2008 Annual Report
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Annual Report 633 West Wisconsin Avenue Suite 406 Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53203 phone: 414-276-8240 fax: 414-276-9962 www.publicpolicyforum.org 2008 From the chairman 1 ast year was highlighted by a record number of research reports and a return to the Offi cers & trustees… LForum’s roots as expressed in its founding mission statement in 1913: “…to promote the adoption of scientifi c methods of managing and supervising municipal affairs…to Chairman Vice Chairman Vice Chairman Treasurer cooperate with and facilitate the work of public offi cials…to collect, classify and F. William Haberman James T. Barry III Brian S. Swenson Roger H. Schroeder analyze, correlate, interpret and publicize facts as to the administration of municipal Vice Chairman Secretary President governments and schools.” Kristine Hinrichs Susan H. Hatch Robert E. Henken When Rob Henken was hired a little more than a year ago as the Forum’s president, he told our board of trustees he wanted to tie more of our research to specifi c problems TRUSTEES immediately before policymakers and the community. During Rob’s fi rst full year as Chris Abele Reed Groethe Paul Mathews John Rumpf* president, the organization has made that shift, and its reputation of providing useful Argosy Foundation Foley & Lardner Marcus Center for the Robert W. Baird & Co. Performing Arts and productive guidance has been solidifi ed and enhanced. On such issues as transit, William R. Adams* F. William Haberman Mark Sabljak workforce development, parks and culture, the justice system, and city of Milwaukee William Adams Consulting Michael Best & Friedrich David J. Mauer* The Business Journal William G. Andrekopoulos* Michael Harrigan Daniel J. McCarthy Andrew Schiesl and Milwaukee County fi nances, the Forum has produced in-depth analysis and pos- Milwaukee Public Schools Ehlers & Associates, Inc. Towne Investments Quad/Graphics, Inc. sible courses of action to remediate fi nancial or structural problems. James T. Barry III Charles A. Harvey David G. Meissner* Roger H. Schroeder All of this, of course, bodes well for keeping the Forum a vital and vibrant organization Colliers Barry, Inc. Johnson Controls, Inc. James R. Miller Janet Slater to which policymakers throughout southeastern Wisconsin can turn for nonpartisan Jeffrey M. Barth Susan H. Hatch M&I Marshall & Ilsley Bank BloodCenter of Wisconsin Deloitte Tax LLP Hatch Staffi ng Services research. That doesn’t mean, however, there aren’t challenges. The most signifi cant are Charles C. Mulcahy* Art Smith* John P. Biever Margaret J. Henningsen Frederick A. Muth, Jr.* Keystone Travel Services the retention and addition of members, and the acquisition of funds for research. With Badger Meter, Inc. Legacy Bank a struggling economy, companies and organizations are assessing their involvement in Whyte Hirschboeck Dudek Richard A. Smith, M.S., P.E. Bruce T. Block Edmund M. Henschel Karen Ordinans R.A. Smith National, Inc. the community beyond what is strictly needed to be a viable and profi table business. Reinhart, Boerner Virchow, Krause & Co Children’s Health Alliance Roger S. Smith Paul M. Bonaiuto* Kristine Hinrichs of Wisconsin A.O. Smith Corporation That’s why the Forum’s aggressive research and event agenda, and its willingness to try Journal Communications Milwaukee Municipal Court new things, such as member-only events and partnerships with organizations that have John J. Peterburs, Ph.D. Timothy W. Somers Thomas A. Brophy Thomas E. Hlavacek Quarles & Brady LLP US Bank similar policy interests, are so important. The Forum must maintain its relevancy in a Medical College of Wisconsin Alzheimer’s Assn. of SE WI Joan M. Prince, Ph.D. Howard A. Sosoff, CPA time when every public and private expenditure is under intense scrutiny. Rob not only Jeffrey C. Browne* Christopher J. Jaekels University of Wisconsin- BDO Seidman, LLP has an inclination for such innovation, but he has shown he can do it successfully. Vietnomics Davis & Kuelthau, S.C. Milwaukee Brian S. Swenson, P.E. Tina M. Chang Bruce A. Johnson Barbara A. Prindiville, Ph.D. HNTB Corporation After three years as chairman, I am stepping down…but not out of the organization. I SysLogic, Inc. Aon Corporation Waukesha County Technical College want to thank Forum members and staff during the three years of my tenure, and presi- Julie Swiderski Darnell E. Cole, Ph.D. Suzanne Kelley Kathleen Pritchard, Ph.D. Wheaton Franciscan dents Jeff Browne and Rob Henken, for their steadfast support and work in making the Milwaukee Area Technical College GE Planning Council for Health Healthcare Forum one of the premier non-partisan policy research organizations in the country. Richard A. Dieffenbach* Keith Kolb* and Human Services, Inc. Hermann Viets, Ph.D. Dieffenbach & Associates Robert W. Baird & Co Steven M. Radke Milwaukee School of Engineering Jim Barry III, a well-known and respected Milwaukee businessman, will become chair- Kathryn J. Dunn Dennis J. Krakau Northwestern Mutual Richard L. Weiss man of an organization that is on a steady rise in productivity, integrity, and leadership. Helen Bader Foundation Associated Bank, N.A. Jeffrey J. Remsik* Rick White Bottom Line Marketing & Jim’s involvement in civic affairs is signifi cant. Besides being a Forum vice chairman Allan E. Erickson, P.E. Warren L. Kreunen* We Energies Public Relations for the last several years, he is past president of the Rotary Club of Milwaukee and of CH2M Hill North Shore Bank Lisa Robbins Nicholas C. Wilson the Milwaukee River Revitalization Foundation, as well as past chairman of the Greater Susan F. Friebert James T. Kunz Jacobus Wealth Management Johnson Direct LLC Milwaukee Chapter of the American Red Cross. Milw. Teacher Education Center Earth Tech David J. Rodgers Mary Lou Young Michael G. Goodrich Douglas M. MacNeil* Rockwell Automation Professionally, as president of Colliers Barry, Jim is intimately involved in the economic Briggs & Stratton Corp. Forest County Potawatomi MacNeil Associates, Ltd. Paul M. Ziehler Community Rachel Roller development of the region, having brokered hundreds of industrial, offi ce, and invest- City of West Allis Aurora Health Care ment transactions, and winning recognition from industry peers for his work. * Emeritus I look forward to continuing my participation in the Forum as Jim guides it to even greater heights. Vision… Mission… Cordially, Our hope is for a southeastern Wisconsin We seek, discover, and disclose true and that is socially and economically healthy accurate information to enhance the and that deals decisively, responsibly, effectiveness of government and public and in a timely manner with public issues. policy in southeastern Wisconsin, and we We will be the indispensable resource for advocate for its use in the making of F. William Haberman objective research and analysis to guide public policy. Attorney, Michael Best & Friedrich LLP and shape public policy. VOLUME 96, NUMBER 7 OCTOBER 2008 Region’s schools narrow achievement Region’s schools narrow achievement gap with state gap with state In a direct reversal from last year, the 2007-08 achievement gap between schools in southeast Wisconsin and those in the rest of the state, as measured by Wisconsin Knowledge and Concepts Exam (WKCE) standardized 3 test scores, narrowed in all subjects at all grade levels. Table 1 shows the percentages of those scoring 2 proficient and advanced, as well as the achievement gap between the region and the state for this year and 2006-07 expressed as a percentage point difference. In a reversal from last year, the 2007- Last year’s scores were the worst in four years in nearly all subject categories at all grade levels, as illustrated in Chart 1, which shows 8th grade achievement gaps for the past four years. (In Chart 1, short bars indicate a also discusses how proximity to small achievement gap and tall bars indicate a large gap.) The 2007-08 scores at each grade level more closely 2008 achievement gap between match the 2004-05 and 2005-06 scores. Chart 1: 8th grade score gap, region vs. state While the region lags the state in WKCE test scores 0 Reading Math Science northern Illinois may be a key factor and schools making adequate yearly progress, it Ͳ2 schools in southeastern Wisconsin to exceeds the state in ACT scores and AP test scores. s ed Ͳ4 The region has worse truancy and dropout rates than par point Ͳ6 the state, matches the state in attendance, and exceeds e com in fueling strong growth. the state in school spending. tag Ͳ8 and those in the rest of the state, as res cen sco Ͳ10 per Many categories of analysis throughout this report t in tes Research… underscore how districts facing urban poverty issues s, Ͳ12 2004Ͳ05 fare much worse on most measures than suburban and ion's Ͳ14 2005Ͳ06 state' measured by Wisconsin Knowledge rural districts, though some smaller urban areas also Reg 2006Ͳ07 Ͳ16 It’s what makes the Forum the Forum Wisconsin’s Workforce Development System face challenges. Southeast Wisconsin contains some of 2007Ͳ08 the most successful schools in the state, as well as some Ͳ18 8thgradesubjectareas of the most distressed schools. and Concepts Exam standardized Table 1: WKCE test score gap in percentage proficient/advanced, region vs. state 2007-08 A resource map of Wisconsin’s Reading Math Science Grade 3rd 4th 8th 10th 4th 8th 10th 4th 8th 10th SE Wisconsin 76.4% 77.9% 80.3% 70.2% 72.5% 69.4% 63.9% 70.7% 68.4% 66.6% test scores, narrowed in all subjects Rest of State 79.4% 81.5% 85.2% 75.7% 77.2% 76.9% 70.9% 76.1% 76.1% 74.1% workforce development system Difference -3.0 -3.6 -4.9 -5.5 -4.7 -7.5 -7.0 -5.4 -7.7 -7.5 ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT Difference 2006-07 -3.7 -6.8 -9.9 -8.1 -8.4 -14.3 -10.3 -10.2 -15.6 -11.2 at all grade levels.