July 1, 2022 – West Bend, WI – I hope you are all enjoying your summer as much as I am, including some of the West Bend School Board members. Just because it is summertime, doesn’t mean “business as usual” stops, especially with the experienced school board members. They are proceeding as exactly that, business as usual, status quo, same old same old, however you want to spin it.
About a month ago, an action item came in front of the school board regarding AI or Artificial Intelligence. The administration wanted (so badly) to have the Artificial Intelligence program called “Amira” to be approved. For those of you wondering what this is, it is a program that is created to capture, record, and store your child’s data as they read to their chrome book in an attempt to help guide and assist the children with reading. Sounds great, right?
I wish I could say “yes”. I spent countless hours researching the vendor the district wanted to use, as well as sending many emails between Dr. Jill Ries, Tim Harder, and all of the school board members. Dr. Jill Ries and Tim Harder were very prompt in responding as well as John Donaldson was kind enough to meet with me in person to discuss this topic. We all know that big brother is always watching our every move and algorithms are being created every second we are on any form of electronic device with WiFi capabilities. Starting to see a reason for concern yet?
As the new school board members promised they would do while they were campaigning, they have asked the administration MANY tough questions that we haven’t heard from any other school board members. Don’t believe me? Go and watch the past school board meetings, which are available on the district website, as well as YouTube. New school board member John Donaldson, who has experience in IT and software asked district administrator Tim Harder if the data collected would be tokenized, as well as will the data be protected if a data breech were to occur. The answer to the first question was no and maybe, respectively. Maybe, because (apparently) the district creates their own contract and policy with the vendor just in case a data breech would occur. The problem with that is that if a data breech would occur, and legal measures must be taken, the data has already reached the hands of people with the wrong intentions. John Donaldson and Melanie Ehrgott both voted no but it comes as no surprise that the five other school board members voted yes, creating a majority vote that passed.
If we have learned anything over the last few years, we have learned (as a community) that children thrive on in-person learning. The children thrive on face-to-face learning. These children thrive on interacting with actual human beings. As a parent that had to deal with virtual learning on more than one occasion, it is a complete nightmare. There isn’t much, if any, structure, and has a “free for all” type feel to it. Why on earth would the school board vote to approve MORE time AWAY from face-to-face learning? Have they not been paying attention these last few years?
With the annual budget now being a topic of conversation that will be discussed at many upcoming school board meetings, I hope the district can find a way to balance the budget without raising the property tax levy like they have done in years past. I’m sure that will be possible with the over $3 million federal stimulus money in the name of ESSER and can be used however the district sees fit (as per one of Andy Sarnows’ statements). With every taxpaying citizen being affected by inflation, increased prices at the gas pump as well as the grocery store, and many other goods and services, I don’t think the community would be thrilled to have to pay more in property taxes as a result of the school board voting on it. If the district has over $3 million in federal funds that can be used, what are some issues you have that you would like the money to be spent on? Basic principles such as reading, writing, and arithmetic? Securing our schools? Hiring quality teachers that have the child’s best interest at hand instead of pushing their own political agenda? Or should this money be used to increase funding with Covid-19 supplies and materials? What about spending it to incorporate more programs that take away face to face learning time from the students, the very future of this country? A survey was sent out to community members and stakeholders, local businesses, and anyone who is on the email list for the district. I strongly suggest you fill it out as to how you feel is best these ESSER dollars should be spent.
If you’ve made it this far, thank you for taking the time to stay informed as to what is going on with the WBSD. I assume there will be many more “interesting” topics of conversation happening at future board meetings. Enjoy your summer!
Bill Schulz
West Bend, WI 53095
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