Wednesday, December 19, 2012
The success of the 4-year-old kindergarten program has drawn praise from many on the school board, as well as approval for a continuation for next year.
Parents of preschool-age children will have the option to enroll their tots for the 2013-14 school year as the Muskego-Norway School Board voted to approve continuing 4-year-old kindergarten (4K) for another year. The program began with the 2010-11 school year and has seen steadily increasing enrollment (208 students are currently enrolled for this year), but will need board approval to continue. Statewide, 88 percent of school districts have 4K programs. The school board met Monday night to cast a final vote on the proposal, after a report from the district posted very positive results. Some of the statistics in that report included: Board member Mike Serdynski cast the only no vote, stating that he feared the costs of the program would …
Thursday, June 7, 2012
Departing superintendent recommends that $255,000 overage be used to pay off phone lease early, however some are asking for more caution before money is spent.
Superintendent Dr. Joe Schroeder credited Business Director Scot Ecker and Coordinator of Pupil Services Ted Gennerman for netting the district $90,000 in reimbursements related to special education services the district provides. The savings was added to those from utilities, which came in under budget by about $165,000, realizing a surplus of $255,000. Schroeder said the dollars could be put into the district's fund balance, but instead requested that $140,000 of it pay off their phone lease early. "In doing so, we would be pre-paying off this lease-to-own financial obligation and position the district to realize anticipated interest savings," Schroeder explained in a memo to the board. "More importantly, this would open up approximately…
Tuesday, May 1, 2012
Administration proposes a 4.89 percent increase in the Muskego-Norway school tax levy, but the board asks what it would take to lower that figure. However, Superintendent Schroeder advises what further cuts may be required for that to happen.
What would Muskego residents rather see in the 2012-13 school budget: No increase to the property tax levy or no risk of further cuts to staff? That's the issue being debated by the Muskego-Norway School Board as members look at what affect lowering the levy would have on the district's staff and programs. The district originally projected a 4.89 percent increase in the tax levy, but the board asked Superintendent Joe Schroeder last week what would happen in fhte increase was lowered to 2 percent or 3 percent. Board member Mike Serdynski asked how the district could achieve a no-increase levy, while board member Brett Hyde said he would be comfortable with an increase of 2 percent at the most. However, Schroeder provided additional context…
Monday, April 2, 2012
City, county and national races make for a full ballot on Tuesday; be informed before you head out and cast your ballot.
Unless you've been abroad (for example, interplanetary travel), you know that it will be time to head to the polls on Tuesday. We've listed information about the candidates in all contested races on our Election Central page. There are contested races in all three aldermanic districts. Incumbent Tracy Snead and Robert Wolfe will vie for the 1st District; Alderman Neil Borgman and challenger Larry Lefebvre will be on the District 3 ballot, and the 5th District will feature a race between incumbent Dan Soltysiak and John Engelhardt. The candidates had presented their views during a forum on March 20, but others will also appear on the ballot who were not present during that event, including Muskego-Norway School Board candidates Eric …
Tuesday, January 10, 2012
The 4K program will live to see another year, with another review scheduled for December 2012.
Despite some uncertainty on how the program will be funded in the coming years, the Muskego-Norway School Board voted to keep the community-based 4K program. The vote was not unanimous, however, with Eric Schroeder and Mike Serdynski voting no. While MNSD qualified for a special adjustment because of the loss of state aid, the state also changed the trigger to qualify for that aid so far more districts now qualify. Even though funding was increased to these districts, the method of distribution resulted in an inequitable decrease in funding, with MNSD losing a higher percentage than other districts that were considered poorer and wealthier. As State aid is based on one year and applied in the following year, the 2012-2013 school year won't…
Thursday, December 1, 2011
Candidates may begin filing papers today through Jan. 3rd. Who will be on the ballot so far?
If you haven't gotten enough election talk yet, Muskego has begun its season today, as candidates may begin filing papers for aldermanic seats, municipal judge and school board. Muskego Common Council seats for the first, third and fifth districts, currently held by Tracy Snead, Neil Borgman and Dan Soltysiak respectively, will be up for re-election in 2012. Presently Borgman and Soltysiak have announced they will run again. Inquiries to Alderman Snead have not been answered yet. In addition, second district alderman Kert Harenda will have the option to run for the third district seat, as redistricting has meant he will no longer be living in the second district. Should he decide to continue in his district, he will not need to relinquish…
Brian Hofmeister
8:55 am on Wednesday, December 19, 2012
Great to hear this! more ›