Getting back to basics has a price

With the Spring election just over three weeks away, I expected to be inundated with political ads and mailings for the Baraboo School Board candidates by now. Remember last year? Haven't heard a peep from any of them on how they're going to mend fences in the community nor what plans candidates have to change the current misdirection of our school district. (even though the district was the beneficiary of a speaker that cost $6,000)

What I have heard is that the district has mysteriously found over $300,000 (probably from the district enrollment INCREASE we all heard was NOT going to happen because the last two referenda failed). To that end, our school board decided UNANIMOUSLY to spend those funds on six new reading specialists in the elementary schools and one reading specialist in the middle school. What they forgot to mention was that the Baraboo School District is also advertising for one reading specialist at the high school. Where did the money come from for that position? Did the board decide to cut the "Teen Cuisine" or "Horse of Course" classes to pay for it? Other expenditures include a new reading program for $200,000 and a "Community Education Director" position.

Now for some really dumb questions:

• If we hire all these reading specialists, when their jobs get eliminated because of the declining enrollment we heard so much about a year ago, will the change be portrayed as a cut?
• Why are teachers not held accountable for the reading skills of the children now? Don't they have an obligation to make sure their students know how to read anymore? Nope. There's no requirement for the teachers to hold kids back if they can't read. They can just pass them to the next grade...Problem solved! (for that teacher) It's tough luck for the student.
• What are the qualifications for applying for the "Community Education Director" position? Just go to the BSD website. You'll see it doesn't require candidates to be licensed or to even have a high school diploma, let alone any college. If you're good at sucking up to the community and well-connected, then BSD wants you! (Have your friends bring their wallets with them to the interview - you'll do fine.) They need a buffer between their holistic vision and the school haters that want the district to produce unintelligent graduates. They no longer have time to listen to the real world, not that they listened anyway. Our school board has minds to sculpt!

There's discussion of increasing the math and science requirements for high school graduation. At least one person in the community is already upset because the district doesn't have enough science or math teachers to go that direction. Their solution: Hire more math and science teachers - we have a shortage. Buzzzzzz! Wrong answer.

The correct answer needs some background. Over the past several years, the BSD has been hiring "generalist" teachers (my term). They are not expert teachers in science, math, etc. Rather, they know a little about everything and could teach a variety of courses. The district went this direction in their hiring practice because "generalist" teachers are more flexible and can be moved around if needed. You know what's coming next: another dumb question....

Why not have the instructors for Horse of Course, Teen Cuisine, Teen Clothing, and Ceramics 1 & 2 teach math and science courses? You're right. I must keep in mind that it's all about the kids. Far be it for anyone to squelch any opportunity for them to be all they can be.

Could someone please direct me to the college that offers a four-year degree in ceramics? If you can, what is the career outlook and what are the chances they'll return to good ol' Baraboo after college and bring some high paying jobs with them?