Don't forget to vote tomorrow!

Here are the YouTube videos with the school referendum tour again, in case you missed them the first time.

1. Intro to the referendum tour
2. SHS pool renovations
3. SHS PE building renovations
4. SHS Library renovations

If you are unsure where to vote, here is a map showing Shorewood polling places, by ward.

The school district sent me several renderings of the proposed renovations to the SHS Library and PE Building.  These pictures should help to clarify exactly what Dr. McCann was referring to during the videos of the SHS referendum tour.

SEE THE RENDERINGS

I took the videos below during the 2/16/08 Shorewood School District referendum informational tours.  Shorewood Superintendent Blane McCann gives the full tour of the key spaces which would be affected by the referendum. 

The video is split up into 4 parts: Intro, Library, PE Building, and Pool.  I am also working on obtaining the architectural plans for the Library and PE Building spaces so you can get a better sense of the proposed renovations.  The maximum video length for YouTube uploads in 10 minutes, so you will notice editing in some places.

If you experience problems viewing them, please let me know.  There may a download speed issue.  If so, I will see if I can reduce the quality of the video to make them play more smoothly.

REFERENDUM INTRODUCTION & BACKGROUND (9 mins 51 sec)

SHS LIBRARY TOUR (2 mins 55 sec)

SHS PHYSICAL EDUCATION BUILDING TOUR (8 mins 32 sec)

SHS POOL TOUR (1 min 35 sec)

The Shorewood School District is distributing an information packet on the upcoming $9.65 Million referendum.  It contains a breakdown of proposed expenditures, the need for the expenditures, and other background on the state of our school finances.

Shorewood School District April 1, 2008 Referendum

On April 1, 2008, the Shorewood School Board will seek voter approval to borrow $9.65 million to finance maintenance, technology and renovation needs throughout the Shorewood School District.... (READ FULL DOCUMENT)

In an earlier post, I suggested that putting audio or video files of local government meetings online would radically improve citizens' access to their government.  So here is the first installment of the Village "Boardcast".

As a test, I recorded several agenda items from yesterday's (2/4/08) Shorewood Village Board meeting.  I only stayed for the first few agenda items, so you will not see audio clips below for the later portions of the meeting. 

For your reference, here is the published agenda for the Village Board Meeting, as well as the committee meetings that took place last night. 

Item 1: Call to order, Statement of Public Notice, Presentation of Accounts

boomp3.com

Item 2: Alberta Darling addresses the Village Board on events and new developments in the State Senate.

boomp3.com

Item 3: Update on school referendum from Superintendent Blane McCann

boomp3.com

Item 4: Discussion on community survey proposal from Center for Urban Initiatives and Research (Development and Long Range Planning Committee)

boomp3.com

Take a listen and let me know what you think. 

Shorewood voters will be asked to decide on a $9.65 Million referendum for the Shorewood School District as a part of the April 2008 ballot.  The School Board approved placing the referendum on the ballot during a meeting this evening.  Following the School Board meeting, Shorewood School District Superintendent Blane McCann updated the Village Board on the status of the referendum.

Here is the complete audio of Superintendent McCann's remarks, and the discussion that followed. 

boomp3.com

I have audio for several other sections of the meeting, which I will post tomorrow.

As a veteran of the war in Iraq, it pained me when Shorewood ran a referendum in April on an immediate withdrawal of our troops. I have no problem with people opposing the war. Indeed, one of the popular mantras of today's anti-war movement is, "oppose the war, but support the troops." I respect that point of view, and have publicly stated my thanks to opponents of the war who nevertheless actively and generously supported me during my time in Iraq. I believe our ability to make this distinction reveals an important way in which our nation has matured since the disgraceful treatment visited upon draftees returning from Vietnam.

That being said, I think we crossed a line of departure with the referendum, beyond which the nature and specific actions of opposition to the war negated the verbal and spiritual support offered to the troops. Organizing a village-wide statement of principle against the effort for which I fought, and some of my friends died, cannot be legitimately construed as supporting the troops.

I am a soldier. I will be a soldier until 2010. And I can tell you first hand, this referendum did not support the troops.