Laura's Corner
I work very hard and am attending college to obtain my degree in the Human Service field. Writing makes me feel alive and gives me the opportunity to touch those whom I would not be able to otherwise. Last but not least, I have been blessed with two amazing daughters who love me completely and support my dreams. Feel free to contact me with questions, concerns or feedback.
WA-WM Superintendent Mr. Wachholz
My name is Karen and I am Laura's "Guest Blogger"! I wrote her after seeing the article on westallisnow.com regarding the pay increase of 11.7% for Mr. Wachholz, the West Allis-West Milwaukee School Superintendent. I had asked Laura to write about it and see what the taxpayers of West Allis think. That is when she invited me to do the blog, so here I am!This article ruffled a few of my feathers, as do a lot of these "great" ideas brought about by the school district. However, this one is different. The last time I checked people were losing jobs, companies putting freezes on pay raises, and people were getting laid-off. Families are finding it harder and harder to provide for their families. All of this due to the economy going downhill. But Mr. Wachholz gets an extra $7,500 for July 1, 2007- June 30, 2008 and than another increase of $6,000 for July 1, 2008 to June 30, 2010 bringing his pay to $147, 500 the first year of the contract. Hold on, that is just the FIRST year. The school board will raise his wage again for the second year of the contract because "wages cannot be less than the previous school year".
Now a question, who is literally paying for his salary??? US, the taxpayers. The same people who are losing jobs, not able to provide for our families the way we would like, the people who are feeling the crunch of the economy. Question two, who is suffering from his pay raise the most??? The KIDS of the West Allis/West Milwaukee School District. Every year programs get cut because there isn't funding. A few years back a minute was added here and a minute was taken away there onto the school day, to "save us money". As parents we are asked to supply teachers with post-it notes, dry erase markers, Kleenex (which I remember going to school and in the office was a whole room of Kleenex, supplied by the school); supplies the school should be giving the teachers money to purchase. Next year school fees will increase and more than likely the taxes we pay will increase. And why? To go to our kids? NO, to Mr. Wachholz's salary.
What has Mr. Wachholz done anyway to deserve this pay raise? Well, he has the kids starting school earlier and wasn't that the big issue, kids need more sleep to succeed? Parents filled out surveys because he wanted to give the kids extra sleeping time and when all is said and done, the kids are getting up earlier! Then there is this whole "restructuring" plan. This is benefiting the kids how? It is costing us more money that is for sure. To do the the restructuring plan, he pulled the principal from Wright and gave her her own position to oversee the restructuring. Now there is an extra salary to pay. Than there are the three proposals out there to make changes to the middle schools to house more students, again more money. That whole thing makes no sense to me, specially since the 6th graders are treated like they are still in elementary schools. They don't switch classes like the older grades and the older grades don't have bells for class changes because it will disturb the 6th graders!
I guess what I am trying to say is, how can the school board approve a pay raise for him? If the district has extra money, give it to the teachers, give it to the classrooms, give it to the students, give it to those who will benefit from it the most. This is a time to conserve money, put money in the hands of the needy. Keep our taxes lower, not everyone in West Allis makes $147,500 a year!
I love the teachers in the district and I appreciate what they have done for my kids, specially my youngest who has problems. When is the district going to live within their means? Instead of going to the capitol to rally for changing the funding system in Wisconsin, lets look at our community and how we can change the funding within our own district.
I want to know what you think? Is this right for Mr. Wachholz to receive a raise with the economy the way it is? What would you like to see different in the district? Do you think the money the district brings in is being spent to the benefit of the kids?
Thank you Laura for allowing me the chance to vent. Maybe the school board will read this and rethink some of their costly decisions. Do any of the school board members even have kids currently in the system? They can't or they wouldn't let some of this stuff go down!
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