Whitnall School Has a Problem?

After hearing about the problems with Drugs and Alcohol at the Whitnall High School, I decided to attend the School Board Meeting to hear more about it. The news told me about breathalysers to be used at the school prom and the School Administrators taking aim at this problem.

After attending the Board meeting I have to tell you, I left with little to no comfort that this problem was being addressed by the administrators. It seemed the Coaches and some Teachers were more involved in solving this issue than the administrators. Currently there is no Liason Officer from the Greenfield Police Department at the school. The Greenfield Police claim to not have one available, Yet the Greenfield High School has one? Can't we share this officer? The board approved the use of Dogs to randomly search the school a month ago, yet the administrators have yet to get this done. Once again the finger was pointed at the Greenfield Police, they somehow could not fit it in their schedule. In all fairness to the Greenfield Police, they were not there to answer these questions, these were Dr. Karen Petric the Superintendent answers to the questions. School Board members inquired as to why if the Greenfield Police couldn't get it done, why hadn't she inquired with the Sheriffs Department? No answer.

Although I believe there is a problem, we as a community in whole, with the School Board, School Administrators, Staff, and Parents need to attack the problem. I saw several parents in the audience ready and willing to get involved to be of any assistance in the solution. It has to start with the Administration taking a lead role in solving the problem!

Suspension for Girl with Rocks, Hammer, Screwdriver!!!

Hartford, Wisconsin School officials seem to be out of touch. They have decided to suspend a 9 year old girl for bringing rocks, a hammer, and a screwdriver to school. Sounds like a terrorist is on the loose in the schools of Hartford!!! Actually they called the police and the police found- the girl wasn't intending on hurting anyone. In fact this young girl had used her imagination and brain and found out that if you take a rock and break it up, there are neat shiny little rocks within the big ones. She wanted to share this with her friends. Sounds Frightening, I know!!!

The school did it's due diligence and suspended the girl for three days. How dare you children use your minds for anything!!! Actually the school said that even though the girl did not intend on harming anyone they were concerned that someone else might use the dastardly tools for harm. Now, I am sure that within the entire school there is no hammer, no screwdriver, and absolutely no rocks. As a matter of fact I am sure you will find no baseball bats, hard balls, letter openers, razor knives to open boxes, or anything that can be used to cause harm.

Things that make you go hmmmmmmm.

Drunk Drivers

It seems like every night there is another story of a Drunk Driver. There has been the one in Oconomowoc that killed a Woman, Daughter, and unborn child. Then the man who took out several vehicles before crashing into an apartment.

In all of these cases the Driver has had multiple Drunk Driving arrests. When is the legislature and Judges going to get tough and put their foot down?

I was listening to a local talk show and in the latter case the Drunk actually entered a bar and was refused service and asked to leave. The question was, "Should the local tavern have some responsibility for sending the driver back out?" The blame lies wholly on the individual that chooses to drink and drive. Quit blaming everyone else and put the blame where it lays.

Until this state gets serious and makes drunk driving a felony, and takes some serious action this is a trend that will continue and many more innocent people will die.

Michael McGee trials set to start

Embattled former Alderman Michael McGee Jr. will finally head to trial on his state charges in May and his federal charges in June. Over the past week McGee's Lawyers have tried unsuccessfully to have evidence thrown out as well as charges dismissed.

Michael McGee as well as his lawyers and supporters are going to have to realize that his reign over the kingdom has come to an end. He lost his bid for reelection from behind bars, now he will have to face the justice system. He will now have to answer for his crimes as well as pay for his wrongdoings.

Keep posted as this will be quite an interesting ride over the next several months.

Milwaukee Brewers, World Series appearance?

The 2008 Milwaukee Brewers have all of the ingredients to make a run deep into the playoffs. Expectations around Milwaukee are very high.

Two full weeks in and 12 games down, the Brewers have an 8-4 record and have won 3 of the 4 series they have played. The most impressive is they have one all of their road series thus far.

The line up is strong top to bottom. The key for this team is pitching and staying healthy.

Can they make the run?

Things that make you go hmmmm...

In a time when you hear repeated about the lack of funding for schools and government programs, why in the world would you be paying out money to someone sitting in jail? I have heard everyone say, "their innocent until proven guilty." I agree. Now really take a look at it, how many of you could say that if you got arrested and was put into jail, your job would continue to pay you? Not many that I can think of. Let alone collect travel expenses. Where are you traveling to? You are in jail!!!!

Well, that is exactly what Milwaukee Residents are doing. They continued to pay Michael McGee his $60,000 and an additional $3,000 for travel since he has been in jail pending trials in state and federal court.

I wish that someone could explain all of this to me in a way that makes since.

Sex Education in Schools

Parents in the Elmbrook School District are up in arms that the curriculum was to include a discussion on Oral Sex.

WTMJ TV 4 Report

Now first of all, lets clarify what the conversation was to entail. It was a discussion on the dangers of Sexually Transmitted Infections. It wasn't about how to do it!

It was originally intended for 6th graders, but after the public outcry it was changed to the 8th graders. 8th Grade Parent Leigh Cierzan says that it is still too soon. She is quoted by WTMJ as saying, “I find no place for that in middle school whatsoever. I’d be surprised to find out that a majority of kids even know all that much about that." I am the parent of a 6th grader myself, and after having kids around for sleepovers and listening to them at school functions, they are alot more informed on sexual issues than many parents are willing to admit. Although I am not really sure this is a topic that I would choose to have conversation about with my child, I would much rather it be in a formal setting with adults, than with other kids putting their uninformed spin on it.

In this day and age, Parents need to wake up and get in tune with what is going on with their kids. It doesn't make them bad kids to be curious and discussing sex, we as parents and educators need to help them to be informed so they can make the right choices. It is the parents and educators who try to avoid having the conversations, or want to lock this away in a closet until the parents are ready to discuss this, that are doing a disservice to the youth today.

Cruisers, Target of Police

For years now warm weather meant the beginning of cruising in and around Milwaukee. The police have not been able to stop it. Cars blocking up the roadways, driving through yards, the trash have been an ever visible problem. We have all seen the scenes play out on the news of the kids hanging out the windows, riding on the roof, and even the fights and gun fire.

What can be done?

The local officials have passed laws increasing the fines, the police have reported tried to stop it. Some local officials have complained that it is just another attempt to go after a certain race of people.

This year the police have said they will put a stop to it. You know what I believe them. Chief Flynn has something that the former police Chief did not, A PLAN!!!! He has already shown that he is here to get results.

Milwaukee Police/US Attorney Take out Gang

Milwaukee police arrested 24 members of the Vice lords, in what they call one of the most dangerous street gangs in Milwaukee. Federal Authorities indicted them on charges of trafficking and money laundering.

Milwaukee Police and Federal authorities have arrest 100 gang members this year, and 98 of them remain behind bars.

Is it just a coincidence that we get a new Police Chief, and all of sudden you see arrest after arrest of gang members? He does his job!!!!

It appears that things are on the right track in Milwaukee Law Enforcement. This is exactly what it is takes to get our streets back. Hats off to Police Chief Ed Flynn and to U.S. Attorney Steven Biskupic for taking on the problems head on.

Side note: It is amazing to see Mayor Tom Barrett. I wasn't really sure he was still around, he must feel safe enough to come out of his bunker.

Teachers Underpaid?

Every year the likes of WEAC, NEA, WFA, all Teachers and Educators Unions claim that our Teachers are underpaid. I agree 100%.

The question really should not be whether our Teachers are underpaid or not, but more of how to reward our Good Teachers.

According to a report from NEA in 2004-2005 the average salary for a Wisconsin Teacher was $43,466. Compared to the National Average of $47,750. Several things that we need to take into consideration, benefits packages, days worked.

When you take into account that the average school teacher works an estimated 21% fewer days than the average worker in the workforce. When you take into account that standard practice is the workforce is 2-3 weeks vacation a year for average non-teacher jobs the wage comparison would be much higher. If you consider that a the average work year for a non-teacher employee is 250 days (2 weeks vacation) and the average Teacher work year is 205 days, you have to adjust the wage accordingly. At $43,466, the average teacher makes $212.03 per day. If I made $43,466 a year, I would make $173.86 per a day. Now reverse the figure for Teachers and if they worked 250 days at the same rate of $212.03, the annual salary would then be $53,007.50. According to the Federal Government, the average wage in 2006 was $38,651.41. Teachers in comparison are paid 12% above the national average wage for all workers. Adjusted based on work days, Teachers are paid 28% above the national average.

A vast majority of Teachers do an outstanding job. Working day in and day out to help mold our children into great adults. It would be nice to allow the administrators of our schools to hold annual reviews and reward the good teachers, and terminate the bad teachers. Unfortunately that is not the way it works. The Union wants to make sure everyone is adjusted to what they feel is adequate, and get rid of anyone, NO WAY!!!

As for the Union, they spends millions of dollars in politics to assist their candidates. Spending almost $2,000,000 to help re-elect Governor Jim Doyle.

We haven't even taken into account the benefits that come with the job.