School Board Meeting Update

The school board meetings that have went on since Nov. 2006 have not all been covered by me, but there is an update on information that I would like to let everyone know. The State Dept. of Health and Family Services have made a policy change for Public Schools that all should be aware of, for the future. In Nov. My Wife and I went to the Board and asked them about a classroom activity. This was the processing of deer in the Public School. There was not any answers to our questions, just a statement that they would take the information under advisement. The President then asked the Board if anyone else had questions, or information regarding this activity. The room stayed silent. (note- later in the month, we rec'd a letter from the board, stating the activity was ok, and they would continue with the activities, whenever possible.) In Dec., 2006 The following board meeting, I asked the Board how a parent could speak with the board in regards to a complaint, and this was answered by Toni Baier. He replied he would have to look it up, due to he was unsure of the process. Shortly into the meeting, he stopped the meeting to question my Wife about the object with the flashing light under her seat. It was a recorder for the meeting. He attempted to make it out to be a bomb or something, stating he did not know what it was. He then asked Barry Rose if he wanted to have a recorder as well, and Barry went and retrieved an identical style recorder. During the Administrative report, Barry then went on to stating that DPI was changing their IEP process, in which would help the school with the frivolous claims being filed against them, by parents. He also added that DPI had found problems in the food service area, and these problems would have to be resolved. Rose then later in his report, informed the Board that he was tweaking the Public Input Policy so that the citizens would know that the Board meetings where for Board business, not for the public to be interacting with the board. He stated " This is not a Public meeting, it is a meeting for board issues. There is only 1 meeting a year for the public." He then told the members he would send each of them a copy of the policy prior to the next meeting. We did not attend the January meeting. In Feb. 2007 the meeting went about the same, with Barry giving the board an update on the Nov. Public Input on the classroom activity in Plants and Landscaping . He told the Board that Rick & Kris Talford filed a complaint regarding the deer processing in the classroom, with the Dept. of Health and Family Services. He said the concern was with the blood, and the Dept. found no significant hazards, and closed the case. (note- This was only closed by the county office, for reasons unknown) Rose then went on to stating that Rick & Kristina Talford filed a second complaint for the wild game feed they had at school. He explained to the board that Jeff Pickerign had contact with DNR and UWRF for information, and there have been no problems. He stated "we do not fall under the state laws on safe food handling" He then went on to threatening the Talford's, and added a note " we have a lot of trees and hills around here" He then went on to attacking my election statement, stating there where many lies in my statements. He read the statement to the board, and called each part a lie. The public input policy change, he said was a lie. Yet in Dec. 06' he said he was reviewing the policy, and in Jan. 07' he gave copies to each member of the tweaked policy, then in Feb. 07' the board formerly approved the change. He attacked the information regarding the Task Force Team, stating it is a Lie, yet the team has had no communication since April election time. The issues at the time, where that Barry Rose tried to take over the Basketball Team, and created a big scene at the Glenwood City game, claiming he and his family where threatened. The district got together a 300 strong number, and made plans to deal with Rose, when the decision was changed for the coaches. Barry then went on to stating the Talford's where the reason the school had lock downs. He went on to stating the " Talford's have filed numerous frivolous lawsuits against the school., this is what the district has to deal with, is frivolous lawsuits by them." He was a nice shade of red by now, showing all his animosity towards the Talford family. I called Barry on this, stating he was giving false information to the board. no lawsuits have ever been filed by us. He responded by saying "well you got it on your little recorder , don't you" I then apologized to the board for interrupting the meeting. after a long silent pause, the board proceeded with the meeting. You could see the shock in the faces of the members around the table. The beginning of March , I received a letter from the Dept. of Health, stating there was going to be a policy update sent to all state offices shortly in regards to deer processing at public schools. The March 2007 board meeting then approved the minutes from Feb. 07' locking in the words stated by Barry Rose the month prior. At this meeting, my Wife gave a copy of the letter from the Health Dept. to the board president before the meeting started. Barry told the Board that they had received a letter from the County Health Dept. and they said the district was in full compliance with the deer processing.

Here is the update--As of Feb. 28, 2007 any wild game is not allowable in the public school programs. The uninspected wild game is a threat to the students and faculty. The Wisconsin state code clearly prohibits game animals to be given to the general public. The Public school is under this clause, and is not exempt from the federal and state law.Wild game can have diseases such as viruses, bacteria, rickettsiae, parasites that cause illnesses, (zoonoses) in humans. The WI Code only allows wild game in private events, and the Public School is not a private event. Also the parents of these students believe that the food given to the kids has all been inspected and is safe for consumption.

The State Dept. sent this policy to all the Regional Offices, the Local Health Dept.s and all the Environmental Health Specialists. This came down from the Chief Interim at the State Dept. for Food Safety and Recreational Licenses. The Bureau of Environmental Health. The County office closed the case without ever looking into the complaint, and the State Dept. did a full investigation into it, and found enough information to act against it immediately. There is no wild game allowed in the Public School system, Period

The false statements made by Barry Rose have been proven, and a full public apology should be coming for his attack of our family. I will be sending this to the newspapers, as well as to each member of the School Board. There is no excuse in this Superintendent making these accusations out of hate towards my family, because we have questioned what they are doing with our kids in that school, especially when it is safety concerns we bring forward to them. We have been threatened and publicly slandered by him. He has pushed for restraining orders against my family, and during the two year time, tried 7 times to get us violated, under false information. This is the pot calling the kettle black in many different ways.