Wednesday, February 8, 2012
Some random thoughts about last night and what it means for the future.
Some stream-of-consciousness thoughts on last night's decision to move the library and city hall to the Delphi site, as I work on four hours sleep and try to get things in order for tonight's mayoral forum... 1. I spoke with Oak Creek-Franklin Superintendent Sara Burmeister today, who responded to some of the criticism that the school district didn't make its position clear to the city. Burmeister said that wasn't the case, that the district let it be known it was open to swapping 50 acres on Oakwood Road for the 12-acre Civic Center site next to Oak Creek High School, but it was waiting to see what the city decided to do with the library and city hall. For example, if the city hall stayed there, the land wouldn't be big enough for a high …
Saturday, January 21, 2012
Oak Creek High School senior Luke Mathers helped alleviate an annual problem for soccer players, parents.
It's not always easy for players and fans, who must walk down a small hill and through a trench, to get to the East Middle School soccer field. Luke Mathers and his teammates on the Oak Creek High School boys soccer team always wondered why no one built a better path to get to the field, where the Knights' boys and girls teams play their home games. Last May, Mathers decided to take matters into his own hands. For his Eagle Scout project, Mathers wanted to construct a wooden bridge to help people navigate the ditch. If only it was that simple. He started drawing up plans in the spring, but then spent the summer traveling, first in Europe with the high school German program and then backpacking in the mountains of New Mexico. When he got …
Tuesday, November 15, 2011
Oak Creek-Franklin School Board approves a timeline for artificial turf installation before next year's football season.
An artificial playing surface at the Oak Creek High School football field has taken a big step toward becoming reality. The Oak Creek-Franklin School Board Monday night approved a measure which kicks off the process to install the turf - commonly known by the brand name FieldTurf - prior to the start of the 2012 football season. The turf looks like real grass but is actually is a synthetic playing surface that has become widely-used at football stadiums throughout the country. Not just at universities and pro football venues, either - many high schools, including nearby Greendale, have installed the surface as well. Proponents of the turf point to reduced maintenance costs and safety among many reasons to install it instead of using …
Former board member was forced to pick between School Board and coaching.
As of today, Jim Gilmeister is no longer a member of the Oak Creek-Franklin School Board, and it was a decision that he says came down to how he could best serve kids. Gilmeister said he was informed by school district administrators about a week ago that he had to decide between continuing to coach basketball or serve on the School Board. Officials recently learned of a statewide regulation that prohibited him from doing both, even if he didn't take any salary, because of they were "incompatible positions." Gilmeister reports to Athletic Director Greg Lampe, who reports to Principal Paul Sigler, who reports to Superintendent Sara Burmeister, who reports to...Gilmeister and the other four members of the board. That was the reason why he …
Monday, November 14, 2011
Conflict arises with Glimeister's employment as girls basketball coach.
Oak Creek-Franklin School Board member Jim Gilmeister will resign because of a state regulation disallowing him from coaching sports in the school district and serving on the school board at the same time. The school district recently learned of the state rule and Gilmeister was forced to effectively choose between coaching and maintaining his seat on the School Board, Superintendent Sara Burmeister said during Monday's board meeting. He chose to continue coaching girls basketball and submitted his resignation, which is effective Tuesday, to the school board. The district has had a conflict-of-interest policy in place since 1998 that prohibits board members from benefiting monetarily from the district more than $5,000, Burmeister said. …
Thursday, October 13, 2011
Group hopes to expand on successful event.
About 300 people participated in the Oak Creek-Franklin Foundation for Education run/walk held earlier this month. The organization was pleased with the turnout and hopes to expand on it next year by creating partnerships with local fitness clubs, Superintendent Sara Burmeister said. A 5k run was part of the event for the first time this year. Proceeds raised from the run/walk helps the foundation support Oak Creek-Franklin school programs.
Wednesday, October 12, 2011
Kreuser has long history with Oak Creek-Franklin School District.
Longtime Oak Creek educator Don Kreuser is back working in the school district following the resignation of Edgewood Principal Lewis Malczewski. Kreuser spent 37 years in the Oak Creek-Franklin School District as a teacher, assistant principal and principal before retiring three years ago. He will be at Edgewood until the end of the school year while the district searches for a permanent replacement, Superintendent Sara Burmeister said. "He's an excellent principal," she said. "He has agreed to stay on for the rest of the year so we can take some time to find a person on a more permanent basis." Malczewski resigned because of a medical issue, Burmeister said.
Tuesday, October 11, 2011
Administrators will spend a few days in school district at end of October.
A group of principals from Germany are scheduled to spend a few days in the Oak Creek-Franklin School District later this month. The principals will arrive Oct. 27 and are particularly interested in learning about testing and co-curricular activities, Superintendent Sara Burmeister said. They are also hoping to catch a high school football game, and will have a chance to do so if the Knights can advance to the second round of the playoffs. Students have off on on Oct. 27 and 28, so the principals will see them in action - mostly at Oak Creek High School and East Middle School - the following Monday (Oct. 31) before leaving.
Board wanted to keep pension costs down.
Oak Creek-Franklin Superintendent Sara Burmeister will receive a one-time, 3 percent bonus this year. The School Board approved the payment Monday night. Burmeister earns a salary of $153,497, according to Department of Public Instruction data, making the bonus worth $4,604. Board members said that they chose to approve a bonus rather than a salary increase to help keep pension costs down, an idea that came from board member Mark Verhalen, who was elected to his first term in April. Board President Frank Carini gave Burmeister high praise for her job performance. The bonus was an outside-the-box idea to reward her while keeping costs down for taxpayers, he said. "Every time you give a salary increase, there is a domino effect" on pensions…
Assistant Principal Michael Read named replacement.
Paul Sigler will end his 23-year career with the Oak Creek-Franklin School District at the conclusion of this school year when he retires as high school principal. The School Board accepted the retirement Monday night. Replacing Sigler will be another long-time district employee, Michael Read, now an assistant principal at the high school. Superintendent Sara Burmeister said Sigler has a "great deal of passion" for his work and credited him with forging strong partnerships between the school and the community. "I think that he’s very well-liked and he'll certainly be missed," Burmeister said. Sigler, who had previous school administration experience in western Wisconsin, began in Oak Creek as a junior-high assistant principal. He has also …
Gary Kasza
7:38 am on Thursday, February 9, 2012
I hope all of the residents of Oak Creek who opposed moving City Hall etc. remember the three Aldermen's names, and vote them out!!! The land swap, what a closed door deal this was!!! Thanks OC School board and Superindendent!! 50 acres for 12 acres!! Yeah, I have some swamp land for sale too. Ill give you 50 acres for 12! Great business sense there! Remember voters! Write the names down!! more ›