LARSON REPORT
WEEKLY NEWSLETTER
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August 23, 2012
CONTACT ME
Please feel free to contact me with any concerns or opinions you might
have.
Office Phone: (608) 266-7505
Toll-free Phone: (800) 361-5487
Email:
Sen.Larson@legis.wi.gov
Mailing Address:
State Capitol
P.O. Box 7882
Madison, WI 53707
Web Site:
Find Me on Facebook and Twitter:
COMMUNITY
EVENTS
Supporting our neighbors and being involved in our community is of the utmost importance. Some community events that might be of interest to you and your family are listed below.
Posters of Paris
Date: Now
through Sun., September 9
Location: Milwaukee
Description:
Come check out the Milwaukee Art Museum's latest exhibition. The museum
will transport visitors to 19th century Paris, when larger-than-life,
brightly hued artistic posters with bold typography and playful imagery
once covered the boulevards. Experience more than one hundred of the
finest French posters.
CLICK HERE or call 414-224-3200 for more information.
Milwaukee Art Museum (MAP)
700 N. Art Museum Drive
Milwaukee, WI 53202
Mexican Fiesta
Date: Fri., August 24 through Sun., August 25
Location: Milwaukee
Description:
Mexican Fiesta began as a neighborhood South Side street festival in
1974 and has grown to Wisconsin's largest paid entrance Mexican
festival. Live music will be offered throughout the festival and will
feature Pablo Montero, Tejano Boys, Belanova, and other internationally-known artists.
Friday brings the Salarengue contest, while Saturday offers a dance
contest. Those interested in the cultural
costume contest, followed by the jalapeno eating contest, should stop by
the festival on Sunday.
CLICK HERE or call (414) 273-3378.
Henry Maier Festival Park (MAP)
200 N. Harbor Drive
Milwaukee, WI 53202
Eat Local Resource Fair
Date: Sat., August 25 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Location: Milwaukee
Description:
Get ready for the two-week Eat Local Challenge that runs during the
first two weeks of September by stopping by the Eat Local Resource Fair.
Learn some new tips to help you eat locally all year--even during winter
months. The Eat Local Resource Fair will also provide you with the
opportunity to buy food directly from local food producers, see cooking
demos, and pick up menu and recipe ideas.
CLICK HERE or call (414) 964-8505 for more information about the Eat
Local Resource Fair and the Eat Local Challenge.
Urban Ecology Center(MAP)
1500 E. Park Place
Milwaukee, WI 53211
Milwaukee
Masterpiece
Date: Sat., August 25 and Sun., August 26
Location: Milwaukee
Description:
The Milwaukee Masterpiece car show will return to the lakefront at
Veterans Park, bringing with it a display of hundreds of rare and
classic vehicles. Tickets are $15 per day and $20 for a two-day pass
during the presale period. Day-of ticket prices are $20 for one day and
$25 for a two-day pass. All proceeds from the two-day event and will
benefit Jewish Family Services, a 145-year-old organization that
provides meals, counseling, development, and support to those in need.
CLICK HERE for more information
Veterans Park (MAP)
1010 N. Lincoln Memorial Drive
Milwaukee, WI 53202
St. Francis
Days
Date: Thurs., August 30 through Sun., September 2
Location: St. Francis
Description:
This annual four-day music festival is free and open to the public.
Visitors should expect to see live musical entertainment,
pony rides and a
petting zoo, skydiving shows, helicopter rides, and movies.
CLICK HERE for more information.
St. Francis Memorial Park (MAP)
3620 E. Lunham Avenue
St. Francis, WI 53235
Senior Celebration at the Zoo
Date: Fri., August 31 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Location: Milwaukee
Description:
There is fun to be had by all at Senior Celebration at the Milwaukee
County Zoo. Enjoy entertainment by numerous bands, singers, and
performers. Visitors can also expect to see Bingo, a wealth of
information at the health and wellness expo, and all the wonders the Zoo
has to offer. This event costs $7. Participants can also request an
optional bag lunch for an additional $3. Meet at the Washington Park
Senior Center.
CLICK HERE or call (414) 933-2332 for more information.
Washington Park Senior Center (MAP)
4420 W Vliet Street Milwaukee, WI 53208
Third Ward Art Festival
Date: Sat., September 1 and Sun., September 2 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Location: Milwaukee
Description: Stop by this nearby art festival located in the heart of Milwaukee’s thriving arts and fashion district. Exquisite artwork of all mediums including ceramics, fiber, glass, jewelry, sculpture, mixed media, paintings, drawings, photography, printmaking, wood, and furniture will be represented at the festival. With a wide range of price points and an ample selection of artwork available for $100 or less, the festival offers something for everyone. The festival will be located at the intersection of Broadway and Chicago in the Historic Third Ward. Admission is free and open to the public. CLICK HERE for more information, including a list of vendors.
Dear Friend,
Given that the first day of class is just around the corner, this week's newsletter will focus on the reality our children, their parents, and neighborhood teachers will face this school year.
Sincerely,
Chris Larson
State Senator, District 7
Back to School
Our
neighborhood schools are gearing up for the 2012-2013 school year. For students, teachers, and parents this means buying new school
supplies, planning the upcoming classroom curriculum, or ensuring
parent-teacher conferences are on the family calendar. But with the
release of state aid numbers for our local schools, we have also been
given a stark reminder of just how different this school year may be
compared to years past.
According to the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction, 10 of Milwaukee County's 18 school districts are bracing themselves for additional cuts to their state aid funding. These cuts have been estimated to total $7,415,941 for the 2012-2013 school year. Included in the schools that are expecting cuts are two school districts in our community--Milwaukee Public Schools and the St. Francis School District. The cuts for these two school districts alone are expected to reach $3,740,377.
This trend is not limited to our schools here in Milwaukee County, but can also been seen across Wisconsin. The Department of Public Instruction has released state aid statistics for all of Wisconsin's public schools, which show that 267 of the state's 424 school districts, or 63% of Wisconsin school districts, will face cuts to their education aid. This will amount to cuts of $79,443,087 for our children's schools.
Support for our children's education was put on the back burner during this legislative session as funding from our neighborhood schools was slashed in order to give away these taxpayer dollars to special interests and corporations. Under the Republican budget approximately $1.6 billion was stripped from education statewide. These decimating cuts hit some communities harder than others and have been especially detrimental to children in Milwaukee and the surrounding area. Below are results from the Wisconsin Association of School District Administrator's annual survey:
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Wisconsin lost 4,000 educational jobs, leaving schools understaffed and children underserved
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4 in 10 students attend a district with larger class sizes in grades K-6
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40% of students are in districts that eliminated sections or increased class size for core subjects--English, Math, Science, and Social Studies
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Districts are offering fewer art, music, physical education, Advanced Placement, and foreign language classes
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The biggest cuts were to special education programs, which are followed by library and media center staff, reading coordinators, programs for at-risk youth, and drug and alcohol abuse programs
Similar results can also be seen right here in our own community. Here is how Milwaukee County's 18 school districts have been negatively impacted by sweeping education cuts:
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Milwaukee County was left struggling with 1,719 fewer teachers, aides, and administrators in the most recent school years as compared to 2010
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1/2 of Milwaukee County school districts reported increased class sizes and higher student-to-teacher ratios
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Cuts to support services, such as special education, were made in five of our 18 Milwaukee County School districts
Click here to view this annual Wisconsin Association of School District
Administrator's survey and analysis by the Department of Public
Instruction.
The choices we make regarding education in Wisconsin will play a
significant role not only in the success of our children, but also in
determining the economic success of our state and local businesses.
Attacks on education do not represent Wisconsin's values and runs
counter to our aim of increasing job creation and economic vitality. It
is time that we work together on initiatives that invest in all levels
of education and ensure that those education dollars are being spent
wisely. As a member of the Senate Committee on Education and
Corrections, I will continue to monitor the state of our community
schools to ensure that we have a realistic, fact-based, and truthful
understanding of how the success of our children and our local economy
are being affected by continual cuts to education.
Education & Audit Committees to Meet
The Senate Committee on Education and Corrections, of which I am a member, has scheduled an informational hearing to address how 2011 Wisconsin Act 32, or the biennial budget, has impacted public education in Wisconsin. Some of the speakers who have been invited to testify include the Department of Public Instruction, the Wisconsin Taxpayers Alliance, the National Education Association, and school district representatives. The hearing will be held on Wednesday, August 29 at 10 a.m. in room 411 South of the Wisconsin State Capitol.
Click here to view the Senate Committee on Education and Corrections' hearing notice.
The Joint Legislative Audit Committee, of which I am also a member, has likewise scheduled a public hearing to further discuss audits done during the 2011-2012 Legislative Session examining our FoodShare and Medicaid safety net programs. This public hearing has been scheduled for Tuesday, August 28 at 10 a.m. in room 411 South of the Wisconsin State Capitol.
Click here to view the Legislative Audit Committee's hearing notice.
To
get a better idea of how our community schools have been affected by
radical cuts made to education in the 2011-2013 Biennial Budget, I
will again be making visits to various neighborhood schools. I hope to
not only sit-in on classes, but also to talk to students, teachers,
administrators, and parents to get a better understanding of the
education our children are receiving and the challenges our schools may
be facing.
If you are a teacher and would like me to stop by to visit your classroom, please do not hesitate to contact me to set up a tour.
Montessori Schools Expand in Bay View
Much to the delight of neighborhood parents, a new Montessori school is set to open for the upcoming 2012-2013 school year. Milwaukee Public Schools (MPS) has converted the former Tippecanoe school building located on East Howard, which became available after being vacated by Wings Academy--a charter school.
The conversion of Tippecanoe into the
Howard Avenue Montessori School was approved unanimously by the full
Milwaukee Board of School Directors committee on June 28, following a
public hearing. Howard Avenue Montessori School will enroll 120 three-
and four-year-old children in a half-day kindergarten program that will
gradually add more student grade levels, and will be led by new
principal Phil Dosmann, long-time leader of Craig Montessori School.
Bay View is fortunate to be the home
of two other Montessori schools--Downtown Montessori Academy and
Fernwood--these schools are in such demand that there is currently a
wait-list of 139 three- and four-year-olds, according to the district.
This is likely because many Montessori schools, including Fernwood, are
MPS' top-performing schools. State test results show that in the last
school year, Fernwood had more students scoring proficient or advanced
in reading and math than the state average, let alone the average for
MPS.
Students from all over the city can enroll at the Howard Avenue
Montessori School, but MPS has indicated that enrollment priority will
be given to students on wait-lists for other MPS Montessori schools, as
well as students living near the school.
Click here for more information about the new Howard Avenue Montessori School.
Ask Chris
I often have neighbors contact me looking for my perspective on various local and state issues. I very much appreciate our neighbors' questions and want to dedicate a portion of my newsletter to common questions that I hear to maintain an open dialogue. Please continue reading for this week's question.
Q: What can I, as a parent, do at home to prepare my children for being more successful in school?
A:
As a new parent, this is I question I have as well. Below are just some
of the recommendations I have heard from teachers that we, as parents,
can try at home to help get our kids prepared for school:
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Read aloud with our children. Reading aloud to our children is like giving them a scholastic vitamin. Besides strengthening literacy skills, reading aloud also helps children develop their imagination, encourage their curiosity, and increase their attention span. Further, it is best to help our children learn to love and appreciate reading now, as those who like to read and score well on reading tests tend to do better in school.
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Limit our children's usage of television, computers, and video games. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends children watch no more than one or two hours of television each day. This is because too much sensory stimulation can be detrimental to a child's developing brain. Additionally, children who heavily use electronics have more difficulty learning and can even exhibit sullen or aggressive behavior.
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Play board games together. Doing this activity as a family will help teach children the importance of sharing and taking turns, valuable skills that they may not have had the opportunity to develop.
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Quiz them on vocabulary basics while doing everyday activities. Not only will such practices make daily routines more enjoyable, but it will also allow them to master their ABC's, counting, colors, and so on before they enter school.
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Sit down and complete a puzzle or two. Putting together puzzles helps children develop small motor skills. Good fine motor skills will help our children build the physical strength and coordination necessary to complete everyday tasks crucial for learning, including writing.
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Engage our children in outdoor activities. Studies show that outdoor activities improve the mental and physical health of our children as it decreases stress levels and lowers their risk of developing asthma or being overweight. It also increases our children's chances for educational success since students who play and learn in outdoor settings perform better on tests, have higher grade point averages, and cause fewer classroom disruptions.
Did You Know...?
Labor Day is fast-approaching and
while many of us are familiar with Wisconsin's deep roots in the labor
movement, there are a couple of facts you probably do not know about
Labor Day. For example, did you know that 99.44% of the time, the NFL
plays its first official season game the Thursday after Labor Day?
Additionally, Labor Day weekend is also the time when Prairie du Sac
hosts the Wisconsin State Cow Chip Throwing Contest.
Celebrating Wisconsin's Workers
As we celebrate Labor Day on Monday, September 3, we should take time to remember Wisconsin’s deep labor history and the generations of workers and reformers who have made significant contributions to building a middle class across our state.
Our Community Fights for Worker's Rights
Our community played a pivotal role in Wisconsin's labor movement, which
began over a century ago. Wisconsin’s first unions were formed in
Milwaukee--the bricklayers in 1847 and the carpenters in 1848. In the
1880s, as the eight-hour work day became a central concern across the
country, laborers in Milwaukee formed the Milwaukee Labor Reform
Association (later the Eight-Hour League) to advocate for the eight-hour
day. Milwaukee workers fought for the eight-hour day with a five-day
sweeping industrial work stoppage, halting production in factories
throughout the city.
During the 20th century, Wisconsin's workforce continued to seek fair
treatment and safe working conditions for all under Robert La Follette’s
progressive movement. In 1911, the State Legislature passed the first
workman's compensation law. Then in 1932, our first unemployment
compensation laws were enacted. Wisconsin continued to support its
workers by passing the Wisconsin Employment Relations Act in 1937, which
provided workers with the right to organize.
The labor movement was vital to growing a strong American economy and a
solid middle class. The ability to organize, receive fair treatment, and
work in safe conditions are fundamental values that built our state and
our country.
Celebrate Labor Day in Our Community
Annually,
we celebrate our hard-working Wisconsinites and the Labor Day holiday
with family-friendly neighborhood festivals. Join me in our community
this Labor Day weekend as we celebrate Wisconsin's current workforce, as
well as those that came before us and fought for better workplace rights
for all. See a list of local Labor Day events below:
Oak Creek Lions Labor Day Festival
Friday, August 31 through Monday, September 3
Attend this annual event and enjoy music, food, rides, and fun and games
for all ages at the 53rd annual Oak Creek Lionsfest. Indoor and outdoor
stages will feature live music from over 20 bands all weekend long. The
Festival kicks off Friday, August 31 with Senior’s Day.
Senior citizens are invited from 11 a.m. until 3 p.m. for food, games,
prizes, and dancing with lunch served from Noon until 2 p.m. New for
this year will be a special Veteran’s Recognition and Appreciation Day
on Monday, September 3 from Noon to 6 p.m. with a free food voucher for
all veterans showing a qualifying Veteran’s Card. Also new this year
will be the appearance of the Kohls’ Wild Theater during the Kids and
Family event on Saturday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
American Legion Festival Grounds (MAP)
9327 S. Shepard Avenue
Oak Creek, WI 53154
Click here for more information.
Labor Fest
Monday, September 3 from Noon to 4 p.m.
This family-oriented festival is the largest Labor Day event in
southeastern Wisconsin. It has a children's area, a classic car show, a
parade from Zeidler Union Square to the festival grounds, entertainment
by various acts on two stages, and food galore. The parade kicks off at
Zeidler Union Square behind the Shops at Grand Avenue at 11 a.m.
Admission to this event is free and open to the public.
Henry Maier Festival Park (MAP)
200 N. Harbor Drive
Milwaukee, WI 53202
August is Water Quality Month
August
is National Water Quality Month. Water quality is especially important
here in Wisconsin where we have tremendous water resources, and this
month is dedicated to reminding our citizens how crucial it is to
protect these vital bodies of water. The level of quality for our water
supplies and sources varies based on its intended purpose. For example,
there is a big difference between water suitable for drinking as
compared to water used for boating, swimming, planting, and so on.
We increasingly hear about alarming
situations in which the quality of water is no longer suitable as a
result of increased bacteria and micro-organism activity, sewage and oil
spills, and pollutants channeling their way into streams, lakes, and
rivers. Such growing problems are not without consequences, which can
include causing illness to our family, friends, and neighbors,
endangering plant and animal life, and causing excessive aquatic plant
or invasive species growth.
Wisconsin boasts over 15,000 lakes,
32,000 miles of streams, 5.3 million wetland acres, and 1.2 quadrillion
gallons of groundwater. It is our job, as stewards of this state, to help
maintain and protect these resources. To accomplish this goal, we have
developed Wisconsin’s Clean Water Act Programs. The Federal Clean Water
Act identifies water quality goals for the nation and outlines processes
and legislation for monitoring and managing water protection. Using
these guidelines, Wisconsin’s Water Quality Standards define specific
goals for each water body in the state by designating its uses,
establishing criteria to protect its uses, and setting provisions to
protect its water quality from pollutants.
Every two years, Wisconsin provides a Water Quality Report to Congress. This report summarizes the condition of our state’s vast water resources and describes our programs that manage and protect these vital resources. The 2012 report has not come out yet. The 2010 report, however, indicated that water quantity issues were amongst our bigger problems. Excessive groundwater pumping, for example, has has negatively impacted surface water bodies and springs by reducing the availability of good quality drinking water.
There are several steps everyone can take at home to help with Wisconsin’s water quality preservation effort, including:
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Help reduce water run-off by turning the downspouts of your rain gutters towards your garden and making sure your sprinklers are not watering the street instead of plants
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Avoid blowing or sweeping lawn clippings and other debris into the street where it will eventually be washed into the local water supply
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Reduce or eliminate chemicals when landscaping or maintaining your lawn by using environmentally friendly alternatives to pesticides, fertilizers, and herbicides when possible
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Try using permeable surfaces such as pavers, stone, and mulch that allow water to seep into the ground rather than being washed away into the street
Click here for more information on Wisconsin’s water quality and easy steps to help conserve our water.
Help Support Neighbor Brian Murphy
Lieutenant Brian Murphy was the Oak
Creek Officer critically injured during the shooting at the Sikh Temple
of Wisconsin in Oak Creek on August 5, 2012. Lieutenant Murphy's health
status was recently upgraded to satisfactory and he was released from a
Milwaukee-area hospital yesterday.
BMO Harris Bank has opened an account for the Oak Creek Police
Association to benefit Oak Creek Lieutenant Brian Murphy and his family.
The account is located at the M&I Branch at 8900 S. Howell Avenue in Oak
Creek, but all M&I and Harris branches will accept donations.
Click here for more information.
Summer Activities in Our Community
Our community offers a wide variety of summer activities for families, children, and adults alike. Below are just a few activities that you can take part in this summer.
Point Fish Fry and a Flick
Enjoy a Friday night fish fry with an outdoor movie on Milwaukee's
lakefront at Discovery World. Each night features a tasty fish fry and a
variety of food options from many of the city's favorite food carts.
Point Brewery will also offer an expansive beer and spirits selection.
Movie admission is free of charge.
Discovery World (MAP)
500 N. Harbor Drive
Milwaukee, WI 53202
Click here or call (414) 765-9966 for more information, including a schedule of upcoming featured flicks.
Food Tours in Milwaukee
Take part in food tours that will have you discovering the sights and
savoring the flavors of Milwaukee's most delicious and historic
neighborhoods. Milwaukee Food Tours offers food tours in a number of
different neighborhoods, such as the Historic Third Ward and Brady Street, and
features a variety of themes. These one-mile walking tours usually last
between two to 2.5 hours and make four to six stops.
Click here for more information or to book a tour.
Update on IDs for Voters
In
March 2012, 2011 Wisconsin Act 23 was ruled unconstitutional and two
separate Circuit Court judges ordered government officials to halt
requiring voters to present a valid photo ID when casting their vote. It
was stated in the ruling that 2011 Wisconsin Act 23 carried a severe
risk of disenfranchising voters and was suspended based on the vital
public interest at stake in allowing full participation in elections.
This controversial legislation also contains several provisions not
related to presenting valid photo identification while voting, including
changes to Wisconsin’s laws regarding residency and absentee voting.
These provisions are still in effect. While the merits of this law are
being examined, the Wisconsin Department of Transportation will continue
to provide free state ID cards to Wisconsinites.
This court ruling remains in the appeals process, meaning that current
procedures may change based upon whether the courts irrefutably
determine 2011 Wisconsin Act 23 to be constitutional or
unconstitutional. I will keep you updated on any changes regarding
implementation of 2011 Wisconsin Act 23.
Click here for more information from the Government Accountability Board's Web site.
Neighborhood Survey Available
I created a survey asking about various issues that are
important to our community and our state. The input of neighbors is
greatly appreciated.
Click here to download and print a copy of this survey, which you can
return to my office via mail, email, or fax upon completion.
Click here to save a stamp and take the survey online.
I look forward to hearing your views on these important issues!