MMSD extends winter break, will return virtually
Here's the press release from the district. Seems like we're going backwards again.
Madison Schools Week Ahead 8/30/21
Well, it's been a while. But here's the Madison Schools Week Ahead . . . we'll see if I can keep up during the school year.
Madison City, Schools and Dane County Week Ahead 3/29/31
I'm late, but you didn't miss much, MMSD and Dane County have no meetings this week. City only had 2 yesterday . . . and 12 the rest of the week. Spring break, I guess.
Madison School District Week Ahead 2/22/21
4 meetings this week.
Madison School District Week Ahead 2/8/21
Starting work on the 2021-2022 budget, city-county-schools committee discusses internet access.
Madison Area Schools (MMSD) Week Ahead 2/1/21
Just one meeting this week talking school reopening and Behavioral Education Plan.
Madison Area Schools Week Ahead
2 board meetings tonight - district boundaries, renaming Falk Elementary, reopening policies, recommendations from safety committee and more.
Madison Area Schools Week Ahead 1/4/21
Just one meeting.
Week of 12/21/20
Short week ahead, no school meetings, less than a dozen city and county meetings combined.
Week of 12/14/20
Brenda Konkel from forwardlookout.com and WORT's Dylan Brogan preview local government meeting in Dane County and Madison.
Week of 12/7/20
As it happens, a lot of closed sessions meetings this week. Forward Lookout's Brenda Konkel joins WORT's Dylan Brogan to preview local government meetings and agendas.
Madison School District Week Ahead 11/23/20
Just one meeting this week, school board meets tonight.
Week of 11/9/20
Big budget meetings this week in Dane County and Madison. Forward Lookout's Brenda Konkel and WORT's Dylan Brogan preview this week in local government.
Madison School District Week Ahead 11/9/20
Just two meetings this week.
Week of 10/26/20
The lovely Chali Pittman fills in for Dylan Brogan so you'll be spared the bad jokes!
Madison School District Week Ahead 10/26/20
Madison School District budget public hearing and vote plus millions of dollars of contracts moving forward assuming referendum passes.
Madison School District Week Ahead 10-5-20
Meetings and referenda town halls and information sessions.
UW Student Government vote of “no confidence” in UW Police Department
Interesting list of demands and resolution - looks like the students are taking on what many would like to see the council do.
Week of 9/28/20
Dylan Brogan rants about reducing the size of the council! How about 100 alders? and more . . . go Dylan go!
Madison School District Week Ahead 9-28-20
2 referenda meetings and School Forest Advisory Board meeting this week.
Madison School District Week Ahead 9/21/20
A couple referenda education meetings, closed session and open session board meeting and watch for meetings to get added this week.
Daily Round Up – Tuesday, September 15th
Local government news, brush collection, International Day of Peace, 414 E Washington Ave project and MMSD referenda propaganda.
Week of 9/14/20
The nearly didn't happen week ahead with WORT . . . thank you Jonah!
Madison School District Week Ahead 9/14/20
Operations Work Group and Community Session on Referenda and more.
Details on UW quarantine and shift to on-line classes for 2 weeks
Here are the details from Chancellor Rebecca Blank on what is being ordered.
Madison School District Week Ahead 9/8/20
2 meetings - Instruction Work Group and Safety and Security Ad Hoc Committee
Daily Round Up – 9/4/20
Here's your news round up and various other announcements and tidbits that didn't make it in to their own post!
Delinquent Round Up
I'm not going to admit how many days its been . . . but its been a while. Here's some of the latest!
Week of August 31, 2020
Dylan and Brenda discuss upcoming meetings, that city council meeting looks like a long one!
Madison School District Week Ahead 8/31/20
The last two weeks there was no legal notice when I looked, this week we finally have on again!
Supervisors and Alders raise concerns about UW “Smart” Restart (Updated)
Dane County moved "Forward" and cases spiked, now the UW is going to do a "Smart Restart" with likely similar results. Fancy well branded names can't fool science.
Madison School District Week Ahead 8-17-20
Sigh . . . your guess is as good as mine!
Week of August 10, 2020
Brenda Konkel and Dylan Brogan discuss what is up in the week ahead in local government meetings.
Madison School District Week Ahead 8/10/20
Just one meeting, school board meeting, South Rimrock Road School and committee to rename Falk Elementary School.
Madison District Schools Week Ahead 7/27/20
2 meetings this week and one input session.
Cops out of Madison Schools: Committee to decide what is next
Tomorrow the Madison School Board will consider a proposal for a "Safety and Security Ad Hoc Committee" - the proposal has much more detail now.
Madison Schools Week Ahead July 20, 2020
Just two meetings this week - update on reopening MMSD schools and Safety and Security Ad Hoc Committee and "Employee Handbook"
MMSD will be all virtual to start the school year
Hot off the presses . . . MMSD announces it will be all-virtual to start the 2020-2021 school year.
Week of July 13, 2020
Brenda and Dylan back at it - running down the weekly meetings for city, county and schools.
Madison School District Week Ahead
Superintendent contract being voted on without public input and isn't attached for review. No public input on referendum questions vote. Student Senate virtual rally for youth input.
Week of July 6th
Dylan and Brenda run down what's happening this week in local government
Madison School District Week Ahead – 7/6/20
No legal notice for this week? No meetings?
Cops are out of schools, what’s next?
Cops being out of the schools is just a first step, sadly there is so much more work to do. Here's what else Freedom Inc. is calling for.
Week of June 29
Forward Lookout's Brenda Konkel and WORT host Dylan Brogan walk us through this week in (virtual)public meetings in Madison and Dane County.
Employee Handbook removed from Madison School Board Agenda tonight
Here's the press release. Interesting phaseology about why it has been removed.
Madison Area Schools Week Ahead 6/29/20
Voting to "terminate the MMSD School Resource Officer contract effective immediately." budget, employee handbook and hiring new superintendent.
Madison School Board has chosen 2 final candidates for Superintendent
Sure hope this round goes better than the last one . . . I didn't even know they were meeting today to decide.
Votes to remove cops from Madison Schools on Monday’s school board and next council...
Both School Board President Gloria Reyes and Madison Mayor Satya Rhodes Conway announced they will be putting votes before their bodies to end the police contract with the Madison School District!
Week of 6/22/20
Here’s Brenda Konkel and Dylan Brogan with a preview of what’s happening this week in the city of Madison and Dane County.
Madison School District Week Ahead 6/22/20
Closed session to start considering applicants for Superintendent position.
Madison School District Week Ahead 6/15/20
Operations Workgroup discussing referendum planning and preliminary budget, Nuestro Mundo and MSCR Advisory Committee also meet.
Read Past the Headlines: What did School Board President Gloria Reyes commit to?
To "incorporate a strategy of options to remove School Resource Officers (SROs) from our school buildings." Does that mean removing police from the schools?
Madison School District Week Ahead
Board meets on Monday and Tuesday, closed and open session.
Madison Metropolitan Schools Week Ahead 6/1/20
Instruction work group and public input session along with Rainbow Flag Raising Event.
Madison Area Schools Week Ahead
School Board has the week off. 2 meetings this week.
Week of 5/18/20
Important meetings and agenda items this week in Madison, Dane County and the Madison school district. With Forward Lookout's Brenda Konkel and WORT's Dylan Brogan
Madison Schools Week Ahead
5 meetings this week, another closed session meeting. All meetings via Zoom.
Madison Metropoitan School District Week Ahead
Dammit, they got me again last week with the amended legal notice - the meeting was on the calendar for Forwardlookout but not in the week ahead.
Week of May 4
Dylan Brogan joins Brenda Konkel from Forward Lookout to team up again to let you know what is in the week ahead - city, county and schools!
Madison School District Week Ahead
2 or 3 or 4 meetings on Monday. BOE closed session, open session, Instructions Work Group Public Input and meeting.
Week of April 27th
Forward Lookout's Brenda Konkel and WORT host Dylan Brogan walk us through this week in (virtual) local government. Development, development, development.
Madison Area Schools Week Ahead 4/27/20
3 meetings and one public input session.
Madison Area Schools Week Ahead
Only Nuestro Mundo meeting, via zoom, but no meeting information available.
Round Up – Friday/Saturday, April 10 & 11
Konkel's observations, Alder, homeless services and bike updates, COVID-19 Wall of Shame, surveys, petitions, Conservation Congress voting, new judge appointment and more.
Madison Area Schools Week Ahead 4/13/20
I no longer have faith that anything I write about the schools will be correct. Here's what they claim is their legal notice for meetings this week.
Week of April 6, 2020
Local government meetings go virtual and boards of canvassers resemble a famous physics cat, in this episode of Forward Lookout for April 6, 2020.
School Board Closed Session Yesterday – Start over on Superintendent Search?
I sure hope so! But they are off to a terrible start. They already met in closed session yesterday. And plan more closed session meetings.
Follow the (Coronavirus) money rolling in to Dane County
$95M is coming to the County, $24.4M for our bus system, $1.1M in CDBG funds, Small Businesses (including nonprofits) to get forgivable Payroll Protection loans, we've been declared a federal disaster area and more on the way? Who decides where that money will go?
Madison Area Schools Week Ahead 4/6/20
Public Input meeting on ??, Instruction Work Group Meeting and elections related meeting.
Amid Pandemic: City, County and School Board take time off
After meetings this week, neither the City Council nor the County Board will meet until April 21st (3 weeks), School Board not meeting until the 27th (4 weeks)? Each body will meet only once in April. The mayor seems to be the only decision maker at the city at this point, with the council rubber stamping decisions. What roles should our alders, supervisors and school board members be playing in this pandemic? How are they representing us in this crisis?
Madison Area Schools Week Ahead
Madison School Board will be meeting via Zoom. No public appearance - only by written registration.
Week of March 16, 2020
The longer version than what you will you on WORT - Many government meetings are cancelled due to the coronavirus response. WORT's Dylan Brogan gets the latest from Brenda Konkel on what meetings are still conveying and what comes next.
Madison Area Schools Week Ahead – 3/16/20
At the press conference on Friday, School Board President Gloria Reyes said they still plan to meet on Monday because they have important things to do, but I don't see it on the legal notice.
Week of March 9, 2020
The long version of what you can hear every Monday on WORT's evening news - the chatty version.
Unknown Madison Area Schools Week Ahead 3/9/20
The legal notice for this week's meetings is not on the Madison School Board website. So I only can find one meeting - referendum questions and budget priority actions.
Week of March 2, 2020
Audio version of the three Week Ahead Posts and longer version than you will hear on WORT 89.9 on the Monday evening news.
Madison Area Schools Week Ahead – 3/2/20
Two meetings this week, bullying policy, advanced learning info session and updates.
Local Government Ignores the Basics of Resident Engagement
This week the City of Madison agendas are a mess, the county only posts some agendas on-line, School Board meets in closed session more often than open and doesn't have minutes for months, and the School Board, City and County have been posting meeting a day or two before the meeting.
Madison Area Schools Week Ahead – 2/24/20
Attachment/Detachment Agreement with Middleton/Cross Plains, Nuestro Mundo DPI Waiver and hiring Police for Special Events.
Madison School Board Primary Election Guide
I have updated the guide and here's what you need to know for Tuesday if you have not already voted!
Madison Area Schools Week Ahead – 2/27/20
One meeting on Friday, and don't forget to vote in Tuesday's Primary election where the three candidates running for Kate Toews seat will be narrowed to two.
Madison Areas Schools Week Ahead 2/10/20
More closed session meetings, operations work group meeting and City Education Committee meets.
Week of February 3
This week in local government: The Dane County boards support a union for UW nurses. Madison takes aim at robots on sidewalks. And the Madison school district puts pen to paper on a contract for its new superintendent.
Where can you find the Madison School Board Minutes?
Short answer is maybe here, maybe there, maybe not. For some reason in 2016 or 2017 they stopped posting their minutes where you would expect to find them. Why?
Superintendent Contract Already Signed, So Why Vote Tonight?
Did Gloria Reyes, School Board President (1/24) and Nicki VanderMuelen, School Board Clerk (1/27) have authority to sign the employment agreement with the new School Board Superintendent Dr. Matthew Gutierrez?
Madison Area Schools Week Ahead 2/3/20
Approving the Superintendent contracts, Behavior Education Plan Update and K-5 reading materials review committee.
Week of January 27th, 2020
Dane County will get the latest design plans for the new jail. The city of Madison considers hiring new department heads and a lot of new housing units. And the Madison school board meets in closed session again, this time to discuss expected litigation.
Madison Area Schools Week Ahead – 1/27/20
Renaming Glendale, Badger Rock Middle School Charter, closed session for legal advice on potential litigation, referendum planning, 2020-2021 budget timeline and more.
Madison Area Schools Week Ahead – Committee Agendas
Nuestro Mundo Board Meeting and Badger Rock Middle School Governance Council Meeting this week.
Madison Area Schools Week Ahead 1/13/20
Big Week - the candidates who are finalists for the Superintendent are in town and there are public meetings Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, nearly everything else is behind closed doors.
Surprise! A School Board Retreat Tomorrow!
Wasn't in the week ahead because it wasn't posted until Wednesday of this week. And I didn't notice til TJ Mertz pointed it out to me this morning. Thanks TJ!!!
Week of January 6th, 2020
Dane County is getting feedback on how it provides mental health services, Madison Mayor Satya Rhodes-Conway is talking transit and the search for a new superintendent for the Madison public schools continues.
Madison Area Schools Week Ahead 1/6/20
Instruction Work Group hears Community Schools Update, Naming Committee, K-5 Reading Materials and City Education Committees meet.
Local Government Guide is Back!
This work was initially done by myself, Brenda Konkel, for Progressive Dane about 3 years ago. Technical difficulties happened and over the past three years I continued some of the work here at Forward Lookout. I'm in the process of merging the work and expanding the guide. Let me know what you think!
How Much is in Candidate Campaign Warchests?
I took a look at what people had in their campaign accounts coming in to the 2020 Spring Elections for Madison City Council, Madison School Board and Dane County Board of Supervisors - for those who had campaign accounts in 2019. Here's what I found.
Madison/Dane County/School Board Hide Behind Open Meetings Laws?
So, nothing is worse than when public officials use open meetings laws to thwart public information. I was reminded about how they did that with the Cap Times during the F-35s debate. See what I found in my open records request.
Madison School Board Illegal Meetings
Yesterday i blogged about illegal County Board meetings. Today, Madison School Board.
Madison and Dane County Week Ahead
There are two local government meetings this week at the City of Madison, Madison School Board and Dane County Board . . . that we know of.
No Week Ahead!
Enjoy the government meeting free holiday week! No city, county or school board meetings scheduled for next week!
Week of December 16th
Madison, WI - A brief rundown of the week ahead for City, County and School Board meetings covered on Forward Lookout in podcast format.
Madison Voters: Check Your Voter Registration! (Updated)
Alders were asked to help spread the word. As of last Friday you may have been taken off the voter registration lists.
Madison Area Schools Week Ahead
Madison, WI - Meetings for the MMSD that is mostly Madison, but the school district boundaries are different than city boundaries. 8 meetings! Interviewing superintendent candidates, purchasing property, employee discipline matters, personalized pathways report, school naming and more.
No one running for some seats on School Board and County Board
41 seats up for elections, 2 are contested and 9 have no one filing anything. 2 people officially on the ballot so far. Papers due January 7th - 29 more days. Media silence, so who even knows they should be thinking about running?
What should the Madison Education Committee work on?
Officially, this is the City of Madison Committee, but it has Alders, Dane County Board Supervisors and School Board members along with Mayor and School Superintendent reps. It could be an impactful group! They voted to change the name to City, County, Schools Collaborative Committee (CCSCC). They were almost convinced to disband, but were re-energized with new members after the elections last spring and are discussing what they should be working on.
Madison Area Schools Week Ahead
Madison, WI - Superintendent search announcement and closed session meeting, purchasing properties (Regent St, Holtzman Rd), TIF guidance, Naming Committee for Glendale Elementary, City committee meeting mission and priorities and more.
Round Up for Madison and More – Fri 12/6/19
Madison, WI - The long night homeless memorial, police survey, census update, voter "mover" notice, new fair housing app, parks updates and more!
Forward Lookout on WORT
The impact of F-35s on affordable housing, Urban Forestry fee going up and Madison elementary name change, all these agenda items and more with Forward Lookout's Brenda Konkel and Dylan Brogan.
Time to Start Circulating Nomination Papers!
Today is the day that candidates for County Board (37 Seats!), School Board (3 seats) and City Council (1 seat) can start circulating nomination papers . . . but shockingly few have filed paperwork to allow them to begin!
Video from No F-35s Black Friday Protest at Capitol
Music (Mary Gaines and Chris Wagoner), great speakers (Vicki Berenson, Brian Benford, Angela Jenkins, Jesse Pycha-Holst, Brandi Grayson and Rebecca Kemble) and more music (Lou and Peter Berryman)!
Madison Area Schools Week Ahead
Another closed session, renaming Glendale after Virginia Henderson, Badger Rock Charter Renewal and more.
Madison Area Schools Week Ahead
2 meetings, one open session, one closed.
Who’s Running in Spring Elections?
41 seats are available for County Board, Madison School Board and City Council. People can start circulating nomination papers in 9 days! Are you ready?
Feedback on $315M Capital and $36M Operating School Referenda
So far there is either limited feedback or support according to the staff report. It would raise taxes by an average of $69/year for a homeowner for Capital and $66/year for Operating Budget.
Madison Area Schools Week Ahead
Referendum planning, 2020-2021 Budget Strategy and Timeline and superintendent search.
Madison Area Schools Week Ahead
One meeting this week. One substantive agenda item.
Round Up, Thursday Oct. 31
Starts with the snowplowing updates, and can only get better from there!
Madison Areas Schools Week Ahead
Budget finalization, GRUMPS forum on Referenda and 2 Superintendent Search community input sessions.
Round Up, Friday 10/25
Lots of government related meetings coming up next week that won't be in the week ahead.
Madison Schools Week Ahead
Budget, another closed session meeting and Education Committee determining what they will work on.
Tues. Round Up 10/15/19
Some changes here . . . but still plenty to round up! Let me know what you think!
Weekend Round Up 10/14/19
Friday's was jam packed, this one is a little light. Lots of items in the news columns tho!
Madison Schools Week Ahead
Three meetings on Tuesday and Wednesday.
Round Up! Fri 10/11/19
Running late today, read why! News, tons of city updates and here's what you need to know, longer than usual!
Round Up, Thurs. 10/10/19
News, events, city updates, meeting reminders and more!
Round Up & Mo’ Meetings – Wed 10/9/19
Should people drive on the beltline shoulder during peak traffic?, PFAS reports, Airport Commission rescheduled, news and more.
Weekend Round Up (10/7/19) & Mo’ Meetings
News, events, updates from the city and more!
Madison Schools Week Ahead
One meeting this week.
Thursday Round Up and Mo’ Meetings
Mo' meetings, news and very little extra to add today. With Rosh Hashanah, budget, flooding and Koval's retirement, seems like there is room for little else!
Round Up – Wed 10/2/19 & Mo’ Meetings
Mo' meetings, news, city and county budgets are out, city updates, housing and homelessness updates and more.
Weekend & Monday Round Up (10/1/19) & Mo’ Meetings
Skipped yesterday, trying to catch up - here's what I have.
Madison Schools Week Ahead
One meeting on Thursday.
Board “passes” resolution on F-35s?
It's only a 8 minute discussion, but did they really "pass" the resolution when they actually voted not to vote on the resolution?
Tuesday (9/23/19) Round Up & Mo’Meetings
Mo' Meetings, news, flooding updates and more.
Weekend Round Up
Weekend news and news buried on Friday (usually bad news), Decarceration community panel discussion and several other community events.
Madison Schools Week Ahead
F-35s resolution and Labor Agreements, plus referendum? And three other meetings this week.
School Board also asks Air Force to “reconsider”
They also don't come out in opposition. They will be voting on this on Monday night? I wish it had been stronger. board@madison.k12.wi.us if you wish to comment!
Madison Areas Schools Week Ahead
More closed session meetings - this has to be the most secretive the board has ever been . . . and they haven't been great, it's getting worse.
Quick Notes from Airport Meeting on Noise
Thanks to Mary Jo Walters who attended the Airport meeting and took these notes and photos! Airport paid homeowners $2,000 for easements years ago saying they are ok with the noise . . . end of story?
No issues with schools and youth in Madison?
Imagine if there was a committee where school board members, county board supervisors, city alderpersons and the community came together to discuss how to improve the lives of young people in Madison and Dane County. How powerful could that be? And why did former Mayor Paul Soglin and former School Superintendent Jen Cheatam, along with now School Board President Gloria Reyes keep trying to reign in that committee? Now that they are free . . . what could they be?
Madison Schools Week Ahead
Here's what's legally, publicly noticed . . . which I'm betting is not everything that it should be.
Madison Schools Week Ahead
Interviewing consulting firms Superintendent Search.
Madison Schools Week Ahead
Metro passes and agreements, school kicks off, behavioral health contracts and more.
Madison Schools Week Ahead
From the MMSD legal notice. Hiring a Consulting firm to work with the permanent Superintendent Search Process and 2 (or 3?) other meetings
Madison Schools Week Ahead
Based on the weekly legal notice . . . one meeting. Do you really believe that? Given that if any two board members are meeting, they are negative quorum and it should be noticed.
Madison Schools Week Ahead
2 meetings today.
Madison Schools Week Ahead
1 meeting with a meet and greet in advance.
Madison Schools Week Ahead
2 meetings, including choosing the person to fill Mary Burke's seat on the school board and more closed session.
About that School Board Ethics Complaint
So, the board is meeting tonight but there is no public input. Andy Olsen wrote a great piece that is essentially what I would say if given the opportunity, so I thought I'd share it with you all. I'll blog more tomorrow about all the crap going on in the background . . .
Madison Schools Week Ahead
Three Meetings. Perhaps all three are today? This includes the Ethics discussion but there is no public input at that meeting.
Madison Schools Week Ahead
One meeting, big topics! New Superintendent and how to fill Mary Burke's seat.
Madison Schools Week Ahead
nothing?
School Board Ethics Complaint: What’s Next?
I dunno. The policies don't say. And this is the response we got.
School Board Members Don’t File Statement of Interest Forms?
City Council Candidates, County Board Candidates, resident members of City Committees and even "citizen members" of School Board Committee have to fill out Statement of Interest forms . . . but school board members do not? They sure hate transparency in the Madison School District.
Madison Schools Week Ahead
One meeting. Black Excellence, Schools of Hope, 2019-2020 Budget
Ethics Complaint Filed Against School Board President
Today, three former elected officials filed an ethics complaint against School Board President Gloria Reyes because she had a conflict of interest when she voted for the police in schools.
Madison Schools Week Ahead
More closed session. I think they've met more in closed session than in open session with this new board!
School Board President Gloria Reyes Ethics Violation?
Tis the week to blog about ethics violations by current/former law enforcement! This one seems blatantly obvious!!!! And from the School Board President no less.
School Board Recap
This is disturbing on so many levels . . . primarily from an open government perspective, but also to see the first all female school board act just like any other school board without regard for community is just sad. I can't believe they announced announced the agreement on Friday and called a special meeting to approve it on Monday with little time for the community to react. OR READ THE LANGUAGE (spoiler alert, they skipped an important detail in the description of the contract) I'm not surprised, especially with Gloria's disdain for the public, I'm just disappointed. And not one school board member had a word to say?
Madison Schools Week Ahead
Will they or won't they? Police in Schools? This is it folks . . . the contract is before them.
Madison Schools Week Ahead
2 meetings tonight. Schools of Hope, Juventud/Escalara, Employee Handbook and a whole lotta closed session.
Local Government News Round Up
I'm catching up from taking a break from email for a long weekend, so I've missed a bit and I'm behind, so I thought I'd share because I'm guessing others are in my boat! This is last week and the holiday weekend local government news updates.
Madison Schools Week Ahead
Surprise! 4 meetings this week!
Local Government News Round Up
Last weeks local government news - check to make sure you didn't miss something of interest!
Madison Areas Schools Week Ahead
Hiring process for the interim superintendent, meet with the school board before their meeting, 2019-2020 budget, long-range facilities plans and more.
Local Government News Round Up
This is a bit late, I got into a gardening project or two last week and abandoned all thoughts of blogging, but it was half done, so I finished it! Here's the round up of last week's news in case you had your own gardening project or other distraction and didn't pay attention!
Madison Area Schools Week Ahead
4 meetings, all tonight.
Madison Schools Week Ahead
Two meetings this week.
Weekly Local News Round Up
My "round ups" have seen various formats and content over the years. Here's what I hope to become a weekly round up of local government news from the past week. Things I don't have time to blog about, but that should be on your radar screen.
Madison Area Schools Week Ahead
Just one meeting this week, new board members being sworn in, meeting will be at Chavez Elementary.
Madison Schools Week Ahead
Only one meeting.
Round Up
Almost 20 different things in my email inbox I think readers of this blog might be interested in! Cuz I can't make 20 more blogs than the ones I already do . . .
Madison Schools Week Ahead
Madison School District, One City and IMA agendas. Just 3 meetings and all on Monday.
Madison Schools Week Ahead
So, no public schools board meetings this week, but here are the charter schools . . . see the difference?
Madison Schools Week Ahead
5 meetings this week!
Candidates Answers on Homelessness
Well, some of them. Includes questions of school board members.
Madison Schools Week Ahead
Spring Break
Madison Schools Week Ahead
Agendas for Madison Public Schools, One City and Isthmus Montesorri Academy.
Once again, just kidding!!! This is only for Madison Schools who actually post their...
Madison Schools Week Ahead
Madison School District, plus One City Schools and Isthmus Montessori Academy Agendas.
Madison Schools Week Ahead
Only one meeting this week. Instruction Work Group discusses Intensive Supoprts for students and the Behavioral Edcuation Plan.
Brandi Grayson Response to Jen Cheatham’s Open Letter
What follows is an op-ed by Brandi Grayson, responding to Jen Cheatham's open letter to the community more than a week after the incident at Whitehorse Middle School where an 11 year old black girl was physically attacked by a school administrator.
Whitehorse Incident: Superintendent Jen Cheatham’s Open Letter
8. days. too. late.
Who’s Getting Endorsements this Spring?
Many organizations hedged their bets and didn't endorse in the primaries, but some did. Here's the score!
Madison Schools Week Ahead
4 meetings. School board meeting tonight, full of "security" issues (you might want to look at the full agenda), contract for police at school events and BEP. Note that Badger Rock Middle School Governance Meetings are publicly noticed, where are the One City or IMA governance meetings published?
6 of 6! All Progressive Dane Candidate with Primaries Move On!
So, many of my blog readers know that I am the co-chair of Progressive Dane and the chair of their elections committee. Normally, when there isn't a county board meeting about the jail, I'd be posting election results as they come in. Today, I'm way far behind, but for the record, it went well!
Clear Choices On The Madison School Board (Jeff Simpson)
Tomorrow February 19 (Primary), and following that April 2, 2019(general), are important local/non-partisan elections for the State and the city of Madison. In April...
Madison School Board Pre-Primary Campaign Finance Reports (Updated)
Well - they are finally on-line from the clerks office. Got an email from the clerks office at 2:00 today saying "Yup, some were sent in electronically. Please check the sites for some updates." Some? I have no idea if the missing reports are due to lack of filing or still waiting for more updates?
Madison Schools Week Ahead
Student Behavioral Plan, 2019/20 Budget projections, Safety Policy Revisions, "considering negotiation strategies for entering into an intergovernmental agreement where bargaining reasons require a closed session" (Police in schools contract?) and more.
Madison Schools Week Ahead
Behavioral Education Plan, dissolving the City of Madison Education Committee and a Nuestro Mundo Board of Directors meeting.
Mo Meetings and Round Up
So irritating that before 9am there are already new city meetings posted that weren't there Friday afternoon . . . and a smattering of other things going on around town . . .
Madison Schools Week Ahead
One meeting.
How Much Money Did Those School Board Members Raise?
Well, not as much as the mayoral candidates . . . .
This is a little old news, this is reporting through December 31....
Madison Schools Week Ahead
1 meeting.
Progressive Dane’s 2019 Slate of Candidates
I've spent quite a bit of the last month arranging interviews, reading questionnaires, interviewing over 20 candidates and arranging the General Membership meeting which I also chaired last night. It's was a lot of effort to get to this point . . . but it was worth it! Here's Progressive Dane's choices for the upcoming spring elections!
Madison Schools Week Ahead
After doing School Board Candidate interviews yesterday, I'm just frustrated all over again about how the MMSD is just not transparent in any way, shape or form.
Blaska For Imperiled Schools
Dave Blaska, Right wing Republican blogger, is running for the Madison School Board Seat 4. David is running against Laila Borokhim, Albert Bryan and...
Madison Schools Week Ahead
2 meetings, one today (summer school and Behavior Education Plan Revisions), one Wednesday (dissolving the City of Madison Education Committee). Can I just ask...
City, County and Schools Week Ahead
4 city meetings, 1 county, 0 Schools
City, County and School Board Week Ahead
Only the city has meetings this week . . . and only has 3 meetings, or maybe 2 or maybe 1, not sure. No county or MMSD school meetings.
MMSD Board of Education is Looking for Members of an Ad Hoc Committee on...
The full notice may be found here, with Spanish, Hmoob, and Arabic versions linked.
Here is the English text:
Help Improve the Use of Education Resource...
Wisconsin Primary Election Day – August 9th
In what seems like is happening almost monthly in WI, another election day is upon us. Tuesday August 9th is the partisan primary...
An Open Letter To Chris Mertes – The Sequel
A few years back, Sun Prairie Star Editor Chris Mertes wrote such a ridiculous editorial that I wrote him an open letter.
Mertes has outdone...
Scott Walker Slaps Down Blaska
In case you have not heard, Scott Walker's campaign manager, Michael Grebe, is suing the Madison School District. Well, Grebe could not sue the...
School Board Silly Season
While running for elected office can be very confusing, sometimes needlessly so. There are also few people outside of the far right wing,...
Wisconsin State Journal – Getting It Wrong for 100 Years!
The more things change, the more they stay the same.
The Wisconsin State Journal published an editorial on March 9th, 1914 proclaiming "Send Pickles...
Elizabeth Coppola in the 21st!
Elizabeth Coppola In the 21st!
Our public schools depend on it!
Broken deals, petulant behavior, single-minded focus on an extreme social...
Privatization Pirates!
Watching Captain Phillips recently, my wife turned to me and said "I've found someone who has a harder job than I do". I...
TIF . . . Change our Policies or Not?
The Economic Development Commission recommended a bunch of changes last spring, the council created an ad hoc committee which has been meeting since July to review the recommendations and it seems they are contemplating some changes, but maybe not all those recommended by the Economic Development Commission . . . lets catch up with that conversation. Is the candy store wide open with no one there to guard it? Or are the EDC recommendations falling a little flat.
United Sportsmen
There is a scandal brewing in Wisconsin that not only typifies exactly who the Wisconsin Republican party is but what is wrong with Wisconsin...
Tony Galli
UGGG.
We all know that Scott Walker is in trouble. His poll numbers are tanking. His absolute love of cronyism at...
Education Forum – Sept. 5
Wisconsin State Senators Kathleen Vinehout, D-Alma, and Dale Schultz, R-Richland Center, are among the handful of presenters who will participate in “How Many Kids...
Vicki Mckenna’s Peer Group
I recently wrote an article about why I personally left the Catholic Church. What summed it all up to me, was a...
Education – Must Read
H/T Heather @ Monologues of Dissent!
As our children go back to school and you meet with the teachers, administrators and classmates, tour...
Singing for the 1st
Advertisements contain the only truths to be relied on in a newspaper. ~Thomas Jefferson, letter to Nathaniel Macon
One thing that is common place...
The Voucher Scam!
The truth of school Vouchers is slowly starting to come out and its not pretty. While Scott Walker, Robin Vos, et...
Rickert’s Reporting Gap
Today Chris Rickert had a column criticizing the Madison Metropolitan School Board for taking their eye off the ball of the achievement gap.
First,...
Why I Left The Catholic Church
They say a picture says 1000 words and this one most certainly does.
When the Bishop of my Catholic Church decides to...
Good Meeting Tweet, Brings Bad Journalism
Apparently in today's Wisconsin, random "tweets" are now what is classified as news!
We have one of the most extreme budgets in our...
Another Victim
Governor Scott Walker and his Wisconsin legislative cronies have claimed another victim in their war on the locally owned "Mom and Pop" store! ...
D-Day for Public Education
Today is the day that we have been discussing for weeks. Today is the day that the legislature starts discussing public school...
Others Weigh in on Privatization of Schools.
It's not just me pointing out that the republicans, led by Scott Walker, want to privatize(and profit from) public education. Let's take...
More About School Choice!
We recently brought you the story of how much money the public school privateers are willing to spend in order to profit off of...
The (Public Schools) Profit Motive
We have brought you the story before that the current round of "education reform" is a myth, that its just a ruse to try...
A Quick Moment of Reality
Today republican party insider and David "Ike Turner" Prosser's best friend Brian Schimming was the host of the vile Vicki Mckenna Show. ...
Camp Kesem
Shameless Plug here! A charity that is very near and dear to me - Camp Kesem is having a fundraising...
Petition to Stop Voucher Schools!
Rep Melissa Sargent has started a petition to STOP Voucher School Expansion!
The petition is here!
Please Sign!
So Who Won?
How did all those groups that made endorsements do? Who can expect support for their issues on the Council (and elsewhere)?
April 2nd Election Day
Today is election day and its incredibly important that we show up in force today to VOTE!
I Highly recommend:
1. Ed Fallone...
Why Teachers Need a Union – Part 2
I posted before some examples why teachers need a union.
From Idaho we get another case study!
A high school science teacher in Idaho is...
Beloit College Alum Points Out Right Wing Pundits Ignorance!
Denver Post Editor and Beloit College Alum Curtis Hubbard pointed out the ignorance of a right wing pundit!
Then the fun began:
A Biased Letter
For those who do not know, the Janesville School Board has demanded that the teachers sign contracts without actually knowing what is in them. ...
We All Must Oppose The Expansion of School Vouchers
The Monona Grove Board of Education, building principals and district office administrators, and teachers (Monona Grove Education Association) join together to urge legislators to...
The Mockery of the Madison Media as a Meaningful Medium
The Madison School Board race has been interesting to say the least.
For those of you scoring at home, three candidates declared...
Manski Out.
Groan.
Um, would have been nice to know this three days ago - in the interest of "honesty and transparency". And democracy. And...
Michael Brickman!
The fact that the state of education has deteriorated since Scott Walker has been in power can be summed up in two words -...
Permit Occassionally Required!
As the Cartoonish Chief Erwin sends his minions all over the state to issue tickets for singing in the Capitol, (purportedly for gathering in...
MINE
Governor Walker promised us(among other things) that his administration would help create 250,000 jobs. After two years(of a four year term) the...
Let The Battle’s Begin!
Today, the newest Wisconsin legislature will be sworn in and then they get to work(which is good because the Wisconsin legislature has not worked...
Check Out All the Candidates!
So far, the only unopposed Alders are . . . Verveer, Bidar-Sielaff, King, Schmidt, Weier and Clear and two walk-ons Maurice Cheeks and Denise DeMarb. But the deadline is today so we'll see if that changes. And there aren't as many retirements as once expected - only Maniaci, Solomon, Rhodes-Conway and Jill Johnson stepping down.
Be Careful Who Your “Friends” Are!
I recently attended the Educate to Elevate Conference in Madison, and I was very skeptical going in. While I left the conference just...
View from Outside the Bubble!
When I first started with Forwardlookout, we brought you the stories of how Sunny Schubert writes a local column disguised as public interest, in...
Elevating our Education Before we Educate to Elevate!
December 6 and 7 in Madison there is an education summit at Monona Terrace:
Educate to Elevate is an education series that brings together local...
Worst. Column. EVER!
By now everyone knows that Scott Walker promised as part of his campaign, that he would "create" 250,000 jobs.
"get government out...
Vote Andy Jorgensen!
Due to redistricting, which was done unethically and in complete secrecy, and is now costing Wisconsin taxpayers close to $2,000,000 that could have been...
TIF tiff – Give the companies as much as they want?
Dualing TIF committees and other issues. Yeah, live blogged again. This is the EDC subcommittee on TIF. For the geeks, and...
That Was Then, This is Now!
Madison Radio Hate sqwuacker Vicki Mckenna, appears to be trying to bring back the Monkees song from 1986. Which is actually a nice...
Things Going On Around Town Round Up
Not a media round up - but a round up of various emails I get about events, presentations, input sessions, etc.
Hey, Let’s Change TIF Policy . . . AGAIN!
I've been hearing rumors of this, saw an email that went out last week, and now we have the official word from the mayor . . .
Elections Matter!
When Judge Colas ruled that parts of ACT 10 were Unconstitutional, the Governor was quick to personally attack Judge Colas but never once mentioned...
It’s NOT Working at The State Journal!
Recently, Capital Newspapers announce that they had cut 26 more jobs.
Which is surprising since you would think that their union busting and...
Chief Erwin Has To Go!
New Capitol Police Chief Dave Erwin has really put his stamp on the new job since taking over from Charles Tubbs. Unfortunately for the...
Why Cottage Grove Desperately Needs a Library!
So the people in the village who so adamantly oppose the library, will not make a fool of themselves when they try and write...
Wisconsin State Journal a Division of the MacIver Institute
We all remember what happened last year, the teachers of the state, led by MTI, stormed the Capitol when ACT10 was introduced. Their...
Scott Walker Just Cut Your Pay
If your in education!
Cross Posted @bloggingblue:
I wrote earlier about Scott Walker's latest attack on teachers. This morning Katy Lounsbury was on SLY...
Merit Pay In Education -A Case Study
The Wausau Daily Herald recently penned an Op-Ed stating that under the last legislative session school reform "took a step forward"
The reforms establish...
My Testimony
The Monona Grove School District recently held series of public hearings regarding proposed budget reductions in the district. As a district...
Monona Grove Budget Reductions!
Monona Grove School District will be holding three meetings regarding the $1.2 million dollars in reductions that we need to make for the next...
School Board Forums – The Isthmus, Sustain Dane and Ex-Mayor Dave Redefine “Fairness”
It is Board of Education candidate forum season and everyone is getting into the act (full list at the bottom). That includes Sustain Dane...
Wow, Interesting Madison Prep Debate.
Allen Ruff has been blogging about Kaleem Caire and in pointing out the facts, he has drawn criticism for attacking Caire. However, I...
Is it working?
Recently, Monona Grove Elementary teacher Jeff Knudson was the "star" of an ad for Scott Walker. Mr. Knutson looked directly into the...
Why Teachers Need a Union –
Now that Act10 has been enacted making it next to impossible for teachers to bargain teachers are going to be left vulnerable. ...
Have Abacus Will Travel
I have written before of the the right wings veiled attempts to privatize public education. I have also pointed out that while they...
Headstart, K-4, K-5 and Open Enrollment Registrations/Applications
Just passing this along . . .
Wednesday Round Up
Nothing about who is running for governor or which websites went black yesterday here, just local stuff that I can find!
Tuesday (Everything but the Recall) Round Up
It will be short. Very short.
Thurs. – MLK Day Round Up
You'd think 5 days of news would be quite the challenge but besides the Packers and MLK day, there's not really that much.
You gotta be kidding me . . .
Madison Prep wants another vote in February. Smells like an elections stunt to me. I really wish instead of cramming their ideas...
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday Round Up
Bad blogging week for me, internet and webhosting issues - so here's the round up that has a little older news included.
Round Up Resumes
The holidays made for weird news, so I didn't want to resume yesterday with the rounds, so I'm starting today and will try to do it several times a week if not daily. I'm only going to do local politics, so until the student papers resume printing, it might be a little sparse.
The actual story – MGSD
Recently, the Keep scott walker in power campaign funded largely by out of state special interests, ran an ad where he used a...
Vicki McKenna Banned in Cottage Grove!!
Recently, the Cottage Grove village board passed a resolution calling for civil public discourse. Their resolution no. 2011-07, A...
New Rule – part 2.
This should be a given, but here goes.
New Rule - Staff from really bad politicians make really bad politicians!
While there are...
Civil Public Discourse – Cottage Grove
Is a great idea to strive for, but personally, if I had to pick, I would prefer INFORMED public discourse.
Tonight, at...
The People’s Mic!
Tonight, finally, The Mic 92.1 FM, is making a commitment to local programming again. I actually pretty much boycotted the station...
Today’s Must Read
Comes from Dave Zweifel at the Cap Times, with a brilliant way to save money in WI.
This kind of vicious...
Recall Repercussions
The results were in this summer with the democrats flipping two seats in the Senate recalls. While the republicans lost two seats,...
Simpson’s Soliloquy on Words of Reason
This weeks Herald Independent, the paper of record for the Monona Grove School District, had an interesting column from their latest Cottage Grove...
Edgewater Project-Labor Agreement Still Elusive
I've heard back from everyone except Bruer and Maniaci and the Building Trades. See the alder responses below.
Schlicht!
I have said over and over that the new brand of "fiscal conservatives" mean that if they are for it, there is no amount...
Merge
The talks between the Town of Cottage Grove and the Village of Cottage Grove have been continually advancing (as has the cost to the...
The Myth of Education “Reform”
My LTE made the Cap Times website, in a slightly edited version. Here is the full letter(with links):
Now that school has resumed,...
Teacher Appreciation
From My email inbox:
If you love to cook/bake you may already know Penzeys, the wonderful Wisc-based spice and herb store. Their newest catalog...
TIF Primer for City Staff, New Alders and YOU!
Board of Estimates started out last night with a TIF presentation . . . and it wasn't by the you-just-love-to-hate-him TIF Coordinator Joe Gromacki,...
An Open Letter to National Conservative Groups from Wisconsin’s Liberal Bloggers
To: Chris Chocola, Club for Growth
The Honorable Jim DeMint, junior Senator from the Great State of South Carolina
It is with great disappointment that we...
Some Light Shed on Sunny’s Numbers
Recently The Herald-Independent columnist and writer for the right-wing "think tank" WPRI, recently "reported" on the state of the Monona Grove School District....
What Did You Do On Summer Vacation?
While I worked, we were able to get away for a family vacation in Hayward, WI. Monona Grove School District teacher Brent Schacht...
Thursday Morning Links
As the kids start school today there will be lots of "Scott Walker has saved our schools" misinformation running around the right wing airwaves....
Prosser Cleared?!?!?!
Cross Posted @bloggingblue, because, in lieu of the right wing attack on Justice Bradley and inexcusable defense of Justice Prosser, this story needs...
More Not in the News Round Up
Still catching up on my long list of blogging topics . . . so here some more things you should know that I didn't get to yesterday! More for the "good news" portion of the blog!
Drug Sniffing Dogs in our Schools?
Could be . . . have an opinion, take the survey! It'll only take a minute - seriously.
Do you support the use of...
Care about Poverty? Three Important Meetings You Should Not Miss
So much political activism necessary . . . I hope some folks can step up and attend some of these events in the next two weeks and get involved in these important initiatives!
It is Thursday, So Here’s a Round Up
You know the routine . . .
Another reason Greyhound really sucks . . .
Ok, its not often I think about motorcycle parking, but this is kinda annoying. Greyhound moved around so much, bumped parking and now doesn't even need the space since they moved. I don't even know where they are any more. Anyways, more than you need to know about motorcycle parking and Greyhound. This is also on the Transit and Parking Commission Agenda.
Wednesday Morning Round Up
Here's the little I have for today.
Tuesday Morning Round Up
Relevant local news I can find, plus state and "not in the news" news . . .
Scott Walker was right….
Governor Scott Walker appears to have been correct when he said:
"We're Broke and Can't Negotiate."
Unfortunately the members of the legislature did...
Cottage Grove – Leadership Institute
It has been said that the people lead and the government follows. There have been many examples of this throughout history. Pressure...
Maybe I am divisive….
Showing a case of Sour Grapes, former appointed Cottage Grove Village President Mike Mikalsen, submitted a LTE to our local paper attacking me....
The Governors “tools” and the President’s “stimulus”.
Governor Walker has been in office for just a few months and they have been an eventful few months. Before he even took...
Vicky for assembly
I attended my first ever candidate announcement the other day when Vicky Selkowe declared her candidacy for the 48th assembly district, replacing Joe Parisi....
WE ARE WINNING!
I received this in my email today and wanted to share it for a couple of reasons. The first is do not get...
Spring 2011 Election Endorsements
The Spring 2011 sample Ballot is out and its time for my spring endorsements for the local election.
1. Wisconsin State Supreme...
Teacher Pay
I wrote a LTE regarding teacher pay last year, and in Lieu of The community wide education meeting, I thought I would bring...
PolitiFact
I was listening to WIBA-AM recently (Here and here)and the President-select of Cottage Grove was on Mitch Henck's show(I am not sure why...
Sundays Community Meeting
Hope to see everyone
Sunday, March 27, 3-4:30
Monona Grove High School Commons
4400 Monona Drive, Monona
How did we get here?
What do we anticipate with
the...
Republican Bully’s
H/T to Jay Bullock for catching this.
Last week UW-Madison's own professor of history, geography and environmental studies penned this op-ed in the NY...
Cottage Grove Village elections (redux)
I wrote about this in detail here, but i recently came across a letter I wrote to the village board prior to the 19...
Are you kidding?
The members of the Dane County School Board Consortium and WAES (Wisconsin Alliance for Excellent Schools) have gotten together to sponsor a public meeting...
Trumka- “It already has!”
I was recently given the opportunity to sit down with AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka. Mr. Trumka was very cordial and positive and had...
What the People of Wisconsin Want to Cut
I have brought up this poll before, but it is worth repeating as we brace for the Governor's Budget speech Tuesday at 4pm.
A November...
Maxwell John Love: On the Budget and the UW
It's tied to the Walker stuff. An important read.
A Drug(store) Problem in Cottage Grove…
The Cottage Grove Planning Commission recently approved the plans for the new CVs/caremark in Cottage Grove, "with almost no debate." ...
CVS in CG
Tonight the the Cottage Grove Plan Commission, will be discussing the impending CVS pharmacy with representatives from CVS showing up to present their...
Monona Grove School Board.
A quick introduction: I have lived in the Monona Grove School district for 7 years now and Wisconsin most of my life. I...
Campaign Registration Deadline Day Round Up
By 5:00 today, we'll have the final list of spring candidates for County Executive, Mayor, Alders, School Board and some judgeships.
TGIF Round Up
Sadly, it'll be more than an 8 hour day . . . and . . . I'm on the radio (Mitch's show) at 9:00 with Blaska . . . and Jed Sanborn.
Tuesday Morning Round Up
1/3 of the way to making this a habit . . . 21 days, right? On day seven of consecutive round ups!
Three Days In a Row Round Up!
Overture, Library and High Speed Rail meetings last night . . . and Radomski and Brandon announce for Mayor and County Exec . ....
Weekend Round Up
Try as I might, I haven't gotten back into the daily grind of doing the daily round up, but I'm going to try again this week, there is so much going on, that I haven't been able to keep up with!
Monkeys and Ethics
Um, this has nothing to do with the Overture.
City Property Values Higher Than Expected
By $11M. So even with the Board of Estimate changes, that's an increase of 4.93%, not 4.99% so the council has more room to raise taxes if they are going to stay within the 5% limit the Mayor unilaterally set for them. It should help the county and school board a bit too. Here's the details:
A Comment, On Comments,
I moderate some of the comments on Forward Lookout, and there are some that do not get through, let's review why . . .
Round Up!
What's been happening lately in the news, and other things you should know.
November Elections: What’s At Risk?
It seems like more than ever!
Tuesday Morning Round Up
Trying to keep up with the round up this week!
Edgewater Round Up
Big vote today! If this doesn't pass the Joint Review Board, the funding won't happen.
Did Anything Happen Yesterday Besides the President’s Visit Round Up
Four city meetings cancelled, but most not til yesterday, but they still had the Library Meeting, the Overture Meeting and the Emerald Ash Borer...
School Board Decision on Edgewater TIF
Brief. I got the feeling they were threatened with a law suit or something by their lack of discussion. And, despite previous...
State Journal Blows It!
What? Try again!
MMSD No Vote on Edgewater TIF Recommended
This isn't a surprise, but the agenda for Monday's Board of Education meeting includes a recommendation from the administration to instruct their rep on...
Obama Holds Your Bike Hostage!
Well, not really . . . but a good notice below about where NOT to park bikes (and cars) while he is in town.
80 Degrees Today? Round Up
First day of fall . . . 80 degrees! Must be too hot for the news . . . so I'll make my own.
Tuesday Morning Round Up
All the news you can . . . I was going to say use . . . but I'm not sure some of it is all that useful. Here's what I've got.
Bad Aldering & Misleading on Edgewater TIF
I sat through the Landmarks Committee meeting yesterday, and it was hard to stay in my seat and keep my mouth shut. I was stunned by the misinformation my own alder gave the committee about capital budget requests and the Edgewater TIF plan the council is voting on tonight.
Sickly News Round Up
If you've seen me lately, you may have noticed I"ve been unusually quiet (except for the terrible hacking cough) . . . cuz I pretty much lost my voice and have been sick for the last two weeks.
Edgewater TIF Expansion “Suboptimal Choices”
There just "wasn't enough time to do it right" so it barely passes with a 3 - 3 tie with the Mayor breaking the tie. The proposal is more messed up than usual. And I think that puts it more in jeopardy than I had imagined. Contains BK comments.
I’m Sick (and Tired) Round Up
Why do I have a cold this time of the year? This is stupid. Anyways, slept in since I worked til 11:00 last night, so my blogging will be slow this morning.
Be the Media!
I'm not kidding. You can be the media . . . radio, tv, blog . . . your choice!
It kind of sucks to...
Wednesday News Round Up
A little more news today . . .
Monday Morning Round Up
Here's my weekend round up of local news and other items. Enjoy!
TIF “Discussion” – Live blog kinda.
Oh boy - I got here a little late . . . and the room is packed, they are taking more public testimony - I'm on the floor in the hallway . . . again. Can't see the committee, but can hear . . . .
New Edgewater TIF Info Available . . . Kinda
There's a meeting at noon on Thursday, and new information (not previously attached) came out yesterday. I'm not sure how much most of...
Elevators Woes Update . . .
Tonight's TIF Joint Review Board meeting moved . . . .
Last Minute Changes to Edgewater TID Rushed Through Plan Commission
Last night was one of those nights that sucked to try to cover things in city hall. I managed to catch part of Landmarks, part of Plan, part of Landmarks again, park of Plan again and none of Board of Estimates. And, the kicker, my TiVo died so I couldn't compensate. Boo. Anyways, here's what Plan did on the Edgewater TID with bk comments.
Explaining the “blah, blah, blah” . . .
Oh, I'm so busted. Good call on that one Erik. You should go read his post, and then mine will make more sense. And, because its a really good argument for how you can get involved with citizen journalism.
Multi-Media Brenda
Blogging, TV show and now . . . Radio.
Thursday Morning Round Up
Here's what I found for this morning . . . two days of info
Long Overdue Round Up (Part One)
I bet you were wondering if I gave up on the Round Up . . . I haven't, just got distracted. I'll be better, I promise.
Call to Stop Parachute Jump in Middleton
Veterans Call for Cancellation of Planned Middleton High School
Paratrooper Parachute Drop into Student Pep Assembly
Veterans for Peace (VFP) is calling...
Long Weekend Round Up
I have another day off, can't let my vacation build up like it did for years, so I'm trying to use it a little...
High Speed Rail Meeting a.k.a. Madisonians Behaving Badly
I really believe there is something in that east side water that doesn't belong there. Well, that's not fair, there were people there...
Live Blog of the Common Council Meeting, Part IV (Final)
12:55, 26 more speakers . . . no breaks!Dennis Davidsaver lives and works downtown, asks them to follow laws and look at benefits and...
School Board Discusses Edgewater TIF
It was a brief discussion, happening at the same time as the Council "briefing" on TIF, but interesting in that they seem to think...
This Side of Town, the TV Version
Well, I survived my first taping, learned a lot, got over my nervousnesss and am thinking about continuing, but now its time for you...
Brenda’s Going to be on TV!
Eh, big deal, right? You've seen me on TV before, but not like this . . . MY LITTLE PROJECTI took a camera...
Recap of School Board Discussion on Edgewater TIF
I don't think I've ever watched an entire school board meeting. It was . . . different. I'd say the...
How Will the Schools Fill their $30M Budget Problem?
They need to hear from you! You may have read some proposals about this in the State Journal (and here) or Channel 3...
Monday Morning Round Up
Bad news Friday Review along with other things that happened in the last three days . . . and some items of interest coming...
The (School Board) Week Ahead . . .
Kinda . . . a little . . . I thought this sounded interesting:Pocan and Miller will speak Monday 11/30 - Agenda of the...
Blaska Out of Touch?
So, I went to the meeting about the "code of conduct" on the SW side expecting people to rail against "those people" on Section...
School Budget Hearings Coming Up
Community members will have the opportunity in three upcoming sessions to learn more about and give feedback on the proposed preliminary Madison School District...
School District Progress Report
Thanks to Arlene for keeping us informed! MMSD Board of Education Progress Report – March, 2009It is a busy time for the School...
School Board Update.
Thanks to Arlene Silveira for these updates!MMSD Board of Education Progress Report – January, 2009Happy New Year! I hope everyone had a restful...
Public Input and Access
That's a pretty boring title for a pretty boring subject, unless you think that your voice should be heard in local government . ....
Advertising in Schools
The role and appropriateness of advertising in our society leave much room for debate - buses and billboards - to name a couple issues....
We have a new Superintendent of Madison Schools
In a note from Arlene Silveira last night I learned: The Madison Board of Ed has unanimously selected Dr. Daniel Nerad to be the...
Meet the New School Superintendent
Just passing this along . . .The Madison community is invited to meet and greet each of the three finalists for the Superintendent position...
And then there were 5
Thanks to Arlene Silveira for the update on the Superintendent search . . . .Good evening, Tonight the Board met with our...
No School Board Races this Spring?
Seriously? Two open seats, only two candidates. Congratulations to Marj Passman and Ed Hughes on their impending wins to replace Lawrie Kobza...
Your Input Needed for Schools
Because, as go the schools, so goes the City. An Invitation to Our Parents, Students and CommunityAs you may be aware, the Board of...
Cities and Schools working Together
A former City Council member sent me this article about how Portland is spending spending $1.6 million to keep poorer kids in their schools....
$81,000 would keep our neighborhood school open?
Is it true that $81,000 is all it would take to prevent the Lapham-Marquette pair from being consolidated? And that if it remains...
A WTF morning.
So, I started three different blogs this morning, I delayed two of them cuz the links I was trying to use on the city...
Keep downtown schools open!
Note: I'm not an expert on school issues by far, and I'm still trying to catch up on all of the issues regarding the...