Wisconsin's Public Schools FAIL

Taxpayers are now shelling out more than $18,000 per pupil statewide and our black students' national test scores are the worst in the nation. Nothing is hurting Wisconsin's kids and public schools worse than your administration. https://t.co/0E37bGFgYp

— Dan O'Donnell (@DanODonnellShow) August 26, 2025

Wisconsin schools are a disaster. That is not President Trump's fault.

Milwaukee Public School Kids - Masks Required

Today, MPS began what should be a joyful first day of class.

Today, children were forced to wear masks, regardless of vaccination.

Even worse, ongoing quarantines will keep kids at home and schools reliant on subs.

Related: Scores/enrollment are⬇️https://t.co/p9MI1EZkkp

— CJ Szafir (@CJSzafir) August 15, 2022

This is child abuse.

Biden Wants to Raise Taxes in Wisconsin

Wisconsinites in Milwaukee county, Joe Biden wants to raise your taxes.

Wisconsinites in Racine county, Joe Biden wants to raise your taxes.

Apparently, raising federal taxes isn't enough for Joe. He wants to confiscate your money so badly that he's worming his way into local school district referendums.

At the worst possible moment, @JoeBiden has endorsed tax increases on Wisconsin residents.

So desperate to be the Dem nominee, he’s getting involved in local issues.@realDonaldTrump is at work protecting the country & Sleepy Joe wants to raise taxes!https://t.co/esJg1oEMTv

— Brad Parscale - Text TRUMP to 88022 (@parscale) April 3, 2020

From the Wisconsin State Journal:

Democratic presidential front-runner Joe Biden came out in support of a pair of Wisconsin school district referendums on Tuesday, a week before the state’s presidential primary election.

The highly unusual move of a presidential candidate weighing in on a local school referendum comes as Biden and other candidates have been sidelined due to the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic.

...Biden came out in support of school referendums in Milwaukee, the state’s largest school district, and Racine. The Milwaukee referendum would cost taxpayers $87 million while the one in Racine comes with a $1 billion price tag. They are among more than 40 districts across the state seeking more than $1.6 billion in referendums in the April 7 election.

...“We need to invest in our public schools and our students, and that’s why I’m proud to support these two referendums to support our schools in Milwaukee and Racine,” Biden said in a statement.

Good grief.

Biden is weighing in on our local school referendums?

Does he have any clue how much money has been poured into failing public schools in Milwaukee? Taxpayers get nothing for their "investment."

Of course, Biden is clueless. He doesn't personally say anything in a statement. The man is incapable of stringing a sentence together that makes sense. Sad but true.

I like that President Trump wasn't afraid to state the obvious about Biden's diminished mental capacity.

It's important to acknowledge.

President Trump is asked about Joe Biden attacking him in a tweet today:

"He didn't write that. That was done by a Democrat operative. He doesn't write. He's probably not even watching right now and, if he is, he doesn't understand what he's watching." pic.twitter.com/F5mWtfP7st

— Daily Caller (@DailyCaller) April 4, 2020

Travis Sarandos - Hateful, Deranged MPS Teacher

The story of crazed Leftist, unbridled hater, and Milwaukee Public School teacher Travis Sarandos is being circulated nationally. It's another proud moment for MPS and Leftists.

Sarandos teaches at Milwaukee High School of the Arts, in the English Department.

Mark Belling broke the story on Tuesday.

Belling writes:

A Milwaukee Public Schools teacher has tweeted on his personal account that “Rush Limbaugh absolutely should have to suffer from cancer.” He goes on to say “it’s awesome that he’s dying” and hopes the death will be “painful.”

... Sarandos has tweeted in the past that he “hates” the Catholic Church and believes Christian conservatives should be “exterminated.” He has tweeted about “poisoning the communion wine.”

If not for Mark Belling, Sarandos would still be in the classroom. After he brought the story to light, Sarandos was placed on leave while MPS investigates.

Alternative media are so important. They play a crucial role in our society. They provide information that the Leftist outlets don't touch at all or ignore until it's shared by someone like Belling.

Expecting Sarandos to start deleting tweets or lock his Twitter account altogether, Belling offers screenshots of the teacher's truly sick tweet about Rush Limbaugh and the one about "a mass extinction of chrisrian [sic] conservative voters."





Travis Sarandos doesn't seem like someone I'd want to teach kids.

Apparently, he likes to wish death on others. He directs his hate at individuals, like Limbaugh, as well as entire groups, like Christian conservatives.

I wonder what he tells his students. It's hard to believe he quarantines his vile spewings to Twitter.



Belling also links to an article Sarandos wrote about Josh Hader and the tweets he wrote while a high school student. The article is posted on BrewCrewBall, SBNation.

"Josh Hader must earn forgiveness, and he’s off to a bad start

Hader’s racist, sexist and homophopic remarks will leave an indelible black mark on his career"

That is priceless.

Denim Day

April 29th is Denim Day.

What's Denim Day?

From Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett:

Dear City of Milwaukee friends and colleagues:

April is Sexual Assault Awareness month. This month, I am proud to stand alongside my colleague Dr. Darienne Driver, Superintendent of Milwaukee Public Schools, in raising awareness of the misconceptions around sexual assault.

The statistics are sobering: nearly 1 in 5 women and 1 in 71 men have been victims of rape in the United States, with many victims experiencing assault before the age of 18. But, according to the U.S. Department of Justice, more than half of rapes and sexual assaults go unreported. It happens nationwide, and it happens in our community.

Help us build a community of support for survivors by pledging your support for Denim Day. On April 29^th, I invite all City of Milwaukee employees and local businesses to wear jeans and show that you, too, stand in support of survivors. A press conference will be held tomorrow in the City Hall Rotunda at 10:00 am.

Attached, you will find a flyer with resources and information on sexual assault. For Denim Day stickers, please contact Erin Perkins, at the City of Milwaukee Commission on Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault at eperkin@milwaukee.gov or 286-2997. You are also encouraged to visit Denim Day Milwaukee online at denimdaymke.org and on Facebook to join the conversation and work towards an end to sexual violence.

Thank you for your support,

Tom Barrett
Mayor

The statistic that 1 in 5 women in the U.S. have been victims of rape is highly dubious.

I see no need to exaggerate or cloud the truth about rape. Such statistical inflation diminishes the horror of the real crimes.

Raising awareness, standing in solidarity with victims of sexual assault -- that's fine.

I don't know how effective wearing jeans can be, but whatever. It's a feel-good but ultimately meaningless gesture.

Be responsible EVERY day. Be respectful EVERY day. Don't act like a thug.

HOLD THUGS ACCOUNTABLE.

That would be far better than taking part in Denim Day.

MPS Closed on Friday

Milwaukee Public Schools are closed again today.

I knew this was would happen.

I suspected it was going to be an extra long weekend for MPS.

From FOX6 News:

Milwaukee Public Schools will be closed on Friday, January 9th. MPS Central Services locations will remain open and all principals and assistant principals should report to their schools.

...The district has reviewed the weather forecast for Friday and determined it is in the best interest of students to close schools that day.

The wind is howling. It's bad.

Yes, it's going to be cold, but it's not "close school" cold.

Yes, a wind chill advisory is in effect, but there isn't a wind chill warning. Advisories are not uncommon in Wisconsin in January.

On Monday, the high temperature was 3 degrees in Milwaukee and the low was -6.

Classes weren't cancelled. They didn't need to be.

Today, the high is forecast to be 2.

Apparently, MPS has had a change of heart in terms of what triggers the need to close school.

From the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel:

Temperatures in southeast Wisconsin will feel bitterly cold, and winds will be brutal in the coming days.

But meteorologists say Milwaukee isn't expected to come anywhere close to a record low, and the winds likely won't be chilling enough to cause many school closings.

...It's Wednesday night when temperatures are expected to bottom out as an Arctic cold front moves in. The overnight low is forecast to hit minus 11, according to the National Weather Service in Milwaukee.

"The big story is the wind chill is going to be so cold," National Weather Service meteorologist J.J. Wood said.

...But the blustery winds won't be quite enough for southeastern Wisconsin to drive wind chills to minus 35 or colder, the threshold that triggers a warning when sustained for more than three straight hours.

A year ago, officials at multiple southeast Wisconsin school districts ordered school closings because of the extreme wind chill.

But most schools won't consider closing unless the National Weather Service declares the more serious wind chill warning.

The Weather Service in Milwaukee issued two such warnings last year, from Jan. 5 to Jan. 7 and from Jan. 27 to 28. On those days, wind chills reached minus 40 to minus 50 degrees, Wood said.

Even during an advisory, however, the National Weather Service recommends that anyone venturing outside wear a hat and gloves to avoid frostbite.

Many school districts are not closing Friday.

The fact is it's winter. Conditions today will not be pleasant. It will be very uncomfortable, but manageable.

A long weekend appears to be driving the decision by MPS to close school for a second day, not the weather.
_______________

UPDATE, January 9, 2015, 11:00 AM:

The official temperature in Milwaukee, at General Mitchell International Airport is, 3.2 degrees. The wind chill is about -15 degrees.

Close school for this?

No.

April Kay Smith, Germantown Kindergarten Teacher - Vandalism

UPDATE, December 23, 2014: Kindergarten teacher who went on rampage against Walker signs to return to class
_____________________

April Kay Smith, 38, is a kindergarten teacher in the Germantown School District.

The public school teacher is accused of vandalizing the Jefferson County Republican Party booth at the Jefferson County Fair.

From M.D. Kittle, Wisconsin Reporter:

April Kay Smith, 38, a kindergarten teacher in the Germantown School District, was issued a disorderly conduct citation for tearing up and stomping on several signs on July 9 at the Jefferson County Republican Party booth after the fair had shut down for the night, according to a Jefferson County Sheriff’s Department report obtained by Wisconsin Reporter.

The incident report, filed by Jefferson County Deputy Heather Larson, states that Smith and her husband, Andrew Smith, 31, originally lied to the officer, despite the fact that a witness, Roxane Stillman, 62, of rural Madison, reported seeing Smith destroy the signs. Stillman, in a July 23 story, told Wisconsin Reporter she followed the suspect around the fairgrounds for more than a half hour, calling out for a police officer.

“… (April Smith) confessed to damaging and ripping out the signs. She stated her husband told her to lie and that she’s just so angry with (Gov) Scott Walker due to the fact that she was a school teacher,” the deputy wrote in the incident report.

So public school teacher April Smith admits to disorderly conduct and obstructing an officer.

What a role model!

I would not want my child to be in her class. I would not want my little kindergartener to be in the care of someone like April Smith.

...The Jefferson County GOP first made the matter public on conservative talk show host Vicki McKenna’s show a few days after the incident.

Stillman said she and her friend were enjoying some kettle corn on a bench across from the Jefferson County Republican Party booth when she said she saw a young woman who looked to be in her late 20s or early 30s at the booth. She said the woman squatted down, like she was relieving herself, and then began smashing up the signs.

Stillman called out to the woman, telling her to wait, that she was going to call the police. The woman started walking away — then she started running, Stillman said.

“I said, ‘Honey, I’m good for about five miles. If you want to run, that’s OK. I’ll stay with you,’” Stillman said. “When she realized she wasn’t going to outrun me she started walking fast all over the fairgrounds trying to ditch me. Everywhere we walked, I yelled out, “Someone get the police! This lady damaged property.”

Stillman claims that, at one point in the chase, the woman grabbed her arm, squeezed it hard and said, “You must like the Koch brothers!”

When Larson arrived at the scene, the deputy asked Smith about Stillman’s allegations, according to the incident report. Smith told the deputy she had “no idea” what the witness was talking about, the deputy reported.

...“I advised her again that I believe she was being untruthful and asked her how she would feel if one of her students lied to her,” Larson wrote in the report. “At this time, she confessed to damaging and ripping out the signs.

...An official from the Germantown School District told Wisconsin Reporter early Monday that the district will be conducting an internal investigation into the matter and will release a statement at a later time.

April Smith is not fit to teach young children. I don't see how the Germantown School District could permit her to remain in her current position.

The woman admitted to destroying property. She obviously was aware that she was in public and committing vandalism. She knew she was making a very public statement via her actions. Then, she lied about it.

"Koch brothers" -- good grief!

I would hope the parents of the students assigned to April Smith's class for the upcoming school year would demand a different teacher for their little ones.

Smith doesn't appear stable enough to be entrusted with teaching kindergarten. The woman lacks character.

Do Germantown taxpayers really want to keep this woman on their payroll?

I suspect the Germantown School District plans to do little more than give April Smith a slap on the wrist, UNLESS parents and taxpayers strongly object.

In any event, I'm sure this incident won't mean the end of April Smith's teaching career. I think the Milwaukee Public Schools would gladly employ someone like April Smith.

Roxane Stillman deserves a lot of credit for her effort to hold April Smith accountable. She is a good role model.
_____________

UPDATE: April Smith's outburst has gone national.

Funny. Searches of Milwaukee news media sites reveal no coverage of the Scott Walker-hating public school teacher.

That would not be the case if someone vandalized the Democrat Party booth. Guaranteed.

MPS: It's Cold - NO SCHOOL

This winter has been a nightmare. Snow and cold and wind and blowing and drifting, and more snow and cold and wind and blowing and drifting.

No relief is in sight.

Milwaukee Public Schools will be closed Monday and Tuesday - again. MPS shut down on January 6th and 7th because of the cold.

The month is ending with another four day weekend for MPS students.

From WISN:

Dr. Gregory E. Thornton, superintendent of schools, made the decision after consulting with local experts about the forecast and dangerous weather conditions.

Most MPS students were scheduled to be off on Monday, but students attending schools on the MPS year-round calendar and the IB calendar were scheduled to attend class on Monday. All classes for students and staff are now canceled with to the district-wide closure.

“The safety of our students and staff is our primary concern and we’re closing the district to keep our students and staff safe,” said Thornton. “We simply do not want our students and staff traveling in these extremely dangerous conditions.”

The regular schedule for ALL students resumes on Wednesday, January 29.

Milwaukee will be pretty much a no school zone for the next two days.

Students in Washington and Ozaukee counties will be braving the elements on Monday. School isn't cancelled for them. at least not yet.

It's not as if it will be colder in Milwaukee than north of the city. Go figure.

Malcolm X Academy Building Sold to 2760 Holdings LLC

The sudden "sale" of the vacant Malcolm X Academy building by Milwaukee Public Schools reveals just how desperate the MPS Leftists are to keep children trapped in their failing school system.

From FOX6 News:

During a meeting on Monday night, October 14th with the city of Milwaukee, the Milwaukee Board of School Directors voted to authorize the administration to ask the city to sell the vacant Malcolm X Academy building to 2760 Holdings LLC for $2.1 million — and part of the deal allows Milwaukee Public Schools to lease it back.

...Additionally, FOX6 News has learned 2760 Holdings LLC is a company comprised of two main partners.

This deal comes with some very specific terms that may have ousted St. Marcus Lutheran School from the running in the very beginning.

St. Marcus had expressed interest in purchasing the former Malcolm X Academy building in order to expand St. Marcus — which is currently at capacity.

The decision to sell seemed to have been decided within minutes on Monday night, but MPS’ vision for the vacant building was there for some time.

...Although the building is being sold for $2.1 million, a lease back is part of the agreement. MPS will pay $1 million a year to the buyer.

Callaway says the term is actually an advantage for MPS — seeing how 2760 Holdings LLC is upgrading the facility so MPS can fulfill the community’s needs.

However, Monday night’s decision comes as a blow to St. Marcus Superintendent Henry Tyson.

“We feel like it`s a really disappointing decision on the part of MPS. They`ve essentially said ‘no’ to one of [th]e highest performing schools in the city — ready and willing to open another campus in a building they`ve allowed to sit vacant for six years,” Tyson said.

This "sale" is a disgrace.

"Although the building is being sold for $2.1 million, a lease back is part of the agreement. MPS will pay $1 million a year to the buyer."

GOOD GRIEF!

Taxpayers' dollars are being pissed away. Yes, that's something MPS has mastered, but this "sale" is beyond the pale.

MPS will pay $1 million a year to 2760 Holdings LLC for BUYING the property!

This is an abomination. It really is.

MPS would do anything to keep the Malcolm X building from being used by St. Marcus Lutheran School, a thriving, positive presence in Milwaukee.

Someone must be held accountable for this insane "sale."

What's really sad is that MPS is bent on preventing children from getting a good education.

It's stuff like this that makes hardworking, taxpaying people leave Milwaukee. Why stay and fund corruption and dysfunction?
________________

Here's video of the story from FOX6 News:

Tippecanoe School Gender Bender Day

Yesterday, Mark Belling brought a bizarre activity occuring at a Milwaukee Public School to the attention of his audience.

It's happening at Tippecanoe School, an elementary school on the south side of Milwaukee. Previously located on Howard Avenue, Tippecanoe now occupies the old Fritsche Middle School facility on Howell Avenue.

The student population includes children in K4 through 8th grade.

Today is a special day at the school. It's GENDER BENDER DAY!

From the May 7, 2013, Tuesday family packet:



The May 14, 2013, packet included the same announcement.

This week's packet listed a new name for the day after some parents complained about Gender Bender Day.



Now, it's "Switch It Up Day," but other than the name, nothing has changed.

The male students are supposed to dress like girls and the females students are supposed to dress like boys.

It's a "School Spirit Day" activity.

Belling called Principal Jeffrey W. Krupar to discuss the event, but Krupar wasn't available. When Belling called MPS, the official school district spokesperson said simply the event is voluntary and being done for school spirit. Belling asked if the superintendent thinks it's appropriate in a school setting for children of this age to be cross-dressing. He didn't get an answer.

I really don't see how this activity promotes school spirit. I also don't think it's about fun. I think it's inviting ridicule and sanctioning a day of bullying.

It appears the faculty didn't think this through. They don't seem to have considered all the possible consequences. It seems very insensitive to subject kids who are regularly targeted by bullies to a situation that might heighten the problem.

Aside from the bullying possibility and the potential awkwardness for some kids, I have a problem with the event's original name. GENDER BENDER DAY?

Gender bender is defined as a person who dresses and behaves like a member of the opposite sex.

The term's usage, however, is bit more charged than that.

Here are some definitions from Urban Dictionary:

1. gender bender

A function at which the gender roles are reversed, or manipulated in various ways. Also, a person who explores the boundaries of gender roles, or outright denies their existance

"I went to this great gender bender last night, where I met this kick ass guy, at least I thought so because of his skirt."



2. gender bender

A gender bender is a person who seeks to define gender expression outside of the binary terms of man and woman.

This person may express their gender in a variety of ways such as cross-dressing and not adhereing to stereotypical, traditional, and/or cultural ideals and practices for their gender.

The person often believes in the thought system of gender and sex being separate. A person can be one sex, but express a gender that is usually not associated with that sex.

May also use gender neutral pronouns such as ze and hir.

Explore the concepts of femininity and masculinity with freedom.

Alex is a gender bender. Ze likes to play around with gender expression through clothes, hair styles, and attitudes. Ze doesn't let anyone define what hir gender is.

I can't believe every teacher at Tippecanoe was unaware of what "gender bender" entails. I don't believe they all thought the term means nothing more than wearing a costume. Some, if not all, had to know that it doesn't just refer to what would be an innocent bit of Halloween-type play for children. Is this really about school spirit, or is there an agenda being pushed on the kids?

It's an inappropriate activity for the students. It could be confusing for the little ones and embarrassing. Do you think a first grade boy would want to put on a skirt and wear it to school?

The older students might dread the day from the bullying aspect of it.

Rather than boosting spirit, it could be a day of hell for some kids. Refusing to participate or not going to school at all wouldn't spare a child ridicule. Some are damned if they do and damned if they don't.

Moreover, there could be junior high kids at Tippecanoe, 7th and 8th graders, who are discovering around now that they want to cross-dress. Making a joke out of that lifestyle choice demeans them.

The GENDER BENDER event has to be a problem for at least some of the students.

I feel sorry for the kids and families having to deal with it. It's all so unnecessary.
__________________


Listen to Mark Belling's discussion of the topic on his Thursday program.

Armando Briseno-Alonso

Trouble at a Milwaukee Public School. Imagine that.

This time, it was not a brawl at Bradley Tech or Bay View High School requiring a massive police reponse and resulting in multiple arrests.

This MPS problem involved just one arrest - teacher Armando Briseno-Alonso.

From WISN:

Armando Briseno-Alonso was charged Friday with repeated sexual assault of a child and two counts of child enticement.

Investigators said a 12-year-old boy told them Briseno-Alonso had been assaulting him since he was in the third grade in 2010 at Rogers Street Academy.

Police said the boy told them Briseno-Alonso would ask the class, "Who wants to help put books away?" and then take him into another classroom and touch his private parts.

...Records from the Wisconsin Circuit Court Access indicate a $10,000 bond was set for Briseno-Alonso on Saturday. He made his initial appearance in Milwaukee County Court, according to the records, and was ordered to have no contact with the alleged victim or the victim’s family.

He was also ordered not to have contact with children under the age of 18, according to records.

This is a horrible story.

It's awful that this 12-year-old child was being assaulted while at school since he was in third grade, by a teacher (allegedly).

According to WISN's report, MPS is cooperating with the investigation.

That's good.

I wonder how Briseno-Alonso managed to get away with this abuse at the same school for YEARS.

No school official ever suspected something was amiss?

Very creepy.

Tax dollars were used to employ a Milwaukee Public Schools teacher charged with "repeated sexual assault
of a child and two counts of child enticement."

Sickening.

Of course, Briseno-Alonso, if he did sexually assault a student for YEARS at school, is not a typical MPS teacher. But, he is an MPS teacher accused of preying on a child for YEARS.

This extremely disturbing revelation makes this vicious tweet from Graeme Zieilinski, Democratic Party of Wisconsin spokesman, worth revisiting.

.@govwalker wants to take money from public schools to give to private schools where sex predators may lurk.

— Graeme Zielinski (@gjzielinski) February 18, 2013

The fact is a sexual predator has been lurking in a public school for YEARS (allegedly).

Romney Transition Website

Oh, what might have been!



From the New York Daily News:

Mitt Romney may have lost the White House, but for a brief time Wednesday a transition website went live — calling him "President-Elect" and offering Americans a view of a presidency that might have been.

The site was only up temporarily, but screen grabs preserved by Politicalwire.com show Romney's team was ready to roll with information about the Jan. 21 presidential inauguration and future Cabinet nominees.

...SolutionStream, the Utah-based company that designed the site, didn't say why the mock-up went live, but confirmed it was ready to go if Romney had defeated President Obama on Tuesday. The former governor of Massachusetts fell short of beating the President, who was marching closer to winning Florida on Thursday and bringing his electoral vote count to 332 vs. Romney’s 206.

Jason Thelin, an owner of SolutionStream, told The Huffington Post that the site was a “tiny” project and was thrown together in a day and a half.

His company was contacted by Romney transition volunteers about 10 days before the election, he said.

After The Huffington Post inquired about the site Wednesday, it was soon taken down.

According to Politico, Romney’s transition team — called “The Readiness Project” — was being led by Mike Leavitt, the former Health and Human Services secretary under President George W. Bush and a former Utah governor. Romney’s campaign had not been eager to talk about his transition plans before the election.

But the website gave a sense of what Romney would have done had he won.

“On his first day in office, Mitt Romney will issue an executive order that paves the way for the federal government to issue Affordable Care Act waivers to all 50 states,” according to a section called “Repealing the Affordable Care Act.” “He will then work with Congress to repeal the full legislation as quickly as possible.”

Oh, my God.

EVERYTHING could have been so different.

Instead of this overwhelming, all-encompassing sense of impending doom, I'd be hopeful and optimistic and so relieved.

You know that feeling of relief you have when a crisis is averted, when your worst fears vanish?

What might have been, what might have been.

It was possible, but a few million Republican voters shamefully decided to sit this one out.

If transforming America was their intent, congratulations to them. Their goal is on the road to realization.

In Obama strongholds, the turnout was massive. In the city Milwaukee, 87 percent of registered voters cast ballots.

That's close to the sort of voter turnout Saddam Hussein would get.

Dramatically more Milwaukeeans voted in 2012 than in 2008!

Eighty-seven percent turnout is better than attendance on a given day in some failing Milwaukee Public High Schools, with 60 percent truancy.

I don't understand why people came out in droves to obstruct a change in leadership that would have brought back jobs and prosperity and respect for our most fundamental freedoms. Loyalty to Obama is nice but voting for failure is not smart. Voting for free stuff is stunningly short-sighted.

Some Americans really love free contraceptives and abortion on demand, don't they?

Economic growth? Jobs?

Who cares?  Working is for chumps.

GIMME.

Bay View High School Fight - 30 Arrests

It wouldn't be a normal school year in the Milwaukee Public Schools if a massive brawl didn't break out, resulting in dozens of arrests.

Bay View High School was the site of violence yesterday.

From FOX6 News:

Milwaukee police say 30 arrests were made Thursday, October 18th after a fight in the school cafeteria quickly became a brawl at Milwaukee’s Bay View High School.

Police say they responded to the school just before 9:00 a.m. Thursday. 22 MPD squad cars and 29 police officers responded to the scene.

The school was placed under “lockdown” for a short time.

Officials say several fights broke out following breakfast in the school cafeteria.

“A lot of fist punching, kids stomping on tables in the cafeteria,” one student said.

Those arrested include eight adults (17-19 years old), 20 juveniles (13-16 years old) and two 11-year-old students. The adults and juveniles arrested received disorderly conduct citations. The 11-year-old students were transported to MPD’s District 6 and released to their parents.

Police say upon officers’ arrival at the scene, students were fighting, yelling and being profane and offensive.

Milwaukee Public Schools security officials attempted to clear the cafeteria and the fighting continued. Police say those involved resisted the attempts of MPS safety personnel, teachers and MPD to break up the fight.

My God, 22 police squads and 29 police officers!

I know there are Bay View alumni who are horrified by the violence.

Generations of families attended the school. It was nothing like this.

Where's Mayor Tom Barrett? Still hanging out with Big Bird?

Does he have anything to say?

Here's video:



According to WISN 12 News:

Milwaukee Police said as of 11 a.m., 24 students were in custody – seven males and 17 females. A representative from Milwaukee Public Schools revised that total to 30 later in the afternoon.

TMJ4 reports:

After the fight, the school went into "code red," meaning that no one could enter or leave the building.

"What parents need to understand is that our schools are safe and we do our very best to make sure that happens and that parents have confidence," says Denise Callaway, business and community partnerships coordinator at MPS.

No, the schools obviously are not safe. Parents do understand.

This story illustrates that.

Obama in Milwaukee (Video, Transcript)

Obama was fundraising and campaigning and lying and spreading the BS around in Milwaukee yesterday.

And his supporters were lapping it up.

They are clueless.

Why are they buying Obama's stump speech, aka snake oil?

Milwaukee's poverty rate stands at 29.4 percent!

Milwaukee is one of the ten poorest cities in America!

Obama should have been met with an angry mob demanding to get the hope and change he promised to deliver four years ago, not cheering, swooning supporters.

Why would Milwaukeeans want four more years of guaranteed misery?

I wonder how many people in the Obama crowd pay taxes. How many have their hands out? Gimme.

If you're not a taker, you have no reason to love Obama. He's not helping you.

(Yes, there was the usual "we love you, Obama!" followed by Obama's trademark "I love you back!" Absolutely pathetic.)

With three-time gubernatorial candidate loser Mayor Tom Barrett at the helm, Milwaukee is in a hopeless death spiral.

The schools are a mess.

Example:

Milwaukee police say 11 were arrested Thursday morning, September 20th following a large fight at Pulaski High School. The brawl broke out just as school was about to start, and a Milwaukee police school resource officer had to call for backup.

Nine of those arrested were cited for fighting and disorderly conduct. Two have been referred to the Milwaukee County District Attorney’s Office for possible charges.

Milwaukee's decay is accelerating, but Obama just recited his tired old lines to the adoring crowd.

Insane.

They don't seem to understand that they desperately need new leadership in the city and in the White House.

I find their complacency stunning.

Maybe they really don't understand the American Dream. I guess they don't believe in themselves. If they did, they'd vote for Mitt Romney.
_______________


Here's the transcript of Obama's remarks at the BMO Harris Pavilion. (By the way, BMO Harris is a Canadian bank that bought Milwaukee-based Marshall & Ilsley Bank and Ozaukee Bank.)

Watch Democrat hack Mike Lowe's FOX6 News report on Obama's visit.

Watch Obama's speech:

Raw Video: Obama Speech, Part 1

Raw Video: Obama Speech, Part 2

Raw Video: Obama Speech, Part 3

Act 10, MPS, and $1 BILLION

Dane County Judge Juan Colas is a disgrace. He's a hack.

His reasoning for striking down Act 10 is nuts.

I think the Leftists can't bear the fact that Act 10 is a success. Wisconsin is a better place because of it.

From Media Trackers:

A new study has shown that the unfunded liability created by post-retirement benefits for former employees of Milwaukee's Public Schools (MPS) has decreased by a billion dollars in the past year. These savings, which were created by raising the eligibility requirements needed to qualify for retiree benefits, are a direct result of the district using 2010's controversial Act 10 to alter employee benefits in order to cut costs and dedicate more money to the classroom.

While Milwaukee's public pension program was in good shape in 2011, all was not well in Brew City. The districts Other Post-Employment Benefits (OPEB) had reached an untenable mass. The city had $2.4 billion in unfunded liabilities due to the costs of retiree health and life insurance programs. If left unchecked, this debt was on pace to grow to over $5 billion by 2017.

This debt included big obligations not only to teachers, but also to their spouses, secretaries, board members, and lunchroom workers. The share of unfunded liability created solely by the 5,030 individuals who were not educators added an estimated $55 million to MPS's financial burden in the 2009-2010 school year alone.

Now, MPS is using the tools found in Act 10 to fix their situation and reduce the debt that will be laid upon a future generation of teachers. Spokesman Tony Tagliavia noted that Milwaukee will save over $1.4 billion in the long term thanks to the actions that the Milwaukee School Board has taken in 2011-2012. Approximately $1.1 billion can be traced to the district's ability to change the eligibility requirements for post-requirement benefits.

And we're supposed to boo Act 10?

Insane.

Michelle Obama, Bradley Tech, Milwaukee

Michelle Obama is in Milwaukee today.

She has a campaign event scheduled at Bradley tech.

Grassroots Event with Michelle Obama - First Lady of the United States (Day of Action)

Join the First Lady Michelle Obama in Milwaukee for a grassroots event!

Doors open for the event at 12 - Noon

The First Lady's event is free and open to the public. Tickets are required due to limited space, and will be available to the public starting on a first come, first serve basis at the following pick-up locations.

Time:
Thursday, August 23, 2012 12:00 PM - 3:00 PM

Host:
Emily Dalton

Location:
Bradley Tech High School (Milwaukee, WI)
700 South 4th Street
Milwaukee, WI 53204

I was surprised to hear Michelle would be at Bradley Tech. Obviously, it's a small venue.

More than that, Bradley Tech has been the site of crime, violence, and brawls, repeatedly. On several occasions, a massive police response has been required to restore order. It's an extremely dysfunctional Milwaukee public school.

I hope Michelle doesn't ignore that fact.

She should lecture the parents of the Bradley Tech students involved in gangs and fights and crime and guns and drugs.

That would be better than Michelle telling people to eat zucchini.
______________

Read about Bradley Tech, scene of fighting, not learning.

Bradley Tech-Bay View Brawl

Loaded Gun and Drugs at Bradley Tech

Bradley Tech Erupts -- AGAIN

Police Monitoring Bradley Tech

ANOTHER Fight at Bradley Tech

Bradley Tech: Chaos and Cover-Up

Kris Barrett - MPS Emails

Kris Barrett, wife of Tom Barrett, the disastrous mayor of Milwaukee and Democrat candidate for governor (again), thinks she doesn't have to play by the rules.

On the taxpayers' dime, Kris Barrett, former MPS teacher, engaged in lobbying and campaign activity.

That's a no-no, Kris.

Media Trackers broke the story.

A Media Trackers open records request revealed that Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett’s wife, Kris Barrett, who taught at Dover Elementary used her Milwaukee Public School email account to twice lobby Democratic lawmakers and a third time to recruit fellow teachers to campaign against County Executive candidate Jeff Stone. The use of a taxpayer funded email account for such political purposes is a gross misuse of resources and forbidden by the Milwaukee Public Schools Employee Code of Ethics as well as the MPS Staff Acceptable Use Policy.

On Monday February 14, 2011, Kris Barrett emailed Democrat State Senator Spencer Coggs and Democrat Rep. Tamara Grigsby to encourage them to vote against Governor Walker’s Budget Repair Bill. The title of the email was “a teacher’s voice” and Ms. Barrett decried that “we are all under attack.”

See the emails here.

When a fellow teacher asked if Ms. Barrett had seen the news that night (the passage of the Budget Repair Bill), Barrett answered “Unfortunately, yes. Oh my God. What country is this????”

The use of an MPS email account for political purposes such as lobbying Democratic lawmakers and recruiting fellow teachers to go campaign certainly violates the Milwaukee Public Schools Employee Code of Ethics.

...In addition to the Employee Code of Ethics, Ms. Barrett also appears to have violated the MPS Staff Acceptable Use Policy for the use of the MPS network system and computer resources.

Kris Barrett clearly doesn't care about ethics.

She knew what she was doing.

This is an embarrassment for Tom Barrett and the Democrats, especially since they're trying to paint Scott Walker as a crook.

Yeah, awkward.

If Kris Barrett shows up on Barrett's campaign commercials, like she has in Barrett's other attempts at becoming governor, remember that Kris disregards the rules.

Ethics. Shmethics.

At the very least, Milwaukee first lady and wannabe Wisconsin first lady should issue a statement acknowledging her misdeeds and apologize to the taxpayers and MPS students.

Maybe she doesn't care about being a role model for students. If she doesn't, she should ignore the matter.

We'll understand what her silence means.
________________

MPS isn't staying silent.

Here's the statement from Milwaukee Public Schools:

"The emails sent from an MPS account appear to constitute a violation of our policies. We did not become aware of the emails until after the employee was no longer working for Milwaukee Public Schools."

From 620 WTMJ:

MPS officials say because Kris Barrett is no longer working at the district and no further action will be taken.

That makes sense. Tom Barrett's comment on his wife's violation, however, makes absolutely not sense.

"They are going to try to drag my wife into this, I wouldn't be surprised if they tried to drag my kids into this," said Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett. "They will do anything they can because they are fighting for their life because Scott Walker knows he cannot defend his record."

...Mayor Tom Barrett defended his wife. "My understanding is that there was one email out of gazillions that they sent out where she talked about a rally in the county executive race last year. There was nothing in there that had to do with this race whatsoever," said Tom Barrett.

I think it's a mistake for Barrett to defend wrongdoing. It's always best to own up to the offense and apologize.

No kidding Kris Barrett didn't write any emails about the current race.

She wasn't an MPS employee when the recall election got going. What a stupid thing for Barrett to say!

It's wrong for Barrett to lash out at Media Trackers. An open records request isn't dirty politics. It's transparency.

The Barretts should take responsibility for their behavior, not shoot the messenger.

Now, about this statement from Barrett:

"They will do anything they can because they are fighting for their life because Scott Walker knows he cannot defend his record."

OK. That's just sad.

Scott Walker is running on his record. His record is what makes the case for voters to keep him as our governor.

Barrett, on the other hand, has a miserable record as mayor of Milwaukee, absolutely miserable. I've experienced it. I've seen what's happened to the city since Barrett has been in office.

The notion that Gov. Walker "knows he cannot defend his record" is absurd. Barrett is in the position of defending the indefensible. Milwaukee is a mess.

Very sad, but true.

Water Street Fights and Chief Ed Flynn (Video)

On Saturday night, St. Patrick's Day, bars closed early on Water Street.

Although some fights broke out, Milwaukee Police Chief Ed Flynn and other city leaders called a news conference to discuss the matter.

Flynn chastised the media for blowing the incidents out of proportion and constructing a false reality.

Video of one of the fights:



Watching this leaves one with the impression that things were out of control.

Chief Ed Flynn begs to differ.

From FOX 6:

It was a typical Monday on Water Street as beer distributors replenished supplies after a busy St. Patrick’s Day weekend. This past weekend, however, was not typical, after fights broke out Saturday night on Water Street, and bars were forced to end St. Patrick’s Day celebrations abruptly, by closing early. However, city leaders Monday stressed that Water Street and downtown Milwaukee are safe, and Saturday’s relative lack of violence, considering the size of the crowds, proves that.

YouTube video shot by Steve White shows the fights that broke out among the large crowds in the street. Milwaukee police were on hand to intervene and disperse the crowds. Police say some threw bottles at police officers, and Water Street bars were forced to close early – some before the fights broke out.

...Milwaukee Police Chief Edward Flynn, Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett and some Water Street business owners spoke Monday evening during a news conference on Water Street. They say the most important message from this weekend is to put things in perspective. Chief Flynn said the fight caught on video was not at all representative of what the celebrations were like. Flynn says the incident caught on YouTube video was one of over 600 calls for service Saturday night – which he says is not unusual for a warm, Saturday night. Flynn said police did their job in responding to the heavy crowds on Water Street, and the YouTube video doesn’t fully reflect the atmosphere on Water Street Saturday night.

“There was a fist fight on Water Street on Saturday night. This does not qualify as news,” Flynn said. “What is news is that we had 25,000 people on Water Street without any incident. More than 45,000 people were downtown. We had close to 60,000 people using downtown Milwaukee as a safe entertainment venue Saturday night. Milwaukee deserves better than to be represented by one incident that happened to be caught on tape,” Chief Flynn said.

There's no question that images are powerful.

A 66-second video, promoted by the media, can give the public the impression that it's not safe to be downtown.

As Flynn points out, thousands were downtown. The overwhelming majority were not involved in the violence.

Chief Flynn said there were nine people arrested on Water Street Saturday, but many more than that arrested throughout the city Saturday night in other incidents. Flynn said there were six fights reported in the entire downtown area Saturday night. Flynn said putting that in perspective, tens of thousands of people gathered downtown, and security was a success. “We guaranteed a safe night for people, and we provided it. We hope many (people) want to return (to Water Street) for the Sweet 16 later this week. They’re going to have a safe night, and the Milwaukee Police Department is going to see to it,” Flynn said.

There were only nine arrests.

There are more arrests on given days at Milwaukee Public Schools.

Examples:

Twelve people were arrested after Milwaukee police responded to a fight at Washington High School.

Milwaukee police arrested 11 people after multiple fights broke out at Madison High School.

A fight at Bay View High School resulted in 12 arrests.

There certainly weren't crowds numbering in the tens of thousands at these public schools when the violence took place.

I think some perspective is in order.

From the media reports I caught, I was under the impression there were more arrests on Saturday night. Maybe there would have been if the police didn't ask the bars to close early, but what matters is that control wasn't lost. There wasn't a massive brawl.

Here's the video report from FOX 6:

Hamilton High School - Student Attacks Assistant Principal

The thugs attending Milwaukee Public Schools are spreading the violence, and arrests, around.

February 6, 2012 - Bay View High School, 12 arrested.

January 30, 2012 - Madison High School.

January 27, 2012 - Madison High School, 11 arrested.

January 26, 2012 - Washington High School, 12 arrested.

On February 7, 2012, there was an incident at Hamilton High School.

From WISN TV:

Milwaukee police said an assistant principal at Hamilton High School was attacked by a student.

Police spokeswoman Anne Schwartz said police used pepper spray to bring the student under control.

One officer was treated for a minor injury after being exposed to the pepper spray.

The student was arrested on a felony charge.

MPS said the student has been removed from Hamilton High School and will be placed in an alternative program for students with behavior problems.

"We will not let the actions of a few disrupt the education of 80,000 students," MPS spokesman Tony Tagliavia told 12 News.

This is horrible.

It's good that the student was arrested on a felony charge.

There must be consequences for these thugs, and they are thugs.

Removing them from school is appropriate. They shouldn't be allowed to be a permanent distraction to the students actually interested in getting an education, working for a bright future.

Students shouldn't fear for their safety while at school.

It's crazy that police have to be called and students are arrested.

The level of violence is frightening.

I can't help but think that these thugs are Milwaukee's future adult population. It's a very scary thought.
______________

The news from MPS isn't all bad. Read more.

Congratulations, Felix Ramsey!

Bay View High School Fight - 12 Arrested

It's unfortunate, but when I think of Milwaukee public schools, I think of violence. I know there must be some hardworking students and devoted teachers, but the frequent serious violent incidents are difficult to dismiss.

On January 26, 2012, a fight at Washington High School resulted in 12 arrests.

The following day, a fight at Madison High School ended with a police officer injured and 11 arrests.

On Monday, Bay View High School was the site of the latest public school disgrace.

From the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel:

Another melee Monday at a Milwaukee high school resulted in 12 students being taken into custody and cited for disorderly conduct.

Police were called to Bay View High School, 2751 South Lenox St., about 2 p.m. for a fight inside the building, Milwaukee Public Schools spokesman Tony Tagliavia said.

The students later were released, but they will not be allowed to return to school and the district will seek alternative placement for them, Tagliavia said.

No one was injured in the incident, the fourth in less than two weeks in which police had to be called to quell disturbances at an MPS high school.

A police officer was injured Jan. 30 at Madison Academic Campus at N. 81st and W. Florist Ave. shortly after officers were called to the school to break up a fight between a female student and a woman who came to the school to confront her. Three boys were arrested in connection with the incident in which the officer was injured.

On Jan. 27 officers called to Madison for multiple fights Tasered a girl who kicked one of the officers in the face during a disturbance in which 11 people were arrested. That incident followed a fight at Washington High School the day before in which 12 students were taken into custody.

The thugs involved in these fights certainly aren't at school to get an education.

They need to be removed permanently. They should not be allowed to drag down the schools and disrupt learning. Surely, some students attending the schools want an education. Some must have goals for higher learning. Right?

Those kids need to be protected. Their futures are at stake.

The thugs must be placed in a school that is meant to handle sociopaths. Sadly, MPS needs a facility like that.

I really have no idea how many Milwaukee public high school students are behavioral problems. Maybe it would be easier to have one facility to cater to the kids who want to learn and let the other schools remain as dens of chaos and violence.