Category: Education

Arts & Madison Schools

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This weekend’s opening of the 200M+ Overture Center has created a great deal of excitement and activity downtown. Interestingly, the Madison School District has been de-emphasizing arts via:

  • increased student fees
  • Depleting the reserve fund for increased athletic spending (without looking at a more balanced extra-curricular approach such as re-instating the district arts coordinator)
  • Failing to fund West High School’s fall Performance ($11,000) while increasing sports dollars.

100 Black Men Back to School Picnic 8.28

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Johnny Winston, Jr. sent a note today about a wonderful event that the 100 Black Men of Madison are holding:

The 100 Black Men of Madison’s 8th Annual Back To School Picnic will be held on Saturday August 28th from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at Demetral Park on Commercial and Packers Ave. This event will be held rain or shine.This year?s picnic will feature the distribution of over 1,600 backpacks filled with school supplies to help needy elementary and middle school students get off to a great start.
Children must be in attendance to receive a backpack and they are distributed in a ?first come, first served? basis. In addition, hamburgers, hot dogs and other treats will be served. The Oscar Mayer Wienermobile and the Madison Fire Trucks will also be there.
For the first time, The 100 will work in conjunction with the Madison
Department of Public Health to provide toothbrushes and well child clinic
information.
The 100 Black Men of Madison, Inc. is a 501 (c) (3) not for profit service
organization. The Back to School Picnic is sponsored by include Oscar
Mayer, Kraft, Target, Office Depot, Famous Footwear, Anchor Bank and
Jansport.
For more information please contact Wayne Canty 608-285-6753, Darrell
Bazzell 608-263-2509 or Micheal Boulden 608-285-6036.

Wisconsin School Finance Reform Proposal

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The Governor’s Task Force on Educational Excellence is evidently poised to suggest that the state fund schools by:

  • Increase the state sales tax to 6% (from 5%) and reduce property taxes by 20% (I’ll believe that when I see it)
  • Eliminate the QEO (Qualified Economic Offer)
  • Increase Class size reduction funding to $2,500 per child
  • Reimburse school districts at a higher rate for educating high-cost special education students.

Amy Hetzner summarizes the proposal.
I think that school funding should include:

  • Sales tax reform (newspapers, advertising – are currently not taxed)
  • Increase in annual vehicle fees, reflecting the cost of a auto and the fuel efficiency
  • Increased Federal Funding via reform of the Social Security tax so that all wage income is taxed, not just the first $87,600.

Madison Schools Budget Updates

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Barb Schrank updates us on the winners & losers in the recently passed $308+M 2004-2005 MMSD Budget:

  • Winners
    • Student Services increased 30%
    • Business Services 7%
    • General Administration increased 6% (!)
    • Educational Services (spec. ed/bilingual) 1%
  • Losers
    • Elementary Education -1%
    • w/o Assist. Supt. Office -2%
    • Secondary Education -1%
    • w/o Assist. Supt. Office -2%

Schrank also provides a complete comparison (excel file) here.

Madison Schools Budget Updates

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Quite a few interesting articles on the Madison School Districts 308M+ budget are available at www.schoolinfosystem.org

  • Board Member Ruth Robarts offers many useful suggestions, including the rather obvious improvement: drive budget decisions based on academic achievement and curriculum.
  • The current process includes the discussion of “cuts” without prior to the presentation & review of an actual budget!
  • Rob Hernandez writes about the potential loss of 60 coaching jobs.
  • Get involved: Learn about the issues and communicate your ideas. MMSD budget hearing 5.13.2004 @ 5:00P.M. Email the Board of Education: comments@madison.k12.wi.us