Do we have cooties?

US News and World Report came out today with the best high schools in the country. See the Wisconsin schools listed here.

The following counties are adjacent to Sauk County: Adams, Columbia, Dane, Iowa, Juneau, Richland, and Vernon. While I'm not sure how many high schools are in this geographic area, there are well over 500,000 people (maybe 750,000?) within it.

Think of all the tax dollars spent on government schools in this same geographic area. My guess is that it would be well over $500,000,000 and is probably closer to $1 Billion (that's with a B, Billion) dollars.

How many high schools in this geographic and reasonably well populated area passed muster to be ranked as the best high schools in the country? The answer is four:
- Necedah High School, Juneau County - Bronze award
- Kickapoo High School, Vernon County - Silver award
- LaFarge High School, Vernon County - Bronze award
- Viroqua High School, Vernon County - Bronze award

First of all, congratulations to those schools and sincere best wishes for continued success. They are obviously doing something right.

Besides these being rural high schools, what do they all have in common? Each of the award winners are an hour or more away from here and close to two hours from Madison. I didn't notice Dane county on the list...and where in the H-E double toothpicks is Baraboo? I keep being told Baraboo has great schools! Ovbiously, this is propoganda to make people feel good. After all, "perception is reality!"

The montra needs to be changed. Baraboo HAD great schools.

Without leadership by the school board
(some kahonas and common sense would help, seeing as they're either in short supply or being saved for a rainy day - because neither are exhibited with great frequency)
and changes in the administration
(lack of leadership, egomaniacal, condescending - It's time to can the few bad apples),
we'll never make the list.

Consider all of the "great schools" within the geographic area that didn't make the list either. It just goes to show no matter how much money is thrown at Baraboo government schools, no matter how "great" they are talked up, it will never be enough without changes to the school board and administration.

It's time to can (terminate the employment of) the bad apples.

School board pre-meeting check list:
- Show up (on time, if possible) - check.
- Carry on innocuous pre-meeting chatter - check.
- Observe pompus person enter one minute prior to meeting - check, CHECK!

All set?

School board: It's Monday night, 7PM. It's time to can the bad apples.

Now, did you remember to bring your kahonas and common sense? You don't typically bring them with you, and you're gonna need them for this meeting. Please find them and add them to your pre-meeting check list.

If you can't find your common sense or don't know what kahonas are, graciously step aside.