Hard times are upon most of us. It is easy to commiserate. Here is an easy way to break the cycle: bring something to the food pantry.

Giving to the food pantry is so easy and great. You don't have telemarketers calling you to ask when you are going to donate again. You can donate a can of beans and nobody is keeping track as to how generous you are. The person who needs and eats the beans couldn't care less if you bought them with the change that was left over from the previous night at the bar. They just need and appreciate the food.

The biggest issue many face is what to donate. Right now, everything is needed. There is no surplus of anything. Everything is appreciated.

The food pantry is located at:

N84 W16579 Menomonee Ave. inside of the Menomonee Falls School District building.

Need directions? www.googlemaps.com

God Save the Journal/Sentinel

Even though their editorial policy infuriates me, on a daily basis, may God save the Journal Sentinel.  

Disclosure alert: I must admit, both of my parents worked for the paper. My Mom worked for the Sentinel and my Dad for the Journal. They met in an elevator at the Journal building and were married when Dad returned from WWII.

I am probably over emotional at the demise of most industries (with the notable exception of prime time soaps like Dynasty) but the newspaper industry really hurts. Newspapers were such a way of life for many generations. They have brought us joy and grief. Today they are on the endangered species list for not anticipating and adapting to the internet. It is possible they lost touch with their customers and made themselves into something people can do without.

Other than their editorials (which have regressed in linear thought or relevance) the paper has really stepped up it’s effort to remain important. I always appreciate Amy Hetzner’s reporting on numerous school districts. She reports on approximately 36 school districts around the area and always seemed to report on MF and SH when something big was brewing. Her reporting was not always favorable (which is sometimes supposed to happen in journalism) to the district but it was always accurate. She must have quoted me over 20 times and never misquoted me or took quotes out of context. She would also patiently answer my questions when I called her to ask about developments in other districts. Imagine having to go to that many school board meetings??? Actually, I can imagine, but don't want to. (Sainthood may be in order.) This cannot be replaced by blogs, no matter what bloggers say.

I depend on Tom Daykin to learn about what is going on in my industry-commercial real estate. Dan Bice is aggressively going after stories regarding misbehaving public officials-something the paper lacked over the years. I love reading the real estate section on Sunday. The business section is smaller but it seems to be more focused on hard and important business news. The sports section is still beefy and is so much better than having to wait for 15 minutes on ESPN to get to something I care about. Beat reporting cannot be replaced by any technology that we can imagine.

The last five elections were close. Some much closer than the Electoral College would indicate. In spite of that fact, the editorial policy and news content was not evenly represented. The political cartoonist was politically obtuse and never funny or clever. They would vehemently deny this (as would American automakers dismissing Japanese competition in the 70s) but you would think it would not be a smart move alienating 50% of America, i.e., your customers.

It may be good for their soul to see what it is like to fight to survive even though they don’t have environmentalists, anti-business groups, plaintiff attorneys, biting their ankles. Maybe they will get an appreciation for those of us who do. Well, as one businessperson to another: I hope you make it.

My kids are reading the paper these days. That is gratifying, and maybe a sign of hope too.

Hang tough Journal/Sentinel! We would hate to have to miss you.

Financial literacy, is a critical life skill for anyone graduating from high school., or dropping out.

Sadly, many students move on to college, jobs, military service, etc. without the basic skill of learning how to balance a checkbook. This makes budgeting next to impossible and credit woes the next step in a young person's life.

Today's financial crises, caused by those with MBAs in finance, would have been easily recognized as a house of cards by anyone with checkbook mastery and a strong dose of reality.

We are fortunate in D'Falls to have a dedicated business department that has taken measurable steps to prevent financial illiteracy in our students.

The Menomonee Falls High School Business and Information Technology Department will be hosting its 4^th Annual Reality Check program on Thursday, March 19^th at Davian's Conference Center in Menomonee Falls.    The event runs from 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

Reality Check 2009 is a life-like simulation that teaches personal finance to high school students.  The project involves approximately 350 students and over 80 business and community volunteers.  The students have a life scenario and a job situation.  During the two-hour simulation, they move from booth to booth, making decisions and paying bills. 

Students randomly select careers with an appropriate monthly salary. They open a checking account, and the first check they cut is to pay taxes. They are encouraged to open a 401K. Then they must get living quarters, a vehicle, pay child care if appropriate, medical insurance... you get the point.

This event is sponsored by local business (I will provide a list, with video of this event later) and no school district money is used to put on this valuable and high yielding event.

Thanks to the sponsors and the dedicated staff in the MFSD:

Jill Hughes, Business Information and Technology Instructor

Michelle Oliver - Business and Information Technology Instructor

Sara Burling - Business and Information Technology Instructor

Lisa Kiefer - Business and Information Technology Instructor

Nick Heiting - Business and Information Technology Instructor

Joe Seaman - Business and Information Technology Instructor

Jim Nitz - Business and Information Technology Instructor

Tami Strong - Business and Information Technology Instructor

"You cannot legislate the poor into freedom by legislating the wealthy out of freedom. What one person receives without working for, another person must work for without receiving. The government cannot give to anybody anything that the government does not first take from somebody else. When half of the people get the idea that they do not have to work because the other half is going to take care of them, and when the other half gets the idea that it does no good to work because somebody else is going to get what they work for, that my dear friend, is about the end of any nation. You cannot multiply wealth by dividing it."

~~~ The late Dr. Adrian Rogers, 1931 to 2005

 There was a meeting last Monday regarding the closing of one or more buildings in the MF School District. I am in the process of learning more about the choices but a good citizen got up to speak and he brought a list of his questions for everyone to read. I think they are fair and reasonable questions and he asked anyone in the room to email him and he would share the answers with them. I will comment about the meeting in another post but,  I am posting his entire email unedited. His email address is encrypted so it cannot be trolled and spammed off this blog, but you can figure it out. Jeff.Cegielski (_at_)    motorola   __  dot __ com.  I also invite the District to respond in their own words, unedited as well.

Dr. Marty:

Good afternoon.  I’m aware of the public forum coming up next week Monday evening regarding the district’s facilities options.  I have some questions for you and the rest of the school board as we all prepare for that important meeting.  I look forward to your responses.  You may feel free to contact me at any time via email or at the number I’ve listed below.

1. Where does the school district get their demographic data?  Four or five years ago the school district was asking for a new school due to overcrowding.  Now they are proposing the closing of two schools.  How can the district explain this change?

2. What is the district’s purpose in having and maintaining a $12M balance fund?  Why is that money not being used to offset the $2.5M deficit for 2009-2010?

3. One of the options that the district is considering is the closing of two elementary schools?  This option has a great impact on my family and many other families in this community.  The purpose of elementary schools has always been “neighborhood” schooling.  This allows for smaller school and class sizes, the ability to walk to school resulting in less transportation, and a strong feeling of community.  Closing two schools would virtually eliminate the concept of neighborhood schooling in Menomonee Falls .  What is the district’s reaction to this fact?

4. Bussing is a significant cost in the district’s annual budget.  Has the district ever put this service out to bid, or have we always just given that business to Johnson Bus?  If we have never gone out for bid, why?  If we have always given the business to Johnson Bus, how do our rates compare to those of other districts and other bussing companies?

5. This facilities decision is being portrayed as a significant financial decision.  Last we spoke you said that closing the two schools would save the district approximately $900K annually.  You also stated that preparing TJ to become an elementary school would cost the district $2.5M up front.  That’s approximately a three year time span before the district would “break even” on that transaction.  As you know (from previous referendum requests), a lot can change in a few year time period.  Is the district sure that these changes are needed at this time?  And – what is the district’s justification for this immediate expense at a time when there is already a $2.5M deficit?

6. Lastly, I want you to know that my current impression of this district is very positive.  The experiences my family and I have had with Riverside School , specifically Scott Walter, Danielle Vetter, and the rest of the faculty are unsurpassed.  I would put their curriculum, energy, and dedication up against any elementary school, public or private, in any location. I’d like to think that my child will benefit from these resources for the next 5 years in the current environment that exists.  Menomonee Falls currently ranks 28^th in Southeastern Wisconsin Schools according to Public Policy Forum.  Two neighboring communities ( Germantown and Sussex ) rank 1^st and 3^rd respectively.  With a budget deficit (plus a possible $2.5M school improvement), possible school closings, schools getting larger and further away, class sizes increasing, and staff getting cut, I’d like you and the board members to please explain what incentive there is to keep my child in this school district?

Thank you for your time and consideration on this matter.  I look forward to seeing you on Monday.

The Valley View Science Fair just got word of an unexpected visitor from the Oconomowoc USFIRST robotics team. 

The event will take place on Thursday, April 2nd at Valley View Elementary School, located at W180 N8130 Town Hall Road. The robotics team will put on a demonstration about 7pm that evening in the gym.

 Team Robotics are very popular and growing in popularity. High school teams of students and advisors  engineer a robot and that robot competes against other teams.

Here is a youtube vide to show how the competition works:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3JmfNkuAvWg

 I would love to see a team start up in Menomonee Falls. If any parents have an interest in learning more please contact me. See you Thursday.