This Just In ...
Kevin Fischer is a veteran broadcaster, the recipient of over 150 major journalism awards from the Milwaukee Press Club, the Wisconsin Associated Press, the Northwest Broadcast News Association, the Wisconsin Bar Association, and others. He has been seen and heard on Milwaukee TV and radio stations for over three decades. A longtime aide to state Senate Republicans in the Wisconsin Legislature, Kevin can be seen offering his views on the news on the public affairs program, "InterCHANGE," on Milwaukee Public Television Channel 10, and heard filling in on Newstalk 1130 WISN. He lives with his wife, Jennifer, and their lovely baby daughter, Kyla Audrey, in Franklin.
THE TOP TEN FRANKLIN STORIES OF 2012: #2
On March 1, 2012, jsonline.com reported a pipe bomb was found in
As usual, it was left to conservative bloggers or conservative talk radio to flush out the story.
On March 12, 2012, Newstalk 1130 WISN talk show host Mark Belling reported the following.
He said he had a “contentious conversation” (off the air) with FPS Superintendent Steve Patz about the pipe bomb incident. Belling said Patz “doesn’t think he has any need to justify any actions they (the school system) need to take or don’t take.”
The following are details you didn't find at the time in the Journal Sentinel or FranklinNOW.com.
After an investigation by the Milwaukee County Bomb Squad, Alex (17) and Matthew (20) Matecki were charged with multiple felonies.
Alex (L) and Matthew (R)
The charges: possession of an improvised explosive device, delivery of a controlled substance , possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance, and possession of a firearm by a felony.
Found: a 6-8 inch pipe with a live electronic explosive device. The device contained an explosive powder. It was removed from the house and detonated several times.
In case the ACLU is reading, with a search warrant, police recovered a large number of drugs, homemade guns, one pipe bomb and other bomb making materials.
The 17-year old, Alex Matecki was still walking the halls at
Belling asked Patz about this. Why hasn’t he been expelled? Patz gave the same answer repeatedly: When it warrants that we take disciplinary action, we do.
Belling: Is it a good idea to have an accused pipe bomber in the high school?
Like the robot in “Lost in Space,” Patz gave his rehearsed answer from his index card.
Belling pointed out that when the mildest, least threatening incident occurs, schools take every action possible.
In
Belling also reported that when he gave Patz the names of the charged, Patz played dumb.
“I don’t run the high school. I wouldn’t know (who they are).”
Given the serious nature of the incident, shouldn’t he know?
When pressed by Belling, Patz said, “Oh yeh, I read the story.”
Shouldn't Patz be on top of the issue?
Belling described Patz’s answers as something from "the planet Mars,” that Patz didn’t “seem to care or be bothered by it.”
For a guy with several degrees, Patz came off sounding foolish. Again, no surprise as educrats often fail miserably in the common sense department. If I had children in
A concerned resident wrote me:
"There was NO district communication about this from the district however, we WERE made aware of the whooping cough outbreak. What on earth is he doing in our non metal detector school."
Here's a related blog from 2009.
Shortly after the story broke, this e-mail was distributed:
Good evening FHS Students and Parents:
Please take a minute to read the attached letter regarding an incident involving an FHS student that was a subject on Milwaukee talk radio today. Due to student privacy concerns, we had not previously communicated about this situation to parents. However, because the police report has been released and it has been a topic in the media we felt it important to provide this information to our school community.
Please feel free to contact me if you have questions or concerns.
Have a nice evening,
Mike Cady
Principal
March 12, 2012
Dear FHS Parents and Students:
I am writing to provide background on an incident in the community involving one of our students that was a topic of discussion on
As reported on the radio, I can confirm that according to police reports, a FHS student was one of two individuals arrested on March 1st following a traffic stop and a subsequent search of his residence reportedly revealed possession of controlled substances, possession of weapons and a “pipe bomb.” As a school administration we have been in communication with the Franklin PD on this issue and we have implemented reasonable precautionary steps including:
· Temporary removal of the student from the general environment while we completed our own investigation
· Regular and random searches of the student, his belongings and locker
· Increased supervision and restrictions
Our school investigation, combined with the police investigation, have not revealed any connection between the alleged conduct in the community and the school. There have not been any threats of any kind toward the school, our students or our staff. Without any related school conduct the authority of the district is limited in terms of further restriction or disciplinary action. The student in question has been, and continues to be completely cooperative with the precautionary steps outlined above.
The safety of our students is extremely important to us and I assure you that we take this situation seriously and will continue to take all appropriate and reasonable steps to ensure school security.
Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions or concerns.
Sincerely,
Mike Cady
Principal
COMPARE THIS REACTION TO...
Franklin High School Principal Michael Cady waits by the main entrance with a scanning wand.
The pipe bomb story illustrated a much larger issue. Sad but true, the current crop of
1) Educate students (There are no specific targeted goals. Basically, we tell our school district to just do it).
2) Educate students in a safe environment.
Educate students in a safe environment. Understood, no guns or explosives have gone off in any
On March 1, Alex and Matthew Matecki were arrested. Alex was a student at
Yes, I’d say that’s serious stuff. Unless, of course, you’re a
1) Yawn and wonder what all the fuss is about, or…
2) Hide under the mattress, say absolutely nothing and pray the whole ordeal blows over.
Incredibly,
They literally kept unknowing
Not a very good response at all.
Patz compounded his astonishlingly foolish responses to Belling by not realizing
Patz inserted both feet in mouth and
On March 13, 2012, the following email was distributed by
Good afternoon FHS Parents and Students:
I am writing to update our families on the communication emailed last evening regarding the FHS student recently arrested in the community for possession of controlled substances and explosives. The student in question is no longer attending classes at FHS indefinitely.
Once again, student safety and security is our priority and we appreciate your patience and understanding as we work through this complicated situation.
Sincerely,
Mike Cady
Principal
Note the line, "...student safety and security is our priority."
Clearly safety and security is NOT their priority. Their priority is their image. They didn’t care about safety and security until AFTER they were caught, outed, BUSTED!
Cady was telling parents Franklin acted properly because the possession and weapon-making occurred off school property. Suddenly, less than 24 hours later,
Cady and Patz were wishing and hoping
Alex Matecki was found guilty of Possession of Improvised Explosives, a class H felony.
Matthew Matecki was found guilty of two felonies.
Cady left Franklin High to take a new job in the
THE TOP 10
1) ?
2) A PIPE BOMBER AT FRANKLIN HIGH DRAWS A BIG FAT YAWN FROM STEVE PATZ
3) THE ALDERVISOR AND A SHAKEUP AT THE SCHOOL BOARD
4) MEIJER REALLY WANTS TO COME HERE, BUT...
5) WELCOME TO THE MMSD
6) PUTTING FRANKLIN ON THE MAP
7) A GOLDEN ANNIVERSARY
8) THE RISE OF THE CYBER BULLIES
9) FRANKLIN DEPARTURES
10) A BROCHURE? ARE YOU KIDDING ME?
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