During the Cold War, there was a real possibility of armed conflict between the NATO Forces and the Warsaw Pact Forces.
Among other considerations if such a conflict occurred, was that the battleground would have been in Europe, with a fairly dense population living in cities.
Having recently gone through the nearly total destruction of many European cities in WWII, NATO Forces developed a nifty little nuclear bomb (called the Neutron Bomb) that killed people with radiation, while leaving the buildings standing!
Fortunately in the political and military world, the conflagration in Europe did not happen (albeit due to millions of lives lost in various wars fought by the surrogate forces of the Super Powers and the threat of MAD - Mutual Assured Destruction ) .
But in the business world, Jack Welch the former CEO of GE earned the nickname of ''Neutron Jack,'' due to a series of dramatic restructurings and layoffs he instituted, that cut over 100,000 jobs - cuts that were so painful to employees that they began referring to him as ''Neutron Jack,'' after the nuclear bomb that vaporizes people but leaves buildings standing.
Soooooooo about now, you are asking yourself "just what does Jack Welch or neutron bombs have to do with Shorewood Schools "?
The Connection between them became apparent to me as I contemplated the Dis-Connect of the messages that the Shorewood School Board has been sending to us over the past few months.
Just last September (07) the School Board was saying that we have to seriously look at closing a school due to falling enrollment.
From an article by Dave Fidlin, dfidlin@cninow.com published September 5, 2007 :
Shorewood school closing possible
Reconfiguration scenarios created for district
Dropping enrollment
"Based on its examination, administration found that the district's four schools are currently at 75 to 80 percent capacity. By 2010-11, those figures could dip to 65 to 70 percent if the schools were to stay as is."
One of the options discussed was closing the Middle School. Superintendent Blane McCann said "If the district were to close SIS, it could result in a savings of $622,000 in operational and staffing expenses."
At the time, the School Board was of the opinion that it needed to go slow in reviewing the options and doing more research before taking action.
Back then Board Member Paul Zovic said "I think we need to have some real numbers for all these options -- These are big decisions. We're not in planning mode."
Superintendent Blane McCann was quoted as saying "I would advocate careful planning,"
But now - barely 5 months later -- the School Board is asking for about $10,000,000 from Shorewood Taxpayers to Remodel and Upgrade the schools !
The message we now hear from the Shorewood School Board members is one of Urgency! We need $10 Million NOW!
As quoted in http://www.shorewoodnow.com/ January 30, 2008:
"Board member Paul Zovic said he favored investing in the technology upgrades, for which the district will ask for $1 million. (It is) something we not only haven't been keeping up with, but have been chiseling away"
"We're addressing some really, really old problems," board member Michael Mishlove said. "We're dealing with infrastructure that is ancient relative to the rest of the state. We need to take action. We can't hand it down to the next generation."
"Superintendent Blane McCann said there would be some reconfiguration of the north gym, with lockers and classrooms in new areas. The library remodeling, meanwhile, would encompass the construction of stadium seating and modifications to the computer lab. "
BTW (by the way) --- the School Board decided to request $9.65 million from taxpayers in a referendum, as "During deliberations, a consensus was reached that a referendum of less than $10 million would stand a greater chance of being approved by constituents."
I Am Wondering What Happened To The Slow And Steady Approach Of 5 Months Ago That Was Concerned With Dropping Enrollment And The Need For Consolidation --- And Taking Actions That Are Well Thought Out And Will Address The Future As Well As The Present ?????
Is the School Board "Neutroning" our schools? We have already eliminated clerical, maintenance and librarian personnel among others --- and our student population is on a decline (in part from the inability of school age families to pay Shorewood taxes??).
The student population that we do have is highly dependent upon Open Enrollment and Chapter 220 Students --- both programs which are vulnerable to the vagaries of political action in Madison and the decisions by the Courts!
The Village of Shorewood and the Shorewood School District are inextricably linked and co-dependent. If the Shorewood Schools develop a cough, the Village gets the flu, and when the village has a temperature, the schools develop a fever.
We currently have a Village Board that is betting the economic future of the Village, with a plan that in a flat realty market could backfire into big time loses for the taxpayers.
In one scheme the Village Board is looking at, it will pay duplex property owners to convert their buildings to single family residences, making living in Shorewood even less affordable --- and further diminishing the student population.
Now the School Board wants to spend $10 million on buildings that are under-utilized, and may become more so, as families with children cannot afford Shorewood's taxes.
As our good friend and fellow blogger Joe Mangiamele wrote in his Spirit of Shorewood blog on Monday, Jan 28 2008
"We have acquired stacks of stodgy documents called plans, none interrelated nor integrated nor linked to each other within a spirit of what is Shorewood. We have no "visible component" within our village that brings all of these together, to express the total of our community spirit. We have no code or ordinance and no commssion or commission head to give us direction and leadership. "
http://blogs.shorewoodnow.com/from_the_village_square/archive/2008/01/28/spirit-of-shorewood.aspx
In summation, I urge the Shorewood School Board to step back, reconsider, and look at our school system from a "sum zero" perspective. Don't "neutron" the system, saving the buildings at the sake of the students and teachers.
If it costs more money --- so be it --- as long as the investment is the result of a unified plan, with the Village, in making our schools the best they can be - now and for the future - and maintaining our school system as one of the major factors in making Shorewood a place people want to live.
WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ? PLEASE LEAVE YOUR COMMENTS BELOW.
For some thoughts on issues other than Shorewood, visit my other blog at
http://nonconventionalwisdomperspectives.blogspot.com/
