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Rep. Davis introduces education plan
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MADISON - Ranking Assembly Education Committee member Brett Davis, R-Oregon, was an active man Monday.

He spent the morning, along with fellow Assembly Republicans, unveiling a plan to improve student assessment and the school financing system, then made a mid-day appearance on the MSNBC cable news network.

The Republicans' plan calls for the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction to update state standards and performance levels on state assessments for English, math, science and reading by Sept. 1, 2010; a summit on student achievement by November 2010; eliminate the current 10th-grade Wisconsin Knowledge and Concepts Examination and require all juniors to take a new test; and require state assessment test results be available to school districts and parents within six weeks of taking the exam.

"The question is, what can we do today so 20 years from now we look back and know we did the best we could to accomplish these goals," Davis said.

Davis said another portion of the plan calls for districts to measure the students' development.

"We want to look at where the student was at the beginning of the year and where they were at the end of year. That way we can see how they progressed throughout the year," Davis said.

School districts could share methods that have successfully improved student achievement, he added.

"Our state standards and performance levels aren't aligned to international levels," Davis said. "We have to recognize that we aren't just competing against Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota or Indiana. We're competing on a global scale for jobs against China, Japan and India."

Republicans also want to restore the Qualified Economic Offer (QEO).

The QEO guaranteed teachers an increase in wages and benefits of at least 3.8 percent.

The QEO, which went into effect in 1993, was taken out of the state budget in 2009.

Other aspects of the plan require the state to pay for two-thirds of education funding; and provide state health benefits to teachers. Davis said the state would begin to pay two-thirds of school funding by 2015. He said the state needs to plan ahead to meet its obligation, but said it is possible.

Davis said a sustainable plan to help pay for education is important.

"Throwing more money (at education) doesn't lead to student achievement," he said.

Davis said he knows there will be opposition to some of the ideas but he's optimistic Republicans and Democrats can work together.

"These are ideas that shouldn't be partisan," he said.

Davis hopes to have public hearings to discuss the various aspects of the plan before the end of the year, and he hopes the Assembly Education Committee will debate the proposals early next year.

Davis said he'd like to see the proposals passed before the Assembly adjourns in the spring.

Later that day, Davis appeared on national television, but not to discuss public education.

Davis, was a guest on MSNBC's "Dr. Nancy" television program at 11 a.m.

He was on the show as a member of a panel discussion to voice his opposition to the federal government plan to provide H1N1 vaccinations to prisoners at the Guantanamo Bay detention facility in Cuba.

"I was on the side of not giving it to prisoners either in Cuba or to prisoners in Wisconsin until everyone else has gotten the vaccine," he said.

It was the first time Davis has appeared on national television.

"It was a neat experience," he said.
New plan focuses on city’s expansive park system
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The annual Monroe Parks and Recreation best shot doubles tournament will be held Saturday, Aug. 24, at Twining Park in Monroe. Proceeds from the event will go toward funding the course expansion to 18 holes, which Parks Director Paul Klinzing is progressing toward a finalized design. (Times file photo: Anthony Wahl)

MONROE — From lighting replacements at Twining Park ballfields, to tennis court resurfacing and improvements to the water slide and other features at the city’s pool, city officials are reviewing a new planning document they say will be a guide to what many consider one of the city’s most celebrated features: Its park system.

While arctic air sweeping in before Christmas may discourage many residents from getting outside as much, officials say that is the goal of the strategic planning effort. 

“The Parks & Open Space Plan involves a collaborative approach to reflect the needs and priorities of the community,” said City Administrator Brittney Rindy in an email. “It begins with a comprehensive community survey to gather input from residents about their preferences and concerns regarding our parks and green spaces.”

The new, four-year plan, covering 2025 to 2029, was presented for initial review by the city through a Dec. 11 meeting of the city’s plan commission. A key feature, of course, is the public feedback section, and it reflects the priorities and perspective of a cross-section of city residents, officials said.

“Based on this feedback, along with Wisconsin DNR strategic planning standards, a plan is developed by the staff to be reviewed and recommended by the Parks Commission and City Plan Commission to the City Council,” Rindy said. 

The plan, available for public view on the city’s website, includes a section on each major city park/amenity and plans to improve most, if not all, of them over the proposal’s lifespan.

There is a lot for planners to cover. Consider that the local park system includes:

●  16 city park areas of 110 acres

●  13 playgrounds available for children

●  More than 100 programs offered.

●  Nine shelters.

●  Over 70 youth hired during the year for 100 seasonal positions

●  A 90-acre park with trails and areas to walk your dog.

“There’s just a lot of information in this document,” said Josh Trame, Monroe’s Parks and Forestry Supervisor.

Among the sections, the public input section highlights the community’s commitment to its parks. When asked “what the role of parks, recreation and open space in Monroe today is” more than 63% of survey respondents ranked it “extremely important,” while another 35% considered it “important.”

When asked about “improvements and possible additions” to parks, the “very important” items noted by the public included adding shade structures to the pool, more linking of parks to trails, planting more trees, improving the existing pool, and adding water fountains/benches at multiple locations.

Once the draft is completed, the plan will go to the Park Commission for final recommendation to the Plan Commission, which then recommends that final plan to the City Council for final approval — a process likely to go well into 2025.

The plan also is instrumental in securing additional grant and other funding for park-related projects, according to Trame and Rindy. Other key staffers at the parks department include Matt Skibba, director of culture and recreation, and Alyssa Eberle, recreation supervisor.

“The plan…is as essential for securing grants as it identifies a clear plan for the development and improvements of the parks and recreational areas,” Rindy said. “The plan also shows our commitment to the community to enhance public spaces through their feedback.”