Wednesday, May 22, 2013
Our sister Patch in West Des Moines, Iowa, reports that a Scott Walker “Truth Squad” plans to rally ahead of Wisconsin governor’s appearance before Republican activists.
West Des Moines, Iowa — Advocacy groups for progressives in Iowa and Wisconsin are holding “Scott Walker Truth Squad” in advance of the Wisconsin governor’s appearance Thursday at a Polk County Republican Fundraiser, one of several of appearances before GOP activists that point to a possible presidential run in 2016. Advisers to Walker say he’s returning a favor to Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad, who hosted a fundraiser in Dubuque, Iowa, for the embattled Wisconsin governor during his 2012 recall election, the Washington Post reported. Even if Walker’s advisers are telling it like it is, and that Walker’s appearance with Branstad is just a little quid pro quo among political friends, the pre-banquet rally by Progress Iowa and One Wisconsin Now …
The Milwaukee-area financial sector CEO launched a recall effort against board members and has advocated against middle school schedule changes.
The parent who led a recall effort against three Fox Point-Bayside School Board members is now seeking an open seat on the board. Milwaukee-area financial sector CEO David Braeger announced Wednesday that he is seeking the board's appointment to the seat that will soon be left empty by School Board President Debbie Friberg. Braeger, a parent of two children, filed paperwork May 8 to launch recall efforts against Friberg, Vice President Tim Melchert and member Alice Lawton. He later dropped the recall effort because he did not want to damage the school district's reputation. Braeger said he believes he is well-suited for the position because he is willing to take risks, ask hard questions, hold regular meetings with residents and teachers …
Some school officials want to return to the existing class schedule, but a decision will not be reached until May 30.
Some Fox Point-Bayside School Board members have come out against proposed schedule changes at Bayside Middle School that would reduce art, general music, technology and physical education classes in favor of more time for math and one-on-one mentoring. The board has spent the last several weeks debating the scheduling changes, which school officials say would give students the math skills to succeed on a new state test that will replace the WKCE next school year. Currently Fox Point-Bayside currently offers 43 minutes per day of math, which is less than what the Department of Public Instruction recommends. The district would also add a 30-minute "flex period" to address the government-mandated Response to Intervention program that …
Tuesday, May 21, 2013
The president of the Fox Point-Bayside School District plans to move to North Carolina on June 15.
Debbie Friberg will be stepping down from the Fox Point-Bayside School Board, as her family is moving to Charlotte, North Carolina on June 15. First elected in 2009, Friberg was appointed to the role of board president one month ago. She said she is excited to move to Charlotte, but her departure is not without mixed emotions. Superintendent Rachel Boechler said it has been a pleasure working with Friberg. "She has put in a lot of time and energy, specifically because it's been a very tumultuous time, but also because she led the search for our new district administrator," Boechler said. Board member Alice Lawton agreed that Friberg was instrumental in the hiring of Vance Dalzin. "Without your incredible diligence and hard work this …
Amy Kohl, who has been in the Fox Point-Bayside School District the last two years, has been hired to a similar position in the Greenfield School District.
Fox Point-Bayside School District's business manager has been hired to a similar position in Greenfield. Amy Kohl was chosen from a pool of 16 applicants to serve as the Greenfield School District’s new Director of Business Services. Her appointment was approved by the Greenfield School Board on Monday. Kohl was Whitnall’s business manager from 2007-2011 before taking a similar role in the Fox Point-Bayside School District, which she has performed for almost two years. During her tenure with the Whitnall and Fox Point–Bayside school districts, Kohl was responsible for all business operations, including finance, buildings and grounds, food service and transportation. She will perform similar duties with Greenfield and serve as a human …
Monday, May 20, 2013
Did Gov. Scott Walker break a campaign promise when he vowed to keep pork out of the state budget?
Some campaign promises build in a bit of wiggle room. The one made by candidate for governor Scott Walker to “Strip policy and pork projects from the state budget” did not. This unequivocal pledge, posted on Walker’s campaign website, committed the candidate to eschewing both parties’ longstanding practice of using the budget to make policy changes and reward special interests. In April 2011, less than four months into Walker’s term, the truth-testers at PolitiFact Wisconsin branded this a broken promise. It noted that the nonpartisan Legislative Fiscal Bureau had identified dozens of non-fiscal items in the governor’s budget repair bills and first biennial budget. Walker’s latest executive budget, for 2013-15, included what the Fiscal …
Thursday, May 16, 2013
The "openly black" congresswoman talked politics and pretended to ride motorcycles with the comedic talk show host Wednesday night.
U.S. Rep. Gwen Moore is the latest politician to take a political risk and appear on The Colbert Report with comedian Stephen Colbert. If you're not familiar with the show, Colbert takes on the role of an exaggerated right-wing talk show host. In his "Better Know a District" segment, he has poked fun at about 80 U.S. representatives, with the ambitious goal of reaching all 435 congressional districts. Moore represents Wisconsin's 4th Congressional District, which recently expanded to include Shorewood, Whitefish Bay, Fox Point, Glendale and Bayside. On last night's show, Colbert asked Moore to expand on her thoughts about Rep. Paul Ryan's budget, which she has said favors the rich. Moore said America should be more akin to a family, in …
Wednesday, May 15, 2013
The Village Board approved a demolition contract that calls for the Bridge Lane Ravine footbridge to be removed no later than Oct. 15.
The removal of the Bridge Lane Ravine Footbrdige will cost $228,200, according to Fox Point Now. The Fox Point Village Board on Tuesday night entered into a $187,700 contract – about $150,000 less than anticipated – for the demolition and removal of the footbridge. Trustees signed a separate $40,500 contract with Ayres Associates to inspect the demolition process and prepare contract documents. Trustees Beverly Bell, F.R. Dengel and Christine Symchych voted against the contract with Ayres, according to NOW, because two contractors seemed unnecessary. Public Works Director Scott Brandmeier said Ayres is hired to make sure the work is done appropriately and to address any issues that may come up. The contractor, C.W. Purpero, plans to …
Saturday, May 11, 2013
Some Wisconsin legislators are hoping to prevent any government restrictions on the size of your soda. What about your own restrictions? If any?
If the state Joint Finance Committee gets its way, the Big Gulp will have the freedom to remain, well, … Big. WISN 12 News reports the panel, which includes local representatives Sen. Alberta Darling (R-River Hills) and Sen. Glenn Grothman (R-West Bend), placed a provision in the budget bill that would prevent any city or county from limiting the size of a food or drink being sold. The infamous New York City ban on sugary drinks larger than 16 ounces is being challenged in court, but if successful it would dramatically slash the 7-11 Big Gulp (128 ounces) and the McDonald’s Supersize (40 ounces) among others, according to Mother Jones. Setting aside the notion for a moment of how much control government should exert over such a matter, how…
Friday, May 10, 2013
President Barack Obama chose Nicolet High School grad Col. Andrew Armacoast to be the dean of faculty.
President Barack Obama tapped Nicolet High School graduate and Glendale native Col. Andrew Armacost to serve as the dean of faculty for the U.S. Air Force Acadamy, according to stories in the Gazette and the Journal Senitnel. Armacost currently serves as the head of the Deaprtment of Management at the Air Force Academy. If his nomination is approved, he'll serve as the 10th dean of faculty. His duties include commanding "the 700-member Dean of Faculty mission partner and oversee the annual design and instruction of more than 500 undergraduate courses for 4,000 cadets in 31 academic disciplines. He will also direct the operation of five support staff agencies and faculty resources involving more than $350 million," according to a story …
Bren
6:54 pm on Thursday, May 23, 2013
Actually, Scott Walker joined ALEC as a young Assembly representative in the early 1990s and has served as one of its mouthpieces/tools ever since. If anyone "built" Walker it was ALEC. more ›