Menasha vs. Marshfield: Who has the better ideas?

The Menasha school district is finding itself in a similar position that Marshfield was in prior to the recent referendum. Reading this article (full text posted below) is like deja vous all over again!

Many of the ideas being discussed in Menasha are ones that were brought up by Marshfield's NO Committee. The Marshfield School District offered no response to the questions and ideas that were raised. Several Yes'ers, on the other hand, aggressively attacked any ideas for compromise or alternative plans.

The No Committee took a stand that there were several cuts that could be made at the administrative and operational level, and advocated keeping the current tax rate (in other words, extending the 2003 referendum that was expiring). This would have resulted in NO PROPERTY TAX INCREASE for Marshfield, while at the same time continuing to bring in over $1 million dollars above and beyond the revenue cap. This would have been more than enough to keep EVERY student program, sport, club, organization, and class from the cutting block, with exception of the swim team if the pool was closed down.

Menasha is discussing the idea of closing their pool at the high school: "The Menasha High School swimming pool survived the first round of budget cut recommendations from district administrators but may face more scrutiny from the school board March 10. Some parents and school board members have questioned the cost of continuing to maintain the old pool, which is no longer used for any physical education classes. "We are still looking at the cost savings, if any, in closing the swimming pool," said Supt. Keith Fuchs. An initial review found a half-time custodian position savings but other costs have not yet been identified. "We're spending a lot of money to keep that pool open for very few people," said resident Chris Bordeaux.

SOUND FAMILIAR? Closing the pool at Marshfield High School would save $120,000 per year. When the NO Committee asked why this wasn't receiving more scrutiny from the school board, the Yes'ers attacked in full force. Elementary students (children of a Yes Committee member) were shown on the local news saying "I always hoped I could letter in swimming when I got to high school." How could anyone beat that type of emotional appeal?

Another thing Menasha is considering is raising athletic participation fees. THIS WAS AN OPTION FOR MARSHFIELD, too! Raising the fee by just $10 and also raising the parking fee would have, according to the school board's budget, raised at least $26,000 of new income for the school district each year. Again, when the NO Committee suggested that the school board vote to raise the fees anyway, the Yes'ers came forth with the argument "some families may not be able to pay that extra $10 for their child to participate in a sport!" Yet raising property taxes by an average of $80 a year for all Marshfield families wasn't a concern.

I hope Marshfield takes a serious look at what other school districts are doing to save money. We need to continue to hold our school board and administration accountable for coming up with alternatives and options. For now, it appears their only plan is to spend the $13.5 million we just voted to give them, and when that runs out, come back to the taxpayers with more scare tactics and emotional appeals.

It seems like Menasha is able to not let the emotions drown out all common sense. When will Marshfield be able to do that?

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HERE'S THE FULL TEXT OF THE ARTICLE:

Menasha school budget changes wanted
Board ponders input on proposed cuts

By Michael King
Post-Crescent staff writer

MENASHA — Chris Bordeaux knows the Menasha Joint School District needs to cut $1.5 million to make next year's school budget balance.

However, he thinks there are better places to save than by cutting the high school boys' and girls' track programs.

Several parents of students at Nicolet Elementary feel the same way about a proposed phase-out of Spanish at the school in favor of students learning German instead. Ditto for a paraprofessional who works in the high school library-media center slated for staffing cuts.

Comments made at last week's Board of Education meeting about proposed reductions for 2008-09 were taken under advisement by board members who meet again March 10 to discuss the budget shortfall.

In a move that saves roughly $450,000, the board adopted a staffing plan for next year that trims 7.2 full-time equivalent (FTE) positions from the current year staffing without the need to issue any layoff notices.

Bordeaux and his daughter, Hannah, a junior who participates in track, lobbied for the board to retain track through a combination of higher participation fees in all sports and additional booster club support. She said for many track participants "it's their only sport."

More than half ($34,500) of the proposed $66,550 cocurricular reductions came from elimination of track. Cutting junior varsity tennis for boys and girls would save another $4,500.

Chris Bordeaux said that it costs the district more to operate the high school swimming pool than to run the track program. Plus, the students get more benefit from track, which had 39 students last spring, than the pool, which is no longer used for any physical education classes.

The pool gets most of its use from open swim times and by community groups.

Chris Bordeaux said sports are part of producing well-rounded student-athletes who also learn the value of teamwork and networking.

"There's a required GPA you need to uphold while you're in sports," Hannah said.

Chris Bordeaux believes it is only fair to spread the need for cost savings around to all sports. That would enable track boosters and parents to raise funds to keep the sport going.

"We are looking at the whole picture," said Sue Gielau, the board president. Noting that "we need to get to $1.5 million" in reductions, she added, "How we get there is still under discussion and debate by the board."

District administrators had proposed a 0.4-FTE reduction at Gegan School to eliminate German being taught to bilingual Spanish-English students. Board members opted to then phase in German at Nicolet School, where Spanish is taught, starting with kindergartners next year.

Supt. Keith Fuchs said that eliminates any staffing savings, so the board "needs to revisit that" from an academic perspective.

"I just think Spanish is the more important and beneficial language for the kids right now," said Rene Briones, a district resident. She recalled taking Spanish starting in sixth grade years ago and believes her two older children have benefited greatly from having started a foreign language in kindergarten.

Darlene Rogers, a longtime paraprofessional, cautioned against the proposed cutback of parapros that would seriously affect school library staffing. "It's a shame," she said. "They're impacting every student when they cut back on the library."

Fuchs said next Monday's meeting "will provide the board with an opportunity to revisit the budget deficit plan to see if there areas that want to further discuss and reconsider."

The board last week also approved retirement requests from four teachers, one principal and one administrative assistant for next year. Gegan Principal Rocco D'Amelio, who has held various positions in the district for 13 years, will retire in June.

Michael King: 920-729-6622, ext. 33, or mking@postcrescent.com