Monday evening was my last night as a School Board member.
I want to thank the community for putting their faith in me to undertake this major responsibility. At the end of three years, I hope you feel that I have served you well.
Thanks to my children, Will and Katie, for getting their homework done while I was away at meetings as well as helping their Mother. Thanks to my wife for the extra work she gladly took on so that I could serve on the board. Thanks should also go to my fellow board members, staff and teachers as well as Superintendent Marty. Believe me in the last 3 years much has been done, both seen and unseen.
Below is a list of 6 goals that remains on my campaign web site www.tedklumb.com and my comments in blue as to whether we were successful or not.
My Agenda – The Top Six February 2005
1. At the very top of my agenda is raising test scores. (Please click on the Test Scores link on the left) My goal would be to get our test scores from the bottom quartile, in Waukesha County, to at least the third (hopefully higher) in the next 3 years. Since MFSD it in the top quartile of spending and at the bottom in academic test scores, my ultimate goal would be to reverse those positions.
Well, this was an aggressive goal and while scores are rising, they are rising everywhere else and we are not rising fast enough for us to pull ahead. Encouraging is the greater degree of seriousness this district and community places on test scores and many viable solutions are underway. We have begun to ensure that curriculum is being taught consistently between classes, in all elementary schools.
2. I would consider any viable solution to raise academic achievement in our school district, including the possibility of redistricting or reconfiguring our district to match higher performing districts. Yes, that could mean a 9-12 High School if that’s what it takes.
Redistricting-Underway. Reconfiguration-approved by the voters and almost completed.
3. The MFSD should conduct an outside/independent evaluation of our district, and similar districts, to benchmark how much we are spending on items, such as maintenance, compared to other districts.
This evaluation was undertaken with the approval of the full board about 2 ½ years ago. The report is called the Germain Report after its author. It is a fairly comprehensive report and is available to the public from the school district or you can email me to get a copy. Many of the items are already addressed and rectified while other items are underway. One of the items recommended was a reduction in school transitions and the 9-12 reconfiguration will reduce transitions and, in my opinion, improve academic performance by being under one roof and system. I would brag that New Berlin did a similar study but took over three years to start on the recommendations. We started in less than six months, which is Warp speed for a school district.
4. The "Everyday/Connected Math" program has had questionable long-term results in some school districts. We need to monitor this more closely than in the past and make appropriate, and rapid, changes if necessary.
The Math Department Chairs of Denise Moen and John Katz took the initiative to compile a ton of data from the time the program began to the results of last year’s WKCE scores. This was done manually and over a long period of time. They then performed an objective analysis to see how the programs compared, as close to a student per student basis as possible.
The net result: Both programs are improving students at all levels. The Everyday Math program is showing positive results when taught correctly and consistently. The Math department has presented their results to the public on several occasions. This was a great relief to parents, like me, who had concerns and reservations about the new programs. Something very interesting happened about a month ago. The U.S. Dept. of Education released their study and the results were almost identical. Our Math Department started their study later and with fewer resources and completed it faster with one independent study verifying the other.
What was the attitude of the Math Department that so many parents wanted to know how effectivvely the Math programs were working in our district? I think they were pleased and flattered that so many parents had such a passionate interest in their area of expertise and were happy to finally clear up some questions.
Bottom line: I am so convinced that the program is effective I have elected to place my son in the new math without any reservations. That is my endorsement of the study as to its objectivity.
5. Many citizens are concerned that our current maintenance budget is not addressing the needs of our physical facilities and leading to more costly replacements, referendums, safety issues, as well as a less than desirable appearance. We may need to spend more on maintenance and less on something else.
First there is an ongoing maintenance and replacement plan in place. Second, the maintenance budget has been increased by about $150,000 per year since I have been on the board. I need to verify that number and may modify this post as I am going off memory right now.
6. Ben Franklin – Referendum passage or not, we need to look at reducing the number of students at that elementary school and be flexible in doing so.
When Thomas Jefferson opens as an elementary school Ben Franklin’s enrollment will be reduced.
Some of the other items that are serving you now and in the future: My personal emails to you updating families of events of interests and school news. My Blog on MenomoneeFallsNow.com that updates you on school news and upcoming events. The first open forum for parents and citizens to ask questions, offer opinions, or make statements to school board members. Fully evaluated the 220 and Open Enrollment impact on the district. The “School Alert Calling System” to alert you to special events and closings.
Citizens, this is my accountability report to you. Thanks to your school board, administration, staff, teachers and Superintendent, these items are completed or almost at completion. 2007 test scores come out in May of 2008. I would like to see everyone’s efforts show up in higher scores.
Thank you for your trust in me.
Ted Klumb 
