Category Archives: finance
Starving the Public Sector to Death
The basic idea behind “starve the beast” politics was expressed by Grover Norquist “”My goal is to cut government in half in twenty-five years, to get it down to the size where we can drown it in the bathtub.” What … Continue reading
Filed under "education finance", Best Practices, Budget, Equity, finance, Gimme Some Truth, Local News, Scott Walker
On the Agenda — MMSD Board of Education, the Week of May 23, 2011 (updated, finished)
I picked a bad week to start doing “On the Agenda” posts on the Madison Metropolitan School District Board of Education doings. Too much going on. Given the amount to cover, I’m going to try to keep the comments and … Continue reading
That Was Strange — MMSD Budget Hearing Report
Patti Smith, “Aint It Strange” (click to listen or download). Short meeting, short report. I got there 15minutes late, a very sparse crowd, maybe 4-5 people who weren’t there in a professional capacity, more reporters than citizens. Strange. By the … Continue reading
Filed under "education finance", Budget, Contracts, education, finance, Gimme Some Truth, Local News, School Finance, Scott Walker
MMSD Budget Hearings, 5/19 & 5/22
Click on image for all the District 2011-2012 Budget Information. The Kingsmen – “Money” (click to listen or download). The Madison Metropolitan School District will be holding two Budget Hearings on May 19 (5:00 PM at the Doyle Building) and … Continue reading
Filed under "education finance", Best Practices, Budget, Contracts, education, Equity, finance, Local News, School Finance, Scott Walker, Take Action, Uncategorized
Senate Bill 95 Testimony
Sisyphus 1, by Davor, click on image for more. The Lyres, “Don’t Give It up Now” (click to listen or download). Thank you for this opportunity to testify on Senate Bill 95. Due to time limitations — both the time … Continue reading
“Flexibility” = Decline = Ugly
Remember warnings about your face getting stuck in some ugly expression? I think the champions of “flexibility” in Wisconsin and elsewhere need loud and repeated warnings that their “flexibility” in educational policy (along with privatization, cuts in funding, destruction of … Continue reading
Save the Dates
Wednesday April 20, 10:30 AM, “A Better Way” School Funding Alternatives Press Conference FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: April 19, 2011 Parents, Religious and Education Leaders Call for Balanced Approach in Budgeting for Public Education. MADISON, Wis. – A broad coalition of … Continue reading
My Letter on Senate Bill 22
Members of the Senate Education Committee My name is Thomas J. Mertz. I have been active in Madison and statewide working for adequate educational funding and equitable educational policies. Like many I see much in Senate Bill 22 that will … Continue reading
WAES: “Governor’s budget plan for education gets a bad grade on basic mathematics”
Click the graphic for more information on WAES. From the Wisconsin Alliance for Excellent Schools (WAES) Governor’s budget plan for education gets a bad grade on basic mathematics As long as the cost of education does not increase, the tools … Continue reading
The Other Shoe, or Will You Be Marching in March?
There is so much good stuff out there on what has been happening in Madison and around the state this week that I really don’t have too much to add. I will point toward the CAST Statement I helped draft, … Continue reading
