P.O. Box 1222, Madison, WI 53701 | www.prodane.org | office@prodane.org | (608) 257-4985
The Police Chiefs of ten cities met with Attorney General Eric Holder last week about the effects the recent Arizona legislation will have on their ability to keep their communities safe.
As one put it, “When you enact legislation that makes any subset of that community feel like they are being targeted specifically, or have concerns about coming forward and talking to police, that damages our capability to obtain information to solve the crimes."
The Dane County Immigration Task Force has heard repeatedly that similar distrust of law enforcement is hampering policing in our area. This is due to Sheriff Dave Mahoney's policy of discretionary contacts to Federal immigration authorities concerning some individuals held in our jail.
Sheriff Mahoney has resisted efforts to change these practices.
On June 1, the Madison Common Council will consider a resolution on this issue; June 2, the Immigration Task Force will finalize their report. Progressive Dane supports this resolution and counsels the Task Force to make strong recommendations against discretionary immigration contacts.
At 6:30 on June 1, prior to the Common Council meeting supporters of change will rally at the City-County Building. We urge all community members who are concerned with safety and justice to attend and contact their representatives.
Jacque Pokorney & Thomas J. Mertz
Progressive Dane Co-Chairs
Posted by prodane at 03:11 PM | Comments (0)
At the General membership Meeting last night PD voted support for the call for action below. Although the odds of great changes this school budget cycle are low, it is important that the voices of school supporters -- those who think that some of the $13 million slated for property tax relief be used to make out schools better -- be heard. As one person who testified earlier put it, the Board of Education needs to be reminded that they were elected to be the "guardians of the schools...not the guardians of the taxpayers."
Please join me Tuesday. The meeting begins at 5:00, so you can stop by on your way to the Immigration Rally.
Distribute Widely!
Madison School Budget Hearing
Call to Action
June 1, 2010, 5:00 PM
Doyle Administration Building Auditorium
On June 1, the Madison Metropolitan School District (MMSD) Board of Education will hold their fourth and final hearing on the 2010-11 Budget. After the hearing they will finalize and vote on a preliminary budget (the final budget comes in October, after student counts and state aid are certified). This is your last chance to stand up for schools and education and make your voice heard.
The Talking Points
General
Tax increases are better than cuts to school budgets; Invest in Education, Raise My Taxes.
School Budgets have been cut for 16 years; it is time to stop this trend.
The trend in taxes paid by property owners for schools has been down for the last 15 years; levying to the full authority would return the mil rate to about the 2004-5 level.
The 2008 Operating Referendum passed with 69% of the vote.
Madison schools are very good, but there is much that needs improvement.
For the benefit of all students, the Strategic Plan needs to be implemented, not “narrowed.”
The achievement gaps of over 30% points between low income and other students on standardized tests in every subject and in every tested grade are not going to be helped by budget cuts.
It is doubtful that any of the cuts that have already been initially approved will be rescinded, but there are places where some of the savings might be reallocated.
Specifics
I’ve proposed two budget amendments, one on information for decision making and the other on Equity.
Budget $250,000 for improved data collection analysis and reporting as required in the Strategic Plan, TAG Plan, and Equity Policy, Literacy Education Evaluation and elsewhere. This should include the creation of a position working with the Board of Education to determine and meet their informational needs.
Budget $2.0 million in Supplemental Allocations to high need schools via the Equity Resource Formula (or similar criteria) and aligned with purposes identified in School Improvement Plans and consistent with the Strategic Plan and Equity Policy. Since SAGE and Title I do provide resources to high need elementary schools, it may be advisable to disproportionately target secondary schools with these funds.
You can read more about these on the MadisonAmps blog.
Create a fund for Strategic Plan Initiatives that can be approved by the Board throughout the year.
Create a fund for Equity Initiatives that can be approved by the Board throughout the year.
Fund much-needed Facilities Maintenance.
Rescind the decision to seek pay freezes for some of the lowest paid employees.
Background
Due to Wisconsin’s broken school funding system and cuts in state aid to schools, at the start of the budget process maintaining educational offering and quality would have required an estimated $28.2 million increase in locally generated revenue. This comes after over a decade when the trend ahs been reduced school property taxes for homeowners. After examining and voting on over 200 options for cuts and efficiencies, the Board has reduced this amount by about $13.5 million.
In 2008 over 68% of the voters approved a referendum to avoid cuts and bring about improvements. At that time the anticipated budget cuts for 2010-11 without a referenda were $9 million; now they are cutting $13.5 million from the levy despite the successful referendum.
Efficiencies are almost always good and most of the cuts will not have a significant effect on the breadth or quality of educational offerings. In many ways the Board has done a good job under difficult circumstances.
What they haven’t done is looked for ways that they could use some or all of that $13.5 million to improve our schools. Instead it has been designated for property tax relief.
There is much room for improvement. 17 years of cuts due to the state finance system have limited opportunities and support for all students. The achievement gaps remain a source of shame. On the most recent WKCE tests the gaps between low income and non low income students scoring proficient was over 30% in every grade for every subject.. African American and Hispanic students are more likely to drop out than participate in programs for the “talented and gifted.”
A big part of the 2008 referendum was the promise of a strategic plan to improve education in Madison. A plan is in place, but these self-imposed cuts have placed the improvements in jeopardy. Superintendent Dan Nerad recently cited “resource constraints” as the source of a “need” to “narrow the priorities within the [strategic] plan.” They have the resources to make big improvements, but would rather give tax breaks.
If you think, improving education and the futures of our children and community are more important than tax breaks, come to the June 1 hearing and show support or write the Board of Education at board@madison.k12.wi.us.
For more information on the Madison Budget, visit the district Budget Page: http://drupal.madison.k12.wi.us/node/6001
To get involved in fixing things at the state level, join the Wisconsin Alliance for Excellent Schools (www.excellentschools.org) and sign the Penny for Kids petition (www.apennyforkids.org).
Posted by prodane at 07:53 AM
Madison Downtown Public Library
Wednesday, May 26, 2010
6:30 - 8:30 p.m.
Chair: Michael Johnson
Immigration Task Force - Jon Hawkins
Take Back the Land - Operation Welcome Home
School Board Budget - TJ Mertz
City Elected Report - Alder Mike Verveer
Announcements
PD Beer Caucus--immediately following at Nick's on State St.
Public Welcome!
Posted by prodane at 07:51 AM
On June 1, 2010 the Madison Metropolitan School District Board of Education (MMSD) will hold a hearing and vote on their 2010-11 budget. Over the last months the Board has worked hard to enact savings and efficiencies totaling over $15 million while preserving crucial programs, opportunities and jobs. What has been missing from the process is a concerted effort to move beyond preserving to improving our schools and their governance.
TJ Mertz, Progressive Dane Co-chair and Education Committee Chair, is bringing forth a proposal asking the Board to reallocate a portion of these savings to address equity and provide a better basis for policy and budget decision-making. At the May 26 General Membership Meeting he will be asking Progressive Dane to support this proposal.
A full explanation of the proposals can be found at http://madisonamps.org/2010/05/16/mmsd-budget-an-open-letter/
Posted by prodane at 03:09 PM
Progressive Dane would say NO that the public is not getting a fair deal.
Primarily, there has been the lack of public input and process during this entire ordeal with many concerns about what has happened to our city process, but that would fill another page or two.
The biggest issue now is regarding the $16 million of TIF being “required” to complete this project. Hammes Co. has said the project cannot be done without $16 million of Madison taxpayer money. Bob Dunn has given testimony about the benefit of the public space with access to the water and associated parking as the public benefit for this taxpayer money.
First of all, is this public space worth $16 million to the public, Madison taxpayers, and residents of this TID? For the same money, three more Goodman Pools could be built throughout the city, that seems like a more popular choice.
And as far as this new public plaza, Hammes Co. can close off up to 75% of that public space at anytime or 100% of the time on 30% of prime weekend days if they want for their events. And if the public wants to use the space, they need to use the high-end caterers of the hotel. James Madison Park is just a little way down the lake shore with full public access to the water and use of the park for individual food and drink 100% of the time.
Besides the public space, Hammes Co. has also stressed the 230-240 jobs that will be created. This is great, but the same number and similar type jobs could be created as well if $16 million of TIF were used to provide low-interest or no-interest loans to all the home owners in that TID to update and weatherize their homes. There are many other ways that TIF funding could be used in Madison that are more creative, would create similar jobs, and have an immediate and long-term benefit directly to the taxpayers.
But if $16 million of TIF were to be granted to Hammes Co. for this project, the due diligence of the Common Council would be to put in more public requirements for this money. The alders could ask that there are guarantees for the percentage of local hire for all the construction jobs. They could require there be prevailing wages paid for all the construction jobs along with a certain percentage of apprenticeship/training opportunities be guaranteed. They could require “card check neutrality” and the Unions should be lobbying strongly for this provision. They could require living wages for all future employees of the hotel; if this is about jobs, lets make it about jobs for the long-term.
Progressive Dane strongly supports economic development for the city of Madison, it just supports smart development that uses taxpayer money in a smart way and guarantees maximum benefit to the public and workers if we are going to use TIF. The challenge to the Common Council is to consider the same.
Jacque Pokorney
Co-chair Progressive Dane
Posted by prodane at 09:12 AM
Thursday, May 13, 6:30-8:30 in Room 210 of the City County Building, 210 Martin Luther King Jr Blvd. The Dane County Immigration Task Force will be hearing public comment prior to finalizing their draft report.
Led by Student Progressive Dane, PD has been part of the long effort to change the Sheriff Dave Mahoney's damaging practice of unnecessarily involving Federal immigration authorities in the cases of those held in the Dane County Jail. This practice has torn apart families and created distrust of law enforcement in our immigrant communities.
This is you chance to again make your voice heard. Strong recommendations from the Task Force may prompt change.
The meeting agenda is here and you can find the draft report here.
Posted by prodane at 11:12 AM
The month of April was Progressive Dane’s renewal month and we are still waiting for some to send in their membership forms. Please take this opportunity to renew your membership by using the on-line renewal http://www.prodane.org/get_involved/become_member/ or by returning your hard copy renewal form. PD is not complete without you! If you have already renewed your membership, please disregard this friendly reminder.
If you are not already member, now is also a good time to join. Membership includes voting rights at all membership, committee, and task force meetings, a discussion listserv, a newsletter, up-to-date information on upcoming events that matters to you, and the knowledge that your contributions are helping to make Dane County a better place for everyone, no exceptions.
Posted by prodane at 08:06 AM