Scott Walker Loses Education Control Fight in Court

 

A unanimous state appeals court on Thursday deemed unconstitutional a portion of a 2011 law that gave Gov. Scott Walker the ability to halt administrative rules by Schools Superintendent Tony Evers, who is independently elected.

The ruling by the Madison-based District 4 Court of Appeals upholds a 2012 decision by Dane County Circuit Judge Amy Smith.

Walker signed the law in May 2011, which gave his administration a greater say in writing administrative rules, which are used to implement state laws. Administrative rules include more specifics than state statutes and carry the force of law.

Looks like Scott Walker got caught ignoring the State Constitution:

The state constitution says that "the supervision of public instruction shall be vested in a state superintendent and such other officers as the Legislature shall direct." In a 1996 case that the appeals court repeatedly cited, the state Supreme Court held that lawmakers and the governor cannot give "equal or superior authority" over public education to any other official.

The Supreme Court's ruling found that the state constitution prevented then-Gov. Tommy Thompson from transferring powers from the Department of Public Instruction to a new Department of Education overseen by the governor's administration.

"In sum, the Legislature has the authority to give, to not give, or to take away (the school superintendent's) supervisory powers, including rule-making power. What the Legislature may not do is give the (superintendent) a supervisory power relating to education and then fail to maintain the (superintendent's) supremacy with respect to that power," Appeals Judge Gary Sherman wrote for the court in Thursday's decision.

No, Scott Walker, you can't control state education. You've defunded K-12 education by $2 billion and you're stripping $300 million from our previously wonderful State University system. You've made taxpayers fund the private education of rich kids, too.

You have already done more than enough damage.

Since his 2011 inauguration, he's taken complete control of virtually ALL state agencies and has been hard at work on legislation giving him complete control over everything.
The last 3 remaining agencies or departments he doesn't completely control (the DNR with it's soon to be legislatively abolished Citizen Advisory Board oversight, the Secretary of States' Office - run by a Democrat - soon to be stripped of staff and moved to an inaccessible basement by Walker's new budget, and the Government Accountability Board which oversees elections) have now been joined by a 4th, the Department of Public Instruction.

Walker's 2011 law gave him the final say in administrative rules for public schools despite the fact that the Superintendent is independently elected. Not any more.

Read the entire article by clicking on the following:  Scott Walker Loses Education Control Fight in Court

April 7 District 100 School Board Election

Registered voters living within the boundaries of the Belvidere School District will be asked to elect three individuals to the Board of Education at the April 7, 2015 election.  This page has been established to provide basic information about the function and responsibilities of the Board of Education and to introduce you to candidates running for the three seats.

 

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How to Choose a School Board Candidate:  What Every Voter Should Know

 

Written by the Staff of GreatSchools

Getting involved with your local board of education doesn't have to mean running your own campaign for a seat or taking detailed notes at every single meeting.  The first simple step--one that every registered voter should take very seriously--is voting in the election of school board members.

Read on to find out how school boards work, what they do, how they can be effective, and what you should know about the candidates before heading to the polls.

What is a board of education?

School board members make up the largest body of elected officials in the United States.  We entrust them to set the polices of our most treasured institutions:  Our public elementary, middle, and high schools.  Every district has a board of education, and boards generally meet every month in meetings that are open to the public.

These gatherings range from tame rubber-stamping sessions to intense, provocative discussions with the community where controversial issues are debated and landmark decisions are made.

School boards are nonpartisan.  In most districts, members serve four-year terms and terms are staggered so seats do not become open all at once.  In general, to run for school board you have to be at least 18 years old, a citizen of the state, a resident of the district, a registered voter, and eligible under the state constitution to be elected to public office.

In most cases, a school district employee cannot be a board member in that district.  This means no teacher, principal, librarian, custodian, or anyone else that works in a school in the district can serve on the school board unless the resign from the employed position.

School districts are complex corporation; they are often the largest employers in a community and the decisions they make reach far, affecting jobs, resources, and most importantly the education of all children.

What do they do?

Somewhere in between the agendas, public comment sessions, and resolutions school boards make a number of important decisions.  School boards establish a vision for the community's schools.  They have to set up and maintain an effective, efficient organizational structure for the district that lets the superintendent and administrators manage the schools, teachers teach, and students learn.

They are responsible for hiring and evaluating a superintendent, evaluating and adopting policies that affect all schools in the district, serving as a judicial and appeals body when conflicts go unresolved, monitoring and adjusting district finances, and managing the collective bargaining process in the district.

A school board has a symbolic role as well.  The behavior it shows off in the meeting room, the rapport among school board members, and the relationships that members have with teachers and administrators in the district all add up to the climate of public education in a community.  Whether healthy or dysfunctional, a school board has a heavy influence on the spirit that characterizes a community's impression of its school system.

How can I tell if my school board is doing a good job?

By attending a few school board meetings, you will learn firsthand what school boards do.  Call your district office to find out where and when meetings are held.  Once you've observed your school board in action, you will be prepared to ask the following questions:

•  How does the school board make decisions?  Do the members function as predictable, single-issue advocates or do they approach each decision with an open mind?  Do they seem to make strategic choices for the well-being of the district?  Strong decision-making requires analysis, the balancing of needs and concerns, and the ability to see the long-term implications of an action.

•  How's the team spirit?  Does the board exhibit a healthy group dynamic, or is it a parade of egos marching single-file?  Do members show respect and trust for each other and for the operating rules of the board?

•  Is the board's authority well defined?  The classic challenges of management do not skip over your board of education.  There's a delicate balance between the board's act of choosing a strong chief executive (the superintendent) and letting him or her lead the way and the board's tendency to get involved with many levels of decision-making.

•  Does the board understand the community?  One of the most difficult parts of school governance is creating a strong relationship with the public.  An effective board knows and respects its community and encourages the community's trust in its school system.

What should I look for in a school board candidate?

First of all, you should think about the issues that are important to you in your school district.  Are you concerned about student transportation, textbook adoption, funding for extracurricular activities, new curriculum standards, or construction of new school facilities?  What's your hot button?  You will want to find out where the candidates stand on issues that are important to you.

You might also look for the following qualities:

•  The ability to work well with a team and support group decisions, along with an understanding that the board sets a climate for the entire district.

•  A desire to work toward a stronger relationship between the district and the public it serves.

•  A keen eye toward serving the needs of all students, regardless of their abilities and backgrounds.

•  A professional, poised demeanor and respectful, respectable behavior.

•  Respect for diverse points of view.

•  Commitment to the time and energy required each week for meetings, phone calls, conversations, visits to schools, and professional development seminars and workshops.

•  Knowledge about district policies, guidelines, needs, challenges, and strengths.

At the heart of it all, members of a district's board of education must believe, unequivocally, in the value of public education.  They must be dedicated to serving and teaching all children.  They must believe n the democratic process and understand that their role is to act strategically, in line with the interests of the entire school community.

April 7, 2015 Election

On April 7 voters will be asked to select one individual from Belvidere Township and two individuals from the remaining congressional townships to fill three 4-year terms on the Board of Education.  The following names will appear on the ballot:

 

Belvidere Township (Vote for 1):

Allison Reid-Niemeic

Michael Rathbun

Frank Marks

Remaining Congressional Townships (Vote for 2):

Holly A. Houk

Lynette Danzl-Tauer

Heather Sell-Wick

Kelly Galluzzo

 

Information above and below is taken from District 100 website and is accessible by clicking on the following:  April School Board Election

 

Belvidere Township (Vote for 1):

 

 

Remaining Congressional Townships (Vote for 2):

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10 areas on Rauner’s chopping block | Chicago

 

 

Posted: 02/18/2015, 06:56pm | Natasha Korecki

Gov. Bruce Rauner delivers his State of the Budget address to a joint session of the General Assembly in the House chambers, Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2015, in Springfield Ill. (AP Photo/Seth Perlman)

Medicaid:

• $1.5 billion reduction to Health and Family Services budget, including elimination of Specialized Mental Health Rehabilitation facilities.

Human Services:

• Division of alcohol and substance abuse – $27.5 million reduction

• Division of mental health — $82 million reduction

• Elimination of Best Buddies, Project Autism, Arc of Illinois, Homeless youth services, Immigration Integration Services, Illinois Welcoming centers

• $23 million reduction to Early Intervention Program

Public Health:

• $19 million reduction from 2015

Pensions:

$100 billion savings over 30 years in payments

$25 billion immediate reduction in unfunded liability.

$2.2 billion in savings from pension payments in this budget.

Higher education:

•$400 million reduction system wide

•More than 30 percent cut to all public universities over 2015.

•Illinois Board of Higher Education general funds cut by 50 percent

•Illinois Board of Higher Ed grants eliminated.

• Illinois Math and Science Academy reduced by nearly 8 percent.

Public safety:

• Ceasefire funding cut from $4.7 million to $1.9 million

• Elimination of funding for bullying prevention, meth pilot program, South Suburban Major Crimes Task Force

DCFS

• Eliminates services for young adults ages 18-21

GROUP INSURANCE:

•$700 million reduction in budget for group health

LOCAL GOVERNMENT:

•Reduces from 8 percent to 4 percent the share of income tax provided to local governments. $600 million reduction.

TRANSPORTATION:

$127 million reduction in RTA subsidy, which could affect the CTA, Metra and Pace.

10 areas on Rauner’s chopping block | Chicago

White House to Seek Emergency Order to Let Immigration Plan Proceed - NYTimes.com

 

…lawyers at the Justice Department would seek an emergency order from an appeals court to allow the federal government to issue work permits and provide legal protections to hundreds of thousands of undocumented immigrants while it appeals a judge's ruling halting the programs.

The move came in response to a ruling issued by a federal judge on Monday night indefinitely postponing President Obama’s sweeping executive actions on immigration.

Read more by clicking on the the following:  White House to Seek Emergency Order to Let Immigration Plan Proceed - NYTimes.com

BCJ Editorial on Boone County “ad hoc” subcommittee

An easier to read copy is shown after the photocopy.

 

When a “Duck” Is a “Duck”

Since the Illinois Department of Agriculture examined the Boone County animal shelter a few years ago, the
place has been an embarrassment. Members of the Boone County Board, residents of the county and some from
adjoining counties are outraged that county government would treat feral animals in such a way. The same people
are also angered at the inability of county government to define or to outlaw “puppy mills.”

In response to this failure, members of county government created an “Ad-Hoc Committee for Boarding and
Breeding Facilities.” This path is dangerous because the group is closely allied with county government, the group
wants to amend county code sheltered from public “interference” and they are near to violating the Illinois Open
Meetings Act.

Creation of the Committee occurred when the chairman of the County Board appointed people to serve without
County Board approval. To her credit, the county state’s attorney advised the founders of the Committee to abide
by the open meetings act and to provide public notice of their meetings. However, material obtained by The
Journal suggests that open meetings and public disclosure was not their intention.

The document obtained arose over the name, Denny Ellingson, a District #1 legislator on the Boone County
Board. The date of this document is January 7, 2015.

In the second paragraph, the author wrote:
“Please remember, this is an advisory ad-hoc committee which means we do not have to post public agendas or
open our meetings for the public to attend. Please do not tell others about where or when these meetings are set
forth so that we can meet without interference. When we get our work done the public will get a chance to review
our thoughts and decisions as our proposed ordinances will back through the ZBA (Zoning Board of Appeals) and
the PZB (Planning, Zoning and Building committee of the Boone County Board) before the County Board gets as
chance to adopt them.”

These are stunning admissions. The number of questionable and potentially illegal admissions noted here
reaches double digits.

The author said the group was advisory but without guidelines to govern the group it is questionable just what
the Committee is, other than an extension of county government. The conclusion that the group does not need to
conform to provide notice of their meetings is contrary to an opinion offered by the state’s attorney. This advice in
the letter violates the “spirit” of the law but we have often noted, ethics are for losers. If the Committee does not
need to provide formal notice of their meetings they then might conclude that they need not conform to the Open
Meetings Act. This could be problematic because the County Board chairman appointed the members to serve and
also because of the Committee’s tight connection to county government.

Further, the author asked that members, “Please do not tell others where or when these meetings are set.”
Really? It is an arguable point but, is not this a request of the members to violate Illinois law? This language
appearing over the signature of an elected official is a damaging admission that requires explanation.

There’s more. The author continues claiming, because of this conclusion, the Committee can avoid the
“interference” that the public might create. It is presumed the author would include the press as an objectionable
“interference.” Asking members not to tell anyone of future meetings to avoid “interference” is an insult.

The author assumes that any activity to emerge from their meetings will be blindly approved by the ZBA and
the PZB as a prelude to being lamely enacted by the County Board. This level of confidence is enhanced by moves
made by County Board leadership to pack the panel with those that are like-minded. The hubris of this policy is
beyond belief and should be of concern to all who voted for these “alleged” legislators.

It is uncertain if any members of the Committee voiced concern over what was written and it would be
disappointing if no one questioned the policy. But, perhaps this egotism is to be expected when people are
appointed to serve the needs of the community without needing any further approval.

This activity confirms a position voiced in a previous Editorial presented here. Some elected officials believe
that their view and views of their friends are the only views that need to be heard. Some leaders appoint friends to
do their bidding and to run a government to please a singular view while ignoring anyone with a different point-of-
view.

It appears the current leader sees the Board as an extension of himself and he has appointed those to committees
that compliment his singular view.

The effort of this ad-hoc committee is not designed to resolve a problem in county government through greater
openness, the stated goal is to keep their activity out of public sight. It is apparent that an open vision of public
policy is sorely lacking in Boone County government. But for a couple members, the current County Board is
populated by “yes-men” who are willing to do the bidding of the leader.

Another example of the impact of this closed policy was found in a recent change in position expressed by the
Boone County regional planning commission regarding a proposed text amendment. This change did not occur
because of amended language or altered intent, the change occurred because of a change in membership on the
commission. Is anyone truly surprised?

The Boone County Journal is available free of cost at merchants across the county and on line at:  http://www.boonecountyjournal.com/news/2015/Boone-County-News-02-20-15.pdf#page=1

 

To read the email quoted in the editorial, go to the bottom of the following Boone County Watchdog posting:  http://boonecountywatchdog.blogspot.com/2015/02/did-boone-countys-ad-hoc-committee.html

GOP leader cautious on Rauner budget plan : Politics

 

In a sign that a final state budget plan will look significantly different than what Gov. Bruce Rauner outlined Wednesday, the man expected to deliver Republican votes in the House predicted tough but "delicate" negotiations lie ahead.

In an interview Thursday with the Lee Enterprises Springfield bureau, House Minority Leader Jim Durkin, R-Western Springs, downplayed concerns that Rauner proposed a budget that is not balanced because it relies on $2.2 billion in savings from an overhaul of state employee pensions.

"Everything in that speech is subject to negotiation," Durkin said as the House adjourned for the week.

Critics say balancing the budget on a proposal that likely will be challenged in court is dishonest and "reckless."

But, said Durkin, "We just need to hold on and let's talk, let's work with the (governor) to make some sense out of these things and mitigate some of concerns that people have."

The GOP leader's comments echo the concerns voiced by rank-and-file lawmakers who said Rauner's blueprint for the fiscal year beginning July 1 is just a starting point and could change as lawmakers weigh in on some of the changes.

Chief among the sticking points is Rauner's plan to move state workers, university employees and teachers hired after Jan. 1, 2011 into a less-generous pension system. Rauner also wants to give workers the option of cashing out their pensions and investing that money in a self-managed retirement account.

Teachers' unions, which contribute campaign dollars to downstate Republicans, said the plan is "obviously unconstitutional."

"The good news about today's speech is that Governor Rauner cannot autocratically impose his dark vision for Illinois," said Cinda Klickna, president of the Illinois Education Association.

House Speaker Michael Madigan, D-Chicago, said it was "reckless" for Rauner to build a budget using revenue that might never be collected.

Durkin said his goal in the coming weeks will be to find ways to cut state spending within the parameters laid out by Rauner. But he did not commit to following the exact template proposed by the rookie chief executive.

"The governor has indicated he wants to live within a certain revenue number and how we get there, he'll be very open to how we do that," Durkin said. "It's going to be really delicate, but I think it's going to be a very good negotiating year for the caucuses."

GOP leader cautious on Rauner budget plan : Politics

2016 Primary—just about a year away

The primary for the 2016 election is just a year from now.  Jeb Bush, Wisconsin Governor Walker have all threw their hats in the ring for President.

As far as local elected office, “big offices” in Boone County will undoubtedly be determined by the Republican Primary.  The biggest is County States Attorney.  Other than circuit court judges it garners the highest salary—$166,508 plus $16,114 in paid health insurance.  See  page 2 of: http://www.boonecountyil.org/sites/default/files/images/employee%20compensation%20FY%202014(2).pdf

Here is some campaign literature from 2008 from the current states attorney.  As of yet, no word on whom are running in the primary.  Perhaps a third term for Mrs. Courier?