We did it!!!!

The referendum passed! I was thrilled to hear news of Obama winning county after county and state after state, but as the night of November 4th got later and later, I waited anxiously to hear the results of the referendum vote. But thanks to community support, and the huge efforts of school board members, volunteers, and students like you, the referendum was approved.

Thanks so much to everyone who showed up at the Capitol Square rally last Saturday. It was a great success! We had at least 20 kids, multiple news reporters (with stories in the Capitol times and on Channel 3 news featuring our cause!), and tons of supportive farmers-marketers. I think our effort, as students, really made a difference in the outcome of the vote.

Though we avoided cutting countless programs, classes and positions by approving this 13 million dollars to patch up the budget gap, our work isn't over. We embark now in a process of strategic planning- to find out the best way to spend our limited money. The superintendent and board members will be consulting students, teachers, community members, and anyone with a voice about their personal concerns and ideas. We also have a long ways to go in Wisconsin and the United States as a whole to receive more financial support for our schools, and our future...

sarah

REFERENDUM Rally. BE THERE!

WHO: ALL STUDENTS, SIBLINGS, FAMILY. TELL EVERYONE.

WHAT: RALLY FOR AWARENESS AND SUPPORT OF REFERENDUM

WHEN: SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 8 am to 12 pm

WHERE: CAPITOL SQUARE AT ENTRANCE TO STATE ST.
DURING FARMER's MARKET

WHY: Help raise awareness and support for the referendum Next Tuesday’s vote of whether to provide the school funding to prevent 13 million dollars of budget cuts is ESSENTIAL to your future and that of your peers. 

Also... planning meeting Thursday at 3 pm, 821 Williamson St. Pizza and soda provided. Your leadership is NEEDED!

contact me with questions. 

TELL EVERYONE YOU KNOW!

What can you do?

The increase of student awareness about the referendum in the last few days has been great and exciting. 

I have many students asking me, what can I do to help? Here's a list of things you can do. IF you have any questions, please feel free to contact me. 

1. Email Natalia Thompson, project coordinator for Madison SOS and organizer with the CAST referendum efforts (nmthompson01@aol.com) with your home address to get a VOTE YES FOR SCHOOLS SIGN delivered to your house, for free
2. Write a letter to the editor (more info online at http://madisoncast.org/action.html)
3. Sign up for a lit drop (http://madisoncast.org/action.html

Tonights Referendum Meeting- WOW!

I just got back from a referendum filled day. 

Today at West High's regular weekly student council meeting, we had a reporter (Andy Hall) from the State Journal interviewing students about the referendum. This was a great opportunity for me to inform the student council about the referendum, as well as get a chance for (hopefully) a bit of media coverage from the students perspective.

I'm working to spread awareness among students- I think student's voices are the most persuasive and valuable resource to gain support for the referendum vote... Besides- we should all be passionate about this issue- we're the ones who have seen and will see the consequences of budget cuts. (Writing lab and Theater 3 from West, Italian from Lafollette, etc. etc.) 

I also attended a referendum forum meeting at Jefferson Middle School,  where Superintendent Dan Nerad, Assistant Superintendent Erik Kass, fellow board members and I listened and responded to community members' questions and concerns about the referendum. It was discouraging to hear very negative criticism towards the efforts of the board, but also encouraging to hear support from the referendum, and the universal view that the Superintendent and the Board's communication and willingness to answer questions has been phenomenal throughout the process.

Unfortunately we, the students, cannot vote on November 4. But this isn't to say we don't have a role in the referendum movement. In fact, I think the potential role of motivated, passionate students is the most important and perhaps the most influential for community members. We need to have conversations with anyone and everyone about the referendum, encouraging them to look up the facts and attend community meetings to help them make an informative vote. We need to help out in distributing flyers (THIS SATURDAY! SEE BELOW). We need to speak to the media, provide the student aspect.

The referendum doesn't come down to dollars and numbers. It comes down to our future. By supporting the referendum, we're supporting the education of our children and investing in Madison and the world as a whole. 

PLEASE LET ME KNOW IF YOU WOULD PUT UP A YARD SIGN. PLEASE COME HELP DISTRIBUTE LEAFLETS ON SATURDAY. PLEASE CONTACT ME WITH SUPPORT. THANKS GUYS!

What's New- the Referendum

Hello again everyone,

Since you're reading this post, I can assume you've seen my messages or heard about my blog. Great! Thanks for keeping up--- it's imperative that Madison students stay informed, if we want to have a voice in the district, and I think this blog is a great way for me to help out. Please tell all of your friends and peers to check my site out, and please contact me with any questions, ideas, concerns, etc.

This is an exciting and important time for the youth of America, as we watch our country's economy staggering while two radical opposites compete for president. Check out my poll to see what other peers in Madison think of Obama and Mccain, and get involved in the election, even if you can't vote--- this election is our future!

November 4's vote will also be key in determining the future of Madison's schools. Community members of Madison are voting on a referendum to give more money to the school district. Since 1993, our district has had to cap our budget to a certain amount every year, which has increased at much lower rate than expenses- creating a gap in the amount of money we need to sustain our programs and the amount we actually have. 

Our schools have suffered as a result of the budget gap, having to increase class sizes and cut programs all across Madison. It's an unfortunate problem that can only be solved by cutting programs or initiating a referendum. 

The referendum asks tax payers to provide funds to lower the budget gap, and avoid cutting more programs and compromising our education. You can read more about it on the school district website- which has useful information about the fiscal situation, the referendum, and the possible outcomes and their effects on students. 

Please take the time to learn about this referendum and inform your parents and friends- budget cuts have had, and will continue to have, a huge impact on your experience in school. Also- please comment on your opinion, and any questions you may have. 

Thanks!

Sarah

Welcome!

Hey Madison Students!

So maybe going back to school isn't at the top of our "10 Things I'm Looking Forward To" list, but I'm trying to enjoy the end of summer, not get too down about going back to the rat race, and be positive about the upcoming year-- I have high hopes for our school district in 08/09! 

Thanks to all of you who voted for me in the election last Spring- and for all your comments and support. In case you weren't here, or didn't vote, here's the deal: Every year, one Madison high school student is elected to serve on the school board of the Madison Metropolitan School District. It's this student's job to attend the weekly school board meetings, learn about the issues involved, and serve as the voice of the students when advising the board and voting at meetings. 

I started my term as your representative in July, and had to try to learn fast as we're in the middle of heated discussion concerning a November referendum for more funding for our schools. As we discuss, debate, and decide on this and other important issues, I'll try my best to keep you all informed via this blog. 

Please check back for updates, and never hesitate to contact me with questions, comments and concerns. 

Here's to a great school year!

your representative, 

-Sarah