Thursday, October 18, 2007
Let the Christmas Season Begin
Wal-Mart has begun the Christmas season early. Click on the post for the full story.
Soy Corner; Legislative Push to Accelerate Soy Fuel Delivery to Market
Click on the post for some details of the WSA, Wisconsin Soybean Association, legislative initiative which has bipartisan support that would help quicken the development of the market in Wisconsin.
Dateline Minn: XCEL Energy to use Soy in transformers beginning next year
Click on the post for the latest. The demand for the product begins. Stay tuned as others follow.
Dateline Minn: Move to Freeze Foreclosures Begins
The last freeze on foreclosure was done by FDR in the Great Depression. There is a move to bring this back in the light of the inability of the government and banking community to act quickly enough to address the problem.
Click on the post for the article in the Mpls. Star and Tribune.
Click on the post for the article in the Mpls. Star and Tribune.
UBT Corner: "Paying for A Higher Education"--the seminar---Monday, Oct. 22nd at 7PM, UBT Conference Room--2nd floor
When: Monday evening, October 22nd at 7PM
WHO: Presenters will include Ann Doyle from the Student Loan Finance Corp who will review navigating the Federal application for Student Financial Aid, (FAFSA), Stafford Loans, Plus Loans, and how to avoid the pitfalls of alternative student loans.
Also, Nicole Hamby from Roger Roth, CPA and Associates, LLP will review tax credits, benefits and deductions relating to college.
Call Sue at 882-5200-xx1109 to reserve your space.
The Evansville Observer hopes to provide full coverage, audio and selected video of this important seminar.
WHO: Presenters will include Ann Doyle from the Student Loan Finance Corp who will review navigating the Federal application for Student Financial Aid, (FAFSA), Stafford Loans, Plus Loans, and how to avoid the pitfalls of alternative student loans.
Also, Nicole Hamby from Roger Roth, CPA and Associates, LLP will review tax credits, benefits and deductions relating to college.
Call Sue at 882-5200-xx1109 to reserve your space.
The Evansville Observer hopes to provide full coverage, audio and selected video of this important seminar.
Classic Soucheray: On Urban Wildlife; On Mountain lions, foxes.....and much, much more
A classic. Click on the post and enjoy.
Wednesday, October 17, 2007
OpEd; "Past results do not guarantee future performance."
If you do not remember this phrase, you are probably too young to read this post.
In virtually every mutual fund brochure or prospectus for a unit trust of whatever investment, there is the caution...... after of course the investment representative has gone over the wonderful result if..... in theoretical terms..... you had invested ....$1....at the Crash of 1929 and invested that in this particular investment....you would have had the wonderful result listed above....." and after speaking of those wonderful theoretical results, there is the caution about ...."Past Results do not guarantee future performance..."
Recently, in Evansville, in our own school projections for future school demand for facilities, whether we looked at population projection or building permit historical data, nobody wanted to read the warning----"Past results do not guarantee future performance."
Even in the Evansville City budget, the city financial consultant, Greg Johnson, from Ehlers and Associates stated that "proceeding forward with no further General Obligation debt, the future seems to be no problem with debt capacity." The problem, of course, was pointed out by Fred Juergens, who counted 5 million in dreams that were penciled in on the capital investment budget for the year around 2009.
It seems we always, as human beings, want the pro forma future not to include the unfortunate expenses of the reality of the things on the horizon.
I could go on about flashing lights from dashboards of cars re warnings, but.....I think you get the jist. As a stress reliever, it is important to manage stress and ...a little denial is good. Sometimes....the denial gets too large.
Make a note of it.
In virtually every mutual fund brochure or prospectus for a unit trust of whatever investment, there is the caution...... after of course the investment representative has gone over the wonderful result if..... in theoretical terms..... you had invested ....$1....at the Crash of 1929 and invested that in this particular investment....you would have had the wonderful result listed above....." and after speaking of those wonderful theoretical results, there is the caution about ...."Past Results do not guarantee future performance..."
Recently, in Evansville, in our own school projections for future school demand for facilities, whether we looked at population projection or building permit historical data, nobody wanted to read the warning----"Past results do not guarantee future performance."
Even in the Evansville City budget, the city financial consultant, Greg Johnson, from Ehlers and Associates stated that "proceeding forward with no further General Obligation debt, the future seems to be no problem with debt capacity." The problem, of course, was pointed out by Fred Juergens, who counted 5 million in dreams that were penciled in on the capital investment budget for the year around 2009.
It seems we always, as human beings, want the pro forma future not to include the unfortunate expenses of the reality of the things on the horizon.
I could go on about flashing lights from dashboards of cars re warnings, but.....I think you get the jist. As a stress reliever, it is important to manage stress and ...a little denial is good. Sometimes....the denial gets too large.
Make a note of it.
Budget Corner: State government shutdown? Workers concerned
Click on the post for the full story in the Janesville Gazette.
Here is the irony. A group against raising taxes is taking measures that will ensure property tax increases rather than spread the tax in a progressive manner. The words seem to be separate from the deed.
Let's see. What is the news? Is it the word.....or is it the deed? What shall I report?
You make the call.
Here is the irony. A group against raising taxes is taking measures that will ensure property tax increases rather than spread the tax in a progressive manner. The words seem to be separate from the deed.
Let's see. What is the news? Is it the word.....or is it the deed? What shall I report?
You make the call.
Monroe Times; BTC sets tax rate today
Click on the post for the story by Frank Schultz in the Monroe Times. The funny part of this article is that Mr. Hartstern did not know why property values had not risen as much as expected. I think we all know why. No. I did not make up the name. It is Hartstern.
Click on the post for the full story.
Click on the post for the full story.
School Beat: Mpls Schools draft plan of high school reform
Click on the post for the latest. The Mpls model may provide ideas for the future. Enjoy.
Tuesday, October 16, 2007
Dateline Monroe Times: Brett Davis and the lone vote
Last night, Rep. Brett Davis was the lone Republican in the Wisconsin Assembly to vote to accept the compromise proposal of Gov.Doyle.
Click on the post for the article in the Monroe Times.
The first link in the chain of compromise is a tough one. Let's hope others will join the effort to get the budget done so schools and cities...and taxpayers can breathe and budget in a proactive way.
Click on the post for the article in the Monroe Times.
The first link in the chain of compromise is a tough one. Let's hope others will join the effort to get the budget done so schools and cities...and taxpayers can breathe and budget in a proactive way.
NYT: Lenders Act to Attempt stabilization of mortgage backed securities
It was a busy weekend last weekend...with the video cameras...the tape recorders....and all the cheering and scoring.....and yes there even was some of that locally on our football fields.
I am speaking of the meetings that were held round the clock in Washington and New York via teleconference to put together a plan to support and stabalize the packaged products of mortgage securities that were in danger of plunging in value.
These securities were important to the banks----and they were also important to every mortgage application maker in America. Banks mostly do not hold mortgages for full term any more. Yes. Some banks in Evansville do hold their mortgages. BRAVO. However, most banks sell these mortgages and they are packaged and there are investment vehicles created to finance them. The problem is that investors did not want to buy these due to the current crisis and the difficulty of really pricing them properly, or determining what they are worth at any point in time. The meetings through the weekend only addressed the best, AA and AAA quality mortgages, but was important, since high quality mortgage applicants were having difficulty getting approved because of the market conditions.
Click on the post for the full story in the New York Times. This is part A of the story. Part B will be the attempt to address the sub-prime component. Treasury Security Paulson refers to the fact that about 50% of the folks who are facing foreclosure have not even been contacted by their lender. So much for dialogue. Stay tuned.
I am speaking of the meetings that were held round the clock in Washington and New York via teleconference to put together a plan to support and stabalize the packaged products of mortgage securities that were in danger of plunging in value.
These securities were important to the banks----and they were also important to every mortgage application maker in America. Banks mostly do not hold mortgages for full term any more. Yes. Some banks in Evansville do hold their mortgages. BRAVO. However, most banks sell these mortgages and they are packaged and there are investment vehicles created to finance them. The problem is that investors did not want to buy these due to the current crisis and the difficulty of really pricing them properly, or determining what they are worth at any point in time. The meetings through the weekend only addressed the best, AA and AAA quality mortgages, but was important, since high quality mortgage applicants were having difficulty getting approved because of the market conditions.
Click on the post for the full story in the New York Times. This is part A of the story. Part B will be the attempt to address the sub-prime component. Treasury Security Paulson refers to the fact that about 50% of the folks who are facing foreclosure have not even been contacted by their lender. So much for dialogue. Stay tuned.
Monday, October 15, 2007
Redevelopment Authority meets Tomorrow, Tuesday, Oct 16, 2007
click on the post for the full agenda.
Sunday, October 14, 2007
NYT: Consumer; A bit on Pot Pies
Do you know whether your microwave is high or low wattage? If you do not know, it might be best to cook pot pies in a conventional oven. Anyway, in a fast food world, the article in the New York Times is timely. click on the post.
Saturday, October 13, 2007
Daily Planet: Minn Transportation system beyond worst case scenario
click on the post for the latest.
Friday, October 12, 2007
Press Release: The Jack-O-Lantern Jamboree
Don’t miss out on the Evansville K-5 PTO’s
Jack-O-Lantern Jamboree
Plan to attend the Jack-O-Lantern Jamboree Saturday, October 20th from 6-8 P.M. in the Grove Campus Fieldhouse. This year’s carnival is sure to be a fun family event featuring many carnival games, the ever popular bounce houses, face painting, the Cobweb Café, a raffle, two haunted houses and a pumpkin decorating contest.
The PTO will be offering a range of games where children win a prize with each game they play. Games tickets will be on sale for 50¢ each or 25 tickets for $10. Wear a costume and earn a game ticket! Children may also use their tickets in one of two bounce houses, face painting or a haunted house. The 6-8th Grade Spirit and Cheer Team will be doing this year’s face painting booth. The Evansville Soccer Club will be offering two haunted houses. One scary house will be available for more adventurous children and one friendly house will be offered for more cautious children.
Jack-O-Lantern Jamboree again features creativity with a pumpkin-decorating contest. Children may enter their carved, painted or decorated pumpkins by bringing them to the Grove Campus Cafeteria between 8 AM and 2 PM on Saturday October 20. Each entry earns a game ticket. Local artists will be judging the pumpkins between 2 and 5 PM, with a winner for every grade from Pre-K through 5th Grade. First place winners will earn 5 game tickets and second place earns 3 tickets. All entries will prominently showcase their ribbons during the Jamboree. Our young contestants can retrieve their pumpkins after the event to display at home.
Plan to visit the Cobweb Café for dinner or a treat. The Café will be offering pizza, hot dogs and chips this year, in addition to a wide range of refreshments. Bring five (5) Box Tops for Education to the Café in exchange for a treat.
The PTO has once again organized a raffle this year. Over 50 items or baskets will be raffled off. While the prizes are too numerous to list here, they include family passes and memberships to many popular attractions, gift certificates to local businesses, several theme baskets, a Nintendo Wii (trademark) Game System and a signed Packer football. Raffle tickets will be available for purchase for $1 each from 6-7:30 PM the night of the Jamboree. If you would like to purchase raffle tickets before the Jamboree, please contact Mindy Roys at 608-449-8112.
If you would like to volunteer for any of the fun-filled activities listed here, please call Brenda Roth at 757-9339.
Don’t forget to wear your costume! You can break it in early and earn a game ticket!
Check Mail Compose
Search Mail: Search Mail Search the Web
Jack-O-Lantern Jamboree
Plan to attend the Jack-O-Lantern Jamboree Saturday, October 20th from 6-8 P.M. in the Grove Campus Fieldhouse. This year’s carnival is sure to be a fun family event featuring many carnival games, the ever popular bounce houses, face painting, the Cobweb Café, a raffle, two haunted houses and a pumpkin decorating contest.
The PTO will be offering a range of games where children win a prize with each game they play. Games tickets will be on sale for 50¢ each or 25 tickets for $10. Wear a costume and earn a game ticket! Children may also use their tickets in one of two bounce houses, face painting or a haunted house. The 6-8th Grade Spirit and Cheer Team will be doing this year’s face painting booth. The Evansville Soccer Club will be offering two haunted houses. One scary house will be available for more adventurous children and one friendly house will be offered for more cautious children.
Jack-O-Lantern Jamboree again features creativity with a pumpkin-decorating contest. Children may enter their carved, painted or decorated pumpkins by bringing them to the Grove Campus Cafeteria between 8 AM and 2 PM on Saturday October 20. Each entry earns a game ticket. Local artists will be judging the pumpkins between 2 and 5 PM, with a winner for every grade from Pre-K through 5th Grade. First place winners will earn 5 game tickets and second place earns 3 tickets. All entries will prominently showcase their ribbons during the Jamboree. Our young contestants can retrieve their pumpkins after the event to display at home.
Plan to visit the Cobweb Café for dinner or a treat. The Café will be offering pizza, hot dogs and chips this year, in addition to a wide range of refreshments. Bring five (5) Box Tops for Education to the Café in exchange for a treat.
The PTO has once again organized a raffle this year. Over 50 items or baskets will be raffled off. While the prizes are too numerous to list here, they include family passes and memberships to many popular attractions, gift certificates to local businesses, several theme baskets, a Nintendo Wii (trademark) Game System and a signed Packer football. Raffle tickets will be available for purchase for $1 each from 6-7:30 PM the night of the Jamboree. If you would like to purchase raffle tickets before the Jamboree, please contact Mindy Roys at 608-449-8112.
If you would like to volunteer for any of the fun-filled activities listed here, please call Brenda Roth at 757-9339.
Don’t forget to wear your costume! You can break it in early and earn a game ticket!
Check Mail Compose
Search Mail: Search Mail Search the Web
Minutes; Historic Preservation: September 2007
Evansville Historic Preservation Commission
Minutes
Wednesday, September 19, 2007 7:00 P.M.
3rd Floor, City Hall
Present: Steve Culbertson, Rich Modaff, Dennis Wessels, John Decker, Steve Christens,
Betsy Ahner
Also Present: Mayor Decker, Albert and Jessica Kaether, Andrea Kaser, David Somppi
The meeting was called to order at 7:00 PM by chair Rich Modaff. Motion by Steve Culbertson, second by Steve Christens to waive the reading of the August 15, 2007 minutes and approve them as read. Motion carried.
Applications - Appearances
23 N. First St - Albert and Jessica Kaether (owners) explained the work to be done on the driveway, walkways and patio. They have already checked with the building inspector on the distance they must stay from the lot lines. Motion by Dennis Wessels to approve the application. Second by Steve Christens. Motion carried.
205 W. Church St - Andrea Kaser (owner) and David Somppi of the Rock County Planning Agency were present to explain the work to be done on the home. They will replace 300' of rotted siding, prime the siding and apply 2 coats of paint to encapsulate the lead paint that is on the home. A basement storm door and all existing windows except the leaded glass will be replaced. An attic vent will be installed and the attic and walls will be insulated. Motion by Steve Culbertson to approve the application. Second by Dennis Wessels. Motion carried. (David has promised to send the commission more information on his program, which is aiding the Kaser's with this project.)
9 W. Liberty St. - Kufahl, repair deck, porch and exits. Motion by Dennis Wessels to approve the application. Second by John Decker. The owners were not present. Mayor Decker reported that they had been working with the building inspector and he had given them permission to begin the project because the current conditions were dangerous. Motion carried.
Old Business
16 W. Main Street - John Decker reported that he had talked about the TIF to an architect that the owners were considering hiring. We may see someone at the October meeting.
Administrative
WAHPC Fall Convention - the owners of the new Italian restaurant are interested in doing the Friday night hors d' oeuvres. Jeff Farnsworth will do a program on doing business in a historic building. There will be a house walk on Saturday. John Decker is working to confirm three homes for the Saturday house walk. Kolleen and Cheryl are a yes. We will need docents for the homes.
Betsy will talk to Sue Wilbur at UB&T about the refreshments for Friday. They should plan on 30 - 40 people. John will talk to Jennifer Ehle or Karen Krueger about a local history display.
Betsy volunteered to contact Dave Fellows and Neil Lein to ask if they have copies of their books to sell.
Bricks on Main Street - they are laying 35 feet per day and may be able to pour the sidewalks as early as Thursday of next week. There will be a brick laying ceremony at 10:00 am on Thursday.
Grove Society - The plaster and lathe have been removed and a new door installed. A window has been purchased and is ready to be installed. They hope to begin regular work sessions in October.
Redevelopment Authority - no applications are before the RDA at this time.
Easement Form Update - there are no changes since the last meeting. The easement form is ready for use. There is an addendum for those who wish to use the easement to apply for tax credits. It is apparent that we need someone on the commission who will be in charge of easements to track the homes that already have them and to work with those who wish to apply. Three applications were made and never filed, Beaths, McCartens, and McKittricks. Those need to be finished as two of the homes are now for sale. Motion by Dennis Wessels to approve the Easement Form as written. Second by Steve Christens. Motion carried.
Plaque Program - Two parties are interested in applying and receiving their plaques at the HPC convention. The Grove Society for the Historic Baker Building and the owners of 143 West Main Street. Guidelines - any contributing property in a historic district or a building not in the district but designated as a local landmark is eligible.
2007 Budget Items - Motion for a donation of $250 to the 4th grade History Hunters by Dennis Wessels. Second by Steve Christens. Motion carried. It was decided to wait until a report of the remaining funds in the budget could be obtained before continuing the discussion on support for the creek wall restoration project. Another possible project is to reprint a coloring book that was produced at one time with drawings of local historic homes and landmarks.
There were no comments or correspondence.
Motion by Steve Christens to adjourn the meeting. Second by Steve Culbertson. Motion carried.
The minutes of the Evansville Historic Preservation Commission are not official until approved by the Commission.
Minutes
Wednesday, September 19, 2007 7:00 P.M.
3rd Floor, City Hall
Present: Steve Culbertson, Rich Modaff, Dennis Wessels, John Decker, Steve Christens,
Betsy Ahner
Also Present: Mayor Decker, Albert and Jessica Kaether, Andrea Kaser, David Somppi
The meeting was called to order at 7:00 PM by chair Rich Modaff. Motion by Steve Culbertson, second by Steve Christens to waive the reading of the August 15, 2007 minutes and approve them as read. Motion carried.
Applications - Appearances
23 N. First St - Albert and Jessica Kaether (owners) explained the work to be done on the driveway, walkways and patio. They have already checked with the building inspector on the distance they must stay from the lot lines. Motion by Dennis Wessels to approve the application. Second by Steve Christens. Motion carried.
205 W. Church St - Andrea Kaser (owner) and David Somppi of the Rock County Planning Agency were present to explain the work to be done on the home. They will replace 300' of rotted siding, prime the siding and apply 2 coats of paint to encapsulate the lead paint that is on the home. A basement storm door and all existing windows except the leaded glass will be replaced. An attic vent will be installed and the attic and walls will be insulated. Motion by Steve Culbertson to approve the application. Second by Dennis Wessels. Motion carried. (David has promised to send the commission more information on his program, which is aiding the Kaser's with this project.)
9 W. Liberty St. - Kufahl, repair deck, porch and exits. Motion by Dennis Wessels to approve the application. Second by John Decker. The owners were not present. Mayor Decker reported that they had been working with the building inspector and he had given them permission to begin the project because the current conditions were dangerous. Motion carried.
Old Business
16 W. Main Street - John Decker reported that he had talked about the TIF to an architect that the owners were considering hiring. We may see someone at the October meeting.
Administrative
WAHPC Fall Convention - the owners of the new Italian restaurant are interested in doing the Friday night hors d' oeuvres. Jeff Farnsworth will do a program on doing business in a historic building. There will be a house walk on Saturday. John Decker is working to confirm three homes for the Saturday house walk. Kolleen and Cheryl are a yes. We will need docents for the homes.
Betsy will talk to Sue Wilbur at UB&T about the refreshments for Friday. They should plan on 30 - 40 people. John will talk to Jennifer Ehle or Karen Krueger about a local history display.
Betsy volunteered to contact Dave Fellows and Neil Lein to ask if they have copies of their books to sell.
Bricks on Main Street - they are laying 35 feet per day and may be able to pour the sidewalks as early as Thursday of next week. There will be a brick laying ceremony at 10:00 am on Thursday.
Grove Society - The plaster and lathe have been removed and a new door installed. A window has been purchased and is ready to be installed. They hope to begin regular work sessions in October.
Redevelopment Authority - no applications are before the RDA at this time.
Easement Form Update - there are no changes since the last meeting. The easement form is ready for use. There is an addendum for those who wish to use the easement to apply for tax credits. It is apparent that we need someone on the commission who will be in charge of easements to track the homes that already have them and to work with those who wish to apply. Three applications were made and never filed, Beaths, McCartens, and McKittricks. Those need to be finished as two of the homes are now for sale. Motion by Dennis Wessels to approve the Easement Form as written. Second by Steve Christens. Motion carried.
Plaque Program - Two parties are interested in applying and receiving their plaques at the HPC convention. The Grove Society for the Historic Baker Building and the owners of 143 West Main Street. Guidelines - any contributing property in a historic district or a building not in the district but designated as a local landmark is eligible.
2007 Budget Items - Motion for a donation of $250 to the 4th grade History Hunters by Dennis Wessels. Second by Steve Christens. Motion carried. It was decided to wait until a report of the remaining funds in the budget could be obtained before continuing the discussion on support for the creek wall restoration project. Another possible project is to reprint a coloring book that was produced at one time with drawings of local historic homes and landmarks.
There were no comments or correspondence.
Motion by Steve Christens to adjourn the meeting. Second by Steve Culbertson. Motion carried.
The minutes of the Evansville Historic Preservation Commission are not official until approved by the Commission.
Common Council meets tomorrow morning for Strategic Planning Session
Click on the post for the full agenda.
CC Announcement: Conference Results
CC Announcement
Congratulations goes out to the cross country teams. Last night they traveled to Whitewater to race at the conference meet. After 10 years of being conference champs the girls finished 2nd behind Parkview, but the girls ran awesome and many ran their personal best. All 7 varsity earned medals. 3rd team all conference, Sara Gay 21st, Ainae Soetaert 19th, Heather Patterson 15th. 2nd team all conference, Kirsten Gragg 13th and Lauren Janes 8th. 1st team all conference Emily Thornton 6th and Carly Hutchins 3rd.
Boys varsity also finished 2nd overall and many had their pr. Winning medals and making 2nd team all conference Evan Arnold 11th. First team all conference Jake Gay 5th and Ryan Ammerman finishing 1st and winning the conference title in 16:36. Also part of the varsity team Ryan Reisem 24th, Zac McDonough 33rd, Lucas Frey 48th, and Pete Gallman 50th.
Junior varsity scores were not available at our departure, but many of the jv runners ran their fastest time of the season.
Finishing for the girls Rachael Carlson 1st, Emily Grant 2nd, Leah Heimerl 3rd. Also for the girls, Sylvia Gay, Neesha Miller, Rachael Marx and Amanda Persike.
Boys jv, Alex Alt, Pat Meredith, Jacob Olivas, Joe Miller-Maerz, Colin Jeans, Keith Abel and Tyler Graham.
Great effort was given by all the runners and you make us proud!!
Congratulations goes out to the cross country teams. Last night they traveled to Whitewater to race at the conference meet. After 10 years of being conference champs the girls finished 2nd behind Parkview, but the girls ran awesome and many ran their personal best. All 7 varsity earned medals. 3rd team all conference, Sara Gay 21st, Ainae Soetaert 19th, Heather Patterson 15th. 2nd team all conference, Kirsten Gragg 13th and Lauren Janes 8th. 1st team all conference Emily Thornton 6th and Carly Hutchins 3rd.
Boys varsity also finished 2nd overall and many had their pr. Winning medals and making 2nd team all conference Evan Arnold 11th. First team all conference Jake Gay 5th and Ryan Ammerman finishing 1st and winning the conference title in 16:36. Also part of the varsity team Ryan Reisem 24th, Zac McDonough 33rd, Lucas Frey 48th, and Pete Gallman 50th.
Junior varsity scores were not available at our departure, but many of the jv runners ran their fastest time of the season.
Finishing for the girls Rachael Carlson 1st, Emily Grant 2nd, Leah Heimerl 3rd. Also for the girls, Sylvia Gay, Neesha Miller, Rachael Marx and Amanda Persike.
Boys jv, Alex Alt, Pat Meredith, Jacob Olivas, Joe Miller-Maerz, Colin Jeans, Keith Abel and Tyler Graham.
Great effort was given by all the runners and you make us proud!!
Mailbag: Nostalgia: "Memories of a Youthful Conservative"
(Ed.note: I received this short note from a loyal Observer reader who was thinking back on the lessons of youth. )
"My youthful conservatism was based on an idealized vision of American society as basically a classless society. Financial rewards were earned on a level playing field and were proportional to merit and effort, or so I thought. Corporate titans amassed investment capital by saving up their earnings from their boyhood paper routes, or borrowing money from doctors and lawyers. In my middle years I learned, through self-education and observation, that this was wrong. George W. Bush and his father, Donald Trump, Dan Quayle, Malcolm Forbes Jr., Trent Lott, Mitch McConnell, Michael Huffington, and others have taught me that their every position and decision is completely predictable, based on whatever serves the self-interests of the monied few."
"My youthful conservatism was based on an idealized vision of American society as basically a classless society. Financial rewards were earned on a level playing field and were proportional to merit and effort, or so I thought. Corporate titans amassed investment capital by saving up their earnings from their boyhood paper routes, or borrowing money from doctors and lawyers. In my middle years I learned, through self-education and observation, that this was wrong. George W. Bush and his father, Donald Trump, Dan Quayle, Malcolm Forbes Jr., Trent Lott, Mitch McConnell, Michael Huffington, and others have taught me that their every position and decision is completely predictable, based on whatever serves the self-interests of the monied few."
Energy Mailbag: Trivia
(Ed.note: The Observer asked a University Professor. about whether something cheaper than corn or wood pellets could be burned for fuel. He is noted for writing his PhD thesis on uses of sheep manure.))
"You could burn sheep shit or any other kind (dung) for energy. It has been done for centuries. The key is the "product" has to be dry, and it will still produce a strong "earthy" odor, i.e. stink. Dried compost should work just as well. The problem is getting and keeping it dry without burning fossil fuel to produce hot air for drying it. Pelleting also takes energy (and costs money). Dried grass would work, too, if it could be gathered, dried, and pelleted cheaply."
Keep in touch, and good luck with the dried dung.
"You could burn sheep shit or any other kind (dung) for energy. It has been done for centuries. The key is the "product" has to be dry, and it will still produce a strong "earthy" odor, i.e. stink. Dried compost should work just as well. The problem is getting and keeping it dry without burning fossil fuel to produce hot air for drying it. Pelleting also takes energy (and costs money). Dried grass would work, too, if it could be gathered, dried, and pelleted cheaply."
Keep in touch, and good luck with the dried dung.
Thursday, October 11, 2007
Dateline New Glarus: Referendum passes by 11 votes
Interesting story from New Glarus. A recurring referendum for 500,000 over the levy limit passes. An earlier referendum for over 20M was defeated.
Wall Street Journal: "The United States of Sub-Prime"
Big article of analysis of sub-prime in the Wall Street Journal.
RockNet Roots: Re: Janesville City Budget
Ed.note: I have reprinted this article rather than linked to it since it gets to the essence of open government during the budget season.
Janesville Annual Budget - You See What You Get
by Louis Kaye
During Monday’s Janesville City council meeting, a taxpaying citizen approached the podium and for the second time, asked the city council to allow permission for the council and administration meetings on the upcoming city budget be televised on the city’s public access cable channel JA-12. Nevertheless, the response from the council was extremely disappointing.
The resident, K. Andreah Briarmoon, made the original request a couple weeks ago explaining that JA-12 only needs one council member officially request for the broadcast. The city council president was the only member to respond directly to Briarmoon’s pointed request to which he replied, ”we haven’t discussed it.” For a moment there, it appeared as if Briarmoon was going to call out each council member in sitting order for their own response to her request, which would have been the proper thing to do considering they are all her representatives at-large. But she did not. Their silence was their only defense, it was deafening.
Equally predictable was the omission of this brief episode the following day in the Janesville Gazette. For a newspaper that has been relentlessly attacking the Janesville school board and union for secret negotiations, demands government openness and records at every turn, and editorialize often about our inherent right to communicate and participate with the people who represent us when they spend our tax dollars, the omission from their city hall reports came as no surprise. When it’s this close to home, no one…ummm…ahhh….. needs to know.
Janesville Annual Budget - You See What You Get
by Louis Kaye
During Monday’s Janesville City council meeting, a taxpaying citizen approached the podium and for the second time, asked the city council to allow permission for the council and administration meetings on the upcoming city budget be televised on the city’s public access cable channel JA-12. Nevertheless, the response from the council was extremely disappointing.
The resident, K. Andreah Briarmoon, made the original request a couple weeks ago explaining that JA-12 only needs one council member officially request for the broadcast. The city council president was the only member to respond directly to Briarmoon’s pointed request to which he replied, ”we haven’t discussed it.” For a moment there, it appeared as if Briarmoon was going to call out each council member in sitting order for their own response to her request, which would have been the proper thing to do considering they are all her representatives at-large. But she did not. Their silence was their only defense, it was deafening.
Equally predictable was the omission of this brief episode the following day in the Janesville Gazette. For a newspaper that has been relentlessly attacking the Janesville school board and union for secret negotiations, demands government openness and records at every turn, and editorialize often about our inherent right to communicate and participate with the people who represent us when they spend our tax dollars, the omission from their city hall reports came as no surprise. When it’s this close to home, no one…ummm…ahhh….. needs to know.
School Beat: Homecoming Parade is Friday, 2PM; Parade Route noted
(ed. Note: This is from the school web site.)
The homecoming parade will be on Friday, Oct. 12. The parade will begin at 2:00 at the high school. The route is:
Fifth Street to right on Badger Drive; left on 4th St; right on Lincoln, left in 2nd St; right on Church St; left on Madison St; left on Main St; right on 4th St; left on Garfield St; left on 5th St to return to EHS.
The homecoming parade will be on Friday, Oct. 12. The parade will begin at 2:00 at the high school. The route is:
Fifth Street to right on Badger Drive; left on 4th St; right on Lincoln, left in 2nd St; right on Church St; left on Madison St; left on Main St; right on 4th St; left on Garfield St; left on 5th St to return to EHS.
Minutes: Finance and Labor: October 2007
City of Evansville
Finance & Labor Relations Committee
Regular Meeting
Monday, October 8, 2007, 5:30 pm
City Hall, 31 S. Madison Street, Evansville, Wisconsin
MINUTES
Call to Order. The meeting was called to order at 5:30 pm by Chair Tom Cothard.
Roll Call. Present: Chair Cothard and Alderpersons Mason Braunschweig and Diane Roberts. Also present: Mayor Sandy Decker, Alderperson Barb Jacobson, Finance Director Eric Jepperson, Administrator Dan Wietecha, and Library Director Kathi Kemp-Tejeda.
Approve Agenda. The agenda was approved as presented without objection.
Minutes of September 6, 2007, Meeting. Braunschweig moved, seconded by Roberts, to waive the reading of and to approve the minutes as presented. Motion approved unanimously.
Citizen Appearances. None.
Water and Light Bills. Cothard made a motion, seconded by Braunschweig, to approve the Water and Light bills in the amount of $1,431,810.67 and authorize their payment. Motion approved unanimously on a roll call vote.
City Bills. Cothard made a motion, seconded by Roberts, to approve the City bills in the amount of $842,394.50 and authorize their payment. Motion approved unanimously on a roll call vote.
Unfinished Business:
Bond Counsel. Cothard made a motion, seconded by Roberts, to recommend to Common Council approval of engagement of Quarles & Brady as bond counsel for $940,000 taxable general obligation community development bond issue. Motion approved unanimously on a roll call vote.
TIF Bond Issue. Wietecha noted that the bond issue was for the two tax increment projects; it also includes costs of issuance and capitalized interest. He indicated that the bids for the issue were not scheduled until the next morning so the final numbers were currently unknown. Braunschweig noted that the sale would not be approved by the Council unless the terms and rates were acceptable. Cothard made a motion, seconded by Roberts, to recommend to Common Council approval of Resolution 2007-40, Authorizing the Sale of $940,000 Taxable General Obligation Community Development Bonds, pending a favorable recommendation by Ehlers & Associates. Motion approved unanimously on a roll call vote.
Fire Station Note. Wietecha indicated that the proposals for the promissory note would not be known until the next morning so the final numbers were currently unknown. Roberts made a motion, seconded by Braunschweig, to recommend to Common Council approval of Resolution 2007-42, Accepting Proposal for $169,000 General Obligation Promissory Notes, pending a favorable recommendation by Ehlers & Associates. Motion approved unanimously on a roll call vote.
Fire Station Lease. Wietecha noted that discussion over the last several months had been that the Fire Department could continue to use the current Fire Station during construction of the new one. The lease formalizes this agreement; the Fire District would be responsible for all utilities and insurance. Cothard made a motion, seconded by Roberts, to recommend to Common Council approval of Lease of Fire Station to Evansville Fire Protection District from November 1, 2007, to December 31, 2008. Motion approved unanimously.
Post Office Note. Wietecha indicated that the proposals for the promissory note would not be known until the next morning so the final numbers were currently unknown. In answer to a question, he said that there had not been a recent appraisal of the building. Braunschweig noted that the note could be prepaid if the City decided not to purchase the building or to finance it differently. Cothard made a motion, seconded by Braunschweig, to recommend to Common Council approval of Resolution 2007-43, Accepting Proposal for $200,000 General Obligation Promissory Notes, pending a favorable recommendation by Ehlers & Associates. Motion approved unanimously on a roll call vote.
2008 Operating Budget. Jepperson reviewed his budget memo. He noted that adjustments had been made based on the September 27 City Council meeting. The proposed levy would result in a slight tax rate decrease. The committee asked that construction of a roundabout at J Lindemann Drive be added to the capital budget.
Publication of 2008 Operating Budget. Cothard made a motion, seconded by Braunschweig, to recommend to Common Council publication of the proposed 2008 operating budget. Motion approved unanimously on a roll call vote.
US Cellular Contract. Wietecha noted that the two year contract would basically extend the existing contract with the revisions discussed the previous month. Cothard made a motion, seconded by Roberts, to recommend to Common Council approval of the US Cellular contract extension. Motion approved unanimously.
Economic Development Revolving Loan Fund. Wietecha noted that in March the committee had asked that the RLF policies be updated if the Economic Development Committee wished to revitalize this program. Braunschweig made a motion, seconded by Roberts, to recommend to Common Council approval of the revised Economic Development Revolving Loan Fund Policies & Procedures Manual. Motion approved unanimously.
Vacant Lot on Water Street. Wietecha distributed a memo outlining the formula originally used by the city for lot sales on Water Street.
Union Contracts. Wietecha noted that they would be meeting with the Wisconsin Professional Police Association the next day for initial trade of proposals. The Teamsters Local 579 had been unprepared for the meeting on September 25; that initial meeting needed to be rescheduled.
New Business:
EMS Bad Debt. Cothard made a motion, seconded by Braunschweig, to recommend to Common Council approval of the write-off of bad debt in the amount of $2,981.84 and to designate the parties of these 14 calls for tax intercept. Motion approved unanimously on a roll call vote.
Adjournment. On a motion by Cothard, seconded by Braunschweig, the meeting adjourned at 7:00pm.
Finance & Labor Relations Committee
Regular Meeting
Monday, October 8, 2007, 5:30 pm
City Hall, 31 S. Madison Street, Evansville, Wisconsin
MINUTES
Call to Order. The meeting was called to order at 5:30 pm by Chair Tom Cothard.
Roll Call. Present: Chair Cothard and Alderpersons Mason Braunschweig and Diane Roberts. Also present: Mayor Sandy Decker, Alderperson Barb Jacobson, Finance Director Eric Jepperson, Administrator Dan Wietecha, and Library Director Kathi Kemp-Tejeda.
Approve Agenda. The agenda was approved as presented without objection.
Minutes of September 6, 2007, Meeting. Braunschweig moved, seconded by Roberts, to waive the reading of and to approve the minutes as presented. Motion approved unanimously.
Citizen Appearances. None.
Water and Light Bills. Cothard made a motion, seconded by Braunschweig, to approve the Water and Light bills in the amount of $1,431,810.67 and authorize their payment. Motion approved unanimously on a roll call vote.
City Bills. Cothard made a motion, seconded by Roberts, to approve the City bills in the amount of $842,394.50 and authorize their payment. Motion approved unanimously on a roll call vote.
Unfinished Business:
Bond Counsel. Cothard made a motion, seconded by Roberts, to recommend to Common Council approval of engagement of Quarles & Brady as bond counsel for $940,000 taxable general obligation community development bond issue. Motion approved unanimously on a roll call vote.
TIF Bond Issue. Wietecha noted that the bond issue was for the two tax increment projects; it also includes costs of issuance and capitalized interest. He indicated that the bids for the issue were not scheduled until the next morning so the final numbers were currently unknown. Braunschweig noted that the sale would not be approved by the Council unless the terms and rates were acceptable. Cothard made a motion, seconded by Roberts, to recommend to Common Council approval of Resolution 2007-40, Authorizing the Sale of $940,000 Taxable General Obligation Community Development Bonds, pending a favorable recommendation by Ehlers & Associates. Motion approved unanimously on a roll call vote.
Fire Station Note. Wietecha indicated that the proposals for the promissory note would not be known until the next morning so the final numbers were currently unknown. Roberts made a motion, seconded by Braunschweig, to recommend to Common Council approval of Resolution 2007-42, Accepting Proposal for $169,000 General Obligation Promissory Notes, pending a favorable recommendation by Ehlers & Associates. Motion approved unanimously on a roll call vote.
Fire Station Lease. Wietecha noted that discussion over the last several months had been that the Fire Department could continue to use the current Fire Station during construction of the new one. The lease formalizes this agreement; the Fire District would be responsible for all utilities and insurance. Cothard made a motion, seconded by Roberts, to recommend to Common Council approval of Lease of Fire Station to Evansville Fire Protection District from November 1, 2007, to December 31, 2008. Motion approved unanimously.
Post Office Note. Wietecha indicated that the proposals for the promissory note would not be known until the next morning so the final numbers were currently unknown. In answer to a question, he said that there had not been a recent appraisal of the building. Braunschweig noted that the note could be prepaid if the City decided not to purchase the building or to finance it differently. Cothard made a motion, seconded by Braunschweig, to recommend to Common Council approval of Resolution 2007-43, Accepting Proposal for $200,000 General Obligation Promissory Notes, pending a favorable recommendation by Ehlers & Associates. Motion approved unanimously on a roll call vote.
2008 Operating Budget. Jepperson reviewed his budget memo. He noted that adjustments had been made based on the September 27 City Council meeting. The proposed levy would result in a slight tax rate decrease. The committee asked that construction of a roundabout at J Lindemann Drive be added to the capital budget.
Publication of 2008 Operating Budget. Cothard made a motion, seconded by Braunschweig, to recommend to Common Council publication of the proposed 2008 operating budget. Motion approved unanimously on a roll call vote.
US Cellular Contract. Wietecha noted that the two year contract would basically extend the existing contract with the revisions discussed the previous month. Cothard made a motion, seconded by Roberts, to recommend to Common Council approval of the US Cellular contract extension. Motion approved unanimously.
Economic Development Revolving Loan Fund. Wietecha noted that in March the committee had asked that the RLF policies be updated if the Economic Development Committee wished to revitalize this program. Braunschweig made a motion, seconded by Roberts, to recommend to Common Council approval of the revised Economic Development Revolving Loan Fund Policies & Procedures Manual. Motion approved unanimously.
Vacant Lot on Water Street. Wietecha distributed a memo outlining the formula originally used by the city for lot sales on Water Street.
Union Contracts. Wietecha noted that they would be meeting with the Wisconsin Professional Police Association the next day for initial trade of proposals. The Teamsters Local 579 had been unprepared for the meeting on September 25; that initial meeting needed to be rescheduled.
New Business:
EMS Bad Debt. Cothard made a motion, seconded by Braunschweig, to recommend to Common Council approval of the write-off of bad debt in the amount of $2,981.84 and to designate the parties of these 14 calls for tax intercept. Motion approved unanimously on a roll call vote.
Adjournment. On a motion by Cothard, seconded by Braunschweig, the meeting adjourned at 7:00pm.
Wednesday, October 10, 2007
Daily Planet:: Technology---the force of change for small rural communities
Click on the post for the story about two Minnesota communities--the article also applies to Evansville.
School Beat: Hammann Report: Summary of Conclusions from Data and possible recommendations
To: Heidi Carvin, Brian Cashore, Leslie Ferrell, Lou Havlik, Randy Keister, Vicki Lecy-Luebke, (remaining staff members of 2003 Academic Excellence Team), Marissa Morstad, Krista Jones, Linda Rehfeldt, Marilyn Brink, Deb Arnold, Bob Flaherty (non-discrimination self-evaluation report team), Michael Pierick, Dennis Hatfield, Mike Larson, Tina Rossmiller, Art Phillips, Jeff Herbers (Evansville School Board).
Cc: Jamie Gillespie, Kitty Verkuilen, Deb Fritz, Sarah Champeau, Teresa Ellison.
From: Melissa Hammann
Subject: Comments regarding: Pupil Nondiscrimination Self-Evaluation Report, March 2007
Excel File Attachments: wkcedata, wkcehist and actvwkce
I agree that self-evaluation regarding non-discrimination in district policy and action is an important ongoing process. However, I am concerned about the emphasis placed on superficial policy compliance and statistical evaluations. It is of marginal value to use such statistics without proper context and little careful application toward determining root causes where apparent inequity exists. Furthermore, I feel our focus should be centered on the nearly universal loss in proficiency between Grade 8 and Grade 10 WKCE results, as well as the gender inequities in these scores. Downward trends in the WKCE data since 2002 are also a cause for concern. In addition, Evansville’s consistently low ACT results compared to the Statewide results are particularly troubling since our small district has to help our students outperform the state average to be considered competitive. These data illustrate a problem in our district which, for the nine years we have resided here, has yet to be adequately addressed. This problem continues in spite of this specific issue being addressed beginning in the fall of 2001 by the Academic Excellence Committee.
Let’s first address scholarship award distributions by gender, an item of concern in the report. On page 10, on first blush, it appears that scholarship awards are highly skewed toward young women, who accounted for 66% of the awards in 2006, reduced from 82% in 2004. The first question that leaps to mind is “What percentage of college bound seniors from Evansville are girls and what percentage are boys?” The evaluation of these statistics is moot without that piece of information. Should the scholarship award gender distribution reflect the class demographics or the college bound student demographics? The latter, to be sure. Also, the selection criteria for the scholarships are not expounded on in this report. If grades are the only criteria, and the girls are outperforming the boys on grades by 2:1, then this too needs to be factored into the discussion and your 66/34 distribution makes sense. The gender ratio of the senior class also bears on the statistics. For example, in 2004-2005, the overall student body was comprised of 52.3% boys and 47.7% girls while the scholarship distribution for college bound seniors was 18% male and 82% female. Based on demographics, your scholarship award ratio is even more skewed than represented. The gender breakdown for seniors only was not provided for that year, so that’s as far as the analysis can go at this point. The percent of each gender in the class who took the ACT factors into this discussion somehow. Beginning at a dismal 29% of the boys and a whopping 81% of the girls in 99-00 graduating class, we have improved the boys’ statistic to 53% of the boys taking the ACT in 05-06. However, the girls’ participation rate has plunged from 81% to 65% of the girls in the class of 05-06. Probably more important than numbers of scholarships is the value breakdown of the scholarship. How does the money distribute by gender when corrected for the college bound gender ratio? Are the scholarships distributed over a fairly large number of students, or are a select few students cleaning up on the scholarships? Finally, shouldn’t we be most concerned that scholarships should go to those students who most deserve and need them, regardless of gender?
There is another section described on page 10 of the report entitled “Other Forms of Recognition.” There seems to exude from the report pride that these data are more balanced toward “equal” gender distribution. However, the middle school 2005-2006 data is unbalanced from the perspective of extracurricular activity demographics. How can it be egalitarian if you award 51% of the recognition awards to boys when only 41% of the extracurricular participants are boys? The expected award distribution would be 41% boys and 59% girls. The high school award distribution for the same year (45% male/55% female) is much closer to the extracurricular activity participant distribution (43% male/57% female). Once again, of greater concern is the distribution of the funds used to support the extracurricular activities of boys and girls. It’s doubtful that 57% of the funds allocated for extracurricular activities at the high school are funneled to activities with predominantly female participants.
Now let’s focus on the WKCE results. The 3 years of data provided in the Self-Evaluation report illustrated my concern for loss of proficiency between grades 8 and 10. One immediately wonders if this is a persistent problem in our district or related to one class. The DPI web site lists data going back to 2002 for WKCE results with data parsed by gender and year. Statewide results are available for comparison purposes. Using these data, one is able to expand to 3 sets of results in which Grade 8 data in year x can be directly compared to Grade 10 data in year x+2, wherein essentially the same students are being evaluated. Attached with this document are the tables generated using DPI data (filename: wkcedata). Per a DPI disclaimer, WKCE data prior to 2002 are not comparable to 2002 and later, nor is it available on the DPI website.
Please review this Excel file with the attached bar charts while reading this part of the report. Tabs labeled reading, language arts, math, science and social studies contain the raw data spreadsheets. There are bar charts entitled reading0204all, reading0305all, reading0406all, and so on for each subject that nicely illustrates the “corrected loss” I discuss below (total of 15 charts). There are also 10 charts describing the proficiency loss for each subject by gender entitled mathlossboys and the like. Finally, there is a complete table of WKCE Historical data in this file for reference purposes entitled HistoricWKCE. I have matched scales on the graphs where feasible for better comparison purposes.
There are many ways to interpret this type of data. First, one can make a simple comparison between grade 8 and grade 10 results for Evansville students in the same class (for example, 2002 grade 8 results compared to 2004 grade 10 results). Using this technique, 22 of the 30 sets of Evansville data represented in the tables show loss of proficiency with magnitudes ranging from –1% to –16% (“prof. loss” on the charts). This made me consider that the sensitive timing of these grades may require some correction for overall reduction in scholastic performance due to general adolescent influences. Hence the inclusion of the state data on the charts, on which one may note that 20/30 of the measures of advanced plus proficient students showed decreasing proficiency. If one then “corrects” the Evansville data by offsetting the decreases with the same magnitude of decreases seen at the state level, the news is still not so good for Evansville. I did the calculations both as direct offsets and offsets calculated as a percent of the starting value, since Evansville scores are typically higher than state averages. There were tweaks to the data that way, but no big differences in the magnitude of the losses I refer to, so the charts you see represent direct offset data. Half of the measurements (15/30) still show loss of proficiency even after the corrections. 5 of those measurements indicate boys’ loss of proficiency (2005 grade 10 language arts, 2005 grade 10 math, 2005 grade 10 science, and 2004 and 2006 grade 10 social studies). 10 of the measurements indicate girls’ loss of proficiency (2004-2006 grade 10 reading, 2004-2006 grade 10 language arts, 2005 grade 10 math, 2005 and 2006 grade 10 science and 2004 grade 10 social studies).
This exercise led me to another way of looking at the data in a more historical overview. As useful as the bar charts were, I could only look at one snapshot 2-year period at a time. Excel file wkcehist contains a spreadsheet of the historical data (HistoricWKCE) and bar charts (READHISTGR8, READHISTGR10, etc.) that illustrate my concern with a general, somewhat alarming pattern of reduced proficiency over time, in addition to the Grade 8 to Grade 10 loss. Each chart shows results for one subject over the 2002-2006 time period, broken down by gender and with state results for comparison. The Grade 8 data is more precipitous in the reduction of the percent of students scoring proficient plus advanced over time, but since there is already a loss from grade 8 to grade 10, it’s a relief that equivalent degradation wasn’t evident in the grade 10 data too.
Both ways of evaluating the data illustrate gender gaps that are disheartening in this day and age. Of particular concern was the 31% gap in Grade 8 male and female language arts score in 2002 (favoring girls). There is also the usual gender bias for math and science: an 11% Grade 10 math gap in 2006 (favoring boys) and the consistent 5-17% science gap in all years (favoring boys). There were a few notable data sets that defied the traditional gender biases. But overall, Evansville data reflect these traditional biases.
One could argue that Evansville WKCE data are universally higher than the state data, sometimes by more than 30%. Why are you making such a big deal about this, Melissa? It’s frustrating that Evansville’s superior performance on WKCE does not predict superior ACT performance at all. One could say that the ACT test IS the gold standard of measure. If our superior WKCE performance translated to 30% higher ACT scores, all would be well and this report would not have seen the light of day. It seems that we sit on our laurels and bask in the glory of WKCE superiority while ACT mediocrity descends around us. We are failing our students when the rubber hits the road and they are counting on us to help them get into the colleges of their choice.
Please refer to the Excel file actvwkce while reading this section of the report. Tab ACT vs. WKCE contains the raw data spreadsheet that collates three sets of year x Grade 10 WKCE data with year x+1 ACT results. It was originally thought that year x+2 ACT results should be the comparison data, but it was determined that students are counseled to take the ACT in their junior year for early admission, and most do. There are 4 charts for each year: Evansville boys, Evansville girls, State boys and State girls (entitled Ev Boys 2002, Ev Girls 2002, St Boys 2002, St Girls 2002, etc.). One can get a sense of trends with these charts, but it’s clear that high WKCE results do not predict good ACT performance. It appears that the improvement referred to in the 2003 Academic Excellence Committee Report has not been sustained. Widely disparate WKCE scores often result in the same ACT score. And high WKCE scores do not predict excellent performance in that subject on the ACT. The most striking example of this was the 2004 WKCE Reading score/2005-2006 ACT comparison. 92% of the Grade 10 boys scored proficient or advanced and 92% of the girls did too. But while the ACT Reading score the following year showed an impressive 24.8 for the girls (reference 22.5 State Girls), the boys only scored 22.1, exactly the same as the State Boys, who had only 72% scoring Proficient + Advanced on their grade 10 WKCE.
Again, one is curious to put into context the ACT results with prior year data. The spreadsheet of historic ACT data from 2000 to 2006 is entitled Historical ACT Data. There are some generalizations that can be made looking at the last 5 charts which follows the ACT results for each subject and the composite data by year and gender, state and local. They are entitled ACTREAD, ACTENGILSH, etc. The good news is that there has been an increase in the girls’ scores across the board, especially in reading and language arts. The girls’ improvement in math and science is particularly encouraging. However, Evansville girls’ highest math score is still lower than our boys’ lowest math score, but for the last 2 years, the girls have finally exceeded the average state girls’ ACT score. The girls’ highest science score has finally caught up with the boys’ score but the boys continue to stay flat at less than the state boys’ science score. The flat male ACT performance is widespread, especially in the areas where they could use some bolstering, reading and language arts. It also appears that our boys are losing ground in science, very slightly. Their math scores still nudge just under the state boys’ average math ACT. The girls’ incredible ACT performance last year brought our composite score above the state average for the first time ever. This is good news to be celebrated, but with caution. These are ACT results for this year’s graduating class. By every measure, this class has outperformed all classes above and below them. As one reviews all of this data, one gets a feel for “class ability” that factors into the standardized test results. One could classify the class of 06-07 as downright brainiacs, evident from their grade 8 testing results forward. It may be unrealistic to expect continued ACT performance improvement of this magnitude in coming years.
What seems evident is that we need to academically engage our boys the way we have engaged our girls. We need to be realistic in our assessment of the coming grades whose grade 8 and grade 10 WKCE scores were far lower than those of this year’s graduating class to whom the excellent ACT scores can be attributed. While one can’t really predict ACT performance with the WKCE results, general trends can be inferred. If the students who scored 24 and 25 on Reading and English (language arts) in last years ACT had 100% scoring proficient + advanced on the Grade 8 WKCE and subsequent classes have performed at 75-90%, chances are that ACT scores will jump back down to more historically expected values. The trick is to stop this trend and continue the improvement.
While I reviewed all of this data to generate a report, the block schedule report was released which surveyed all the stakeholders regarding the relatively recently implemented block schedule. There was a claim in the report that our WKCE and ACT scores have improved since its implementation. This claim is disputable. The girls’ ACT performance has improved, impressively so in Reading and English, but the last impressive data point may be indicative of a very smart graduating class. The girls’ Math and Science scores are still below Evansville boys’ scores, which are a smidgen below the state boys. Evansville Boy’s ACT scores have not improved with the block schedule. The bar charts in wkcehist speak for themselves as to the WKCE trends, and they are not in the upward direction. We may perform better than the state average, but our scores over time are not improving.
It occurred to me after reading the report that perhaps block schedules dovetail better with the average female learning style (ability to sit for longer periods, more often given to the interactive styles and cooperative environment fostered in a block schedule as outlined by the overview report). This in turn has resulted in a steady improvement in the girls’ historically poor ACT areas of Math and Science and brought their Reading and English scores to impressive heights. Alternatively, it’s possible that the male learning style has not meshed as well with the block schedule. Their performance on their “problem” areas of Reading and English has remained unremarkable, and their strength areas of Math and Science remain flat. Some tweaks to the block schedule may be necessary to bring up the boys’ reading and language arts scores and help them soar in Math and Science. Speaking to their passions and harnessing the same strengths they exhibit in Math and Science for Reading and English could foster a veritable explosion in Evansville ACT scores.
Respectfully Submitted,
Melissa Hammann
Evansville School Board
Cc: Jamie Gillespie, Kitty Verkuilen, Deb Fritz, Sarah Champeau, Teresa Ellison.
From: Melissa Hammann
Subject: Comments regarding: Pupil Nondiscrimination Self-Evaluation Report, March 2007
Excel File Attachments: wkcedata, wkcehist and actvwkce
I agree that self-evaluation regarding non-discrimination in district policy and action is an important ongoing process. However, I am concerned about the emphasis placed on superficial policy compliance and statistical evaluations. It is of marginal value to use such statistics without proper context and little careful application toward determining root causes where apparent inequity exists. Furthermore, I feel our focus should be centered on the nearly universal loss in proficiency between Grade 8 and Grade 10 WKCE results, as well as the gender inequities in these scores. Downward trends in the WKCE data since 2002 are also a cause for concern. In addition, Evansville’s consistently low ACT results compared to the Statewide results are particularly troubling since our small district has to help our students outperform the state average to be considered competitive. These data illustrate a problem in our district which, for the nine years we have resided here, has yet to be adequately addressed. This problem continues in spite of this specific issue being addressed beginning in the fall of 2001 by the Academic Excellence Committee.
Let’s first address scholarship award distributions by gender, an item of concern in the report. On page 10, on first blush, it appears that scholarship awards are highly skewed toward young women, who accounted for 66% of the awards in 2006, reduced from 82% in 2004. The first question that leaps to mind is “What percentage of college bound seniors from Evansville are girls and what percentage are boys?” The evaluation of these statistics is moot without that piece of information. Should the scholarship award gender distribution reflect the class demographics or the college bound student demographics? The latter, to be sure. Also, the selection criteria for the scholarships are not expounded on in this report. If grades are the only criteria, and the girls are outperforming the boys on grades by 2:1, then this too needs to be factored into the discussion and your 66/34 distribution makes sense. The gender ratio of the senior class also bears on the statistics. For example, in 2004-2005, the overall student body was comprised of 52.3% boys and 47.7% girls while the scholarship distribution for college bound seniors was 18% male and 82% female. Based on demographics, your scholarship award ratio is even more skewed than represented. The gender breakdown for seniors only was not provided for that year, so that’s as far as the analysis can go at this point. The percent of each gender in the class who took the ACT factors into this discussion somehow. Beginning at a dismal 29% of the boys and a whopping 81% of the girls in 99-00 graduating class, we have improved the boys’ statistic to 53% of the boys taking the ACT in 05-06. However, the girls’ participation rate has plunged from 81% to 65% of the girls in the class of 05-06. Probably more important than numbers of scholarships is the value breakdown of the scholarship. How does the money distribute by gender when corrected for the college bound gender ratio? Are the scholarships distributed over a fairly large number of students, or are a select few students cleaning up on the scholarships? Finally, shouldn’t we be most concerned that scholarships should go to those students who most deserve and need them, regardless of gender?
There is another section described on page 10 of the report entitled “Other Forms of Recognition.” There seems to exude from the report pride that these data are more balanced toward “equal” gender distribution. However, the middle school 2005-2006 data is unbalanced from the perspective of extracurricular activity demographics. How can it be egalitarian if you award 51% of the recognition awards to boys when only 41% of the extracurricular participants are boys? The expected award distribution would be 41% boys and 59% girls. The high school award distribution for the same year (45% male/55% female) is much closer to the extracurricular activity participant distribution (43% male/57% female). Once again, of greater concern is the distribution of the funds used to support the extracurricular activities of boys and girls. It’s doubtful that 57% of the funds allocated for extracurricular activities at the high school are funneled to activities with predominantly female participants.
Now let’s focus on the WKCE results. The 3 years of data provided in the Self-Evaluation report illustrated my concern for loss of proficiency between grades 8 and 10. One immediately wonders if this is a persistent problem in our district or related to one class. The DPI web site lists data going back to 2002 for WKCE results with data parsed by gender and year. Statewide results are available for comparison purposes. Using these data, one is able to expand to 3 sets of results in which Grade 8 data in year x can be directly compared to Grade 10 data in year x+2, wherein essentially the same students are being evaluated. Attached with this document are the tables generated using DPI data (filename: wkcedata). Per a DPI disclaimer, WKCE data prior to 2002 are not comparable to 2002 and later, nor is it available on the DPI website.
Please review this Excel file with the attached bar charts while reading this part of the report. Tabs labeled reading, language arts, math, science and social studies contain the raw data spreadsheets. There are bar charts entitled reading0204all, reading0305all, reading0406all, and so on for each subject that nicely illustrates the “corrected loss” I discuss below (total of 15 charts). There are also 10 charts describing the proficiency loss for each subject by gender entitled mathlossboys and the like. Finally, there is a complete table of WKCE Historical data in this file for reference purposes entitled HistoricWKCE. I have matched scales on the graphs where feasible for better comparison purposes.
There are many ways to interpret this type of data. First, one can make a simple comparison between grade 8 and grade 10 results for Evansville students in the same class (for example, 2002 grade 8 results compared to 2004 grade 10 results). Using this technique, 22 of the 30 sets of Evansville data represented in the tables show loss of proficiency with magnitudes ranging from –1% to –16% (“prof. loss” on the charts). This made me consider that the sensitive timing of these grades may require some correction for overall reduction in scholastic performance due to general adolescent influences. Hence the inclusion of the state data on the charts, on which one may note that 20/30 of the measures of advanced plus proficient students showed decreasing proficiency. If one then “corrects” the Evansville data by offsetting the decreases with the same magnitude of decreases seen at the state level, the news is still not so good for Evansville. I did the calculations both as direct offsets and offsets calculated as a percent of the starting value, since Evansville scores are typically higher than state averages. There were tweaks to the data that way, but no big differences in the magnitude of the losses I refer to, so the charts you see represent direct offset data. Half of the measurements (15/30) still show loss of proficiency even after the corrections. 5 of those measurements indicate boys’ loss of proficiency (2005 grade 10 language arts, 2005 grade 10 math, 2005 grade 10 science, and 2004 and 2006 grade 10 social studies). 10 of the measurements indicate girls’ loss of proficiency (2004-2006 grade 10 reading, 2004-2006 grade 10 language arts, 2005 grade 10 math, 2005 and 2006 grade 10 science and 2004 grade 10 social studies).
This exercise led me to another way of looking at the data in a more historical overview. As useful as the bar charts were, I could only look at one snapshot 2-year period at a time. Excel file wkcehist contains a spreadsheet of the historical data (HistoricWKCE) and bar charts (READHISTGR8, READHISTGR10, etc.) that illustrate my concern with a general, somewhat alarming pattern of reduced proficiency over time, in addition to the Grade 8 to Grade 10 loss. Each chart shows results for one subject over the 2002-2006 time period, broken down by gender and with state results for comparison. The Grade 8 data is more precipitous in the reduction of the percent of students scoring proficient plus advanced over time, but since there is already a loss from grade 8 to grade 10, it’s a relief that equivalent degradation wasn’t evident in the grade 10 data too.
Both ways of evaluating the data illustrate gender gaps that are disheartening in this day and age. Of particular concern was the 31% gap in Grade 8 male and female language arts score in 2002 (favoring girls). There is also the usual gender bias for math and science: an 11% Grade 10 math gap in 2006 (favoring boys) and the consistent 5-17% science gap in all years (favoring boys). There were a few notable data sets that defied the traditional gender biases. But overall, Evansville data reflect these traditional biases.
One could argue that Evansville WKCE data are universally higher than the state data, sometimes by more than 30%. Why are you making such a big deal about this, Melissa? It’s frustrating that Evansville’s superior performance on WKCE does not predict superior ACT performance at all. One could say that the ACT test IS the gold standard of measure. If our superior WKCE performance translated to 30% higher ACT scores, all would be well and this report would not have seen the light of day. It seems that we sit on our laurels and bask in the glory of WKCE superiority while ACT mediocrity descends around us. We are failing our students when the rubber hits the road and they are counting on us to help them get into the colleges of their choice.
Please refer to the Excel file actvwkce while reading this section of the report. Tab ACT vs. WKCE contains the raw data spreadsheet that collates three sets of year x Grade 10 WKCE data with year x+1 ACT results. It was originally thought that year x+2 ACT results should be the comparison data, but it was determined that students are counseled to take the ACT in their junior year for early admission, and most do. There are 4 charts for each year: Evansville boys, Evansville girls, State boys and State girls (entitled Ev Boys 2002, Ev Girls 2002, St Boys 2002, St Girls 2002, etc.). One can get a sense of trends with these charts, but it’s clear that high WKCE results do not predict good ACT performance. It appears that the improvement referred to in the 2003 Academic Excellence Committee Report has not been sustained. Widely disparate WKCE scores often result in the same ACT score. And high WKCE scores do not predict excellent performance in that subject on the ACT. The most striking example of this was the 2004 WKCE Reading score/2005-2006 ACT comparison. 92% of the Grade 10 boys scored proficient or advanced and 92% of the girls did too. But while the ACT Reading score the following year showed an impressive 24.8 for the girls (reference 22.5 State Girls), the boys only scored 22.1, exactly the same as the State Boys, who had only 72% scoring Proficient + Advanced on their grade 10 WKCE.
Again, one is curious to put into context the ACT results with prior year data. The spreadsheet of historic ACT data from 2000 to 2006 is entitled Historical ACT Data. There are some generalizations that can be made looking at the last 5 charts which follows the ACT results for each subject and the composite data by year and gender, state and local. They are entitled ACTREAD, ACTENGILSH, etc. The good news is that there has been an increase in the girls’ scores across the board, especially in reading and language arts. The girls’ improvement in math and science is particularly encouraging. However, Evansville girls’ highest math score is still lower than our boys’ lowest math score, but for the last 2 years, the girls have finally exceeded the average state girls’ ACT score. The girls’ highest science score has finally caught up with the boys’ score but the boys continue to stay flat at less than the state boys’ science score. The flat male ACT performance is widespread, especially in the areas where they could use some bolstering, reading and language arts. It also appears that our boys are losing ground in science, very slightly. Their math scores still nudge just under the state boys’ average math ACT. The girls’ incredible ACT performance last year brought our composite score above the state average for the first time ever. This is good news to be celebrated, but with caution. These are ACT results for this year’s graduating class. By every measure, this class has outperformed all classes above and below them. As one reviews all of this data, one gets a feel for “class ability” that factors into the standardized test results. One could classify the class of 06-07 as downright brainiacs, evident from their grade 8 testing results forward. It may be unrealistic to expect continued ACT performance improvement of this magnitude in coming years.
What seems evident is that we need to academically engage our boys the way we have engaged our girls. We need to be realistic in our assessment of the coming grades whose grade 8 and grade 10 WKCE scores were far lower than those of this year’s graduating class to whom the excellent ACT scores can be attributed. While one can’t really predict ACT performance with the WKCE results, general trends can be inferred. If the students who scored 24 and 25 on Reading and English (language arts) in last years ACT had 100% scoring proficient + advanced on the Grade 8 WKCE and subsequent classes have performed at 75-90%, chances are that ACT scores will jump back down to more historically expected values. The trick is to stop this trend and continue the improvement.
While I reviewed all of this data to generate a report, the block schedule report was released which surveyed all the stakeholders regarding the relatively recently implemented block schedule. There was a claim in the report that our WKCE and ACT scores have improved since its implementation. This claim is disputable. The girls’ ACT performance has improved, impressively so in Reading and English, but the last impressive data point may be indicative of a very smart graduating class. The girls’ Math and Science scores are still below Evansville boys’ scores, which are a smidgen below the state boys. Evansville Boy’s ACT scores have not improved with the block schedule. The bar charts in wkcehist speak for themselves as to the WKCE trends, and they are not in the upward direction. We may perform better than the state average, but our scores over time are not improving.
It occurred to me after reading the report that perhaps block schedules dovetail better with the average female learning style (ability to sit for longer periods, more often given to the interactive styles and cooperative environment fostered in a block schedule as outlined by the overview report). This in turn has resulted in a steady improvement in the girls’ historically poor ACT areas of Math and Science and brought their Reading and English scores to impressive heights. Alternatively, it’s possible that the male learning style has not meshed as well with the block schedule. Their performance on their “problem” areas of Reading and English has remained unremarkable, and their strength areas of Math and Science remain flat. Some tweaks to the block schedule may be necessary to bring up the boys’ reading and language arts scores and help them soar in Math and Science. Speaking to their passions and harnessing the same strengths they exhibit in Math and Science for Reading and English could foster a veritable explosion in Evansville ACT scores.
Respectfully Submitted,
Melissa Hammann
Evansville School Board
Hammann Report: Gender Bias/Block Schedule/ Analysis/ WKCE
(Ed.note: This memo has been published so the public can see the ongoing disucssion of the School board on this issue. The data, and what it means, is under discussion. The full data files in excel format can be obtained from the Evansville School District. Stay tuned to the Evansville Observer.)
September 7, 2007
To: Heidi Carvin, Brian Cashore, Leslie Ferrell, Lou Havlik, Randy Keister, Vicki Lecy-Luebke, (remaining staff members of 2003 Academic Excellence Team), , Deb Arnold, Marilyn Brink, Bob Flaherty, Krista Jones, Marissa Morstad, Linda Rehfeldt, (non-discrimination self-evaluation report team), Dennis Hatfield, Jeff Herbers, Mike Larson, Art Phillips, Michael Pierick, Tina Rossmiller (Evansville School Board).
Cc: Butch Beedle, Sarah Champeau, Teresa Ellison, Deb Fritz, Jamie Gillespie, Kitty Verkuilen
From: Melissa Hammann
Subject: Supplemental Information for Gender Bias Report/Possible Block Schedule Contribution to this Phenomenon.
Excel file attachments: WKCETRENDS, ACTTRENDS, ACTREADING, ACTSCIENCE, and ACTCOMPOSITE
There was a lengthy discussion of the block schedule at the August 13th Board meeting as a follow-up to the consultant presentation in July. I asked whether our girls’ skyrocketing ACT performance could be attributed to the block schedule better matching a traditional female learning style of cooperation and interaction while inadvertently suppressing a traditional male learning style of competition, constant motion and hands-on activities. We discussed and disagreed at length and eventually agreed to place “Gender education issues” on our September agenda. To that end, please find another report specifically focusing on the WKCE and ACT trends in recent years, categorizing the data by gender.
Attached with the report, please find Excel spreadsheets with accompanying sets of charts. WKCE trend data and charts are found in the Excel file entitled WKCETRENDS; the ACT trend data and charts can be found in ACTTRENDS, which focuses only on Evansville vs. State Data. Finally, spreadsheets and linked trend charts for the ten districts in Wisconsin with enrollments between 1700 and 1900 are available in Excel files ACTREADING, ACTSCIENCE and ACTCOMPOSITE.
WKCE Trends 2002-2006 (WKCETRENDS)
The sex bias concern for the WKCE testing pertained more to the predominance of our girls’ losses in WKCE performance from grade 8 to grade 10. However, a review of the WKCE data verifies the concern that we are losing ground vs. the state on WKCE test results. In addition to the Raw Data spreadsheet, there are 20 charts in the Excel file WKCETRENDS tabbed with names such as WKCEBOYSGR8READ, WKCEGIRLSGR8READ, etc. Each chart compares one Evansville gender to the same state gender for each category tested (Reading, Language Arts, Math, Science and Social Studies) at either Grade 8 or Grade 10, covering the time frame from 2002 to 2006. The statistic being measured is the percentage of students scoring proficient plus advanced on the WKCE test. Trend lines have been included for both Evansville and statewide data.
Only three subjects showed both Evansville and State increases in the percentage of students scoring proficient plus advanced on the WKCE. Girls Grade 10 Reading showed a minimally perceptible increase in Evansville girls results with a slightly greater increase from the state girls. A steady increase in Grade 8 Boys math performance was also seen, with approximately equivalent slopes to the trend lines, indicating equivalent increases. A similar result was seen with the Girls Grade 10 Social Studies performance improvement, with less overall magnitude of improvement and at a slightly lower rate of improvement than the state girls.
Only two subjects showed a loss of proficiency in both Evansville and state students: Boys and Girls Grade 8 Language Arts. The Evansville students’ rates of decrease are much more precipitous than the decreases posted by the state students. These trend lines will eventually cross at these continued rates of decline, plunging the Evansville performances below the state performances.
The remaining 15 subjects show State students increasing proficiency over time and Evansville students decreasing proficiency over time. Five of these charts show minimal decreases or flat Evansville performance (Grade 10 Boys Reading, Grade 10 Boys Math, Grade 10 Girls Math, Grade 8 Girls Science (flat) and Grade 10 Boys Social Studies). Eight charts show very steady Evansville decreases in the face of perceptible to steady State increases in this statistic. Over time, at this pace, these trend lines will also cross given their opposite slope signs. Finally, the trend lines for two subjects have already crossed slopes, placing the Evansville performance below that of the state students: Grade 8 Girls Math and Grade 8 Boys Social Studies.
There is no sex bias point to these charts, just a clearer picture of the decrease in Evansville WKCE performance over time. Given the importance placed on these test scores in the federal NCLB Act, it’s important for us to address the issues and determine underlying causes to mitigate the decline in WKCE performance. It is curious, however, that of the three subjects that showed Evansville improvement over time, our girls posted two.
September 7, 2007
To: Heidi Carvin, Brian Cashore, Leslie Ferrell, Lou Havlik, Randy Keister, Vicki Lecy-Luebke, (remaining staff members of 2003 Academic Excellence Team), , Deb Arnold, Marilyn Brink, Bob Flaherty, Krista Jones, Marissa Morstad, Linda Rehfeldt, (non-discrimination self-evaluation report team), Dennis Hatfield, Jeff Herbers, Mike Larson, Art Phillips, Michael Pierick, Tina Rossmiller (Evansville School Board).
Cc: Butch Beedle, Sarah Champeau, Teresa Ellison, Deb Fritz, Jamie Gillespie, Kitty Verkuilen
From: Melissa Hammann
Subject: Supplemental Information for Gender Bias Report/Possible Block Schedule Contribution to this Phenomenon.
Excel file attachments: WKCETRENDS, ACTTRENDS, ACTREADING, ACTSCIENCE, and ACTCOMPOSITE
There was a lengthy discussion of the block schedule at the August 13th Board meeting as a follow-up to the consultant presentation in July. I asked whether our girls’ skyrocketing ACT performance could be attributed to the block schedule better matching a traditional female learning style of cooperation and interaction while inadvertently suppressing a traditional male learning style of competition, constant motion and hands-on activities. We discussed and disagreed at length and eventually agreed to place “Gender education issues” on our September agenda. To that end, please find another report specifically focusing on the WKCE and ACT trends in recent years, categorizing the data by gender.
Attached with the report, please find Excel spreadsheets with accompanying sets of charts. WKCE trend data and charts are found in the Excel file entitled WKCETRENDS; the ACT trend data and charts can be found in ACTTRENDS, which focuses only on Evansville vs. State Data. Finally, spreadsheets and linked trend charts for the ten districts in Wisconsin with enrollments between 1700 and 1900 are available in Excel files ACTREADING, ACTSCIENCE and ACTCOMPOSITE.
WKCE Trends 2002-2006 (WKCETRENDS)
The sex bias concern for the WKCE testing pertained more to the predominance of our girls’ losses in WKCE performance from grade 8 to grade 10. However, a review of the WKCE data verifies the concern that we are losing ground vs. the state on WKCE test results. In addition to the Raw Data spreadsheet, there are 20 charts in the Excel file WKCETRENDS tabbed with names such as WKCEBOYSGR8READ, WKCEGIRLSGR8READ, etc. Each chart compares one Evansville gender to the same state gender for each category tested (Reading, Language Arts, Math, Science and Social Studies) at either Grade 8 or Grade 10, covering the time frame from 2002 to 2006. The statistic being measured is the percentage of students scoring proficient plus advanced on the WKCE test. Trend lines have been included for both Evansville and statewide data.
Only three subjects showed both Evansville and State increases in the percentage of students scoring proficient plus advanced on the WKCE. Girls Grade 10 Reading showed a minimally perceptible increase in Evansville girls results with a slightly greater increase from the state girls. A steady increase in Grade 8 Boys math performance was also seen, with approximately equivalent slopes to the trend lines, indicating equivalent increases. A similar result was seen with the Girls Grade 10 Social Studies performance improvement, with less overall magnitude of improvement and at a slightly lower rate of improvement than the state girls.
Only two subjects showed a loss of proficiency in both Evansville and state students: Boys and Girls Grade 8 Language Arts. The Evansville students’ rates of decrease are much more precipitous than the decreases posted by the state students. These trend lines will eventually cross at these continued rates of decline, plunging the Evansville performances below the state performances.
The remaining 15 subjects show State students increasing proficiency over time and Evansville students decreasing proficiency over time. Five of these charts show minimal decreases or flat Evansville performance (Grade 10 Boys Reading, Grade 10 Boys Math, Grade 10 Girls Math, Grade 8 Girls Science (flat) and Grade 10 Boys Social Studies). Eight charts show very steady Evansville decreases in the face of perceptible to steady State increases in this statistic. Over time, at this pace, these trend lines will also cross given their opposite slope signs. Finally, the trend lines for two subjects have already crossed slopes, placing the Evansville performance below that of the state students: Grade 8 Girls Math and Grade 8 Boys Social Studies.
There is no sex bias point to these charts, just a clearer picture of the decrease in Evansville WKCE performance over time. Given the importance placed on these test scores in the federal NCLB Act, it’s important for us to address the issues and determine underlying causes to mitigate the decline in WKCE performance. It is curious, however, that of the three subjects that showed Evansville improvement over time, our girls posted two.
School Beat: Gender Comparison of Performance, ACT, 2000-2007 Evansville High School--Melissa Hammann
(Ed.note: This text document was discussed in general at the July and September Evansville School Board meeting. I have selected a portion that addresses specifically the ACT portion of the comparison at Evansville High School. The report written by Melissa Hammann was part of an overall Board self examination of school performance that each board member contributed comments to. This was her analysis of the data.
I must caution readers that the data as well as what it means is still in discussion and this report is the beginning of the discussion, not the conclusion. Variation of performance can be the result of normal variation of ability between class years, curriculum "mismatch", possible effects of 4 period or 8 period day, and other factors. A special committee has been formed and a consultant has been hired to review the data and help determine what it might mean. Some data has been misaligned in translation to the web. If you seek all the data excel files, they are available from the School District. Thanks. Stay tuned to The Evansville Observer. )
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ACT Trend Data, 2000-2007 (ACTTRENDS)
Please refer to Excel workbook ACTTRENDS while reading this part of the report. The raw data sheet is included for your review. Each ACT subject (Reading, English, Math and Science, plus the composite score) has been charted separately for Evansville boys and girls, with state data included for comparison. These graphs are entitled ACTBOYSREAD, ACTGIRLSREAD, etc. There are also 5 charts with all students graphed separately with color-coded trend lines included. The tabs for these graphs are labeled Ev vs State Reading Trends, Ev vs State English Trends, etc. The time domain began with the 2000-2001 school year and ends with the 2006-2007 school year.
As one surveys the historical data represented on the graphs, there is no denying that Evansville girls were on the short end of the educational stick as recently as the 2000-2001 school year, as gauged by their ACT performances. The boys outperformed the girls in all four subjects (Reading, English, Math and Science) and, of course, the composite score. This combined with the fact that our district scores were perennially lower than the state scores exacerbated the magnitude of the problem of the low girls’ ACT scores. For this reason (it is presumed), the Academic Excellence Committee was formed in 2002 to address this issue. Apparently, they designed a plan of some sort to raise the girls’ scores. And they were successful beyond anyone’s wildest dreams. However, it seems that now the plan needs to be to raise ALL of the students’ scores. A quick look through the graphs will verify the gender bias in the ACT scores in our district. If one quickly toggles through the tabs of each subject graph, one gets the distinct feeling of being on a teeter-totter: flat boys to high slope girls to flat boys to high slope girls. One gets a sense of vertigo.
Reading and English
Evansville girls overtook Evansville boys in Reading and English by 2002 and the scores just keep soaring. Evansville boy’s trend lines in Reading and English show a lackluster performance, ending up lower than state boys, state girls and Evansville girls. In terms of actual scores, they performed most poorly of the 4 groups in English and only outperformed the state boys in Reading.
Science and Math
The girls caught up with the Evansville boys in Science last year and, based on the trend line, are on the fast track to catch up with the state boys soon given a continuation of this pattern. Evansville’s girls beat Evansville’s boys in Math for the first time this year. The Math trend line predicts an even quicker overtaking of the state boys than the science trend line does. Our girls are awesome. This laudable accomplishment IS something to celebrate. But while the girls have caught up to the boys in the traditionally male dominated subjects of math and science, the boys have not done the same in the traditionally female dominated subjects of Reading and English. Worse yet, while the girls’ scores for their forte subjects have skyrocketed, the boys’ scores in their historically dominant subjects have either stagnated (math) or fallen (science). This is not acceptable.
In an egalitarian school, there is an expectation that all students are expected to improve in historically flat areas. We have empowered our girls to do just that in science and math and to soar in English and reading. Our boys’ math and science scores remain tepid (which hastened the interception by the girls’ trend lines), while their reading and English scores are at the bottom of the heap.
I reject the hypothesis that the ACT and WKCE tests do not measure the boys’ traditional learning style. They don’t measure anyone’s learning style. Theoretically, they measure what one has learned up to that point in time. If student A is hamstrung by a learning environment that suppresses his or her traditional method of processing information, that student will naturally have learned less than student B whose learning environment perfectly matches his or her learning style. By the time the ACT tests are administered, the students are on the same college-bound track, competing for the same goal: entrance to the colleges of their choice. They need to score well, regardless of their gender. The intimation that Ag students, scientists and mathematicians do not need to know how to compose a cogent sentence or critically evaluate literature is absurd. These significant ACT trends over time indicate a problem that needs to be addressed. The solution is not going to be simple. If Evansville realizes similar success in engaging our boys in their historically sluggish areas of reading and English as illustrated by a surge in the boys’ ACT scores, we will have met the needs of ALL of our students.
8 Period Day vs. Block Schedule
(Or does the Block Schedule exacerbate the differences?)
Please reference ACTREADING, ACTSCIENCE and ACTCOMPOSITE Excel files for this section of the report.
I was quoted in the paper as attributing the gender bias in Evansville’s ACT performance to the block schedule. Mr. Beedle emailed challenging that statement. The key theme in the email was “Flat boy’s performance is a nationwide problem and is present with both block schedule and the 8 period day.” I did qualify my remarks at the meeting (which wasn’t reported) that I could not unequivocally state the cause of our girls’ phenomenal improvement and our boys’ lack of same. The Block Schedule connection was just an idea that occurred to me in an AHA! moment. I generated the report at the same time the block schedule report was completed and it seemed like a plausible explanation. But Mr. Beedle’s comments challenged me to test my own hypothesis.
First, it was necessary to decide which districts to use as comparison. Often we are asked to compare our performance to like-sized districts. Querying the DPI website for districts with enrollments between 1500 and 2000 (in 2005-2006) resulted in a list of 32 similarly sized districts. This seemed a bit unwieldy, so the list was further limited to districts with enrollments between 1700 and 1900. This yielded a list of 10 schools (including Evansville), a reasonably representative and much more manageable group of schools with which to work. Each school is identified as having a block schedule (BS, N=4) or 8 period day (8PD, N=6). The schools selected were Amery(BS), Black River Falls(BS), East Troy Community (8PD), Edgerton(8PD), Ellsworth(BS), Evansville(BS), Jefferson(8PD), Osceola(8PD), Ripon (8PD) and West Salem (8PD). The ACT data for all 10 schools were tabulated by subject and separated by gender. One traditionally female dominated subject was surveyed (reading) (Excel filename ACTREADING), one traditionally male-dominated subject was assessed (science)(Excel filename ACTSCIENCE) and the composite scores were studied (Excel filename ACTCOMPOSITE) in an effort to determine how or if the block schedule contributes to gender bias in ACT performance.
Each Excel file has individual graphs comparing the boys and girls ACT performance for that subject for each school district (10 graphs) generated from a raw data sheet for that subject. These graphs are entitled Amery (BS) Boys vs. Girls, BR Falls (BS) Boys vs. Girls, and the like. In addition, there are 4 graphs, one each separating the girls’ performance in the block schedule, girls’ performance in the 8 period day, boys’ performance in the block schedule and boys’ performance in the 8PD. These graphs are called Girls Block, Girls 8 Period Day, etc. The 8PD graphs get a bit hairy looking since there are 6 trend lines for each 8PD graph, but with color coding, it’s decipherable.
Reading (ACTREADING)
The individual school graphs comparing girls to boys for each school have been grouped by schedule. First let’s address the Block Schedule data. Amery and Black River Falls trend lines indicate a traditional scenario in which girls slightly edge the boys. The slopes between the genders are similar and both schools show a decrease in ACT reading performance. Boys and girls in Ellsworth also show similar performances, but with each steadily improving with the trend lines overlapping and the boys indicating a slight advantage over the girls. Within the block schedule schools, only Evansville demonstrates the slow growth of the boys’ ACT scores and the soaring girls’ scores which started out below the boys, met then surpassed the boys. In terms of the ACT score values, most of the trend lines hover in the range of 21-22, with the notable exception of our girls data, the trend line of which ranges from 20 to 24.
In comparison, schools with the 8 period day (8PD) are less inclined to follow the traditional gender bias for Reading. Only East Troy and Ripon ACT data indicate the girls having the advantage over the boys in reading. East Troy’s trend lines are parallel and decreasing over time. The Ripon data result in a chart shape that is eerily similar to Evansville’s chart shape, but at much higher values. Ripon girls have scored at or above 23.6 on the ACT reading for the last 5 years. They are a bit of an anomaly in the overall scheme of this group of schools. Defying gender stereotypes, West Salem and Osceola boys scores are higher than the girls scores, with the Osceola girls’ trend line beginning to catch up to the boys’. The West Salem trend lines are parallel and demonstrate an increase in both male and female performance. Jefferson shows the girls starting out with the advantage, but a flat ACT performance by the girls over the years and a steady gain by their boys resulted in intersecting trend lines last year. Finally, Edgerton boys have posted a slight steady increase in ACT Reading scores while their girls’ scores have plummeted. It is of note that only the 8PD schools demonstrate the boys breaking the mold in a traditionally female dominated subject.
After charting all of the schools individually, it followed that one should compare the performance of each gender for each schedule separately. These are tabbed Girls Block, Girls 8 Period Day, etc. One gets a sense of Evansville’s performance against their peers in this way and can also toggle between the charts to see any general trends. When this was done, differences in the average ACT scores became clear between the schedules. The “Raw Data” spreadsheet has the averages and standard deviations indicated on them.
The Reading scores showed an unexpected pecking order. Highest among the averages here were the girls in the 8 Period Day schedule at 22.5, followed by the boys in the 8PD at 22.3, then the girls on the Block Schedule (21.9) and finally the boys in the block schedule (21.6). The average Evansville girls’ score over time was 22.2; the average boys’ score was 21.6.
Science (ACTSCIENCE)
Traditional gender biases are alive and well in all ten of the schools surveyed for science. There are three notable exceptions to this. Black River Falls girls science ACT scores are gradually increasing and, due to a plunge in their boys’ scores, the trend lines are set to intersect in a few years given similar circumstances continuing. The West Salem girls’ scores are increasing at about the same rate their boys’ scores are decreasing and the trend lines intersected last year. Evansville is at the other extreme of this set of trends, with the girls’ scores dramatically increasing while the boys’ scores slightly decrease over time. Our trend lines intersected in 2005.
Breaking the average scores down by schedule and gender, the average science ACT scores ranked as follows: boys 8PD(23.2), boys BS (22.6), girls 8PD(21.9) and finally girls BS(21.5). Evansville boys scored an average score of 22.4 over the years and the girls demonstrated an average of 21.5 over the years.
Composite (ACTCOMPOSITE)
The ACT composite scores for the selected school districts illustrate the stereotypical gender bias favoring boys across the board with two notable exceptions. Evansville and Ripon each demonstrate a scenario in which the boys’ scores were historically superior to the girls. The girls in both district have shown steady improvement while the boys performance has stagnated, resulting in a superior girls’ ACT composite score. The main difference between these districts is that the Ripon scores are more consistently higher than the Evansville scores. Being stagnant at 23.2 is better than being stagnant at 22. The recent surge in the Evansville girls’ scores has brought them on par with the Ripon girls’ scores! It is hoped that the girls performance can be sustained and is not a “smart class” phenomena alluded to in a previous report. We can inspire our boys to do better as well.
The ranking of averages by gender and schedule for the composite ACT scores follows: boys 8PD (22.6), girls 8PD (22.0), boys BS (21.9) and girls BS (21.5). In Evansville, the boys’ average composite ACT is 22.0 and the girls’ average composite score is 21.9.
The representative data for schedule and gender across all three ACT categories surveyed are tabulated below with rank in parentheses. Evansville data are ranked for comparison purposes.
Subject Boys 8PD Girls 8PD Boys BS Girls BS Ev Boys Ev Girls
Reading 22.3(2) 22.5 (1) 21.6 (5)
(tie)
21.9 (4) 21.6 (5)
(tie)
22.2 (3)
Science 23.2(1) 21.9 (4) 22.6(2) 21.5 (5)
(tie)
22.4 (3) 21.5 (5)
(tie)
Composite 22.6(1) 22.0(2)
tie
21.9(3)
tie
21.4(4) 22.0(2)
tie
21.9(3)
tie
Conclusions:
A survey of this small subset of Wisconsin schools illustrates that the Block Schedule has not given girls some natural advantage based on learning style. In fact, this brief study illustrates that gender bias in test results to the detriment of the girls in our state is very much alive. It is extremely disappointing to discover this via personal research. This study clarified why it is so difficult to find data regarding gender bias against boys in the literature. On the other hand, it is encouraging to discover that Evansville was not satisfied with the status quo, made and implemented a plan in 2002-2003, which is just now coming to fruition. With diligence, this will continue. Our district can also engage our boys in reading and English to help them soar.
In a surprise twist, when the ACT scores were categorized by schedule, gender and then ranked, the 8 Period Day did show a clear advantage for this randomly chosen group of districts. All three of the first ranked categories occurred in the 8 Period Day and two of the three second ranked categories occurred in the 8 Period Day. In all, 5/6 of the top average ACT scores for the subjects scrutinized here occurred in the 8 Period Day schedule. There may be many reasons for this, but the data are pretty clear. It does not seem plausible that this result is by chance. It would be interesting to survey the other 22 schools in the district size 1500-2000 originally queried at the start of the project to further address this subject. No stone should be left unturned in the quest to empower all of our students to excel.
Another conclusion gleaned from this study is that we should stop comparing ourselves to Edgerton, no matter how similar we are. Their ACT performance is abysmal and their girls’ scores are plummeting. Since our graph profiles already match the shape of Ripon’s graphs, I propose we aspire to their higher ACT scores as well.
There are bigger picture issues that follow from this data review, which our district can not, on it’s own, address. WKCE performance is a poor general predictor for ACT performance. Evansville as a district is rightly proud of our generally high WKCE performance. However, we get lulled into a false sense of security from high WKCE scores and are disappointed by low ACT performance. Ours can’t be the only district that experiences this phenomenon. That seems to indicate that there is a mismatch in curriculum, content and subject matter between Wisconsin WKCE requirements and National ACT standards. Perhaps the state needs to move the curriculum contents of the tests closer together to better capture a true picture of the educational status of Wisconsin students. Perhaps the WKCE can be made into a true educational tool instead of a hammer to beat districts into NCLB submission.
Possible Action Plan
There are some actions that Evansville as a district can take based on this overview of test scores by gender.
1. Shore up our WKCE performance to avoid NCLB penalties.
2. Address our boys’ stagnant ACT performance while remaining vigilant to maintain our girls’ awesome improvement.
3. Increase the database of ACT results and categorize them by schedule and gender to verify or disprove schedule contribution to ACT results.
Respectfully submitted,
Melissa Hammann, Evansville School Board.
I must caution readers that the data as well as what it means is still in discussion and this report is the beginning of the discussion, not the conclusion. Variation of performance can be the result of normal variation of ability between class years, curriculum "mismatch", possible effects of 4 period or 8 period day, and other factors. A special committee has been formed and a consultant has been hired to review the data and help determine what it might mean. Some data has been misaligned in translation to the web. If you seek all the data excel files, they are available from the School District. Thanks. Stay tuned to The Evansville Observer. )
-----------------------------------------------------------
ACT Trend Data, 2000-2007 (ACTTRENDS)
Please refer to Excel workbook ACTTRENDS while reading this part of the report. The raw data sheet is included for your review. Each ACT subject (Reading, English, Math and Science, plus the composite score) has been charted separately for Evansville boys and girls, with state data included for comparison. These graphs are entitled ACTBOYSREAD, ACTGIRLSREAD, etc. There are also 5 charts with all students graphed separately with color-coded trend lines included. The tabs for these graphs are labeled Ev vs State Reading Trends, Ev vs State English Trends, etc. The time domain began with the 2000-2001 school year and ends with the 2006-2007 school year.
As one surveys the historical data represented on the graphs, there is no denying that Evansville girls were on the short end of the educational stick as recently as the 2000-2001 school year, as gauged by their ACT performances. The boys outperformed the girls in all four subjects (Reading, English, Math and Science) and, of course, the composite score. This combined with the fact that our district scores were perennially lower than the state scores exacerbated the magnitude of the problem of the low girls’ ACT scores. For this reason (it is presumed), the Academic Excellence Committee was formed in 2002 to address this issue. Apparently, they designed a plan of some sort to raise the girls’ scores. And they were successful beyond anyone’s wildest dreams. However, it seems that now the plan needs to be to raise ALL of the students’ scores. A quick look through the graphs will verify the gender bias in the ACT scores in our district. If one quickly toggles through the tabs of each subject graph, one gets the distinct feeling of being on a teeter-totter: flat boys to high slope girls to flat boys to high slope girls. One gets a sense of vertigo.
Reading and English
Evansville girls overtook Evansville boys in Reading and English by 2002 and the scores just keep soaring. Evansville boy’s trend lines in Reading and English show a lackluster performance, ending up lower than state boys, state girls and Evansville girls. In terms of actual scores, they performed most poorly of the 4 groups in English and only outperformed the state boys in Reading.
Science and Math
The girls caught up with the Evansville boys in Science last year and, based on the trend line, are on the fast track to catch up with the state boys soon given a continuation of this pattern. Evansville’s girls beat Evansville’s boys in Math for the first time this year. The Math trend line predicts an even quicker overtaking of the state boys than the science trend line does. Our girls are awesome. This laudable accomplishment IS something to celebrate. But while the girls have caught up to the boys in the traditionally male dominated subjects of math and science, the boys have not done the same in the traditionally female dominated subjects of Reading and English. Worse yet, while the girls’ scores for their forte subjects have skyrocketed, the boys’ scores in their historically dominant subjects have either stagnated (math) or fallen (science). This is not acceptable.
In an egalitarian school, there is an expectation that all students are expected to improve in historically flat areas. We have empowered our girls to do just that in science and math and to soar in English and reading. Our boys’ math and science scores remain tepid (which hastened the interception by the girls’ trend lines), while their reading and English scores are at the bottom of the heap.
I reject the hypothesis that the ACT and WKCE tests do not measure the boys’ traditional learning style. They don’t measure anyone’s learning style. Theoretically, they measure what one has learned up to that point in time. If student A is hamstrung by a learning environment that suppresses his or her traditional method of processing information, that student will naturally have learned less than student B whose learning environment perfectly matches his or her learning style. By the time the ACT tests are administered, the students are on the same college-bound track, competing for the same goal: entrance to the colleges of their choice. They need to score well, regardless of their gender. The intimation that Ag students, scientists and mathematicians do not need to know how to compose a cogent sentence or critically evaluate literature is absurd. These significant ACT trends over time indicate a problem that needs to be addressed. The solution is not going to be simple. If Evansville realizes similar success in engaging our boys in their historically sluggish areas of reading and English as illustrated by a surge in the boys’ ACT scores, we will have met the needs of ALL of our students.
8 Period Day vs. Block Schedule
(Or does the Block Schedule exacerbate the differences?)
Please reference ACTREADING, ACTSCIENCE and ACTCOMPOSITE Excel files for this section of the report.
I was quoted in the paper as attributing the gender bias in Evansville’s ACT performance to the block schedule. Mr. Beedle emailed challenging that statement. The key theme in the email was “Flat boy’s performance is a nationwide problem and is present with both block schedule and the 8 period day.” I did qualify my remarks at the meeting (which wasn’t reported) that I could not unequivocally state the cause of our girls’ phenomenal improvement and our boys’ lack of same. The Block Schedule connection was just an idea that occurred to me in an AHA! moment. I generated the report at the same time the block schedule report was completed and it seemed like a plausible explanation. But Mr. Beedle’s comments challenged me to test my own hypothesis.
First, it was necessary to decide which districts to use as comparison. Often we are asked to compare our performance to like-sized districts. Querying the DPI website for districts with enrollments between 1500 and 2000 (in 2005-2006) resulted in a list of 32 similarly sized districts. This seemed a bit unwieldy, so the list was further limited to districts with enrollments between 1700 and 1900. This yielded a list of 10 schools (including Evansville), a reasonably representative and much more manageable group of schools with which to work. Each school is identified as having a block schedule (BS, N=4) or 8 period day (8PD, N=6). The schools selected were Amery(BS), Black River Falls(BS), East Troy Community (8PD), Edgerton(8PD), Ellsworth(BS), Evansville(BS), Jefferson(8PD), Osceola(8PD), Ripon (8PD) and West Salem (8PD). The ACT data for all 10 schools were tabulated by subject and separated by gender. One traditionally female dominated subject was surveyed (reading) (Excel filename ACTREADING), one traditionally male-dominated subject was assessed (science)(Excel filename ACTSCIENCE) and the composite scores were studied (Excel filename ACTCOMPOSITE) in an effort to determine how or if the block schedule contributes to gender bias in ACT performance.
Each Excel file has individual graphs comparing the boys and girls ACT performance for that subject for each school district (10 graphs) generated from a raw data sheet for that subject. These graphs are entitled Amery (BS) Boys vs. Girls, BR Falls (BS) Boys vs. Girls, and the like. In addition, there are 4 graphs, one each separating the girls’ performance in the block schedule, girls’ performance in the 8 period day, boys’ performance in the block schedule and boys’ performance in the 8PD. These graphs are called Girls Block, Girls 8 Period Day, etc. The 8PD graphs get a bit hairy looking since there are 6 trend lines for each 8PD graph, but with color coding, it’s decipherable.
Reading (ACTREADING)
The individual school graphs comparing girls to boys for each school have been grouped by schedule. First let’s address the Block Schedule data. Amery and Black River Falls trend lines indicate a traditional scenario in which girls slightly edge the boys. The slopes between the genders are similar and both schools show a decrease in ACT reading performance. Boys and girls in Ellsworth also show similar performances, but with each steadily improving with the trend lines overlapping and the boys indicating a slight advantage over the girls. Within the block schedule schools, only Evansville demonstrates the slow growth of the boys’ ACT scores and the soaring girls’ scores which started out below the boys, met then surpassed the boys. In terms of the ACT score values, most of the trend lines hover in the range of 21-22, with the notable exception of our girls data, the trend line of which ranges from 20 to 24.
In comparison, schools with the 8 period day (8PD) are less inclined to follow the traditional gender bias for Reading. Only East Troy and Ripon ACT data indicate the girls having the advantage over the boys in reading. East Troy’s trend lines are parallel and decreasing over time. The Ripon data result in a chart shape that is eerily similar to Evansville’s chart shape, but at much higher values. Ripon girls have scored at or above 23.6 on the ACT reading for the last 5 years. They are a bit of an anomaly in the overall scheme of this group of schools. Defying gender stereotypes, West Salem and Osceola boys scores are higher than the girls scores, with the Osceola girls’ trend line beginning to catch up to the boys’. The West Salem trend lines are parallel and demonstrate an increase in both male and female performance. Jefferson shows the girls starting out with the advantage, but a flat ACT performance by the girls over the years and a steady gain by their boys resulted in intersecting trend lines last year. Finally, Edgerton boys have posted a slight steady increase in ACT Reading scores while their girls’ scores have plummeted. It is of note that only the 8PD schools demonstrate the boys breaking the mold in a traditionally female dominated subject.
After charting all of the schools individually, it followed that one should compare the performance of each gender for each schedule separately. These are tabbed Girls Block, Girls 8 Period Day, etc. One gets a sense of Evansville’s performance against their peers in this way and can also toggle between the charts to see any general trends. When this was done, differences in the average ACT scores became clear between the schedules. The “Raw Data” spreadsheet has the averages and standard deviations indicated on them.
The Reading scores showed an unexpected pecking order. Highest among the averages here were the girls in the 8 Period Day schedule at 22.5, followed by the boys in the 8PD at 22.3, then the girls on the Block Schedule (21.9) and finally the boys in the block schedule (21.6). The average Evansville girls’ score over time was 22.2; the average boys’ score was 21.6.
Science (ACTSCIENCE)
Traditional gender biases are alive and well in all ten of the schools surveyed for science. There are three notable exceptions to this. Black River Falls girls science ACT scores are gradually increasing and, due to a plunge in their boys’ scores, the trend lines are set to intersect in a few years given similar circumstances continuing. The West Salem girls’ scores are increasing at about the same rate their boys’ scores are decreasing and the trend lines intersected last year. Evansville is at the other extreme of this set of trends, with the girls’ scores dramatically increasing while the boys’ scores slightly decrease over time. Our trend lines intersected in 2005.
Breaking the average scores down by schedule and gender, the average science ACT scores ranked as follows: boys 8PD(23.2), boys BS (22.6), girls 8PD(21.9) and finally girls BS(21.5). Evansville boys scored an average score of 22.4 over the years and the girls demonstrated an average of 21.5 over the years.
Composite (ACTCOMPOSITE)
The ACT composite scores for the selected school districts illustrate the stereotypical gender bias favoring boys across the board with two notable exceptions. Evansville and Ripon each demonstrate a scenario in which the boys’ scores were historically superior to the girls. The girls in both district have shown steady improvement while the boys performance has stagnated, resulting in a superior girls’ ACT composite score. The main difference between these districts is that the Ripon scores are more consistently higher than the Evansville scores. Being stagnant at 23.2 is better than being stagnant at 22. The recent surge in the Evansville girls’ scores has brought them on par with the Ripon girls’ scores! It is hoped that the girls performance can be sustained and is not a “smart class” phenomena alluded to in a previous report. We can inspire our boys to do better as well.
The ranking of averages by gender and schedule for the composite ACT scores follows: boys 8PD (22.6), girls 8PD (22.0), boys BS (21.9) and girls BS (21.5). In Evansville, the boys’ average composite ACT is 22.0 and the girls’ average composite score is 21.9.
The representative data for schedule and gender across all three ACT categories surveyed are tabulated below with rank in parentheses. Evansville data are ranked for comparison purposes.
Subject Boys 8PD Girls 8PD Boys BS Girls BS Ev Boys Ev Girls
Reading 22.3(2) 22.5 (1) 21.6 (5)
(tie)
21.9 (4) 21.6 (5)
(tie)
22.2 (3)
Science 23.2(1) 21.9 (4) 22.6(2) 21.5 (5)
(tie)
22.4 (3) 21.5 (5)
(tie)
Composite 22.6(1) 22.0(2)
tie
21.9(3)
tie
21.4(4) 22.0(2)
tie
21.9(3)
tie
Conclusions:
A survey of this small subset of Wisconsin schools illustrates that the Block Schedule has not given girls some natural advantage based on learning style. In fact, this brief study illustrates that gender bias in test results to the detriment of the girls in our state is very much alive. It is extremely disappointing to discover this via personal research. This study clarified why it is so difficult to find data regarding gender bias against boys in the literature. On the other hand, it is encouraging to discover that Evansville was not satisfied with the status quo, made and implemented a plan in 2002-2003, which is just now coming to fruition. With diligence, this will continue. Our district can also engage our boys in reading and English to help them soar.
In a surprise twist, when the ACT scores were categorized by schedule, gender and then ranked, the 8 Period Day did show a clear advantage for this randomly chosen group of districts. All three of the first ranked categories occurred in the 8 Period Day and two of the three second ranked categories occurred in the 8 Period Day. In all, 5/6 of the top average ACT scores for the subjects scrutinized here occurred in the 8 Period Day schedule. There may be many reasons for this, but the data are pretty clear. It does not seem plausible that this result is by chance. It would be interesting to survey the other 22 schools in the district size 1500-2000 originally queried at the start of the project to further address this subject. No stone should be left unturned in the quest to empower all of our students to excel.
Another conclusion gleaned from this study is that we should stop comparing ourselves to Edgerton, no matter how similar we are. Their ACT performance is abysmal and their girls’ scores are plummeting. Since our graph profiles already match the shape of Ripon’s graphs, I propose we aspire to their higher ACT scores as well.
There are bigger picture issues that follow from this data review, which our district can not, on it’s own, address. WKCE performance is a poor general predictor for ACT performance. Evansville as a district is rightly proud of our generally high WKCE performance. However, we get lulled into a false sense of security from high WKCE scores and are disappointed by low ACT performance. Ours can’t be the only district that experiences this phenomenon. That seems to indicate that there is a mismatch in curriculum, content and subject matter between Wisconsin WKCE requirements and National ACT standards. Perhaps the state needs to move the curriculum contents of the tests closer together to better capture a true picture of the educational status of Wisconsin students. Perhaps the WKCE can be made into a true educational tool instead of a hammer to beat districts into NCLB submission.
Possible Action Plan
There are some actions that Evansville as a district can take based on this overview of test scores by gender.
1. Shore up our WKCE performance to avoid NCLB penalties.
2. Address our boys’ stagnant ACT performance while remaining vigilant to maintain our girls’ awesome improvement.
3. Increase the database of ACT results and categorize them by schedule and gender to verify or disprove schedule contribution to ACT results.
Respectfully submitted,
Melissa Hammann, Evansville School Board.
Common Council: 10-9-2007
Fred asks the question: "Assuming no further General Obligation debt issued" was the statement of Ehlers, but Fred asks what if you penciled in 5 million more.
Download File
Download File
Evansville Common Council schedules Strategic Planning Meeting--Sat, 10-13-2007
The Evansville Common Council will be holding a strategic planning session for the council on Saturday, October 13, 2007 at the Bank of Evansville from 9am to 2:30PM.
A review of current administrative process, current facilities, project review, as well as projects in development will be on the table. There will be an ordering of what and when.
This review is timely. The common council meeting of October 9, 2007 suggested that there are many projects possible and a limited amount of money to spend at any one time, and ordering and prioritizing the projects will be necessary to proceed forward in an orderly way.
When I receive the final agenda, I will post it in the agenda blog.
A review of current administrative process, current facilities, project review, as well as projects in development will be on the table. There will be an ordering of what and when.
This review is timely. The common council meeting of October 9, 2007 suggested that there are many projects possible and a limited amount of money to spend at any one time, and ordering and prioritizing the projects will be necessary to proceed forward in an orderly way.
When I receive the final agenda, I will post it in the agenda blog.
Gazette: WE Energies predicts slight decline in heating costs for winter
Click on the post for the local prediction. -
Common Council: How assessments calculated
George Howell of Howell Heating asks how the assessments were calculated. Mr. Sauer responds
Download File
Download File
Common Council: 10-9-2007
Mr. Farnsworth speaks: Pleased with the main street results. Asks for time for businesses to recover re payment of assessments. Council agreed to 15 yrs.
Download File
Download File
Minutes; Economic Development: September 2007
City of Evansville
Economic Development Committee
Tuesday, September 18th, 2007, 5:30PM
City Hall, 31 S. Madison St. Evansville, WI
1. Call to order. Tony Wyse called the meeting to order at 5:30 PM. Present: Chair Tony Wyse, Fred Juergens, Gene Bass, Julie Meredith, David Olsen, Roger Berg, and Matthias James. Not present was James Otterstein. Also present: Mayor Sandy Decker, Chamber Rep. Bridget Larsen, City Administrator Dan Wietecha, and Judy Whalen.
2. Approval of agenda. Fred Juergens made the motion to approve, Gene Bass seconded, and the all were in favor.
3. Motion to waive reading of the minutes of August 21st, 2007 regular meeting and approve as printed. Fred Juergens made the motion, Roger Berg seconded, and all were in favor.
4. Citizens appearances other than on the agenda. None.
5. Chamber of Commerce report. Bridgit Larsen said they are working on a business directory of all Evansville area businesses. The Evansville Welcome Packets for new residents has been revived. On behalf of the Library, she asked if the committee would help purchase a business database subscription for the Library that would provide a resource for individuals and businesses doing research on businesses throughout the country; David Olsen will inquire at Baker Manufacturing to see if they might utilize the database.
6. City Administrator report. Dan Wietecha said there would be a small ceremony with the starting of the bricks to be laid down on Main Street on Thursday.
7. Update on soybean crush plant. Sandy Decker noted she had attended a press conference held by Landmark Services. There is a $4 million allocation proposed in the state budget, and it has bipartisan support. If the grant allocation survives the budget process, Evansville is in the best position for a soybean crushing facility and the grant would help.
8. City website update and discussion.
9. Report from the Downtown Reconstruction Task Force. Dan Wietecha noted the laying of the bricks should start this Wednesday, they are starting to pour the concrete for the east side, and they will start the sidewalks in two weeks.
10. Update on the Economic Development Strategy/Summit. Judy Whalen said that 26 business owners attended the focus groups. Overall the focus groups and summit were seen very positively; the written report summarizes all the focus group meetings. A date has not been set for the summit, but it will likely be after the first of the year. They are also working on getting a keynote speaker.
11. Final review and approval of the revised policy for the Economic Development Revolving Loan Fund. Fred Juergens made a motion to pass the final draft, Matthias James seconded, and all were in favor. Matthias James asked if the committee might consider a program for small start up grants without all the requirements of the loan program; the committee will discuss this option at a future meeting.
12. Adjournment. Roger Berg made the motion, David Olsen seconded, and all were in favor.
Economic Development Committee
Tuesday, September 18th, 2007, 5:30PM
City Hall, 31 S. Madison St. Evansville, WI
1. Call to order. Tony Wyse called the meeting to order at 5:30 PM. Present: Chair Tony Wyse, Fred Juergens, Gene Bass, Julie Meredith, David Olsen, Roger Berg, and Matthias James. Not present was James Otterstein. Also present: Mayor Sandy Decker, Chamber Rep. Bridget Larsen, City Administrator Dan Wietecha, and Judy Whalen.
2. Approval of agenda. Fred Juergens made the motion to approve, Gene Bass seconded, and the all were in favor.
3. Motion to waive reading of the minutes of August 21st, 2007 regular meeting and approve as printed. Fred Juergens made the motion, Roger Berg seconded, and all were in favor.
4. Citizens appearances other than on the agenda. None.
5. Chamber of Commerce report. Bridgit Larsen said they are working on a business directory of all Evansville area businesses. The Evansville Welcome Packets for new residents has been revived. On behalf of the Library, she asked if the committee would help purchase a business database subscription for the Library that would provide a resource for individuals and businesses doing research on businesses throughout the country; David Olsen will inquire at Baker Manufacturing to see if they might utilize the database.
6. City Administrator report. Dan Wietecha said there would be a small ceremony with the starting of the bricks to be laid down on Main Street on Thursday.
7. Update on soybean crush plant. Sandy Decker noted she had attended a press conference held by Landmark Services. There is a $4 million allocation proposed in the state budget, and it has bipartisan support. If the grant allocation survives the budget process, Evansville is in the best position for a soybean crushing facility and the grant would help.
8. City website update and discussion.
9. Report from the Downtown Reconstruction Task Force. Dan Wietecha noted the laying of the bricks should start this Wednesday, they are starting to pour the concrete for the east side, and they will start the sidewalks in two weeks.
10. Update on the Economic Development Strategy/Summit. Judy Whalen said that 26 business owners attended the focus groups. Overall the focus groups and summit were seen very positively; the written report summarizes all the focus group meetings. A date has not been set for the summit, but it will likely be after the first of the year. They are also working on getting a keynote speaker.
11. Final review and approval of the revised policy for the Economic Development Revolving Loan Fund. Fred Juergens made a motion to pass the final draft, Matthias James seconded, and all were in favor. Matthias James asked if the committee might consider a program for small start up grants without all the requirements of the loan program; the committee will discuss this option at a future meeting.
12. Adjournment. Roger Berg made the motion, David Olsen seconded, and all were in favor.
Audio: Common Council: 10-9-2007 Financing Discussed
Greg from Ehlers and Associates, financial consultants to Evansville discusses results of the bond sales Tuesday; Discusses the GO bond debt capacity. No bids for 200,000 for post office land financing; discusses options.
MP3 File
MP3 File
Star Trib: The Flood of Ethanol
The ethanol industry is having some growing pains as demand is ramping up. A higher Alternative Fuel Standard coming will help matters. Farmer Cooperatives may have an edge in these growing times. Click on the post for the story.
Twin Cities: Mass Foreclosure Auction this weekend
Click on the post for the story and analysis of the Twin Cities market.
Tuesday, October 09, 2007
Evansville Common Council meets Tuesday, 10-9-2007; Budget and Assessments on Agenda
Click on the post for the full agenda.
Will it be colder/warmer this winter? Will fuel cost more/less?
The answer to these questions seems to be: it depends on which paper you read. Some say it will be a warm winter. Others say the price of oil will rise over $100, but then others say if could plunge to $50 due to weak economics.
I just the love the "Both sides now" reporting. So. Which would you like? You make the call.
Click on the post for one story.
I just the love the "Both sides now" reporting. So. Which would you like? You make the call.
Click on the post for one story.
NYT; OpEd: Classic David Brooks: "The Odyssey Years"
Click on the post for a classic from David Brooks.
School Beat: Evansville: Enrollment Decline Analysis and more
Click on the post for the report by Supr.Heidi Carvin on the enrollment decline, and the reports by the principals.
Field Rep for Congresswoman Tammy Baldwin in Evansville next Tuesday, Oct. 16th
Good Morning,
Helen Forbeck, Field Representative for Congresswoman Tammy Baldwin will be holding Office Hours on behalf of the Congresswoman in Evansville next Tuesday, October 16th. Please stop by if you have any need for help with the federal government or if you have questions or comments about legislation, federal grants or doing work with the federal government.
Tuesday, October 16th
12:15 - 1:15 PM Eager Free Public Library,
39 W. Main Street
Helen Forbeck, Field Representative for Congresswoman Tammy Baldwin will be holding Office Hours on behalf of the Congresswoman in Evansville next Tuesday, October 16th. Please stop by if you have any need for help with the federal government or if you have questions or comments about legislation, federal grants or doing work with the federal government.
Tuesday, October 16th
12:15 - 1:15 PM Eager Free Public Library,
39 W. Main Street
Founder of Skype begins new company--Joost
Click on the post for the story in Yahoo news.
The new company combines tv. with computer. Just in time.
The new company combines tv. with computer. Just in time.
Wellness Event----Sunday, Oct 28, 2007---Grange Mall
(Ed. note: Click on the post for full details.)
Invitation to Explore
Complementary
Approaches to Health & Healing
Come and Enjoy ..
Demonstrations, Interactive sessions, and
Nutritious Refreshments & Snacks
Sunday, October 28, 2007
10:00 AM —2:00 PM
Dress comfortably—wear loose fitting clothing
To RSVP: Please send your $5 registration fee to
the address at bottom of page.
Event is being hosted by Karate America and will be held on the lower level of the Grange Store.
27 West Main Street, Evansville WI 53536
Contact: Susan Granger / Karate America
RSVP Phone: 608-882-2444
E-mail: kaevansville@tds.net
Please make checks payable to Susan Granger
Experience and Explore:
Meditation
Aromatherapy
Reiki
Healing Touch
Therapeutic Touch
Nutrition
Exercise
Acupressure
Guided Imagery
Non-Toxic Environments
EFT (Emotional Freedom
Technique)
Stress Resistance Coaching
Massage
Feng Shui
Quantum Touch
Participants:
Rita Stanton, RN, CHTSM
Brita Schoeneberg, RN, BSN
Kathy Arneson, RN, BSN Certified Energy
Practioner
John Martin, PhD
Joan Pape—Reiki Master Teacher
Mary Jo Klein, ACE Certified Fitness Instructor
Jackie Liebel — Green Cleaning Specialist
Deanne Hellenbrand — Wellness Consultant
Eileen Rosensteel “Bodacious Body Massage”
Karen Praksti—EFT
Michelle Hess—Feng Shui Consultant
Susan Granger — Wellness Consultant and
Chief Instructor Karate America
SCHEDULE OF EVENTS:
“Mini” Fitness Class: 10:00 — 10:30
Guided Healing Meditation : 10:35 AM — 11:05
Proactive Nutrition 11:10 — 11:40
Creating Harmonious Space In Your Home:
11:45 —12:15
Green Clean 12:20 —12:50
Introduction to Reiki 12:55 — 1:25
Introduction to Healing Touch 1:30 — 2:00
Invitation to Explore
Complementary
Approaches to Health & Healing
Come and Enjoy ..
Demonstrations, Interactive sessions, and
Nutritious Refreshments & Snacks
Sunday, October 28, 2007
10:00 AM —2:00 PM
Dress comfortably—wear loose fitting clothing
To RSVP: Please send your $5 registration fee to
the address at bottom of page.
Event is being hosted by Karate America and will be held on the lower level of the Grange Store.
27 West Main Street, Evansville WI 53536
Contact: Susan Granger / Karate America
RSVP Phone: 608-882-2444
E-mail: kaevansville@tds.net
Please make checks payable to Susan Granger
Experience and Explore:
Meditation
Aromatherapy
Reiki
Healing Touch
Therapeutic Touch
Nutrition
Exercise
Acupressure
Guided Imagery
Non-Toxic Environments
EFT (Emotional Freedom
Technique)
Stress Resistance Coaching
Massage
Feng Shui
Quantum Touch
Participants:
Rita Stanton, RN, CHTSM
Brita Schoeneberg, RN, BSN
Kathy Arneson, RN, BSN Certified Energy
Practioner
John Martin, PhD
Joan Pape—Reiki Master Teacher
Mary Jo Klein, ACE Certified Fitness Instructor
Jackie Liebel — Green Cleaning Specialist
Deanne Hellenbrand — Wellness Consultant
Eileen Rosensteel “Bodacious Body Massage”
Karen Praksti—EFT
Michelle Hess—Feng Shui Consultant
Susan Granger — Wellness Consultant and
Chief Instructor Karate America
SCHEDULE OF EVENTS:
“Mini” Fitness Class: 10:00 — 10:30
Guided Healing Meditation : 10:35 AM — 11:05
Proactive Nutrition 11:10 — 11:40
Creating Harmonious Space In Your Home:
11:45 —12:15
Green Clean 12:20 —12:50
Introduction to Reiki 12:55 — 1:25
Introduction to Healing Touch 1:30 — 2:00
Cap Times: Ed Garvey: Privatization is what the budget battle is about
click on the post for Ed Garvey's article in today's Cap Times.
Dateline Minnesota: Atrazine, Deformed Frogs in the Spotlight
Click on the post for an article about the whistleblower from Minnesota that did research on Atrazine.
WSJ: Overture: Problems in Financing Continue
As you will recall in the earlier saga on this matter, the Arts Board did not take the advice of Mayor Dave and went their own way. Now there are additional problems.
Click on the post for the full story in the Wisconsin State Journal.
Click on the post for the full story in the Wisconsin State Journal.
Monday, October 08, 2007
Sunday, October 07, 2007
Evansville runners complete Milwaukee Marathon in Intense Heat
The Observer offers congrats to Denise, Mandy, Justin and Stephanie who completed the Milwaukee Marathon today in extreme heat conditions. If I get photos, I will share.
In related news, in the Chicago marathon, there was one fatality and the marathon was halted midway. Over 250 were treated by ambulances and taken to area hospitals.
In related news, in the Chicago marathon, there was one fatality and the marathon was halted midway. Over 250 were treated by ambulances and taken to area hospitals.
Photos: Cross Country: Scenes from the Baertschi
Click on the post for the latest photos of the Evansville Cross Country Team from yesterday's Baertschi Invite.
Saturday, October 06, 2007
Star Tribune: Minnesota Poll: Mortgage Crisis Worries 70%
Click on the post for an interesting article in the Star Tribune this weekend.
Friday, October 05, 2007
Update: Evansville Youth Center News
The Evansville Youth Center, 209 S. 1st has already started its school year hours. The center is open 3pm-6pm, Monday-Friday. The center will still be open 12pm-3pm on day the middle school is not is session or has a half day. The EYC staff invites all 5th-8th grade youth to stop and check out the center. The center is free and very easy to join. Call us at 882-0372 with any questions!
Be at the EYC for the upcoming activities:
10/8 Brainteaser Contest—win a prize.
10/9 Messy Game Day—the name says it all.
10/10 Weekly Pool Tournament—see if you can win to be the new center champ.
10/11 Fall Clean Up Day—a day to help get the center ready for fall.
10/12 Movie Day—Join us for a movie and popcorn.
10/15 Brainteaser Contest—solve the riddle, win a prize.
10/16 Craft Day—come make a craft to take home with you.
10/17 Weekly Pool Tournament—challenge the champ for the title.
10/18 Taffy Apple Day—come make a yummy taffy apple to eat or share.
10/10 Movie—Relax with us for a movie and popcorn.
Be at the EYC for the upcoming activities:
10/8 Brainteaser Contest—win a prize.
10/9 Messy Game Day—the name says it all.
10/10 Weekly Pool Tournament—see if you can win to be the new center champ.
10/11 Fall Clean Up Day—a day to help get the center ready for fall.
10/12 Movie Day—Join us for a movie and popcorn.
10/15 Brainteaser Contest—solve the riddle, win a prize.
10/16 Craft Day—come make a craft to take home with you.
10/17 Weekly Pool Tournament—challenge the champ for the title.
10/18 Taffy Apple Day—come make a yummy taffy apple to eat or share.
10/10 Movie—Relax with us for a movie and popcorn.
Dateline St. Paul: Making Central Corridor Safer
Click on the post for the story on the partnership of Federal money, city and private corporate donation that has made it possible to add lost of cameras to the University Corridor of St. Paul.
St. Paul: The Armstrong Quinlan Home----Classic Restoration....with Painful result
Click on the post for tale of the auction yesterday as well as the historic restoration.
Thursday, October 04, 2007
The Dream: What the "Market" told me ....last night.---FICTION"
Well, it's been a long week, with the national news and all, and Alan Greenspan who was so forceful telling everyone on his book signing tour that the real estate market would go down 20% and had just begun, and then just today changed his mind and said things had bottomed out. Maybe his book sales had turned the whole thing around.
I have always had a habit of saving the Wall Street Journal, and then NOT reading it every day, but after two weeks, picking up the daily and seeing what had been pretty accurate stories and what had been flim flam.
Nothing like letting the facts settle a bit BEFORE you read it, rather than AFTER. It sure makes things real efficient. The problem is with most daily papers that are carried on the internet......the stories are deleted after a few days. That makes checking the facts later difficult..............................
Last night, in the very middle of the night, I awoke in a startle. It seemed I heard the "Market" calling me. At first it was pretty faint, but it gradually got louder and louder.
The person had a little sign on his chest that said "MARKET" and asked whether I was listening. I replied; "YES. Please speak."
Then he said:
"We are in a National Housing Slowdown.
This means that there are too many houses
TOO MANY HOUSES
DO NOT BUILD MORE
Wait till the surplus is taken and then proceed."
Understand? "Yes" I replied. Then he went on.
There are several causes to the current distress
The financial sector is troubled by mortgage fraud by brokers...so
regulate them and punish the wrongdoers....
"Understand? "Yes" I replied. Then he went on.
I understand some of you think that your local administrator, Mr. Connors caused
the national housing problems. He was a powerful guy. But...... No ----He did not cause
the national housing crisis. If you still think he did, I suggest counseling."
Then he vanished.
It sure is good to listen to the market, even when it comes in a dream.
I have always had a habit of saving the Wall Street Journal, and then NOT reading it every day, but after two weeks, picking up the daily and seeing what had been pretty accurate stories and what had been flim flam.
Nothing like letting the facts settle a bit BEFORE you read it, rather than AFTER. It sure makes things real efficient. The problem is with most daily papers that are carried on the internet......the stories are deleted after a few days. That makes checking the facts later difficult..............................
Last night, in the very middle of the night, I awoke in a startle. It seemed I heard the "Market" calling me. At first it was pretty faint, but it gradually got louder and louder.
The person had a little sign on his chest that said "MARKET" and asked whether I was listening. I replied; "YES. Please speak."
Then he said:
"We are in a National Housing Slowdown.
This means that there are too many houses
TOO MANY HOUSES
DO NOT BUILD MORE
Wait till the surplus is taken and then proceed."
Understand? "Yes" I replied. Then he went on.
There are several causes to the current distress
The financial sector is troubled by mortgage fraud by brokers...so
regulate them and punish the wrongdoers....
"Understand? "Yes" I replied. Then he went on.
I understand some of you think that your local administrator, Mr. Connors caused
the national housing problems. He was a powerful guy. But...... No ----He did not cause
the national housing crisis. If you still think he did, I suggest counseling."
Then he vanished.
It sure is good to listen to the market, even when it comes in a dream.
Cap Times: Furniture Stores---- "Carriage House" and "Stellas" to Close
Click on the post for the latest.
Gazette Corner: Large Rash of Rural Daytime Burglaries Noted
Click on the post for the full story in the Gazette. Police are looking for tips.
Water and Light: September 2007: Letter of Matt Gaboda re: Wind Turbines
September 26th 2007 Evansville Water and Light Committee Meeting
My name is Matt Gaboda, I live at 552 South Sixth Street in Evansville. I am a former town of Union resident who still has family and friends who reside there. I have a lot of respect and admiration for the over 150 years of commitment to conservation and preservation that the town has displayed.
Thank you for allowing me to speak to you tonight about the proposed Large Wind Turbine project in the town of Union. I want to make clear that my statements are not at all related to the towns Large Wind Turbine Ordinance process, that is a town issue. I am here tonight to discuss the proposed site, representation and questions and answers about WPPI’s Renewable Energy information that the city has been sending out to Evansville Water and Light customers.
First of all, the proposed area in which WPPI is seeking to erect 400 ft tall turbines is in Evansville Water and Lights service area in the town of Union. The residents of the town of Union who would be adjacent to the proposed turbine site pay there electric bills at the same place every city of Evansville resident does. The city of Evansville voted in July 2006 to become an owner/member of WPPI. The WPPI Board of Directors is composed of Owner/Member communities, of which the Town of Union is.
Who is the representative for the Water and Light Committee from the town of Union? What representation does the town of Union have on WPPI’s Board of Directors? What entity from the city of Evansville contacted the town of Union to “test the water” with the Large Turbine Proposal. Was any information collected from any and all landowners and residents in the general proposed area ahead of time?
I would personally be alarmed and ashamed to be a resident of a city that dictates policy to a neighboring member/owner township without there consent. I hate to pull out my fife and play Yankee Doodle, but this one belittles everything America was built on. I’m sure you’ll come up with some excuse or reasoning why things are the way they are, but how many adjacent residents and landowners to the proposed turbine project have you spoken to? They are the ones who will have to live with this committee and cities actions or lack there of. Visiting a Turbine site vs. living next to one are apples and oranges. I know of over Twenty town of Union landowners in the proposed area that are either strongly opposed or not fully supportive of this project. Read the July and August minutes from the Plan Commission and the Town Board of Union if you want some binding confirmation. Not one resident in the town of Union has spoken in favor of this turbine proposal at any public meeting. WPPI claims that nothing has been set in stone yet, “yet” is the imperative word. Hiring a development company to sneak into a township and secure land rights while inviting them to private catered meetings out of town for prospective landowners only, is not, “kicking the tires”, to me. Actions speak louder than words. If you think I am exaggerating, ask WPPI who the first three landowners they contacted in the proposed area were? Common sense would dictate that people who will benefit financially will be more likely to turn a blind eye versus those who just happened to draw a short straw and live extremely close to the proposed area. Adjacent landowners should have been contacted first, get there input, see what they think, once everyone is on the same page, then proceed with the easy part. Its all big business, it’s not about the “energy”. If WPPI had any morals or scruples they would have politely withdrew any interest in the town of Union based on an overwhelming lack of support from the community and its core government.
WPPI has a map of the proposed area; it shows setbacks from roads, residential dwellings and property lines. WPPI’s developer figures 500 ft setbacks from roads and property lines. I don’t know where WPPI’s developer came up with that number, but according to the recommended website by EcoEnergyLLC, Windustry. It states that a turbines wake is 8-11 times the rotor diameter, and for protection of neighboring wind rights a turbine should be erected no closer than 5 times the rotor diameter to an adjacent property line. Based on an 82 meter blade diameter I came up with 1345 ft. I am not a research scientist, and I may have overlooked something, so you can read this yourself and check my math.
You may think this has nothing to do with this committee. If so, you are mistaken. By owning controlling stake in WPPI, you are funding and aiding this unnecessary, irresponsible, bastardization of the town of Union. No one in this city has the class to ask Kendall Schneider what he has to say. I have requested many city officials to do so, including this committee. If I wanted to build a fence on your property, whom would seek input from whom. Give me a break; you treat the town of Union like a mushroom.
As for WPPI sending out misleading information at my expense is also embarrassing. Saying that wind energy is 100% emission free, is a flat out lie. Didn’t anybody tell WPPI that wind turbines need tons of power off the grid to get the blades spinning in hopes that the wind will maintain their rotation. They will be literally “Turned On” in hopes that the wind will keep them spinning. Where does that power come from? Coal or Natural Gas, that is where. When these turbines are “Turned On” there is a possibility of a brown out due to the massive amount of power they take to get the blades moving. If WPPI wants to put my money where there mouth is, they will have no problem with having every turbine they purchase power from be net metered. What I mean is, I want to see how much power goes in and how much comes out on the grid. If there is nothing to hide, maybe I should have done more research. It seems like people think that these 400 ft turbines sprout out of the ground from some magic beans and are 100% organic. These are massive Industrial machines. These machines are marginally efficient at best, and when I say at best, that means in areas that unlike Rock County have Level 4 average wind speed. The Dakotas, parts of Minnesota and Iowa.
WPPI is also using foreign oil as a scapegoat, Wisconsin generates around 1-2% of its electricity from oil, and that oil is not of a very high grade.
Wind turbines by there variable nature will only be a novelty supplement in the energy mix. If the government subsidies and incentives were to end, so would the turbine craze. Wind turbines in this area are like the bosses son at work who shows up a couple of days a week; you never know when he’s coming in or when he will leave. You want to make him feel wanted so you give him busy work to make him feel like he’s helping. In reality the core group of workers who are there every day 8-5 do all the heavy lifting with no accolades, but when junior comes in two days straight he makes the front page of the company newsletter.
If the Evansville Water and Light, the City of Evansville, and WPPI want to do what is best for our future, buy renewable energy from areas where it is viably and not emotionally placed. I understand the 10% by 2015 criteria. It doesn’t say that it has to come from WI. My daughter loves pineapple, but I know that Wisconsin isn’t the ideal location to grow them. No company would consider a pineapple farm in Wisconsin unless it was overly subsidized and given incentives so that the lack of production would not interfere with profit.
I also want to make sure that it is known that I support responsible well sited productive renewable energy. I use compact bulbs, between my wife and I we drive less than 10,000 miles a year total. I’ve recycled close to 100,000 pounds of material in the last two years, I carpool, and I practice what I preach. I think the answer is not in More’s Law, I think is in Less’s Law. Conserving what we have is much more effective than finding more ways to produce power. Let’s encourage incentives for using less, instead of asking people to pay to produce more.
WPPI has an easy choice, keep force feeding the town of Union and its landowners what they don’t want, or find an appropriate location where common sense criteria is met. No one will win if WPPI forces this project through. I not only predict, I guarantee legal action in the Town of Union, if WPPI is looking for a fight, it came to the right place. Respectfully withdraw your interest in the town of Union and let its citizens get back to the life they had enjoyed before WPPI came to town.
I am here today asking that this Water and Light Commission draft and pass appropriate wording informing WPPI that they are not in compliance with there renewable energy initiative in the town of Union and that you feel it would be best for all parties involved if they withdrew any interest or intent of erecting Large Wind Turbines in the Town of Union effective immediately.
I appreciate your patience with this speech, I am expecting results, your job is to do what is best for the whole community and not just a wishful thinking pet project. I am submitting this letter verbatim for the minutes of the September 2007 meeting of Evansville’s Water and Light Committee, as I expect to see it approved as such. I do not wish to take such a direct approach to this committee, but I don’t think you realize how many families’ social, mental, and financial well being are being taken for granted.
Thank you.
My name is Matt Gaboda, I live at 552 South Sixth Street in Evansville. I am a former town of Union resident who still has family and friends who reside there. I have a lot of respect and admiration for the over 150 years of commitment to conservation and preservation that the town has displayed.
Thank you for allowing me to speak to you tonight about the proposed Large Wind Turbine project in the town of Union. I want to make clear that my statements are not at all related to the towns Large Wind Turbine Ordinance process, that is a town issue. I am here tonight to discuss the proposed site, representation and questions and answers about WPPI’s Renewable Energy information that the city has been sending out to Evansville Water and Light customers.
First of all, the proposed area in which WPPI is seeking to erect 400 ft tall turbines is in Evansville Water and Lights service area in the town of Union. The residents of the town of Union who would be adjacent to the proposed turbine site pay there electric bills at the same place every city of Evansville resident does. The city of Evansville voted in July 2006 to become an owner/member of WPPI. The WPPI Board of Directors is composed of Owner/Member communities, of which the Town of Union is.
Who is the representative for the Water and Light Committee from the town of Union? What representation does the town of Union have on WPPI’s Board of Directors? What entity from the city of Evansville contacted the town of Union to “test the water” with the Large Turbine Proposal. Was any information collected from any and all landowners and residents in the general proposed area ahead of time?
I would personally be alarmed and ashamed to be a resident of a city that dictates policy to a neighboring member/owner township without there consent. I hate to pull out my fife and play Yankee Doodle, but this one belittles everything America was built on. I’m sure you’ll come up with some excuse or reasoning why things are the way they are, but how many adjacent residents and landowners to the proposed turbine project have you spoken to? They are the ones who will have to live with this committee and cities actions or lack there of. Visiting a Turbine site vs. living next to one are apples and oranges. I know of over Twenty town of Union landowners in the proposed area that are either strongly opposed or not fully supportive of this project. Read the July and August minutes from the Plan Commission and the Town Board of Union if you want some binding confirmation. Not one resident in the town of Union has spoken in favor of this turbine proposal at any public meeting. WPPI claims that nothing has been set in stone yet, “yet” is the imperative word. Hiring a development company to sneak into a township and secure land rights while inviting them to private catered meetings out of town for prospective landowners only, is not, “kicking the tires”, to me. Actions speak louder than words. If you think I am exaggerating, ask WPPI who the first three landowners they contacted in the proposed area were? Common sense would dictate that people who will benefit financially will be more likely to turn a blind eye versus those who just happened to draw a short straw and live extremely close to the proposed area. Adjacent landowners should have been contacted first, get there input, see what they think, once everyone is on the same page, then proceed with the easy part. Its all big business, it’s not about the “energy”. If WPPI had any morals or scruples they would have politely withdrew any interest in the town of Union based on an overwhelming lack of support from the community and its core government.
WPPI has a map of the proposed area; it shows setbacks from roads, residential dwellings and property lines. WPPI’s developer figures 500 ft setbacks from roads and property lines. I don’t know where WPPI’s developer came up with that number, but according to the recommended website by EcoEnergyLLC, Windustry. It states that a turbines wake is 8-11 times the rotor diameter, and for protection of neighboring wind rights a turbine should be erected no closer than 5 times the rotor diameter to an adjacent property line. Based on an 82 meter blade diameter I came up with 1345 ft. I am not a research scientist, and I may have overlooked something, so you can read this yourself and check my math.
You may think this has nothing to do with this committee. If so, you are mistaken. By owning controlling stake in WPPI, you are funding and aiding this unnecessary, irresponsible, bastardization of the town of Union. No one in this city has the class to ask Kendall Schneider what he has to say. I have requested many city officials to do so, including this committee. If I wanted to build a fence on your property, whom would seek input from whom. Give me a break; you treat the town of Union like a mushroom.
As for WPPI sending out misleading information at my expense is also embarrassing. Saying that wind energy is 100% emission free, is a flat out lie. Didn’t anybody tell WPPI that wind turbines need tons of power off the grid to get the blades spinning in hopes that the wind will maintain their rotation. They will be literally “Turned On” in hopes that the wind will keep them spinning. Where does that power come from? Coal or Natural Gas, that is where. When these turbines are “Turned On” there is a possibility of a brown out due to the massive amount of power they take to get the blades moving. If WPPI wants to put my money where there mouth is, they will have no problem with having every turbine they purchase power from be net metered. What I mean is, I want to see how much power goes in and how much comes out on the grid. If there is nothing to hide, maybe I should have done more research. It seems like people think that these 400 ft turbines sprout out of the ground from some magic beans and are 100% organic. These are massive Industrial machines. These machines are marginally efficient at best, and when I say at best, that means in areas that unlike Rock County have Level 4 average wind speed. The Dakotas, parts of Minnesota and Iowa.
WPPI is also using foreign oil as a scapegoat, Wisconsin generates around 1-2% of its electricity from oil, and that oil is not of a very high grade.
Wind turbines by there variable nature will only be a novelty supplement in the energy mix. If the government subsidies and incentives were to end, so would the turbine craze. Wind turbines in this area are like the bosses son at work who shows up a couple of days a week; you never know when he’s coming in or when he will leave. You want to make him feel wanted so you give him busy work to make him feel like he’s helping. In reality the core group of workers who are there every day 8-5 do all the heavy lifting with no accolades, but when junior comes in two days straight he makes the front page of the company newsletter.
If the Evansville Water and Light, the City of Evansville, and WPPI want to do what is best for our future, buy renewable energy from areas where it is viably and not emotionally placed. I understand the 10% by 2015 criteria. It doesn’t say that it has to come from WI. My daughter loves pineapple, but I know that Wisconsin isn’t the ideal location to grow them. No company would consider a pineapple farm in Wisconsin unless it was overly subsidized and given incentives so that the lack of production would not interfere with profit.
I also want to make sure that it is known that I support responsible well sited productive renewable energy. I use compact bulbs, between my wife and I we drive less than 10,000 miles a year total. I’ve recycled close to 100,000 pounds of material in the last two years, I carpool, and I practice what I preach. I think the answer is not in More’s Law, I think is in Less’s Law. Conserving what we have is much more effective than finding more ways to produce power. Let’s encourage incentives for using less, instead of asking people to pay to produce more.
WPPI has an easy choice, keep force feeding the town of Union and its landowners what they don’t want, or find an appropriate location where common sense criteria is met. No one will win if WPPI forces this project through. I not only predict, I guarantee legal action in the Town of Union, if WPPI is looking for a fight, it came to the right place. Respectfully withdraw your interest in the town of Union and let its citizens get back to the life they had enjoyed before WPPI came to town.
I am here today asking that this Water and Light Commission draft and pass appropriate wording informing WPPI that they are not in compliance with there renewable energy initiative in the town of Union and that you feel it would be best for all parties involved if they withdrew any interest or intent of erecting Large Wind Turbines in the Town of Union effective immediately.
I appreciate your patience with this speech, I am expecting results, your job is to do what is best for the whole community and not just a wishful thinking pet project. I am submitting this letter verbatim for the minutes of the September 2007 meeting of Evansville’s Water and Light Committee, as I expect to see it approved as such. I do not wish to take such a direct approach to this committee, but I don’t think you realize how many families’ social, mental, and financial well being are being taken for granted.
Thank you.
Minutes: Water and Light: September 2007
(Ed.note: I have posted the letter of Matt Gaboda which goes with the minutes separately.)
Water& Light Committee Meeting
Regular Monthly Meeting
Wednesday September 26,2007
6:30 P.M. At 15 Old 92
Minutes
Members Present Tom Cothard Chair, John Sornson and Barb Jacobson
Staff: Scott George Superintendent, John Rasmussen foreman
Also present were: Matt Gabota
Chairperson Cothard called the meeting to order at 6:302P.M.
Motion by Sornson 2nd by Jacobson to approve the August 29, 2007 Water & Light Minutes with one change motion carried 3-0
Citizens concerns Matt Gaboda read a letter into the minutes stating his view against wind turbines in Union Township. See attached file.
Committee Reports - Chairman Cothard None
Committee Reports - Supt. Scott George: (1) Scott asked about the cities plan to reinstall the old street lights taken down from uptown and the possibility of installing street lights on Co. Rd. M no action was taken. (2) Scott noted that John Rasmussen is planning to retire at the end of the year and his job would be posted soon.
Motion by Cothard 2nd by Sornson to approve change order no. 1 in the amount of $25,678.00 for substation construction Motion carried 3-0 on voice vote
There was no other legal action to come before the committee
Motion to adjourn by Cothard 2nd by Jacobson at 7:30 P.M. Passed 3-0
These minutes are not official until approved by the Water & Light Committee.
Submitted by John A. Rasmussen
Water& Light Committee Meeting
Regular Monthly Meeting
Wednesday September 26,2007
6:30 P.M. At 15 Old 92
Minutes
Members Present Tom Cothard Chair, John Sornson and Barb Jacobson
Staff: Scott George Superintendent, John Rasmussen foreman
Also present were: Matt Gabota
Chairperson Cothard called the meeting to order at 6:302P.M.
Motion by Sornson 2nd by Jacobson to approve the August 29, 2007 Water & Light Minutes with one change motion carried 3-0
Citizens concerns Matt Gaboda read a letter into the minutes stating his view against wind turbines in Union Township. See attached file.
Committee Reports - Chairman Cothard None
Committee Reports - Supt. Scott George: (1) Scott asked about the cities plan to reinstall the old street lights taken down from uptown and the possibility of installing street lights on Co. Rd. M no action was taken. (2) Scott noted that John Rasmussen is planning to retire at the end of the year and his job would be posted soon.
Motion by Cothard 2nd by Sornson to approve change order no. 1 in the amount of $25,678.00 for substation construction Motion carried 3-0 on voice vote
There was no other legal action to come before the committee
Motion to adjourn by Cothard 2nd by Jacobson at 7:30 P.M. Passed 3-0
These minutes are not official until approved by the Water & Light Committee.
Submitted by John A. Rasmussen
Yahoo Finance: Factory Orders Fall in August
Click on the post for the article in Yahoo News.
It has been a real Humpty Dumpty affair. Housing, cars, applicances, retail, and now factory orders....all falling. Only the ice cream cone indicator, if there is such a wonderful indicator, might not have plunged, and ...of couse...the Dove bar indicator...which is always pretty strong.
Looks to me like the Fed might just east again. Stay tuned.
It has been a real Humpty Dumpty affair. Housing, cars, applicances, retail, and now factory orders....all falling. Only the ice cream cone indicator, if there is such a wonderful indicator, might not have plunged, and ...of couse...the Dove bar indicator...which is always pretty strong.
Looks to me like the Fed might just east again. Stay tuned.
Wednesday, October 03, 2007
Minutes: Water and Light: September 2007
Water& Light Committee Meeting
Regular Monthly Meeting
Wednesday September 26,2007
6:30 P.M. At 15 Old 92
Minutes
Members Present Tom Cothard Chair, John Sornson and Barb Jacobson
Staff: Scott George Superintendent, John Rasmussen foreman
Also present were: Matt Gabota
Chairperson Cothard called the meeting to order at 6:302P.M.
Motion by Sornson 2nd by Jacobson to approve the August 29, 2007 Water & Light Minutes with one change motion carried 3-0
Citizens concerns Matt Gaboda read a letter into the minutes stating his view against wind turbines in Union Township. See attached file.
Committee Reports - Chairman Cothard None
Committee Reports - Supt. Scott George: (1) Scott asked about the cities plan to reinstall the old street lights taken down from uptown and the possibility of installing street lights on Co. Rd. M no action was taken. (2) Scott noted that John Rasmussen is planning to retire at the end of the year and his job would be posted soon.
Motion by Cothard 2nd by Sornson to approve change order no. 1 in the amount of $25,678.00 for substation construction Motion carried 3-0 on voice vote
Regular Monthly Meeting
Wednesday September 26,2007
6:30 P.M. At 15 Old 92
Minutes
Members Present Tom Cothard Chair, John Sornson and Barb Jacobson
Staff: Scott George Superintendent, John Rasmussen foreman
Also present were: Matt Gabota
Chairperson Cothard called the meeting to order at 6:302P.M.
Motion by Sornson 2nd by Jacobson to approve the August 29, 2007 Water & Light Minutes with one change motion carried 3-0
Citizens concerns Matt Gaboda read a letter into the minutes stating his view against wind turbines in Union Township. See attached file.
Committee Reports - Chairman Cothard None
Committee Reports - Supt. Scott George: (1) Scott asked about the cities plan to reinstall the old street lights taken down from uptown and the possibility of installing street lights on Co. Rd. M no action was taken. (2) Scott noted that John Rasmussen is planning to retire at the end of the year and his job would be posted soon.
Motion by Cothard 2nd by Sornson to approve change order no. 1 in the amount of $25,678.00 for substation construction Motion carried 3-0 on voice vote
Tuesday, October 02, 2007
Plan Commission: Bill Hammann speaks
Bill Hammann reviews the history of the minimum house size ordinance. Ordinance was the result of school, community input and took a long time in formulation and should not be changed without thorough review.
Download File
Download File
Plan: Mayor Ringhand speaks
Former Mayor Ringhand quotes the text and shows that there are R1 small lots available under the ordinance
Download File
Download File
Roger Berg Speaks re: Minimum House Sizes
Roger Berg spoke at Planning Commission on October 1, 2007 to advocate major changes in the minimum housing size ordinance. He argued that this ordinance has hurt developers. He argued also that due to market changes, small homes are more popular because of energy concerns. Plan commission members reviewed some of the economic impact reasons for the ordinance and promised a full review next month after staff works up all the rational for the ordinance.
Download File
Download File
Yahoo Finance: Financing Woes not House selection key
Click on the post for the story in Yahoo finance this morning. Homebuyers are making offers. They have the selection. The problem is the financing that has dried up. Many deals have had financing withdrawn etc.
Stay tuned.
Stay tuned.
Mailbag: Mr. Connors Writes: Re: Minimum House Size debate
(Ed.note: This was posted under the audio and I have posted it separately for better visibility.)
I should not have listened to parts of this recording at bedtime last night. It is hard to fall asleep when there is steam coming out of your ears.
Roger Berg and Tom Cothard (at least I think those were the speakers) did a fine job thoroughly misrepresenting the purpose and effect of the minimum house size zoning provisions, their effect, and the negotiations I had with the developers regarding the application of those provisions to their subdivisions.
The city's Smart Growth Plan states that the lack of diversity in house sizes available in recent subdivisions was a problem. Roger Berg made it sound like the problem is only big houses are being built, so an older couple that wants a smaller house can't get one in the City of Evansville. Rubbish! The people who were being denied an opportunity to purchase a house in the City of Evansville were those who wanted larger houses--so says the Smart Growth Plan. The builders were choosing to build nothing but small houses in the new subdivisions. So the city stepped in and made sure that PARTS of new subdivision were set aside for larger houses. Recently built, smaller houses are available for sale today in subdivisions throughout the City of Evansville.
One of the concerns west-side residents had about the Westfield Meadows subdivision is that it might have a negative impact on the city's and school's financial situation (studies show housing generally does not generate enough tax base to support the additional public services that are necessary as the result of the additional population). I wonder how those west-side residents will feel if the city changes its tune and allows the builders to fill that subdivision with 1,100 square foot houses, as Roger Berg was advocating at the meeting last night.
Why don't the developers and builders apply for rezoning of parts of the subdivisions, rather than seek to eliminate the zoning provisions all together? In the Grand Orchard Estates subdivision, for example, it was the developers, not me, who wanted all of the houses to be zoned for a minimum house size of 1,600 square feet. They can change their mind and ask for a different mix of minimum house size zoning.
Only in Evansville is a 1,600 square foot house considered a big house. It is below average in size for a new house in the Madison area.
It was encouraging that plan commissioners like Jeff Vrstal and Bill Hammann, who were part of the Smart Growth planning process, were willing and able to articulate the problem that the minimum house size zoning proviisons were intended to address.
Bill Connors
Former Evansville City Administrator
I should not have listened to parts of this recording at bedtime last night. It is hard to fall asleep when there is steam coming out of your ears.
Roger Berg and Tom Cothard (at least I think those were the speakers) did a fine job thoroughly misrepresenting the purpose and effect of the minimum house size zoning provisions, their effect, and the negotiations I had with the developers regarding the application of those provisions to their subdivisions.
The city's Smart Growth Plan states that the lack of diversity in house sizes available in recent subdivisions was a problem. Roger Berg made it sound like the problem is only big houses are being built, so an older couple that wants a smaller house can't get one in the City of Evansville. Rubbish! The people who were being denied an opportunity to purchase a house in the City of Evansville were those who wanted larger houses--so says the Smart Growth Plan. The builders were choosing to build nothing but small houses in the new subdivisions. So the city stepped in and made sure that PARTS of new subdivision were set aside for larger houses. Recently built, smaller houses are available for sale today in subdivisions throughout the City of Evansville.
One of the concerns west-side residents had about the Westfield Meadows subdivision is that it might have a negative impact on the city's and school's financial situation (studies show housing generally does not generate enough tax base to support the additional public services that are necessary as the result of the additional population). I wonder how those west-side residents will feel if the city changes its tune and allows the builders to fill that subdivision with 1,100 square foot houses, as Roger Berg was advocating at the meeting last night.
Why don't the developers and builders apply for rezoning of parts of the subdivisions, rather than seek to eliminate the zoning provisions all together? In the Grand Orchard Estates subdivision, for example, it was the developers, not me, who wanted all of the houses to be zoned for a minimum house size of 1,600 square feet. They can change their mind and ask for a different mix of minimum house size zoning.
Only in Evansville is a 1,600 square foot house considered a big house. It is below average in size for a new house in the Madison area.
It was encouraging that plan commissioners like Jeff Vrstal and Bill Hammann, who were part of the Smart Growth planning process, were willing and able to articulate the problem that the minimum house size zoning proviisons were intended to address.
Bill Connors
Former Evansville City Administrator
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