Complaints by substitute teacher and against Habisch-Ahlin unfounded
July 19, 2012 at 9:20 am in Hudson Star-Observer
The misconduct by school board member Sandy Gehrke wasn’t the only investigation conducted recently on behalf of the Hudson Board of Education.
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While maybe not illegal, most people would agree that it’s not very ethical. To take a job, that she most likely had some input as to what the qualification of the job would be. While not illegal, it does seem very ironic, that within a four month to six month span, she resigned her board seat, and was hired as communication specialist. It would be nice, if someone who didn’t have ties to the district would do an independent investigation. Otherwise it’s hard to believe that this investigation isn’t bias.
Hot debate. What do you think?
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The Hudson school board and administration only worry about ethics when it’s someone else’s ethics that are causing a problem.
Hot debate. What do you think?
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Can’t believe people are still railing on Tracy – as one who was interviewed for the position she now holds I know first hand she is AS qualified if not more than the other interviewees. She is first a personal friend and also a professional colleague, and it is just appalling that folks like her who have dedicated their lives to education and public service are under such petty attack. Having worked in communications for higher ed, academic medical centers, a large state cultural organization and a state medical associations, I know the pay scale is within if not under market range for nonprofit educational institutions. Just recently the same position opened in Mendota Hts school district and if I recall correctly the mid range pay was 100K.
No one wants to be under attack for doing their job and doing it well. This is so disheartening to see public employees and especially teachers who have become the new target of tax haters. Unfortunately most, like teachers, adjuncts and academic support are underpaid, in Wisconsin anyway. If you are an adjunct prof in Wis you are paid between $1000 and $1500 a credit; it’s about double in Minnesota.
Finally, applause to those who remain in public service–you are very brave in this climate. And just to get my two cents in about the high school – it’s going to cost property owners probably less than a dinner out at a restaurant a year … what a great investment for my money and for this community. If you don’t like what your property tax dollars do for you, then become a renter.
Hot debate. What do you think?
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BRAVO Brenda! Well said!
Hot debate. What do you think?
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I have to agree with what “whenrealitybites” said above. I watched the attorney’s presentation and it seemed like he just spouted the administration’s point-by-point position on why nothing was technically wrong with the hiring. It may all be technically correct, but it just doesn’t pass the smell test. You just should not hire a school board member into the administration. It’s a bad idea and it will always be tainted. The administration and Ms. Habisch-Ahlin should have realized from the get-go that this will sit poorly with the public for the entirety of her tenure in that job, no matter how many “investigations” they go through. And, by the way, this position is so superfluous it really should be the first one cut when the budget is tight like it is. Really, we don’t need to pay someone to write the superintendent’s newspaper columns and to send us postcards. Let her go and save us some money. Please.
Hot debate. What do you think?
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Anyone doing a little research will find relevant information about this issue on the Wisconsin League of Municipalities website which gives the following:
Pecuniary Interest FAQ 3
Are there limitations on members of governing bodies seeking a paid position with their municipality during their term of office?
Yes. Three key statutes either prohibit or circumscribe village trustee or city council member attempts to obtain a paid position with the municipality during that member’s term of office.
First, to avoid violating the state ethics code for local government officials, a governing body member must consider the need to resign prior to applying for any paid position with his village or city since application for paid employment may reasonably be found to be “using their public position or office to obtain financial gain or anything of substantial value for the private benefit of the official . . .” contrary to Wis. Stat. sec. 19.59(1)(a).
Second, Wis. Stat. sec. 66.0501(2) prohibits a governing body member from being appointed to a position that was created during the official’s term of office irrespective of any resignation from the board or council.
Third, to avoid committing a Class E felony, a governing body member must resign before applying (informally or formally) for a position with the village or city that pays more than $15,000 since pre-resignation discussion or submission of an application for such employment may constitute “negotiating” or “bidding” for a contract under circumstances proscribed by Wis. Stat. sec. 946.13(1)(a). See Pecuniary Interest 386, 383, and 363.2.
This isn’t hard folks. The school’s attorney, as well as other comments made by the superintendent and district deputy Sweet admits discussions took place between Habisch-Ahlin and the administration about the job prior to her resignation. Nancy Sweet also admits that during the interview process how Habisch-Ahlin’s presentation fit perfectly with what the administration was looking for. (Imagine that!) And she was willing to do the job for $5 an hour less than the lowest competitor!! Do these people take us a fools or what? If one doesn’t see the quid-pro-quo here, then you’ve got to be unconscious.
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