Recall Effort Looms If School Board Doesn't Reverse Budget Cuts

David Braeger is giving the Fox Point-Bayside School Board an ultimatum.

Rescind on  or he'll launch a recall effort against members of the board. 

Braeger, a Milwaukee-area financial sector CEO who has two children in the district, said the board has one week to drop what he characterizes as "horrendous cuts." Otherwise, he'll move forward with a recall targeting board President Debbie Friberg, Vice President Tim Melchert and member Alice Lawton.

"We don’t have much time," he said. "If in a week, nothing changes, I have to do this for the teachers and children. We are in do-or-die time."

The proposed changes to the art, technology, music and physical education programs in the 2013-14 school year would reduce fifth- and sixth-grade physical education class time by 17 percent; fifth- and sixth-grade art and general music programs by 38 percent; and technology class time by 38 percent, according to the district. 

Under the proposed changes physical education would be offered 2-1/2 days a week for physical education, instead of 3 days, and art, music and technology would be offered on a quarterly basis instead of a trimester. That means one of the courses would be offered each quarter, five days a week, instead of throughout the year, twice a week. 

A new science-based problem-solving course centering on the arts would be added as one of the classes offered on a quarterly-basis. Band and orchestra would be combined, one art class would be dropped, and the technology class would be cut back. 

Board president defends changes

School officials say the reductions are needed to make time for a new flex period during the school day, to add more time to math instruction and, intervention required under the federally mandated Response to Intervention, a program aimed at assisting children struggling academically. 

Friberg said the district is lagging on math instruction time, and the district's hands are tied with the new mandate. 

"They will have some outlet like art throughout the year," she said. 

Braeger says numerous studies have shown that such courses enhance student test scores and the overall quality of education for children. He said because of the scheduling changes, teachers have been put in a position where they are expected to do more with less. 

"Obviously, because of the change in scheduling, it’s forcing 10 layoff/terminations of staff. It’s because of the lack of creativity in scheduling," he said. "I haven’t been able to find one school, Maple Dale-Indian Hill, Shorewood, Whitefish Bay, that because of the flex time, has made these kinds of cuts."

District to tell its side Monday night

Friberg said she appreciates Braeger's passion and wish more parents felt as strongly as he does about his children's education. But, she added, Braeger and other parents don't have all the facts about the changes.

"He has only heard one side of the story, and we'll be presenting the other side on Monday," Friberg.

The district will hold a town hall meeting 6:30 p.m. Monday in the Bayside Middle School gym. 

"We haven’t had a chance to give the parents the information," Friberg said, saying teachers were notified of the scheduling changes two weeks ago, whom in turn sounded the alarm to district parents. "It got ahead of itself."

Monday night will be the first time the School Board publicly discusses the proposed changes, Friberg said, and she hopes to clear up misconceptions about the modifications. 

Friberg added if the information presented at the meeting, and answers to questions parents have aren't satisfactory, and Braeger wants to push forward with a recall, he has all the right to do so.

Parent has met with attorney on recall

In preparing for a possible recall, Braeger said he met with "an attorney who specializes in political law and things such as recalls, as well as two political consultants."

He was preparing to launch it prior to a school district town hall meeting on Monday addressing the cuts. However, after hearing that a group of parents are opposed to his efforts because he is a supporter of Gov. Scott Walker, Braeger decided to step back from being so vocal and allow others to voice their opinions. He said he will not speak on Monday's meeting, but simply sit and listen. 

"One thing that is sad is I have heard parents say they are against me because I supported Walker," Braeger said in a prepared statement Saturday. "I was transferred and lived in California during the whole Walker scenario. I could not have supported him if I wanted to. The reason we moved back here is because we wanted to bring our children back to a better school system, and it is apparent to me that this board and district administration want to imitate California."

"This is not parent vs. parent, this is about our children," he said. "They may not like my message, but we’re on the same side."

Braeger if he decides to launch a recall, and enough signatures are collected, he would likely run for a seat on the board. However, if three more qualified candidates stepped forward, he wouldn't seek a seat. 

Under the state recall law, organizers have 60 days from the day the recall effort is registered to collect the number of petition signatures needed to spark a recall, said state Government Accountability Board spokesman Reid Magney. Board members must be on the board for a minimum of a year of their current term to be eligible for recall, Magney said. 

Furthermore, the signatures of at least 25 percent of Fox Point and Bayside residents who voted in 2010 gubernatorial election would need to be collected to spark a recall. That means it would take about 1,500 signatures to get a recall on the ballot.