Local News Briefs Monday 2/8/16

FDL School Board Preview

Following the Fond du Lac School Board meeting tonight the board will hold a workshop to discuss master planning for improvements to Fruth Field. In particular they will discuss the Rettler Corporation Site master planning for community and district improvements to Fruth Field. After that there will be an executive session, which will include considering a student expulsion. The board meets at 5 p.m. at the District Administration Center Board Room.

Senator Fitzgerald On County Executive Bill

State Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald says a bill that would prohibit someone from holding a County Executive’s position while serving in the state legislature was sparked by Winnebago County Executive Mark Harris running for the 18th State Senate seat. He says Harris is making $103,000 a year as a county executive and would make another $50,000 a year off taxpayers if he won the senate seat. He says county executives usually are paid pretty well. He says there are eleven county executives around the state. Fitzgerald says Bob Ziegelbauer serve in the State Assembly while also serving as Manitowoc County Executive, but there’s always the possibility of a conflict of interest when a legislative issue is voted on that might also affect counties. He says Harris could be put in the same position. Harris is a Democrat running for a seat the incumbent Republican Senator Rick Gudex won’t be seeking reelection too. 

Democrats Pushing For Corrections Reform Legislation

The minority leader in the State Senate says Democrats will continue to push for a corrections reform package. The legislation was introduced by Senator Erpenbach and others and meetings and listening sessions have been held around the state with correctional officers. Senator Jennifer Shilling says there are issues at the state prisons that need to be addressed, but Republicans have resisted taking up the legislative package. She says there are high costs associated with overtime because corrections positions aren’t being filled. She says there are also concerns about safety and training. She says there is a lot of stress associated with working in a prison.

FDL County Flu Numbers Low This Year

Fond du Lac County Public Health Officer Kim Mueller says it’s not too late to get vaccinated for the flu. She says as it turns out the vaccine that’s being used to ward off the flu is doing a pretty good job. She says the flu numbers in the County are low this year, the first case of influenza in the County wasn’t reported until around the first of the year. She says she thinks the low numbers of reported flu cases in the County is because of the job the vaccine is doing. Mueller says if you haven’t gotten a flu shot or nasal mist there’s still time. She says this is the time of the year when they see flu numbers peak.

FDL High School Project Lead The Way Certified

Fond du Lac High School recently announced that it has received national certification for its Project Lead The Way programs. Project’s Engineering empowers students to step into the role of an engineer. Project’s Biomedical Science introduces students to medicine and human body systems.  In addition to K-12 curricular pathways, Project’s provides teachers with high-quality professional development training. “We’ve seen how Project Lead The Way inspires students to think critically and problem solve,” said Tammy Krug-Pickart, Career Technical Education Coordinator. “We are extremely proud to be certified.”