A Choice for School Board - At Last!

We've already seen the "direction" and "help" over the last few years provided by the two incumbents running for the four open school board seats. Their voting history speaks for itself. What about the other four candidates, the new comers? Where do they stand on things?

School board candidate Ed Mortimer provided his take on the January 19th BNR article about new phy-ed courses at the high school which include fishing, rafting, and scuba diving. Read Mortimer's comments here.

In response, school board candidate Phyllis Power needles Mortimer in a personal and condescending manner while presenting her opinion on the subject. Read Power's comments here.

Power's narrative is yet another example of Baraboo school politics as usual. Her use of several personal references to Mortimer are straight out of the Mark Patton/Doug Mering playbook. As for her opinion, while she's entitled to have it, she need not be such a jerk about it. Power's views on the expansion of the phy-ed program are over the top, making her sound like a Mary Anne Stewart clone.

Why stop at scuba diving, fishing, and rafting? Let's bring spelunking, rock climbing, and snowshoeing into the fold too! Next thing you know, taxpayers will be reimbursing teachers for fishing licenses, scuba diving certification, and boat licenses - not to mention they'll want more pay for their added skillset and use teaching time to maintain their certification! Add four-year old daycare to the mix and what do you have? The future of the Baraboo school district if Power gets her way.

Consider this: Who taught you how to fish, swim, or boat? Public schools are not designed to replace parents and families, yet that is what some, such as Power, want to see happen. I see Power as an incremental interventionist. A little at a time, the institution of the family continues to be chipped away by some pinhead who thinks they know what you need better than you do. Power demonstrates, through her own commentary, that she's out of touch. Dismissing current and future costs associated with the new activities is a BIG mistake.

Power signs her letter: Positive attitudes, Positive ideas, Positive solutions, Positive results, Positive life. I'm positive she's out of touch and positive she is not what I'm looking for in a school board candidate.

Common sense is needed on the Baraboo school board. Vote for Mort!

Sad News...

Well, one of my forecasts for 2008 didn't come true after all. The finalists for the Madison School District superintendent are from Green Bay, Racine, Miami-Dade, Boston, and Columbus, Ohio. Read about it here. It doesn't say whether or not Alwin was among the 25 applicants.

While it's painful to be wrong, at least I'll admit it. It's much easier and relieving than covering up mistakes with lies.

Six Candidates for Four School Board Seats

Source: Baraboo News Republic - 1/4/08

Six candidates will compete for four spots on the Baraboo School Board on April 1, said Mary Howard, School District administrative assistant.

Baraboo School Board members Gary Cummings and Judd Maxwell have filed candidacy papers to run for re-election. School Board members Mary Anne Stewart and Jill Ellinwood will not be running.

Four other candidates have filed to run: Doug Mering, Ed Mortimer, Paul Peterson, and Phyllis Power. All papers were due in the Sauk County Clerk's office Wednesday by 5 p.m. - News Republic
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Baby steps...A possibility for change exists. Now it's a "wait and see" until candidates come out with positions on issues.

This soldier has just the right piece of equipment to have at the ready.

Happy New Year!

Welcome to 2008. Time to set those resolutions in stone. It will be an interesting presidential election-school board election-leap year. Here’s my forecast for 2008:

The presidential election will come down to Rudy vs. Obama. America needs leadership, and Rudy is the most proven candidate. Mitt will get caught up in some bad business deal, but will stick with the primary process to the end. Hillary will get sidetracked with another one of Bill’s bimbo eruptions, stand by her man like she did the last time, and Hillary’s publicity team will be too busy doing damage control to actually promote what Hillary stands for, which we still do not know.

There will be some new faces on the Baraboo School Board come April. Locals are fed up with the school board’s coddling of the administration and lack of leadership by both the board and admin. In an effort to bolster the perception of board leadership, the board will officially serve district superintendent Lance Alwin with a notice of non-renewal of his contract in February. The BNR will run another award-winning photo of Mary Ann sobbing.

Being the visionary, Alwin has already seen the writing on the wall. Later this month, Alwin will be announced as one of the finalists for superintendent of the Madison School District, replacing Art Rainwater. Alwin will ask to be excused from his contract early. His wish will be regrettably granted by the current school board, with kudos and back slapping all around for Alwin’s positive accomplishments during his tenure at Baraboo. This will last about 10 seconds and include several lengthy, silent pauses.

Parents, teachers, and community members will cheer quietly to themselves at the news – followed by a prayer that the new school board doesn’t make the same stupid mistakes twice when hiring a new superintendent.

What’s the greatest thing about time? Time changes everything.

2008 will be a great year. Make the most of it. Happy New Year!

WEAC - Another Milestone Initiative

Today's Wisconsin State Journal had an interesting article related to Wisconsin's Frankenstein veto. This priviledge is currently held by none other than our governor, "Diamond" Jim Doyle. The WI state assembly and senate have said "enough is enough" and it's time to remove the priviledge of the Frankenstein veto.

Who is the lone supporter of Diamond Jim and his Frankenpen? WEAC. After all, they got what they wanted in this state budget. Oh, that's right...According to Ma Bell, WEAC prez, WEAC wants to set politics aside. Yea, right.

Put it on the April ballot through a state referendum and we'll just see how much pull WEAC has.

Hiss...

In case you are considering voting for "the smartest woman in the world" for president (and no, Oprah isn't running), watch this first.

Doyle Vetoes Virtual Schools

Governor "Diamond" Jim Doyle and his WEAC supporters were handed a victory December 5. WEAC professes, "Every child deserves a great school." Truth is, they want to indoctrinate our kids in person. (ie: We need more union due payers) WEAC used its most expensive political thug to maintain the stranglehold on school choice through Diamond Jim's veto pen last month. Educational options for kids who need them have taken a back seat to union thuggery.

So much for Ma Bell separating education from politics.