Wake Up! Waukesha

Friday night…Waukesha North Stadium…Under the lights…Stands are packed…Waukesha West vs. Waukesha North…Let the game begin!

The damp, cool air hanging over the North Field greeted you as the teams entered. Everything was so …“High School”: Parent boosters selling school merchandise while others staffed the concession stands; kids mulling about hooking-up with “their group” as others crammed into the standing-room-only student section; a moment of silence for the National Anthem; and then the kickoff.

Players parents grouped together in the stands - living each down as if they were on the field; sharing each other’s anguish over a player’s mistake, or congratulating a mom or dad after a play where their son’s number and name is singled out over the stadium speakers. Marching band, cheerleader, pom squad, and alumni parents, siblings, and relatives enjoying the game while waiting for the half-time performances.

And the talk in the stands…”Is West 4-0 and North 0-4?... That #74 is a big kid… #16 is being recruited by Wisconsin…Can North hold the lead?...Who did they play last week?...How’s South this year?...What was that coach thinking?...Can North hang-on?...Wow-did you feel the power of the brass section?...Do you think West will adjust for the second half?...Who’s going with who to Homecoming?...Are you going to State for marching band?...Why don’t they move their secondary in?...They gotta cover that kid or he’ll kill us”…and finally: “The kids really played their hearts out - what a great game!”

And that’s really what it’s all about. Kids and parents understanding that ‘The Game” was the backdrop for bringing kids closer together; players played, cheerleaders cheered; poms danced; marching band wowed everyone; and the student section cheered as one. The parents enjoyed one another’s company and left with a “looking forward to next week’s game” feeling.

There is nothing more encompassing and more pure in amateur athletics then high school football. Fierce rivalries are renewed between schools. Schools win and lose as a “team”. School spirit and school pride are proudly on display. The embarrassment of mistakes and the exultant feeling of success provide the balance for an interaction that bridges age, gender, social and economic differences. Near-neighbor parents are brought a little closer together. And ultimately, when this many people are a part of something really special, the entire Waukesha Community gets …that…much…better!

For the record – Waukesha North jumped out to 21-0 lead. West battled back, scoring just before halftime making it 21-7. The Waukesha North Marching Band “owned” the crowd with a great halftime performance. West battled back superbly in the second half and was driving for the tying score as the game wound down. With seconds remaining, North intercepted in the West end zone.

Final score: Waukesha North 28 Waukesha West 20

(Bloggers note; Sorry for the length…)–


First: This is not promoting a school referendum!

The Waukesha School District is faced with challenges many Districts either are, or will be coming to grips with: Relatively flat enrollments, increased wage and benefit costs, increased basic costs of operation and maintenance, and revenue streams (State aid, fees, and property taxes) which don’t keep pace with the preceding. Discounting critics who come armed with the age-old arguments starting with “Teachers make too much” or “Teachers don’t pay enough for benefits” or “Property taxes are already too high” or a myriad of other “Don’t bother me with reality – School funding isn’t my problem”, it’s time to challenge ourselves to plan for education right here in Waukesha for the upcoming years.

Do you know our School Board members? I do, and whether I personally agree with each of them on politics, religion, or taxes, my first-hand experience is they are truly committed, well-qualified, and make educated decisions balancing a responsible tax rate with the specific needs of our Waukesha District. Critics hide behind the above arguments, stir emotional outcries, and they seem to avoid constructive, eyes-open discussions with acceptance of the real facts. Watch our Board closely – They represent an excellent cross-section of Waukesha; they really are good people; and they need your input and support moving forward.

How well do you know the District Administration? Starting with the Superintendent, David Schmidt and his staff, I challenge anyone to find a more qualified, more highly-principled, and more professional group. Ask your local Community and Business leaders, and their answers invariably are “We’re fortunate to have the leadership of Dave Schmidt here in Waukesha”. Ask the Waukesha United Way Leadership and Board who demonstrated their confidence in naming Dave Schmidt Chairperson of this year’s campaign. And ask people such as myself who consider themselves fortunate to have worked constructively with David on Boards and Committees relating to the ever-changing challenges of Public Education.

Do you understand what’s different about the Waukesha School District? All too often, a simplistic comparison between school districts will focus on ACT scores for college, curriculums, and “per pupil funding” from the State. Open your eyes and acknowledge the economic, social, and ethnic differences separating Waukesha from Elmbrook, Kettle Moraine, Arrowhead, and most other oft-compared, adjacent Districts. Comparing educational programs and budgets between communities doesn’t neatly work into a “One size fits all” compartment. Cultural, economic, and social diversity in the Waukesha District creates pupil needs far beyond our near-neighbors, and there are, like it or not, costs connected with this diversity. Maintaining quality educational opportunities for the entire cross-section of Waukesha in this era has thus far been nothing short of miraculous.

Is maintaining the current education program important to you? If you take the stance “someone else will take care of it”, or “my kids are out of the house” or any of the original generalities listed earlier, stop reading now. The Board and District Administration leadership have worked tirelessly for the past several years to minimize the impact of today’s funding formula for education. Paradoxically, their great work is their own worst enemy. By minimizing and spreading out the current impact, there have been no outcries of what is, and will be happening in the immediate future. And the Board and Administration have again demonstrated professionalism with their restraint and decency in accepting their responsibilities to make it all work without public whining.

Will you now be taken “by surprise” when next year’s School District budget increases class sizes (again); when the existing teaching staff is reduced (again); when “at-risk” programs are “at-risk” (again); extracurriculars are either “gutted” and/or too expensive for all students (ongoing); and when deferred basic building maintenance needs are classified lower the educational needs (again)? And do you understand there are no quick, no-cost solutions?

Again, this should not even be considered as laying the groundwork for another school referendum in Waukesha. The raw emotions exposed during previous referendums has distracted from the real questions looming large in Waukesha’s future. The issues facing our School District and Community can only be addressed if all vested parties accept and understand the challenges in the context of the current funding realities. Education is neither a commodity nor a business in the traditional sense, so don’t categorize it as such.

More then anything else, educational opportunities impact our local economy, property values, and most important, they affect our Waukesha C

The Waukesha Education Foundation (WEF) is bringing a “special magic” to the halls of Waukesha South High School November 5th. The “Magic” of the Celebration Of Excellence will be felt by all in attendance as good company, great food, musical wonders, and the best students in the land converge on the South Campus.

The Celebration is best summed-up as “By the Kids - For the Kids”. Students will be exhibiting in the “Hall of Excellence” with displays bringing their classroom accomplishments to the guests. Students will be volunteering their time as food and beverage servers, ticket sellers, registration greeters, and a host of other activities.

Have you ever been in the middle of a HS Marching band? How about being in the middle of 3 of the best bands in the whole State? Attend and you will be completely immersed in sound as the combined Waukesha Marching Bands blow the roof off of the field house!

Special recognition will be given to Mr. Jim Doepke from Waukesha North as the WEF Community Partner in Education, and Waukesha State Bank will be recognized as the Corporate Partner in Education for 2006.

The evening’s festivities will raise money and awareness of the WEF
and it’s mission to provide grants, scholarships, and endowments for the students in the Waukesha School District. Sponsors, donors, and attendees will have that great feeling that comes from seeing good kids doing good things.

Tickets will be going fast and are conveniently available, along with additional information, on the WEF site.

FOOTNOTE: The planning committee recently “sampled” the Event’s food from Ellen Zilli’s Catering, and they proudly proclaimed the menu selections as “The best of the best!”.

I received the following press release for our Civic Theatre and was reminded that Summer is fading-fast! With the “cooler” temps around the corner, it’s time to consider alternatives to keep us amused and entertained.

Why not jump-in for the “hottest” tickets in Town – The Waukesha Civic Theatre! The venue is great, seating is comfortable, parking is free, and the ticket prices reasonable.

And did I mention free parking?…


WAUKESHA CIVIC THEATRE PROUDLY ANNOUNCES THE START OF ITS 50TH SEASON!

"A Golden Opportunity To Celebrate 50 Years Of Quality Live Entertainment!"

The Waukesha Civic Theatre will open their golden anniversary season (2006-2007) with The Little Foxes, by Lillian Hellman, which was the first show that WCT ever produced in 1957. The rest of the season includes highlights from each decade of WCT’s glorious past, and one local area premiere. The WCT Board of Directors also proudly announces that they have asked John Cramer, Managing Artistic Director, to play the role of Harold Hill in the second show of the season, The Music Man, as part of the 50th anniversary celebration.
The Mainstage Season Ticket Package begins in September 2006 and concludes in June 2007. The package includes:
• The Little Foxes, September 22 to October 8, 2006, directed by Susan Currie
• The Music Man, November 3 to 19, 2006, directed by Howard Bashinski and starring John Cramer
• Arsenic and Old Lace, February 2 to 18, 2007, directed by Kelly L. Krause
• The Foreigner, March 9 to 25, 2007, directed by Brian Zelinski
• The Importance of Being Ernest, May 4 to 20, 2007, directed by Mary Beth Topf
• Whose Wives Are They Anyway? June 8 to 24, 2007, directed by John Cramer
Additional performances include:
Holiday Show:
• Christmas On Angel Street, December 8 to 17, 2006, directed by Ellen Langler
- more -
Concert Series:
• Lost In Boston, Joel Kopischke, Kelli Cramer, and J. Ruben Piirainen, October 13 to 15, 2006
• If They Could See Me Now!, Lynetta Ivey, Joe Nolen, and J. Ruben Piirainen, January 12 to 14, 2007
More performances may be added throughout the year, as well as various events celebrating WCT’s 50th Anniversary Season! Check the WCT website frequently for up-to-date performance and event information.