Posted on Saturday, 22nd November 2008 by Patrick Dorwin
The Milwaukee Public Schools system spends $3,287,671.23 of your tax dollars every day, 365 days a year. What did they buy today?
- MPS has spent $27,144.00 to purchase… iPod’s
This came to me via a tip from BadgerBlogger reader Dan, and he included an interesting twist. To locate these, you have to search under the account “Nutrition Categorical” Why is the purchase of $27,144 worth of iPod’s listed under Nutrition? Was someone trying to hide something?
Click the image for larger view.
In conjunction with Citizens for Responsible Government and their Government Accountability in Spending Project (GASP), we will be posting one of the more dubious expenditures from the Milwaukee Public Schools (MPS) each day.
Posted in Home, MPS Spending | Comments (67)
67 Responses to “MPS Spending du Jour — iPod’s to bribe students to eat FREE breakfast”
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November 22nd, 2008 at 1:36 am
and
School Ops General
NPJ(RNSGICDAFE)-NO PROJECT NL-No Location
CAD-CASH ADVANCE JP MORGAN CHASE BANK
AP043946 FUNDS FOR AETNA DRAWS $3,000,000.00 3/22/2006
AND $768,008.07 TO THE UNITED WAY for contributions.
See school ops general and then on the right the pull down menue for CHC= UNITED WAY Contributions.
AND
$237,471.26 for Uniform Cleaning. See clothing and Linens.
AND MeMBERSHIP DUES $325,572.27
many of these expenses are game tickets in excess of over $100.00 per game, golf and tennis fees paid to Milwaukee County Parks (????)
$19,856,731.85 for Dental Insurance – includes
School Ops General
EMB(R)-EMPLOYEE BENEFITS DW-System Wide Costs
DNI-DENTAL INSURANCE HEALTH CARE SYSTEM CONSULTANTS INC
12313 Consulting services for dental $6,055.00 11/21/2007
S
and
School Ops General
EMB(R)-EMPLOYEE BENEFITS DW-System Wide Costs
DNI-DENTAL INSURANCE BLUE CROSS BLUE SHIELD
AWIL00000629 ADMIN FEE NOT PREV BILLED 8/07 $24,436.03 9/26/2007
School Ops General
EMB(R)-EMPLOYEE BENEFITS DW-System Wide Costs
DNI-DENTAL INSURANCE BLUE CROSS BLUE SHIELD
AP052228 ADMIN FEES FOR AUG. 2006 $24,684.72 9/8/2006
School Ops General
EMB(R)-EMPLOYEE BENEFITS DW-System Wide Costs
DNI-DENTAL INSURANCE BLUE CROSS BLUE SHIELD
AP093343 ADMIN FEES FOR AUGUST 2008 $24,775.35 7/30/2008
School Ops General
EMB(R)-EMPLOYEE BENEFITS DW-System Wide Costs
DNI-DENTAL INSURANCE BLUE CROSS BLUE SHIELD
AWIL00000611 ADMIN FEES FOR SEPTEMBER 2007 $24,835.23 9/19/2007
School Ops General
EMB(R)-EMPLOYEE BENEFITS DW-System Wide Costs
DNI-DENTAL INSURANCE BLUE CROSS BLUE SHIELD
AWIL00000658 RETENTION WK 9/28-10/4/2007 $24,959.98 10/10/2007
School Ops General
EMB(R)-EMPLOYEE BENEFITS DW-System Wide Costs
DNI-DENTAL INSURANCE BLUE CROSS BLUE SHIELD
AP053784 ADMIN FEES FOR SEPTEMBER 2006 $25,189.52 10/11/2006
School Ops General
EMB(R)-EMPLOYEE BENEFITS DW-System Wide Costs
DNI-DENTAL INSURANCE BLUE CROSS BLUE SHIELD
AWIL00000803 ADMIN FEES FOR NOVEMBER 2007 $25,304.29 11/14/2007
November 22nd, 2008 at 1:50 am
$687,854.36 for Employee AUTO Vandalism.
All payable to Cambridge Integrated Services Group.
Description of company
Type: Private
On the web: http://www.cambridgeintegrated.com
Employees: 2,200
This Cambridge educates businesses on safe and efficient work practices. Cambridge Integrated Services offers risk management services including liability claims, managed care, anti-fraud investigations, and recovery services for insurance, financial services, and health care businesses. With about 50 offices throughout the US, as well as operations in Europe, Asia, and Australia, the company is one of the largest third-party business process outsourcing (BPO) providers. Cambridge Integrated Solutions is a subsidiary of India-based Cambridge Solutions Ltd., which also provides information technology outsourcing services.
November 22nd, 2008 at 2:04 am
Alright this is getting a bit out of hand.
$357,221.03 in Chilled Water – mostly payable to Brewery Works Inc.
Check it out under H2O=Water expense.
Account School OPPS General
November 22nd, 2008 at 2:21 am
Alright this is getting a bit out of hand.
$357,221.03 in Chilled Water – mostly payable to Brewery Works Inc.
Check it out under H2O=Water expense.
Account School OPPS General
Membership Dues Individual – $125,910.00
Andrekopoulos Membership $768.00 for the YMCA (what??) 2006 & 2007.
Instate travel = $10,963.86 for??? mostly
Chevy Uplander-Andrekopoulos $614.47
So Andrekopoulos gets a free YMCA Membership and a $614.47 CAR???? Where do I sign up for a job at MPS????
November 22nd, 2008 at 2:30 am
employee awards….. drum roll please..$10,115.00
I think I mentioned this before by $327,092.27 is spent on athletic dues and registration and
only $500′s is spent district wide for bullying/life skills and ONLY $5,039.77 for interactive Technology in Biology… this is sad.
No wonder MPS have students that are failing. They don’t have the tools to even learn.
November 22nd, 2008 at 2:54 am
District wide
Early Childhood Programing
$4,390.62 ($1,600.00′s on Providing Disability Awareness, balance is T-shirts and sports equipment)
then $1,656,070.39 is spent on camp funds?? walkie talkies, risers, t-shirts, more cell phone bills, bus tickets, camp-wendy’s $135.70 (WTF), rec registration $175.00, SNACKS FOR ED. PLAN MTG. $20.32, PHONE CARD FOR CAMP ALCOTT $60.76, Field Trips Galore (sorry I pay for them for my child)
Mad Science of Milwaukee = $55,647.80
Science Enrichment $1,112.00 7/21/2006
Science Enrichment $1,112.00 8/4/2006
Science Enrichment $834.00 8/4/2006
Scient Enrichment$834.00 8/4/2006
Science Enrichment $834.00 9/20/2006
November 22nd, 2008 at 2:54 am
Thanks for the info everyone. It really shows that budgets can be cut and taxes don’t have to be raised. MPS isone pathetic school district where the employees and consultants are more important than the students.
November 22nd, 2008 at 2:56 am
Workshops – Science Enrichment $1,112.00 9/20/2006
Workshops – Science Enrichment $556.00 9/20/2006
SREC 2007 – Provide 45 minute $894.00 8/15/2007
SREC 2007 – Provide 45 minute $1,788.00 8/15/2007
SREC 2007 – Provide 45 minute $596.00 8/15/2007
SREC 2007 – Provide 45 minute $2,682.00 8/15/2007
WORKSHOPS – SCIENCE ENRICHMENT $298.00 7/9/2008
WORKSHOPS – SCIENCE ENRICHMENT $2,384.00 7/9/2008
November 22nd, 2008 at 3:20 am
CI-TEACHING & LEARNING SUP-SUPPLIES-CONSUMABLE
4imprint = $27,595.81
A BRANOVAN COMPANY LLC = $269,624.86
I really gotta stop, but the two above are promoational companies. Pencils – I stop smoking, Pens for Best Friends, T-shirts, Tavel Mugs – thousand of dollars for teacher conferences, ediable unidentified printables, soft peppermints ($127.00′s), PAPER MATE FLEXGRIP ELITE PENS $304.00, staff retreat supplies $344.10 (from a printer??), LUGGAGE TAGS #28817 (BLUE W/GO $523.17 , PEDOMETERS#9374 (QUOTATION#312 $4,470.00, 11/9/07 SUPPLIES-CONSUMABLE $1,163.15 + SUPPLIES-CONSUMABLE $529.88.
STUDENT BAGS $1,308.50 (why the HECK am I donating supplies to MPS every Summer For??
INCENTIVES $610.11, retreat supplies $618.15 and more retreat supplies $587.50.
May I remind you these two places print promotional products. Simple search on the web and you’ll find them.
WHAT A WASTE.
November 22nd, 2008 at 6:38 am
Really? Over 3 million! per day. I grew up in WI. I thought the people that ran Milwaukee knew what they were doing. I studied trombone on the outskirts of Milwaukee in the 50s. As for the piddling amounts for iPods: I would suggest one for each of the students. That might make their day bearable.
November 22nd, 2008 at 7:59 am
What can we do as taxpayers? Call Andrekoupolous? Call the Board Members? Call the D.A.? (My migraine is getting worse)
November 22nd, 2008 at 8:21 am
Bring back the “THROW THE BUMS OUT” bumper stickers. This stuff is U N B E L I E V A B L E !!! I don’t own an ipod and drink my water from the kitchen faucet. I work hard for my money and am VERY ANGRY that my district school board member, Terry Falk, is so nonchalant about all of this ABSOLUTE WASTE OF MY MONEY.
November 22nd, 2008 at 8:50 am
Everyone needs to think of these examples every time they hear a politician in WI claim that there is absolutely no place anywhere (zero, zip, zilch, nada) that any spending cuts could take place without the world collapsing around us and they just HAVE to raise taxes – again.
November 22nd, 2008 at 9:02 am
I can’t help but wonder if some items were bought and soon after returned for cash???? Just a thought
November 22nd, 2008 at 9:11 am
Definitely some egregious spending practices in MPS. The chilled water and iPhones aren’t typically associated with providing a quality education. But with fewer federal dollars to spread around to states, and our vigilance against wasteful govt spending, it might be worthwhile to expose some bloated charges submitted by Halliburton in the Iraq theater. We wouldn’t be so pinched at home if we weren’t overfilling the trough for the war pigs abroad.
November 22nd, 2008 at 9:20 am
Ken, Milwaukee was once known, and even joked about because of our clean government… Sadly, those days are long gone.
November 22nd, 2008 at 10:02 am
Hello – regarding your comment on returning for CASH.
If you go and look at Vendors by name? There are many people listed. Many of them, the side comments state bus transportation costs.
On that category, I am wondering along the same lines as you.
There were many charges listed as field trips. I am all for education and hands on experience, but one filed trip was to the Fox Bay Movie theather for several hundred dollars during the summer. My son attends a park and rec program during the summer, I pay $25′s a week for him to attend the morning program from 9-noon Monday – Friday. They go on one field trip a week. I pay for those field trips. They do go to the Fox Bay Theater and I personally pay for it.
Same with Mad Science. We have attended Saturday programs and paid $10′s to see it. Our library has provided the same event and the FRIENDS of the Library paid less than $200.00′s for the night event.
I am all for hands on learning for kids, but Mad Science the kids sit in the audience and WATCH the performance and MPS has paid Mad Science over $55,000′s to entertain the children.
What the heck are we paying teachers for?? Our teachers come up with science projects for the kids to do.
As I mentioned, I have a son, he is in 6th grade. We the parents sent empty 2 liter bottles to school. As a class, in pairs, they made an eco system with water, some fish (the school bought the fish, snails, gravel, plants and provided the water) These eco systems were put together by the students, and studied, observed and added more fish that have babies. This project has lasted several weeks.
THAT is what a school should be doing.
I would also like to add, that ALL of the categories I looked in had Pizza charges randomly thoughout the expenses. $25 here, $50′s there, donuts.. etc.. It is just unbelieveable.
I went to a school board meeting last year for MPS. I heard parents say they were told there was no money for extra reading help for their child, teachers saying there was no extra money for supplies. I spoke to ann MPS teacher once – no music for 3 years in the school. they were cutting out ART. Now we know why!
November 22nd, 2008 at 10:16 am
I’m sorry for so many posts, but I am for kids.
Why does Andrekopoulos need a YMCA membersship paid for and a monly car payment for $671.00? Can’t he drive a Ford Escort for $199.00 per month?? Why is his car leased and not purchased? Why is MPS PAYING for his car? Does he not make enough money?
Under membership and dues, there are CSL license renewal reimbursements. In the private sector, you would have to PAY OUT OF YOUR OWN POCKET those costs.
November 22nd, 2008 at 12:09 pm
There is another doosey coming up tomorrow.
November 22nd, 2008 at 12:17 pm
To your original question:
Obviously, apples are nutritious.
November 22nd, 2008 at 1:46 pm
Yes Dad, but my Mom and Dad provided them for me, or I got them from our APPLE tree.
I must be some sort of sucker, because at this moment I am listening to my 4th gen. Ipod. My second 4th generation Ipod. I paid for both.
How much did MPS pay for the ITUNES downloads??
Enquiring minds want to know.
November 22nd, 2008 at 1:52 pm
The iPods were used as incentives to encourage students to sign up for and attend school breakfast programs. At a certain of participation, MPS became eligible for additional federal or state funds
I complained about Andrekopoulos’s car/YMCA membership back when he was awarded them. He renegotiated those things (and a sizable raise) into his contract at the exact same tame he was busy telling teachers that he would need to charge school lunch ladies $7000 for their health care.
The “chilled water” charges were (I believe) the cost of providing cold water to the schools in the MEC complex. I don’t know the physics of the problem, but apparently that was the only way to get water. That cost (and the the monthly lease payments–MEC is the only building we don’t own outright) was a significant factor in the Board’s decision last month to close MEC and move those programs elsewhere.
The memberships to the county golf courses pay for school golf team practices and matches. Our school campuses do not come with golf courses on them.
Once again, I am amazed at how quickly the people her complain without considering what reasons may lie behind some of these expenses.
November 22nd, 2008 at 1:56 pm
I suggest Ken Mueller put his IPOD where his mouth is.
Ken could you write a check out for $27,000.00 to MPS for Ipods. You could list it as “Making the day bearable” on your tax return.
I’m sure you’ll write that check POST HASTE because it’s such a “piddling” amount.
Oh, and could you pay to insure the “lost” Ipods too?
What’s next. Condoms in school????
November 22nd, 2008 at 2:23 pm
I feel better now that Folktunes has explained it to me.
“”The iPods were used as incentives to encourage students to sign up for and attend school breakfast programs. At a certain of participation, MPS became eligible for additional federal or state funds”"
Bribe the children with “FREE” Ipods, so that they will become dependent on their SCHOOL for breakfast, so that MPS can get more money to spend on IPODS and CHEVY UPLANDERS, and FREE breakfasts.
Thanks Bullox!!
November 22nd, 2008 at 3:24 pm
So to review. We need to bribe kids to come and eat breakfast on the tax payers dime, not so they can have a healthy breakfast, NOPE, we need more money to spend, and if we get kids to be dependent on MPS for breakfast we can squeeze more FREE MONEY out of the STATE and FEDS.
Oink you very much.
What happens when Leroy and Mary already have an IPOD, that they “bought” from a fellow student?
We offer Hip Hop stars and free autographs, and High top Air Lebron’s.
Oink you very much,.
November 22nd, 2008 at 6:10 pm
As my idiot supervisor, Chris Larson, was quoted as saying about overriding Walker’s veto of bike racks on front of all buses: ” It’s a no brainer.” This based on the fact the feds are paying 95 per cent of cost and Milwaukee County taxpayers only have to BORROW $32,500 for the other 5 percent! Who do these people think pays for the federal grants? This money is not pennies from heaven. It is OUR TAX MONEY.
November 22nd, 2008 at 7:01 pm
iPods for breakfast bribes? Seriously?
MPS is truly in an alternate universe.
November 22nd, 2008 at 8:17 pm
Thank you JJ and BUM – as I stated a few times – “I” as a parent pay for those services for my child myself. Golf? I pay $150 per activity at the middle school level – I’m not sure about the high school level.
PLEASE find services that are FOR students EDUCATION.
Please tell me what the KIDS are getting out of these chages and WHILE YOU ARE AT IT, how about all of the pizza and donut charges. Can you justify that?
November 22nd, 2008 at 8:38 pm
Trust me Marge, Folktunes will justify anything.
He is a paradox. He’s not stupid, but his sense of smell has been removed. He has been paid by the MONSTER for so long, that he really believes in it.
Case in point. Folktunes tries to rationalize bribing kids with IPODS. The bribe was for the kids to come and EAT FREE BREAKFAST. The bribe wasn’t an effort to give kids a nutritious start, it was to increase the “needy” numbers in order to rake in more CA$H to spend.
If you have to bribe kids with IPODS in order to get them to EAT FREE FOOD.
They do not NEED the free food.
It’s ass backward on numerous levels, but FOLKTUNES doesn’t see it. He’s native.
November 22nd, 2008 at 8:42 pm
I totally agree with you on the FREe Breakfast thing.
Thank you gus.
November 22nd, 2008 at 8:58 pm
Marge. there is a test for the FREE BREAKFAST, libtard philosophy.
First, the entire concept of FREE BREAKFAST has been turned into a numbers game and cash grab.
If MPS can show XYZ number of “neeeeeedy” starving babies, then they get more CA$HI$H to spend on more “chilled water” or “Hilton rooms”.
It’s not about whether kids need FREE BREAKFAST.
It’s about MPS scoring more FREE MONEY from a separate tax payer source.
But here’s the rub. If FREE BREAKFAST was essential to kids being able to LEARN. Why can’t MPS pay for PRIVATE SCHOOLS kids to eat FREE BREAKFAST too, or don’t those kids matter!! Maybe if the private schools promised not to say “Grace” first!
Folktunes is co-opted, he is native, he is bought and paid for by THE MONSTER, and he is NAIVE and not able to see that his good natured efforts are being PISSED ON, by the likes of PETER PETER donut eater BLEW IT, and Crazy Charlene the dancing Machine Hardin.
The philosophies the eminate from Vliet street are nearly criminal. The results ARE criminal.
November 22nd, 2008 at 9:45 pm
Gus,
I live in Milwaukee County – 6 miles north of Milwaukee. You get the picture.
We do not have food service for our Elementary Schools.
I witnessed some disturbing situations. One day I was in the office. Two students came in stating they had no lunch. The first student was probably a 5th grader. The office secretary gave an attitude to this student and questioned why they didn’t have a lunch and how they should have a lunch and then eventually “we will see if we have crackers”.
The next student came in. I am guessing she was a 1st grader. Same “attitude” from the secretary. What is in your lunch box? she says.
Student opening lunch box. A Honeybun and a juice box.
Secretary – what did you have for a snack
Student – a bag of fruit snacks.
Secretary – You need to check your lunch before you leave for school and tell your mom to put a sandwich in your lunch box.
Student nods
Secretary – I’ll see if I can find you something.
Brings something back and states – make sure your mom packs you a lunch.
Gus, I spent the next 8 months trying to get some lunch options for students in need and I had resistance from the Administration, down to the PAID lunch ladies that were mothers of the school.
I contacted DPI and I am well aware of all the requirements and reimbursements for lunches. I contacted MCFI to get costs to have lunch brought in at all different levels.
Our Superintendent, who is paid $150,000 + annually + car allowance and god know what else tells me they can not afford the cost of someone to go through the applications to approve for the different levels of reimbursements.
The PTO President tells me that they furnish TUNA for the students to eat. (my response – what kid likes tuna) How about plastic bowls, spoons and cereal. We have milk, how hard is it to give away milk and cereal. That’s still healthy and filling – went no where.
The Principal tells me that they can not be legally responsible for serving moldy bread. I find a law that Clinton put into effect in 1993 to protect 5013c’s from any lawsuit. (our PTO can afford to buy).
I suggested the MCFI lunch box option for children that need the lunch. It could be put in their locker by a certain time. I am told by our Principal such a service might embarass those students.
I call Hunger Task Force and they suggest a “sharing table”. Students can put something on the table and share and or trade. Problem? Who is responsbile for what is left on the table at the end of lunch. The PAID staff does not want to do the extra work and some of the “stuck on themselves mothers” wanted control of what their children were eating and god forbid, what about allergies.
We are 3 months into the middle school now – completely different Principal. My son came home last week and one of his lunch buddies forgot a lunch. He relays how everyone chipped in and helped provide a lunch for this student. He then preceeds to tell me that he told the student to go to the clinic and he could get a sandwich. He also stated that their homeroom teacher said he would lend $2.00′s to anyone as long as it was paid back the next day.
Based on my above story/experience, I email our new principal.
Is this true about the sandwich? – YES and they have granola bars too. Asked about the small 24 hour loan? She said it was probably based on an individual teacher, but she had shelled out a few dollars in her day.
And what is the message here? Leadership. Same district, different leaders. Andrekopoulos needs to be a leader as he is PAID to do. All I see here is a hand out and I think most here agree!
Whatever happened to be accountable for your job? Taking pride?
November 22nd, 2008 at 9:47 pm
Andrekopoulos should have the district provide him with personized plates…. CHA CHING!
November 22nd, 2008 at 9:57 pm
Marge, STOP THAT! You made me blow coffee out my nose & all over the keyboard! CHA CHING!
November 22nd, 2008 at 10:03 pm
Sorry Patrick (handing you the roll of Brawny) and sorry for taking over your post. This topic has me a little fired up.
November 22nd, 2008 at 10:05 pm
Okay, I dried my keyboard enough to comment on Jay’s iPod explanation…
I don’t doubt you Jay, and thanks for shedding light on this, but… ARE THEY OUT OF THEIR FREAKIN’ MINDS?
We see the liberal mindset at work here folks, they are willing to bribe people with tax dollars to become even more dependent on the nanny state. They don’t want to encourage people to take care of their own children, by feeding them.
November 22nd, 2008 at 10:32 pm
I have been looking into the Apple expenses a little deeper. I don’t see any payments to iTunes, but there are plenty of things that are not itemized, so who knows, but I have found a LOT more iPods among the $3,459,009.86 (yes, that is over 3.4 million tax dollars) paid directly to Apple Computer, this does not include Apple products from other distributors.
Most of the iPods purchased, apparently to bribe students to eat breakfast at school, were 30 Gig iPods, but Golda Meir Elementary bought $698.00 worth of 80 Gig iPods, and a “iPOD AV CONNECTION KIT #MA242″ for $178.00. That exact same model number can be purchased at Best Buy for $44.99.
November 22nd, 2008 at 10:38 pm
Irony: The captcha word for this comment is “Blewett.”
Look, I am sure the vast majority of parents reading Badger Blogger (or any blog, for that matter), send their children to school having eaten a full breakfast. When I was in school, I never skipped breakfast.
But in my homeroom, maybe three or four kids eat breakfast at home. Many of the other kids often find food on the way to school or to class that consists of flaming hot chips or candy.
I would guess that hardly anyone who reads this blog has ever tried to teach a roomful of kids whose breakfast is somewhere between nothing and pure sugar. I would much rather, as a teacher and a taxpayer, give away a couple of iPods per school if it meant most of the kids at those schools at a real breakfast. (And they were real breakfasts–milk, cereal, juice, fruit.)
November 22nd, 2008 at 10:51 pm
Now I agree that kids will learn better after a decent meal, but you think giving them each a $200+ iPod is the only incentive that will get some of them to eat? Can’t you see this from the point of view of those of us that can’t afford to spend any more of our money like this? I know you guys seem to think that all of us Conservatives are rich country clubbers (and at the same time stupid zombies), but the fact is, there are a hell of a lot of us that are really hurting out here, and to see this kind of crap in infuriating!
November 23rd, 2008 at 12:34 am
All you have to do is ask, I’m sure a leader at MPS could have ASKED a company to sponsor their cause. There are many other options than BUYING $200 + ipods.
Signing up for the breakfast program is one thing, actually eating it is another.
There are also less expensive ipods – if you really want to stick with that theory.
Please Bum, tell me how many of the kids that received the ipod actually ate the breakfast?
And for the record, I really want one of those $200.00 ipods too. Guess what, I’m sticking with my very old original shuffle that still works – ya know that really supper long one that is the size of the nanno that only came in white, with my unmatching green headphones that I won for FREE at the Summerfest Sony booth.
November 23rd, 2008 at 9:18 am
The iPods were used as incentives to encourage students to sign up for and attend school breakfast programs. At a certain of participation, MPS became eligible for additional federal or state funds
They even made a PSA with Mike Cameron talking about the importance of signing your kid up for free breakfast, and ran it before Brewers games.
He didn’t say why a family who has an internet-connected computer at home to purchase music and load it onto the iPod needs free breakfast, or how a family who needs free breakfast has money to purchase music.
And of course, the parent winning a free iPod for signing up the kid doesn’t mean the kid will eat the breakfast–if you can’t be bothered to keep cereal and milk at home (and food programs pay for name brand cereal…) and get up half an hour earlier to fix it, are you going to get up half an hour earlier to get the kid to school in time for breakfast?
I would much rather, as a teacher and a taxpayer, give away a couple of iPods per school if it meant most of the kids at those schools at a real breakfast.
Hey, feel free to write a larger tax check than you’re legally required if you feel so strongly that Milwaukee isn’t taking enough of your money to try to make up for other people’s failure to be mature adults and care for their families, but stop foisting it on the adults who *are* taking care of business.
November 23rd, 2008 at 9:29 am
I also found $5,670.00 worth of 8GB iPod NANO’s
November 23rd, 2008 at 12:50 pm
Once again, I am amazed at how quickly the people her complain without considering what reasons may lie behind some of these expenses.
As though the reason you cite legitimizes the expense.
I sure wish someone would give me an iPod for eating breakfast.
I would much rather, as a teacher and a taxpayer, give away a couple of iPods per school if it meant most of the kids at those schools at a real breakfast.
Wouldn’t a couple of iPods cost $400, as opposed to 3.4 Million?
November 23rd, 2008 at 4:25 pm
Wouldn’t a couple of iPods cost $400, as opposed to 3.4 Million?
Well, 420 iPods (2 per MPS program, roughly) x $200 each comes out to about $84,000. MPS spent, according to Patrick, $27,000. So apparently we didn’t buy some for every school, maybe 1/3 of the schools. I don’t know where you’re getting the $3.4 million.
November 23rd, 2008 at 6:21 pm
The $3.4 million is not for the ipods, it states among the $3.4 million. That is the total waste, and there are things that are hidden in that figure lost per day. But not paying attention to details, you would not notice that.
November 23rd, 2008 at 7:00 pm
You see folks, Folktunes doesn’t care how much money is wasted at MPS as long as his trough gets filled and he gets greased. Typical of a libtard Folktunes pretends not to notice the over spending, graft and corruption. Nothing to see here. So he tries a couple of 6th grade rhetorical questions to try and turn the obvious into nothing.
I’ll bet Folktunes thinks Charlene Hardin and Peter Peter donut eater Blew it, are fine public servants too.
We need to learn that the Folktunes of our world profit from this and that as well meaning as they may pass themselves off to be, they are a big part of the problem.
I live in Western Waukesha County and Bruce is in Dane County. We BOTH help pay for MPS and it’s complete dysfunction. To quote Steve Miller, Folktunes, “makes his living off of other people’s taxes”, so NO PROBLEM HERE!
November 23rd, 2008 at 7:04 pm
I read further and I notice that my libtard friend Jay Folktunes Bullox thinks that it is the schools duty to feed the children. Poor poor libtard Folktunes has a very difficult time teaching these children because they are “HUNGRY”.
Did it ever occur to you FOLKTUNES that these kids are not only hungry but they are being raised by LOSERS. Yes Folktunes, I know it’s heartless and Conservative of me to expect those who RUT and give birth to children feed those children. But they don’t need to, because moron bleeding heart OVERPAID stiffs like you, believe that parents have NO RESPONSIBILITIES except to see to it that your CHECK doesn’t bounce.
You are one deluded fool.
November 23rd, 2008 at 7:23 pm
What I am getting from this discuss is:
1. There is a lot of waste in MPS.
2. There are a lot of items that people think are waste, but they misunderstand what the money is being spent on and they are legitimate items.
3. Mickey just insults people and adds no meaningful dialogue to this discussion.
November 23rd, 2008 at 7:33 pm
I don’t know where you’re getting the $3.4 million.
Fair enough. Explain how spending $84,000 on iPods is not a waste?
For a person who makes $10 an hour, a $200 iPod represents half a week’s wages. To award this to students for eating breakfast is obscene.
If they want incentives, couldn’t they give something a bit more rational like a $20 gift certificate for a DVD?
Though I have to admit, I fail to see why any incentive at all is necessary. Isn’t satisfying your own hunger incentive enough?
But not paying attention to details, you would not notice that.
MPS counts on folks not paying attention to details. But, wasn’t another liberal in a different thread lecturing conservatives on folks who make mistakes? At least I didn’t commit a felony.
November 23rd, 2008 at 7:35 pm
2. There are a lot of items that people think are waste, but they misunderstand what the money is being spent on and they are legitimate items.
iPods are not legitimate items by any stretch of the imagination.
November 24th, 2008 at 10:48 am
Which would fall under item 1. No argument from me.
November 24th, 2008 at 2:38 pm
Folkbum,
I believe you’re an MPS employee?
Since you feel so strongly about the iPod program maybe you could offer your resignation and ask them to reassign your salary to be used for iPod purchases?
Seems to be a fair trade, kids are getting much of an education out of the MPS system but with your salary tossed in maybe they can get some sweet tunes out of the deal. Think about it, its for the children.
November 24th, 2008 at 2:40 pm
Also MPS doesn’t need more money. They already do a fine job of spending it without results as it is.
November 25th, 2008 at 10:05 am
Wow. Why don’t we give away hi-def TVs for anyone who’s getting food stamps, too?
This is liberalism squared!
They have a program designed to make people depend on government…then they give incentives to suck in more of them!
November 25th, 2008 at 10:59 am
Wait, what are the private schools using to bribe kids to get their free breakfast? I bet it’s cheaper than an iPod.
November 25th, 2008 at 11:49 am
Ron- My tax dollars.
November 25th, 2008 at 11:51 am
Y’know, at one point in time, I had quite a bit of respect for Folkbum….not because I agreed with him on much of anything, but because he always presented his point of view with as much logic as a lib could. Almost like a grownup. Now? I do believe I was wrong about him.
November 25th, 2008 at 3:59 pm
Folkbum, are you trying to tell us whining taxpayers that MPS would have even worse results with out your free ipod breakfast giveaways. Can you ever show me a liberal giveaway program that actually produces results? Or does it just make you feel good to rationalize all the pork spending?
November 25th, 2008 at 11:18 pm
Who new this story would take off. Its damn near viral. Sykes covered it, TMJ4 did a piece on it. Keep up the good work BB.
November 26th, 2008 at 7:20 am
Here is TMJ4′s coverage.
Charlie Sykes also covered it on the radio. (Audio link — Web link).
And special credit goes to TosaDan for tipping us off! You have really started something.
November 26th, 2008 at 8:53 am
Patrick,
Thanks for the mention but its bloggers like you who the local media steals the stories from. Charlie mentioned your site in his piece but TMJ4 distinctly said that “they” uncovered. It’s great they are reporting the story but ticks me off they aren’t attributing the proper credit, which starts at badgerblogger.
I have been a long time reader, but rarely post, so I know the impact BB had had in the past. Keep doing what you do Patrick, Bruce, Roland, please.
November 26th, 2008 at 2:27 pm
I agree – Heaven forbid the MSM give credit where credit is due. Great job guys – keep on covering Wisconsin the way the media won’t; until you force their hands!!
November 27th, 2008 at 1:09 pm
\”Ron Says:
November 25th, 2008 at 10:59 am
Wait, what are the private schools using to bribe kids to get their free breakfast? I bet it’s cheaper than an iPod. \”
I do not think private schools receive any state funding. I\’m not 100% sure, but I don\’t think so.
I have checked into private schools and the average is about $5,000 per year. USM is way more than that.
November 28th, 2008 at 2:27 pm
I am curious as to how MPS can figure out how to do analysis that shows how IPOD’s relate to eating breakfast but somehow are unable to figure out how to analyze how their spending relates to graduation rates.
I wonder, just thinking out loud here, how many students would stop eating breakfast if Andro-cop-a-loss would be removed / fired / resigned? If it would not affect the eating behaviors of the students, then lets get rid of him. We can push his 200,000+ compensation package into more useful areas. Frankly, the ROI on him, sucks ass.
December 2nd, 2008 at 10:41 pm
[...] children over the past 10 years are “receiving free and reduced price meals?” Those free iPods are really pulling in the federal grant dollars. Oh, wait, now those iPods are privately [...]
March 10th, 2009 at 5:10 am
[...] I wonder how many iPod’s they have purchased? [...]
April 3rd, 2009 at 12:49 pm
Frasier, don’t sweat it brother, your English is better than Obama’s. Get yourself a good teleprompter. There are plenty of google links to Teleprompter sales firms.
After you get the teleprompter you might look up
http://www.fake_hawaii_birth_certificate.com
Just kidding my liberal friends.