A very good friend of mine said: “It’s good to learn from your mistakes, BUT, it’s even better to learn from someone else’s mistakes. 130 positions will be eliminated from the Janesville school district. None of what is happening there has anything to do with the pending state budget. It has to do with multiple pre existing problems facing that community:
1. Largest employer (GM) closing its doors.
2. Teachers demanding a pay increase knowing that it would mean possible layoffs.
3. Employment rate among the highest in the state.
And lastly;
4. Continuing to fund programs such as 4K that are not a “need”.
We as a community have a unique opportunity to look at a system that is making the financial decisions based on income from it’s “hay day” and learn from their mistakes. Janesville residence cannot just make money, with foreclosures already high, and more looming, people moving out of the school district meaning: less state and federal aid, and less property taxes to fund public endeavors.
I am hopeful that we can take away a good dose of someone else’s reality before we find ourselves in the same situation. Oh, and I would like to extend a special thanks to the teachers union in Janesville for showing everyone how much “good” you do for those teachers that where just given a pink slip. Way to go
Thanks for your advise
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