Views from outside the Ryan listening session
U.S Rep. Paul Ryan held a series of listening sessions Tuesday in Kenosha County at which he detailed his vision of the federal budget and took questions from audience members.
The audience at the first session in Twin Lakes was supportive. The audience at his second appearance in Paddock Lake was more mixed.
In Kenosha, there were protesters out front. All three appearances had more people that wanted to attend than the rooms they were in could hold.
Freelance photographer Mike Gordon was not able to get inside the Madigrano Auditorium at Gateway Technical College, so he talked to some of the people outside. Here’s his video:
Meanwhile, westofthei.com does have extensive video from the Western Kenosha County sessions. It’s likely that Ryan’s statements were similar in Kenosha, even if the atmosphere was more charged.
Unifed School Board lowers credit requirement
Lowering the number of credits needed for high school graduation in the Kenosha Unified School District was approved by the School Board Tuesday.
A motion was made to reject the administration’s recommendation, but it failed for lack of a second. Another motion was made by board member Jo Ann Taube to accept the administration’s recommendation, and it was approved by a vote of 6 to 1, with board member Carl Bryan the sole dissenting vote.
Before the vote, board members raised questions and discussed other options.
Board member David Gallo said: “This is one of the toughest decisions I’ve had to make. We have a responsibility to students and teachers, and also to the taxpayers. We need to save $5.9 million. What can we do? My wife is a teacher. I’ve got two kids in charter schools. What is the best scenario? The best is what’s on the table today. We will keep on improving.”
Nuzzo said, “I learned a lesson in life, and that is that life is not fair.”
Currently students must earn 26 high school credits to graduate and complete four credits in the academic areas of English, math, science and social studies. The new standard is 23 credits including four English, three Math, three Social Studies and three Science credits. Students earning a diploma with honors distinction would be required to complete 4 credits of advanced placement courses during their sophomore, junior and senior year. Maximum credit attainment will be 28.
Units responding to report of crash in Somers
Photo by kconnors with morgueFile.com
At 2:50 p.m., units from Somers Fire Department and the Sheriff’s Department are responding to a report of a crash in the 900 block of Highway 31, Somers.
Unified board passes budget assumptions
The Kenosha Unified School Board Tuesday night passed a set of budget assumptions based on anticipated greatly reduced revenue due to potential changes in the state budget.
The budget passed unanimously. However, it could change. ”We don’t have to make decisions until the levy is passed in September/October,” School Board President Mary Snyder said. At this point, the district is working with $557 less per student, and with 23,000+ students in the district, resulting in an unprecedented cut in funding. Snyder urged the public to do their research and come to meetings.
People certainly did come to Tuesday’s meeting.
