Rep. Tom Price admonishes govt-takeover of healthcare (he's a Medical Doctor by the way)

Click here to see the FIVE FREEDOMS YOU'D LOSE IN HEALTH CARE REFORM!!!

The Great Global Warming Swindle

Sign The Petition To Stop The Energy Tax

Please join our friends in signing the petition to stop the Energy Tax!!!

Click here to sign the petition!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hello....Reality to B. Hussain Obama & Wingnut Libs.....how about some common sense?????

Waterford Middle School

In the July 3rd edition of the Waterford Post in the opinion section, I had 4 teachers reply to my letter to the editor about how the house system is working. One writer chose to question my facts and in her own “persuasive writing” was able to confirm many of the concerns I have as a taxpayer. The biggest concern is the reduced number of student the teachers have each day.

The writer of this opinion piece argues that they don’t have an extra prep period but rather a common planning time. What ever it is called it is not time with students. They already have at least one early release day per month for meetings that use to be held after school.

I have been very careful not to criticize the teachers or their abilities or their concern for the students. My beef is with the administration and past school boards. They have ignored WGSD Policy 343.2 Class Size Goals. They have chosen the house system that guarantees that more teachers are required at an added cost to the taxpayers. I estimate the addition cost is between $250,000 and $500,000. If the superintendent is looking for a place to trim the budget, I suggest here.

I provided to the Waterford Post a spreadsheet with data backing up my information. I obtained the test scores from the WSAS, WKCE and WAA Combined from the DPI website. Other data was obtained from the administration. You can find the spreasheet below.

One area that is misleading is the number of teachers employed by the school district. Many special ed. teachers have been transferred to special ed. consortium but they are still paid for by the WGSD.

The writer also suggests I need to spend time at Fox River Middle School. The principal will confirm that I made arrangements to visit on one of my few vacation days to work with the TAG students on the candidate’s forum. I have also presented Electrical Engineer as a career at the high school. I don’t see teachers or administration coming to my place of employment to learn about high tech careers.

The writer might want to provide the paper with student/teacher ratios (using FTEs), class sizes, and number of aids or cost per student and let the taxpayers decide if those are reasonable numbers. The only numbers I did see was the 17 seventh graders and 20 eighth graders that have RTI needs. This is about 2 per classroom. I don’t believe that this is unreasonable.

I do question why 10% of our students need RTI (Response to Intervention). The curriculum director has spent a lot of time mapping out what should be taught and when to help with the WKCE scores. Some might call this teaching to the test. Still our scores continue to fall.

Second problem is that you need more classrooms. You may have heard about some students that are being taught in the basement. If you get the class sizes back to the right size, the basement classrooms would not be needed except for classes that need special rooms.

OK if you are an “advocate for education” you might feel this is a small price to pay for “the children.” That said, I don't believe that the house system providing the results they where looking for.

For 3 straight years, the DPI measurement of Advanced + Proficient students has declined from 88.8% in November of 2005 down to 85.0% in the most recent tests last November. That includes declines of 4% in Science and Social Studies this past year alone. I understand that the house system has only been in place for 2 years, but the house system has not changed the trend.

When the administration says there is nowhere to cut the budget, I see this as a huge cost burden. I believe that we had to add 20% more teachers in the Middle School because of the House System. It is time to scratch this costly program and examine our curriculum.

Regards,

Paul Beyerl
Former WGSD Board Member

CLICK ON "wta" TO OPEN THE SPREAD SHEET....or you can scroll side/side - up/down.




24 Minimum MS Class Size
27 Average MS Class Size
30 Maximum MS Class Size

5 Classes as normal load

120 Minimum number of students taught per teacher
135 Average number of students taught per teacher
150 Maximum number of students taught per teacher

384 Minimum Number MS Students for House System
432 Average Number MS Students for House System

357 2008-2009 MS Enrollment
22.3125 2008-2009 MS Class Size

89.25 2008-2009 Students taught per teacher

51.26% Additional Teachers need because of fewer students being taught.

The Bloviating of a WUHS Teacher and a WGSD Teacher

There was a letter to the editor ("WGSD is a great school district") by Kathy and Chad Gordon that appeared in the July 3, 2009 edition of the Waterford Post.

The Gordon's bloviated on and on about their selection (through open enrollment - they live in Eagle) of the WGSD for their children's education.

For the record, we agree that the WGSD is a fine school district, and the School Board, Administration, Principals and Teachers deserve credit for providing a quality education to the children.

However, it turns out that (according to the Waterford Post) Mr. Gordon is a teacher at the Waterford Union High School, and Mrs. Gordon was recently hired as a teacher in the Waterford Graded School District.

What a coincidence...the WGSD they boasted about happens to be the same WGSD that Mrs. Gordon works for. The WGSD is of course is a very convienent place to send their kids.

We wonder if perhaps the letter to the editor is more about parroting in disguise the talking points of those opposed to real progress and change at the WGSD than it is about the school of obvious conveinence.

Where will the Canadian's go when Obama screws up the US healthcare system?

WGSD Middle School House System

In the June 19th edition of the Waterford Post, the writer asked how well the house system is working. The house system is set up to co-locate students in four major classes. The idea is that students would have less of a chance of falling through the cracks. There is an emphasis on having teachers communicating with each other about the students in their house.

When this program was proposed, I voted against it. The school district has set up guidelines for class size. The middle school class size is suppose to be between 24 and 30 or an average of 27. The minimum size for the middle school should be 384 students, 4 classes X 4 houses (2 in 7th and 2 in 8th grade) times the minimum class size of 24. Using the average class size of 27 students, the middle school should have 432 students. At the time Fox River had 354 students and the following year it went down to 331 and 357 students last year. This means that the class rooms have an average class size of 22.3 which does not meet the school board minimum size.

Having too few students in a class room has had two negative results. First, the district had to hire more teachers. With the house system, teachers are given an extra prep period. In the past a teacher would have 5 classes of 27 students or 135 students. With the current house system, they have about 90 students per day. This is only 2/3 of the students.

Second problem is that you need more classrooms. You may have heard about some students that are being taught in the basement. If you get the class sizes back to the right size, the basement classrooms would not be needed except for classes that need special rooms.

OK if you are an “advocate for education” you might feel this is a small price to pay for “the children.” That said, I don't believe that the house system providing the results they where looking for.

For 3 straight years, the DPI measurement of Advanced + Proficient students has declined from 88.8% in November of 2005 down to 85.0% in the most recent tests last November. That includes declines of 4% in Science and Social Studies this past year alone. I understand that the house system has only been in place for 2 years, but the house system has not changed the trend.

When the administration says there is nowhere to cut the budget, I see this as a huge cost burden. I believe that we had to add 20% more teachers in the Middle School because of the House System. It is time to scratch this costly program and examine our curriculum.

Regards,

Paul Beyerl

Former WGSD Board Member

Democrats Asinine Budget Passes Committee in Middle of the Night - An Update from Rep. Robin Vos

While most of you were sleeping this morning at 5:30, Democrats on the Joint Finance Committee approved a budget that increases taxes by over $4 billion and raises government spending by more 7% in the worst recession in a generation. As a member of the Committee, I was there for the entire 12 hour session, and I can't tell you how disappointed I am in the product that was approved by the 12 Democrats on the committee.

The committee co-chairs and leaders of the Assembly and Senate promised to put a budget on Governor Doyle’s desk by the end of the state fiscal year on June 30. With votes by both houses planned for June, it appears they will meet the deadline. While Madison politicians keeping their word may be a welcome change of pace, it doesn’t amount to good news in this instance.

Unfortunately, just getting the budget done doesn’t mean getting it right. Turning to tax and fee hikes to fuel an explosion of state government spending means Governor Doyle and the Democrats got it very wrong.

Governor Doyle promoted his state budget proposal in February by vowing to protect middle class taxpayers. He told lawmakers that we can find new revenues and fund our priorities “without raising taxes on middle class families.” He continued, “so, I am not going to raise taxes in the ways that some have suggested. Some say we should raise the sales tax. I’ve never done that, and I’m not going to now.

However, Governor Doyle did nothing to protect middle class taxpayers. To fund new state spending and government jobs, Governor Doyle cast a wide net that trapped middle-class families with a creative assortment of tax and fee hikes. Their tax burden ballooned when Democrats gave the green light to an amended version of the governor’s budget this morning.

Do you own a house?

Your property taxes will go up $316 according to the LFB estimate of the increase on an average home.

Do you use a telephone, cell phone, or fax machine?

Add 75-cents to your monthly bill for each one in order to fund 911 dispatch centers, plus more to fund an $11 million increase in the existing $30 million Universal Service Fund (which ensures all Wisconsinites have phone service). Then watch helplessly as Governor Doyle and the Democrats siphon $100 million to plug holes in unrelated state programs.

Do you have a child in daycare?

Forget about deducting child care tuition and fees from your state income tax. The deduction approved by the legislature and signed into law by Governor Doyle in 2007 has been scrapped. In addition, the per-child licensing fee your child care provider pays to the state is increasing 39%.

Do you pay a portion of your health insurance premium?

It’s no longer tax deductible in Wisconsin. This deduction was also established in 2007.

Do you pay for automobile insurance?

Your rates will go up about 33% due to higher mandatory coverage amounts.

Are you getting married or having a baby?

The marriage and birth certificate fees are doubling.

Is your teenager looking for his or her first summer job?

The work permit fee is doubling.

Do you turn on the lights, heat or air conditioning at home?

Your utility bill will go up so that you can chip in to fund a $9.1 million annual increase in the existing $105 million low income energy assistance fund. And, you can again watch helplessly as $18.2 billion is drained from the fund during the two year budget period in order to pay for Wisconsin Works (W-2) benefits.

Do you have a child attending a University of Wisconsin school?

Tuition for the 2009 school year will go up at least 5% while financial aid is held flat.

Do you have a family member in a nursing home?

The nursing home bed tax will double this year and then increase another 13% next year. And, once again, most of those dollars will be used to pay for other programs.

Do you invest in stocks or real estate?

You’ll share any earnings with the state treasury now that the capital gains exclusion is slashed.

Do you depend on municipal garbage collection?

The “tipping fee” charged to your local government by the state more than doubled.

Do you buy cigarettes?

You’ll pay 75-cents more per pack.

Do you download music, ring tones, videos or books from the Internet?

You’ll now pay a 5 percent state sales tax on these digital products.

Do you ever fill your tank with gas?

You’ll pay 6-cents more per gallon.

With only a few hours to scan the Democrats’ handiwork, this list is apt to expand, and with it, your tax burden.

In the end, Democrats on the Joint Finance Committee packed hundreds of decisions into huge “omnibus motions” and took just a few votes to decide nearly all state government spending. They dodged debate and discussion, and avoided individual votes on particularly tricky political issues by continually meeting in secret, cutting back room deals that have more to do with the personal interests of the legislators rather than the taxpayers, and held meetings in the middle of the night and on weekends to avoid public coverage of what they were actually doing.



Survey Respondents Overwhelmingly Support Cutting Government Spending

Last week, I asked readers to complete a survey designed to help me understand the thoughts of Wisconsinites as to how the $7 billion budget deficit should be handled. Over 3,000 people took three minutes to answer three questions. Thank you to all who responded! Following are the results:



What do you believe state lawmakers should do to address the state’s $7 billion budget hole?



Cut Government Spending

STRONGLY SUPPORT:
79.8%

STRONGLY OPPOSE:
2.5%




Raise Taxes

STRONGLY SUPPORT:
5.4%

STRONGLY OPPOSE:
72.7%




Increase Borrowing to Get Through the Recession

STRONGLY SUPPORT:
2.1%

STRONGLY OPPOSE:
60.6%




If the following taxes were increased to address the state’s $7 billion budget hole, how would they impact your family?



Property Tax

VERY MUCH:
76.3%

NOT VERY MUCH:
4.2%




Income Tax

VERY MUCH:
70.2%

NOT VERY MUCH:
5.3%




Gas Tax

VERY MUCH:
55.5%

NOT VERY MUCH:
9.4%




Sales Tax

VERY MUCH:
47.1%

NOT VERY MUCH:
10.3%




Which of the following policy initiatives do you believe will be most successful in improving our state’s economy?



Cut Taxes on Businesses

STRONGLY BELIEVE:
53.8%

STRONGLY DO NOT BELIEVE:
7.1%




Reduce Government Regulation on Businesses

STRONGLY BELIEVE:
50.2%

STRONGLY DO NOT BELIEVE:
8.8%




Nothing, the State Should Allow the Free Market to Work

STRONGLY BELIEVE:
40.0%

STRONGLY DO NOT BELIEVE:
10.3%




Require Governments to Purchase American Made Products

STRONGLY BELIEVE:
23.8%

STRONGLY DO NOT BELIEVE:
17.7%




Increase Spending on K-12 Education

STRONGLY BELIEVE:
9.6%

STRONGLY DO NOT BELIEVE:
34.7%




Increase Spending on Technical Schools

STRONGLY BELIEVE:
7.9%

STRONGLY DO NOT BELIEVE:
27.4%




Make it Easier for Employees to Unionize

STRONGLY BELIEVE:
4.5%

STRONGLY DO NOT BELIEVE:
64.0%




Use Tax Dollars to Assist Struggling Businesses

STRONGLY BELIEVE:
4.2%

STRONGLY DO NOT BELIEVE:
32.9%




Increase Spending in the UW-System

STRONGLY BELIEVE:
4.2%

STRONGLY DO NOT BELIEVE:
43.1%




A vast majority of respondents advocated for closing the state’s budget gap by reducing government spending. Opposition to tax increases was widespread, with property tax hikes causing the most concern. Increased government spending and new regulations weren’t viewed as helpful to the economy.

There were very few surprises in the survey results. Unfortunately, the priorities of Governor Doyle and Democrats writing the state budget are at odds with yours and mine.

State Representative Robin Vos

State Capitol - Room 321 East - Post Office Box 8953 - Madison, Wisconsin 53708
Phone: (608) 266-9171 - Toll Free: (888) 534-0063 - Fax (608) 282-3663
Email: Rep.Vos@legis.wisconsin.gov

Memorial Day Thank You

Thank you to all of the fine men and women who have served, and are serving, our nation. We all owe a great deal to you. Thank you for your service and sacrafice!!!!

The Bloated WGSD Budget

In a March 6, 2009 Waterford Post article Dr. Nelson, the Waterford Graded School District (WGSD) Administrator, said that “there is no fluff” in the WGSD budget. She painted that same picture in an article that appeared in last week’s edition of the Waterford Post.

Dr. Nelson, the good people living in the Waterford Graded School District are too smart to buy your patronizing rhetoric.

Saying there isn’t any fat in the WGSD budget, is like saying that former Chicago Bears defensive lineman, William “The Refrigerator” Perry, has the figure of a fashion model gracing the runways of Paris or Milan.

We are in the most dire economic period since the great depression. People we know and love, right here in Waterford, are losing their homes and jobs. Many who have been fortunate enough to keep their jobs, have had their wages frozen or significantly reduced, while retirement and children’s college education savings are decimated. Families are being devastated by this crisis.

As families struggle to stay in their homes and provide for their children, the WGSD has rammed down our throats double-digit budget increases every year over the last many, many years. Those budget increases have well outpaced inflation and family income, while being particularly problematic for senior citizens living on fixed incomes.

I sat down with a cup of coffee and in five minutes came up with a laundry list of cost saving ideas and “fat” identification. Here they are in no particular order:

o 2 year pay freeze for every WGSD employee and repeal the 4% raise the administrators just received. In the alternative, administrators and principles who are on 12 month contracts could be laid off over the summer for whatever period of time it takes to make up any salary increase.

o All WGSD employees should be required to contribute 15% - 20% of the monthly health insurance premiums paid for by the taxpayers.

o Find a cheaper health insurance company than the WEAC insurance.

o Impose $1000 individual and $2500 family – out of pocket - annual insurance deductibles for every district employee (for those eligible for insurance).

o Require district residency for every WGSD employee. They are public employees, and should be living in and giving back to the community that employs them. I think you would have greater buy-in to the district’s mission and those employees would more likely be concerned about controlling costs.

o These are tough times…and enrollment is declining. Increase class sizes and layoff teachers. Class size (number of students/teacher) is largely about lightening the load for the teacher and has little to do with student learning.

o Eliminate all Aides. You have more than enough teachers to get the job done!

o Eliminate each “principal’s secretary.” The principals can answer their own phones and type their own letters.

o Each of the schools are bloated with janitorial / grounds keeping staff. Eliminate all but one janitorial position (he can do grounds keeping too). Administrators, principals and teachers should be expected to clean (sweep / vacuum / mop etc.) their own work areas and take out their own garbage. At least one of the schools employs four janitors and one grounds keeper!!!!

o Another alternative would be to hire a cleaning service. Eliminate the janitorial staff and contract with a private cleaning company to clean the buildings. There would be significant savings by being able to forgo health insurance premiums, retirement costs, etc.

o Do we really (come on) need “guidance counselors” in grade school and middle school?

o Eliminate the Curriculum Director position….isn’t that what the District Administrator is supposed to do!

o Eliminate the Technology Director. Contract with a private vendor on a time & materials basis for any maintenance / upgrade to the district computer network.

o Do we really need Library media specialists, library aides and technology curriculum integrators in our schools?

o How many classes does a teacher teach in the day. Do we need both a 7th Grade Science teacher and an 8th Grade Science teacher? Can’t one “science teacher” teach both 7th and 8th grade science?

o Are the nurses district employees who get health insurance and retirement benefits, or are they nurses from a private company contracted by the district to save money?

o Eliminate all travel and conferences that require overnight travel or are out of state.

o Eliminate any district funded teacher/staff luncheons, parties, etc.

o Sell off some of the current land owned by the district. I realize there is some ridiculous DPI guideline suggesting that every school have 30 acres, but it is just that – ridiculous. How is a school better, educationally, if it has 30 acres v. 5 or 10 acres? The land, for example, to the south of Trailside between the school and the Pharmacy Station would be a great location for a small business or office building. There is plenty of green space behind Trailside for the kids to play. We don’t NEED all of this extra valuable acreage. Sell it!

I encourage district residents to go to the WGSD website at www.waterford.k12.wi.us. You can navigate to the page for the district and each of the individual schools, where you will see for yourself the number of administrators, teachers, aides and other support staff.

The taxpayers in the Waterford Graded School District expect a REDUCTION in the next budget, and will accept nothing short of a freeze.

Obama's Budget Cuts are a JOKE!!!!!!!!!!

Hello...Obama...You're ruining the future of our children and grandchildren!!!!!!!

The Democrat Flu

Senator Ted Kanavas lists 30 Doyle tax increases

April 30, 2009: Day 30: The Property Tax

April 29, 2009: Day 29: The Medical Records Tax

April 28, 2009: Day 28: The Child Care Tax

April 27, 2009: Day 27: The Birth Certificate Tax

April 26, 2009: Day 26: The Driver Record Tax

April 25, 2009: Day 25: The Phone Tax II

April 24, 2009: Day 24: The Air Emissions Tax

April 23, 2009: Day 23: The Boat Registration Tax

April 22, 2009: Day 22: The Vehicle Environmental Impact Tax

April 21, 2009: Day 21: The Hunting Tax

April 20, 2009: Day 20: The Gas Tax

April 19, 2009: Day 19: The Great Lakes Water Compact Tax

April 18, 2009: Day 18: The Assisted Living Facilities Tax

April 17, 2009: Day 17: The Investment Tax

April 16, 2009: Day 16: The Garbage Tax

April 15, 2009: Day 15: Right to Keep and Bear Arms Tax

April 14, 2009: Day 14: New Upper Tax Bracket

April 13, 2009: Day 13: The Hospital Tax

April 12, 2009: Day 12: Easter Sunday, No Release

April 11, 2009: Day 11: Vital Records Tax

April 10, 2009: Day 10: BadgerCare Plus Tax

April 9, 2009: Day 9: UW Tuition Increase

April 8, 2009: Day 8: The Capital Gains Tax

April 7, 2009: Day 7: The Work Permit Tax

April 6, 2009: Day 6: The Tailgate Tax

April 5, 2009: Day 5: The Seed License Tax

April 4, 2009: Day 4: The Justice Information Tax

April 3, 2009: Day 3: The Cigarette Tax

April 2, 2009: Day 2: The Phone Tax

April 1, 2009: Day 1: The Nursing Home Bed Tax

Senator Ted Kanavas - April Tax Awareness Campaign 2009 - CLICK HERE