Before I get into each race, I would like to give some thoughts.

School Superintendents, School Board Directors (Members), and Judicial posts (Supreme Court and Circuit Court Judges) are all to be Non-partisan.

So what does Non-partisan mean? 

Non-partisan - free from party affiliation, bias, or designation

Based on, influenced by, affiliated with, or supporting the interests or policies of no single political party

The role of any non-partisan position should be non-partisan!  The key problem of all of this is you cannot exclude your ideology from the decisions you make everyday in life.  It is the core of your beliefs; the basis of your conscience.  It is what helps give us our morals and boundaries.  It tells us when something is black and white and shapes our gray areas.

Don't get me wrong, I am not talking about Democrat Vs. Republican here.  Again, it is ideology at question.  You can be a Democrat but not a Liberal!  Any decision I make has a fiscal conservative angle to it and I never hide it.

Liberals say they dislike labels yet they hide behind them and try to confuse people when they are the same thing “liberal” or “progressive.”

Side Note – A little misnomer on big business CEOs.  Most of the big bad CEOs for big businesses are liberal democrats.  That many times is forgotten when liberals attack CEOs and capitalism! 

Basically, the rule of thumb for a Conservative is whatever the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel (MJS) and the Unions back and endorse we choose the opposite.  Why you might ask because isn’t that voting against someone instead of for?

Well if MJS was not slanted liberal and just reported news as it should and allow the reporters opinions be known as opinions with the Newspaper staying out of it (since when the paper endorses a candidate it does it for all that work at the paper).  Just like the Union telling people who they will vote for!  That is not democracy!

Cudahy Recommendations

Referendum – School District of Cudahy

Recommendation - NO

Referendum reads as follows:

Shall the following Initial Resolution be approved?

BE IT RESOLVED, by the School Board of the School District of Cudahy, Milwaukee

County, Wisconsin that there shall be issued, pursuant to Chapter 67 of the Wisconsin Statutes, general obligation bonds and/or Qualified Zone Academy Bonds ("QZABs") in an amount not to exceed $3,775,000 for the public purpose of paying the cost of (i) remodeling, renovating and improving school facility and grounds and (ii) acquiring equipment, furnishings and fixtures.

For more on why NO on the Referendum click on the my previous story here: $4.4 Million Cudahy Referendum

Recommendation - NO

School District

School Board Director

Recommendation - Bob Grams (Please see separate post just on him)

Bob Grams for Cudahy School Board

Recommendation – Any of the others would do just fine.

South Milwaukee Recommendations (reminder, I do not live in South Milwaukee)

School District

School Board Director

Recommendation - David Maass

Recommendation - Nick Szablewski

While reading what the candidates had to offer in the Q&A’s I really liked what David Maass had to say and he has the proven track record to back them up!

I have gotten to know Nick Szablewski from talking to him for hours on the phone and conversing with him in email.  I think he can bring a fresh set of eyes to the school board with a good sense of fiscal conservatism and responsibility.  I do not get the feeling it is all talk just for the election.  I feel it is legitimate and sincere. 

I think Kathee Molus would do very well, but I don’t have any first hand knowledge and some people that live in South Milwaukee feel she might have too much on her plate already.

As far as Zachary Wisniewski.  My parents raised me that if you don’t have anything good to say about a person, don’t say anything.  So I won’t!

The small exception to the rule my parents said is, if it affects you directly, say it!

Please Vote April 7th.

School Board Members are a very important part of any city that many people don’t know much about.

I had someone in the comments section of another blog post bring up the fact that most people would not know who their School Board Directors are; a very true and valid point.

We spend much of our daily lives busy with our own things to attend a meeting or to listen to the issues.  That is why selecting the right candidate to do the job is most important.  Remember, character is doing the right thing when nobody is watching.

The School Board and its members are to be Non-partisan

Non-partisan - free from party affiliation, bias, or designation

Based on, influenced by, affiliated with, or supporting the interests or policies of no single political party

What strikes me the most is looking at the “free from bias” part or “influenced by”.

You would want someone that is a strong leader, yet can maintain cohesion as a group.

You would want someone that is fiscal conservative and responsible with your tax dollars.  Someone who would spend the money as if it was theirs.  You would want someone that would not be penny wise and a dollar foolish! Someone who can look at the big picture while keeping Cudahy residents' school property taxes down.

You would want someone that is trustworthy and respectful.

You would want someone that is smart working.  Someone to know when to work hard and not hardly working.  In school, they teach you that the lines are your friends, but you need to know why they become your enemy.  Someone who would be able to show a true work ethic to look for solutions outside the box.

You would want someone advocating for the educational needs of ALL our children and to do what is right, not what is easy.

Someone who can make a real difference.  Someone who can grasp the magnitude and scope of the problems and find the right solutions to them.

While I think all of the candidates for Cudahy School Board are qualified, only one has ALL of these qualities.  Bob Grams

I support Bob Grams for School Board.  He would do a great job.  The betterment of the city was always a priority when he was Alderman and I am confident the same will hold true as a member of the School Board.

As we are in full swing of the school board race, I would like to take this opportunity to introduce myself to those citizens that may not know about myself or background.

My name is Nick Szablewski, I am a 36 year old lifelong resident of South Milwaukee.  I am divorced parent with two daughters in the South Milwaukee School District.  My daughters are third generation family to go through the South Milwaukee system, with that being said, I feel I know the how the school district functions.  I have been a Buyer for the last 10 years.  I know how to research, analyze data, and present the findings and suggest options and costs to a board of directors.  I feel this makes me just as qualified a candidate as any other candidate.  

I would like to express my OPINION(s) about this school board race and some of the issues facing the school district.  Some of the candidates are advertising that they are "for change".  Anyone that has been to a Common Council or School Board meeting will know that ONE person cannot "change" anything.  Everything has to be introduced, and have a second member agree, a motion carried and then voted on, that one person would have to convince a majority of the board to implement any change, and I just don't see that happening with the diverse school board we have. 

I feel we have a good school board, but with electing a new person, it can bring new ideas and open up more opportunities and discussions.  I feel that on a non-partisan election, that endorsements are not really effective or should be considered when voting.  I personally, have been busy enough with family, work and this race that I have not attended any endorsement interviews, so one or two people interviewing, when there are four candidates, and receiving an endorsement seem like a hollow victory.  I agree with incumbent David Maass, that the financial issues are part of a larger problem in Madison. 

The Wisconsin School Public Relations Association has unveiled a proposal that could change how school districts receive money from the state and federal government, please see link for complete information ( http://www.wspra.org/cms/content/view/240/ ). 

The 13-page proposal (Click Here) has several elements, but the key to the plan is to target resources to the neediest children, keep down the cost to property tax-payers and ensure that no school district loses resources.

The proposal increased categorical aid for children with disabilities and special needs, for small, rural school districts, and for low-income students, sharpening the focus on funding for students who the state Supreme Court identified in the Vincent v Voight school funding decision in 2000. 

The proposal also reworks how annual per pupil increases are calculated, moving from a Consumer Price Index model to tying increases to a five-year rolling average of the state's personal income growth.  The School Finance Network believes this model more effectively aligns school district revenue with annual costs.  I feel the proposal could help the school districts, but in what time frame?

I feel the schools are safe, but without reviewing the safety and security procedures in place, I cannot say whether they may need adjustments. 

Thank you for taking the time to read about me and my opinions.  I can be emailed at nickszablewski@aol.com, with comments or questions.  Please vote, every vote counts!

Nick Szablewski

I asked Julie Marra the School District Reporter, SouthMilwaukeeNOW.com if she heard anything on a debate of the four candidates running for the two open seats on the South Milwaukee School Board and here is her reply

Randy -

I have not heard anything about a debate even being organized.  I have checked with the candidates to see if they have heard of anything and they haven’t heard anything either.  Most of them have been willing to participate if one is organized.  If I hear of some specifics, I’ll try to send you an e-mail.  Thanks and let me know if there is any other way I can be of assistance.

Julie Ann Marra

I do hope someone organizes a debate, as debates are useful tools in understanding and helpful in making an informed decision.  That is all we truly can ask for is to be informed.  That allows for the smart and wise choice to be made.

Each candidate would have their own pluses and minuses and a question and answer debate would help in differentiating them.

Depending on where you live, the pay that a school board member can vary greatly.  From NO pay to $6,588.14 in the school districts, I looked into.

Fox Point-Bayside School Board members serve three-year terms and are not paid.

Maple Dale-Indian Hill School Board members serve three-year terms and are not paid.

Mequon-Thiensville School Board members serve three-year terms and are not paid.

Glendale-River Hills board members serve three-year terms and receive $540 annually.

Nicolet School Board members receive $1,000 annually and serve three-year terms.

Shorewood School Board members serve three-year terms, and the board president is paid $1,300 and all other members are paid $1,000 annually.

Whitefish Bay School Board members serve three-year terms and are paid $1,200 annually.

South Milwaukee School Board members have three-year terms and are paid $3,000 annually.

Brown Deer School Board members serve three-year terms and are paid $3,100 annually.

Germantown School board members are elected to three-year terms and are paid $3,500 annually.

Cudahy School Board members serve three-year terms and are paid $3,600 annually.

Elmbrook School Board members receive $3,600 annually.

Greendale School Board members serve three-year terms, with an annual salary of $4,200.

Menomonee Falls School Board members are elected to three-year terms and earn $5,000 annually.  The president, who is elected by the board, is paid $5,500 annually.

Oak Creek-Franklin School Board members serve three-year terms and earn an annual salary of $5,040, except for the president, who earns $5,400.

West Allis-West Milwaukee School Board members are elected to three-year terms with an annual salary of $6,588.14.

Incumbent David Maass will face Kathee Molus, Nick Szablewski and Zachary Wisniewski for one of two School Board seats that are up for election April 7th.

Incumbent Kay Lussier is not seeking re-election which has left open one new seat.

South Milwaukee School Board members have three-year terms and are paid $3,000 annually. 

Some places have much lower pay like Nicolet School Board members receive $1,000 annually and serve three-year terms or Glendale-River Hills board members serve three-year terms and receive $540 annually.

Not all cities/villages have paid school board members.  In Fox Point-Bayside School Board members serve three-year terms and are not paid.

Folks around the NOW blogging network may already know Zachary Wisniewski as he goes by the handle/name of Mrzippy13.  You may also see Zach around other Metro Milwaukee blogs as he goes by Zachary W. or Zach W.

This will be a very interesting contest and I WILL be watching and covering this one very closely.  I truly hope they have debates, as I cannot wait to see what positions/stances the individuals will take.

I will make sure to be in person for the debates and hope to hear from the candidates.