Hartford Citizens for Responsible Government

[Robert Matthew Van Winkle]

Admin,

Read Your post regarding the continued quest by the Joint 1 School District to build new schools and update current facilities. This will become more of an intense topic especially as we near the impending vote (again) on this issue. I do agree with You on the vast amount of approved residencial building in the city. There has to be a point where our leaders finaly say, [b]enough is enough[/b]- as certainely we can all drive around and see vacant new homes and empty land that has been sitting in "Development" for quite some time. Yet, I see more sites approved and pending construction in the works. Does this make sense?

I am not commited yet to which direction I will be taking on this issue, as I also want what is best for the areas children, though your questions posted are valid and deserve review. I do agree with You that more has to be answered and considered before the citizens once again have to vote on this issue.

Looking forward to seeing what happens here in the future.

Robert Matthew Van Winkle

[admin]

Thank you for your input.

There needs to be a lot of discussion on this topic. Our kids are our future. We have to make sure that they get the best education possible.

We also need to make sure that the school board gets the word out and makes the plans further in advance.

If the residents continue to deny funding, the city leaders must reign in on development. We are probably too late already, indicating short-sightedness from both the school board and the common council.

Admin

[Guest]

Excellent points by Robert V. and this site admin. I wonder if the school board has considered the option that Waukesha has done with on-line classes called IQ Academy. If not, why not? I would think this could be a whole lot cheaper than bricks and mortar. Even on a limited basis to ease the over-crowding, maybe those with a higher grade point, or limited to seniors, etc. And it can be a good way to bring new technology into the ciriculum.

Of course, all of the options that were considered and also those that weren't considered have all been kept secret from everybody unless you have the time and ability to go to all of the meetings. The rest of us haven't had the good fortune to be privvy to this information - we are just expected to pay for whatever option they choose to put on us.

[admin]

Hi Guest -

Thank you for your input. I have done a little more checking on The IQ Academy. They currently offer programs in 3 states - Wisconsin, Kansas, and Arizona. They seem to have their act together when it comes to the on-line classes, which include the use of a laptop computer for use as long as the student is enrolled. On the other hand, they look like they are quite new, and the reviews aren't in yet.

Their website is quite complete, and can be viewed at http://www.iqacademywi.com/

I suggest this as a very viable, cost effective alternative. Even if offerred at a cost to the Hartford taxpayers, it has to be alot cheaper than the proposed $25 million price tag currently requested by the school board. Also a chance for our schools to be on the leading edge of technology in the classroom.

Thank you for your input.

Admin

[JK]

Robert and Admin:

I too agre that the residential building within the city and the manner with which it is approved has got to be re-examined. Growth is good in moderation, however it seems that nearly every week another new development begins and more and more homes sit empty or as Robert said, empty land that sits in 'development' for months and months.

I find it quite disturbing that we, the residents, find ourselves at this crux with schools that do not have adequate space for all the children who need to fill them or schools that are in such a state of disrepair that millions need to be spent in order to bring them to a point of being adequate.

Thanks HCRG for bringing this subject up --

[admin]

...and welcome back.

This is a topic that is going to get alot of attention over the next several months.

A recent article in the Express News talked about how HUHS is going to be cutting staff and some programs due to declining enrollment. Our grade schools and middle school are over-capacity.

Poor planning and/or poor management as well as educating Hartford residents and the city council on the school system needs is what has led to this condition. Now the residents are supposed to support this unexpected need for millions of $$$, at the same time that the city keeps annexing land for more homes?

It just doesn't make sense! I am beginning to like this IQ Academy idea more and more.

What do you think? Let's get more discussion going on this...

Thank you for your input.

Admin

[Robert Matthew Van Winkle]

Regardless, I think in the future that we'll be seeing more of this IQ Academy type schooling taking place. It bears our attention to look into and check how feesible of programs are available and what possible short-comings such schooling may have. Though by the information I have seen (limited) I haven't yet been able to see too many problems.

If there is viable information regarding such type of schooling I'd gladly spend a few moments to review it. Still, I know were are at such a fine cross road as to which direction we need to be going to support the education of our children/residents- that this entire issue continues further explanation from our elected officials and school board leaders- I feel so far that I have yet to been given that, nor a reason for the continued stretch of this residential expansion. However I somewhat seem contradictory to myself as I am a transplant into this city only five years ago- so I too am a part of that residential growth.

What to do? I still don't have that answer- though am willing to look at all sides of the issues regarding our schools and this upcoming vote. I'm a little worried that if this would pass, that we'd be chewed up by the taxes. Yikes.

Robert Matthew Van Winkle

[Guest]

I have been paying alot of attention lately to the newspapers and this forum on this topic.

I will be voting NO on April 1 on the school referendum. Here's why:

1. I don't think there has been enough study done for alternatives (like the IQ Academy thing).

2. I don't think the school board is responsible enough with my tax dollars. If they were, they would have been preparing for this 5 years ago, and not wiating until it's broke before they ask formoney to fix it.

3. The city has not taken on their role to stop development of more subdivisions without room in the schools in place to for the kids.

These people need to show me that they have their act together before they get my support. I urge everyoen to vote NO on the referendum.

Thank you for letting me vent...

[admin]

Hi Guest -

Thank you for your input.

I agree with you that the school board needs to show us that they actually have a plan and budget in place, that goes beyond just the immediate needs.

Everything that they are asking for now should have been in the budget for the last five years so when it came time, the money would have been there in advance.

I don't like that they wait til its broken before they demand the $ to fix it!

Admin

[Robert Matthew Van Winkle]

I agree with the both of You. This requires a NO vote tommorow!

Robert Matthew Van Winkle

[Guest]

My thanks to those who posted here. It helped me to vote NO in the school referendums. Thank you for this forum and to all that participate. -m

[JK]

Been some time since I have been on the site. In regards to the on-line school. I have two opinions on this each of which conflict the other.

I believe it is a good option for those who are truly dedicated and will and can put the time into the work involved with on-line education. I completed my college degree in an on-line environment and I will tell you, it was nearly as much time and effort as an additional full-time job. I see this no different regardless of which grade or level of schooling a person is in. without that interaction face-to-face; some students will fall behind.

I guess you can say that I am non-committal on that issue. It has it's good points and bad. I just fear that going to that type of environment, kids who lack self-esteem and need reassurances and who have difficulties in a typical learning environment will eventually fall behind and be left behind. More needs to be looked at and analyzed on this point before I jump on the band wagon.

[admin]

Hi JK, and welcome back - we always appreciate your input.

You are absolutely right on track with the fact that an on-line environment may not be right for everyone. And of course, it shouldn't be for everyone, but only for those that are serious enough about the school work and have the ability to produce in that type of learning environment. And only the teachers, parents, and participating students can be the judges of whether or not the student is right for learning in an on-line classroom.

Just for the sake of crunching a couple of numbers, let's say it costs $10,000 per year per student on-line (including the laptop). If 1,000 students were to enroll from the Hartford district, that would cost $10million - far below what the school board is requesting for a new school.

It's time to look at the total square footage of available school rooms. If it means moving some younger students into the high school for a couple of years (or vice versa) until the city and school board can get their act together, then it just has to be done. Even the additional bussing costs to do so won't come near the $ the school board has requested.

The kids are the future and need the best education possible, and they will have my own personal support completely when the studies convince me that the school board has presented its best case, for now and for future students.

But the taxpayers have made it clear (three times now) that they don't trust that the school board has made their case for the $ they are requesting.

Let's keep pushing them to get it right.

Admin

[JK]

Thanks admin. I thought I recently read that enrollment was up only 89 this past year. Not that that isn't a significant number of students; but when you look at the overall of the kids moving from school to school is it as large as they expected?

I agree that something has got to be done; but I cannot condone what the board is asking at this time; at least not from the perspective of a taxpaying citizen of the city. I know that there is a burdon on our schools and that if it weren't for all the 'Yeah, go ahead; build another subdivision here or there' we may not be facing this dilema. Perhaps the question from the board would be better posed to other individuals?

I'm sorry if I seem harsh. I'm just fed up with the city here and it's acts or misuse of position. There are so many issues I could take up with them; problem is that I am working 3 jobs (1 full time; 1 part time and 1 on-call part time) just to make ends meet and pay my property taxes now, I have limited time and availability to take up the fight i would love to take up with the municipal code and other such things. I have tried to get some issues resolved with my property and another in my area to no avail, if I park a car that is in the process of being fixed for more than a couple of nights, I am threatened with it's towing and distruction. Funny I read the code and it appears that #5 and #8 tend to be in contradiction to one another (Property maintenance). So, now I am faced with yet another issue that I have to deal with - towing a car to another location until parts come in and time is available to fix it. I give up; and I am fed up. There are many other issues than this to deal with around here. Drive down Union street; perhaps I should submit the bill for my front end damage (struts, rim and tire) to the city??? I know where that would end up. Or take a drive down North Main Street to where they are potentially creating the thorough street to Peace Lutheran...seems to me there are bigger fish to fry than a car sitting because it's waiting for a part.

[JK]

I also have been paying attention to West Bend's issues. While not altogether 'aesthetically appealing' they added trailers to house students to accommodate the overcrowding. Has this been investigated here? I realize it may not be in keeping with the City of Hartford municipal code, but it's a potential option until something can be done.

I don't understand why the overcrowding issue wasn't thought of prior to it's becoming an in your face issue, or general maintenance wasn't budgeted for. If I, as an individual, have to budget for and save for years to accomplish a goal of for example replacing my furnace or roof why aren't these entities doing the same? They know that these things will need to be done; put aside each year in an interest bearing bond or account so that the money will be there. Why is this so different from what we as individuals have to do.

I think if the board had acted more responsibly with this and they were able to front more of the dollars and have shown a reliable plan that was not just haphazardly put together within the last 6 months but a true plan or vision for the schools that spanned more than 1 year (long - range planning) they may not be standing there with egg on their face; they would have more credibility and more people may be willing to listen and hear what they have to say and maybe they wouldn't have gotten shot down.

Just my thoughts. In the companies I have worked for there were visions drafted and re-examined each year; long-range planning was completed and reviewed each year to see how close or how far off of the mark they were in creating these plans. Does the City or school board even do this?