West Bend Referendum Promo Video cost Taxpayers 8 GRAND

In addition to the $18,000 spent on the painfully flawed and weighted REFERENDUM SURVEY,
the West Bend School Board spent YOUR TAX DOLLARS on a biased PROMOTIONAL VIDEO



TO THE TUNE OF $8,000

I have the Invoice from Marketing on Demand, LLC

YEP, MORE TRUTH...

Be sure to send a thank you note.

West Bend Referendum Promo Video cost Taxpayers 8 GRAND

In addition to the $18,000 spent on the painfully flawed and weighted REFERENDUM SURVEY,
the West Bend School Board spent YOUR TAX DOLLARS on a biased PROMOTIONAL VIDEO



TO THE TUNE OF $8,000

I have the Invoice from Marketing on Demand, LLC

YEP, MORE TRUTH...

Be sure to send a thank you note.

West Bend Referendum - You can't always get what you want...

FLASHBACK!

LAST SCHOOL REFERENDUM

JACKSON SCHOOL BOARD MEETING, DECEMBER 2007-

"Kris Beaver, as a representative of the West Bend School District, was present to explain about the Listening Sessions that will be held at various venues to discuss why the referendum failed.

.....

As a resident of Jackson, Mr. Beaver wanted to know why the Resolution supporting the Referendum was not passed on a unanimous vote. "
__________________________________________________________

Gee, I hope that Mr. B is not playing the hat-switching game with the Jackson Village Board this time around.... You can't ALWAYS get what you want.

West Bend Referendum - You can't always get what you want...

FLASHBACK!

LAST SCHOOL REFERENDUM

JACKSON SCHOOL BOARD MEETING, DECEMBER 2007-

"Kris Beaver, as a representative of the West Bend School District, was present to explain about the Listening Sessions that will be held at various venues to discuss why the referendum failed.

.....

As a resident of Jackson, Mr. Beaver wanted to know why the Resolution supporting the Referendum was not passed on a unanimous vote. "
__________________________________________________________

Gee, I hope that Mr. B is not playing the hat-switching game with the Jackson Village Board this time around.... You can't ALWAYS get what you want.

Formal Complaint Filed with D.A. RE: Video

Dear Attorney Martens,

At a recent West Bend School Board work session I had the opportunity to view the six-minute video presentation that is to be used to inform district residents about the upcoming referendum in November.

As a citizen and taxpayer, my “first impression” of this video was that it:

1. left one feeling “guilty” if they don’t agree with the current referendum and
2. abused area officials and businessmen for the purpose of coercion.

READ ENTIRE FORMAL COMPLAINT HERE:
http://wbcommunityinfo.blogspot.com/2008/08/complaint-fileddistrict-attorney-re.html

Formal Complaint Filed with D.A. RE: Video

Dear Attorney Martens,

At a recent West Bend School Board work session I had the opportunity to view the six-minute video presentation that is to be used to inform district residents about the upcoming referendum in November.

As a citizen and taxpayer, my “first impression” of this video was that it:

1. left one feeling “guilty” if they don’t agree with the current referendum and
2. abused area officials and businessmen for the purpose of coercion.

READ ENTIRE FORMAL COMPLAINT HERE:
http://wbcommunityinfo.blogspot.com/2008/08/complaint-fileddistrict-attorney-re.html

West Bend School District Referendum Survey Cost Discrepancy - Exceeds $17,000

OPEN RECORDS REQUEST REVEALS THE FOLLOWING:

FINAL BILLING FROM MATOUSEK AND ASSOCIATES:

REFERENDUM STUDY COST: $10,500
SURVEYS RETURNED POSTAGE: $805.98
ADDITIONAL TYPING IN OF ALL
OPENENDS FOR SURVEYS $350.00

PRINTING BILL FOR SURVEY from DIXON/MRD & Company:
Invoice Dated 06/23/08: 26,100 "Dear Neighbor" Letters $783.00
Invoice Dated 06/23/08: 26,100 Surveys $1500.75
Invoice Dated 06/23/08: 26,100 Frequently Asked Questions Flyers $783.00
Invoice Dated 06/23/08: 26,100 Business Reply Mail Envelopes $848.25
Invoice Dated 06/23/08: 26,100 Postal Patron Envelopes $978.75
Invoice Dated 06/20/08: Mailing (26,019 surveys) $1,129.74

TOTAL COST FOR REFERENDUM STUDY, PRINTING AND POSTAGE: $17,679
(Labor not included, which was quoted to me at $21/hr)
*********************************************************
ORIGINAL EMAIL from Pat Herdrich -

Note: This is all we were allowed to know, though I explicitly asked for the "total cost of the survey to the taxpayers".

Email:
I received your request with respect to the survey costs.
The contract cost with the research firm Matousek & Associates out of Green Bay is $10,500 for the study.

Let me know if you need any further information.

Pat
Superintendent of Schools
West Bend Joint School District #1
735 South Main Street
West Bend, WI 53095

There is more than a referendum issue here. This appears to be more of an integrity issue. But YOU can decide.

West Bend School District Referendum Survey Cost Discrepancy - Exceeds $17,000

OPEN RECORDS REQUEST REVEALS THE FOLLOWING:

FINAL BILLING FROM MATOUSEK AND ASSOCIATES:

REFERENDUM STUDY COST: $10,500
SURVEYS RETURNED POSTAGE: $805.98
ADDITIONAL TYPING IN OF ALL
OPENENDS FOR SURVEYS $350.00

PRINTING BILL FOR SURVEY from DIXON/MRD & Company:
Invoice Dated 06/23/08: 26,100 "Dear Neighbor" Letters $783.00
Invoice Dated 06/23/08: 26,100 Surveys $1500.75
Invoice Dated 06/23/08: 26,100 Frequently Asked Questions Flyers $783.00
Invoice Dated 06/23/08: 26,100 Business Reply Mail Envelopes $848.25
Invoice Dated 06/23/08: 26,100 Postal Patron Envelopes $978.75
Invoice Dated 06/20/08: Mailing (26,019 surveys) $1,129.74

TOTAL COST FOR REFERENDUM STUDY, PRINTING AND POSTAGE: $17,679
(Labor not included, which was quoted to me at $21/hr)
*********************************************************
ORIGINAL EMAIL from Pat Herdrich -

Note: This is all we were allowed to know, though I explicitly asked for the "total cost of the survey to the taxpayers".

Email:
I received your request with respect to the survey costs.
The contract cost with the research firm Matousek & Associates out of Green Bay is $10,500 for the study.

Let me know if you need any further information.

Pat
Superintendent of Schools
West Bend Joint School District #1
735 South Main Street
West Bend, WI 53095

There is more than a referendum issue here. This appears to be more of an integrity issue. But YOU can decide.

Complaint filed, rejected - Plot Thickens...

On July 6, the Williams emailed a written complaint
about Herdrich over whether or not 31 referendum options were available on the
district Web site during the recent community survey period.

The Williams developed an alternate, $29 million
referendum plan on their own this spring that was revised into a $34 million
plan. They wanted to know if that was one of the 31 options.
District legal opinion found no “intentional misleading
or unresponsive communication” from Herdrich in regards to that complaint.

FULL ARTICLE HERE: http://activepaper.olivesoftware.com/Repository/ml.asp?Ref=V0JETi8yMDA4LzA4LzExI0FyMDAxMDA=&Mode=HTML&Locale=english-skin-custom

Let's go to the top of the story now..... Mr. Williams says he has issues with Dr. Herdrich's conduct, states such to the School Board, then is chastised by Mr. Carlson (the attorney calls it "warning") publicly and "feels intimidated" by said School Board. The attorney says "sorry, can't find evidence of this".

Well, here you go -

Mr. Williams is not alone. I, too, filed a formal complaint regarding this survey. I brought up the same issue as Mr. Williams regarding the 31 options not being posted, as promised, for those taking the survey. As well, I listed numerous other lacks of survey integrity, such as those stated by Mr. Williams, and more.

Read blog report: http://wissup.blogspot.com/2008/07/on-line-referendum-surveys-dont-count.html

and School Board response below:

BOARD RESPONSE - QUESTIONS LEFT UNANSWERED

I am responding to you as one Board Member. I am confident in the work performed for the district on the survey after our review on Monday night and felt that we asked questions on Monday to address your concerns and the concerns of others which were raised. The survey is valid as we learned from the answers and the cost for doing a survey to get the input from thousands of taxpayers is the most cost effective way to do this. I respect your opinions and your right to disagree. Pat would you copy my response to the rest of the board.

Thanks, Joe

Joe Carlson

___________

Now let's address the "intimidation" suggestion by Mr. Williams, then YOU decide.

Mr. Williams has, time and again, presented the lengthy proposal, complete with facts and figures, done on his own time, on behalf of the taxpayers. I am not particularly endorsing the plan (and not particularly dismissing it, either), but I am "appreciating" the efforts on his and his wife's part to save taxpayer's money and find a suitable referendum that could feasibly pass and do some "damage control" from past lack of integrity issues concerning building maintenance, and the lack thereof.

I personally witnessed the school board ignore Mr. Williams as he sat and waited for an opportunity to present the tweaked referendum proposal. This, after being told by the School Board at a previous work session that he needed to meet certain criteria. He was never afforded the opportunity, though he did comply with their requests. This, alone, gives taxpayers/citizens the "idea" that the Board is not interested in what they have to say.

Moving right along, you can see by the response to the survey issues that neither Mr. Williams or myself were able to obtain any satisfaction for the faulty and unethical referendum survey. Here again.... "Not listening"

Now, let's talk about public slander. The School Board did not like the fact that I had numerous questions and requests regarding the recently rewritten harassment policy, as well as survey and referendum issues. In order to make informed decisions, I asked questions and requested information per Open Records requests. The Board, in a taped, public session, mentioned me by name and complained about my "costs" to the district because of my "38 emails", blah, blah, blah. (Mind you, some of those were simply "thanks for your help", or "could you clarify that", or "sorry you aren't feeling well today", but never mind the details...). This went from public slander in the Board room and on closed circuit television, right to the WB News for all to see. Know what I heard (from many, many people)? "I'll NEVER address the School Board in public if that is what they are going to do in public!" and the like.

These are only a FEW words of factual information. Maybe someone ELSE ought to review the complaint by Mr. Williams. Someone not directly tied to a paycheck by the School District.

Complaint filed, rejected - Plot Thickens...

On July 6, the Williams emailed a written complaint
about Herdrich over whether or not 31 referendum options were available on the
district Web site during the recent community survey period.

The Williams developed an alternate, $29 million
referendum plan on their own this spring that was revised into a $34 million
plan. They wanted to know if that was one of the 31 options.
District legal opinion found no “intentional misleading
or unresponsive communication” from Herdrich in regards to that complaint.

FULL ARTICLE HERE: http://activepaper.olivesoftware.com/Repository/ml.asp?Ref=V0JETi8yMDA4LzA4LzExI0FyMDAxMDA=&Mode=HTML&Locale=english-skin-custom

Let's go to the top of the story now..... Mr. Williams says he has issues with Dr. Herdrich's conduct, states such to the School Board, then is chastised by Mr. Carlson (the attorney calls it "warning") publicly and "feels intimidated" by said School Board. The attorney says "sorry, can't find evidence of this".

Well, here you go -

Mr. Williams is not alone. I, too, filed a formal complaint regarding this survey. I brought up the same issue as Mr. Williams regarding the 31 options not being posted, as promised, for those taking the survey. As well, I listed numerous other lacks of survey integrity, such as those stated by Mr. Williams, and more.

Read blog report: http://wissup.blogspot.com/2008/07/on-line-referendum-surveys-dont-count.html

and School Board response below:

BOARD RESPONSE - QUESTIONS LEFT UNANSWERED

I am responding to you as one Board Member. I am confident in the work performed for the district on the survey after our review on Monday night and felt that we asked questions on Monday to address your concerns and the concerns of others which were raised. The survey is valid as we learned from the answers and the cost for doing a survey to get the input from thousands of taxpayers is the most cost effective way to do this. I respect your opinions and your right to disagree. Pat would you copy my response to the rest of the board.

Thanks, Joe

Joe Carlson

___________

Now let's address the "intimidation" suggestion by Mr. Williams, then YOU decide.

Mr. Williams has, time and again, presented the lengthy proposal, complete with facts and figures, done on his own time, on behalf of the taxpayers. I am not particularly endorsing the plan (and not particularly dismissing it, either), but I am "appreciating" the efforts on his and his wife's part to save taxpayer's money and find a suitable referendum that could feasibly pass and do some "damage control" from past lack of integrity issues concerning building maintenance, and the lack thereof.

I personally witnessed the school board ignore Mr. Williams as he sat and waited for an opportunity to present the tweaked referendum proposal. This, after being told by the School Board at a previous work session that he needed to meet certain criteria. He was never afforded the opportunity, though he did comply with their requests. This, alone, gives taxpayers/citizens the "idea" that the Board is not interested in what they have to say.

Moving right along, you can see by the response to the survey issues that neither Mr. Williams or myself were able to obtain any satisfaction for the faulty and unethical referendum survey. Here again.... "Not listening"

Now, let's talk about public slander. The School Board did not like the fact that I had numerous questions and requests regarding the recently rewritten harassment policy, as well as survey and referendum issues. In order to make informed decisions, I asked questions and requested information per Open Records requests. The Board, in a taped, public session, mentioned me by name and complained about my "costs" to the district because of my "38 emails", blah, blah, blah. (Mind you, some of those were simply "thanks for your help", or "could you clarify that", or "sorry you aren't feeling well today", but never mind the details...). This went from public slander in the Board room and on closed circuit television, right to the WB News for all to see. Know what I heard (from many, many people)? "I'll NEVER address the School Board in public if that is what they are going to do in public!" and the like.

These are only a FEW words of factual information. Maybe someone ELSE ought to review the complaint by Mr. Williams. Someone not directly tied to a paycheck by the School District.

WB School Board Work Session/MEETING - Referendum Finalization MONDAY NIGHT

Board Work Session

Education Service Center –

Board RoomWest Bend WI 53095

August 11, 2008

5:30 - 8:00 p.m.

The CFAC-2 Committee will finalize the referendum choice along with total expenditure information tonight. Sit in and listen to what is being discussed and presented to the School Board in the meeting that follows.....

Regular Board of Education Meeting

Education Service Center

West Bend WI 53095

August 11, 2008

8:00 p.m.

FOR FULL AGENDA of each meeting,

click on Title of this post to be redirected...

WB School Board Work Session/MEETING - Referendum Finalization MONDAY NIGHT

Board Work Session

Education Service Center –

Board RoomWest Bend WI 53095

August 11, 2008

5:30 - 8:00 p.m.

The CFAC-2 Committee will finalize the referendum choice along with total expenditure information tonight. Sit in and listen to what is being discussed and presented to the School Board in the meeting that follows.....

Regular Board of Education Meeting

Education Service Center

West Bend WI 53095

August 11, 2008

8:00 p.m.

FOR FULL AGENDA of each meeting,

click on Title of this post to be redirected...

Referendum Survey Cost WB Taxpayers - HOW much??

The $10,500 figure given to me (and the general public) by the WB School District as a cost for the referendum survey is not accurate. It is only the "estimate" based on 1500 returned surveys. A total of 2321 surveys were returned, so this raised the cost significantly. Matousek's charges ONLY are 1.00 per internet survey and 1.50 per mail survey.

This is simply the "BID" amount prepared by Matousek & Associates.

The bottom of the bid states "ALL PRINTING, HANDLING AND POSTAGE COSTS WILL BE ABSORBED BY THE DISTRICT."

Think about this. They told us it was $10,500, but it was NOT, because the estimate was for a quoted 1500 surveys and over 2300 came in.

Now add on PRINTING, POSTAGE AND STAFF LABOR charges. OUCH AND DOUBLE OUCH. Let's get the REAL figures.

Referendum Survey Cost WB Taxpayers - HOW much??

The $10,500 figure given to me (and the general public) by the WB School District as a cost for the referendum survey is not accurate. It is only the "estimate" based on 1500 returned surveys. A total of 2321 surveys were returned, so this raised the cost significantly. Matousek's charges ONLY are 1.00 per internet survey and 1.50 per mail survey.

This is simply the "BID" amount prepared by Matousek & Associates.

The bottom of the bid states "ALL PRINTING, HANDLING AND POSTAGE COSTS WILL BE ABSORBED BY THE DISTRICT."

Think about this. They told us it was $10,500, but it was NOT, because the estimate was for a quoted 1500 surveys and over 2300 came in.

Now add on PRINTING, POSTAGE AND STAFF LABOR charges. OUCH AND DOUBLE OUCH. Let's get the REAL figures.

West Bend REFERENDUM choices revealed..

A West Bend School District subcommittee on Monday developed four referendum options to present to the School Board, three of which are new.

Option D, developed in the three-hour meeting’s closing minutes, seemed to garner some enthusiasm because it addresses the district’s two “lightning rod” items at once — Badger Middle School and Jackson Elementary School — and maintains the district’s grade configurations of kindergarten through fifth grade and sixth through eighth grade, another hot-button issue.


Click on title to read entire article...........

West Bend REFERENDUM choices revealed..

A West Bend School District subcommittee on Monday developed four referendum options to present to the School Board, three of which are new.

Option D, developed in the three-hour meeting’s closing minutes, seemed to garner some enthusiasm because it addresses the district’s two “lightning rod” items at once — Badger Middle School and Jackson Elementary School — and maintains the district’s grade configurations of kindergarten through fifth grade and sixth through eighth grade, another hot-button issue.


Click on title to read entire article...........

WB Referendum Promo Video - Informational? or an Advocacy?

I videotaped this at Monday night's West Bend School Board work session (07/28).

This is a promo video that was put together as a tool to use to push the school referendum of $130M. The School Board had the district's attorney lend their approval, assuring us that the video is a portrayal of information and not an "advocacy" for the referendum.

I object.

But don't take MY word for it.

West Bend School Promo Video: Starring Supt. Pat Herdrich, Jackson Village Board President Scott Mittelstaedt, John Torinus, Bink Steinbach, Mayor Deiss, Jackson PTO representative, and more convincing citizens....

WB Referendum Promo Video - Informational? or an Advocacy?

I videotaped this at Monday night's West Bend School Board work session (07/28).

This is a promo video that was put together as a tool to use to push the school referendum of $130M. The School Board had the district's attorney lend their approval, assuring us that the video is a portrayal of information and not an "advocacy" for the referendum.

I object.

But don't take MY word for it.

West Bend School Promo Video: Starring Supt. Pat Herdrich, Jackson Village Board President Scott Mittelstaedt, John Torinus, Bink Steinbach, Mayor Deiss, Jackson PTO representative, and more convincing citizens....

West Bend Taxpayers.. you just spent $10,500

Yep, You did.

The West Bend District #1 Referendum Survey that was mailed out to all of you this week, filled with flaws (see my previous post from June 29th), cost us nearly ELEVEN GRAND.

West Bend Taxpayers.. you just spent $10,500

Yep, You did.

The West Bend District #1 Referendum Survey that was mailed out to all of you this week, filled with flaws (see my previous post from June 29th), cost us nearly ELEVEN GRAND.