Susan Manley Laments
New Berlin School Board Member Susan Manley filed non-candidacy papers, signally her intent not to run for re-election. See news report.
It didn’t surprise me one bit.
When District Administration presented several projects at the September 24 School Board Meeting, that were described as “important”, “immediate”, & “dire" needs --but which had not been currently budgeted for, Mrs. Manley was quite dismayed.
She expressed “frustration” that “critical issues” at New Berlin West and Reagan School were on the list--grumbling that the School Board had spent a lot of money on those two schools. She conveyed “frustration” that some of those “critical needs” weren’t taken care of with the $33 million spent renovating West.
And then she voted against proceeding with the proposed roofing and air quality plans. However, the motion passed 4-2. (She and Matt Thomas were the dissenters)
When it met in October, the School Board discussed increasing the tax levy to address some of the more “pressing” needs identified in September by Administration, such as Eisenhower’s leaky roof, and huge holes in asphalt at Orchard Lane School. Mrs. Manley was again agitated and "frustrated". Referring to the "taxpayers", and fretful about how they'd react, Mrs. Manley complained that "we" (presumably she/the School Board) had not planned properly and hadn’t done its job right.
Mrs. Manley chose to vote against the motion/amendment “ to approve the commencement of work on the asphalt project at Orchard Lane at the lowest qualified bid-- and to fund an amount not to exceed $270,000 to identify maintenance projects this year”. The motion passed 4-3. (Mrs. Manley, Matt Thomas, John Kegel cast the no votes).
During Mrs. Manley’s tenure on the School Board, I emailed her a few times, but got no response--no email reply, no letter, no phone call, no attempt to speak with me at a School Board Meeting, and no answers from her to the questions I posed in my email messages. Nothing.
Hopefully, the Board Member who replaces Susan Manley in April will be more responsive to constituents, take greater initiative/action to be well- informed about District needs or problems, and will consider safety of students and staff a top priority.
