Two School Board Seats Up For Election

Kolesar, Schmitz are up for re-election and say they will run. Deadline to declare is Jan. 2.

Two seats on the Hamilton School Board are up for election in April with the district recently announcing the election schedule.  Gabe Kolesar, who represents Sussex along with Gerald Schmitz, who holds an at-large seat, are up for re-election. According to the district, both are expected to run for their seats.   The deadline for candidates to declare is Wednesday, Jan. 2. If a primary is needed, it will be held on Tuesday, Feb. 19. Tuesday, April 2 will be Election Day and those that are elected will take office on Monday, April 22.    

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School Board Approves District Calendar Parameters For Upcoming School Year

The district calendar will consist of 180 student contact days, 192 teacher contract days, typical break periods for holidays and early release days for professional development.

The Hamilton School School Board approved last week the framework for the 2013-14 school year calendar.  The district calendar will consist of 180 student contact days, 192 teacher contract days, typical break periods for holidays and early release days for professional development.   According to the district's web site, the parameters have the "same considerations that have been in place for years when calendars were negotiated between the School Board and teachers’ association."  Collective bargaining reform prohibits the negotiation between school districts and teachers union in terms of the calendar.  Administrators will glean input from parent groups and instructional leadership as they finalize the calendar, the Web site says.  "…

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Barbara Barnes

8:00 am on Wednesday, November 28, 2012

We don't need the kids home to help with farm chores so lets start a full time school program that reflects the new norm in society. Instead of expanded summer opportunities just continue with school. Let's start education reform here in Wisconsin where we have a history of initiatives that expanded to society.   more ›

Newly Elected Hamilton School Board Member Addresses Rumors

The election’s over and Brian Schneider takes on the rumors about why he ran for office and his link to a taxpayers group, and — more importantly — what he plans to do next.

“First, is this call being recorded, is it?” asked Brian Schneider, Hamilton’s newly elected school board member. I laughed and said no. He’s referring to the highly publicized political mixup his opponent Lynn Kristensen faced while battling over the Menomonee Falls seat on the School Board. After the public first learned Kristensen signed the Gov. Scott Walker recall petition, things spiraled, eventually leading to Schneider’s victory with almost 70 percent of the votes. “It’s something I didn’t expect would happen,” Schneider said. “It’s something that came up, and I don’t know if I really have a lot to say about it. I got questions myself on whether I signed the petition. People called. I guess it’s just something that can happen. Once…

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Emily

7:09 pm on Friday, April 13, 2012

Ha. School aren't going to 'reward' teachers for doing good. You honestly think that would happen? No. And these teachers know it. They know that the salary they are told they'll be making when they first are hired is the same salary they will make the rest of their time employed, regardless of seniority or higher education received. And I can GUARANTEE you, classes and clubs are NOT being added…   more ›

UPDATE: Hamilton Board Member Misspells Name on Two Recall Petitions

Lynn Kristensen was first in hot water by certain Patch readers for signing the recall, and now for allegedly spelling her name incorrectly on both the Walker and Darling recall petitions. She commented on her signature and fiercely denied the rumors.

Editor's Note: This article was altered to include details about Kristensen misspelling her name on the Alberta Darling recall petition as well. Changed April 2 at 2:30 p.m. After learning multiple village officials and a Hamilton School Board member signed the Gov. Scott Walker recall petition, rumors began sprouting about how a certain name was signed on the recall. Hamilton School District resident Jeremy Halcomb called both Patch and the Sussex Sun on March 22 saying he believed board member Lynn Kristensen purposely misspelled her name on the recall petition so residents couldn't specifically search for her. Halcomb also said that when he called to confront Kristensen, who's up for re-election on April 3, she allegedly lied and said …

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Luke

6:53 pm on Tuesday, April 3, 2012

Rachel said>> He sent it out because they would be receptive, and because that is an important issue to him. He has that right. And, in fact, a number of school boards manipulated circumstances so that they run out of money by not taking advantage of Act 10, so it should be a concern to everyone, one way or ther other. And need I remind you, Rachel, that you said this last week? Rachel said: >> …   more ›

Sussex Election Central

From the presidential primary to the local School Board races, you'll find everything you need to know about the candidates and the races in the April 3 elections our special Election Central Voters Guide.

School District Refinances, Saves Taxpayers Almost $500,000

This is the eighth time Hamilton has refinanced their debt, creating over $12.5 million in savings.

After refinancing its $5.84 million in debt, the Hamilton School District has saved taxpayers $475,000. The school board approved the refinancing during Monday night’s meeting. It’s the eighth time the school district has done it since 2001 creating a total of $12.6 millions in savings overall. This year’s lowest competitive refinancing bid came in at less than 1.7 percent. Business Services Assistant Superintendent Bryan Ruud addressed the board members and said the money is practically going right back to taxpayers. “We’ll be using those savings to help taxpayers by lowering the tax levy and balancing everything out,” Ruud said. “Now there’s $12.6 million is savings have truly gone back to taxpayers.” In addition, the Hamilton School …

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School Board Could Face Changes, but Village Board Goes Unchallenged

Six seats were up for grabs, but only one new contender filed election paperwork.

Editor's Note: This story was updated with more correct information a 8:25 on Jan. 3. The Hamilton School Board could soon have a change as a new contender has filed his paperwork to become a member. Brian Schneider will run against incumbent Lynn Kristensen — who has filed her election papers along with other incumbents Deborah Briggs and Dawn Van Aacken — for the Menomonee Falls seat on the board in the April 3 election. Members of the board are elected for three-year terms and are paid $4,000 annually. With a deadline to file the election paperwork on Tuesday at 5 p.m., only Schneider has stepped up to the plate. However, no challengers have presented themselves to snatch the seat from the three Village Board members whose two-year …

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Grant Money at Hamilton Takes a Dive

Government funding designed to create programs for disadvantaged students has been cut in half over the last four years.

A government fund that the Hamilton School District uses for programs that aid children from low-income families has dipped dramatically this school year with little signs of stopping. The Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) is a federal grant where the money is allocated into certain “titles” — or programs — at schools. The programs range from teacher development to technology. Over the last nine years, the grant total peaked at almost $500,000 during the 2007-08 school year. This year the district will receive just under $175,000. While that number pales in comparison to the district’s $48.16 million budget, Hamilton’s Public Information Coordinator, Denise Lindberg, says that money is used for some pretty important programs. “…

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Hamilton Opens Its Doors to a Few More Outside Students

School Board agrees to let 14 additional students attend district next year under Open Enrollment program.

Fourteen out-of-district students on a waiting list to attend the Hamilton School District will be allowed in for the 2011-12 school year. The School Board Monday approved allowing 11 more students into the district’s 4-year-old kindergarten program and three more into fourth grade under the state's Open Enrollment program. The board had previously approved letting 10 additional students attend the school in the upcoming school year. John Roubik, director of human resources and organizational development, said the 14 students approved by the board Monday are able to attend because of extra seats available in those grades. Other students waiting to attend the district will most likely not get into Hamilton schools in the coming school year…

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Hamilton School Board Approves New Grievance Procedures

New rules needed after district's existing contract expired June 30.

The Hamilton School Board has approved a new employee grievance procedure as required by new state law. The change in the grievance procedure became necessary with the expiration of the expiration of the district’s collective bargaining contract on June 30. Under the new procedure, issues will no longer go to an arbiter, but to an impartial hearing officer. Unlike arbitration, which has costs split between the district and union, the district will have to pay for the hearing officer. However, Superintendent Kathleen Cooke said the district will still save substantial amounts of money in legal fees and the cost of an arbiter. Although the School Board approved the change, board member Gerald Schmitz raised concerns over a provision that …

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