Muskego Schools Need A 'Yes' to Maintain Standards

To the Editor:

While I am writing today as a taxpayer, citizen and voter, I have had the pleasure of serving this community for the past ten years as a member of the School Board, and the past six years as Board President.  It has been incredible to watch the transformation of our school system from one that was happy to be “good” in most categories to one that strives to be “great” in all categories – academic, athletic and co-curricular, as well as from an administrative and board perspective.  We have had a lot to celebrate recently in all those categories from the District’s 2010 Wisconsin Forward Award to Dr. Joe Schroeder being named 2011 Superintendent of the Year to Newsweek’s List of Best High Schools in America to our highest ACT scores in the District’s history and I could easily go on.

As we strive to be the district of choice in Southeastern Wisconsin we have clung to three standards or hallmarks in our district.  The first is that we will challenge our students for higher levels of academic achievement and greater levels of rigor in the classrooms.  The second hallmark is continuous improvement in all areas. We are constantly trying to become better as a system and as a board team - primarily in areas that impact learning. 

The final hallmark of our district is sound stewardship of our communities’ resources.  To me, this means several things.  It means maintaining conservative fiscal policies, ensuring dollars are spent in the best ways possible to impact learning.  It means striking a balance between taxpayer, staff and student interests to maintain a high quality educational system.  And it means addressing tough issues related to our aging and inefficient elementary school buildings.  We all know that good teachers are the most important way to impact achievement but we also realize we are approaching a precipice beyond which we will spend millions of classroom dollars in the physical upkeep of these buildings.  Dollars better spent in educating children.  We have responded to community feedback, we have revised the plan, reduced the scope and the cost and are pleased with the referendum question before the community on November 8^th. 

I believe this is the last time we will be able to present you with a comprehensive plan to address our elementary schools with a referendum borrowing price under $30 Million dollars.  Between lower than normal construction costs, reduced bond interest rates and the availability of fund balance to offset expenses, we are uniquely and favorably positioned to respond to these challenges now, in a manner and within a cost that we will likely never see again.  Help us be sound stewards of our resources and do the responsible thing for the future of our district, our property values and our community.  The time is now.  Please join me in voting Yes on November 8^th!

Jim Schaefer