Home Schooling Dad Appointed To School Board (To Oversee Public Schools)

[matcom]

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FREDERIC, WIS. - As a local businessman, volunteer firefighter and dad of two, Lee Jensen seemed like an easy choice for this small Polk County town's school board. But he's also a dad who has home-schooled his kids for a decade.

Jensen's recent appointment to the board that oversees Frederic's public schools has upset many of the town's residents, who packed a Sept. 18 meeting to ask Jensen why he took the job, and ask school board members why they appointed him.

"I don't think that he has the best interests of the students in our school district in mind," said Colleen Geisen, who intends to run for a seat on the board. "I think he's maybe on the board for other reasons. I think he's concerned about morals and values in the public school system."

The board appointed Jensen and Scott Nelson to vacant seats. Jensen was chosen over Bruce Chell, who previously had served nine years on the board.

Chairman Kay Friberg said Jensen's appointment makes sense. He said that residents had complained about high turnover on the board, and that Jensen brings long-term stability. Friberg also said a diverse board makes better decisions.

More than 40 children are taught at home in the Frederic district, possibly the most of any of the small towns along Hwy. 35 in northwestern Wisconsin. Friberg and the school's superintendent, Gerald Tischer, hope Jensen's appointment will help build a bridge with these families.

http://www.startribune.com/462/story/734481.html

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1. Or to radically cut spending on education

In a district near me, the seniors came together with the anti-public-school "Christians" and got a majority of the school board so that they could cut property taxes.

They shut down vital spending on new buildings in spite of huge jumps in the school-age population, which led to horrible overcrowding in the schools, and won't negotiate in good faith with the teacher's union, which led to strikes.

I told a client who was looking to move his family to the area NOT to buy a house in that district.