Rock County Civics Academy- May 26, 2025. Vol. 1, Issue 12 (1433 words – a seven-minute read)
What Lies Ahead: A Call to Honor and Rebuild
As Memorial Day nears, we pause in solemn gratitude—remembering the people who have served and sacrificed to protect the freedoms we hold dear. This sacred holiday, along with the approaching anniversaries of our nation’s founding and the birth of the U.S. Army, reminds us of the debt we owe to those in uniform. In this season of remembrance, even a simple “thank you” carries deep meaning.
This weekend also marks the unofficial beginning of summer. Graduates celebrate the next generation, school boards finalize their summer agendas, and government institutions shift into a quieter rhythm. Yet in this slower civic season lies a powerful opportunity.
Now is the time to reflect—and to rebuild. In the stillness of summer, we can renew our commitment to what matters most: trust in one another, confidence in public service, and meaningful participation in our communities. This is more than reflection is an invitation.
We have a plan. And we want you to be part of it. This summer let us be intentional. Let us listen, learn, and lead. Let us restore the ties that bind us to each other and to our shared civic responsibilities.
Make the summer count—not just as a season, but as a turning point.
Janesville’s Housing Future Starts Now
A Bold Vision. A Community Invitation. A Call to Action.
By the Rock County Civics Academy
Janesville is growing—but our housing stock is not keeping pace.
From young families and first-time buyers to seniors and essential workers, far too many in our community are being priced out or left behind. The consequences are real: workers struggle to live where they work, developers pull out in frustration, and families are pushed into unstable housing situations.
The problem is not just supplying its process, trust, and leadership.
We Need a Janesville Housing Policy Summit
Not another workshop. Not another report.
A civic breakthrough. A new model for deliberative democracy in action.
Why a Housing Summit, and Why Now?
Without a clear, community-led housing policy, we risk making decisions that deepen division rather than deliver solutions.
We are calling on City Council, City Manager Kevin Lahner, and Forward Janesville to co-sponsor a Janesville Housing Policy Summit—a citizen-led process designed to co-create smart, fair housing policies that reflect the community’s shared values.
Deliberative democracy works. Cities like Minneapolis, Seattle, and Austin use it to tackle complex issues through inclusive, informed public dialogue. Janesville can lead Wisconsin to do the same.
What Would the Summit Look Like?
1. A Steering Committee
Led by City Hall and Forward Janesville, with developers, tenant advocates, neighborhood leaders, and concerned residents.
2. A Representative Panel
Using civic lotteries or demographic sampling, we would gather 40–60 Janesville residents of all ages, incomes, and backgrounds. Support for childcare, translation, transportation, and stipends would ensure accessibility.
3. Clear, Neutral Background Materials
Plain-language primers, expert briefings, and visual guides would help level the playing field.
4. A Public Summit
Held over a weekend or several evenings, participants would:
- Share lived experiences.
- Learn from experts.
- Deliberate on zoning, ADUs, mixed-income incentives, and more.
- Vote on top policy priorities
5. Transparent Follow-Up
A final report would be delivered to City Council, followed by a public response: What will move forward, and why?
This loop of community input → policymaker response → public accountability is how democracy rebuilds trust.
A Moment for Civic Leadership
We urge City leaders to:
- Officially support the Housing Policy Summit
- Partner with Forward Janesville and nonprofits to fund and organize.
- Dedicate City staff to logistics, outreach, and communication.
- Lead by example—welcoming not fearing public input.
This is not about politics.
It is about purpose.
A Citywide Invitation
To residents: Your voice matters. Apply to join. Attend forums. Fill out surveys.
To nonprofits: Help bring underrepresented voices to the table.
To Forward Janesville: Thank you for leading. Let us go further—from data to democracy.
Let us lead Wisconsin by example.
Let us show that Janesville does not just study problems—we solve them together.
🔊 CALL TO ACTION: MAKE THE SUMMIT HAPPEN
We, the Rock County Civics Academy, are issuing this united call:
🏛️ To City Council & City Manager Kevin Lahner:
The time is now. Say yes to the Housing Policy Summit. Fund it. Plan it. Own it.
Show your support. Get involved. Help shape Janesville’s future.
Democracy does not thrive on autopilot.
It takes intention, courage, and public trust.
Let us make transparency the rule—not the exception.
Let us make the Janesville Housing Policy Summit a reality.
📰 What Else Is Ahead? Here are Civic Updates
🏛️ City of Janesville: Council Policy & GM Site
Tuesday’s City Council meeting features updates to Policy 88, the Council’s Code of Conduct. A proposal by Council Member Williams would restrict remote attendance to specific cases.
Meanwhile, closed-session negotiations continue over the acquisition—by condemnation—of the former General Motors plant and adjacent properties. The outcome could significantly reshape Janesville’s economic and housing future.
Beloit School Board Budget Crisis Deepens
The School District of Beloit remains in budget turmoil after the Board of Education again rejected a proposal to cut key staff positions, a critical part of Superintendent Willie Garrison II’s plan to reduce $6.2 million from next year’s budget.
Garrison’s plan called for eliminating thirty-five positions, including seven assistant principals, a physical therapist, a security officer, and several teaching and administrative roles. These cuts were proposed after voters rejected, for the third consecutive year, an operational referendum that would have brought in additional funding.
At Tuesday’s meeting, the board voted 4-2 against Garrison’s proposed staffing reductions, despite extended discussion and counterproposals. Board members Amiee Leavy and Megan Miller supported the cuts, saying Garrison had been tasked with delivering a balanced budget and should be trusted to do so. However, other members, including Board President Tia Johnson and JoAnn Ruch, argued that deeper cuts should first come from the district’s central office at Kolak Education Center before eliminating school-based leadership positions.
This marked the second failed vote on the staffing plan. At the May 7 meeting, the board deadlocked 3-3 after Garrison embedded the cuts into the routine employment recommendations exhibit, bypassing a broader board-level discussion.
Garrison warned that without approval of the proposed reductions, he cannot present a balanced budget by the June deadline. Johnson said she hopes to meet with him to explore compromise options.
With the clock ticking, the district remains without a clear financial path forward.
School Districts & County Property Decisions
School boards are closing out their spring calendars. The Milton School Board, under new leadership, will finalize staff and administrator contracts next week.
At the county level, the former Rock County Health Care Center on Highway F is under review. Once a hospital and nursing facility, it could become a transformative housing site—especially with unspent American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds from the stalled Rockport Road project still available.
💬 Final Word: This Summer, Choose Engagement
In this quieter civic season, let us not drift into inaction. Let us reflect. Let us reset.
And most of all—let us act boldly on housing while we have the chance.
We have a choice.
To delay—or to lead.
To divide—or to build.
Let us build. Together.
A Call to Leadership
Our communities’ future depends on actions, not words. Waiting for the “perfect time” may mean missing chances to improve our future. We all share the responsibility to create high-quality communities, and the time to act is now. Volunteer for a committee or run for office. Hillel the Elder’s words, “If not me, who? If not now, when?” are relevant today. Step up and serve now!
Hypothetically speaking… what if we could bring greater transparency and engagement to local government?
Stay tuned—we will continue shining a light on the issues that matter.
Your feedback is important; it helps us keep the light on!!! Reach out with your thoughts and ideas.
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