Number of 2009 "No" votes cast by board members:David Stackhouse - 9
Terry Shimek - 8
Caren Diedrich - 6
Jill Camber-Davidson - 5
Albert Slane - 4
John Whalen - 3
Jim McCourt - 1
So...Stackhouse was chief naysayer. Inquiring minds wonder if there's anything to the fact that 8 of his 9 votes came after his fellow board members turned their backs on him and didn't cast a single vote from him for ANY of the board officer positions last April.
What do you suppose they were thinking when they voted "NO" on the following issues?
1/12/2009 6.02 Sun Prairie Four Kids: A Community Early Learning Program [Camber-Davidson]
In one of her rare vocal moments, Ms. Camber-Davidson was not necessarily opposed to the concept of a 4K program, but rather that the district was rushing things without having enough nailed down. What? The district rushing into things? Never!
1/26/2009 6.03 Facsimile Signatures for Diplomas [Stackhouse]
Stackhouse was voting "No" because he wanted this decision (voted down 6-1)to be re-visited annually. Let's face it...everything has facsimile signatures these days. And signing 400+ diplomas taxes our school board members needlessly.
1/26/2009 7.04 Donations for Baseball Artificial Turf [Diedrich]
For some reason, Diedrich had her knickers all twisted over the idea that Coach Hamilton could secure the donations necessary to put in astroturf. Oh..and some ill-informed ideas about the hazards of turf. Well done, Coach!
3/9/2009 6.02 Resolution authorizing the issuance and awarding the sale of $38,900,000 bond anticipation notes [Shimek]
We are without clue on this one. Ask Mr. Shimek. Wait...you could check the meeting minutes. Oh...yeah...nevermind...they don't capture discussion like this.
4/13/2009 7.06 Conversion of Administrative Support FTE [Shimek] 1
We're pretty sure that Shimek voted against this because of the further increase to an already weighty administrative staff. But we could be wrong.
4/13/2009 7.07 Naming Rights Committee Recommendations [Camber-Davidson, Diedrich]
We recall that Diedrich and Camber-Davidson had some objection to the "cut" that the SPEF gets for securing naming rights "donations".
5/11/2009 6.01 Personnel [Stackhouse]
The main personnel item was the hiring of Rainey Briggs as an assistant principal at the high school. Stackhouse claridfied that his vote had nothing to do with Mr. Briggs personally. Perhaps another vote against adding to administration? But oif so...why didn't he vote with Shimek earlier?
5/26/2009 5.01 Converting Contracted Security Guards to District Employed Youth Advocates [Shimek, Stackhouse]
Shimek and Stackhouse both expressed concerns on this issue. Note that this was the vote to move forward. See the leter vote on this issue regarding a conctractor for the services.
6/22/2009 6.02 Motion to Approve the "Intent" of the 2009-2011 SPEA Collective Bargaining Agreement [Slane][Note that Shimek abstained]
One of Slane's few "NO" votes. This one seemed a bit weird. Did Slane actually vote AGAINST the teachers union? Or was his issue the wording of the motion?. How does one vote to approve --or not--the "intent" of something? You'd have to ask Mr. Slane what was in his craw on this one.
7/13/2009 6.02 Reduction to Previously Approved Administrator Salary and Benefit Total Package for 2009-2010 [Camber-Davidson, Slane]
This wil go down as the mother of all messes. First Stackhouse made a motion to add 5 furlough days...but no one would second the motion! Eventually the vote to reduce the admin raises FAILED on a tie vote. The 'big 3' were opposed to reducing the administrator benefit package. Later on in the meeting Stackhouse, in a moment of school board clarity, asked to revisit the motion, which passed. On the final (re)vote, the reduction of adminstrator raises PASSED this time, with Slane and Camber-Davidson voting against! Since this was the opposite of how they voted initially, it seems as if they didn't understand the motion. Nevertheless, this goes down as one of Slane's "NO" votes...and one he shouldn't have cast. Hmmm. Keep this one in mind come April, sports fans.
7/13/2009 6.05 Bid on Asphalt Work at Westside & Royal Oaks [Stackhouse]
We believe Stackhouse's objection was to postpone this work as a budget reduction measure.
7/27/2009 6.01 Personnel [Stackhouse]
Not a clue.
7/27/2009 6.04 Elimination of Middle School Bussing from Golden Meadows Neighborhood Due to Change in Hazardous Status [Diedrich]
Ahhhh...pity the poor children who have to walk... Classic Diedrich, "I care about the kids"? Or was this clever advance posturing knowing she'd be fighting a tough re-election battle this spring?
7/27/2009 6.05 Appointment of Representatives to Standing Committees (Student, Staff & Citizen) [Stackhouse]
Only Stackhouse had the stones to call out Whalen's poor choice to violate rules and policy to put his man on the Finance Committee instead of a guy with grade 'A' financial credentials.
8/10/2009 6.02 Agreement with Youth Services of Southern Wisconsin Regarding Youth Advocate Positions Pilot Program [Shimek, Stackhouse]
Holding firm to their earlier votes on this issue (fancy that!) both Shimek and Stackhouse questioned this move. Shimek wanted to go with only one advocate, as this was a trial.
8/10/2009 7. Consent Items 7.01 School Board Minutes - July 27, 2009 7.02 Checks 7.03 Certified Nursing Assistant Program 7.04 CESA 6 Contract for Grant Writing Consortium 7.05 Carl Perkins Grant 7.06 Alternative Education Grant Renewal 7.07 Early Childhood Demonstration Grant 7.08 June Budget Adjustments [Whalen]
We have no idea why Whalen would vote againts Consent items when it is HE--the president-- that identifies items for the "Consent" agenda. Chalk it up to wacky Whalen weirdness.
9/14/2009 6.03 Adoption of 2009-10 Proposed Budget [Diedrich, Shimek, Stackhouse, Whalen]
This was an attempt by Al Slane (seconded by John Whalen) TO AMEND THE MOTION AND RESTORE $50,000 (5%) SCHOOL CUTS AND TAKE THE MONEY FROM FUND BALANCE.
Unfortunately the vote on the amended motion FALED with only Camber Davidson and Slane supporting it. The other 4 (Diedrich, Shimek, Stackhouse, Whalen) opposed the idea of returning $50K to the schools. Guess who was not there that meeting?
Oh...the vote on the original motion to adopt the budget as written was unanimous.
9/14/2009 6.07 District Wide School Nutrition Staffing Requests [Stackhouse]
We believe this objection was over the addition of staff in light of a tight budget climate.
11/23/2009 6.02 2009-2010 Budget Adjustments and Reductions [Diedrich]
Diedrich wanted heavier cuts. Hmmm....smells too much like a full frontal approach to getting in the taxpayers' good graces prior to the 2010 elections.
11/23/2009 6.03 Middle Schools Electronic Door Access Bid [Shimek]
Shimek was opposed on the basis of this being something to cut from the budget...perhaps postpone. We like where your head's at, Mr. Shimek...but this is a security issue, so it warrants importance in light of budget constraints. Find something less critical to cut.
11/23/2009 6.05 2010 Sun Prairie Chamber of Commerce Membership [Camber-Davidson, Slane]
Camber-Davidson and Slane both felt there was value in continuing the Chamber of Commerce membership despite budget constraints. Bottom line folks is that this is the Chamber of Commerce...and the school district isn't some private business. Plus, as a non-profit, the district should be offered a very low cost membership...as other municpalities do.
12/14/2009 6.12 Approve the SPEA Work Calendars for the 2010-2011 and 2011-2012 School Years [Shimek, Stackhouse]
This may have been Shimek and Stackhouse's way of expressing displeasure that SPEA refused to voluntarily take one furlough day in unison with Admin, Admin Support, and Local 60 (not so voluntarily.
There you have it ladies and germs. 1029 votes cast...and only 36 of them were "NO" votes. And that's why much of this community is not very pleased with the school board. Heck...with a batting average of over 96%, why do we even NEED a school board??? After all...Admin makes the recommendatiions, and the school board just rubber stamps 'em.
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