2009 What a Wild and Sad Year It Was

In our second annual "Year-In-Review" feature, we look back on the sad realities of our school board. It is ever more clearly the administrative tail that wags the elected dog.

January
SP4k - Cash Cow???
HS Principal Keats "Resigns"
And He shall be Known as McSeaBass

February
1st Warning- Mill Rate projected to rise $1.00 for 2009
Spending $36,000 to fix a $59 problem

March
Admin: "Keep co-head BBall Coaches"; School Board: "NOT!"
SP-EYE's Believe It Or Not: Taxpayers pay for "Birthday KitKat Bars"
SPASD Pays $600,000 to City of Sun Prairie for High School Permit Fees

April
Incumbents Re-elected; Welke Runs Strong Write-In Campaign
For UnLawful Carnal Knowledge (of a Student)
The Sad Truth About How The District Reviews Its Checkbook
School Board Celebrity Resemblances Becomes Viral Hit
The Ridiculously High Cost of Academic Decathlon
Board Turns Its Back on Stackhouse; Votes Whalen as President

May
Security Guards? Or "Youth Advocates" to Restore Peace at the High School
Outstanding District....but bottom rung for Scholarship Dollars
Retiring Teachers Average about $70,000
Culver Starts the Anti-Blog

June
Board Signs New Teacher Pact Early Instead of Waiting till July 1 for QEO to be dissolved.
Still Double Digit Expulsions at SPHS
What Recession??!! Teachers get 7.0% increase

July
First Big Raises for teachers...now for Admin and Admin Support
SP-EYE Warned You of the Perfect Storm
Mid-July and no Sign of the budget
Reality Bites - What We Pay Administrative Support Staff vs. Dept. of Labor Job Stats
The Fix is in: Whalen breaks rules and policy to get his man on school board Finance committee

August
Sun Prairie May be in the Top 10 Places for Families...but you better have a LARGE Income
The Diversity Issue...One Hot Potato
Questionable Financial Transactions---Is this the right lot for us to purchase? Yes, the price is $4,000 to $14,000 below that of previous lots...but we have to buy a $10,500 vehicle to transport kids to it!

September
When SCOs Run Amok...A new School Year, a new scandal- "Class Fees"
More Scandals...Shimek Fails Interviewing 101 on Bond Fee Issue
The Meteoric Rise in Property Taxes

October
The Swiftly Changing Face of "Fund Balance"
The Community Sends a LOUD Message to the School Board at the Annual Electors Meeting

November
Furloughs Coming? What ONE day costs the District
Could Next Year be even WORSE for Property Tax Increases?
Under the Sun Prairie [Recession-Proof] Dome....22% increase to $100K Club
More of What the Board Doesn't Tell You - A "3.8% Package Means 4.9% Salary Increase

December
1100 PCs for 1400 Students, but NO Grand Piano for the New Performing Arts Center
Budget Cuts Passed Are a 1-Year Fix Only!