants for the Eau Claire post, four
others have completed the initial application process.

The seven-member school board is scheduled to review applications
later this month, selecting finalists for the position in February.
The new superintendent is expected to start July 1.

Kneer said she'd rather see a smaller number of qualified candidates
than a larger pool of less-qualified applicants.

"If we don't get good applicants, we'll start over," she said. "That's
all we can do."

Back to the Drawing Board in Beaver Dam...

The search for a Superintendent in Beaver Dam did not result in a satisfactory candidate....

Maria

'Not the right fit'
By TERRI PEDERSON/Staff Reporter
The search for the next superintendent of the Beaver Dam Unified
School District will continue.
The Beaver Dam Board of Education interviewed three candidates for the
superintendent position on Wednesday but none matched the board's
vision of a new superintendent for the district, officials said.
"We weren't displeased with any of the candidates," school board
president Mark Kirst said. "They were not the right fit for Beaver Dam
right now. There was no one that we visioned that will take us forward
into the future."
The district is not going to repost the position right away, Kirst
said. The new superientendent will replace Donald Childs, who took the
position in June 2006 on an interim status while the board sought
someone to replace former superintendent Brian Busler, who left the
district for a job with the Oregon School District. Childs is stepping
down in June.
Fox River Consultants, the firm hired by the district to help search
for candidates, has an idea about what might match the board's goals
in the next superintendent. Those goals include a superintendent who
has a strong educational background, makes student achievement a top
priority and has previous superintendent experience.
Kirst said the board is not considering anyone currently on staff for
the position since no one has had previous superintendent experience.
"We don't want to be a training ground for the candidates," Kirst
said. "We're not so concerned about where they come from, only that
they have administrative experience, are highly energetic and strong
leadership in educational pursuits."
The amount of turnover in administrative positions over the next few
years is one of the reasons the board is being so choosy in finding
the next superintendent.
Kirst said they are not rushed to find a superintendent. They do hope
to have the new superintendent in place by the beginning of next
school year.
"We wanted to make sure we had a chance of getting one of the best
candidates," Kirst said.
Kirst said he is confident that the consultants will have someone
that will be a good fit for the district.

Sunday, January 13, 2008

Op-Ed essay about Little Red

Updated: 1/9/2008 6:32:01 PM


School district should listen to community, save Little Red

By Tanya Miller
I contacted 100 of the big business leaders in Eau Claire, provided them background information on Little Red School and instructed them to contact Eau Claire school board members to voice their opinions on Little Red.

Only three businesses out of 100 opposed keeping Little Red open.

The 97 supporting businesses are making their phone calls, and are making comments such as:

"Great Community School, a landmark, a true treasure."

"Close Little Red and you will never pass a referendum in Eau Claire."

"Who does the school board work for: The administrators or this community?"

"Because the referendum failed, the school district is now threatening this community."

"Isn't Little Red School such a small percentage of our total budget?"

"If you close schools, don't you need fewer administrators? Why not just cut more administrators and save our schools?"

"Why is Little Red being demolished? Didn't they just add onto the school? Another waste of our money."

I stopped writing down comments because my house has turned into a call center.

These phone calls put in perspective how unfortunate it is for the district to be focusing negative energy on closing Little Red. The district is producing a lot of negative publicity for itself by promoting Little Red's closure. It is stuck in "Little Red mode" and is putting its own objectives ahead of this community's.

After talking to more than 100 businesses in Eau Claire, my overall impression is this community is questioning what the district can do with its time and money. These are powerful business leaders who know what it takes to run a successful business. All of these businesses are hungry for information and statistics about the school district's future direction. Unfortunately, I had nothing to provide them except the fact the district is trying to close Little Red.

Can you imagine what we could do if we focus this energy on passing a referendum properly? The district could focus positive energy on advertising a referendum, calling businesses, reaching out to the community, involving the Chamber of Commerce, holding a referendum open house and getting the newspapers to promote efforts and disclose facts. They should get out there and start shaking some hands!

Positive solutions will give the district momentum - power to succeed. Who knows, if the businesses see the district supporting our community they may opt to provide financial support. These businesses love children and families that support their businesses. The district will win and look good in the process.

If the district goes ahead and closes Little Red for a personal objective, or if they are sick and tired of discussing Little Red, it will lose this community's trust and face embarrassment.

Closing Little Red will not fix the district's problems. Next year it will need more money, better solutions and a referendum. This year the district has gained powerful knowledge from the Little Red Study Committee, and it is their responsibility to use it.

Miller, of rural Mondovi, is the mother of two Little Red School students.

Saving Little Red with Donations from the Community

Updated: 1/8/2008

- Tanya Miller, a Little Red School parent spearheading an effort to raise funds to keep the elementary open for another year, is planning to set up an account by Friday at RCU seeking public contributions.


A new approach to saving school
Parent seeking donations to keep Little Red School open
By Christena T. O'Brien
Leader-Telegram staff
Spurred into action by her oldest son, Tanya Miller is spearheading an effort to raise $500,000 by Jan. 21 to keep Little Red School open.

"I'm really hopeful," said Miller, whose sons, Jacob and Kyle, are among the 122 students who attend the one-section elementary in the town of Brunswick.

By raising the money, Miller hopes to buy one more year for Little Red, which could close after the 2007-08 school year as part of an effort to address the school district's projected $2.8 million budget shortfall for 2008-09.

The school board voted to close Little Red in early 2007 to save money because of financial difficulties. The board later reversed that decision and appointed a committee to determine how best to use the school.

The committee, which began studying the issue last fall, is tentatively recommending closing the school, a move estimated to save about $500,000 annually.

The committee, which held a public forum Thursday, will meet one last time - from 4 to 6 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 15 - before presenting its recommendations to the school board Jan. 21.

Miller would like to see the board hold off on making a decision on Little Red until the school district's comprehensive community plan, which will be critical in determining the future vision of the district's facilities, program offerings and transportation needs, is completed.

If her effort to raise $500,000 is successful, board president Mike O'Brien, one of three board members on the committee, said he believes the committee and the board would need to consider the implications of such a gift.

"I guess the question will be as to pledges versus actual funds," he said. "That would certainly be an interesting decision to be made if it could be done."

Miller began working on saving Little Red last year after the school board decided to close the elementary. When she explained to her sons that there was nothing more that could be done, Jacob, now a third-grader, reminded her that she never gives up.

"If there was ever a defining moment in my life, that was it," said Miller, who picked the school for her children after touring schools in five districts.

Last week, she contacted 100 businesses in the Eau Claire area and found that 97 were in support of Little Red.

If Little Red remains open, Arvid Jereczek, owner of American Express Transport, an excavating contracting business near the school, is willing to provide the equipment and labor for a new septic system.

"I think it's a nice little school, and it would be a shame to see it close," Jereczek said.

Survey to Solicit Community Input for the ECASD

Updated: 1/6/2008

- The Eau Claire school board meets at 7 p.m. Monday in the Board Room of the district's Administration Building, 500 Main St.


Community may get chance at school input District considering survey to determine public's priorities
By Christena T. O'Brien
Leader-Telegram staff O'Brien can be reached at 830-5838, 800-236-7077 or christena.obrien@ecpc.com.
Eau Claire School Board
The Eau Claire school board could decide later this month to move forward with a community survey to gather public input on a number of issues.

Last month, several board members posed the idea of surveying the public after interim Superintendent James Leary presented findings of a needs assessment, which asked more than 80 people, including parents, educators, board members and administrators, to score 60 district priorities. Identifying referendum options for increasing revenue topped the list.

"It would be interesting to see if we were in alignment (with the community)," board member Brent Wogahn said during a Dec. 3 work session.

On Thursday, Leary met with Don Lifto, a former public school superintendent who is senior vice president and client representative with Springsted, an independent public sector advisory firm from St. Paul, to discuss a proposal to conduct a community survey. Leary will discuss the proposal with the board Monday.

Typically, preparing and conducting a survey averages between eight and 12 weeks, Leary said. Because of that time frame, he would like to see the board make a decision at its Jan. 21 meeting.

In a memorandum to the board, Leary estimated the cost of surveying 400 people at $8,338 to $11,213, depending on the number of questions posed to each. In addition, there's a $750 standard fee for consultation, travel, mileage and miscellaneous expenses.

The district would have the option of purchasing additional demographic information.

Before a survey could be completed, questions would have to be formulated. Leary expects some queries would focus on district-community relations.

Mark Porter, W3169 Rim Rock Road, who spoke at a public forum Thursday on the future of Little Red School, suggested the district ask the public if it supports closing more schools.

District officials are projecting a budget shortfall of $2.8 million for the 2008-09 school year. Closing the town of Brunswick elementary school would save an estimated $500,000 annually.

In other business Monday, the board is scheduled to act on motions to ratify three-year contracts with the custodial and food service unions and adopt guidelines for public input at board meetings.

No Child Left Behind

Updated: 1/9/2008

State Superintendent Elizabeth Burmaster spoke at a community forum about No Child Left Behind on Tuesday at DeLong Middle School. The forum drew about 100 people, many of them involved in education.
Staff photo by Andi Stempniak

No Child called burden
Kind: Congress seeking other gauges
By Brad Bryan
Leader-Telegram staff
Most Eau Claire community members aren't aware of the burden that No Child Left Behind has placed on teachers and students in the district's schools, the president of the local teacher's union said Tuesday.

Jo Burke, of the Eau Claire Association of Educators, said the great learning environment - shown by smiling faces and upbeat attitudes - in Eau Claire schools is deceptive.

"It's kind of like the Chippewa River, mostly calm on the surface and you don't get to see the power and activity that's below," Burke said at a community forum addressing potential changes to No Child Left Behind.

The federal initiative is up for reauthorization this year. A Bush Admin- istration initiative, No Child Left Behind was designed to hold public schools accountable, measuring student achievement through reading and math testing.

Below the surface, Burke said, is the turmoil created by unfunded mandates established by No Child Left Behind.

Burke joined U.S. Rep. Ron Kind, State Superintendant Elizabeth Burmaster, UW-Eau Claire Associate Dean of Teacher Education Dwight Watson and DeLong parent Amy Kalmon at the 75-minute forum in DeLong Middle School.

The event drew about 100 people, including many from the education field.

"When No Child Left Behind came along, the testing provision alone demanded so much attention from all of our schools," Burmaster said. She added that Wisconsin now tests more than half of its students - 445,000 every year - at a cost of $10.1 million, three times the budget for testing before No Child Left Behind.

Kind said full funding of No Child Left behind has consistently fallen short since it was introduced in 2002. That means costs are passed on to local school districts and then to taxpayers.

In addition to full funding for No Child Left Behind, Kind said Congress is working on other reforms. Those include using means other than test scores alone to gauge schools' success, promoting innovation at school, increasing staff support, allowing more flexibility in evaluating individual schools, improving high schools and passing Kind's FIT (Fitness Integrated with Teaching) Kids Act that seeks to include physical education in No Child Left Behind.

Monday, January 7, 2008

School Choice Influences

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
RACE AND CLASS MORE INFLUENTIAL THAN ACADEMICS WHEN PARENTS CHOOSE
SCHOOLS
New policy brief challenges key assumptions about school choice
Contact: Teri Battaglieri – (517) 203-2940;
greatlakescenter@greatlakescenter.org
Natalie Lacireno-Paquet – (781) 481-1133; npaquet@wested.org
EAST LANSING, Mich. (Jan. 7, 2008) — School choice reforms, such as
charter schools and vouchers, give parents the opportunity to decide which school is best for their
children. Families who choose their children's schools say that academic quality is the main basis for
their decision. But according to a new policy brief funded by the Great Lakes Center for Education Research
and Practice, their choice behavior suggests that race and class may more strongly influence their
decision than academic quality. The brief, Who Chooses Schools, and Why? The Characteristics and
Motivations of Families who Actively Choose Schools is authored by Natalie Lacireno-Paquet with
assistance from Charleen Brantly. It offers a comprehensive look at how the school choice process takes place.
Lacireno-Paquet and Brantley report that families who actively choose their children's schools rely as
much or more on social networks than on official sources of information in making their choices. They
also find that White parents tend to avoid schools with high concentrations of non-White students, while
minority parents who exercise choice tend to avoid schools with high numbers of low-income students.
"Parents overwhelmingly say they are looking for a better education but much, though not all, of the
research examined suggests that parents are paying more attention to the social and racial demographics
of potential choice schools than they are to measures of academic quality," Lacireno-Paquet and Brantley
conclude. "The evidence on behavior, or the way in which parents make their
choices, doesn't match very well with what parents say are their preferences. This suggests that race and
class play a key role and that parents may view the racial or peer composition of a school as a proxy for
quality. This is not encouraging to those who view choice as a way to potentially eliminate the barriers
to truly integrated schools." These and other findings were derived from a review of extensive
research into the many choice options currently available to parents: home-schooling, private schools,
vouchers, and public school choice programs such as open enrollment, charter schools, and magnet schools.
"Who Chooses Schools, and Why?" explores research concerning demographics and other
characteristics of families who actively exercise school choice, as well as parents' motivations for doing so.
Lacireno-Paquet and Brantley note that the demographics of people who choose schools vary
considerably depending on the specific form of choice involved. For example, while private school
choosers are mostly White and non-poor, voucher programs tend to be "means-tested," with the result that
most voucher students are poor and minority. Among charter schools, meanwhile, enrollment trends by
race and income can vary widely among states and districts, the two researchers report. Home-schooling
families are more likely to be White (like private school families), but also more likely than private school
families to be of low- or moderate incomes. As a result of their findings, Lacireno-Paquet and Brantley make six
recommendations, focused on the specific design of choice policies. In a nutshell, they call on policy
makers to be cognizant of past experiences and to carefully craft future policies to accomplish desired goals.

Sunday, January 6, 2008

The Boundary Discussion is Back in Eau Claire!

Shifting priorities
Low enrollments could force boundary changes
By Julian Emerson
Leader-Telegram staff
Low enrollment at many Eau Claire schools plus building maintenance costs topping $30 million equals district officials contemplating school boundary changes designed to shift the student population northeast.

Of the district's 19 schools, 11 are at least 20 percent under target capacity, according to recently released district enrollment figures for the current school year.

One, the Montessori Charter School housed in the former Lincoln School, is only about half full, if viewed as a two-section school using the Montessori education plan. Figure the building's space as the three-section school it once was, and the occupancy drops to 32 percent.

Other schools, especially those on the city's north side, also have plenty of empty desks. Longfellow School is at 62 percent of target capacity, meaning just 285 students attend the school with room for 459. Likewise, Locust Lane is at 63 percent of capacity while Sam Davey School is 79 percent full.

The extra space extends to the city's south side, where enrollment at Putnam Heights School is 174 students below its 459 capacity.

Low enrollment isn't just an elementary school issue. Middle schools are far under capacity, with South, DeLong and Northstar middle schools 72 percent full or less. Both Memorial and North high schools are at 78 percent of target enrollment, or a combined 923 students below capacity.

In all, district enrollment is nearly 3,200 students shy of its 13,132 target, a fact prompting discussion about redrawing school boundaries to increase efficiency. The district faces a $2.8 million budget deficit next school year and more projected shortfalls in future years, along with mounting building maintenance costs.

"There certainly is a lot of space in our schools, and you have to question the efficiency of continuing like that given the budget challenges we face," school board member Carol Craig said. "It's expensive to have so many of our schools under capacity. There's no other way to say it."

District officials have a couple of choices. Either continue to pay for schools with many vacancies, or shift boundaries - and possibly close one or more schools - in a cost-cutting move intended to stave off further teacher and program cuts.

"This is a balancing act between the neighborhood school concept and what we can afford," school board member Michael Bollinger said. "In today's financial climate, we have to look at cost efficiencies regardless of boundary preferences."

Leaving the boundaries as is would preserve neighborhood schools, but to pay rising costs voters would have to approve a referendum. Failure to do that would result in program and staff reductions.

"That's really what this comes down to," Deputy Superintendent Gregg Butler said. "If the community says yes to the status quo but no to more money via a referendum, it really hogties the board into either changing boundaries or making cuts."

Boundary concerns

The possibility of boundary changes is an outgrowth of discussion about whether to close Little Red School, a one-section building just south of Eau Claire on Highway 37 in the town of Brunswick.

A Little Red Study Committee comprised of district officials and community members Thursday recommended closing the school and sending its 122 students to Putnam Heights School beginning next school year. The school board is scheduled to vote on the issue later this month.

The committee also recommended conducting a districtwide boundary study with the aim of reaching target enrollments in all schools to make them more cost-efficient.

It remains uncertain whether school boundaries will be altered, or what those changes could look like. But given more crowded south side elementary schools, it's likely any switches would involve shifting students to the northeast, Butler said.

That move would make sense, Craig said, not only because there is generally more room at north side schools but also because of anticipated population growth on the city's south and west sides.

The shift northward could mean some children might not attend the school they live closest to, a fact many parents - especially those of elementary students - find unsettling.

Todd and Sharon Nerbonne bought a house along Huebsch Street in the city's East Side Hill neighborhood in 2006 specifically so their two daughters could attend nearby Flynn School. The couple liked the two-section school's warm atmosphere and thought it would be a good match for their children.

"We knew a lot of the people who lived in this neighborhood, and we felt comfortable with our kids coming to Flynn," Sharon Nerbonne said.

The couple's older daughter, Erica, now attends South Middle School, but the prospect of moving third-grader Sarah to a different school doesn't sit well with the Nerbonnes.

"If they send my daughter to another school, I will go absolutely nuts," Todd Nerbonne said. "We moved close to Flynn specifically to avoid having to switch schools, so there's no way we would support that."

School board members acknowledged that discussion of the dreaded "b-word" - boundary changes - typically elicits an outcry among district parents, most of whom are reticent to switch their children's schools. In 2003, the district closed the rural Cleghorn School and subsequently changed boundaries affecting several south side schools, moves that prompted an angry reaction by Cleghorn parents and others.

"It's never easy to discuss shifting school boundaries," Bollinger said.

School board member Trish Cummins agrees, but said proceeding with a referendum asking for money to address school building needs without discussing the enrollment issue isn't likely to fly with voters.

District officials have discussed a possible referendum but haven't agreed on when or how much money to request. Voters overwhelmingly turned down a referendum last April seeking $21.6 million to exceed state-imposed spending caps.

"How can we sell a referendum to voters if we haven't even looked at our space issue?," Cummins said.

Necessary debate

Reduced enrollment isn't necessarily a negative. Smaller class size is viewed in the education realm as a positive, allowing teachers to pay more attention to individual students. That idea was the impetus behind the Student Achievement Guarantee in Education plan, better known as SAGE, implemented in recent years in classrooms across Wisconsin.

Despite lower enrollments, class size is up in Eau Claire schools, the result of 60 staff reductions as part of budget cuts last school year that included 40.5 teaching positions.

"Just because we don't have high enrollment doesn't mean we have small class size," said Jo Burke, president of the Eau Claire teachers union. "Teachers are feeling a lot of stress right now with bigger classes."

Burke backs a review of district boundaries, saying discussion about the topic should help establish budget priorities and educate the public about district needs. More efficient use of school buildings could free up money for employees, she said.

"Maybe this will allow us to retain staff," Burke said. "We just don't know how this is going to play out."

School board members are unsure how the issue will be resolved and are seeking public input before making any decisions. No matter how the situation plays out, board members including Bollinger said discussing possible boundary shifts is necessary.

"Anytime you talk about shifting boundaries, it causes unrest," he said. "But with the budget problems we face, we don't have any choice but to explore this."

Emerson can be reached at 830-5911, 800-236-7077 or julian.emerson@ecpc.com.

Eau Claire Community Survey article

Community may get chance at school input District considering survey to determine public's priorities
By Christena T. O'Brien
Leader-Telegram staff O'Brien can be reached at 830-5838, 800-236-7077 or christena.obrien@ecpc.com.
Eau Claire School Board
The Eau Claire school board could decide later this month to move forward with a community survey to gather public input on a number of issues.

Last month, several board members posed the idea of surveying the public after interim Superintendent James Leary presented findings of a needs assessment, which asked more than 80 people, including parents, educators, board members and administrators, to score 60 district priorities. Identifying referendum options for increasing revenue topped the list.

"It would be interesting to see if we were in alignment (with the community)," board member Brent Wogahn said during a Dec. 3 work session.

On Thursday, Leary met with Don Lifto, a former public school superintendent who is senior vice president and client representative with Springsted, an independent public sector advisory firm from St. Paul, to discuss a proposal to conduct a community survey. Leary will discuss the proposal with the board Monday.

Typically, preparing and conducting a survey averages between eight and 12 weeks, Leary said. Because of that time frame, he would like to see the board make a decision at its Jan. 21 meeting.

In a memorandum to the board, Leary estimated the cost of surveying 400 people at $8,338 to $11,213, depending on the number of questions posed to each. In addition, there's a $750 standard fee for consultation, travel, mileage and miscellaneous expenses.

The district would have the option of purchasing additional demographic information.

Before a survey could be completed, questions would have to be formulated. Leary expects some queries would focus on district-community relations.

Mark Porter, W3169 Rim Rock Road, who spoke at a public forum Thursday on the future of Little Red School, suggested the district ask the public if it supports closing more schools.

District officials are projecting a budget shortfall of $2.8 million for the 2008-09 school year. Closing the town of Brunswick elementary school would save an estimated $500,000 annually.

In other business Monday, the board is scheduled to act on motions to ratify three-year contracts with the custodial and food service unions and adopt guidelines for public input at board meetings.

4 Candidates for 2 ECASD BOE Seats

Four file for two school board seats
Craig seeks sixth term; challengers include former board member
By Christena T. O'Brien
Leader-Telegram staff
The Eau Claire school board faces several challenges in the near
future - a projected budget shortfall estimated at $2.8 million, a
possible referendum and hiring a superintendent.

Two of seven board seats - held by Carol Craig and President Mike
O'Brien - are up for election this spring, and four people will vie
for those seats in the April 1 general election.

O'Brien isn't seeking re-election, but Craig is seeking a sixth
three-year term. She'll be joined on the ballot by former school board
member Robert G. Janke, who spent nine years on the board; Doug Mell,
director of communications at UW-Stout in Menomonie, and Adam Shiel,
an electrical engineer at Silicon Logic Engineering.

Craig, a Chippewa Valley Technical College instructor, said that the
biggest challenge facing the new board, and one she would look forward
to addressing if elected, is balancing the budget while maintaining
existing education standards.

"I think all of our programs here are high-quality," she said, adding
that quality education is a major concern for families considering
relocating to an area.

Craig served four terms on the board ending in 1995 and rejoined the
seven-member body in 2005. In addition to the board, she served on the
charter school committee and the committee studying how best to use
Little Red School.

"A number of significant issues will be decided in the next three
years that will set the stage for educational quality for years to
come," said Mell, who spent 16 years as city editor and managing
editor at the Leader-Telegram before taking the job at UW-Stout in
October 2006.

The father of two - a North High School graduate and a junior at North
- summed up the major themes of his campaign as "the three C's" -
comprehensive strategic planning, communication and collaboration.

"The district needs a systematic approach to comprehensive strategic
planning," Mell said. "The district has started this process with its
needs assessment survey review, but the next board will have to be
diligent in overseeing this planning process. Comprehensive strategic
planning has to become part of the district's DNA."

Making his first run for public office, Shiel decided to seek election
after attending school board meetings for the past year and serving on
a committee that developed a charter school policy for the school
district.

"I believe the board can make better and more transparent decisions,"
said Shiel, whose children - a 6-year-old son and 4-year-old daughter
- attend the Montessori Charter School.

Shiel said he realizes the district faces challenges in the future,
including the projected budget shortfall for the 2008-09 school year.
Before supporting any proposal to address the issue, he said he'd like
to better understand the district's finances, including its spending.

Janke, a retired UW-Eau Claire geography professor, lost his seat on
the school board in April 2006 and a re-election bid in April 2007.

"I don't like the direction the board is going in," he said.

Janke believes the district will have to put building maintenance
needs before the voters again.

"The district will have to go to referendum again - unless the state
changes how schools are funded," he said. "There is a need for
infrastructure improvements, and you can only put those off for so
long before you get to a point where you can't do that anymore."

Lakeland Names 5 Candidates for District Administrator Position

Monday, December 31, 2007

LUHS names five finalists for replacing Dailey as LUHS district administrator
Candidates Todd Kleinhans, Jim Ellis and Robb Jensen have local ties

Eric Johnson
Editor

Monday, December 31, 2007


Todd Kleinhans


Jim Ellis
In their ongoing process to find a successor to outgoing district
administrator Mike Dailey, Lakeland Union High School on Friday, Dec.
21 released the names of five finalists.

Selection process interviews will begin on Thursday, Jan. 17.

The deadline to submit applications for the LUHS district
administrator position was Nov. 30.

According to the LUHS job posting, candidates must hold, or be
eligible for, a Wisconsin District Administrator License. Prior
administrative experience was listed as "desired."

Qualities for the "successful candidate," the job posting noted,
include "demonstrated collaborative leadership skills in current and
former administrative positions," a track record of "research-based
decision making," a "high level of integrity," and "the vision to take
a successful school district to the next level."

Dailey will retire at the end of the current 2007-08 school year, with
his position opening July 1, 2008

Candidates named

Three of the finalists for LUHS district administrator are well-known
to the area:

• Todd Kleinhans, principal at 981-student LUHS.

• Jim Ellis, district administrator for 550-student
Minocqua-Hazelhurst-Lake Tomahawk Elementary School, one of four
Lakeland area elementary schools feeding students into LUHS.

• Robb Jensen, a former Rhinelander School District superintendent now
serving as principal of 483-student Nekoosa High School in Wood
County.

The other two finalists come from outside the Lakeland area:

• Warren Baugher, who has served in several administrative capacities
with the 21,000-student Racine Unified School District, including
postings as principal of Henry Mitchell Elementary and E.H. Wadewitz
Elementary and stints as assistant superintendent for
curriculum-instruction and assistant superintendent of the district's
secondary division. Earlier this year, Baugher was one of six
finalists for superintendent of the PreK-12 Cochrane-Fountain City
School District in western Wisconsin.

• Scott Winch, superintendent of the Stratford School District, an
817-student PreK-12 district in Marathon County.

Board president comments on

candidate pool

Interviewed early Friday afternoon, LUHS board president John Lisowski
said the district had received application packages from "fifteen
qualified individuals."

LUHS' Board Negotiations Committee, he said, had performed "very good
qualitative analysis" on all fifteen potential candidates, eventually
narrowing the pool down to a "workable" field of five finalists for
the district administrator position.

"These five final candidates rose to the top," Lisowski said. "They
represent an interesting cross-section..."

He noted that it was "important" for the Board Negotiating Committee
to have a diverse pool of finalists encompassing a variety of job
criteria including education and administrative backgrounds, as solid
grounding of professional experience and, in some cases, local
knowledge of LUHS and the Lakeland area community.

Said Lisowski, "These five have a nice cross-section of some of those criteria."

The interview process

Moving forward, he said the LUHS board had created "two separate,
distinct panels exclusive of the board" representing all four feeder
elementaries, LUHS staff and administrators, and various community
groups, including the Lac du Flambeau tribal community.

"We thought it was very important to have these individuals get a
flavor of the community as they meet with the panels," Lisowski said.
"It's important for these candidates to have a sense of community
involvement in the high school. They (the candidates) are very much
interviewing us as well."

Candidates will interview with the two panels and also with the LUHS
board. Lisowski said the board is "very interested" in hearing
feedback from the panel members on the five candidates. It is hoped
that the interview process will be completed in February.

"We want to have the position hired as soon as possible," Lisowski
said, noting the actual hire date for the new district administrator
will be contingent upon several factors including candidate
availability and performing required background checks. "Ideally, we
want the new district administrator named and available prior to the
exit of the old district administrator. Clearly, we'd like to have the
individual in place before Mr. Dailey leaves LUHS."

Whichever of the five candidates gets selected, Lisowski said he was
confident that the next district administrator will be able to tackle
challenges like declining enrollment and capitalize on "positive
momentum" made at LUHS in areas including student achievement and
various curriculum adjustments, including the coordination of core
curriculum needs with LUHS' feeder elementaries.

"I'm very hopeful that our next superintendent will be able to lead
Lakeland in a positive direction," Lisowski said.