Star Journal

Top Menu

  • Contact Us
  • Hodag Star Journal E-Edition
  • Subscribe

Main Menu

  • Local
    • News
    • Business
    • Schools
    • Law & Order
    • Arts & Ent
    • Wedding Planner
    • Viewpoint
    • Sports
      • Sports News
      • High School Sports Scores
  • Covid 19
  • Outdoors
  • Wellness
  • Classifieds
    • View Ads
    • Place Ads
  • Our Legals
    • Legal Ads
    • Statewide
  • Obits
  • Lake View
  • Northwoods NOW
  • Living On The Lake
  • Contact Us
  • Hodag Star Journal E-Edition
  • Subscribe

logo

Star Journal

  • Local
    • News
    • Business
    • Schools
    • Law & Order
    • Arts & Ent
    • Wedding Planner
    • Viewpoint
    • Sports
      • Sports News
      • High School Sports Scores
  • Covid 19
  • Outdoors
  • Wellness
  • Classifieds
    • View Ads
    • Place Ads
  • Our Legals
    • Legal Ads
    • Statewide
  • Obits
  • Lake View
  • Northwoods NOW
  • Living On The Lake
Uncategorized
Home›Uncategorized›Letter: Writer believes Rhinelander area pays blackmail by Robert Fredrickson

Letter: Writer believes Rhinelander area pays blackmail by Robert Fredrickson

By StarJournal
March 8, 2013
522
0
Share:

Editor:

Recently, the Rhinelander area school district demanded and received an increase in taxation of $12 million over the next three years. They obtained the additional taxation through coercive threats to severely damage the education of the district’s children. And to greatly increase the activity fees which, given the prevailing area wages, would put many of the children out of the activities, rather than a vote of confidence on the school district’s high costs and the lavish benefits packages, including early retirement opportunities which are included. Benefits which probably 90 percent of other area residents can only dream of having.

The referendum was a common understanding and acceptance of the importance of education and the activities which go with the education. I didn’t hear the district saying to improve education, we will put the district on pay for performance and dump the poor performers. We will immediately end early retirement opportunities. We will change our benefits packages so that they more closely mirror what other workers in the area receive. To save on costs, we will greatly reduce the pool of administrative employees and farm their work out to private businesses that could handle more than one school district with the same employee.

I am requesting that the school district, under the Freedom of Information Act, turn over to the local newspapers and have the following information published: itemized list of various benefits received and costs of each benefit; costs of early retirements, including benefits received and any costs of penalties paid into the Wisconsin Retirement System for early retirements.

Using the Rhinelander School District’s math of nearly $1 million increases, after 3, 4, 5 or 12 million dollars comes 6, 7, 8 or 21 million dollars. So unless high costs are contained, in three years, the Rhinelander school district will be going to referendum for $33 million above 2012 spending levels.

Having worked in industry for 43 years, I served a four-year apprenticeship as a fluid power maintenance mechanic and tool room machinist. While maintaining automated equipment, like others, I went to the local technical institute which later became a college, earning an associate degree in fluid power and robotics. I do understand the importance of K12 education, higher education and ongoing education. The high costs of education must be reduced while improving both quality and numbers being educated, or the quality of life and living standards of the 99 percent of citizens, including retirees, will be greatly decreased.

Robert Fredrickson, Rhinelander

Previous Article

Lions Club offering free vision screening

Next Article

Obituary: Mary Viola Radtke

0
Shares
  • 0
  • +
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0

Related articles More from author

  • LocalUncategorized

    Ostermann named Main Street volunteer of the year

    November 8, 2013
    By StarJournal
  • BusinessUncategorized

    Business Close-Up: Getting damaged vehicles running

    November 14, 2013
    By StarJournal
  • Uncategorized

    About Us

    November 18, 2013
    By StarJournal
  • Uncategorized

    Contact Us

    November 18, 2013
    By StarJournal
  • Uncategorized

    Advertise

    November 18, 2013
    By StarJournal
  • Uncategorized

    About Us

    November 18, 2013
    By StarJournal

Leave a reply Cancel reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.

About Us


Star Journal is published by Multi Media Channels LLC, N2919 County Road QQ Waupaca, WI 54981.

  • Contact Us
  • Hodag Star Journal E-Edition
  • Subscribe
Copyright © 2020 Multi Media Channels LLC.
All Rights Reserved. No part of this publication or any of its contents may be reproduced, copied, modified or adapted without the prior written consent of Multi Media Channels LLC.
×