Director of the New South Festival Singers and the Cobb Summer Singers in suburban Atlanta, Georgia
(Photo by Kevin Mathewson, Kenosha County Eye)
Kenosha, Wis.– The 58th Annual Choral Festival, a cherished event that showcases the talent of Kenosha’s youth choirs, was overshadowed tonight by a controversial political speech that left many attendees feeling uncomfortable and disappointed.
The evening, which was meant to celebrate the hard work and musical accomplishments of local students, took an unexpected turn when Ms. Lynn Swanson, the director of the New South Festival Singers and the Cobb Summer Singers from suburban Atlanta, Georgia, took the stage before the final performance.
Swanson began with a lengthy address recounting her experience in Communist China, where she advocated for funding for the arts. While her speech was initially about her personal journey, it quickly took a sharp political turn. She began to promote the upcoming $115 million referendum for the Kenosha Unified School District (KUSD), urging voters to support it on Tuesday.
The audience’s reaction was swift and unmistakable. Yells and boos echoed through the auditorium, with some attendees shouting, “Not the time or place!” Despite the clear disapproval, Swanson persisted, attempting to reframe her message by suggesting that people could ask questions about the referendum, but it was obvious to many that her stance was in favor of a “yes” vote.
The disruption didn’t end when the event concluded. Emails and texts flooded the inboxes of local community leaders, with many expressing their frustration at the politicization of a night meant to honor young performers. One teacher, a KUSD staff member who is planning to vote in favor of the referendum, told KCE, “This wasn’t the time or place for her to bring up politics. It overshadowed the purpose of the event.”
The event, which should have been a celebration of youth achievement, instead became a divisive moment that left many questioning the appropriateness of political advocacy in such a setting. It appears that the KUSD may have invited Swanson to speak about the referendum, but her decision to turn the event into a platform for political campaigning was both tactless and disruptive.
Kenosha residents are rightfully upset. Parents, teachers, and students alike agree that public school events should not be hijacked for political purposes. The festival, which was meant to be a night of joy and pride for the community’s youth, ended on a sour note, with many feeling that their children’s special night had been marred by an unwelcome and inappropriate political message.
KUSD must take steps to ensure that future events like the Choral Festival remain free from political campaigning. The focus should always remain on the students and their accomplishments, not on furthering a political agenda. Tonight, Ms. Swanson’s actions distracted from what should have been a celebration of the arts, and left a bitter taste in the mouths of many in attendance.
128 Responses
This speaker should be ashamed of herself preaching to the tax paying citizens of Kenosha! I’m sure some one from the teachers union or KUSD made sure she brought the referendum up! Not the time and place to do that. It took away from all the hard work the students did to make Choral Fest happen. Disgusting behavior. Glad she got booed and yelled at!
I don’t think there is a single person that wants their taxes to go up, but have you looked at how we got here? State funding for schools froze and the amount stopped accounting for inflation in 2009. If you made the same amount of money as you did in 2009, I don’t think you would be in great shape either. Our state has a budget surplus, but our republican controlled legislature won’t let that money go toward funding public schools. This wouldn’t be our burden if the republicans let the public schools get properly funded. I suggest those of you who vote “no” at the very least write to your representatives expressing how you feel about this burden being transferred to you when the state has the money for it.
“State funding for schools froze and the amount stopped accounting for inflation in 2009.”
That is an outright LIE TIna. There was one year of no increase right after the Wisconsin saving Act 10 was passed. One YEAR. Ever since, almost 15+ years, the State funding has increased every single year.
I keep seeing this absolute lie all over social media and it is further proof that this referendum must fail. The constant lying needs to stop.
You should be embarrassed and ashamed of yourself as much as the dipstick Swanson was tonight.
Frozen is a lie, or at least misinformed. It is true that funding never caught back, at least not by 2020. And shoot off the new funding is diverted to other schools.
Source: http://www.wisconsinbudgetproject.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/2020.1_report_years_after_historic_cuts.pdf
I have no issue with private schools- but parents should have to pay for them. A family’s max voucher value should be to reallocate your own tax dollar burdon directly to the charter school, but no more than your taxes, and only for your own kids. And before anyone goes there – I own multiple homes in kenosha and have no kids. I have no issue paying for public schools, it’s the privately owned charter bullshit I hate.
So glad I send my kids to private school AND get money back for my tax burden.
Not all private schools take vouchers for your information. As a senior I believe tax dollars should follow a child…a parent should be allowed to say where his money goes to educate his child. And further more, if you don’t have children you shouldn’t have to contribute to someone else’s child to be educated in public or private!!!! Let’s try that and see how wisely unified uses the dollars!
It’s not a voucher, I get money back for the busses I don’t use. 🤘🏼
That is ridiculous on its face. We all benefit from good public and private education. We just need to be sure that we are getting what we are paying for. Competition (school choice) will make every school better. Poorly performing schools and teachers should be fired. How do we know that we are doing a good job and who is ultimately accountable for meeting the standards? What rights do parents and taxpayers have in the process?
Perhaps people would feel differently it millions of dollars had not been spent on the indoctrination of our children in the areas of lgbtq advocacy, dei ridiculousness and other mis-use of taxpayer dollars. Not to mention paying several sexual deviants to work in KUSD schools. I wouldn’t give this mismanaged organization a nickle. Fire all administration and start from scratch.
If you would send all the private school kids to the public schools next year, especially in Milwaukee and Racine the system could never deal with it, they would need milions in additional funding, many new schools, and the taxpayers would be nailed with it. You have to remember that the choice schools operate on almost half the cost per student.
test scores would increase
So what has Evers been doing? Many folks don’t get much of an increase and definitely don’t have the same benefits as government employees.
I have no issue with teachers… but do you realize that Jeffrey Weiss makes over $228,000! That’s ridiculous compared to those (the teachers and some principals) who are in the trenches.
This isn’t on the Republicans. It’s on poor spending.
I think being in charge of 18,000 students and 2500 staff members earns you that kind of money. I don’t agree with all of Weiss’ decisions, but that position is not easy. Cutting his salary won’t fix the deficit. Evers can’t do anything. The state’s legislature is controlled by one side. They will never pass anything from Evers. That’s unfortunately how this country works. Both sides are guilty of working for only their party and not the betterment of the people. There’s no negotiating anymore.
Then maybe we should get rid of some of the people he’s in charge of, as well as reducing his salary.
Our ROI for Dr. Wiess’s huge salary is NO protection for our kids. He needs to resign!
LMAO yeah, ok it’s the “republicans fault” 🤣
That’s not how we got where we are, we got where we are by electing incompetent and uncaring people to run the schools. There are some hard-working and competent people with an agenda, sadly that agenda has nothing to do with educating students.
Look what Weiss is getting payed to destroy KUSD
Paid.
Throwing money at salaries and building improvements hasn’t improved the quality of education. Stop blaming the government and start addressing why kids test scores aren’t rising. Stop looking for money and start addressing what can be done with the money you do have–and start by getting rid of those in administration who are making $150,000 plus whose jobs aren’t absolutely necessary. Perhaps we should bring DOGE in and let them trim the fat. VOTE NO!!!!!
If a school cant afford school material for state testing how are scores supposed to increase because i know damn well that people voting no are not helping the kids in the kusd district either with providing textbooks because you probably want those books banned. You can’t expect someone to make you a bowl of cereal when they don’t have the cereal, milk, or bowls.
Perhaps people would feel differently it mollions of dollars had not been spent on the indoctrination of our children in the areas of lgbtq advocacy, dei ridiculousness and other mis-use of taxpayer dollars. Not to mention paying sexual deviants to work in KUSD school. I wouldn’t give this mismanaged organization a nickle. Fireall administration and start from scratch.
Evers secured 400 years of increased per pupil funding.
WI. student’ rank as low achievers with math, reading and spelling to name a few. Give tax dollars to the private school and those able to home school their children. Get away from the infested KUSD in this town. They have been singing the same song for 40 some years. They are a total scam. DOGE would lay them all off. Screw their union too. Us right wingers have your number. Go make gummies for a living.
Depending on source, Wisconsin ranks 5th to 10th of the 50 states.
Wisconsin’s math test scores and median SAT scores both ranked as fifth-best in the country.
It’s drop-out rate is the third lowest in the country.
That money belongs to us-the taxpayers. It is not a discretionary fund to support the governors political agenda. Student test scores across the state are abysmal. Student head count is down, teacher headcount is up, support staff headcount is up, administrative headcount is up. Cut the fat. Private industry has to make these tough decisions in order to stay in business. You cant just keep going to the taxpayers, many of who are on fixed incomes.
But it’s not a private for profit business.
There will always be some people that feel they’re just soooooo much smarter than everybody else, and we will find them most often in the teaching and political community. As if just because someone can teach me math, they also can bestow upon me all of the “correct” answers of the universe. Likewise, just because they fooled the minimum amount of people necessary to get elected, they don’t have to answer for stupid moves or glaring mistakes in their job performance. Even if they’re earning $177 k a year in the Kenosha unified School district.
It’s not always teachers and politicians, sometimes it’s even a St Joe’s graduate that thought it was her job to preach politics instead of read the weather report on Channel 58 🤣🤣🤣
How absolutely disgusting. This was in very poor taste
Typical behavior for liberals.
Nothing new here. Play mind games to shame and guilt people into giving them more money “for the kids”.
I’m a very quiet person in a social atmosphere but boy did that statement she made have me vocalizing my thoughts REAL FAST. ”NOT THE TIME OR PLACE” came out of my mouth. Not afraid to set a standard and my daughters choir performance is a laughable place to push an political angenda. WILD KUSD ANTICS.
I’ve been to a dozen choral fest performances and every single time the guest conductor is amazed by our city’s music program and advocates for it to be maintained. You need to grow up. She was simply advocating for the program that your daughter got to be part of and hopefully will still be around for your future grandchildren.
She advocated and then pivoted. She knew what she was doing. Probably coached by the KEA
Rebecca Steven’s scraggly fingerprints are all over this . Vote her out .
Rebecca Steven’s is at the top of the list of those personally responsible for the current Budget Crisis that the KUSD finds itself in.
She has been on the School Board for over a decade and failed in her obligation to responsibly respond to declining enrollment and funding. Blaming the State of Wisconsin for lower funding is such a ridiculous Red Herring. State Funding is based upon enrollment, and KUSD enrollment has declined 17% in the last 10 years. Instead of fulfilling her duty and managing staffing….which could have painlessly been accomplished through attrition….Stevens has actually supported INCREASING Teacher, Administration, and ESC staffing. Had staffing across the KUSD been reduced 17% over the last 10 years, we would be currently operating at a substantial SURPLUS.
Seriously folks….how many of you have ever worked in a Company, Private Enterprise, or other non-government entity that responded to a 17% reduction in revenue with increased staffing and expenses? Any one of us would be fired immediately if we managed a Business in that manner. Simple Common Sense…..
The people of Kenosha have entrusted Rebecca Stevens with being a responsible steward of our tax dollars. Instead, she has been clueless and incompetent in her position and driven the KUSD into the current crisis. She has also been front and center in hiring the current crop of high level ESC administrators who are orchestrating the attempt to make you pay for their Clown Show financial management through this Referendum.
Unfortunately, supported by the equally clueless KEA and the local Education Establishment, Rebecca Stevens has one of those rare positions in life where you get to keep your job despite being demonstrably horrible at it.
By the way, is KUSD planning on a termination, suspension, or other severe discipline of Scott Plank, the Director of Fine Arts? The Speaker last night immediately told everyone to “talk to Scott Plank about the Referendum” when the crowd reacted negatively to her commentary. I would wager a quick investigation would discover that Plank was the one who gave the Green Light and encouragement of the comments.
Before Act 10, Stevens was often seen at the now defunct Ray Radigans on Sheridan Road for lunch with KEA president Joe Kiriacki. She endorsed stooges Carl Bryan and Kyle Flood., and voted to hire, then fire Michelle Hancock. She has about as much foresight and leadership skills as lemmings jumping off a cliff. She’s been around for over 20 years of KUSD declining in enrollment and test scores.
No, she wasn’t impressed and supporting, she was a hired hit by the kusd and teachers union. You need to grow up or at least stop lying because the truth is inconvenient. The fastest way to shoot down the referendum is by having a room full of potential supporters leave in disgust.
Choir performances are not a place to talk politics. And telling me to grow up is a shit argument.
Grow up
Exactly. I don’t say much but a wonderful evening of music was overthrown by politics. Doesn’t matter if I was voting yes or no, SHAME ON KUSD!
She got paid extra for her statement
Lie
Not afraid to set a standard. You sure set that standard looooow. Yell when you don’t agree. Make a scene when you don’t agree. Stomp your feet and cry about it. Boo hoo. The left is laughing at all y’all – 😭
Well that’s what the left has been doing since what forever…. So we just met them at their level….
I think it’s normal for a guest conductor to advocate for the arts. Kenosha Unified’s fine arts programs are so strong compared to many other places. As a community we need to protect these programs because these make our city a great place to be. All of the fine arts programs are at risk due to the large deficit. Fine arts and sports are the first to get cut. That’s common sense. I would much rather do my part to maintain all of the wonderful, unique, and high quality programs that we are so lucky to have here. Most importantly, as a mature adult, I would not boo someone I disagree with at my child’s concert. That’s embarrassing and inappropriate. Bringing up the referendum is one thing- interrupting someone’s speech is another. Especially when this person was praising our community.
Perry, I’m sure you would have said the same thing if someone spoke on voting NO for this horrific tax grab, right?
Ya, didn’t think so. Hypocrite.
This lady is from fucking Georgia. She literally has probably never been to Kenosha in her life before now. She has zero credibility either way about what this school district is like….regardless of what her view was.
Perry, you are a simpleton and a sheep. When someone makes a compliment towards you….you automatically like the person regardless of what qualifications that person has. You totally buy in to BS because all you heard was the initial compliment. You do realize that’s like planned, right…..? They purposely compliment you in order to get stupid sheep on their side.
“When someone makes a compliment towards you….you automatically like the person regardless of what qualifications that person has. You totally buy in to BS because all you heard was the initial compliment.”
Sounds exactly how the orange one picked his cabinet! God help us all.
Hello Ben and Perry,
Both of you have just indicated that you feel that Fine Arts would be jeopardized should the Referendum be defeated on Tuesday. I am curious as to whether either of you would be able to articulate why that would be?
Did the KUSD have Fine Arts back in 2013/2014?
Of course they did.
Are either of you aware of these KUSD statistics?
2013/2014 – 22,602 Students 1638 Teachers 134 Administrators 238 ESC
2023/2024 – 18,711 Students 1674 Teachers 166 Administrators 320 ESC
In the last 10 years, Student Enrollment has declined by 17% while the number of Teachers, Administrators, and ESC staff have actually increased.
Had Teaching positions alone simply been reduced through attrition over the last 10 years and reflected a 17% reduction, there would be 314 fewer Teachers on payroll today. At an average total compensation package per Teacher position of $100,000 ( Salary, Retirement, Health Insurance, Payroll Taxes, Unemployment Tax, Work Comp Tax, etc….), those 314 excess positions are costing Taxpayers $31,400,000 every year. Do the same math for Administrative and ESC positions, and you can see the the KUSD should be awash in funding to not only maintain current programs and facilities, but even improve them…or God forbid….cut taxes.
The School Board and KUSD Leadership over the last 10-20 years has grossly mismanaged staffing, COVID/Esser funds, and educational priorities as enrollment and state funding declined. KUSD has a duty to reduce staffing back to 2013/2014 student to staff ratios which would solve the Budget Crisis TODAY.
I know that reducing Teaching positions by 314 would be painful and sad. However, KUSD is not a Jobs Program. It is, again, the fault of awful stewardship on the part of the School Board and KUSD Leadership over the last 10 years.
And before you say….”Well, more Staff improves Student Outcomes.”…. Please show us that evidence. I can tell you that none exist when comparing metrics of success in KUSD over the last 10 years.
I get that the KUSD loves the “For the Kids” slogan on their Election materials and Signs. However, this Referendum has nothing to do with improving Student Outcomes. This is purely a money grab to increase Salaries, increase Teacher Prep time ( aka…less work ), and increase Benefits.
It is shameful that someone in authority from KUSD at tonight’s program gave Ms Swanson the Green Light to bring up politics at a celebration of student excellence. Ms Swanson is a Dim Bulb who just reflexively parroted the same tired “For the Kids” platitudes that the KUSD, the Teacher’s Union, and the Education Establishment uses to deflect from their obligation to use Taxpayer dollars responsibly.
The solution is simple….return to 2013/2014 staffing ratios….and I can assure you that the Fine Arts should not need to be touched.
I would really like to know who gave her the green light because it turned a wonderful evening celebrating the talent of our children into something a bit gloomy (and caused unnecessary divide).
I encourage folks to look at the salaries of the admin staff. NOT referring to those principals (i.e., IT) and teachers who work tirelessly to help our kids. I’m talking about folks who make significantly more than those that are in the trenches (i.e., $228,000!). It is so disappointing that there are less schools, the budget is a mess, and taxpayers are going to endure the burden with zero accomplished.
Don’t just look at the salaries, look at the outrageous benefits. Seven years ago , KUSD eliminated a lot of benefits for some employees while at the same time maintaining and increasing the benefits for Administrators. An Administrator with a qualifying number of years can retire at the age of 55 and the taxpayer will be on the hook to pay all but 10% of their health insurance until they reach age 65. This includes the family plan which currently is in excess of $33,000! Even if insurance didn’t go up a single penny more, we will be paying out over $300,000 for one retiree. Also, you have to provide insurance for the person that took that retirees job, so double that to $600,000 for one position. When questioned on this, Administrators claimed they were public employees and underpaid and that’s why they get these benefits! If push comes to shove, the Board will allow these current Administrators to be grand fathered into these benefits even though they’re the cause of the budget crisis
This was so well said. Thank you!
It’s nice to hear this from someone on the inside. Also , you back up your statements with actual facts . You showed your work so to speak . Our educational system is an obligate parasite. It can only exist until the host is completely sucked dry and dies.
We are the host ! At this time , we can’t just get rid of this system, but a major overhaul is needed. I don’t need to muddy the waters with the whole indoctrination of our kids thing , but it’s there and it’s been going on for over one hundred years. Something’s got to change, radically. I’m an obvious no.
You know this is disingenuous and isn’t going to happen.
I have been to plenty events and it is NOT okay for a conductor to talk politics. Period. It was 100% NOT appropriate to speak about Tuesday regardless if you are voting yes or no. She didn’t speak for the arts. She spoke for the vote. It’s pure manipulation.
The music program is self funded (exact words during the even). Should the music teachers worry about their jobs? I’m not so sure about that. Yes, KUSD has to pay the salaries of music teachers but they also bring in a significant amount of money from volunteering and ticket sales. KUSD is manipulating these fine programs to get what they want but have you looked at the admin’s salaries! I’m not talking teachers and principals.
Enough. Schools were closed. Attendance is down. The superintendent makes a ridiculous salary compared to the other admin staff (and most Kenosha’s residents). Test scores don’t reflect a damn thing. In the past 16 years, KUSD hasn’t proved a damn thing.
The music programs are NOT self funded, the large events: Band-O-Rama, Choralfest, Orchestrafest, Jazzfest are self funded. That is what was said!
Whether or not it’s normal doesn’t mean it is right. If it truly is normal, then it actually speaks volumes to why some people look at the arts as a waste of money and a paid liberal agenda. Crap-tastic speeches like hers only drive away non-politically inspired audiences
Personally, I don’t see the need for a speaker. Am EMCEE but not an agenda item.
We were at the event and did yell out “Not appropriate” during her speech. The woman next who sat next to me was not happy with my remark. However, regardless if someone is voting “yes” or “no”, it is not appropriate to push a political agenda during a KUSD even that is supposed to celebrate the accomplishments of our children. The woman was very offended that people were silencing Ms. Swanson but she did not take into consideration that Ms. Swanson was silencing our children.
My husband was ridiculed during a private conversation we were having when leaving the event. Funny how people are so quick to judge until they realize the money isn’t going to be helping the children but serving the overpaid admin staff. (NOT referring to the teachers!) When it hits their pockets and realize no changes are happening, they will soon realize they’ve been burned. Again.
I appreciate 98% of our teachers. I thoroughly admire and applaud the principal of IT. Other than that, not buying it. Multiple school closings, layoffs, and still need $$ for a mediocre education? I was told my the woman next to me that our country is falling apart and this is why.
Is it?
Yo I fuck with mrs Swanson she chill with me fam im from the Communist party us kids mess with her she was just yapping 0
She doesn’t even go here
Maybe we should all just relax, and make a bed/cot on the floor at work like Mr Cabals bed he had hidden at Indian trail in his art room.
All this crying and complaining is moot. It doesn’t matter what guest people or teachers the school district has to speak in favor of it. It’s not passing and it’s not even going to be close. Why anyone is even spending their time speaking their mind the weekend before as if it’s going to come down to a few votes is out of touch, it never was going to pass. It’s over. Just let it happen and die at this point.
By the way, this site is the sole reason why it won’t pass.
I think most Kenosha teachers are awesome and underpaid, way underpaid. However, when you have leadership who 1) doesn’t run the district correctly, 2) keeps bad teachers employed, 3) doesn’t even think you or I deserve any type of explanation when these issues are brought to their attention….then you need to speak your disapproval with your vote.
To be honest, Weiss is going to be looking for another job soon because they don’t want someone in there who not only has been a public relations nightmare….but can’t get THE IMPORTANT JOB done….and that’s getting this referendum to pass. That’s 98 percent on how bad he has been at taking accountability for issues that, quite honestly, most school districts have.
I agree. 95% of KUSD teachers are decent and underpaid. It’s the admin staff that are the issue. Sorry but true. People think that our country is in trouble. No. I think our country needs to get back on track and put our SOLID teachers first…
Teachers also work 9 months out of the year.
Teachers work harder than you ever will. Such a worthless comment.
Now, you don’t know how hard this person works, or how hard I have worked, for that matter. You also dont know how hard all of the teachers work. Some work very hard some work to get by. You don’t know. We do know that teachers do not work a full year which is 4o hours times 52 weeks for 2,080 hours. So, how many hours do teachers work? For that matter, how much is a teacher paid, including all benefits?
Try 7.
Not to mention get every winter day off in which there is an inch of snow.
I think it will unfortunately. I don’t think the turnout will be strong. 🙁
She got paid extra for her statement
No voters are down 2500 votes going in because anyone working for KUSD will be voting for a pay raise, VOTE NO
I work for KUSD and am voting no even if it’s at a cost to myself. I’ve seen first hand how irresponsible these Administrators are and am disgusted with their sense of entitlement and their condescending attitudes when questioned on budgetary issues.
I’m another KUSD employee who will also be voting NO tomorrow.
It DOES MATTER, because it’s not just about the money, it’s about the mindset that lets a piece of s*** stand up and preach like that instead of doing their damn job and getting off the stage. So long as we Foster the attitude of the kusd, the money problem will always be there.
It will pass if we don’t all + 10 people get out and vote on Tuesday!
We should not allow ourselves to be distracted. Regardless of how one feels about the referendum, a political speech taking a position during a school-sponsored event is not appropriate. Full stop. This conductor could have commended the students, the programs, and the community that has prioritized fine arts in education and left it there. Instead, she decided to make a political statement and learned quickly that her sanctimonious lecture was not welcome. Shame on those who allowed her to go down that road during a student concert as they proved (again) that “the kids” are not a priority but are pawns in the money game.
Sure would be interested to know if guest conductors for Choral Fest are paid by KUSD…..maybe Ms. $wanson had a great motive to make the comments she did?
Good question!
Of course they . The taxpayers can afford it . 😎
She showed even less class than Springsteen, Bono, Young, etc.
Giving political speeches to people that are paying good money
to escape every day life for a few hours, only to be preached to about
subjects they don’t want to hear.
It ruined the entire evening for everybody that worked so hard to get there.
I think she should be fired immediately.
You especially do not express local views when you’re a guest
in another town.
The only thing that ruined the evening was the parents making fools of themselves by yelling and booing. Don’t like it, leave and take little Timmy with you. They are all hypocrites who hid in the group. None of them were actually brave enough to actually protest. Typical conservative mob mentality. All bark and no bite. Also the kids didn’t care about wjat she was saying but watching their parents boo was mortifying!
Is this Mary Modder ?
Ur a fucking idiot ! go to your safe place and play with ur hot wheels
So, are you saying that people are not entitled
to enjoy a concert of what they thought they would
paying for?
If I pay for something other than what I thought I would
be getting, then I’m going to act foolish too.
Unless I agree to it IN WRITING.
Get a clue how life works, doofus.
Fired immediately???? She was a GUEST conductor!?!?!?!?
My mistake.
The company that sent her, should fire her, since
she was acting as their agent.
Either way, she will not be showing her sorry ass
in Wisconsin ever again.
She ought to be ashamed of herself, taking away from children’s accomplishments, even if she was coached by KUSD shame. Shame on her. I work for a position within the state and it is against our policy to discuss politics. At work or advocate for them. Isnt this a violation of some sort? What a classless bitch! low blow for sure!
What a bunch of fucking snow flakes you guys all out. Vote yes
Lmao, no thanks.
I’m glad my vote cancels out yours 😉
Only if your vote gets counted before mine, otherwise my vote will cancel out the snowflake accuser’s. 😁
lol nice try, can’t troll me 😉
He probably can’t vote, being a convicted felon.
Will KUSD will be serving Koolaid at the polls?
Calls others snowflakes, uses anonymous name. Nice joel
Ok, “Kelly”
Vote no! This is a ridiculous
Did they pay her to be there, conducting? If they did- is what she did, legal? Is it legal for KUSD to pay someone to make a political speech advocating for their referendum, at an event for which atendees must purchase their tickets?
Ask Heather Iverson who posted picture after picture of her actively participating – not merely attending- in KUSD events, playing her viola and wearing her campaign gear. Her sister got her invited to all the events and soooo many parents felt it was highly inappropriate. Especially when she was a actively bothering them to vote for her. But that’s OK be asked she was pretending to be conservative at the time… got it.
Kevin,
I would like to see you do a Q&A session with the potential Canidate for the upcoming KUSD school board elections. Dig into their background and report on that. Because ultimately they are the ones who decide if a referendum gets put to vote or not. I see we have quite a few running for the school board this feb 18. But I am not sold on who is the best candidate to make the decision on planning our children’s future.
Although I agree that both political parties need to stop the divide, you will never get me to agree that Weiss’ salary (and certain other admin staff) is earned. He is getting paid over the national average and is falling short of his core responsibilities: academic performance, financial management, and hiring staff. Covering up misconduct, closing schools, burning out really good teachers and yet allowing others to push their political agenda is not someone I would consider as exceptional.
Families are choosing to leave KUSD because they are headed in wrong direction.
If I was guaranteed the funds would be allocated accurately for our children, I would reconsider. However, we already pay so much in taxes and KUSD has a pattern of blowing smoke
Amen.
Kevin why don’t you write an article on why the state that has 4.3 billion dollars extra. And 3 billion in reserves. 7.3 billion that is with a b. Send us the money back or funds roads and schools. The majority is led by representative Amanda. Why don’t they answer these questions. Send my money back
We deserve those transparent and truthful stories about how corrupt every Politician and so called leaders with large pockets in the City of Kenosha, FIRST and Foremost ! This includes the Police Department wholeheartedly. So many are tired of the lies, the lack of accountability and too many innocent lives taken.
How inappropriate. This is about the kids and their hard work not your fucking agenda.
VOTE NO for all the grooming victims who were not taken seriously. VOTE NO for all the cover ups. VOTE NO for all the lies. VOTE NO for all the mismanaged funds. VOTE NO for the horrendous test scores. VOTE NO to give the reality check KUSD deserves! They got themselves in this position and they can see them selves out.
Unfortunately every teacher in this town views this as voting for their own raise, that’s all.
wrong because I know very many teachers who are going to be cut due to this referendum possibly not getting passed, i wont name drop them because of privacy.
This problem with all schools is financial. Declining student enrollment is killing these school districts, not unique to KUSD. Many schools haven’t adjusted staff or administrators for this decline. They all hoped it was a fluke, clearly not. One might argue that the school should have gone after a much smaller number, a number that would require the school to make tough decision but offer a solid education for the students. Going after such a large number will scare most voters, very poor marketing on the school boards part. Asking for 100+ million is almost a guarantee it will fail, very foolish on the school boards and administrators part. I think most referendums with be shot done this year. The supermarkets tell us people are broke paying for food, food always wins.
KUSD knows that most of us are voting no on this referendum and this is just a display of how desperate they are to get our tax dollars. To have someone from outside our community, and who doesn’t have a child that attends school here spouting how we need to vote is unacceptable. This was not the time or place for this and it is an embarrassment to the students who were there to showcase our great music program. KUSD has sunk to a new level and if I were going to vote Yes ( which I’m not), I would change my vote to No. KUSD needs to do better. All these ridiculous things that have been going on, closing schools, all the questionable teachers getting in trouble. It is time that we decide how are tax dollars are used.
As a complete set up is very obvious that the scamming KEA ..VOTE NO …
Greed corruption and lack of any morals is what this is all about. If the parents were concerned they would all take their kids out on Monday. The ass holes in charge would resign in mass, the national media would be all over it and Trump would call out the demonic KUSD. no pain no gain. Other than that keep drinking the kool aid
Don’t ever vote to increase taxes on yourselves . Don’t be made the fool.
FOR those that say. “ITS FOR THE KIDS”
Stop. This woman, not the kids. was paid with our money and kids, not one, benefited. However, all those performing were pushed to the side, dismissed, overshadowed, …..
Here, a means to tell her bosses that he played the political card
https://www.festivalsingers.org/contact-us
Maybe KUSD should retract all the bonuses they gave out a few years ago when they had a surplus of our tax dollars!!! Not all of forgot about that you thieving basturds!!!
It was a disgusting display of self-serving politics. She gets paid from those dollars so she wants them to keep rolling in as does the terrible KUSD administration, teachers and staff … They will enver reform if they’re allowed to constantly fill their coffers with taxpayer monies. They will continue on providing a lousy product!
Get out and vote no. I’m very happy to hear people didn’t take her ridiculous screed sitting down and booed her. Enough is enough.
Is she actually a female?
She looks like a limp wristed male.
Vote to increase your taxes. Dumb asses.
Kevin just posted an article with every public employee salary. There isn’t barely a teacher making less than 70k a year. Unreal what they make. This whole time of thought teachers were making 40k a year lol. I propose a referendum to raise the wage of our janitors. You fucking teachers are selfish as shit.
As a bonus to their garbage pay, the prima donna teachers treat the staff like “the help”. They gossip about everyone in their faculty lounge and get quiet and weird when others appear there. Bunch of drama filled losers.
How about the improvements they did on schools with new windows and then they close the schools that money could be allocated to a school they knew was gonna stay open
Anyone read the WGTD fantasy version of what happened?
https://wgtd.org/news/couple-boos-kusd-referendum-reference-choral-fest-trigger-reactions-parents-students
His 14 listeners will believe his version
Hey Kevin don’t be shittin on Greg Berg
We got Temu Fox News before GTA 6 💀
That’s rich, some irrelevant clown from Georgia telling me what to vote for. What’s up with people not from here trying to stick their noses in local affairs? Besides the obvious special interests and “friends” of course….
I’m obviously voting NO. Deal with it.