Fox Point-Bayside Parents, Teachers Protest Music, Arts Cuts

A standing-room only crowd of parents and school staff voiced their disdain for proposed changes to arts, music physical education and technology programs in the Fox Point-Bayside School District.

Following hours of a standing-room only crowd of parents and teachers voicing their opposition to proposed changes to arts, music physical education and technology programs as well as possible staff layoffs, Bayside Middle School Principal Don Galster asked to be excused from the School Board meeting Monday night.  "My heart is heavy," he said. "I need time to process what I've seen and heard this evening." The crowd that swelled to about 150 laid into the Fox Point-Bayside School Board and administrators over the proposed changes for the 2013-14 school year that 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…

•  90 Comments
• Photos (2)

Nicolet Faces 15% Cut in State Aid

The DPI released state funding numbers for the 2012-13 school year and Nicolet will take the largest cut. Fox Point-Bayside and Maple Dale-Indian Hill also face cuts, but less than one-fifth of what Nicolet will see.

Following the Wisconsin trend, Nicolet, Fox Point-Bayside and Maple Dale-Indian Hill School Districts are all going to see cuts in state funding for the 2012-13 school year. In a report released Monday, 64 percent of the Department of Public Instructions' school districts are facing cuts to state funding for the coming school year.  Nicolet High School District will take the deepest cut among local districts, at 15.1 percent, a drop of $243,210. Fox Point-Bayside and Maple Dale-Indian Hill School Districts will take less drastic cuts in state aid, at 3.11 and 0.85 percent respectively.  Patrick Gasper is a communications officer with the DPI and said there's a wide variety of reasons Nicolet was hit so much harder than the other two …

• Photos (1)

Milwaukee County Board Votes to Restore Some EMS Funding

Supervisor approves $1.5 million in emergency services subsidies to municipalities, but there are strings attached to deal.

The Milwaukee County Board Monday — on a veto-proof vote of 15-4 — approved a budget amendment that would restore $1.5 million to the county’s Emergency Medical Services subsidy. The amendment was presented by the board’s Finance Committee in response to County Executive Chris Abele’s plan to eliminate the entire $3 million that the 19 county municipalities would have received in 2012 for EMS personnel and training.  However, there are conditions on the money: If the municipalities don’t agree to the conditions, the board will withhold the subsidy.   Supervisors Mark Borkowski, Willie Johnson, Joe Sanfelippo and James "Luigi" Schmitt voted against the measure. Those backing the amendment said since the funds were county dollars, the board…

•  4 Comments
• Photos (2)

Fire Department Holds Breath on County Board Vote Slated for Monday

North Shore Fire Department facing possible $362,000 cut that could force additional personnel cuts.

As the North Shore Fire Department struggles to balance its budget for 2012, there’s a cloud looming overhead. Without a supportive vote from the Milwaukee County Board, NSFD could have to plug a $362,000 hole in its budget. “If the county cuts more money out, we either have to adjust our expenses for next year or we have to find a new revenue source, which these days is tough to do,” Fire Chief Robert Whitaker said. NSFD receives $362,000 annually from Milwaukee County for paramedic services, which pays for people and equipment. And with the cuts proposed by Milwaukee County Executive Chris Abele in his 2012 budget, those funds would dry up. Whitaker says he and his staff have been busy reorganizing the department to further cut expenses …

• Photos (1)

Democrats: Walker Mounts Attack on Women's Health

In weekly radio address, Democratic leader says governor and Republicans pushed through an "extreme agenda that has stripped away access to health care."

Editor's note: Assistant Minority Leader Donna Seidel (D-Wausau) last week offered the fourth Democratic Weekly Radio Address. The topic for this week’s address is Gov. Scott Walker's attack on women's health. You can view Seidel's address on YouTube or listen to a podcast of the speech. You can also find last week's radio address from Walker here. __________________________________________ Hello. I’m Donna Seidel. I represent the 85th District, the Wausau area and I am the assistant Democratic deader. Last session, I was proud of advances we made to help Wisconsin women access comprehensive, affordable health care. We made sure they could get birth control without discrimination and have insurance companies pay for it. We expanded …

•  136 Comments
• Photos (1)

Robert Hansen

10:53 pm on Tuesday, January 8, 2013

He could have cut some of the corporate subsidies instead, but he went after family planning instead. He went after this program, so yes it was an attack on women, though in his mind he is playing to the christian right base. He never though about the cost to women, that would require thinking about people other than one's self.   more ›

Sheriff Clarke Blasts County Exec's Proposed Budget Cuts

Clarke says Abele's $14 million in reductions to Sheriff's Department is "insane."

Editor's Note: When Milwaukee County Executive Chris Abele released his proposed 2012 budget, many groups felt the squeeze of budget cuts as Abele attempted to close a $55 million budget gap. Milwaukee County Sheriff David A. Clarke, Jr. is one of those feeling the echo of those cuts. According to a Milwaukee Journal Sentinel article, amid shifting health care costs to employees and retirees, Abele is also slashing the sheriff's budget by $14 million, which the Journal Sentinel says will force Clarke to cancel the sheriff's boot camp program, reduced funds for drug enforcement and criminal investigators as well as a reduction in the department's K9 unit. "I respect and honor the role that the sheriff's office plays in maintaining safety in…

•  13 Comments
• Photos (1)

Cherry San Jose

9:51 pm on Friday, January 25, 2013

A community-owned automobile manufacturer? Sounds like a tax payer money black hole that GM and Chrysler both have now become. A bad idea.... How about doing what Clarke recommended, buy a gun and protect yourself in a pinch.   more ›

TOTAL RECALL: State Senate Showdown

Recall Tracker: Fundraisers, Collective Bargaining and the Twitter Feed

A recap of news and events surrounding the Alberta Darling and Sandy Pasch race for Wisconsin's 8th Senate District, and other recall news.

Editor's Note: With two weeks to go before the Aug. 9 recall election in the 8th Senate District, Patch is launching a new feature that will provide a daily recap of what's happening in the race. We'll look at what incumbent Republican Sen. Alberta Darling and Democrat state Rep. Sandy Pasch are doing and saying, as well what others are saying about the hotly contested election. Where Will They Be? Pasch, Darling's First Debate a Heated One The first debate between the 8th Senate District candidates exploded on WISN-TV, with quick defensive comments and direct attacks. Darling continually refused to even address her opponent, only looking at moderator Mike Gousha. Pasch directly went after Darling when she criticized Darling's support of …

•  9 Comments
• Photos (2)

Scott Walker

6:49 pm on Tuesday, July 26, 2011

Why, can't admit things are working out now because of the brilliant Walker and team? Or will you continue to obstruct and try and recall the person responsible for an actual balanced and successful state?   more ›

School Board Considers Nicolet's Post-Referendum World

Some cuts still recommended, but others no longer necessary.

After voters passed the $10 million referendum for Nicolet High School last Tuesday, many have begun to ask, "What happens next?" And that's exactly what administrators and School Board members considered Monday night. At a Budget and Finance Committee meeting Monday, committee members collectively brainstormed a vision for the school's future now that the referendum has passed. While nothing was decided or voted on, many ideas were brought to the table. Despite the additional funding, budget cuts will still be required. One option raised by District Administrator Rick Monroe was elimination of the Advancement Via Individual Determination, or AVID, program due to low enrollment. AVID students are considered "middle" students — not failing…

•  2 Comments
• Photos (1)

Fox Point and Bayside Week in Review: March 27 to April 2

A weekly recap highlighting the week's top news in Fox Point and Bayside.

Fox Point-Bayside Patch is featuring a weekly recap of the top stories from March 27 to April 2. Opponents, Audience Target School Board Candidate at Forum Fox Point-Bayside Patch hosted a forum at Nicolet High School on Tuesday to help get a deeper perspective on each of the Nicolet School Board candidates and their views on the referendum, school finance and class sizes. Morton Grodsky, Andrew Cegielski and Joe Kasle all attended and took differing viewpoints on each of the issues. But instead of focusing solely on the fate of Nicolet, Kasle and Grodsky spent much of their time questioning Cegielski and his criminal background. Bayside Cops Agree to Pay Part of Health Care, Pension Costs Under the state's new budget repair bill, police …

• Photos (1)

Loss of State Aid May Mean Service Cuts, New Fees in Fox Point

With estimated shortfall of $71,000, small cuts won't cut it anymore, according to village manager.

Gov. Scott Walker's proposed budget is going to cost the village about $137,000 in state aid, and Village Manager Susan Robertson says it's going to take more than small budget cuts to address that shortfall. "We’ll have two choices. We can either cut our services, or we can increase revenue, and for a community like ours that’s not growing, that typically means the use of fees, or some combination thereof," Robertson said. The state Legislative Fiscal Bureau estimates that with Walker's proposed budget, which is still pending in the Legislature, Fox Point will lose 50 percent of its municipal aid, and 15 percent of its transportation aid, for a total loss of $137,400. However, Walker's separate budget repair bill requires most public …

•  2 Comments
• Photos (1)