The Finale- Part 1

THE “OTHER SIDE OF THE STORY”

Mercer School Facts occasionally received the criticism that the blog did not tell “the other side of the story.”  But “the other side of the story” was never offered.

Of course, much of what happened is now history and some of those critics have crawled back into their holes.  But it is interesting to know what went on before we arrived at the point where we now have an honest and conscientious school board and administrator.

Back when such criticism was offered, Mercer School Facts always maintained, “Tell us the other side of the story and we will gladly post it.”

For instance, tell us how then Administrator Erik Torkelson managed to take home $168,640 in salary and benefits when his contract was for $98,000 plus about $30,000 in benefits. 

Or tell us “the other side of the story” about why Mercer School under Torkelson had a composite ACT score consistently below the state average of 20, and in one year was an abysmal 16.6.  Or tell us why Mercer ACT scores were at the bottom of list of 21 northern Wisconsin schools and very last in the state with its Department of Public Instruction school report card score.

Or what about the more than $25,000 it cost annually to educate each Mercer student when the state average is less than one-half that amount.

Also, tell us about the 75% of the $200,000 which the DPI found was wasted on phony Fund 80 projects, some of which went into the pockets of Torkelson and a few of his chosen staff members.

And let us not forget to the 50 Shades of Grey scandal which received widespread publicity and was an embarrassment for Mercer.  Tell us the other side of story of why Torkelson’s mother-in-law, Kelly Kohegyi, showed the sexually explicit movie to young Mercer schoolgirls. 

Get the picture?  Every Mercer School Facts blog is backed by documents from the school’s own records, information provided at school board meetings, DPI information or from the public news media.

One person who offered the criticism that Mercer School Facts did not tell the other side of the story, criticized those who submit comments for “hiding behind anonymous.”  And how did that person sign the comment?  You guessed it, “Anonymous.”

Those honest people who submitted comments as “anonymous” did so because they did not want their tires punctured with metal shards, their property name signs and mailboxes smashed, to be threatened with the loss of a job or business, or to be harassed, threatened, and intimidated.  All these things actually happened to conscientious Mercer citizens who dared to criticize the former corrupt school situation and tried to put an end to an unbelievably bad, disgraceful, and costly situation.

Do you see now why the Mercer School Facts blog editors, writers and contributors chose to remain “anonymous”?