Monthly Archives: September 2008

Why Arbitration Is Rarely a Good Idea

The Adverts, “Bored Teenagers” (click to listen or download) Portuguese Joe. “Teenage Riot” (click to listen or download) I’ve written many times about why it is rarely best for School Districts to use the arbitration procedure available under the Qualified … Continue reading

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Filed under "education finance", Best Practices, Budget, Contracts, education, Local News, School Finance

Referenda Results – We Are Not alone #24

Of the 12 referendum questions on the ballot yesterday –  8 operating and  4 to issue debt, — 8 passed (5 operating and 3 debt).  Of the operating referenda that passed, all were nonrecurring.  That means that when the authority … Continue reading

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Filed under "education finance", AMPS, Budget, education, Elections, finance, Gimme Some Truth, Local News, Pope-Roberts/Breske Resolution, Referenda, referendum, Take Action, Uncategorized, We Are Not Alone

Madison Mill Rates and Assessments from Peter Gascoyne

Peter Gascoyne has helpfully provided the following presentation on mill rates and property assessments in MMSD and Madison.  This information sets the context for the November 4 operating referendum. As the cost of running the district continues to rise, and … Continue reading

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Filed under "education finance", AMPS, Budget, education, Elections, finance, Local News, Referenda, referendum, Uncategorized

Ruth Page Jones — An Education Champion for the Assembly

Ruth Page Jones narrowly won the Democratic primary in the 97th district.  She is President of the Wisconsin Alliance for Excellent Schools, Activist in Project ABC-Waukesha, longtime champion of school finance reform and a friend (see her testimony before the … Continue reading

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New Blogs in Town

Jan and Dean, “The New Girl in School” (click to listen or download) AMPS would like to welcome two new Madison education blogs: News from the Madtown School Board and Middle School Madness. News from the Madtown School Board is … Continue reading

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Filed under education, Local News

Let’s build a pro-education Democratic majority in the State Assembly

Click on image for PDF flier.

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Filed under AMPS, Elections, Local News, School Finance, Take Action

A breezy need for money

(1924 National American Ballet) Contrast the excellent coverage of what’s at stake for the various referendums taking place this coming Tuesday by my colleague TJ Mertz, in the post immediately below this one, with what was reported yesterday in the … Continue reading

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Filed under "education finance", AMPS, Budget, education, Elections, finance, Gimme Some Truth, Local News, Referenda, referendum, School Finance, Uncategorized

We Are Not Alone #23 – Wisconsin Referenda Roundup, Tuesday, September 9, 2008 votes.

[Updated with more video on Montello, Sptember 7, 2008, 11:45AM] The number of school districts seeking sufficient funding via referenda this Fall (September and November) keeps growing. My count is 20 districts committed to 23 referenda questions (12 questions in … Continue reading

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Filed under "education finance", AMPS, Best Practices, Budget, education, Elections, finance, Local News, Referenda, referendum, School Finance, Uncategorized, We Are Not Alone

Quote of the Day – [School] Districts at a Disadvantage

It wasn’t until after a recent school board meeting while listening to the views of a vote no taxpayer that “it” hit me. This opponent of the upcoming referendum will vote no due to rising taxes in his township. He … Continue reading

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Filed under "education finance", AMPS, Best Practices, Budget, education, Elections, finance, Quote of the Day, Referenda, referendum, School Finance, We Are Not Alone

New Video from CAST

Community and Schools Together has posted a new video on their web site.  It explains why a recurring referendum (like the Board of Education voted in favor of) is better than a nonrecurring referendum. You can see all the videos … Continue reading

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Filed under "education finance", AMPS, Budget, education, Elections, finance, Local News, Referenda, referendum, School Finance, Take Action