By Jennifer Eisenbart
Staff Writer
The Burlington Area School District School Board voted 5-1 to censure board member Philip Ketterhagen Monday night at its monthly board meeting.
The lone dissenting vote was Roger Koldeway, who said he didn’t believe Ketterhagen’s comments warranted censure, which are usually used for someone who has overstepped his authority.
“This isn’t a precedent we really want to set,” Koldeway said. “We don’t censure people for having their opinions.”
The rest of the board disagreed, making varied comments about the appropriateness of Ketterhagen’s comments at the June 18 Curriculum Committee, which included comparing school district employees to farm animals and needing to hit them with a 2×4 to get their attention.
Ketterhagen himself did not comment either on the issue nor give an apology when asked. He instead referenced the blog post on his website, which the Standard Press quoted in full in its June 28 edition. In his post, Ketterhagen said he was speaking metaphorically and did not intend his comments to be taken literally.
A censure is a public reprimand by members of an elected panel against one of their own. It does not impact Ketterhagen’s status or ability as an elected representative of district residents.
For the full story, please see the July 12 print edition of the Burlington Standard Press.
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This is what happens when candidates run on political agendas rather than what is best for education. I hope this is a wake up call for the residents of BASD.
Yep vote out the WEAC candidates.
Are you kidding me? Censor him because he has a differing opinion? That’s why he got my vote. He is not the status quoe.
thanks for understanding the use of a metaphor and holding your ground on this issue!!
Just because something is a metaphore, doesn’t make it appropriate. No one is silly enough to take Mr. Ketterthagen’s statement literally, of course it was a metaphore! That does not excuse his statement or his attitude toward our professional educators. It was inappropriate, unprofessional and uncivil and the Board took the right action in censure.
This is an embarrassment to our district!!!! i am ashamed of these people and how they do business!!! We have a bunch out of out of touch, out of control folks running our District!!!
Jordan, last time I checked, the rest of the board that you are calling out of touch weren’t disrespecting teachers and making crude comments at meetings.
The sheer ignorance shown by you and those who support Ketterhagen by supporting even his most horrible behavior is absolutely reprehensible. Tell me something: have you even bothered to look up what the censure is and what it means for Phil? I have. It means NOTHING in the long run except publicly calling him out on his rantings.
You know, you’re right. It IS an embarrassment to our district, but not the way you think. It’s an embarrassment that an out-of-control, out-of-touch-with-reality man like Phil Ketterhagen has enough supporters to stand behind him even when he goes too far.
Nope they dont disrespect teachers – they just lay them off to keep thebig union bennies.
Please check your facts people. Teachers have no more benefits than other people who work. They pay for their insurance like everyone else. I would like to know what the ‘big union bennies’ are because I’m not getting any of that.
Name calling and accusations do not fare well for anyone trying to get their point across. What ever happened to being respectful to others and saying things that are not inflammatory? Instead of spouting half truths that you heard from your best friend’s cousin’s uncle twice removed, how about you look for the facts?
The comments were unnecessary and outrageous, we need to be held accountable for our actions. I teach my children the consequences of their behavior and I applaud the school board for not just sitting back and taking these tantrums by Mr. Ketterhagen, it is not the service to the public schools that they are elected for. People are elected to represent the citizens interest, and the school board must have the children they serve best interest in mind. It is time to start working together to solve the problems we face. The “divide and conquer” strategy and “my way or the highway” attitude is getting us no where. This is not the first meeting that threat of violence was hurled, `ENOUGH ALREADY! Let’s get to work and restore our once well functioning school district. There are problems in every workplace, it is time to stop pointing fingers at the teachers and solve the problems. Wasn’t Mr. Koldeway’s wife a teacher? I wonder if he used this same strategy on her or would appreciate someone else implying that is what she needed? This last year or so all I see is a group of people in Burlington that support these tactics in a bucket, like a bunch of crabs, clawing their way over everyone to the top of the bucket, only to be knocked down by another one trying to get out. Let’s try to be a little more compassionate and understanding of the next person, our neighbors, and work together. That is how we get out of the bucket and rise above the extreme right agenda forced upon us: “divide and conquer” is not the Burlington way. We all can realize economic mobility if we just lift each other up.
Alot of paid divide and conquer posts here. Not alot of creativity coming out of WEAC. Gotta hype up division to keep those VOLUNTARY union dues coming in that do nothing for teachers. Gotta keeps paying the big salaries to the union bosses.
The outrageous ravings of renegade politos on the national scene have made it popular to spew any garbage that comes to mind in the name of free speech. WHatever happened to dignity and self-control? People in public offic must learn to edit their remarks to reflect the importance of their position. Harry Truman used to refer to things he didn’t like as “manure.” When his wife was asked to somehow have him tone down his remarks, she commented, “It took me years to get him to say ‘manure!'”
The board did the right thing. To censure does not restrict the ability of the board member to vote or to present plans; what it does is to remind the board member to be civil. No one should have to be reminded to do that, however, Mr. Ketterhagen is new to the board and may not have made the transition to that formal setting as yet.
As to Jordan Debbink’s remarks that insult the school board, well. the board is doing business correct way. Your statement is embarrassing to you, not to the district, as it is purely emotional rant.
Lets face it. Our town would be much better off if we could all be civil and reasonable with our public issues and with each other but unfortunately we have the far right Wevote tea bag contingent like Debbnik and Ketterhagen that are a direct affront to reason and common sense. Its as if they thrive on being ignorant about issues and get their jollies from acting like outcasts.
A teabag slur that doesnt address any issues. How civil, reasonable, and informed about the issues.
Jordan Debink. Isn’t YOUR MOTHER a teacher???? And you endorse Ketterhagen treating her like this??? Shame on you!
Personal over ideas and facts – unusual for a lefty?
This whole School Board situation is such shame. We try to teach our children to use kind words and actions, but as adults we seem to have a hard time following our own teachings. A school board is supposed to be about what is best for kids, not political and personal agendas. What has happened in Burlington this past year is very disheartening. I hope cooler heads can prevail and everyone starts getting back to what is best for our schools.
I am very pleased to see that respect and common sense are still present on the Burlington School Board. The election of Koldeway and Ketterhagen to the school board was the result of the divide and conquer strategies of Gov. Walker who has instigated widespread distrust of educators. I never thought that I would live to see the day that Bulington would elect such men who clearly have no interest in education and who are on the board solely to carry out the radical agenda of the tea party. Our children are well served by the five school board members who took the action to censure Mr. Ketterhagen for his hateful and violent comments.
Divide and conquer, isnt that a talking point from BEFORE the smashing victory of your Gov. Walker? Might want to try something new.
Are you kidding?? Apparently the board members that voted to censure him are also in favor of giving out trophies to every little kid on the team -winners and losers alike. Because “he hurt our wittle feewings”… whaaaaaaa. Cry babies!
Really Oh Really? Apparently how? Do have any evidence for your ascertion whatsoever? Why do you say this?
Quite frankly, I don’t see how this, were it true, would be even remotely pertinent to the subject at hand.
Hooray for the board. To compare people to cattle–especially people that are in a profession as important as teaching–is an insult to everyone involved. Remember that everyone that teaches has a 4 year degree (at minimum–a high percentage have more). How much education does Mr. Ketterhagen have? And by the way…it’s not acceptable to hit cattle with 2x4s, either.
Any employer that compares his employees to livestock shouldn’t be surprised to see their best and brightest leave as soon as they can, and the dedication, involvement and productivity of the rest drop off accordingly.
A good teacher is a valuable resource. It’s not the same as moving the kid from “fries” to “onion rings”. There’s far more to it than moving bodies or replacing one with another. Anyone that has had a teacher that has touched their lives know that. But, if Mr. Ketterhagen is intent on running off all the good teachers that are able to leave, I’m sure there are other districts that will appreciate them.
Hey, Upset? Try getting a dictionary and look up the difference between censor and censure.
As a businessman in the city of Burlington, Mr. Ketterhagen ought to be ashamed of his unprofessional and hurtful “metaphors.” As with any person elected to office…watch what you say. You are doubly accountable.
In a world where the “cattle” are working so hard to teach our youth about the consequences and cruelity of bullying, this type of behavior on any school board in 100% unacceptable.
A metaphor is a language tool, it can be used constructively or destructively. Violent metaphors like the one that Mr. Ketterhagen used are starting to highlight a pattern of violence. Earlier this year, in a disagreement with Mr. Koldeway it was noted in the Standard Press that Mr. Ketterhagen suggest they settle their discussion outside in the parking lot. Implying that they fight it out. Mr. Ketterhagen is a bully. Unfortunately the BASD anti-bullying policy does not seem to apply to the new school board member. Mr. Ketterhagen can use metaphors all he likes, but he should choose them more wisely. The following link provides examples of ways to create more peaceful metaphors: http://grove.ufl.edu/~hardman/peace.html
Censure was not enough, Mr. Ketterhagen should resign and deal with his bullying/anger issues.
It seems as if we have a few bullies to contend with. “Oh Really” commented: “Because “hurt (y)our wittle feewings”… whaaaaaaa. Cry babies!” I recall hearing that when I was in the 5th grade on the playground from a bully to a sweet kid. This issue has nothing to do with hurt feelings. It has everything to do with bully tactics. The board was right to take a stand on the issue.
Never saw a union use bullying. NEVER!
I think this is outrageous. I would love to see Mr. Ketterhagen lose his business, like teachers are losing their jobs. I would LOVE to see Jordan Debbink learn to spell and use capital letters. Apparently, he never paid attention to his mother, or in class.
I feel that the next step, is to recall Phil Ketterhagen. WE – all of Burlington – need someone who cares about kids and education – not about a buck fifty. When Phil raises people’s insurance rates, I would bet that they don’t hit him with a 2×4.
Lefty rooting for economic harm and personal insults while looking for freebies themselves. SHOCKING!
Marie,
Seriously? Must EVERY comment you make have “Lefty” in it? Apparently, you have a problem with people who think differently than you. Here’s a shocker. Just because you believe it doesn’t make it right…
Everyone IS entitled to their opinion. Giving your opinion, however, does not give you license to be disrepectful. There are ways to get your point across without being disrepectful. And by being respectful to others, you also ‘earn’ more respect. Basic manners.
Well said, Opinions. Well said.
It is amazing to read everyones opinion on here, and to see exactly why our City is turmoil. We critize others for their opinions on here, we wish ill to people and hope that their businesses fail, and call people names. This makes none of you any better than the rest.
We teach our children to share, and to respect one another. Please watch what you say to each other, because what you throw at someone come back and hit you.
This is the typical intolerance of the radical left. Ripoff the children for years with their misuse of public money then cry and villify. The public was disgusted when they learned of this and provided the ultimate censure by voting out this legalized graft, arrogance, and incompetence.
Now they want to silence a dissenting opinion. Why? They are afraid of the truth and facts that are derailing their gravy train
they have ridden over the kids for years.
We welcome those opinions and snarky invective that is a hallmark of the radical left represented by WEAC and their pawns in administration and the School Board. It’s open and free debate an arena in which their self serving ideas fail over and over again. They cannot compete in that market so they have to shut it down through invented stories in a radical left paper.
Don’t fall for it; look at the facts. They raise taxes and layoff good teachers to keep their bloated pay and benefits to the detriment of the kids that ultimately pay for it with a heavy debt load. In the last three years the District has been bailed out twice with federal money, heaped huge tax increases out of line with the rest of the State of Wisconsin upon its residents, and has failed to promote good administration and innovative learning practices.
These are the last cries and blusters of a system strangling good teachers and the kids who pay for them. Don’t be fooled by all the noise of a sinking ship of diseased rats (like that metaphor union thugs who pray on children?). Get our fiscal house in order by continuing to vote out those who don’t work at being on the Board – but just slap the back of their union buddies and administrators – living it up on the backs of kids.
All this noise is a sign good days are ahead for those kids and the good teachers who have a dream to further their lives instead of living off of them, if we simply persevere and continue on a common sense and just path.
Spend time with your kids and instill discpline and morals that will help the professional teachers do their jobs and continue to set a good example that counteracts the thuggery they have to deal with from their union masters and administration puppets.
Maybe someone should threaten to hit you upside the head with a 2×4. I absolutely cannot believe people are sitting here and saying that this is the radical left “crying and villifying” when Ketterhagen used the curriculum meeting – which highlighted more than a few successes, mind you – as a platform to harass the board more about a zero percent pay increase and health insurance contributions.
Another lefty threatening violence and not addressing facts. What a surprise! YAWN
Wow Marie, such an intelligent post! I guess if you don’t have a point to make, the best thing is to make something up.
If your “thoughts” above are an example of how you “spend time with your kids and instill discpline and morals” I have little doubt that they’re impervious to any “thuggish” attempts to impart knowledge. Kudos!
You’ll be glad to know that your efforts earned you runner up status for a major award! http://burlingtonareaprogressives.com/
I know that with just a little more effort you can win next time!
Young Pa makes so many unsubstantiated claims! His or her comments bristle with arrogance, ugliness, and hatred. Please do not attempt to suggest that all of this hateful rhetoric is somehow for the benefit of our children. You stand for one thing only, reducing funding for education. I have six children who have derived enormous benefit from the fine education that was offered to them in the Burlington schools. Their teachers are not “union thugs” and those ugly comments are entirely in the same category as Mr. Ketterhagen’s hateful rhetoric. Thanks to those wonderful educators who deserve greater respect than you are willing to offer, one of my children is an MD, one has a PhD, and two are at UW Madison. The other two are still in public schools here. I continue to believe in American exceptionalism. If we are going to compete in the global markeplace we had better invest in education. Mr Ketterhagen and Mr. Koldeway have no place on our school board, they are not education advocates. Their hateful, petty, and ugly rhetoric must be condemned in the strongest terms by conservatives and liberals alike. Mr. Ketterhagen should resign. To suggest that he was simply using a colorful metaphor ignores the fact that he has a track record of animosity toward educators. He knew what he was saying and he meant every word. Mr. Ketterhagen: Resign, apologize to the children and educators of Burlington, and learn the meaning of respect before you attempt to mentor our children.
they look like pretty good facts if you’ve been aware the last year. you dont refute any of them. Good day.
Marie,
You need to take a course in Grammar and Spelling in school. It is apparent, you didn’t get it the first time around…
Two Questions: When’s the next board meeting? and Do they serve popcorn? Sounds entertaining…
The koldeways have 2 children who have received one year of college completed while attending high schoolin burllington. The tax payers paid for that. Now these teachers are lazy and overpaid. It’s time for the 2 new board members to grab their bull by the tail and kiss it on the lips.
Another example of the lefties personal attacks. Singling out kids and personal information. Funny thing is it actually makes the kids out to be hard workers. Looks like the Koldeways are good role models even for the lefties!!!
Missed the point, MARIE!!!!
Mervin-
I wonder when you actually are going to put up or shut up? I do not agree with Mr. Ketterhagen at all but it seems like you have a personal vendetta against select people in this town and you seem to think you have all the answers. It would be nice if you would actually run for office yourself. Until you actually run for public office and open yourself up for public attacks much like you seem to do with everyone in this town, shut up. Don’t attack others for actually stepping up to the plate and running for office, whether you agree with them or not, they have actually done this, you have not and I respect those individuals a hell of a lot more than you.
Make better use of your time instead of hiding behind a computer at 12am at night making cyber attacks instead of contacting those people you attack personally. I have yet to see you attend any meetings, or submit a request to serve as a citizen representative on a committee. Do not attack others that have done what you haven’t. I think this is what’s wrong with this town, people make assumptions without the facts and you wonder why people are leaving? You have people like Mervin who makes personal attacks and assumptions on people that he has never met before, a do nothing mayor (Bob Miller) who sits on his butt all day working on plans for fireworks instead of BRINGING JOBS to this community and talking with local businesses.
A chamber of commerce who does nothing for businesses downtown by wasting their money on terrible discover the treasures booklets. Wake up Burlington, get these folks as well as Mr. Ketterhagen out and put people in charge who are proactive and actually accomplish something. HOLD PEOPLE ACCOUNTABLE and STOP PUTTING IN LAME DUCKS, RUN FOR OFFICE, MAKE OUR COMMUNITY HEALTHY AGAIN! Also, Bobby Miller, if you are reading this (which would mean you take an interest in this community for once) give back the Economic Development award you recently received, you don’t deserve it and you yourself have also said you don’t deserve it so I think you need to give it back!
– Concerned Citizen
My comments were in response to an attack against educators. However I made no “personal attacks” against mr. Ketterhagen, other than to call him to account for his violent, hateful statements. I most certainly do have the facts. For example, Mr. Ketterhagen and Mr. Koldeway are pushing for merit based pay which has been shown to be ineffetive in every major study. I will take your advice and consider running. I have no hesitation about using my own name (I wish you would do the same) and have not made personal attacks. Calling someone to account is not the same as a personal attack.
I think you would be an EXCELLENT candidate for the School Board!!!!
Your personal facebook page Mervin is littered with attacks on people. Many of the comments you make on your page have little truth behind them at all. I have heard at one time it also said on your page that you were a Neo-Socialist Conservative. Not sure I want a Neo-Socialist on a board of education. I agree that Mr. Ketterhagen is bonkers and should be removed due to his comments.
They are extremely unprofessional and will not be tolerated. I have a question for you though, just to play devil’s advocate… Have you actually talked to Mr. Ketterhagen personally? Or Mr. Koldeway? Just curious? I’m talking about a civil conversation like out for a coffee or something like that. For an “educated” man Mervin, you seem to make a lot of uneducated statements that contradict what you say about how others should act when you yourself are just as guilty of the same thing.
I encourage you to run for school board and join those of us that have and or had been in the “fish bowl.” It’s put up or shut up time Mervin.
Mervin is a man of integrity. He is also brave enough to put his real name in the post here. No one else does. Why? Because we have become an attack mob. Who can write the most clever, nasty remarks? Score some points for Burlington Citizen. Well, I must correct myself, Sean Cranley also uses his name. His results are the same, plenty of personal attacks.
Can’t the posts be a dialog for solutions? Have we decided not to be a community anymore? Communities solve problems together for the common good. But the first step in solving a problem is to identify the components of the problem. What are the starting facts? Sadly, we cannot even do that. We cannot even agree on what are the facts. People present their ideas, notions, and limited source information as facts and then stick to their “facts.” If someone brings some other information in from a reliable source and if it doesn’t fit the previous notion it is tossed out. Until we open ourselves up to accepting new ideas we will remain the Hatfields and the McCoys. The best person for any job is someone who is respectful of others and who can say, “I stand corrected. I see your point.”
Mervin Langley would make an excellent school board member. Unlike ‘Burlington Citizen’ (and myself), he is already in the fish bowl. He signs his name to every statement he makes. He does not hide behind a pseudo-name. He has wonderful ideas and would be a great addition to any school board, Burlington would be lucky if he ran.
Oh I have been in the “fish bowl” many times in this town.
Phil Ketterhagen is nothing more than a loud mouthed ignoramous! Ketterhagen cares little about the children of B-town and more about his extreme partisan politics of the far right wing. When Ketterhagen refers to teachers as cattle, he speaks with animosity, disrespect, and arrogance! Ketterhagen chose not to be a leader, but instead chose to haranque,intimidate, and belittle those who serve the Burlington community. One has difficulty finding a sense of useful purpose for Ketterhagen’s presence on the board in that his approach rings of absurdity and lack of understanding of how solutions need to be pursued. Phil’s personal, radical tirade suggests his ego is bigger than his brain, and that he should engage his brain before he opens his mouth!
Ken