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(Another interesting aside: Wigderson points out a quote in the Freeman that sites a connection Schmidt has with one of the partner’s of the consulting firm AASD is using to conduct the superintendent search. Did anyone read that in Post-Crescent coverage of the superintendent search?)

Gray and Schmidt
Todd Gray has always been extremely helpful to me, accomodating, well-studied and knowledgeable about his area – the finance end of things. I worked with Schnmidt as well, though it was many years ago via a couple of district study committees. He too was very helpful with financial questions. Because it was over a decade ago, my memory is foggy, but I recall thinking when he left, that Waukesha was fortuante to get him.

Well… it’s interesting that some folks in Waukesha don’t feel the same way! The articles forwarded by Wigderson are pretty critical – matter of fact, he essentially says he’d prefer Schmidt waved good-bye to Waukesha – and the sooner the better.

Because the criticisms of Schmidt (in Waukesha) were finance and budget related, I thought a good way to look at Gray and Schmidt – both finance guys in my eyes – was to compare a few critical numbers from the Waukesha (Schmidt) and Appleton (Gray) school districts.

The comparison is here. Pretty similar stuff. Slightly more students per staff member at AASD than Waukesha. Slightly higher salaries – but not that much higher – at Waukesha. Salaries in both school districts are far above the state average. Similar per student expenditures. Both have fund balances lower as a % of Total Expenditures than the state average – and Waukesha’s fund balance might be getting dangerously low.

So, what’s with all the criticism Schmidt is receiving from Wigderson and the Waukesha Taxpayers League? Well, sad to say, but perhaps the difference between superintendent candidate finalists Gray and Schmidt might be that Schmidt has a taxpayers group and the Freeman looking over his shoulder. And I’d say there’s nothing even approaching that here in Appleton.

Sometimes it seems the local newspaper reporter assigned to report on AASD goings-on comes across as if she might be the district’s very own in-house PR rep. I surely don’t see in-depth financial analysis very often. Nope - no newspaper or taxpayers group is around to look over Gray's shoulder – much less to take him to task, if and when he might need it. Appleton Taxpayers Alliance (long ago defunct, I’m afraid!), where oh where art thee?!

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