Upcoming AFE Forum:
You CAN Make a Difference in Your Child's Education

Join us as we learn:

• what the current issues are that will shape your child's classroom;
• how the governor's race will impact WFB schools;
• specific examples of how parent advocacy changed legislation;
• how to reach your representatives in Madison;
• and more...

Speakers:

Journalist Alan Borsuk, seasoned reporter who gained an outstanding reputation for his work at the Journal Sentinal covering the Milwaukee education landscape and current senior fellow in Law and Public Policy at Marquette University Law School.

Alan Borsuk's Bio

Mr. Borsuk's recent Journal Sentinel article from August 22, 2010:
Where newspaper goes in rating teachers, others soon will follow

Jack Linehan, former Shorewood School District Superintendent and Executive Director of the Southeastern Wisconsin Schools Alliance (SWSA) who provides school leaders and parents with objective, non-partisan information and training to be strong advocates for educational exellence.

Jack worked in WFB from 1974-1985 as a middle school teacher at the old Henry Clay School, was a counselor/assistant principal at Cumberland, and was assistant principal/athletic director at WFBHS.  He lived in WFB for 27 years, his daughters went through the school system, and his wife Kathy taught at Richards. 

Jack Linehan's bio [PDF]

Southeastern Wisconsin Schools Alliance:
http://www.schoolsalliance.com/

Op-Ed Columnist Thomas Friedman Writes About Public Education

On August 24, 2010, Thomas Friedman wrote this Op-Ed piece for the New York Times. Read his opinions here: 

Steal This Movie, Too  By THOMAS L. FRIEDMAN

School Funding in the News

On Friday June 25, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel contained a front page article outlining a collection of proposals that Tony Evers, State Superintendent of Public Instruction, will be including in his 2011-13 state budget to be presented to the governor in September.  The article gives a brief summary of the school funding formula and also has an explanation of the school levy tax credits and how they benefit taxpayers but not the schools.

Please take a minute to read through the article.  Familiarize yourself with the different organizations voicing an opinion
and the mixed reviews from the WI governor's candidates. 

The online article:

http://www.jsonline.com/news/education/97069794.html

The WI Dept. of Public Instruction's June 24 press release:

http://dpi.wi.gov/eis/pdf/dpinr2010_83.pdf

Tony Evers -  "Fair Funding For Our Future:

http://dpi.wi.gov/home.html

Referendum Interest Rates Lower Than Expected

The Whitefish Bay School Board was informed that the interest rate for the $22.6 million dollar school referendum that passed last Fall should come in much lower than the budgeted 5.5%.  The average interest rate on the bonds over 20 years is estimated at 1.91%.

For more details about the referendum financing, see the YesYes Progress or Village Spillage blogs:

http://yesyesprogress.com/blog/

http://www.villagespillage.com/

New Superintendent - Mary Gavigan

Dr. Mary J. Gavigan will become the next superintendent of Whitefish Bay Public Schools.  Dr. Gavigan, currently superintendent of the Stoughton Area School District, will succeed Dr. James R. Rickabaugh.
 
Dr. Gavigan received her undergraduate degree from UW-Eau Claire, and master’s and doctoral degrees from UW-Madison.
 
After teaching elementary school for five years, she served as an elementary principal in the Ripon, Waterloo and Sun Prairie School Districts. She has also served in Staff Development and Director of Instruction roles in Sun Prairie and the Oconomowoc Area School District. Prior to becoming superintendent in Stoughton, Dr. Gavigan was assistant superintendent in that district.
 
In addition to K-12 teaching and administrative positions, Dr. Gavigan has taught education courses at both Cardinal Stritch University and UW-Madison.
 
“Mary Gavigan brings excellent credentials and a depth of relevant experience to Whitefish Bay,” said School Board President Marie Greco. “She is highly respected among educators.  She is excited to be joining our district, and we look forward to welcoming her to the community.”