Back to School without a contract UNITY for all members. We should not accept what they give us period. File arbitration if we ask for a 6% raise they will give it to us arbitration looks at how well we are paid and if the district can afford it. They have plenty of money and we are underpaid. Our union has not asked for arbitration because they are in bed with the district.
Date: July 31, 2015 To: Annette Johnson BOE President Subject: Questionable Hiring Sarah Waddell Ms Johnson
I bring to your attention questions regarding the recent hiring of Sarah Wadell for the position of “Assistant Superintendent for Teaching and Learning”. It must be noted I AM NOT criticizing Ms Waddell. There are serious issues regarding her qualifications and other areas of concern.
Sarah was an Asst Principal Scullen Middle School at Indian Prairie District 204 (Note Mark Truckenbrod was Principal at Scullen Middle)
Would this position require experience as a Principal Asst Director Director Sarah bypassed all yet was hired New salary is $ 145,000.00 Previous salary $ 100,000.00
Are not current administrators much more qualified to serve effectively such as Dr Carla Johnson, Diane Argueta, or David Brusack (whom did apply for the position) 2 whom are minorities and experienced from within East Aurora
I ask the Board these questions Why does Mike Popp continue to recruit/hire from former employer Indian Prairie Dist 204
Why was Sarah hired with minimal experience I find it difficult to believe that a MUCH MORE QUALIFIED candidate could not be found. This position should have been reposted to find other candidates
Wikepedia: Cronyism is partiality to long-standing friends, especially by appointing them to positions of authority, regardless of their qualifications. Hence, cronyism is contrary in practice and principle to meritocracy.
It appears this practice has resurfaced and this new Board under your leadership will not address this and previous issues brought to your attention. Regardless I will be submitting another complaint with the Inspector General regarding the Human Resources Violations throughout the years.
“Enough is Enough” as the taxpayers continue to pay for Popp’s cronyism Respectfully
Ralph Padron
Again information from FOIA's will support the above facts
proceeding from or characterized by a feeling of doubt or uncertainty enthusiastic or eager for philosophical or other investigations; intellectually stimulated ⇒ "an alert and questioning mind"
crit·i·cize (ˈkridəˌsīz/)
verb gerund or present participle: criticizing 1. indicate the faults of (someone or something) in a disapproving way. "states criticized the failure to provide an adequate and permanent compensation" synonyms: find fault with, censure, denounce, condemn, attack, lambaste, pillory, rail against, inveigh against, arraign, cast aspersions on, pour scorn on, disparage, denigrate, give bad press to, run down; More informalknock, pan, maul, slam, roast, hammer, lay into, lace into, flay, crucify, take apart, pull to pieces, pick holes in, pummel, trash, nitpick; formalexcoriate "must you criticize everything she does?" antonyms: praise 2. form and express a sophisticated judgment of (a literary or artistic work). "a literary text may be criticized on two grounds: the semantic and the expressive"
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Questioning and criticizing are TWO DIFFERENT THINGS...
Sorry, but questioning the qualifications of somebody and saying that other people applied who are more qualified is criticizing. I don't really care what your dictionary says.
Who gives a flying, rats........questioned, criticized....either way this employee might as well get used to it from the get go. This person was hired into a position of extreme importance. The education of the students in 131 has been a problem for too long and has been questioned and criticized for years. She applied and accepted and with it comes expectations that will scrutinized. By those working in 131 and those whose taxes are paying her. So for those nit picking the reason or the appearance of questioning and/ or criticizing.......suck it up, buttercup, she needs to show her backbone immediately and step in and get her job done!
Popp is about cronyism he does not trust anyone but Thrunkbrog and Glotzbach. The entire staff has been treated as a non entity. He then keeps Hanley to for kiss his fat *ss. The staff is divided at central office and nothing is getting accomplished. There are many similarities to the serial bully days. Popp is also a fake to the public he is friendly to the staff he never speaks.
Glotzbach is another story her reign of terror continues.Popp has her in charge of everything, now teachers beware she is in charge of elementary and secondary. The district will never grow until she is fired.
The school year looks to be the most disfuntional yet. We need unity between the entire staff.
As a taxpayer I would like to know why the district when hiring Administrators give them more money then the districts they came from? Most here recently seem to come from D204 which has more money than this district yet they pay Administrators less than ours. It seems that Sarah Waddell has less experience than some that applied.
It is time this Board treated teachers the same as other districts and pay them more. I hope the teachers stand up so they can get a fair contract. This districts have overcrowded classrooms and falling apart schools and we treat our students and teachers poorly while administrators get other districts pay and really aren't all that good at running these schools.
I'm disappointed in the new members of this board they should stand up for the teachers to make sure they have a fair contract.
The little theater was shut due to mold. Workers cleaning up must wear hazmat suits yet our students are exposed to this daily. Many teachers who worked at EA and retired from EA have cancer. the building is filled with mold. Talking with maintenance the situation was created by crony contractors of Feltes with no records of what work was preformed on equipment.
It is time to address the poor condition of the buildings.
Word is from our union that a offer is into the BOE. administration now says only the BOE can decide. We need to come to meetings and show unity. Many of us supported Darby, Laesch and Arroyo. Strand owes us after all the broken promises and donations she hits us up for. We need to target the four and let our voices be heard.
I know Johnson is very pro teacher and thinks they are the only group underpaid. Support staff need to flood her with emails that our jobs are more than hall monitor. Hatchett seems very approachable and she needs to hear our story as well. We can forget Leonard he hates everyone in the union.
LET OUR VOICES BE HEARD we can not rely on Intherm to speak up.
According to illinoisreportcard.com, the average East Aurora teacher makes $51,600 and the average teacher in IL makes $62,400. That makes our salary 83% of the state average. Meanwhile, the average East Aurora administrator makes $97,300 and the average administrator in IL makes $101,000. That makes D131 administrators' salaries 96% of the state average.
Here's an idea, make the percentage EQUAL. I get it if you're asking teachers in the district to get paid less due to the poverty in our district. Why not ask the administrators for the same sacrifice? If the teachers are at 83%, then the administrators should be at 83% and instead they're at 96%. That's a huge discrepancy!
Teachers DO NOT ACCEPT this continued INEQUITY. This district can't have it both ways. What are you doing School Board and Union Representation allowing this to continue? No wonder moral sucks. People fundamentally want to be treated fairly and in D131 teachers are scapegoats and underpaid while our ineffective administrators get a pass and NO accountability for their part in achievement.
How many of them were asked to leave last year due to their lousy student growth? As far as I can see, only Spencer Byrd and in typical backwards EA fashion, East High was one of the few schools in our district showing progress. Great job Popp Team! Also, why aren't teachers at the table when these new administrators, like the EAHS Principal and the new Asst. Sup. are being selected? At my last district and in functional districts across the state, this is standard operating procedure to ensure the best people are picked. Instead, we get an incestuous pit of cronyism and central administration surrounding themselves with yes people who won't rock the boat or challenge their incompetent decisions. Spencer Byrd stood up for the safety of the school and look what happened to him.
Where is the teacher voice? Clearly, the board and the Popp team don't have a clue about what we need and their tenure is short--just look at the revolving door of admin we've had. They make their mark and move on. PLEASE let teachers be part of the decisions that affect them arguably more than they affect the teflon administrators.
The time is NOW to speak up for our kids. Unless the gap between our salary and the administrators is significantly closed, we are being doormats and the admin will continue to walk all over us. Let change begin with this new contract. Board PLEASE do your job and get a grip on this sick district and the sick policies that you enable every time you don't ask the right questions and simply rubber stamp more of the same bs that's gotten us to where we are now.
Teachers your union is the problem the district attempted to give teachers more but your union rejected it saying lets pay the same. I am sure when you go to a store and you come across a deal you take it.
I am here tonight to question the former Asst Superintendent of Human Resources, Joan Glotzbach and Michael Popp on the hiring of Principal Anthony Crespo at the High School.
Here are the facts.
March 16 2015 Principal Spencer Byrd $ 127,613.00 resigned. Why would he resign without having a job? March 23 Position Posted $121,500.00 March 24 Anthony Crespo applied, he was making $ 124,500.00 Note: June July 2014 Crespo applied for 3 lesser positions at EA however was not hired April 20 Board of Ed voted to hire Crespo @ $ 133,000.00 His wife and children were seated in front to witness the vote. Looks like he was already hired.
Qualifications clearly stated must have 3 years of successful administrative experience at a High School Level. Crespo would not have met this criteria until June 30 2015 yet was interviewed then hired. If he was not hired in 2014, why would he be considered for High School Principal Who conducted the interviews
What warranted $ 11,500.00 increase over the posted salary for someone with no experience and $ 5,400.00 more than an experienced, results proven Principal Something is very suspicious here and he wasn’t even from Dist 204
Why didn’t Joan Glotzbach see these red flags?
Spencer Byrd tenure as Principal “Produced the Highest Graduating Class ever” at East Aurora which he was a part of He was highly respected and loved by the staff and teachers at East High that a petition was circulated to retain him as Principal. Unfortunately it fell upon deaf ears by Superintendent Mike Popp and Joan Glotzbach Appears they were determined to have Spencer leave That speaks for itself on listening and taking serious input from the staff at the High School
Why was a survey taken May 2015 “What do you look for in a Principal at East High”
THE ISSUE HERE IS NOT Anthony Crespo nor Spencer Byrd BUT THE CIRCUMSTANCES, FACTS, AND QUESTIONS SURROUNDING THE RESEARCH AND HIRING OF THE POSITION.
Again, the staff, community and board was subjected to Mr Padron. His name calling and character assignation are getting old. Mr Carspo is the Principal and he deserves a chance. Mr Byrd became a Sup in another district everyone is happy, not everyone gets along with their boss. Mr Padron YOU DO NOT PAY TAXES HERE. Get lost can you not see that nobody cares about you or what you have to say. Let the elected board run the district they all seem ready and eager.
You are a bully, nobody attacks you because they are afraid too. They all know your mental illness will come out and they will then become your flavor of the week. You are a mental midget. GO AWAY.
Please answer this WHAT HAS DR POPP DONE THAT YOU HAVE SUCH HATE FOR HIM?
So I've never worked in a district before in which the contract has not been resolved or approved before the school year has begun. I thought the new contract would have to be in place before we began. Since it will not be resolved (and seems no where close to it), I'm guessing the teachers will continue to be paid as per the 14-15 schedule? If we get a minimal raise, or no raise as all, I'm guessing that I am free to leave as I please with no ramifications from EA? It would obviously be easy to find another district nearby which will pay much more.
Mr Padron, I attended the meeting and felt sorry for the new EA Principal. He was hired what makes you qualified to judge him. I am happy to see diversity in our staff and he will be a get role model to our students. His story is much like theirs growing up in a single home. I had respect for your exposing of Feltes but this shows you are just a hateful man.
As a businessman in this town, feeding thousands of dollars to a school district that is moving backwards instead of leading our kids forward, I am amazed at the cronyism and sheer neglect of student interests. I have hope that I will see the amazing potential of youth succeed in this school district. Every graduate of D131 has fallen well short of simple qualifications to earn a job within my business and smiliar fields.
I hope the teachers get the pay they deserve, I know my taxes have constantly risen, which should facilitate a raise to those deserving individuals. I don't live or vote in town, and not sure if I did if it would make a difference.
Anyone with power within the district should be ashamed of themselves, and ashamed of the students who are entering the work force. It is a reflection of you as a school board, and you as an administrator. Please allow these kids to have the best opportunities to grow, learn, and become adults.
The superintendent and all others in the central office are leading by poor example. Are these the kind of people we want our future leaders to look up to? God I hope not!
Enjoy the next couple weeks before school starts, and we find out even more problems that have been swept under a rug.
I went to the Building & Grounds and saw corruption at its best. Leonard screamed and treated administrators like they are his slaves. He demanded snow plowing get put out t bid and outsourced. Administration explained it only cost $21,000. Does he believe anyone to the outside would be cheaper. Laesch then attempted to get him to bid the ever corrupt Corisigan and Clark. Leonard kept stopping him. Our new boss had many saving on having us do the work and saving money on construction management. Leonard kept trying to stop him
This shows how Leonard hates the employees of 131 and only wants Feltes crooks from the outside to steal from the district. We are calling on Mr Padron to get a tape of the meeting and expose him. Feltes allowed outside workers to have their own keys to the building and never checked them in or out. They have no work slips. Funny he is worried about hard working men but never worried about the corruption of Feltes. It showed last night Leonard took kickbacks and he is taking kickbacks from Cordogan. His screaming at staff needs to get addressed by his fellow board members. His anger for losing kickbacks needs to get exposed.
Leonard and Feltes should go to jail for what they have gotten away with. Leonard makes the statement at the B/G meeting the carbon monoxide was getting into classrooms. LAIR! Feltes had his cousin Jimbo from Arlip do inspections and then he got rid of the evidence. Arlip was paid $200,000 in no bid work.
Leonard also protected Corodgan and Clark last nite after it was shown they where over by million on the Benevides Center. Ralph says the Feds are investigating but Leonard is still doing business.
Did Zepeda and Cowherd ever think that is why nobody joins the sports boosters because of them? The band has attempted to help them for years but it is their way or the highway. Personnally, I am glad to see him resign hopefully Henry will be next. the way Henry swears at students needs to stop.
Leonard has discredited hard working men while allowing Feltes to steal and cheat. What is your excuse if you are a crook. Everyone else is too. In this case Leonard and his friend Feltes are the worst ever. BTW tricky Dick when the Feds get done Marty will not look good in orange jumpsuits.
Padron have you checked the FOIA for the new building and grounds director? how is an ex-officer qualified for maintenance and merit a $120,000? Who does he know in the district, maybe the same person that he had the district cut a tree down for? Since when do taxpayers pay for tree removal on private property by the high school, maybe the pictures should be in the newspaper so this new director can answer for that!
Date: August 7, 2015 To: Annette Johnson BOE President Subject: Hiring of Jennifer Brinkman
Ms Johnson
I bring to your attention facts/questions regarding the recent hiring of Jennifer Brinkman
Former District 204 English Teacher (18 yrs total teaching experience) Hired as HS Division Chair for English and Fine Arts salary $ 78,500.00 There is no question Ms Brinkman possesses the qualifications for this position
Again I am questioning Joan Glotzbach-Human Resources Mike Popp – Superintendent
WAS THERE NOT 1 ENGLISH TEACHER DIST 131 WHO COULD QUALIFY FOR THIS POSITION Did anyone actively encourage an EA 131 Teacher to apply
Again another 204 staff member coming to Dist 131
Wouldn’t it have been prudent to promote from within? Does Joan Glotzbach/Mike Popp UNDERSTAND these hiring’s are demoralizing and angering many?
Would appreciate response in written form (you haven’t yet)
Rumor is leaking out that teachers are getting a big raise. I am glad to see the new board is keeping their promise and commitment to education. Keeping good teachers is a good way to start! The change in leadership is refreshing.
Hey, notafan have you ever heard of a Plat Of Survey? Anyone who has been in the B/G Dept. long enough knows that fence was built years ago way too far onto district property. Yes, it was ON DISTRICT PROPERTY. Oh my, get your facts straight before starting your rumors! BTW, the new head of B/G worked at a state run school and has all the qualifications that Feltes lacked on the initial application. (Before it was changed by Dick Leonard to accommodate his buddy Marty Feltes who then proceeded to rob the district blind!).
1 Leonard had the B&G Director application changed to allow his friend Marty Feltes to get the job. He had no degree as called for on the initial application. Leonard claimed his "life skills" were enough. 2. We all know what happened after Feltes got the job. All hell broke loose and millions of dollars were wasted (or went who-knows-where). Hopefully, some day we will get a bottom dollar amount as to how much financial damage he did. More is still being uncovered as I write this. 3. Leonard was on the B&G committee and had full knowledge of what his buddy was doing.
So, Dick Leonard gets Marty Feltes hired. Marty Feltes costs the district millions of dollars. Your taxes went up to compensate for this.
Residents of Carillon, make no mistake. Dick Leonard is not your friend. He does not care about your taxes. He is seeking revenge for his friend Marty Feltes for being terminated from his job (which he was paid an annual salary of 130K to do by the way). He is using you as a tool to do so. Have him give you some numbers and facts when he talks to you about things such as outsourcing. Do not take him at his word and you will see for yourselves.
Heads up! Marty Feltes is still trying to terrorize Buildings and Grounds staff from afar! He uses Dick Leonard, Mike Golonka and Larry Wilson to do so. They make things up and cause problems that are not there. Marty has also been seen several times with Leonard in the car driving through the school district. on
Dick Leonard was seen and heard yelling at Alex Dimare. He told him to put snow plowing out to bid and do not "worry" about the BOE. Be careful BOE members this crook is speaking for you.
You stated "There is no question Ms Brinkman possesses the qualifications for this position".
You are incorrect. While Ms Brinkman may very well be qualified for the english portion of the position, she does not have the experience to be the Fine Arts Department Chair. And for the record, neither did the last person. How does having an english degree qualify a person to oversee band directors, choir directors, art teachers etc. This just another way the district deprives our children of a full educational experience.
If this is a an acceptable practice, why not combine all areas? We can have history teachers lead the math department or science teachers run the sports programs. It wouldn't be tolerated in any other area, why has the district been doing this for fine arts?
The only reason Leonard is on the board is so that he can keep tabs on and try and run damage control on all the horrendous thing Feltes did. He tries to cause diversionary tactics such as yelling and throwing tantrums to steer people away from seeing the horrible things Feltes did and that he was a part of. He also loves to try and get the B&G employees stressed out by trying to implement what marty Feltes wants done to them(even though he was fired long ago!).
Alex does not seem like the kind of guy who would fall for such small-minded things. I'm glad he's an ex-cop. I am sure he recognizes a con-man when he sees one! From what I have seen so far is nothing but good from the new B&G Director. He is trying hard to get things in shape and works well with the Union. He has more than a full-time job trying to get things back into shape so these kids can have a nice place to go to school and he is doing it while saving the taxpayers money. He does not need the likes of Tricky Dick Leonard lying in his ear and wasting his time! No of us do. The jigs up Leonard, people are seeing you for who you really are. Go away and let this district start to heal after all you have done to it!!
I don't know what you consider a big raise but a simple percentage is not what's going to correct the issues, District 131's entire salary schedule needs to be revamped. Steps are inconsistent and while the bottom of the salary schedule maybe 5% - 10% behind neighboring districts, the top end is up to 50% lower than surrounding districts.
In addition to the monetary issues are other concerns. Class sizes and resources are definately a concern. Another big concern is insurance, the cost was raised to many teachers last year by more than 50%. The contract offered this past spring reduced our protections.
One of the biggest concerns is MOU's (Memorandum of Understanding). The teachers were screwed in many ways during the last contract but MOU's. MOU's allowed the district to bypass the union membership and make changes to the contract by having Sarah Imthurn sign away our rigts and protections. This has to be removed from the contract before it is approved. What's the point of having a contract if everything in it can simply be changed at any time by Dr. Popp and Sarah's signatures. MOU's must be removed unless a clause is added that a vote must taken by the entire membership.
The last Board only offered 3% the new Board is offering over 10% from what I have heard. That is a major improvement and while I would like to be paid like other districts it was my choice to stay. I see them as making a good faith attempt to close the wage gap. I do agree with the MOUs they pass a contract and change it behind our backs. Sara is not to be trusted. I hope she is forced to teach next year and see what we put up with. I also hope a code of displine is returned to buildings this year. Knifes and guns have no place in the school district. Sara should speak out.
On another note Dr Waddle is meeting with different groups she appears to know curriculum and is getting input. Maybe it's a good thing she came from a building level position she see's the big picture. Also, Mr Dimare is doing great things he is finally addressing the mold issues at EAHS and Waldo.
For all the hate some good things are happening at the BOE level I think some of them care.
Feltes spent the first year of teachers salaries and he took work away from us. now that we are back doing the work we are qualified for instead of painting curbs the district has money now. Snow plowing costs very little overtime and we have the equipment what don't you get Leonard. Word is Marty's loser relative has a snow plow business.
This year I knew a family that came to the district and their children went to one of the Middle Schools. What I found out is most parents don't even care if their kids go to school. They don't make the students do their homework and the students act up. I did hear about how teachers stay after school to tutor students. The teachers in this district have to deal with a lot why don't you Taxpayer visit a classroom to see what is going on. Yes, they do deserve the 10%.
The facts: Feltes, Leonard and no one else is going to jail. It's simple, unethical acts ?maybe; criminal acts ? absolutely not. Graduations rates were up due to Spencer Byrd; not. He enacted best practices by not suspending students for petty acts like most districts are doing. Byrd spent many hours hiding in his office or lifting weights with his fat neck buddies. Promoting from within is the best way to do things? There is data to support internal promotions are good for moral. However data also will show that many individual relationships are built and many staff members being promoted have difficulty separating those relationships if they become a division chair. Prior to the changes a few years back the evaluation process by the chairs was joke by individuals who were members of the Union. BTW Glotzbach, Gonzalez, Aire, Garcia to name a few were all in house promotions. New blood from a progressive , high performing district like 204 cannot be all bad; time will tell. 10% pay raises per year is a pipe dream and will never happen. However one must consider that Johnson will do anything to get a hug from the teachers therefore there is a chance in a million. If anything remotely close to 10% comes to fruition maintenance will be outsourced within 12 months and teachers will not be rehired for 16/17. The former will make Johnson and Leonard happy because he thinks they are a bunch of slackers who his buddy Marty couldn't straighten out and she will balance the teachers raise on their backs.
I was looking at the district web site at HR Job Openings. This is how many positions are currently open: 52 Certified Positions 31 Non-Certified 37 Internal Postings 3 Administrative Positions
That is a total of 123 jobs still open with less than 2 weeks before school starts. That doesn’t include the teachers who are even now looking at other districts to get out of District 131. How many years are we going to start without the staff necessary to teach the communities children? How many years are we going to fill our positions with the leftover teachers that every other district rejected? When is the board going to realize that our bottom of the barrel salaries is the reason we have difficulty staffing our schools?
While we are at it, why can’t the district provide facilities adequate for our students? Elementary schools who have go to the middle schools for programs, middle schools who have to promote at the high school to fit and now the high school has to go to NIU if more than half of the senior class promotes?
Waldo has half a field, no games can be played there. The Magnet has no field to play on. Cowherd has a field that is cupped and floods every time it rains too hard. The Simmons fields are adequate but they are owned by the park district, not District 131. The high school can not host real track competitions or soccer matches because the facilities are to small and falling apart. Keep your children away from the stadium, it structurally unsound and it’s covered in lead paint.
Anybody who has been in the band rooms know they are completely inadequate. The high school band room is way too small. They just hired a second band director because there’s going to be at least 250 kids in band, not including the color guard. The room should not have more than 40 band kids in it. Maybe somebody should call the fire marshal at the next football game. I’m sure he would have a major issue if he saw how many people were in the band room before and after the game.
The lunch room facilities are also far too small. That is why our students are eating lunch as early as 9:45 in the morning and as late as 1:30 in the afternoon in lunch rooms where they barely fit. All of these facilities were designed for schools with half the population we are squeezing into them. Twenty years ago the three middle schools housed about 500 students each. Now they are cramming over a thousand students in them. The high school should have record numbers of graduates, they have record numbers of students.
The school board has an obligation to provide for the education of the District 131 children. The money is not going to the teachers, the buildings are completely inadequate, the classrooms are overcrowded and don’t have the resources they need. Where is the money going? Maybe instead of bragging about having $90+ million dollars in the bank, the board should be doing what they were elected to do, provide for the education of children.
Insider word is the latest offer by the board to the teachers is only 4 ½%. When you consider how far behind in salary the top end of our contract is, this is just another slap in the face. At 23 years with a doctorate in District 131 we make just over $74,000 while if you go to Naperville or Batavia, they are making about $114,000.
Assuming that the other districts get just a cost of living increase each year of about 3%, it will take District 131 at 4 ½%, 31 years for the top end of our salary schedule to catch up. At 6%, it will still take 16 years before we reach them. Even at 10% a year, it would take 8 years before we were competitive.
The board doesn’t know, doesn’t show or just doesn’t care. Their primary job is to ensure the best possible education for our children. The board has for decades shown what they value; corruption, greed and perceived power.
The teachers need to remember that the power over the contract really rests with them, not the board and not the Union (That worthless group that just keep stealing our money and giving us nothing in return). We need to vote NO and keep voting NO until we are offered a wage that will keep the best teachers in District 131. Our students deserve no less. When we get to a point that the district refuses to negotiate further, an arbiter will have to be brought in. The arbiter will look at how underpaid our teachers are compared to the surrounding districts and how much money the district has in reserves. A real salary increase will then be ordered. The district will no longer have any choice. It’s simple, “VOTE NO”.
insider who knows better told us that was the package our union put forth and the board had to fight with them to pay more. It sounds like that fight is still going on . It is crazy to think the management fights for us but the union does not. It goes without saying, if someone tells you that you can pay a cheaper price would you not. We need to tell our union no and organize a no confidence vote against them.
I agree with much of what had been said above. Teachers are underpaid, the schools are crowded and not being taken care of properly. Yes, there have been too many corrupt Board members and incompetent admin with "perceived" power. I suppose they do have a sense of power, when y can continue for as long as they have not taking care of business properly and not even giving the teachers the programs and tools to give the students an adequate education. I saw someone spouting off about increase students scores 10% and then the teachers would deserve a raise. I don't even work for the district, but I have had children here long enough to know and see how creative our teachers have had to be to give the students what they need. Granted, some blame goes to parents, but a big share goes to the district and the city. If the homes in our district were more single family dwellings and some of the vacant rundown houses were demolished, it would help thin out the number of students attending our schools. Weisner was encouraging more homes from several new arenas that were to be built during his terms. Luckily, for whatever reason, they fell through. For the most part, the same houses are in this district that have been here for years. So there are not anymore new houses adding to our property taxes, there are just many more families living in the same number of houses. Which has to be approved by our city council! And supported by the school board!!
So should our teachers and students have to pay the price for poor decisions made by our elected officials? They re the reason our buildings and teachers are over burdened. They have the power to start fixing that, or at least for the time being, compensate our teachers for their efforts.
Well written article by the Beacon. Hanley need to resign he has become a distraction and Popp needs to go with him. I am no fan of Clayton but he was seen around the district and he planned events. What does hanley do it is a slap in the face to teachers.
I am also glad the Beacon showed the differences in wages. We need unity and need to be prepared to strike.
Today's article shows again Dr Popp only cares about himself with his comments regarding Matt Hanley. I was excited that we had a new leader last year but I soon became alarmed when he took no action when Feltes was allowed to waste millions, and belittle staff. This was reported to Popp and Glotzbach and nothing happened.
The next issue was a new administrative center while many of us worked in overcrowded class rooms.
Then came the .8% raise offer which was then followed by the 3% slap in the face. Dr Popp does not understand this district is the most underpaid and overworked in the area. After the slap in the face Hanley receives a $40,000 raise. Really, we may work in 131 but we are not stupid.
Yes some things are getting better with the election of the new board. Dr Popp and his cronies need to get fired and we need someone who cares.
Why have we gone decades without established curriculum in District 131? We've had committees, paid high priced administrators, even brought in outside consultants to guide us but still no curriculum for most areas in the district.
I believe it's just one more way to deprive the children of District 131 of needed resources. The reason that all curriculum is approved by the school board is because as soon as any curriculum is established, the district is then legally obligated to fund all needed resources to administer that curriculum.
Without an approved curriculum, they don't have to purchase needed resources. That's how you get to brag about $90+ million dollars in the bank while still funneling millions of dollars to your contractor buddies. And as always, it's the children who pay the price.
I had never thought about the point that there are really no new homes being built, but rather more families being crammed into existing homes, which fills up the schools more quickly. The city really should look at that, but I'm sure they won't :(
Weisner has destroyed the school district since has been Mayor. He keeps taking properties off the tax roles and does not enforce building codes. Hopefully someone who cares about the east side will get elected. Go Kurt Becker!
The agenda packet for the August 17th School Board meeting has been published.
The minutes from the JUNE 15th School Board meeting, however, are still absent.
It's my understanding that minutes are required to be publicly posted 14 days after approval.
It looks like either someone at the central office is lazy, administration is trying to delay certain information being made public, and/or the minutes are being withheld from the public as a slap in the face.
Of course, our district COULD do what many districts do in 2015. They COULD put School Board meetings online.
But that would require a certain amount of transparency and respect for taxpayers and community members...
If the school district can afford to pay Matt Hanley and extra 40K at the drop of a hat, they can afford to put the board meetings online/public cable tv. It's not that hard to do! Some people can't get to the meetings and want to be informed as well!
Reading the Board’s Agenda Packet for Monday night’s meeting is very enlightening, especially the section on the superintendents and boards budget. Their budget is $173,820.00. This includes $6,020.00 for board professional development (far more than we spend per teacher), $12,270.00 for board travel and meals, $5,000.00 for their holiday party, $19,900.00 for the board membership fees and $50,000.00 for board legal settlements. The superintendent receives $16,930.00 for his professional development (The district spends about $60,000 for 1000 teachers), $6,200.00 for travel and meals and $19,550.00 for membership fees (Teachers have to pay for their own). This much money could easily hire four new teachers.
There were many more interesting fees. There was $117,000.00 for outside auditing fees for the finance department. It sounds like we have two administrators for the finance department. We spend $15,000.00 for shredding services (makes a person wonder what they don’t want the public to see). Interesting since we have a paper recycler on Farnsworth (by the bridge over the train tracks) that would take all that for free. The district could witness it being turned into pulp.
There is a line item of $162,000.00 for posters from Gretchen Courtney. I’ve never seen such a ridiculous amount spent on a frivolous need. The district is only spending $60,000.00 on the Gretchen Courtney learning materials. Why would they spend almost triple the cost of the learning materials for accompanying posters?
There is a line item under Title III funds of $20,000.00 for Joan Glotzbach’s trip to Spain. There should also be an investigation into the bilingual teacher salaries. Apparently the bilingual teachers that Joan brings from Spain don’t follow our salary schedule. They are paid a real salary. You should also notice the bilingual director and their secretary’s salaries. These two people receive $232,235.00 in salary and benefits. I guess it pays to be bilingual in District 131.
Don’t forget to notice the line item for Bob Green. After more than two years of the district dragging its’ heels, the day of reckoning is upon the district. The state arbiter made their decision and now the board has to decide if they want to fight this further in the courts. Considering that both the police and DCFS came back and stated that Bob Green had done no wrong, the district has really shown their colors in the Bob Green Saga. I wonder how many more of our tax dollars they are going to waste on this.
I don’t know if this is prophetic or not but there is a line item discussing “Pending Collective Bargaining”. The total allocated would cover about a 3% raise, no more. So much for Annette Johnson’s statements to the Beacon that she understands the salary issues in District 131.
These are just a few of the questionable items I notice just skimming through the board packet for Monday nights board meeting. I hope somebody is really going through these documents line by line.
Board training is a requirement under Illinois School code. The IASB conducts the training. The board is required to pay Popp for travel under his contract as well as professional development.
The holiday party is for the teachers
Board membership fees are the district membership into IASB who is now responsible for keeping up the policy manual.
Outside auditing is required by law
The curiculum budget has not been approved
I suggest you come to meeting and ask these questions the public is certainly invited. I also will commend the new members for asking for detail and suggest that you revisit last year when nothing was transparent.
the BOE needs to look into the ghost writer Hanley is using that would be his old friend Dan Campana from the Beacon. Not only do you pay him a BIG FAT RAISE but you are paying someone to do his work.
We need to walk away and remain in solidarity on Monday Non Classified is getting a royal screwing. While the board was more generous to teachers it came at the backs of secretaries and support staff.
Teachers know we make it happen for you. Please do not give up the fight and remain in solidarity. If Matt Hanley can get a $40,000 raise then we should get the respect we deserve.
Popp complained that we had no business telling the BOE and newspaper about Hanley. When is the BOE going to fire him all he cares about is his image not the teachers, students or community.
Next meeting Monday show your support for all don't let the board buy some of you off.
Popp is criticizing the union for exposing Hanley to the community. Really? Does he not get the it! Teachers and staff feel demoralized that his speech writer gets a $40,000 raise while we work in overcrowded classrooms for pay anywhere between $5,000 to $20,000 lower. Yes it is wonderful that the current board attempted to give the teachers more. What did not do is give proper pay to support staff who in our district conducts classroom duties. Many times they are our the teachers right hand and many of them do hold degrees. Many are looking for experience in teaching and will become teachers. So when they have heavy repayment from student loans and Hanley is given a big raise does the arrogants of Dr Popp not get it
Date: August 14, 2015 To: Board of Education East Aurora Dist 131 Subject: FOIA Issues I am bringing to your attention several issues regarding recent FOIA response and no response
On July 24 2015 I received a FOIA response regarding a recent contract It had an unsigned contract but NOT the redacted signed contract by the Board of Ed. August 3rd and 11th I notified Matt Hanley via email concerning this omission. As of today I have not received a reply to those inquiries. I can’t imagine why he won’t provide that.
Next is a recent FOIA response (see attached) which contains 917 pages at a cost of $ 65.02 This regards emails between Mark Truckenbrod, Mike Popp, Joan Glotzbach and Spencer Byrd. Time period is Feb 1 –March 31 2015. This equates to 15 emails per day including weekends.
Here are my options:
1) Pay the $65.02 and receive 917 pages of redacted emails Hanley will report about 1,000 hours of his time redacting DUPLICATED pages Mike Popp will then contend I am wasting District resources, money, and Matt Hanley’s time.
2) I pay the $ 65.02 then appeal these redactions to the Attorney General’s office thus further wasting unnecessary time and money. Bernie Weiler’s office will then invoice the District to respond and defend the “Privacy, Personnel Issue” of the content. (His office is already making a fortune on this School District)
3) Board of Education get involved and review the emails
4) Have a 3rd party review the procedure/process Matt Hanley is utilizing in gathering such a large amount of pages.
Hanley needs to correct the “Excessive Findings” and filter these reports NOT TO INCLUDE the unnecessary data.
Would appreciate response in written form I am still waiting for months on multiple issues
I had a friend have a scheduled interview for today at 9:30 at the High School. He arrived at 9:15 for the interview as he lives 45 minutes away. They told him we were just going to call you to see if you can reschedule to 10:30. He went to his car and waited. He had another interview scheduled for 11:30 with another district so he called to push that back. When he went back in for the 10:30 interview they asked if he could reschedule to a phone interview for later in the afternoon. This is very unprofessional! How does EA expect to hire and retain people when this is the first impression a new candidate is going to have. Not only that, he now looks bad in the eyes of another district he was going to apply for and was inconvenienced by the hour and a half round trip for nothing!
Director for Assessments and Accountability is the renamed position that David Brusak resigned from, Director for School Improvement. I'm sure Popp has someone in mind from #204. Many, many critical positions are still unfilled.
Glotzbach, Thruckenbrog, and now the Director position all have accountability in the title. What a joke, but it is code word for making teachers accountable and blaming the districts poor performance on us. It also shows the Dicatorship that exists in Central administration with regards to buildings. The appointment of the Popp era has taken away all the building personalities. I have seen change in this district and not for the better. Popps clueless lack of discision making and allowing Glotzbach to run the district has put it straight in the ground.
Board members we still need to copy Glotzbach on everything personnel, so if you believe she is not in charge in of HR look again. Also, she will not move out of her office it shows Popps weak leadership. The paint swatches have been on her desk for months.
Be assured I am pursuing putting in a complaint with the Inspector General and Attorney General against Joan Glotzbach in the wasting of TAXPAYER DOLLARS for her mistakes, cover-up and lawsuits resulting in her tenure in Human Resources. She can bully and intimidate all she wants at 131 but rest assured I will pursue she be held accountable for her behavior and performance.
Popp sure won't do it as he is intimidated by her Gestapo type personality.
The case is being built and I have contacted many a former employee to get information from them. Very interesting how much she is despised (I don't want to use the word hated) by those whose lives she has made miserable and almost destroyed. They will be given me written statements and emails when the time comes to deal with her.
Please pass this along to Joan as her reign of terror may continue but will be short lived. Don't give up hope and know that I am determined to expose her shenanigans and rid East Aurora of her.
Accountability is holding the BOE accountable for Hanley. The secretaries work very hard but what does Hanley accomplish with his $120,000 plus pension contribution salary. Please look into the fact he uses ghost writers from the Beacon to write articles for the Enlighter. The one community duty and he can't even do that. Then Annette Johnson and her loser BOE members have the gull to say we are overpaid.
Bad time management from an unorganized school district who needs a "Director of Assessment and Accountability". If managers can't properly manage time, personnel, and resources well then those people need to get fired. Use that money to pay a teacher instead of someone who cant play the position they were hired for. Best of luck to your friend!
Why are there no comments? Has the blog been shut down? How about the royal screwing the teachers got from the administration this summer where they were brought in during the last three weeks in June, parts of July and almost all of August for various trainings. I have never seen admins try to chew up teacher time so effectively!! Remember admins you signed up to do this!! we did not!! I am not against working my ass off to help kids!! but let me choose!! you do not get to choose!!
The administrators didn't sign up to do these trainings, they are on district time and being paid during their time. Only the teachers are expected to do all these extra duties on their own time and for free. The district administrators want all the teachers to go to Cowherd this week to pick up computers and receive training on their own time. We've also been told that we are supposed to watch all the Global Compliance Training Videos when we have a free hour. In other words, on our own time.
You should also notice that there are three days of meetings this year instead of two before the kids show up on Tuesday. When was this extra day negotiated with the teachers union? (Since negotiations are still in the works, we are supposed to follow last years contract) Who added this day and with what authority? How are the teachers being compensated for this time? Even with the extra day before school starts, we are not given one minute to work in our classrooms. The only way for our classrooms to be set up (not a total mess) is for the teachers to come in before the school year begins and clean the mess left from summer on their personal time.
The first three days of meetings consist mainly of the administraive tasks that the district is expecting the teachers to do this year (Again, mainly on their own time).
Where is the Union? Who is agreeing to all these changes? Is this Sarah Imthurn again signing our rights away through MOU's (Memorandum of Understanding)? She is way to friendly with Joan Glotzbach for any teachers comfort. Will things ever change in District 131?
Sarah can't agree with administration fast enough, they give her full release and pay her way. Sarah does not experience any of the problems we face the administration pays her way. Sarah and Carla say nothing at negoiciations. They will not even fight for an additional 1/2 percent for support staff and secretaries. They have private meeting with administration and have signed our lives away. Our union uses the districts lawyer he makes the changes I doubt Carla and Sarah read the changes.. The money the union saves by using the districts lawyers goes straight in the pockets of Adam Harding and Carla they are always taking fancy trips and the members backs. That is why we work extra days. GET RID OF THEM AND SEND A MESSAGE VOTE NO.
I bring to your attention regarding the recent hiring of Sarah Wadell for the position of “Assistant Superintendent for Teaching and Learning. There are serious issues regarding her qualifications and other areas of concern. My questions are directed to HR Joan Glotzbach
Sarah was an Asst Principal Scullen Middle School at Indian Prairie District 204 (Note Mark Truckenbrod was Principal at Scullen Middle)
Would this position require experience as a Principal Asst Director Director Sarah had no experience from the above
Previous salary $ 100,000.00 New salary is $ 145,000.00
Were Dr Carla Johnson or David Brusack (who has resigned) more qualified for this position. Sorry they aren’t from 204 but from the Jerome Roberts administration
I ask the Board these questions
1 Why does Mike Popp continue to recruit/hire from his former employer Indian Prairie Dist 204 2 Why was Sarah hired with minimal experience 3 Did former 204 administrators interview and recommend her to be hired 4 I find it difficult to believe that a MUCH MORE EXPERIENCED candidate could not be found.
Wikepedia: Cronyism is partiality to long-standing friends, especially by appointing them to positions of authority, regardless of their qualifications.
It appears this practice has resurfaced and this new Board needs to address this and discipline those who are responsible
NOTE: THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION'S INSPECTOR GENERAL HAS CONTACTED EA FOR ANSWERS PER MY COMPLAINT REGARDING THE BLDG & GROUNDS SCANDALS.
I WILL BE SUBMITTING ANOTHER COMPLAINT REGARDING THE NEVER ENDING HUMAN RESOURCES VIOTLATION THROUGHOUT THE YEARS.
“Enough is Enough” as the taxpayers continue to pay for Popp’s cronyism
Carillon homeowners and others, feel assured your property tax dollars get to pay for these questionable hiring’s compliments of Mike Popp and Joan Glotzbach
Is anyone really surprised that minutes from more than 2 months ago have not been made available online?
Another school year is about to start, and once again our district's administration has refused to join the 21st century as many neighboring districts have chosen to do. Broadcasting School Board meetings online makes sense if a district TRULY wants to be transparent instead of just pretending to care about informing the community.
And again & again, Mr. Padron has requested a written response to his questions and concerns. Again and again his polite request for something in writing has been ignored.
Alex Arroyo is a sell out. He voted to outsource our jobs because he was playing up to a few seniors in the audience. He was so stupid that if he would have listened to his fellow board members Ken Darby pulled the bids for the Feltes relative snow plow company and the cost was $71,000 for 6 schools. Darby said the cost was $100 per hour and the maintenance department only cost $21,000 in overtime all year. Most of the plowing is done by workers who o snow removal during their job day. So does Arroyo understand math. The number would be over 300,000 per year. Nobody in our department makes more than $50.00 per hour on overtime.
Alex you will never get our vote again you promised many of us you would listen and treat us with respect. Just another loser who sold out when you got in. Also you need to pay attention at the meeting and are a embrassment Hatchett had to wake him up at one point. Listening to the ever corupt Leonard will get you nowhere.
August 19, 2015 Matthew Hanley, FOIA Officer East Aurora School District 131 417 5th Street Aurora, IL 60505
Re: FOIA Request for Documents Purchase Orders / Invoices / Emails Reference “DanCamCom or Dan Campana etc” Regarding Dan Campana services rendered for “Enlightner”
Dear Mr. Hanley
Time period June 1 2014 – August 15 2015
Include any emails between Matthew Hanley and Dan Campana (former Beacon News employee) concerning the above.
Copies of news articles Mr Campana hired out to write per these Purchase Orders
Please notify me when documents are gathered , am requesting paper documents be mailed or picked up.
I understand that the Act permits a public body to charge a reasonable copying fee not to exceed the actual cost of reproduction and not including the costs of any search or review of the records. I am asking that any fees be waived per 5ILCS140/6(c).
We peons in Central O thank you for exposing this. We have been accused of not being worth a increase a living wage increase. Meanwhile, Matt is given a $40,000 raise and outsources his job. Definitely not fair when secretaries are the backbone of the district. Toooooo bad our union does not think so.
Teachers the board may be giving you a big raise but do you really think administration is going to give you great evaluations. There are trainings going on now with Principals to get us. We must stand united Secretaries and Support staff together. The administration is trying to divide us and get teachers to vote yes. They think 10% can buy you off. We are only getting 3%. We voted no with you and helped get you a deserved raise. Please stick up for us, please vote no.
Arroyo you also sold us out, you donated to you and you stated you would be our voice we heard with you did to our fellow brothers in maintenance. We will not forget. Associating with the likes of tricky Dick. SHAME ON YOU.
Read it and weep dumba** Dick and Your sidekick Arroyo. This is a quote from the West Aurora school district . See Dick and Alex can't tell that $71,000 is greater than $21,000. We understand Dick has a friend in the snow plow business but Alex is his chump. Did Alex not understand Marty Feltes took kickbacks? Maybe Dick explained how much you can make off of a school board seat and that is why Alex wants to outsource us.
"Last year was our first year as a team and departments were able to come up with ways to cut," Angie Smith, assistant superintendent of operations, said after the budget presentation to the board.
Smith said the district reduced its reliance on outside vendors and chose to do repairs with employees that will save the district significantly.
Anyone on the BOE who votes with Leonard HATES the unions at EA131. If you don't see what kind of morals (or lack thereof) he has, I hope you do your research and figure out his personal agenda--soon. He sat on the Buildings and Grounds Committee (a committee to oversee the spending etc., a check and balances system for that department) while his friend Marty Feltes was harassing the workers, doing nothing he was told to do in accordance with what had been planned and agreed on for that dept. and robbing the district blind. Anyone who was on that committee is responsible for the atrocities that took place, but especially Leonard as he claims he has knowledge in this area (worked for the City of Aurora, got fired for taking a kickback on a real estate transaction) yes, this is who is making decisions for the kids of 131. Fine piece of work! Glad Padron contacted federal officials to investigate. Once they follow the paper trails they will see who was to blame for the..oh, let's call it "mismanagement of funds". Leonard's name will be at the top of the list along with his friend Marty's. Here's a fact, just because you sit on the BOE does NOT mean you cannot be prosecuted for crimes against the Department of Education. The fact that Feltes' relatives snow plowing business was pulled as a company to outsource the snowplowing to screams what Leonard is up to!! I expect we will see many contractor kickbacks that Leonard was privy to and allowed while Feltes was the Director of Buildings & Grounds. Why do BOE members not see this??
I had read at one of the last two contracts the secretaries were negotiating, they were among the highest paid in the area, unlike the teachers. So the percentage the teachers get is an attempt to bring them up to their local peers. Unlike secretaries being paid above theirs. If the info I read was true. Please clarify where DO the secretaries wages fall, compared to others in the area?
BOE members saw this and stopped him Monday. Only Arroyo who took help from (us) unions could not see this. He is another one who said he needed help getting on the BOE to protect workers and students. Sorry we believed him. He has done nothing for Lations. He claims to listen. Really?
As a observer in attendance Arroyo was trying to impress audience members that he looks at every dollar. We then tried to tell us he was helping us. How by outsourcing our jobs? The district stated snowplowing cost $21,000 plus salt and gas for the trucks last year. The district also showed snowplowing only 6 buildings without sidewalks just plowing would cost $71,000. Who is Arroyo fooling the numbers had been reported. Most snow cleanup takes place before school starts but we do not get overtime we are paid as part of our day. Leonard knew this he used Arroyo and the other BOE members figured that out.
I would like to know why B & G allows Luis and Larry to drive around all day in the district vans DOING JUST THAT!Luis has a landscaping business and is always conducting business on D131's time and Larry rides around building's several times observing the grounds!Really what a waste!
Unity sounds like sour grapes, and Trying to stay informed is correct. If you check other contracts online for neighboring districts (including West Aurora) the support and secretarial employees are the highest paid and are $2 to $6 per hour higher, and that is without a raise. The teachers are in many instances thousands of dollars behind. Where should the District invest its limited resources? Also, if the District was out to get you, why would they want to raise their employees to to be in line with other Districts?
Secretaries at East do not make more than West that is our union buying the districts garbage. Sarah and Carla have sold us out and can not lick Popps boots fast enough. Same way today Carla got Sarah full release and both would not say anything about Matt Hanley. How much does he make more than his counterparts did they get $40,000 raises. Everyone knows Annette hates secretaries and wants the teachers to luv her. Sounds like the same story she gave us last time. Darby sold the secretaries out watch Diane Thomas get a full time job very shortly.
Wilson the district lawyer is still writing our contract. Carla will go on vacation with our dues that she saves on legal fees. Wait Masters teachers with Joan, Truckenbr, and Waddle doing your evaluations you will get fired. So much for unity.
Date: August 21, 2015 To: Board of Education East Aurora Dist 131 Subject: Facilities Evaluations Consultant EMG I am bringing to your attention several issues regarding the mold issue at the High School “Little Theatre”
The attached article referenced EMG to evaluate all schools etc. Lets focus on the High School which was inspected by EMG
Questions Did they or did they not discover the “Mold Problem” If so what was the action taken If not, how could they have missed this This is a very serious problem in that the safety and health of both students and staff has been compromised.
Note this company was endorsed by Mike Popp since Dist 204 had hired them Current Board Members Annette Johnson and Richard Leonard voted against the hire. Does the current board of Ed believe EA got their money’s worth in hiring this company for approximately $ 80,000.00
More forthcoming in the near future about this issue Please read the attached news article and ask your own questions. I am still waiting for months on multiple issues
Ralph please know that the mold issue was a problem last year as well. We went to do an early event in the space last Sept and there were seats covered in mold then ad well. The b&g were aware and told us to not sit in seats with the mold and had even put plastic bags over some of the chairs that were covered in the mold. We were told that the students wouldn't care which is why they weren't going to fix it. Foia the work orders for the space. The students were in that space all year in direct contact with it and the administration knew all along. There was a tech guy who I know confronted Marty about the mold and raised the health risks and I know we never saw him again after that. Heard later he was fired for bringing up safety issues.
Ralph Padron,take time to look into Simmons Middle Schools Office where the Secretaries work as well, they have mold sitting under that old nasty carpet that has been on that floor for many years and nothing has been done even after secretaries continue to get sick and and could be due to that mold! They were told a while back that the carpet would be removed but of course the ball was dropped and it's still there! What a bad condition for those secretaries to work in.Or could you tell me who I need to report this to?
Sooooo, when Dick Leonard was complaining saying that the kids were in danger from the heat exchangers (which in fact was completely UNtrue) his buddy Marty Feltes was exposing the students and staff to mold and knew about it??? And staff is still being exposed to it today? How much more sordid is this gonna get? Marty had people fired that went against him-fact. I hope Dick & Marty are going to be made accountable for this along with anyone else that knew about it!
We need to call OSHA they will take anonyomous tips. The room that Marty built downstairs at EA that cost a half million dollars and has a special ventilation system installed by Marty's pals for band uniforms Now the band uniforms have mold on them. Feltes took millions and did nothing. Ralph anyone from the public can visit the buildings maybe it's time.
Secretaries and support staff are getting shafted by this contract we have no representation. Hettinger and Intherum sit at the table but behind our backs change language to reflect the pro administration platform they have. Intherum owes them for full release and Hettinger gets to keep more money by using the districts legal staff.
Teachers will not get the support this year from non certified because you did not stick with us. When you got hosed at only 3% who stuck by you. We voted no in unity, teachers you owe us the same. If you do not get protected now in this contract Joan Glotzbach will evaluate you out. That is why she is working in the schools now.
On to the mold we have windows that leak so bad we need to keep towels by them and ring them out when it rains or the water gets on the floor. The water runs down the walls were we can not wipe and mold is forming. Feltes was shown this and his comment was what the He** I can't fix everything. At our building he constantly had Youngerns walking the halls with nothing to do while the district was paying over $150 per hour. We need to stand in unity for our maintenance people as well. They have the same ability but only make $25 per hour. Flanigan was aware of this and Feltes swearing around children and he is not here also. It seems to be a pattern so wait teachers if you think there is not going to be hell to pay for forcing the crooked Popp administration to give us a raise.
Date: August 23, 2015 To: Anthony Crespo & Board of Education East Aurora Dist 131 Subject: Request to tour EA High School
I am requesting a tour of the High School at your earliest convenience. Purpose of my visit is to do some research in the following areas. In addition I plan on bringing another visitor to accompany me on this tour.
“Little Theatre” Band Uniform Storage Area Weight/Exercise room which the Chicago Bears donated all that exercise equipment.
Am requesting to take photographs for my research report. I do understand that no students nor staff can be photographed. I would welcome a board member accompany me on this tour !!!!! Please consider
ATTN: BOARD OF ED
On MONDAY AUGUST 24 2015 I HAVE A SCHEDULED CONFERENCE CALL WITH OSHA TO REPORT AND REQUEST THEY INVESTIGATE THE MOLD PROBLEM AT THE HIGH SCHOOL
Mold is not regulated by any government body. OSHA nor the IDOL have regulations. My point is that mold is present everywhere.. If you have plants at your desk or in your home mold is present. Mold has many forms and is not asbestos so please quit it. Will a 4% raise make mold okay and keep you quit like you have been until now. Those who are most susceptible due to respitory issues, or immune system deficiency may have some ill effects; small children and seniors. The new board members should read the minutes from the meeting when the consultants were approved. PWPadron knows that it was Johnson and Leonard the dynamic duo that hired Feltes and voted against the consultant only because they said we already had a facility report from Cordigan and Clark. Padron buddy David Finley spoke at a meeting and confirmed that a report existed. The study was done under his distinguished tenure. So mr. Padron , should CCA have found the mold at Simmons and EHS. GlotZbach attempted to deal with Feltes on a number of occasions but Johnson made her stand down because of her allegiance to Leonard; lest we forget she rode his coat tail in 2013 to get re-elected by 35 votes.
Hull and Leonard made a deal to keep Feltes, Matt needs to get his facts straight that is why Ray became BOE President. Hull was in charge why did he not stop Feltes and why did it take Glotzbach and Popp over a year to fire Feltes. It was not until Ralph exposed Feltes and called the Inspector General that Popp reacted. There are many quite majority workers that saw the deal in the making under the past board. It is our hope that Padron keeps the pressure on and the mold finally gets addressed.
The facility study company is another 204 special and a joke the bill has already been paid before the report was even generated in fact they inspected roofs with snow on them so how can we believe anything. Somebody got paid off just like Matts salary.
Did ANYONE notice the shape the stadium stands were in during the buildings study?? Rust, lead paint, falling down? The ones that have now been condemned by the ROE?? I believe the answer a big, fat NO. Oh, Popp wants the kids to graduate out in DeKalb...why? I think we know why now. Because Marty Feltes took the 1/2 million dollars allocated for the new stands and blew it building a concrete monstrosity in the basement that holds junk. Why?? Because he COULD! Now we can't have graduation at the high school! The building auditor did not even have them in his study when asked at a BOE meeting...again- WHY? All that has been swept under the rug will soon be brought out for all to see. It will be interesting to see who rolls on who.
BTW- Comparing MOLD in a office plant to black mold that has been festering away and then covered up with plastic while encouraging people to still use the room is not even a comparison. There's another Marty Feltes for you and all supported by Dick Leonard and Co. Cover ups, cover ups, cover ups!
Go Padron, Go Osha, Go Inspector general, Go State's Atty. Complain all you want about Padron...WHAT part of this would have been found out if he had not stepped forward? Someone should write a book.....
Where the He** was Sarah Imthurn today? The entire teaching and support staff are gathered in a negotiation year and Sarah is AWOL? Other district leaders addressed the staff but our union president is too cowardly to even speak to us. If she can't speak TO us, how can we trust her to speak FOR us???
Later we got word that Sarah told people that she had nothing positive to report to the teachers and staff so she opted not to face us. This is absolutely unforgivable.
Our staff is in this good, bad or otherwise. Sarah is supposed to be our leader. If she can't even speak to the teachers, she needs to step aside. It is time for a no confidence vote on Sarah Imthurn.
Simmons has had mold issues for many years. Any time any teacher there has attempted to address the issue, the administration harassed and intimidated them. The administration there has transferred teachers, taken their room away and put them on carts, fired them or drove them out.
The North and NorthEast areas of the building are the worst. This includes the gym and music areas of the building. They have found mold growing an inch thick and still denied that there was any problem. Teachers have been sick in those areas for years. I can't imagine what it has cost the district in health care costs alone. The mold is just part of the problem. The band and choir rooms are only about ten feet away from the parking lot. Morning and afternoons, cars are lined up bellowing gas and diesel fumes that waft into the classrooms.
There are also serious CO2 issues with the music rooms (Simmons and elsewhere). The district completely overloads these classrooms with band and choir students. These kids are squeezed into these spaces engaging in activities that require them to breath heavily the entire time. The ventilation is completely inadequate and thus the CO2 levels become dangerously high. None of the district music rooms would meet the national standards. The CO2 levels have been documented in the past but we have been told not to worry about. Seeing what they have done to teachers complaining about mold, who wants to stand up and put a target on their back for CO2?
Nothing in District 131 ever changes. The only time students come first is when the community stands up and demands it. Somebody please stand up and demand what is best for children.
To the uninformed individual who says mold is harmless--black mold is toxic and can kill--I just had a close relative die of this-- did you hear all of the coughing in the auditorium today? You can smell the mold in there as well. Everyone knows the third floor of the English dept. is a cancer cluster At least four stricken and 1 dead. B and G head honchos have gotten rid of our misery, sickness and death. They have poorly constructed pipes which have always leaked and that is the root of the mold problem. They have never addressed this and when it floods, all they do is wet vac it up instead of ripping up tiles which they must do because it is in these wet/damp tiles where the mold starts growing.
"Coverups and Rollovers", you are wrong about why graduation is being moved to DeKalb. We can't have graduation at the high school because of the larger numbers of graduates (and their families). If it rains and the ceremony can't be held on the field outside, there is simply not enough room to hold students, teachers, administrators, band, and family members/guests inside. Dr. Popp did quite a bit of research asking neighboring districts, comparing costs, etc. Nothing was covered up about this decision; on the contrary, the community's best interests were considered.
The only info regarding the contract today came from Johnson. She admitted we are underpaid and they would allocate additional money from the State to us. Sarah was not around and that was unforgivable. We need to vote her out. A no confidence votes needs to happen shortly. She need to bring the current contract to a vote we have a right to vote it up or down. Showing administration she is intimidatied today is not good. If she was not so lazy she would resign. Full release has us stuck with her.
Old timer, you are correct about the air quality issues in the music rooms at Simmons. Especially in hot humid weather, it is extremely uncomfortable in the band and choir rooms because of poor ventilation and NO air conditioning! Year after year, teachers have been told "we're going to give you air conditioning", and year after year it hasn't happened.
why does Johnson keep talking about Hull.? Because no one else cares about him. Here is why;Narcissism is grandiose view of ones own talent with a craving for admiration
when has Johnson brought up Hulls name? I attend board meeting and they are very professional.,Board members ask very good questions and the entire administrative staff engages in dialog. What a change from the cartoon show that went on in the past. I feel good about my tax dollars now from the board members making sure we are not wasting money. The votes are no longer rubber stamps.
Freshman classes at the HS have 40 students in them Sarah is not returning calls to teachers. Why do we pay union dues administration is still adding kids to classes today that have 35 or more. It is time to go to the board and complain directly.
Sooo, how many people do you think will attend graduation when you bus such a huge graduating class plus their families, not to mention staff, teachers etc. out to an unfamiliar area so far away? Not many. I can think of far more creative ways to have kept the entire "large" graduating class on the school grounds then sending them 30 miles west to DeKalb! How about splitting up the ceremony? Having it in different locations IN Aurora? I am sure there are ways to do it. They may not be conventional, but they would keep people in the same general location!
West High has been having graduation at NIU for several years, with very few problems.
Dr. Popp recognizes that the distance may be an issue for some families, and has suggested providing a shuttle bus.
And "splitting up the ceremony"?? That could be a DISASTER, with some families having several nieces, nephews, grandkids, godchildren, etc. that they would want to support. And what about the people who have to be there for the ceremony (teachers, administrators, band members, custodians...) They would have to attend TWO events, and custodians would need to be paid double.
Other districts (204, 308) have also moved their graduations to locations like College of DuPage. Batavia has a huge new auditorium/arts center, which is able to accommodate graduation--but if their enrollment skyrockets like ours has, who knows what they may choose to do in the future.
It was nice to hear Johnson say that she believes that D131 teachers deserve pay that is more comparable to surrounding districts, but I won't believe it until I see it. I have been in this district a couple of years and have yet to see Imthurn one time. That is ridiculous. I have worked in other districts which the Union President would travel around, hold regular meetings/Q&A sessions, and speak at opening ceremonies.
The lack of graduation space is just a symptom of the longstanding overcrowding issue facing the entire district. We have stuffed obscene numbers of children in spaces far smaller than any moral society should. These children are treated like third world citizens.
The plantation owner sits on the board with her gavel acting like the children are being treated better than they deserve. The only important thing is to be able to brag about all the money she can show in the bank.
We need to hear from the Union leadership. IWhen will the contract get voted on? Saying nothing is allowing many rumors to get started. Intherm needs to get replaced.
Graduation and morally bankrupt have made very valid points. East is NOT West. Just take a look at their booster groups and alumni organizations. Parents and community are NOT as involved on the eastside. So I won't even go to the point of why not to compare to 204 or 308. To- it's about the numbers.....how can you even state foolishness about having to pay the custodians double. You Do realize they have to pay for the venue in Dekalb. not to mention busses and shuttles! As another said....they could have been more creative. Maybe getting parents involved would have been option to consider. Survey all high school parents. No, EA does not want real parent involvement. But that is another rant for another day. The gavel beater is exactly as the poster said......all about the money. She has no true perspective about the inside of the classroom. She thinks she can say out loud that she wants the teachers to have more money, then go behind closed doors knowing that vote will not happen, so she will pretend to be one of the minority votes in favor. She flip flops more than a fish out of water. She often states things as fact, knowing full well, nearly no one can call her out on her lies for lack of documentation of her previous statements or actions. It is sadly looking grim for the students in EA. Until the Mayor gets rid of many multiple family dwellings to reduce student numbers, and until the district and board put quality education a priority, these children and their families are at a disadvantage. We have quality teachers! Give them the tools and the classroom atmosphere conducive to learning and the stats for success will rise. But all this falls on deaf ears. The majority of the board has agendas. Educating EA children is not at the top.
Our district pays to bus 1000 students every single day to the Kindergarten Building and Preschool buildings. I think they can probably handle busing our graduating class to NIU for one day. I think the NIU idea is a good one. Many of our kids graduates have to work really hard to overcome a lot of challenges and they deserve a nice graduation venue on par with the surrounding school districts. Most of our student's families are immigrants. If they managed to come here from another country and establish themselves, I'm sure they can handle getting themselves to NIU.
Discussion ensued regarding moving the High School graduation to Northern Illinois University. Mr. Darby stated that there was a survey that was taken on this topic and he would like to see the results of the survey. Dr. Popp stated that there was dialogue with our parent liaisons and they were very supportive of the concept as well as high school students who solicited feedback on the topic.
Mr. Darby asked if the discussion that was had was leading towards the move to NIU. Mrs. Strand stated that this discussion was had with the previous board and it was decided at that time that the board did not want to move forward with the move until there was discussion and feedback with other stake holders. Mrs. Hatchett asked why Northern University was chosen. Dr. Popp stated that it was less expensive than other venues and it accommodates for more seating. He stated that Northern gives us a tremendous capacity for students and guests. He further stated that they take care of everything from ticketing and parking to having available a separate room for students to assemble prior to marching in. District 129,204 and 308 are now using Northern for their graduation venue. Mr. Laesch stated the savings is misleading. He asked if we will use Vision Friendly and if there will be a need for a photographer because if you add these figures with the maintenance staff cost it does not seem as if we are saving much. Mrs. Strand stated that another stress factor is the weather. When you have family come in from out of time and to know that there may be a possibility they cannot attend because it will be moved indoors is very stressful. Mrs. Johnson stated that we have been lucky the last few years but there was a time that we had to rush indoors and it was very uncomfortable.
She stated that she would love to keep the ceremony on the field but based on the current graduation class and the conditions of the field it would be a positive move. She stated that there are negatives but there also are positives. Mr. Laesch asked about Waubonsee. Dr. Popp stated that this facility is not large enough. Mr. Leonard stated that his concern would be for those parents that do not have cars. Dr. Popp stated that if we get out there early enough the high school can identify students that may not be able to attend based on transportation. Mr.Leonard stated that he has attended graduations at Northern and it is a great location.
The teachers got moved today in three classrooms because of growing mold problems. One teacher left school after becoming ill in the classroom. Maintenace employees tell staff this is a result of Feltes and work on air handling systems. Feltes spent millions with his no bid cronies well maintenance repairman from the district were forced to paint curbing. How many more millions is Popp going to cost the district. Many warned Popp last year of the impending danger one year later all the HVAC systems are failing. The question is will the district ever recover from Feltes.
Get Your Facts..: Now at that to the number of pre-kindergarten students who are bused and you'll get a more accurate number. The point is that the bus company can handle it and there are other companies in the surrounding area that can be hired for the day.
Call the Kane County ROE, specifically the Health and Safety Department. Report building conditions that are or could impact the health and wellbeing of staff and students. Document! Document! Document! Kane County ROE is your best avenue to pursue a healthier workplace. OSHA, etc, lead to dead ends.
Date: August 27, 2015 To: Board of Education East Aurora Dist 131 Subject: Joan Glotzbach Inquiry on Certification
Dear Board of Ed
Please review the attached FOIA regarding Joan Glotzbach’s Certification for Principal Evaluator:
It was issued in 2015 It appears she WAS NOT certified prior to 2015
Questions If that is true,
What prompted her to get certified in 2015 and on what date
Why did Superintendent Mike Popp allow Joan to evaluate the EA staff without being certified
Was there any disciplinary action to Joan Glotzbach as she knowingly was aware of not being certified.
Does this nullify all her evaluations, especially those who careers were ruined
Does this Board of Ed plan to ever respond to my previous inquiries?.
Does the Board President have an obligation to confront Mike Popp concerning the countless issues (more to surface shortly) and allow the “Mike Popp Era” to continually bring disgrace to East Aurora?
Where is Joan Glotzbach’s Teacher Evaluation Certification?
Would it not be imperative to possess this certification for her current and past position considering she is the final voice on whether a teacher gets retained or not
To: Board of Education East Aurora Dist 131 Subject: Dist 204 FOIA Response
Board of Ed Attached you will find via FOIA response from Dist 204 regarding background history of those hired by Mike Popp. I find it very interesting that 204 did not choose to retain these individuals in some capacity.
Here are the positions applied for and were NOT hired at 204
Sara Waddell ( EA Asst Superintendent Teaching & Learning) Last position: Asst Principal 204
2014 Asst Superintendent for Secondary Teaching and Learning (Middle School) Director of Digital Learning Director of Middle School Core Curriculum & Instruction 2015 Executive Director of Stem Partnership School
If Sara could not be hired for any of the above, what qualified her for Asst Superintendent at EA and the $ 45,000.00 raise
Mark Truckenbrod ( EA Director of Leadership Development) 2014 Asst Superintendent for Secondary Teaching and Learning (Middle School)
Scott Dart ( EA Principal Hermes) 2014 Elementary Principal High School Principal Middle School Principal
Note: Mr Dart took a $ 10,000 pay cut to work at EA
Questions
1 Why were these individuals not hired within Dist 204 2 Did anyone do a background check or question their sudden availability 3 Did anyone challenge these hiring’s 4 Did Mike Popp mislead the District and Public with his endorsement
Did Karen Sullivan (Superintendent 204) attempt to retain any of the above
People are going to be allowed to sit on lead-based paint stands in the stadium this weekend.
Marty Feltes was supposed to remedy that situation, but instead used the money to build an enormous concrete room in the basement of the high school to the tume of half a million dollars. Just one more place to get sick around the D131 campus! Someone needs to let the ROE or someone who can address this know before people start getting really, really sick!
Will D131 ever recover from Marty Feltes? Dick Leonard knew about it and he is still roaming around the grounds nit-picking the grounds crew and trying to divert from the mold and lead-based paint issues! As long as he is on the board of ed., this district will not recover!
More news on the mold. Thank YOU Marty Feltes for ruining the HVAC systems with your outside pals. They must have thought they would be called back for more work. Thanks to Alex Dimare and the true Maintenance workers you are now stopped
Inherent problems at School District have been around for decades and with the change in administrations and boards over the years some small steps have been taken to improve the situation. The biggest issue that it is challenged with is one that only the city can address and that is the residential housing on the East side. Some of the housing units just simply need to be torn down while the multi-family housing situation needs to be addressed and stopped. Just way to many people living in some units. This needs to be the top priority. This stops the artificially created overcrowding. The building and grounds drama is just a smoke screen. Let's face it the workers got caught with their pant down a few years back and it made a big splash in the papers. Mr. Feltes comes along and attempts to teach the government workers that while at work one has to actually work. But Mr. Feltes failed to realize that there was such a low bar of acceptable standards in work at EA and had been.
TOOOO MUCH ^ Mr. Feltes attempting to "teach" the government workers how to work!? That's rich! (Dick Leonard is this you posting from your free district paid for internet?). You mean the Marty Feltes that sat in his Jeep smoking and eating donuts with his kickback company buddies? The one who eventually did not even come to work, but made Mr. Carlson do so much of his dirty work for him? Look at the FOIAs! Every response is sent from his phone! You mean the Marty Feltes that spent hundreds of thousands of dollars to build a concrete room in the basement and shuffle money to his contractor friends instead of fixing the stadium stands so the kids could have a decent and safe place to play!? The Marty Feltes who's contractor buddies messed up the HVAC systems so now there is mold everywhere? THAT jewel of a guy! They don't get much lower than that. Now, he is trying to have Dick Leonard intimidate the new B&G Director and make him do his bidding in retaliation for his corrupt buddy Marty Feltes being canned and Marty's familiy's snow plowing business not being hired to outsource the maintenance department. WHY was Marty Feltes fired? Hmmm, does anyone know? JOB ABANDONMENT! His phone records got him into deep trouble and he is still calling his loyal buddies to this very day to try and harass the workers. Check their phone records! Is there any reason why they would be on the phone all day talking to Marty Feltes when he was fired and is long gone!? Marty is so obsessed with our district for giving him the righteous boot and for the papers picking up the story and showing the community what he really is. Heads up-more very important people are finding out daily who he really is and what he was up to and who helped him do the terrible things he did. People have been reporting what he and others aligned with him have done. The ones who keep covering for him are as guilty as he is.
The biggest problem is Popp all his. 204 pals had never been qualified to get promoted. Now, these rejects are running the district. Thruckenbrod, is a nazi and Popps strong arm because Popp is to much of a wimp to have one on one difficult conversations. If you disagree or try to make things better Glotzbach and Thruckenbrod strong arm the staff member. Two of the administrators went on to become Superintendents and many other very qualified administrators have left now we have 204 leftovers who have NO clue of the community. When will the board send them packing. Please do something.
Marty Feltes is gone so move on. The Boe approved the underground bunker at the HS. Check the minutes and find the facts if you are really interested. What do mr. Padron interrogatives really indicate. He throws statements against the wall to see what sticks; so far zilch. Just because he questions someone qualifications Does not mean that he is on to something . What is his qualification to evaluate educational leaders? Get the freakin contract settled
Leonard was in the other day for all to hear telling Dimare that our jobs should get outsourced. He said it in a load voice for all to hear. He claimed Popp was in favor since 204 had done this and Popp agreed it would save the district money. He then proceeded to bash all BOE members but Arroyo. He claimed Arroyo wanted to save the district money but Johnson who now needs a big hug from staff was stopping Arroyo from helping Leonard. He continued to call us lazy , stupid and unethical. Talk about unethical, the reason we have mold is the kickbacks he and Feltes received. Work done on the air units was completed by Yougrens. Everytime a You greens person left the job site parts were left behind, no work records or nobody to check them in or out. One year later all the equipment is failing and nobody know what was done by Arlip, Oneil, Joliet Boiler, Youngrens , Platt electric , Melcor roofing and many others . It was also discovered Feltes and Leonard are related by marriage. We know the problem is will we ever recover.
I wonder how many other classrooms have mold in them. I thought someone was suppose to inspect rooms every year. This is getting out of hand and BOE needs to step up and do something. Maybe the State will stand up and do something now that we made the news.
Why why why did we have to suffer through Waddell's completely idiotic presentation??? Not only did she speak to a room full of professionals like "middle schoolers (her words)" but was the SLO presentation what we sat through all Friday afternoon? I agree, the union president failed us by not speaking at Red and Black. We needed someone to stand up and get the entire staff pumped. The evaluations are being used to fire teachers but we still have 40-50 jobs posted on any given day? Someone please explain!
YThe Marty Feltes era is over but not forgotten. We have him to thank for the mold issues. If his cronies would have not been called in the break the HVAC equipment we would not have mold. Sounds like Matt is making excuses again.
Fact Finder- Feltes is gone so move on, huh? Ha! He wreaked havoc on our district and hopefully will be punished for what he did just like they were at C.O.D. and C.P.S. and all around the country for that matter. These nasty people usually prey on districts like this one where they think they can get away with it. They believe that people will be afraid to speak up or are living paycheck-to-paycheck and fear for their jobs.
Yeah, what was the vote on that concrete monstrosity? Everyone who voted on it is up to no good. Dig up some more paperwork and see where that money was budgeted to go. Never forget the past. Especially when it affects the lives of children trying to get an education!
Dear Never Forget, I agree with you wholeheartedly! We are impatient people and want things resolved immediately. But I believe eventually what is done in the dark will come to the light. I am hoping for a blinding bright light on ALL those who have taken advantage and reaped personal gain from our students education funds. If Padron wants to keep trying to dig up dirt, more power to him. He is truly not costing the district as much in time and money as they would like the public to believe. He is their scapegoat for unfinished business, he is the distraction they bring up, to avoid being accountable and transparent. My opinion, Ralph is doing no harm, so why all the worry about him and his FOIA requests. He has actually done much good, as I see it.
I hope somebody took proper care of the band uniforms yesterday or the moldy band uniform issues will be starting again. It rained on and off all afternoon yesterday. If the band played at the football game, the uniforms were all returned to the storage area wet. That's all that mold needs to grow is a little moisture. If they weren't taken care of, it'll cost the district another quarter million dollars.
I don't trust the other blog it could be our union trying to catch us for administration. In negotiations they constantly tell us in a intimidating matter that we can not talk. It is unfortunate that Hettinger and Sarah don't use those scare tactics on administration. At our last meeting they are trying to slip more give backs in. We have no protection they are very upset that we talk to staff and board members. We are only trying to make EA better. Yes there is more money on the table but we are going to get evaluated out by Glotzbach because she feels crossed.
August 31, 2015 Matthew Hanley, FOIA Officer East Aurora School District 131 417 5th Street Aurora, IL 60505
Re: FOIA Request for Documents
Dear Mr. Hanley
Please provide the following documents:
All Phone Records of Larry Wilson and Michael Golonka from July 1 2015 – August 31 2015
Payroll recap for Larry Wilson & Michael Golonka July & August 2015
Please mail & email documents
I understand that the Act permits a public body to charge a reasonable copying fee not to exceed the actual cost of reproduction and not including the costs of any search or review of the records. I am asking that any fees be waived per 5ILCS140/6(c).
I heard Simmons has a new schedule where ESL 1 & 2 students are mainstreamed with teachers who don't speak Spanish. SOME of these classes apparently have bi-lingual "co-teachers" who want to act as support aides instead of directly instructing. And I thought my school was messed up. Apparently this is the new way to achieve success.
In my school (Allen) we have the same situation. They do not have enough Bilingual teachers so we use support staff. Support staff is getting forced into the role of teacher more and more. Administration, will not acknowledge this and our union will not fight for them. Basically we are screwed.
Another issue is the sub pool was not ready first day of school and teachers did not have anytime built into their to prepare classrooms. Off to another great start.
No news on the contract as well, along with no representation will make this a very long year but Dr Popp took care of his own Hanley got a raise so that's all that is important.
Aurora has spent almost $3,000 so far on one board member's Internet service. East Aurora School District 131 has been paying for one board member's home Internet service for the past four years. The district has spent more than $2,800 for Richard Leonard's home Internet service since he joined the board in fall 2011, and has budgeted another $1,200 for the coming school year, according to district documents. District officials said the Internet service allows Leonard to access board packets, which include documents and records relevant to upcoming School Board meetings. Before the packets were moved online, the district delivered hundreds of printed pages to members before each meeting. Leonard said he doesn't "really" use his home Internet for anything other than work related to the School Board and for checking School Board emails on his district-provided account. But at least one board member questioned the practice, and the deputy director of the Illinois Campaign for Political Reform said it sounded "odd" and "irregular."
Thousands of dollars spent on the private internet connection for Dick Leonard at his private rsidence? This is not legal, let alone ethical, moral or responsible. Even if this was acceptable, how can we justify thousands spent of his personal internet? Comcast has packages starting at $19.99 per month for basic internet. Why does he need an internet connection that costs a hundred dollars plus per month?
The article states that he needs access to files provided by the district. Has anybody heard of a flash drive? For a one time fee of less than ten dollars, the district could supply Dick with a flash drive that could easily hold any and all documents that he needs each month.
How many times have teachers heard that we don't have the money for basic supplies? I personally have taken money out of my pocket to buy paper on dozens of occasions because the staff was told that we had no paper for the copiers. We don't have money for pencils or paper clips. Teachers are told continually that they have to make due yet the district has thousands to make sure that Dick Leonard has top of the line internet at his house.
How many slaps in the face is this teaching staff expected to take by these arrogant administrators and board members? The teachers need to unite and demand an equal wage. Anything less than what the West Side and District 204 pay their teachers is an insult. We all teach the students of Aurora. We all deserve to make the same wage. Vote NO and demand that Sarah step down.
No at the high school we had no time to do anything, set up grade book work and ready classrooms, everything was about the administration and listening to a long and boring presentation on assessment-- with middle school wipe offs- we get that there is some info you need to give us- give us the PowerPoint's which you read anyways. Very disappointing start to the year
IDick Leonard needs to step down. How many kickbacks did he and Feltes take and now we hear about free internet. This is the same guy who claimed hard working maintenance workers were stealing. Hanley also needs to resign no wonder he sees no problem with free internet he is stealing tge district blind as well. Shame on you Dick Leonard please leave we know you stuck us with. Mike Popp and Feltes now this.
Date: Sept 3 2015 To: East Aurora Dist 131 Board of Education Subject: Ruling on Redacted Emails “List of Bills & Heat Exchangers” from the Attorney General’s Office
Yesterday September 2 2015 I received the ruling on the “Redacted Emails” which I had appealed. The AG ruled against me based on a technicality of the wording Dr Popp AND Bernie Weiler, whereas should have read Dr Popp OR Bernie Weiler
It is important to understand this ruling was about the above and NOT the redacted emails in question which I contend should be made available to myself and the Public.
This issue was a result of an audit I did concerning Heat Exchangers NO BID Purchase Orders awarded to Youngrens. (see attached). In addition there was an inquiry by then Board Member (now Board of Ed President) Annette Johnson to Superintendent Mike Popp questioning the expense of $45,462.00 on PO 150010.
I ask this Board to demand from Mike Popp these emails un-redacted to review the content to determine (in their opinion) whether or this warrants redaction.
Needless to say I will be submitting a revised FOIA in compliance with the AG decision.
Will the Board of Ed agree these emails be turned over and avoid another appeal resulting in costly legal expenses to the taxpayers and valuable time of many? All issues brought out by me have ALWAYS been proven with documents/emails via FOIA requests from EA and other Districts.
The center of this controversy is TRANSPARENCY and the attempt to get critical facts about the Heat Exchanger NO BID Contracts. There is reason to believe Taxpayer dollars were misappropriated to multiple vendors totaling 1 million plus dollars with this and other spending.
This is not the Hillary Clinton Email Controversy.
Can't Dick Leonard see the Beacon exposed him for his dirty deeds. Wow, not that stealing $3,000 is not bad enough, but the millions in wasted taxpayer dollars with the Marty Feltes should be the real story. I thank the Beacon reporter for reporting this it has been hard to catch Marty but Mr Padron must be smiling today.
When Leonard toured our building he never looked at the kids only the walls, or boiler rooms. He was clearly there to see what he could scam. Please resign I am sure anybody filing the position will have Internet and really care about the children.
You can clean out your closet and support the East Aurora High School dance team through a donation drive September 3-5. The dance team is accepting donations of clothing, shoes, accessories, books, linens and small household items at East Aurora High School, 500 Tomcat Lane. Donations will be accepted from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. Thursday, September 3; 4:30 to 9:30 p.m. Friday, September 4; and 8 a.m. to noon Saturday, September 5. Savers, a local thrift store, will pay the dance team by the pound for items collected. All the funds raised will go toward purchasing competition uniforms, warm-ups and shoes. The donation drive will not accept furniture, fax machines, tires or liquids. For questions, contact Jen Gisburne at (630) 299-8142 or jgisburne@d131.org.
Told you Padron was hot air. I got it Mr Padron. Let's send this to the U.S. AG. . After that the President will certainly come and weed out all these criminals. Nothing, nada, zilch, zero only the peanut gallery thinks your on to something. If you can't word a FOIA correctly after all this time surely you're not an evaluator or talent. Blah blah blah
LMOA- I think you may have a surprise or two coming...sometimes things don't happen at the pace we would like them too. No govt. agency works with much swiftness, but they do work. Just like the IRS and many others, if you have stolen money, especially from a public entity, you will pay them back and then some. Only a narcissist would think that they are smarter than everyone else and would be able to get away with their wrong-doings, especially by posting nonsense on a blog where facts have already prevailed in several cases. But we are talking about the likes of Feltes and Leonard here, so this is no big surprise to any of us.
...I can still hear the shrill voice of Mary Lou in the distance "All is fine with the district!!!". We all know that was a huge lie. So, Padron makes a mistake with wording (I believe it was 1 word to be exact) and that nullifies everything he's done? Don't think so, but you can keep hoping.
We have a tentative agreement which is loaded up for teachers to pass the contract. We guess that Johnsson had a big role in this. Teachers get their money but so much for unity. Secretary and support get screwed. Just wait until a teacher with a masters asks use to provide instruction or a admin asks that because we are Bilingual to displine a child and call the parent. Everyday we do many things that teachers or administration should be doing. VOTE NO show we have a voice and if the teachers are fair they will not look out just for themselves.
History repeats itself again the last two contracts we have been screwed.
I'm looking forward to seeing the marching band this evening. My son says the show is going to be awesome. There are more kids in band this year (with a record number of students overall enrolled at East High), and the administration has seen the wisdom of hiring a second full-time band director along with 3 part-time assistants.
That is money well spent, since it directly affects almost 200 students. And the band program is very visible in the community so it's good PR for the district when they look and sound good.
I don't always say this, but GOOD JOB D131 Administration!
I was confused, too, because the district's "News and Information" page says the Sept. 8th meeting is at 7:00 at the service center. But the agenda packet on the Board of Education link says 7:30, in Hawks Auditorium (at East High).
So I phoned Annette Johnson and she told me that the meeting is at 7:30 p.m. in Hawks Auditorium. She said the location change was to accommodate the anticipated larger attendance for this meeting.
So now, thanks to this blog and Ms. Johnson, we all know where the meeting will be held!
I just went to the D131 website. The scrolling news summary on the right side of the "Home" page lists the School Board meeting as September 8th at 7:00 p.m., at the Service Center. This is NOT correct.
Then I clicked on "Calendar" on the left side of the page...on September 8, it lists the School Board meeting. When I click on it, I'm informed that the meeting is at 7:00 p.m. at the Service Center. Again, incorrect.
Finally I went the the district's Facebook page. No mention whatsoever about next Tuesday's School Board meeting. No time, no place, nothing.
Oh, and no mention of the changed time & location in the Beacon either.
So as of today at 6:30 p.m., the only way most of us would know about the time & place of Tuesday's meeting being changed would be to either download the agenda, or read this blog.
Remind me again: why are we paying Mr. Hanley more than any teacher in our district??
Doesn't this fall under public relations (informing the public)?
I think the person who took it upon themselves to call Ms. Johnson (and report the correct info to the rest of us on this blog) should get a financial reward equal to a day's salary for our community relations director. After all, the caller did HIS job!
I heard the larger crowd is coming to talk about taxes and the City of Aurora inability to increase house values by decreasing density and cleaning up neighborhoods. A grass roots campaign with petitions will get presented. Aurora was recently ranked in 3rd in the nation for the worst place for seniors to live. Again you heard it on the blog first. The report was published by Wallet and the Daily Herald.
Taxpayer 1, you are correct about the change of venue being to accommodate a larger crowd for this particular meeting. I'm the one who called Ms. Johnson, and she told me that was the reason.
I'm hoping a lot of community members read this blog and show up Tuesday night...
Matt Hanley should get fired and anyone from the BOE should be outraged. He is paid $120,000 plus and now it is the weekend with a holiday and NO UPDATE until Tuesday. I just called Annette Johnson as well and asked her what is going on. She did state they would be discussing bond refinancing and expected a big crowd. I asked if this would be permanent and why 7:30. She stated 7:30 is for anyone who would come to the wrong place (I can see why being we can not rely on the website).
Kudos to Annette Johnson! Our School Board president is responsive to the community. At least two people called her yesterday, and she spoke to them and gave them correct information.
I tried to call several people in the central office yesterday around 2:30 p.m.: Lisa Morales, Dr. Popp, Wilson Morales, and a couple others listed on the Administration page of the D131 website. In every case, I got a recorded message like "I'm away from my desk, but leave your name and number and someone will get back to you..."
Really?? NO ONE is available to pick up a phone and answer a simple question in the middle of a Friday afternoon, before a three-day weekend? I didn't even get a busy signal, which might have indicated a live human was using the phone. Nope, I was just invited to join in a game of "phone tag", with no assurance I would even get the answer to my question before the office closed for the weekend.
This is unexcusable and unacceptable.
Fortunately, we have a School Board president who is responsive, transparent, and accountable to the public.
Hey dummy.... When was the last time you got a busy signal? It's called voicemail. That's what happens when you are reaching someone who is already on the phone.
I get busy signals all the time when I call businesses during office hours. Yesterday I called Walgreens to check on a prescription. The line was busy, so I called back 5 minutes later. Or I get put on hold and listen to a repeated, recorded message when I call Comcast: "all of our representatives are assisting other customers". At least when I'm put on hold I know I'll get to speak with a live human if I stay on the line.
Voicemail is NOT "what happens when you are reaching someone who is already on the phone"...it's what's supposed to happen when the person you're calling is away from their desk (according to at least one of the messages I heard yesterday when I called the service center), or out of the office, or the business is closed. And at 2:30 p.m. yesterday, 5 out of 5 of the people I tried to contact by phone in the central office were either away from their desk or too lazy to pick up the phone.
I refuse to play phone tag. It is part of the JOB for central office administrators to be available to answer a simple question during business hours.
Fortunately our School Board president, a businesswoman herself, was willing and able to do what SHOULD have been done by one of those well-paid administrators. Thanks again, Annette!
Why is it still not up on the district website. Perhaps Ms Johnson should have complained to Popp. In fact Johnson should ask what Hanley does all week. I work in CSC and all of us laughed when Padron posted the kiss up email. See Matt is Popps personal photographer so Matt only leaves the building to take pictures of Popp or have long lunches. Speaking of long lunches, Matt visits 204 more often and 131 to participate in his children'activities we guess? Maybe he goes home to sleep.
The biggest Popp lie/joke is Matt is busy all day answering FOIA requests. Matt pawns that work off on his secretary, who then pawns it off on us. Popp lost what little respect he had when asking for the Hanley raise and then telling the board Matt needed a FOIA officer.
Last month we paid a former Beacon reporter to ghost write the Enlighten. We also paid $500 for another person to do a back to school picture presentation for Red & Black. Maybe someone a can pull the Vision Freindly bills, Matt calls them constantly for changes to the Website. In the past Clayton did many of the small updates, not Matt.
Here is hoping this is enough for the board to fire him.
The East High Band was amazing last night. The show was very entertaining. The music was awesome. They were having a blast in the stands. The only issue I saw was the fact that they did not have enough uniforms for the entire band (The district can never plan ahead, just panic after the fact). The entire percussion section (All 25 players) wore red shirts and black pants instead.
The school district just purchased 250 new uniforms a year ago. If 250 uniforms were all used, add 25 for the percussion section and add the color guard, it appears that the East High Band now has close to 300 members in it.
It's remarkable how the district music program is growing and growing. Something has definately changed in the past couple of years. Kudos.
"Something has definitely changed in the past couple of years"...
Here's a BIG change in the EAHS band program:
There are now TWO full-time directors and THREE part-time assistants. That makes a HUGE (positive) difference in the program. And I credit the administration for being willing to support the band by authorizing the hiring of several adults to work with our kids.
The Tribune article about the band uniforms was great, and was another example of administration and School Board willingness to put their money where their mouth is to provide those expensive new uniforms.
With larger overall enrollment comes a bigger band program. Kids in band tend to stay out of trouble and are learning a lifetime skill. THANK YOU, administration, for supporting our students!
The total enrollmant at East High has gone up 200 students in the past three years. Are we to believe that most of the 200 of these students joined band when they got to East High? I don't think so. The answer is your support/feeding schools.
Imagine how much the band program would grow if the district put an equal amount of resources at the elementary and middle school levels as they have at the high school. We still have elementary band teachers teaching in any corner the administration sticks them. They are in closets, hallways and even put on staircases to try and teach kids. The middle schools are overcrowded, without even adequate ventilation so the children can properly breath. They are desperate for support. Even the East High School Band Boosters cut them out of the program after decades of support for the high school.
We need to realize that children don't start band in high school, they start in elementary school. If the district truly wants the band program to reach it's potential, they need to support the bands support/feeding programs. Maybe then we can actually start seeing the percentages of students in band that other districts have.
Look at Waubonsee High School. They have about 2600 students in the school and they see 800-1000 (30%-40%) students in the band program (Not including the color guard). A lot better than the 200-250 (5%-6%) we see in the program when we have 3700 students in the building. (Please notice that Waubonsee High School is a far larger facility with far fewer students).
While the East High Program has been going very slowly in the correct direction the past couple of years, we are far from where we should be. The district administrators and board constantly talk about student growth and reaching potential, maybe they should put the pocketbook where their mouth is.
Teacher salaries are lacking in East Aurora. Looking at the tentative budgets for neighboring districts shows how far behind District 131 is in paying teachers. It also begs the question, where is the money going?
The first number is the total proposed budget for each district, the second is instructional expenses and the third is the percentage of the district budget being spent on educational salaries.
Geneva 304 $60,343,596 $47,509,507 79% Naperville 203 $268,688,000 $203,852,050 76% Indian Prairie 204 $263,116,417 $197,389,210 75% Batavia 101 $87,986,915 $55,400,233 63% St. Charles 303 $154,833,786 $94,076,434 61% West Aurora 129 $145,363,117 $82,373,512 57% East Aurora 131 $156,212,388 $88,049,714 56%
This really shows how much money the district is wasting on things other than the education of our communities children. Just as a reference, if we paid teachers at the 75% that Indian Prairie does, we would be able to give every teacher a 30% raise this year. That high of a raise is not needed for all teachers. The teachers with no experience are just a few percentage points behind other area school districts. It's the teachers who have proven to the district and community that they are devoted to our children who would need up to a 40-50% raise to make salaries competitive. The fact is that the district would only need to increase the education percentage 5-10% to give teachers all that they deserve.
It's a shame that Sarah Imthurn can't see this. Every time she opens her mouth, it sounds as though she is working for the administration and board, not the teachers. She claims that there is no money for teachers but as you can clearly see, the money is there, the district just doesn't want to spend it on teachers. It makes a person wonder where all that money is going and who is skimming off the top? It also makes us wonder what back room deals have been made for Sarah Imthurn? Mary Dudzienski was making $145,000 from the district while she was union president. Adam Harding became a district administrator right after the last contract was signed. We all know damn well the district is taking care of Sarah somehow. We will find out shortly after the contract is signed.
Do the math. That's over $68,000,000 every year being spent, not on teachers. Where is all this money going? The buildings are old and falling apart. Teachers don't have the resources necessary for teaching. We don't have the fields and grounds and equipment every other district has. Again, where is $68,000,000 going every year?
When I read the Tribune article about the new band uniforms I thought they were showing one of our uniforms from when I was in band in the 90s. Except for the plume on the hat, they look VERY similar.
Then I read this: "The new uniforms were designed by East Aurora High School Director of Bands Brian Liska"
Wouldn't it be nice if the current EAHS director would acknowledge the former one's (in this case, Kevin Kaisershot) contributions to the band program? Mr. Liska is doing a good job as Director of Bands, but part of the current success of the band program at the high school is building upon what went before (as well as the feeder schools, as Band Supporter mentioned).
Mentioning and thanking the many others responsible when something goes well would be a classy move, as well as the RIGHT THING TO DO.
As a insider I know Sarah Intherm has been promised a Special Ed coordinator job. This year she has full release something that was never discussed. So next year when we boot her out of office she is taken care of. Administration is already grooming Joe Harmon to take Sarah's spot. It our fault for electing her let's please not make the same mistake. Harding is still pulling the strings.
As for the 3% shuffle that was our leaderships fault as well. They insisted that everyone make the same. They claimed masters level teachers would be fine with it. We showed them by our strong message. We will now get 7% as masters level teachers and teachers with a BA will get 3.5%. That is unity!
When filling out your ballot enclose a note to recall Sarah and ask that Harding and Hettinger no longer involve themselves in d131. They allowed many MOUs to go through without never telling us.
Joe Harmon was directly involved in one of the darkest pages of our district's history. He was one of the three principals at East High in 2005, when "Serial Bully" Radakovich conspired with his School Board cronies to punish at least two East High staff members (Roger Scott and Kevin Kaisershot) for daring to speak up for students and parents against administration. In Kaisershot's case there were HUNDREDS of community members who questioned administration, wrote letters to the editor of the local papers, put signs in their yards, and marched to the service center. Roger Scott was less known in the community but very highly regarded by his fellow teachers. Joe Harmon, Marin Gonzalez, and Rick Johnson (the Serial Bully's hometown pal) gave the community the middle finger, and I highly doubt that we oldtimers will forget or overlook THAT fact anytime soon!
We did not elect Sarah. Sarah was the only person on the ballot. When there is only one candidate on the ballot, there is no choice to be made. In fact, in the past 30 years, there has been only one contested election for the union leadership and those who dared to challenge the status quo have all been harrassed, suspended, terminated, etc. The challengers were Bob French for union president (he was terminated), Mike Simons for vice president (He was harrassed including suspensions from that election until he retired) and Bob Green was head of their election committee (He's been terminated twice).
It was a very interesting election or should I say two elections as the first one was nullified for illegal procedures. Union reps (appointed by the union president) counted the ballots and reported them to the union president who counted the ballots and stated that she won. The whole election was thrown out and a new election held.
I find it interesting that in the past, the elections always came back 75-90% in favor of every bad contract (with all of us looking at each other publicly stating we voted NO). Now that the union membership is demanding to see the results the tide has shifted strongly the other way. Keep demanding to see the ballot counts.
The D131 website now has the correct time and place for Tuesday's School Board meeting.
And there's this, also:
Last updated by Matt Hanley on 9/5/2015 10:02:20 PM
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Proof positive that it is indeed Matt Hanley's job to keep the public informed about locations and times of meetings. And proof positive that our $120,000.00 Community Relations Director DID NOT DO HIS JOB in this regard.
Good thing our (volunteer) elected School Board president was willing to step in and provide the correct information. And good thing this blog published the information, too.
The reason teachers have a 7% and 3.5% raise is the BOE. They kept their word. During the last contract I had a discussion with Johnson and she stated the BA teachers with one thru five years experience would get brought up to scale. That way future years would continue to get paid higher rates to keep up. She stated they would work on the MS category next time. I now looks like the new BOE leadership kept their word. I have heard our leadership said 3% was okay and did not fight for us knowing the BOE was willing to pay more. Let us remember the leadership can not blame the old BOE they had been replaced.
I will now vote yes but continue to watch our union carefully. I hope Ms Gentile runs. I have heard similar rumors about Sarah I not running again and administration taking care of her. Let's hope it is a end to a very negative era. No way to Harmond he is a district flunky. Pull the stipends he makes well over $100,000 per year.
Hanley posted the meeting three days later. If I would run my classroom that way and file my lesson plans three days later you can bet Glotzbach and company would write me up. It must be nice. When is the board going to fire him.
While 7% may seem like a good deal on the surface, don't forget that every other district is getting a raise also (at least 3% for most of them). Considering that the top of the salary schedule (Year 23 with a Masters +48) is as much as $40,000 behind surrounding districts. It means that instead of being $40,000 behind, we will be $38,500 behind. At that rate, it will take 28 years of 7% increases to begin being competitive with the surrounding districts.
By the way, just wait til you see your first paycheck this year and realize that your salaries have been FROZEN at last years rate. We were told that we would follow last years contract but apparently that doesn't apply to our lane advancements. You will be making exactly what you did last year. Under the previous contract, we are supposed to receive credit for the years taught but the administration is violating the contract and our union president won't challenge them on it.
They want it to appear that you are getting a bigger raise next semester when they decide to present the new contract. For the next 4-5 months they will enjoy earning all the interest on everyones money. Welcome to East Aurora.
That is why the $40,000 raise to Hanley is such a slap in the face to teachers. Popp does not have the respect of the staff here's hoping Popp and Hanley will be sent packing.
Hanley gets a 40% raise and the teachers are supposed to get excited about 3 1/2-7% raise? Salaries are frozen. Dick Leonard gets free internet on the district's dime.
The district cries broke every time there are contract negotiations going on and our union president tells us we are just supposed to take it because there is no money (While the union presidents get sweetheart deals for their own personal gain). Yet look at the minutes from the board meeting on August 3rd. Buried near the bottom are two words that reveal it all, LAND ACQUISITION. It's in the items to be discussed in executive session. There are no personnel or security concerns in a land acquisition discussion. There is no reason why this should not have been discussed in open session except that the board and administration wanted to keep this hidden from the teachers during negotiations.
Even while the district is crying broke, in the shadows they are purchasing the land needed for the new Administrative Palace. You'll see, five minutes after the contract is signed, they will be using the millions they screwed out of the teachers contract to build the new administrative building.
Joe Harmon is a good man. He has worked for the kids in this district for his entire professional life. Anyone who would disparage him only shows their own smallness.
In 2005 he was one of the "Three Stooges" in the EAHS principal's office who actively participated in depriving well-liked, community-supported teachers (plural) of their high school teaching jobs. Then in 2006 he took over the Fine Arts chair position formerly occupied by one of the teachers he helped push out. In this capacity he spent a couple of years doing damage control, defending and excusing multiple blunders like the "Star Mangled Banner" and the fake Division I award plaque.
You say he "worked for the kids in this district". The truth is, in 2005 he worked for the corrupt ADMINISTRATION. Big difference. He is probably hoping no one remembers or cares what he did in 2005, but what he did back then is a big part of his record and reputation in this district.
He disparaged others, and what goes around comes around!
If you listened during Red& Black the BOE PResident and Popp said they would be addressing overcrowding at the HS. The new BOE stopped the administrative/kinder center Popp wanted to build. I believe the land acquisition is for additional expansion. I also heard at Red & Black that they will have open public discussions on space utilization. Come to East try to walk the hallways it is a fire hazard. Someone needs to do something. It is a good thing they have their priorities straight.
202 comments:
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Back to School without a contract UNITY for all members. We should not accept what they give us period. File arbitration if we ask for a 6% raise they will give it to us arbitration looks at how well we are paid and if the district can afford it. They have plenty of money and we are underpaid. Our union has not asked for arbitration because they are in bed with the district.
Date: July 31, 2015
To: Annette Johnson BOE President
Subject: Questionable Hiring Sarah Waddell
Ms Johnson
I bring to your attention questions regarding the recent hiring of Sarah Wadell for the position of “Assistant Superintendent for Teaching and Learning”. It must be noted I AM NOT criticizing Ms Waddell. There are serious issues regarding her qualifications and other areas of concern.
Sarah was an Asst Principal Scullen Middle School at Indian Prairie District 204
(Note Mark Truckenbrod was Principal at Scullen Middle)
Would this position require experience as a
Principal
Asst Director
Director
Sarah bypassed all yet was hired
New salary is $ 145,000.00
Previous salary $ 100,000.00
Are not current administrators much more qualified to serve effectively such as
Dr Carla Johnson, Diane Argueta, or David Brusack (whom did apply for the position)
2 whom are minorities and experienced from within East Aurora
I ask the Board these questions
Why does Mike Popp continue to recruit/hire from former employer Indian Prairie Dist 204
Why was Sarah hired with minimal experience
I find it difficult to believe that a MUCH MORE QUALIFIED candidate could not be found.
This position should have been reposted to find other candidates
Wikepedia: Cronyism is partiality to long-standing friends, especially by appointing them to positions of authority, regardless of their qualifications. Hence, cronyism is contrary in practice and principle to meritocracy.
It appears this practice has resurfaced and this new Board under your leadership will not address this and previous issues brought to your attention. Regardless I will be submitting another complaint with the Inspector General regarding the Human Resources Violations throughout the years.
“Enough is Enough” as the taxpayers continue to pay for Popp’s cronyism
Respectfully
Ralph Padron
Again information from FOIA's will support the above facts
How the hell is questioning why she was hired "not criticizing" her?
questioning (ˈkwɛstʃənɪŋ)
Definitions
adjective
proceeding from or characterized by a feeling of doubt or uncertainty
enthusiastic or eager for philosophical or other investigations; intellectually stimulated ⇒ "an alert and questioning mind"
crit·i·cize (ˈkridəˌsīz/)
verb
gerund or present participle: criticizing
1.
indicate the faults of (someone or something) in a disapproving way.
"states criticized the failure to provide an adequate and permanent compensation"
synonyms: find fault with, censure, denounce, condemn, attack, lambaste, pillory, rail against, inveigh against, arraign, cast aspersions on, pour scorn on, disparage, denigrate, give bad press to, run down; More
informalknock, pan, maul, slam, roast, hammer, lay into, lace into, flay, crucify, take apart, pull to pieces, pick holes in, pummel, trash, nitpick;
formalexcoriate
"must you criticize everything she does?"
antonyms: praise
2.
form and express a sophisticated judgment of (a literary or artistic work).
"a literary text may be criticized on two grounds: the semantic and the expressive"
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Questioning and criticizing are TWO DIFFERENT THINGS...
...Moron.
:)
Sorry, but questioning the qualifications of somebody and saying that other people applied who are more qualified is criticizing. I don't really care what your dictionary says.
I think the manner in which the questioning is taking place would characterize it as criticizing....moron.
;)
A dictionary definition of both terms is provided, yet you still insist they mean the same thing??
Typical EA-OK.
Who gives a flying, rats........questioned, criticized....either way this employee might as well get used to it from the get go. This person was hired into a position of extreme importance. The education of the students in 131 has been a problem for too long and has been questioned and criticized for years. She applied and accepted and with it comes expectations that will scrutinized. By those working in 131 and those whose taxes are paying her. So for those nit picking the reason or the appearance of questioning and/ or criticizing.......suck it up, buttercup, she needs to show her backbone immediately and step in and get her job done!
Mr Padron is exposing the "cronyism" at East Aurora
That is his focus and read the entire statement
but then again you probably don't mind paying for this
Superintendents hidden agenda
GO RALPH !!!
Popp is about cronyism he does not trust anyone but Thrunkbrog and Glotzbach. The entire staff has been treated as a non entity. He then keeps Hanley to for kiss his fat *ss. The staff is divided at central office and nothing is getting accomplished. There are many similarities to the serial bully days. Popp is also a fake to the public he is friendly to the staff he never speaks.
Glotzbach is another story her reign of terror continues.Popp has her in charge of everything, now teachers beware she is in charge of elementary and secondary. The district will never grow until she is fired.
The school year looks to be the most disfuntional yet. We need unity between the entire staff.
As a taxpayer I would like to know why the district when hiring Administrators give them more money then the districts they came from? Most here recently seem to come from D204 which has more money than this district yet they pay Administrators less than ours. It seems that Sarah Waddell has less experience than some that applied.
It is time this Board treated teachers the same as other districts and pay them more. I hope the teachers stand up so they can get a fair contract. This districts have overcrowded classrooms and falling apart schools and we treat our students and teachers poorly while administrators get other districts pay and really aren't all that good at running these schools.
I'm disappointed in the new members of this board they should stand up for the teachers to make sure they have a fair contract.
The little theater was shut due to mold. Workers cleaning up must wear hazmat suits yet our students are exposed to this daily. Many teachers who worked at EA and retired from EA have cancer. the building is filled with mold. Talking with maintenance the situation was created by crony contractors of Feltes with no records of what work was preformed on equipment.
It is time to address the poor condition of the buildings.
Word is from our union that a offer is into the BOE. administration now says only the BOE can decide. We need to come to meetings and show unity. Many of us supported Darby, Laesch and Arroyo. Strand owes us after all the broken promises and donations she hits us up for.
We need to target the four and let our voices be heard.
I know Johnson is very pro teacher and thinks they are the only group underpaid. Support staff need to flood her with emails that our jobs are more than hall monitor. Hatchett seems very approachable and she needs to hear our story as well. We can forget Leonard he hates everyone in the union.
LET OUR VOICES BE HEARD we can not rely on Intherm to speak up.
Beware of how much you confide in Johnson. She is a chameleon and is a best friend and confidant to whomever is her largest audience at the moment.
According to illinoisreportcard.com, the average East Aurora teacher makes $51,600 and the average teacher in IL makes $62,400. That makes our salary 83% of the state average. Meanwhile, the average East Aurora administrator makes $97,300 and the average administrator in IL makes $101,000. That makes D131 administrators' salaries 96% of the state average.
Here's an idea, make the percentage EQUAL. I get it if you're asking teachers in the district to get paid less due to the poverty in our district. Why not ask the administrators for the same sacrifice? If the teachers are at 83%, then the administrators should be at 83% and instead they're at 96%. That's a huge discrepancy!
Teachers DO NOT ACCEPT this continued INEQUITY. This district can't have it both ways. What are you doing School Board and Union Representation allowing this to continue? No wonder moral sucks. People fundamentally want to be treated fairly and in D131 teachers are scapegoats and underpaid while our ineffective administrators get a pass and NO accountability for their part in achievement.
How many of them were asked to leave last year due to their lousy student growth? As far as I can see, only Spencer Byrd and in typical backwards EA fashion, East High was one of the few schools in our district showing progress. Great job Popp Team! Also, why aren't teachers at the table when these new administrators, like the EAHS Principal and the new Asst. Sup. are being selected? At my last district and in functional districts across the state, this is standard operating procedure to ensure the best people are picked. Instead, we get an incestuous pit of cronyism and central administration surrounding themselves with yes people who won't rock the boat or challenge their incompetent decisions. Spencer Byrd stood up for the safety of the school and look what happened to him.
Where is the teacher voice? Clearly, the board and the Popp team don't have a clue about what we need and their tenure is short--just look at the revolving door of admin we've had. They make their mark and move on. PLEASE let teachers be part of the decisions that affect them arguably more than they affect the teflon administrators.
The time is NOW to speak up for our kids. Unless the gap between our salary and the administrators is significantly closed, we are being doormats and the admin will continue to walk all over us. Let change begin with this new contract. Board PLEASE do your job and get a grip on this sick district and the sick policies that you enable every time you don't ask the right questions and simply rubber stamp more of the same bs that's gotten us to where we are now.
Teachers your union is the problem the district attempted to give teachers more but your union rejected it saying lets pay the same. I am sure when you go to a store and you come across a deal you take it.
Reduce admin salary.....point well made. Maybe you,should run for union rep. In the mean time, speak out and open people's eyes.
I am here tonight to question the former Asst Superintendent of Human Resources, Joan Glotzbach and Michael Popp on the hiring of Principal Anthony Crespo at the High School.
Here are the facts.
March 16 2015 Principal Spencer Byrd $ 127,613.00 resigned.
Why would he resign without having a job?
March 23 Position Posted $121,500.00
March 24 Anthony Crespo applied, he was making $ 124,500.00
Note: June July 2014 Crespo applied for 3 lesser positions at EA however was not hired
April 20 Board of Ed voted to hire Crespo @ $ 133,000.00
His wife and children were seated in front to witness the vote. Looks like he was already hired.
Qualifications clearly stated must have 3 years of successful administrative experience at a High School Level.
Crespo would not have met this criteria until June 30 2015 yet was interviewed then hired.
If he was not hired in 2014, why would he be considered for High School Principal
Who conducted the interviews
What warranted $ 11,500.00 increase over the posted salary for someone with no experience
and $ 5,400.00 more than an experienced, results proven Principal
Something is very suspicious here and he wasn’t even from Dist 204
Why didn’t Joan Glotzbach see these red flags?
Spencer Byrd tenure as Principal
“Produced the Highest Graduating Class ever” at East Aurora which he was a part of
He was highly respected and loved by the staff and teachers at East High that a petition was circulated to retain him as Principal.
Unfortunately it fell upon deaf ears by Superintendent Mike Popp and Joan Glotzbach
Appears they were determined to have Spencer leave
That speaks for itself on listening and taking serious input from the staff at the High School
Why was a survey taken May 2015 “What do you look for in a Principal at East High”
THE ISSUE HERE IS NOT Anthony Crespo nor Spencer Byrd
BUT THE CIRCUMSTANCES, FACTS, AND QUESTIONS SURROUNDING THE RESEARCH AND HIRING OF THE POSITION.
Would this current Board question this hiring?
Update: Spencer is now a Superintendent
Again, the staff, community and board was subjected to Mr Padron. His name calling and character assignation are getting old. Mr Carspo is the Principal and he deserves a chance. Mr Byrd became a Sup in another district everyone is happy, not everyone gets along with their boss. Mr Padron YOU DO NOT PAY TAXES HERE. Get lost can you not see that nobody cares about you or what you have to say. Let the elected board run the district they all seem ready and eager.
You are a bully, nobody attacks you because they are afraid too. They all know your mental illness will come out and they will then become your flavor of the week. You are a mental midget. GO AWAY.
Please answer this WHAT HAS DR POPP DONE THAT YOU HAVE SUCH HATE FOR HIM?
So I've never worked in a district before in which the contract has not been resolved or approved before the school year has begun. I thought the new contract would have to be in place before we began. Since it will not be resolved (and seems no where close to it), I'm guessing the teachers will continue to be paid as per the 14-15 schedule? If we get a minimal raise, or no raise as all, I'm guessing that I am free to leave as I please with no ramifications from EA? It would obviously be easy to find another district nearby which will pay much more.
Mr Padron, I attended the meeting and felt sorry for the new EA Principal. He was hired what makes you qualified to judge him. I am happy to see diversity in our staff and he will be a get role model to our students. His story is much like theirs growing up in a single home. I had respect for your exposing of Feltes but this shows you are just a hateful man.
As a businessman in this town, feeding thousands of dollars to a school district that is moving backwards instead of leading our kids forward, I am amazed at the cronyism and sheer neglect of student interests. I have hope that I will see the amazing potential of youth succeed in this school district. Every graduate of D131 has fallen well short of simple qualifications to earn a job within my business and smiliar fields.
I hope the teachers get the pay they deserve, I know my taxes have constantly risen, which should facilitate a raise to those deserving individuals. I don't live or vote in town, and not sure if I did if it would make a difference.
Anyone with power within the district should be ashamed of themselves, and ashamed of the students who are entering the work force. It is a reflection of you as a school board, and you as an administrator. Please allow these kids to have the best opportunities to grow, learn, and become adults.
The superintendent and all others in the central office are leading by poor example. Are these the kind of people we want our future leaders to look up to? God I hope not!
Enjoy the next couple weeks before school starts, and we find out even more problems that have been swept under a rug.
I went to the Building & Grounds and saw corruption at its best. Leonard screamed and treated administrators like they are his slaves. He demanded snow plowing get put out t bid and outsourced. Administration explained it only cost $21,000. Does he believe anyone to the outside would be cheaper. Laesch then attempted to get him to bid the ever corrupt Corisigan and Clark. Leonard kept stopping him. Our new boss had many saving on having us do the work and saving money on construction management. Leonard kept trying to stop him
This shows how Leonard hates the employees of 131 and only wants Feltes crooks from the outside to steal from the district. We are calling on Mr Padron to get a tape of the meeting and expose him. Feltes allowed outside workers to have their own keys to the building and never checked them in or out. They have no work slips. Funny he is worried about hard working men but never worried about the corruption of Feltes. It showed last night Leonard took kickbacks and he is taking kickbacks from Cordogan. His screaming at staff needs to get addressed by his fellow board members. His anger for losing kickbacks needs to get exposed.
Leonard and Feltes should go to jail for what they have gotten away with. Leonard makes the statement at the B/G meeting the carbon monoxide was getting into classrooms. LAIR! Feltes had his cousin Jimbo from Arlip do inspections and then he got rid of the evidence. Arlip was paid $200,000 in no bid work.
Leonard also protected Corodgan and Clark last nite after it was shown they where over by million on the Benevides Center. Ralph says the Feds are investigating but Leonard is still doing business.
Did Zepeda and Cowherd ever think that is why nobody joins the sports boosters because of them? The band has attempted to help them for years but it is their way or the highway. Personnally, I am glad to see him resign hopefully Henry will be next. the way Henry swears at students needs to stop.
Leonard has discredited hard working men while allowing Feltes to steal and cheat. What is your excuse if you are a crook. Everyone else is too. In this case Leonard and his friend Feltes are the worst ever. BTW tricky Dick when the Feds get done Marty will not look good in orange jumpsuits.
Padron have you checked the FOIA for the new building and grounds director? how is an ex-officer qualified for maintenance and merit a $120,000? Who does he know in the district, maybe the same person that he had the district cut a tree down for? Since when do taxpayers pay for tree removal on private property by the high school, maybe the pictures should be in the newspaper so this new director can answer for that!
Date: August 7, 2015
To: Annette Johnson BOE President
Subject: Hiring of Jennifer Brinkman
Ms Johnson
I bring to your attention facts/questions regarding the recent hiring of Jennifer Brinkman
Former District 204 English Teacher (18 yrs total teaching experience)
Hired as HS Division Chair for English and Fine Arts salary $ 78,500.00
There is no question Ms Brinkman possesses the qualifications for this position
Again I am questioning
Joan Glotzbach-Human Resources
Mike Popp – Superintendent
WAS THERE NOT 1 ENGLISH TEACHER DIST 131 WHO COULD QUALIFY FOR THIS POSITION
Did anyone actively encourage an EA 131 Teacher to apply
Again another 204 staff member coming to Dist 131
Wouldn’t it have been prudent to promote from within?
Does Joan Glotzbach/Mike Popp UNDERSTAND these hiring’s are demoralizing and angering many?
Would appreciate response in written form (you haven’t yet)
Respectfully
Ralph Padron
Rumor is leaking out that teachers are getting a big raise. I am glad to see the new board is keeping their promise and commitment to education. Keeping good teachers is a good way to start! The change in leadership is refreshing.
Hey, notafan have you ever heard of a Plat Of Survey? Anyone who has been in the B/G Dept. long enough knows that fence was built years ago way too far onto district property. Yes, it was ON DISTRICT PROPERTY.
Oh my, get your facts straight before starting your rumors!
BTW, the new head of B/G worked at a state run school and has all the qualifications that Feltes lacked on the initial application. (Before it was changed by Dick Leonard to accommodate his buddy Marty Feltes who then proceeded to rob the district blind!).
Here is the Dick Leonard "math"-
1 Leonard had the B&G Director application changed to allow his friend Marty Feltes to get the job. He had no degree as called for on the initial application.
Leonard claimed his "life skills" were enough.
2. We all know what happened after Feltes got the job. All hell broke loose and millions of dollars were wasted (or went who-knows-where). Hopefully, some day we will get a bottom dollar amount as to how much financial damage he did. More is still being uncovered as I write this.
3. Leonard was on the B&G committee and had full knowledge of what his buddy was doing.
So, Dick Leonard gets Marty Feltes hired. Marty Feltes costs the district millions of dollars. Your taxes went up to compensate for this.
Residents of Carillon, make no mistake. Dick Leonard is not your friend. He does not care about your taxes. He is seeking revenge for his friend Marty Feltes for being terminated from his job (which he was paid an annual salary of 130K to do by the way). He is using you as a tool to do so. Have him give you some numbers and facts when he talks to you about things such as outsourcing. Do not take him at his word and you will see for yourselves.
Heads up! Marty Feltes is still trying to terrorize Buildings and Grounds staff from afar! He uses Dick Leonard, Mike Golonka and Larry Wilson to do so. They make things up and cause problems that are not there. Marty has also been seen several times with Leonard in the car driving through the school district. on
Dick Leonard was seen and heard yelling at Alex Dimare. He told him to put snow plowing out to bid and do not "worry" about the BOE. Be careful BOE members this crook is speaking for you.
http://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/aurora-beacon-news/opinion/ct-abn-crosby-pinky-st-0807-20150807-story.html
To: Ralph Padron
You stated "There is no question Ms Brinkman possesses the qualifications for this position".
You are incorrect. While Ms Brinkman may very well be qualified for the english portion of the position, she does not have the experience to be the Fine Arts Department Chair. And for the record, neither did the last person. How does having an english degree qualify a person to oversee band directors, choir directors, art teachers etc. This just another way the district deprives our children of a full educational experience.
If this is a an acceptable practice, why not combine all areas? We can have history teachers lead the math department or science teachers run the sports programs. It wouldn't be tolerated in any other area, why has the district been doing this for fine arts?
The only reason Leonard is on the board is so that he can keep tabs on and try and run damage control on all the horrendous thing Feltes did. He tries to cause diversionary tactics such as yelling and throwing tantrums to steer people away from seeing the horrible things Feltes did and that he was a part of. He also loves to try and get the B&G employees stressed out by trying to implement what marty Feltes wants done to them(even though he was fired long ago!).
Alex does not seem like the kind of guy who would fall for such small-minded things. I'm glad he's an ex-cop. I am sure he recognizes a con-man when he sees one!
From what I have seen so far is nothing but good from the new B&G Director. He is trying hard to get things in shape and works well with the Union. He has more than a full-time job trying to get things back into shape so these kids can have a nice place to go to school and he is doing it while saving the taxpayers money.
He does not need the likes of Tricky Dick Leonard lying in his ear and wasting his time! No of us do. The jigs up Leonard, people are seeing you for who you really are. Go away and let this district start to heal after all you have done to it!!
To: Good News Ahead
I don't know what you consider a big raise but a simple percentage is not what's going to correct the issues, District 131's entire salary schedule needs to be revamped. Steps are inconsistent and while the bottom of the salary schedule maybe 5% - 10% behind neighboring districts, the top end is up to 50% lower than surrounding districts.
In addition to the monetary issues are other concerns. Class sizes and resources are definately a concern. Another big concern is insurance, the cost was raised to many teachers last year by more than 50%. The contract offered this past spring reduced our protections.
One of the biggest concerns is MOU's (Memorandum of Understanding). The teachers were screwed in many ways during the last contract but MOU's. MOU's allowed the district to bypass the union membership and make changes to the contract by having Sarah Imthurn sign away our rigts and protections. This has to be removed from the contract before it is approved. What's the point of having a contract if everything in it can simply be changed at any time by Dr. Popp and Sarah's signatures. MOU's must be removed unless a clause is added that a vote must taken by the entire membership.
The last Board only offered 3% the new Board is offering over 10% from what I have heard. That is a major improvement and while I would like to be paid like other districts it was my choice to stay. I see them as making a good faith attempt to close the wage gap. I do agree with the MOUs they pass a contract and change it behind our backs. Sara is not to be trusted. I hope she is forced to teach next year and see what we put up with. I also hope a code of displine is returned to buildings this year. Knifes and guns have no place in the school district. Sara should speak out.
On another note Dr Waddle is meeting with different groups she appears to know curriculum and is getting input. Maybe it's a good thing she came from a building level position she see's the big picture. Also, Mr Dimare is doing great things he is finally addressing the mold issues at EAHS and Waldo.
For all the hate some good things are happening at the BOE level I think some of them care.
If you are such a great teacher have your students scores increased 10%. Therefore you don't deserve a raise.
Feltes spent the first year of teachers salaries and he took work away from us. now that we are back doing the work we are qualified for instead of painting curbs the district has money now. Snow plowing costs very little overtime and we have the equipment what don't you get Leonard. Word is Marty's loser relative has a snow plow business.
This year I knew a family that came to the district and their children went to one of the Middle Schools. What I found out is most parents don't even care if their kids go to school. They don't make the students do their homework and the students act up. I did hear about how teachers stay after school to tutor students. The teachers in this district have to deal with a lot why don't you Taxpayer visit a classroom to see what is going on. Yes, they do deserve the 10%.
The facts:
Feltes, Leonard and no one else is going to jail. It's simple, unethical acts ?maybe; criminal acts ? absolutely not.
Graduations rates were up due to Spencer Byrd; not. He enacted best practices by not suspending students for petty acts like most districts are doing. Byrd spent many hours hiding in his office or lifting weights with his fat neck buddies.
Promoting from within is the best way to do things? There is data to support internal promotions are good for moral. However data also will show that many individual relationships are built and many staff members being promoted have difficulty separating those relationships if they become a division chair. Prior to the changes a few years back the evaluation process by the chairs was joke by individuals who were members of the Union. BTW Glotzbach, Gonzalez, Aire, Garcia to name a few were all in house promotions. New blood from a progressive , high performing district like 204 cannot be all bad; time will tell.
10% pay raises per year is a pipe dream and will never happen. However one must consider that Johnson will do anything to get a hug from the teachers therefore there is a chance in a million. If anything remotely close to 10% comes to fruition maintenance will be outsourced within 12 months and teachers will not be rehired for 16/17. The former will make Johnson and Leonard happy because he thinks they are a bunch of slackers who his buddy Marty couldn't straighten out and she will balance the teachers raise on their backs.
http://www.d131.org/newsDetail.asp?id=3454&guid=
I was looking at the district web site at HR Job Openings. This is how many positions are currently open:
52 Certified Positions
31 Non-Certified
37 Internal Postings
3 Administrative Positions
That is a total of 123 jobs still open with less than 2 weeks before school starts. That doesn’t include the teachers who are even now looking at other districts to get out of District 131. How many years are we going to start without the staff necessary to teach the communities children? How many years are we going to fill our positions with the leftover teachers that every other district rejected? When is the board going to realize that our bottom of the barrel salaries is the reason we have difficulty staffing our schools?
While we are at it, why can’t the district provide facilities adequate for our students? Elementary schools who have go to the middle schools for programs, middle schools who have to promote at the high school to fit and now the high school has to go to NIU if more than half of the senior class promotes?
Waldo has half a field, no games can be played there. The Magnet has no field to play on. Cowherd has a field that is cupped and floods every time it rains too hard. The Simmons fields are adequate but they are owned by the park district, not District 131. The high school can not host real track competitions or soccer matches because the facilities are to small and falling apart. Keep your children away from the stadium, it structurally unsound and it’s covered in lead paint.
Anybody who has been in the band rooms know they are completely inadequate. The high school band room is way too small. They just hired a second band director because there’s going to be at least 250 kids in band, not including the color guard. The room should not have more than 40 band kids in it. Maybe somebody should call the fire marshal at the next football game. I’m sure he would have a major issue if he saw how many people were in the band room before and after the game.
The lunch room facilities are also far too small. That is why our students are eating lunch as early as 9:45 in the morning and as late as 1:30 in the afternoon in lunch rooms where they barely fit. All of these facilities were designed for schools with half the population we are squeezing into them. Twenty years ago the three middle schools housed about 500 students each. Now they are cramming over a thousand students in them. The high school should have record numbers of graduates, they have record numbers of students.
The school board has an obligation to provide for the education of the District 131 children. The money is not going to the teachers, the buildings are completely inadequate, the classrooms are overcrowded and don’t have the resources they need. Where is the money going? Maybe instead of bragging about having $90+ million dollars in the bank, the board should be doing what they were elected to do, provide for the education of children.
Insider word is the latest offer by the board to the teachers is only 4 ½%. When you consider how far behind in salary the top end of our contract is, this is just another slap in the face. At 23 years with a doctorate in District 131 we make just over $74,000 while if you go to Naperville or Batavia, they are making about $114,000.
Assuming that the other districts get just a cost of living increase each year of about 3%, it will take District 131 at 4 ½%, 31 years for the top end of our salary schedule to catch up. At 6%, it will still take 16 years before we reach them. Even at 10% a year, it would take 8 years before we were competitive.
The board doesn’t know, doesn’t show or just doesn’t care. Their primary job is to ensure the best possible education for our children. The board has for decades shown what they value; corruption, greed and perceived power.
The teachers need to remember that the power over the contract really rests with them, not the board and not the Union (That worthless group that just keep stealing our money and giving us nothing in return). We need to vote NO and keep voting NO until we are offered a wage that will keep the best teachers in District 131. Our students deserve no less. When we get to a point that the district refuses to negotiate further, an arbiter will have to be brought in. The arbiter will look at how underpaid our teachers are compared to the surrounding districts and how much money the district has in reserves. A real salary increase will then be ordered. The district will no longer have any choice. It’s simple, “VOTE NO”.
insider who knows better told us that was the package our union put forth and the board had to fight with them to pay more. It sounds like that fight is still going on . It is crazy to think the management fights for us but the union does not. It goes without saying, if someone tells you that you can pay a cheaper price would you not. We need to tell our union no and organize a no confidence vote against them.
Remember they are in the room, not us.
I agree with much of what had been said above. Teachers are underpaid, the schools are crowded and not being taken care of properly. Yes, there have been too many corrupt Board members and incompetent admin with "perceived" power. I suppose they do have a sense of power, when y can continue for as long as they have not taking care of business properly and not even giving the teachers the programs and tools to give the students an adequate education. I saw someone spouting off about increase students scores 10% and then the teachers would deserve a raise. I don't even work for the district, but I have had children here long enough to know and see how creative our teachers have had to be to give the students what they need. Granted, some blame goes to parents, but a big share goes to the district and the city. If the homes in our district were more single family dwellings and some of the vacant rundown houses were demolished, it would help thin out the number of students attending our schools. Weisner was encouraging more homes from several new arenas that were to be built during his terms. Luckily, for whatever reason, they fell through. For the most part, the same houses are in this district that have been here for years. So there are not anymore new houses adding to our property taxes, there are just many more families living in the same number of houses. Which has to be approved by our city council! And supported by the school board!!
So should our teachers and students have to pay the price for poor decisions made by our elected officials? They re the reason our buildings and teachers are over burdened. They have the power to start fixing that, or at least for the time being, compensate our teachers for their efforts.
The minutes from the June 15th School Board meeting should have been posted weeks ago.
Central office, please do the job we PAY you to do!!
http://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/aurora-beacon-news/news/ct-abn-east-aurora-teachers-contract-st-0811-20150810-story.html
Well written article by the Beacon. Hanley need to resign he has become a distraction and Popp needs to go with him. I am no fan of Clayton but he was seen around the district and he planned events. What does hanley do it is a slap in the face to teachers.
I am also glad the Beacon showed the differences in wages. We need unity and need to be prepared to strike.
Today's article shows again Dr Popp only cares about himself with his comments regarding Matt Hanley. I was excited that we had a new leader last year but I soon became alarmed when he took no action when Feltes was allowed to waste millions, and belittle staff. This was reported to Popp and Glotzbach and nothing happened.
The next issue was a new administrative center while many of us worked in overcrowded class rooms.
Then came the .8% raise offer which was then followed by the 3% slap in the face. Dr Popp does not understand this district is the most underpaid and overworked in the area. After the slap in the face Hanley receives a $40,000 raise. Really, we may work in 131 but we are not stupid.
Yes some things are getting better with the election of the new board. Dr Popp and his cronies need to get fired and we need someone who cares.
If you had any ethics or morals Matt Hanley you would resign. You are bad PR.
Why have we gone decades without established curriculum in District 131? We've had committees, paid high priced administrators, even brought in outside consultants to guide us but still no curriculum for most areas in the district.
I believe it's just one more way to deprive the children of District 131 of needed resources. The reason that all curriculum is approved by the school board is because as soon as any curriculum is established, the district is then legally obligated to fund all needed resources to administer that curriculum.
Without an approved curriculum, they don't have to purchase needed resources. That's how you get to brag about $90+ million dollars in the bank while still funneling millions of dollars to your contractor buddies. And as always, it's the children who pay the price.
http://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/aurora-beacon-news/news/ct-abn-crespo-st-0812-20150811-story.html
http://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/aurora-beacon-news/news/ct-abn-east-summer-graduation-st-0812-2-20150811-story.html
http://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/aurora-beacon-news/news/ct-abn-east-aurora-debt-st-0812-20150812-story.html
You nailed it in every area
I had never thought about the point that there are really no new homes being built, but rather more families being crammed into existing homes, which fills up the schools more quickly. The city really should look at that, but I'm sure they won't :(
Weisner has destroyed the school district since has been Mayor. He keeps taking properties off the tax roles and does not enforce building codes. Hopefully someone who cares about the east side will get elected. Go Kurt Becker!
The agenda packet for the August 17th School Board meeting has been published.
The minutes from the JUNE 15th School Board meeting, however, are still absent.
It's my understanding that minutes are required to be publicly posted 14 days after approval.
It looks like either someone at the central office is lazy, administration is trying to delay certain information being made public, and/or the minutes are being withheld from the public as a slap in the face.
Of course, our district COULD do what many districts do in 2015. They COULD put School Board meetings online.
But that would require a certain amount of transparency and respect for taxpayers and community members...
...And that's not the EA way.
:(
If the school district can afford to pay Matt Hanley and extra 40K at the drop of a hat, they can afford to put the board meetings online/public cable tv. It's not that hard to do! Some people can't get to the meetings and want to be informed as well!
Reading the Board’s Agenda Packet for Monday night’s meeting is very enlightening, especially the section on the superintendents and boards budget. Their budget is $173,820.00. This includes $6,020.00 for board professional development (far more than we spend per teacher), $12,270.00 for board travel and meals, $5,000.00 for their holiday party, $19,900.00 for the board membership fees and $50,000.00 for board legal settlements. The superintendent receives $16,930.00 for his professional development (The district spends about $60,000 for 1000 teachers), $6,200.00 for travel and meals and $19,550.00 for membership fees (Teachers have to pay for their own). This much money could easily hire four new teachers.
There were many more interesting fees. There was $117,000.00 for outside auditing fees for the finance department. It sounds like we have two administrators for the finance department. We spend $15,000.00 for shredding services (makes a person wonder what they don’t want the public to see). Interesting since we have a paper recycler on Farnsworth (by the bridge over the train tracks) that would take all that for free. The district could witness it being turned into pulp.
There is a line item of $162,000.00 for posters from Gretchen Courtney. I’ve never seen such a ridiculous amount spent on a frivolous need. The district is only spending $60,000.00 on the Gretchen Courtney learning materials. Why would they spend almost triple the cost of the learning materials for accompanying posters?
There is a line item under Title III funds of $20,000.00 for Joan Glotzbach’s trip to Spain. There should also be an investigation into the bilingual teacher salaries. Apparently the bilingual teachers that Joan brings from Spain don’t follow our salary schedule. They are paid a real salary. You should also notice the bilingual director and their secretary’s salaries. These two people receive $232,235.00 in salary and benefits. I guess it pays to be bilingual in District 131.
Don’t forget to notice the line item for Bob Green. After more than two years of the district dragging its’ heels, the day of reckoning is upon the district. The state arbiter made their decision and now the board has to decide if they want to fight this further in the courts. Considering that both the police and DCFS came back and stated that Bob Green had done no wrong, the district has really shown their colors in the Bob Green Saga. I wonder how many more of our tax dollars they are going to waste on this.
I don’t know if this is prophetic or not but there is a line item discussing “Pending Collective Bargaining”. The total allocated would cover about a 3% raise, no more. So much for Annette Johnson’s statements to the Beacon that she understands the salary issues in District 131.
These are just a few of the questionable items I notice just skimming through the board packet for Monday nights board meeting. I hope somebody is really going through these documents line by line.
Board training is a requirement under Illinois School code. The IASB conducts the training.
The board is required to pay Popp for travel under his contract as well as professional development.
The holiday party is for the teachers
Board membership fees are the district membership into IASB who is now responsible for keeping up the policy manual.
Outside auditing is required by law
The curiculum budget has not been approved
I suggest you come to meeting and ask these questions the public is certainly invited. I also will commend the new members for asking for detail and suggest that you revisit last year when nothing was transparent.
the BOE needs to look into the ghost writer Hanley is using that would be his old friend Dan Campana from the Beacon. Not only do you pay him a BIG FAT RAISE but you are paying someone to do his work.
http://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/aurora-beacon-news/news/ct-abn-back-to-school-st-0814-20150813-story.html
We need to walk away and remain in solidarity on Monday Non Classified is getting a royal screwing. While the board was more generous to teachers it came at the backs of secretaries and support staff.
Teachers know we make it happen for you. Please do not give up the fight and remain in solidarity. If Matt Hanley can get a $40,000 raise then we should get the respect we deserve.
Popp complained that we had no business telling the BOE and newspaper about Hanley. When is the BOE going to fire him all he cares about is his image not the teachers, students or community.
Next meeting Monday show your support for all don't let the board buy some of you off.
Popp is criticizing the union for exposing Hanley to the community. Really? Does he not get the it! Teachers and staff feel demoralized that his speech writer gets a $40,000 raise while we work in overcrowded classrooms for pay anywhere between $5,000 to $20,000 lower. Yes it is wonderful that the current board attempted to give the teachers more. What did not do is give proper pay to support staff who in our district conducts classroom duties. Many times they are our the teachers right hand and many of them do hold degrees. Many are looking for experience in teaching and will become teachers. So when they have heavy repayment from student loans and Hanley is given a big raise does the arrogants of Dr Popp not get it
Date: August 14, 2015
To: Board of Education East Aurora Dist 131
Subject: FOIA Issues
I am bringing to your attention several issues regarding recent FOIA response and no response
On July 24 2015 I received a FOIA response regarding a recent contract
It had an unsigned contract but NOT the redacted signed contract by the Board of Ed.
August 3rd and 11th I notified Matt Hanley via email concerning this omission. As of today I have not received a reply to those inquiries. I can’t imagine why he won’t provide that.
Next is a recent FOIA response (see attached) which contains 917 pages at a cost of $ 65.02
This regards emails between Mark Truckenbrod, Mike Popp, Joan Glotzbach and Spencer Byrd. Time period is Feb 1 –March 31 2015.
This equates to 15 emails per day including weekends.
Here are my options:
1) Pay the $65.02 and receive 917 pages of redacted emails
Hanley will report about 1,000 hours of his time redacting DUPLICATED pages
Mike Popp will then contend I am wasting District resources, money, and Matt Hanley’s time.
2) I pay the $ 65.02 then appeal these redactions to the Attorney General’s office thus further wasting unnecessary time and money.
Bernie Weiler’s office will then invoice the District to respond and defend the “Privacy, Personnel Issue” of the content. (His office is already making a fortune on this School District)
3) Board of Education get involved and review the emails
4) Have a 3rd party review the procedure/process Matt Hanley is utilizing in gathering such a large amount of pages.
Hanley needs to correct the “Excessive Findings” and filter these reports NOT TO INCLUDE the unnecessary data.
Would appreciate response in written form
I am still waiting for months on multiple issues
Respectfully
Ralph Padron
GO RALPH GO!
I am the only one who thinks its funny that the district has an opening for the position below.
Director of Assessment and Accountability
If this person doesnt become a popp puppet i would say this is going to be one busy person!
I had a friend have a scheduled interview for today at 9:30 at the High School. He arrived at 9:15 for the interview as he lives 45 minutes away. They told him we were just going to call you to see if you can reschedule to 10:30. He went to his car and waited. He had another interview scheduled for 11:30 with another district so he called to push that back. When he went back in for the 10:30 interview they asked if he could reschedule to a phone interview for later in the afternoon. This is very unprofessional! How does EA expect to hire and retain people when this is the first impression a new candidate is going to have. Not only that, he now looks bad in the eyes of another district he was going to apply for and was inconvenienced by the hour and a half round trip for nothing!
Director for Assessments and Accountability is the renamed position that David Brusak resigned from, Director for School Improvement. I'm sure Popp has someone in mind from #204. Many, many critical positions are still unfilled.
http://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/aurora-beacon-news/lifestyles/ct-abn-community-briefs-st-0816-20150814-story.html
Glotzbach, Thruckenbrog, and now the Director position all have accountability in the title. What a joke, but it is code word for making teachers accountable and blaming the districts poor performance on us. It also shows the Dicatorship that exists in Central administration with regards to buildings. The appointment of the Popp era has taken away all the building personalities. I have seen change in this district and not for the better. Popps clueless lack of discision making and allowing Glotzbach to run the district has put it straight in the ground.
Board members we still need to copy Glotzbach on everything personnel, so if you believe she is not in charge in of HR look again. Also, she will not move out of her office it shows Popps weak leadership. The paint swatches have been on her desk for months.
Be assured I am pursuing putting in a complaint with the Inspector General and Attorney General against Joan Glotzbach in the wasting of TAXPAYER DOLLARS for her mistakes, cover-up and lawsuits resulting in her tenure in Human Resources. She can bully and intimidate all she wants at 131 but rest assured I will pursue she be held accountable for her behavior and performance.
Popp sure won't do it as he is intimidated by her Gestapo type personality.
The case is being built and I have contacted many a former employee to get information from them. Very interesting how much she is despised (I don't want to use the word hated) by those whose lives she has made miserable and almost destroyed. They will be given me written statements and emails when the time comes to deal with her.
Please pass this along to Joan as her reign of terror may continue but will be short lived.
Don't give up hope and know that I am determined to expose her shenanigans and rid East Aurora of her.
Feel free to contact me
Accountability is holding the BOE accountable for Hanley. The secretaries work very hard but what does Hanley accomplish with his $120,000 plus pension contribution salary. Please look into the fact he uses ghost writers from the Beacon to write articles for the Enlighter. The one community duty and he can't even do that. Then Annette Johnson and her loser BOE members have the gull to say we are overpaid.
Bad time management from an unorganized school district who needs a "Director of Assessment and Accountability". If managers can't properly manage time, personnel, and resources well then those people need to get fired. Use that money to pay a teacher instead of someone who cant play the position they were hired for. Best of luck to your friend!
Why are there no comments? Has the blog been shut down? How about the royal screwing the teachers got from the administration this summer where they were brought in during the last three weeks in June, parts of July and almost all of August for various trainings. I have never seen admins try to chew up teacher time so effectively!! Remember admins you signed up to do this!! we did not!! I am not against working my ass off to help kids!! but let me choose!! you do not get to choose!!
To: anonymous2
The administrators didn't sign up to do these trainings, they are on district time and being paid during their time. Only the teachers are expected to do all these extra duties on their own time and for free. The district administrators want all the teachers to go to Cowherd this week to pick up computers and receive training on their own time. We've also been told that we are supposed to watch all the Global Compliance Training Videos when we have a free hour. In other words, on our own time.
You should also notice that there are three days of meetings this year instead of two before the kids show up on Tuesday. When was this extra day negotiated with the teachers union? (Since negotiations are still in the works, we are supposed to follow last years contract) Who added this day and with what authority? How are the teachers being compensated for this time? Even with the extra day before school starts, we are not given one minute to work in our classrooms. The only way for our classrooms to be set up (not a total mess) is for the teachers to come in before the school year begins and clean the mess left from summer on their personal time.
The first three days of meetings consist mainly of the administraive tasks that the district is expecting the teachers to do this year (Again, mainly on their own time).
Where is the Union? Who is agreeing to all these changes? Is this Sarah Imthurn again signing our rights away through MOU's (Memorandum of Understanding)? She is way to friendly with Joan Glotzbach for any teachers comfort. Will things ever change in District 131?
Sarah can't agree with administration fast enough, they give her full release and pay her way. Sarah does not experience any of the problems we face the administration pays her way. Sarah and Carla say nothing at negoiciations. They will not even fight for an additional 1/2 percent for support staff and secretaries. They have private meeting with administration and have signed our lives away. Our union uses the districts lawyer he makes the changes I doubt Carla and Sarah read the changes.. The money the union saves by using the districts lawyers goes straight in the pockets of Adam Harding and Carla they are always taking fancy trips and the members backs. That is why we work extra days. GET RID OF THEM AND SEND A MESSAGE VOTE NO.
My speech at the Aug 17 20105 Board Meeting
I bring to your attention regarding the recent hiring of Sarah Wadell for the position of “Assistant Superintendent for Teaching and Learning. There are serious issues regarding her qualifications and other areas of concern. My questions are directed to HR Joan Glotzbach
Sarah was an Asst Principal Scullen Middle School at Indian Prairie District 204
(Note Mark Truckenbrod was Principal at Scullen Middle)
Would this position require experience as a
Principal
Asst Director
Director
Sarah had no experience from the above
Previous salary $ 100,000.00
New salary is $ 145,000.00
Were Dr Carla Johnson or David Brusack (who has resigned) more qualified for this position. Sorry they aren’t from 204 but from the Jerome Roberts administration
I ask the Board these questions
1 Why does Mike Popp continue to recruit/hire from his former employer Indian Prairie Dist 204
2 Why was Sarah hired with minimal experience
3 Did former 204 administrators interview and recommend her to be hired
4 I find it difficult to believe that a MUCH MORE EXPERIENCED candidate could not be found.
Wikepedia: Cronyism is partiality to long-standing friends, especially by appointing them to positions of authority, regardless of their qualifications.
It appears this practice has resurfaced and this new Board needs to address this and discipline those who are responsible
NOTE: THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION'S INSPECTOR GENERAL HAS CONTACTED EA FOR ANSWERS PER MY COMPLAINT REGARDING THE BLDG & GROUNDS SCANDALS.
I WILL BE SUBMITTING ANOTHER COMPLAINT REGARDING THE NEVER ENDING HUMAN RESOURCES VIOTLATION THROUGHOUT THE YEARS.
“Enough is Enough” as the taxpayers continue to pay for Popp’s cronyism
Carillon homeowners and others, feel assured your property tax dollars get to pay for these questionable hiring’s compliments of Mike Popp and Joan Glotzbach
Meanwhile the minutes from the JUNE 15th School Board meeting have not been posted, as they legally should have been WEEKS ago!
At this point, it looks like either they're being purposely withheld from the community or someone in central office is extremely lazy.
Knowing the history of non-transparency in our district, I'm betting on the former.
Is anyone really surprised that minutes from more than 2 months ago have not been made available online?
Another school year is about to start, and once again our district's administration has refused to join the 21st century as many neighboring districts have chosen to do. Broadcasting School Board meetings online makes sense if a district TRULY wants to be transparent instead of just pretending to care about informing the community.
And again & again, Mr. Padron has requested a written response to his questions and concerns. Again and again his polite request for something in writing has been ignored.
Some things haven't changed in ten years.
Alex Arroyo is a sell out. He voted to outsource our jobs because he was playing up to a few seniors in the audience. He was so stupid that if he would have listened to his fellow board members Ken Darby pulled the bids for the Feltes relative snow plow company and the cost was $71,000 for 6 schools. Darby said the cost was $100 per hour and the maintenance department only cost $21,000 in overtime all year. Most of the plowing is done by workers who o snow removal during their job day. So does Arroyo understand math. The number would be over 300,000 per year. Nobody in our department makes more than $50.00 per hour on overtime.
Alex you will never get our vote again you promised many of us you would listen and
treat us with respect. Just another loser who sold out when you got in. Also you need to pay attention at the meeting and are a embrassment Hatchett had to wake him up at one point. Listening to the ever corupt Leonard will get you nowhere.
Minutes from four School Board meetings (June 15, July 6, July 20, and August 3) have been posted online:
https://v3.boardbook.org/Public/PublicItemDownload.aspx?mk=50161935&fn=minutes.pdf
https://v3.boardbook.org/Public/PublicItemDownload.aspx?mk=50163688&fn=minutes.pdf
https://v3.boardbook.org/Public/PublicItemDownload.aspx?mk=50165847&fn=minutes.pdf
https://v3.boardbook.org/Public/PublicItemDownload.aspx?mk=50167432&fn=minutes.pdf
August 19, 2015
Matthew Hanley, FOIA Officer
East Aurora School District 131
417 5th Street
Aurora, IL 60505
Re: FOIA Request for Documents
Purchase Orders / Invoices / Emails
Reference “DanCamCom or Dan Campana etc”
Regarding Dan Campana services rendered for “Enlightner”
Dear Mr. Hanley
Time period June 1 2014 – August 15 2015
Include any emails between Matthew Hanley and Dan Campana (former Beacon News employee) concerning the above.
Copies of news articles Mr Campana hired out to write per these Purchase Orders
Please notify me when documents are gathered , am requesting paper documents be mailed or picked up.
I understand that the Act permits a public body to charge a reasonable copying fee not to exceed the actual cost of reproduction and not including the costs of any search or review of the records. I am asking that any fees be waived per 5ILCS140/6(c).
Thank Ralph
We peons in Central O thank you for exposing this. We have been accused of not being worth a increase a living wage increase. Meanwhile, Matt is given a $40,000 raise and outsources his job. Definitely not fair when secretaries are the backbone of the district. Toooooo bad our union does not think so.
Teachers the board may be giving you a big raise but do you really think administration is going to give you great evaluations. There are trainings going on now with Principals to get us. We must stand united Secretaries and Support staff together. The administration is trying to divide us and get teachers to vote yes. They think 10% can buy you off. We are only getting 3%. We voted no with you and helped get you a deserved raise. Please stick up for us, please vote no.
Arroyo you also sold us out, you donated to you and you stated you would be our voice we heard with you did to our fellow brothers in maintenance. We will not forget. Associating with the likes of tricky Dick. SHAME ON YOU.
Read it and weep dumba** Dick and Your sidekick Arroyo. This is a quote from the West Aurora school district . See Dick and Alex can't tell that $71,000 is greater than $21,000. We understand Dick has a friend in the snow plow business but Alex is his chump. Did Alex not understand Marty Feltes took kickbacks? Maybe Dick explained how much you can make off of a school board seat and that is why Alex wants to outsource us.
"Last year was our first year as a team and departments were able to come up with ways to cut," Angie Smith, assistant superintendent of operations, said after the budget presentation to the board.
Smith said the district reduced its reliance on outside vendors and chose to do repairs with employees that will save the district significantly.
Anyone on the BOE who votes with Leonard HATES the unions at EA131. If you don't see what kind of morals (or lack thereof) he has, I hope you do your research and figure out his personal agenda--soon. He sat on the Buildings and Grounds Committee (a committee to oversee the spending etc., a check and balances system for that department) while his friend Marty Feltes was harassing the workers, doing nothing he was told to do in accordance with what had been planned and agreed on for that dept. and robbing the district blind. Anyone who was on that committee is responsible for the atrocities that took place, but especially Leonard as he claims he has knowledge in this area (worked for the City of Aurora, got fired for taking a kickback on a real estate transaction) yes, this is who is making decisions for the kids of 131. Fine piece of work!
Glad Padron contacted federal officials to investigate. Once they follow the paper trails they will see who was to blame for the..oh, let's call it "mismanagement of funds". Leonard's name will be at the top of the list along with his friend Marty's. Here's a fact, just because you sit on the BOE does NOT mean you cannot be prosecuted for crimes against the Department of Education. The fact that Feltes' relatives snow plowing business was pulled as a company to outsource the snowplowing to screams what Leonard is up to!! I expect we will see many contractor kickbacks that Leonard was privy to and allowed while Feltes was the Director of Buildings & Grounds. Why do BOE members not see this??
I had read at one of the last two contracts the secretaries were negotiating, they were among the highest paid in the area, unlike the teachers. So the percentage the teachers get is an attempt to bring them up to their local peers. Unlike secretaries being paid above theirs. If the info I read was true. Please clarify where DO the secretaries wages fall, compared to others in the area?
BOE members saw this and stopped him Monday. Only Arroyo who took help from (us) unions could not see this. He is another one who said he needed help getting on the BOE to protect workers and students. Sorry we believed him. He has done nothing for Lations. He claims to listen. Really?
As a observer in attendance Arroyo was trying to impress audience members that he looks at every dollar. We then tried to tell us he was helping us. How by outsourcing our jobs? The district stated snowplowing cost $21,000 plus salt and gas for the trucks last year. The district also showed snowplowing only 6 buildings without sidewalks just plowing would cost $71,000. Who is Arroyo fooling the numbers had been reported. Most snow cleanup takes place before school starts but we do not get overtime we are paid as part of our day. Leonard knew this he used Arroyo and the other BOE members figured that out.
Again Stupid is as Stupid does
I would like to know why B & G allows Luis and Larry to drive around all day in the district vans DOING JUST THAT!Luis has a landscaping business and is always conducting business on D131's time and Larry rides around building's several times observing the grounds!Really what a waste!
Unity sounds like sour grapes, and Trying to stay informed is correct. If you check other contracts online for neighboring districts (including West Aurora) the support and secretarial employees are the highest paid and are $2 to $6 per hour higher, and that is without a raise. The teachers are in many instances thousands of dollars behind. Where should the District invest its limited resources? Also, if the District was out to get you, why would they want to raise their employees to to be in line with other Districts?
Secretaries at East do not make more than West that is our union buying the districts garbage. Sarah and Carla have sold us out and can not lick Popps boots fast enough. Same way today Carla got Sarah full release and both would not say anything about Matt Hanley. How much does he make more than his counterparts did they get $40,000 raises. Everyone knows Annette hates secretaries and wants the teachers to luv her. Sounds like the same story she gave us last time. Darby sold the secretaries out watch Diane Thomas get a full time job very shortly.
Wilson the district lawyer is still writing our contract. Carla will go on vacation with our dues that she saves on legal fees. Wait Masters teachers with Joan, Truckenbr, and Waddle doing your evaluations you will get fired. So much for unity.
http://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/aurora-beacon-news/news/ct-abn-east-aurora-contracts-st-0304-20150303-story.html
Date: August 21, 2015
To: Board of Education East Aurora Dist 131
Subject: Facilities Evaluations Consultant EMG
I am bringing to your attention several issues regarding the mold issue at the High School “Little Theatre”
The attached article referenced EMG to evaluate all schools etc.
Lets focus on the High School which was inspected by EMG
Questions
Did they or did they not discover the “Mold Problem”
If so what was the action taken
If not, how could they have missed this
This is a very serious problem in that the safety and health of both students and staff has been compromised.
Note this company was endorsed by Mike Popp since Dist 204 had hired them
Current Board Members Annette Johnson and Richard Leonard voted against the hire.
Does the current board of Ed believe EA got their money’s worth in hiring this company for approximately $ 80,000.00
More forthcoming in the near future about this issue
Please read the attached news article and ask your own questions.
I am still waiting for months on multiple issues
Ralph please know that the mold issue was a problem last year as well. We went to do an early event in the space last Sept and there were seats covered in mold then ad well. The b&g were aware and told us to not sit in seats with the mold and had even put plastic bags over some of the chairs that were covered in the mold.
We were told that the students wouldn't care which is why they weren't going to fix it. Foia the work orders for the space.
The students were in that space all year in direct contact with it and the administration knew all along.
There was a tech guy who I know confronted Marty about the mold and raised the health risks and I know we never saw him again after that. Heard later he was fired for bringing up safety issues.
Ralph Padron,take time to look into Simmons Middle Schools Office where the Secretaries work as well, they have mold sitting under that old nasty carpet that has been on that floor for many years and nothing has been done even after secretaries continue to get sick and and could be due to that mold! They were told a while back that the carpet would be removed but of course the ball was dropped and it's still there! What a bad condition for those secretaries to work in.Or could you tell me who I need to report this to?
Sooooo, when Dick Leonard was complaining saying that the kids were in danger from the heat exchangers (which in fact was completely UNtrue) his buddy Marty Feltes was exposing the students and staff to mold and knew about it??? And staff is still being exposed to it today? How much more sordid is this gonna get? Marty had people fired that went against him-fact. I hope Dick & Marty are going to be made accountable for this along with anyone else that knew about it!
We need to call OSHA they will take anonyomous tips. The room that Marty built downstairs at EA that cost a half million dollars and has a special ventilation system installed by Marty's pals for band uniforms Now the band uniforms have mold on them. Feltes took millions and did nothing. Ralph anyone from the public can visit the buildings maybe it's time.
I call BS. How do you know that there is mold on the band uniforms. It really seems unlikely!
Secretaries and support staff are getting shafted by this contract we have no representation. Hettinger and Intherum sit at the table but behind our backs change language to reflect the pro administration platform they have. Intherum owes them for full release and Hettinger gets to keep more money by using the districts legal staff.
Teachers will not get the support this year from non certified because you did not stick with us. When you got hosed at only 3% who stuck by you. We voted no in unity, teachers you owe us the same. If you do not get protected now in this contract Joan Glotzbach will evaluate you out. That is why she is working in the schools now.
On to the mold we have windows that leak so bad we need to keep towels by them and ring them out when it rains or the water gets on the floor. The water runs down the walls were we can not wipe and mold is forming. Feltes was shown this and his comment was what the He** I can't fix everything. At our building he constantly had Youngerns walking the halls with nothing to do while the district was paying over $150 per hour. We need to stand in unity for our maintenance people as well. They have the same ability but only make $25 per hour. Flanigan was aware of this and Feltes swearing around children and he is not here also. It seems to be a pattern so wait teachers if you think there is not going to be hell to pay for forcing the crooked Popp administration to give us a raise.
Remember Matt Hanley. They have money to pay us.
Date: August 23, 2015
To: Anthony Crespo & Board of Education East Aurora Dist 131
Subject: Request to tour EA High School
I am requesting a tour of the High School at your earliest convenience.
Purpose of my visit is to do some research in the following areas.
In addition I plan on bringing another visitor to accompany me on this tour.
“Little Theatre”
Band Uniform Storage Area
Weight/Exercise room which the Chicago Bears donated all that exercise equipment.
Am requesting to take photographs for my research report.
I do understand that no students nor staff can be photographed.
I would welcome a board member accompany me on this tour !!!!! Please consider
ATTN: BOARD OF ED
On MONDAY AUGUST 24 2015
I HAVE A SCHEDULED CONFERENCE CALL WITH OSHA TO REPORT AND REQUEST THEY INVESTIGATE THE MOLD PROBLEM AT THE HIGH SCHOOL
Respectfully
Ralph Padron
Mold is not regulated by any government body. OSHA nor the IDOL have regulations. My point is that mold is present everywhere.. If you have plants at your desk or in your home mold is present. Mold has many forms and is not asbestos so please quit it. Will a 4% raise make mold okay and keep you quit like you have been until now. Those who are most susceptible due to respitory issues, or immune system deficiency may have some ill effects; small children and seniors.
The new board members should read the minutes from the meeting when the consultants were approved. PWPadron knows that it was Johnson and Leonard the dynamic duo that hired Feltes and voted against the consultant only because they said we already had a facility report from Cordigan and Clark. Padron buddy David Finley spoke at a meeting and confirmed that a report existed. The study was done under his distinguished tenure. So mr. Padron , should CCA have found the mold at Simmons and EHS.
GlotZbach attempted to deal with Feltes on a number of occasions but Johnson made her stand down because of her allegiance to Leonard; lest we forget she rode his coat tail in 2013 to get re-elected by 35 votes.
Hull and Leonard made a deal to keep Feltes, Matt needs to get his facts straight that is why Ray became BOE President. Hull was in charge why did he not stop Feltes and why did it take Glotzbach and Popp over a year to fire Feltes. It was not until Ralph exposed Feltes and called the Inspector General that Popp reacted. There are many quite majority workers that saw the deal in the making under the past board. It is our hope that Padron keeps the pressure on and the mold finally gets addressed.
The facility study company is another 204 special and a joke the bill has already been paid before the report was even generated in fact they inspected roofs with snow on them so how can we believe anything. Somebody got paid off just like Matts salary.
Did ANYONE notice the shape the stadium stands were in during the buildings study?? Rust, lead paint, falling down? The ones that have now been condemned by the ROE?? I believe the answer a big, fat NO. Oh, Popp wants the kids to graduate out in DeKalb...why? I think we know why now. Because Marty Feltes took the 1/2 million dollars allocated for the new stands and blew it building a concrete monstrosity in the basement that holds junk. Why?? Because he COULD! Now we can't have graduation at the high school! The building auditor did not even have them in his study when asked at a BOE meeting...again- WHY? All that has been swept under the rug will soon be brought out for all to see. It will be interesting to see who rolls on who.
BTW- Comparing MOLD in a office plant to black mold that has been festering away and then covered up with plastic while encouraging people to still use the room is not even a comparison. There's another Marty Feltes for you and all supported by Dick Leonard and Co. Cover ups, cover ups, cover ups!
Go Padron, Go Osha, Go Inspector general, Go State's Atty. Complain all you want about Padron...WHAT part of this would have been found out if he had not stepped forward? Someone should write a book.....
Where the He** was Sarah Imthurn today? The entire teaching and support staff are gathered in a negotiation year and Sarah is AWOL? Other district leaders addressed the staff but our union president is too cowardly to even speak to us. If she can't speak TO us, how can we trust her to speak FOR us???
Later we got word that Sarah told people that she had nothing positive to report to the teachers and staff so she opted not to face us. This is absolutely unforgivable.
Our staff is in this good, bad or otherwise. Sarah is supposed to be our leader. If she can't even speak to the teachers, she needs to step aside. It is time for a no confidence vote on Sarah Imthurn.
Simmons has had mold issues for many years. Any time any teacher there has attempted to address the issue, the administration harassed and intimidated them. The administration there has transferred teachers, taken their room away and put them on carts, fired them or drove them out.
The North and NorthEast areas of the building are the worst. This includes the gym and music areas of the building. They have found mold growing an inch thick and still denied that there was any problem. Teachers have been sick in those areas for years. I can't imagine what it has cost the district in health care costs alone. The mold is just part of the problem. The band and choir rooms are only about ten feet away from the parking lot. Morning and afternoons, cars are lined up bellowing gas and diesel fumes that waft into the classrooms.
There are also serious CO2 issues with the music rooms (Simmons and elsewhere). The district completely overloads these classrooms with band and choir students. These kids are squeezed into these spaces engaging in activities that require them to breath heavily the entire time. The ventilation is completely inadequate and thus the CO2 levels become dangerously high. None of the district music rooms would meet the national standards. The CO2 levels have been documented in the past but we have been told not to worry about. Seeing what they have done to teachers complaining about mold, who wants to stand up and put a target on their back for CO2?
Nothing in District 131 ever changes. The only time students come first is when the community stands up and demands it. Somebody please stand up and demand what is best for children.
To the uninformed individual who says mold is harmless--black mold is toxic and can kill--I just had a close relative die of this-- did you hear all of the coughing in the auditorium today? You can smell the mold in there as well. Everyone knows the third floor of the English dept. is a cancer cluster At least four stricken and 1 dead. B and G head honchos have gotten rid of our misery, sickness and death. They have poorly constructed pipes which have always leaked and that is the root of the mold problem. They have never addressed this and when it floods, all they do is wet vac it up instead of ripping up tiles which they must do because it is in these wet/damp tiles where the mold starts growing.
"Coverups and Rollovers", you are wrong about why graduation is being moved to DeKalb. We can't have graduation at the high school because of the larger numbers of graduates (and their families). If it rains and the ceremony can't be held on the field outside, there is simply not enough room to hold students, teachers, administrators, band, and family members/guests inside. Dr. Popp did quite a bit of research asking neighboring districts, comparing costs, etc. Nothing was covered up about this decision; on the contrary, the community's best interests were considered.
The only info regarding the contract today came from Johnson. She admitted we are underpaid and they would allocate additional money from the State to us. Sarah was not around and that was unforgivable. We need to vote her out. A no confidence votes needs to happen shortly. She need to bring the current contract to a vote we have a right to vote it up or down. Showing administration she is intimidatied today is not good. If she was not so lazy she would resign. Full release has us stuck with her.
Old timer, you are correct about the air quality issues in the music rooms at Simmons. Especially in hot humid weather, it is extremely uncomfortable in the band and choir rooms because of poor ventilation and NO air conditioning! Year after year, teachers have been told "we're going to give you air conditioning", and year after year it hasn't happened.
Meanwhile the administrators sit in cool comfort.
http://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/aurora-beacon-news/news/ct-abn-east-aurora-back-to-school-st-0825-20150824-story.html
why does Johnson keep talking about Hull.? Because no one else cares about him. Here is why;Narcissism is grandiose view of ones own talent with a craving for admiration
when has Johnson brought up Hulls name? I attend board meeting and they are very professional.,Board members ask very good questions and the entire administrative staff engages in dialog. What a change from the cartoon show that went on in the past. I feel good about my tax dollars now from the board members making sure we are not wasting money. The votes are no longer rubber stamps.
Freshman classes at the HS have 40 students in them Sarah is not returning calls to teachers. Why do we pay union dues administration is still adding kids to classes today that have 35 or more. It is time to go to the board and complain directly.
Sooo, how many people do you think will attend graduation when you bus such a huge graduating class plus their families, not to mention staff, teachers etc. out to an unfamiliar area so far away? Not many. I can think of far more creative ways to have kept the entire "large" graduating class on the school grounds then sending them 30 miles west to DeKalb! How about splitting up the ceremony? Having it in different locations IN Aurora? I am sure there are ways to do it. They may not be conventional, but they would keep people in the same general location!
West High has been having graduation at NIU for several years, with very few problems.
Dr. Popp recognizes that the distance may be an issue for some families, and has suggested providing a shuttle bus.
And "splitting up the ceremony"?? That could be a DISASTER, with some families having several nieces, nephews, grandkids, godchildren, etc. that they would want to support. And what about the people who have to be there for the ceremony (teachers, administrators, band members, custodians...) They would have to attend TWO events, and custodians would need to be paid double.
Other districts (204, 308) have also moved their graduations to locations like College of DuPage. Batavia has a huge new auditorium/arts center, which is able to accommodate graduation--but if their enrollment skyrockets like ours has, who knows what they may choose to do in the future.
It was nice to hear Johnson say that she believes that D131 teachers deserve pay that is more comparable to surrounding districts, but I won't believe it until I see it. I have been in this district a couple of years and have yet to see Imthurn one time. That is ridiculous. I have worked in other districts which the Union President would travel around, hold regular meetings/Q&A sessions, and speak at opening ceremonies.
The lack of graduation space is just a symptom of the longstanding overcrowding issue facing the entire district. We have stuffed obscene numbers of children in spaces far smaller than any moral society should. These children are treated like third world citizens.
The plantation owner sits on the board with her gavel acting like the children are being treated better than they deserve. The only important thing is to be able to brag about all the money she can show in the bank.
We need to hear from the Union leadership. IWhen will the contract get voted on? Saying nothing is allowing many rumors to get started. Intherm needs to get replaced.
Graduation and morally bankrupt have made very valid points. East is NOT West. Just take a look at their booster groups and alumni organizations. Parents and community are NOT as involved on the eastside. So I won't even go to the point of why not to compare to 204 or 308. To- it's about the numbers.....how can you even state foolishness about having to pay the custodians double. You Do realize they have to pay for the venue in Dekalb. not to mention busses and shuttles! As another said....they could have been more creative. Maybe getting parents involved would have been option to consider. Survey all high school parents. No, EA does not want real parent involvement. But that is another rant for another day.
The gavel beater is exactly as the poster said......all about the money. She has no true perspective about the inside of the classroom. She thinks she can say out loud that she wants the teachers to have more money, then go behind closed doors knowing that vote will not happen, so she will pretend to be one of the minority votes in favor. She flip flops more than a fish out of water. She often states things as fact, knowing full well, nearly no one can call her out on her lies for lack of documentation of her previous statements or actions.
It is sadly looking grim for the students in EA. Until the Mayor gets rid of many multiple family dwellings to reduce student numbers, and until the district and board put quality education a priority, these children and their families are at a disadvantage. We have quality teachers! Give them the tools and the classroom atmosphere conducive to learning and the stats for success will rise. But all this falls on deaf ears. The majority of the board has agendas. Educating EA children is not at the top.
Our district pays to bus 1000 students every single day to the Kindergarten Building and Preschool buildings. I think they can probably handle busing our graduating class to NIU for one day. I think the NIU idea is a good one. Many of our kids graduates have to work really hard to overcome a lot of challenges and they deserve a nice graduation venue on par with the surrounding school districts. Most of our student's families are immigrants. If they managed to come here from another country and establish themselves, I'm sure they can handle getting themselves to NIU.
From the August 3rd School Board meeting:
Discussion ensued regarding moving the High School graduation to Northern Illinois University.
Mr. Darby stated that there was a survey that was taken on this topic and he would like to see the results of the survey. Dr. Popp stated that there was dialogue with our parent liaisons and they were very supportive of the concept as well as high school students who solicited feedback on the topic.
Mr. Darby asked if the discussion that was had was leading towards the move to NIU. Mrs. Strand stated that this discussion was had with the previous board and it was decided at that time that the board did not want to move forward
with the move until there was discussion and feedback with other stake holders. Mrs. Hatchett asked why Northern University was chosen. Dr. Popp stated that it was less expensive than other venues and it accommodates for more seating. He stated that Northern gives us a tremendous capacity for students and guests. He further stated that they take care of everything from ticketing and parking to having available a separate room for students to assemble prior to marching in. District 129,204 and 308 are now using Northern for their graduation venue. Mr. Laesch stated the savings is misleading.
He asked if we will use Vision Friendly and if there will be a need for a photographer because if you add these figures with the maintenance staff cost it does not seem as if we are saving much. Mrs. Strand stated that another stress factor is the weather. When you have family come in from out of time and to know that there may be a possibility they cannot attend because it will be moved indoors is very stressful. Mrs. Johnson stated that we have been lucky the last few years but there was a time that we had to rush indoors and it was
very uncomfortable.
She stated that she would love to keep the ceremony on the field but based on
the current graduation class and the conditions of the field it would be a positive move. She stated that there are negatives but there also are positives. Mr. Laesch asked about Waubonsee. Dr. Popp stated that this facility is not large enough. Mr. Leonard stated that his concern would be for those parents that do not have cars. Dr. Popp stated that if we get out there early enough the high school
can identify students that may not be able to attend based on transportation. Mr.Leonard stated that he has attended graduations at Northern and it is a great location.
They only bus 450 student to ALL Day Kinder.
The teachers got moved today in three classrooms because of growing mold problems. One teacher left school after becoming ill in the classroom. Maintenace employees tell staff this is a result of Feltes and work on air handling systems. Feltes spent millions with his no bid cronies well maintenance repairman from the district were forced to paint curbing. How many more millions is Popp going to cost the district. Many warned Popp last year of the impending danger one year later all the HVAC systems are failing. The question is will the district ever recover from Feltes.
http://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/aurora-beacon-news/news/ct-abn-east-aurora-mold-st-0827-20150826-story.html
Get Your Facts..: Now at that to the number of pre-kindergarten students who are bused and you'll get a more accurate number. The point is that the bus company can handle it and there are other companies in the surrounding area that can be hired for the day.
Call the Kane County ROE, specifically the Health and Safety Department. Report building conditions that are or could impact the health and wellbeing of staff and students. Document! Document! Document! Kane County ROE is your best avenue to pursue a healthier workplace. OSHA, etc, lead to dead ends.
Date: August 27, 2015
To: Board of Education East Aurora Dist 131
Subject: Joan Glotzbach Inquiry on Certification
Dear Board of Ed
Please review the attached FOIA regarding Joan Glotzbach’s
Certification for Principal Evaluator:
It was issued in 2015
It appears she WAS NOT certified prior to 2015
Questions
If that is true,
What prompted her to get certified in 2015 and on what date
Why did Superintendent Mike Popp allow Joan to evaluate the EA staff without being certified
Was there any disciplinary action to Joan Glotzbach as she knowingly was aware of not being certified.
Does this nullify all her evaluations, especially those who careers were ruined
Does this Board of Ed plan to ever respond to my previous inquiries?.
Does the Board President have an obligation to confront Mike Popp concerning the countless issues (more to surface shortly) and allow the “Mike Popp Era” to continually bring disgrace to East Aurora?
Where is Joan Glotzbach’s Teacher Evaluation Certification?
Would it not be imperative to possess this certification for her current and past position
considering she is the final voice on whether a teacher gets retained or not
Again I ask for a written response
Respectfully
Ralph Padron
http://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/aurora-beacon-news/sports/ct-abn-football-east-aurora-preview-st-0828-20150827-story.html
Date: August 28, 2015
To: Board of Education East Aurora Dist 131
Subject: Dist 204 FOIA Response
Board of Ed
Attached you will find via FOIA response from Dist 204 regarding background history of those hired by Mike Popp. I find it very interesting that 204 did not choose to retain these individuals in some capacity.
Here are the positions applied for and were NOT hired at 204
Sara Waddell ( EA Asst Superintendent Teaching & Learning)
Last position: Asst Principal 204
2014 Asst Superintendent for Secondary Teaching and Learning (Middle School)
Director of Digital Learning
Director of Middle School Core Curriculum & Instruction
2015 Executive Director of Stem Partnership School
If Sara could not be hired for any of the above, what qualified her for Asst Superintendent at EA and the $ 45,000.00 raise
Mark Truckenbrod ( EA Director of Leadership Development)
2014 Asst Superintendent for Secondary Teaching and Learning (Middle School)
Scott Dart ( EA Principal Hermes)
2014 Elementary Principal
High School Principal
Middle School Principal
Note: Mr Dart took a $ 10,000 pay cut to work at EA
Questions
1 Why were these individuals not hired within Dist 204
2 Did anyone do a background check or question their sudden availability
3 Did anyone challenge these hiring’s
4 Did Mike Popp mislead the District and Public with his endorsement
Did Karen Sullivan (Superintendent 204) attempt to retain any of the above
Respectfully Ralph Padron
People are going to be allowed to sit on lead-based paint stands in the stadium this weekend.
Marty Feltes was supposed to remedy that situation, but instead used the money to build an enormous concrete room in the basement of the high school to the tume of half a million dollars.
Just one more place to get sick around the D131 campus! Someone needs to let the ROE or someone who can address this know before people start getting really, really sick!
Will D131 ever recover from Marty Feltes? Dick Leonard knew about it and he is still roaming around the grounds nit-picking the grounds crew and trying to divert from the mold and lead-based paint issues! As long as he is on the board of ed., this district will not recover!
More news on the mold. Thank YOU Marty Feltes for ruining the HVAC systems with your outside pals. They must have thought they would be called back for more work. Thanks to Alex Dimare and the true Maintenance workers you are now stopped
http://abc7chicago.com/news/east-aurora-hs-closes-classrooms-due-to-mold--/959193/
Inherent problems at School District have been around for decades and with the change in administrations and boards over the years some small steps have been taken to improve the situation. The biggest issue that it is challenged with is one that only the city can address and that is the residential housing on the East side. Some of the housing units just simply need to be torn down while the multi-family housing situation needs to be addressed and stopped. Just way to many people living in some units. This needs to be the top priority. This stops the artificially created overcrowding. The building and grounds drama is just a smoke screen. Let's face it the workers got caught with their pant down a few years back and it made a big splash in the papers. Mr. Feltes comes along and attempts to teach the government workers that while at work one has to actually work. But Mr. Feltes failed to realize that there was such a low bar of acceptable standards in work at EA and had been.
TOOOO MUCH ^ Mr. Feltes attempting to "teach" the government workers how to work!? That's rich! (Dick Leonard is this you posting from your free district paid for internet?). You mean the Marty Feltes that sat in his Jeep smoking and eating donuts with his kickback company buddies? The one who eventually did not even come to work, but made Mr. Carlson do so much of his dirty work for him? Look at the FOIAs! Every response is sent from his phone! You mean the Marty Feltes that spent hundreds of thousands of dollars to build a concrete room in the basement and shuffle money to his contractor friends instead of fixing the stadium stands so the kids could have a decent and safe place to play!? The Marty Feltes who's contractor buddies messed up the HVAC systems so now there is mold everywhere? THAT jewel of a guy! They don't get much lower than that. Now, he is trying to have Dick Leonard intimidate the new B&G Director and make him do his bidding in retaliation for his corrupt buddy Marty Feltes being canned and Marty's familiy's snow plowing business not being hired to outsource the maintenance department.
WHY was Marty Feltes fired? Hmmm, does anyone know? JOB ABANDONMENT! His phone records got him into deep trouble and he is still calling his loyal buddies to this very day to try and harass the workers. Check their phone records! Is there any reason why they would be on the phone all day talking to Marty Feltes when he was fired and is long gone!? Marty is so obsessed with our district for giving him the righteous boot and for the papers picking up the story and showing the community what he really is. Heads up-more very important people are finding out daily who he really is and what he was up to and who helped him do the terrible things he did. People have been reporting what he and others aligned with him have done. The ones who keep covering for him are as guilty as he is.
The biggest problem is Popp all his. 204 pals had never been qualified to get promoted. Now, these rejects are running the district. Thruckenbrod, is a nazi and Popps strong arm because Popp is to much of a wimp to have one on one difficult conversations. If you disagree or try to make things better Glotzbach and Thruckenbrod strong arm the staff member. Two of the administrators went on to become Superintendents and many other very qualified administrators have left now we have 204 leftovers who have NO clue of the community. When will the board send them packing. Please do something.
Marty Feltes is gone so move on. The Boe approved the underground bunker at the HS. Check the minutes and find the facts if you are really interested. What do mr. Padron interrogatives really indicate. He throws statements against the wall to see what sticks; so far zilch. Just because he questions someone qualifications Does not mean that he is on to something . What is his qualification to evaluate educational leaders? Get the freakin contract settled
Leonard was in the other day for all to hear telling Dimare that our jobs should get outsourced. He said it in a load voice for all to hear. He claimed Popp was in favor since 204 had done this and Popp agreed it would save the district money. He then proceeded to bash all BOE members but Arroyo. He claimed Arroyo wanted to save the district money but Johnson who now needs a big hug from staff was stopping Arroyo from helping Leonard. He continued to call us lazy , stupid and unethical. Talk about unethical, the reason we have mold is the kickbacks he and Feltes received. Work done on the air units was completed by Yougrens. Everytime a You greens person left the job site parts were left behind, no work records or nobody to check them in or out. One year later all the equipment is failing and nobody know what was done by Arlip, Oneil, Joliet Boiler, Youngrens , Platt electric , Melcor roofing and many others . It was also discovered Feltes and Leonard are related by marriage. We know the problem is will we ever recover.
I wonder how many other classrooms have mold in them. I thought someone was suppose to inspect rooms every year. This is getting out of hand and BOE needs to step up and do something. Maybe the State will stand up and do something now that we made the news.
Why why why did we have to suffer through Waddell's completely idiotic presentation??? Not only did she speak to a room full of professionals like "middle schoolers (her words)" but was the SLO presentation what we sat through all Friday afternoon? I agree, the union president failed us by not speaking at Red and Black. We needed someone to stand up and get the entire staff pumped. The evaluations are being used to fire teachers but we still have 40-50 jobs posted on any given day? Someone please explain!
http://eastauroraspeaks.blogspot.com/
YThe Marty Feltes era is over but not forgotten. We have him to thank for the mold issues. If his cronies would have not been called in the break the HVAC equipment we would not have mold. Sounds like Matt is making excuses again.
http://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/aurora-beacon-news/sports/ct-abn-football-drw-trading-east-aurora-st-0831-20150829-story.html
Fact Finder-
Feltes is gone so move on, huh? Ha! He wreaked havoc on our district and hopefully will be punished for what he did just like they were at C.O.D. and C.P.S. and all around the country for that matter. These nasty people usually prey on districts like this one where they think they can get away with it. They believe that people will be afraid to speak up or are living paycheck-to-paycheck and fear for their jobs.
Yeah, what was the vote on that concrete monstrosity? Everyone who voted on it is up to no good. Dig up some more paperwork and see where that money was budgeted to go. Never forget the past. Especially when it affects the lives of children trying to get an education!
Dear Never Forget, I agree with you wholeheartedly! We are impatient people and want things resolved immediately. But I believe eventually what is done in the dark will come to the light. I am hoping for a blinding bright light on ALL those who have taken advantage and reaped personal gain from our students education funds. If Padron wants to keep trying to dig up dirt, more power to him. He is truly not costing the district as much in time and money as they would like the public to believe. He is their scapegoat for unfinished business, he is the distraction they bring up, to avoid being accountable and transparent.
My opinion, Ralph is doing no harm, so why all the worry about him and his FOIA requests. He has actually done much good, as I see it.
I hope somebody took proper care of the band uniforms yesterday or the moldy band uniform issues will be starting again. It rained on and off all afternoon yesterday. If the band played at the football game, the uniforms were all returned to the storage area wet. That's all that mold needs to grow is a little moisture. If they weren't taken care of, it'll cost the district another quarter million dollars.
I don't trust the other blog it could be our union trying to catch us for administration. In negotiations they constantly tell us in a intimidating matter that we can not talk. It is unfortunate that Hettinger and Sarah don't use those scare tactics on administration. At our last meeting they are trying to slip more give backs in. We have no protection they are very upset that we talk to staff and board members. We are only trying to make EA better. Yes there is more money on the table but we are going to get evaluated out by Glotzbach because she feels crossed.
August 31, 2015
Matthew Hanley, FOIA Officer
East Aurora School District 131
417 5th Street
Aurora, IL 60505
Re: FOIA Request for Documents
Dear Mr. Hanley
Please provide the following documents:
All Phone Records of Larry Wilson and Michael Golonka
from July 1 2015 – August 31 2015
Payroll recap for Larry Wilson & Michael Golonka July & August 2015
Please mail & email documents
I understand that the Act permits a public body to charge a reasonable copying fee not to exceed the actual cost of reproduction and not including the costs of any search or review of the records. I am asking that any fees be waived per 5ILCS140/6(c).
http://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/aurora-beacon-news/news/ct-abn-east-aurora-alumni-st-0901-20150831-story.html
I heard Simmons has a new schedule where ESL 1 & 2 students are mainstreamed with teachers who don't speak Spanish. SOME of these classes apparently have bi-lingual "co-teachers" who want to act as support aides instead of directly instructing. And I thought my school was messed up. Apparently this is the new way to achieve success.
In my school (Allen) we have the same situation. They do not have enough Bilingual teachers so we use support staff. Support staff is getting forced into the role of teacher more and more. Administration, will not acknowledge this and our union will not fight for them. Basically we are screwed.
Another issue is the sub pool was not ready first day of school and teachers did not have anytime built into their to prepare classrooms. Off to another great start.
No news on the contract as well, along with no representation will make this a very long year but Dr Popp took care of his own Hanley got a raise so that's all that is important.
http://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/aurora-beacon-news/sports/ct-abn-football-notes-st-0902-20150901-story.html
By Sarah Freisht at Aurora Beacon-News East
Aurora has spent almost $3,000 so far on one board member's Internet service.
East Aurora School District 131 has been paying for one board member's home Internet service for the past four years.
The district has spent more than $2,800 for Richard Leonard's home Internet service since he joined the board in fall 2011, and has budgeted another $1,200 for the coming school year, according to district documents.
District officials said the Internet service allows Leonard to access board packets, which include documents and records relevant to upcoming School Board meetings. Before the packets were moved online, the district delivered hundreds of printed pages to members before each meeting.
Leonard said he doesn't "really" use his home Internet for anything other than work related to the School Board and for checking School Board emails on his district-provided account.
But at least one board member questioned the practice, and the deputy director of the Illinois Campaign for Political Reform said it sounded "odd" and "irregular."
Thousands of dollars spent on the private internet connection for Dick Leonard at his private rsidence? This is not legal, let alone ethical, moral or responsible. Even if this was acceptable, how can we justify thousands spent of his personal internet? Comcast has packages starting at $19.99 per month for basic internet. Why does he need an internet connection that costs a hundred dollars plus per month?
The article states that he needs access to files provided by the district. Has anybody heard of a flash drive? For a one time fee of less than ten dollars, the district could supply Dick with a flash drive that could easily hold any and all documents that he needs each month.
How many times have teachers heard that we don't have the money for basic supplies? I personally have taken money out of my pocket to buy paper on dozens of occasions because the staff was told that we had no paper for the copiers. We don't have money for pencils or paper clips. Teachers are told continually that they have to make due yet the district has thousands to make sure that Dick Leonard has top of the line internet at his house.
How many slaps in the face is this teaching staff expected to take by these arrogant administrators and board members? The teachers need to unite and demand an equal wage. Anything less than what the West Side and District 204 pay their teachers is an insult. We all teach the students of Aurora. We all deserve to make the same wage. Vote NO and demand that Sarah step down.
No at the high school we had no time to do anything, set up grade book work and ready classrooms, everything was about the administration and listening to a long and boring presentation on assessment-- with middle school wipe offs- we get that there is some info you need to give us- give us the PowerPoint's which you read anyways. Very disappointing start to the year
IDick Leonard needs to step down. How many kickbacks did he and Feltes take and now we hear about free internet. This is the same guy who claimed hard working maintenance workers were stealing. Hanley also needs to resign no wonder he sees no problem with free internet he is stealing tge district blind as well. Shame on you Dick Leonard please leave we know you stuck us with. Mike Popp and Feltes now this.
Date: Sept 3 2015
To: East Aurora Dist 131 Board of Education
Subject: Ruling on Redacted Emails “List of Bills & Heat Exchangers”
from the Attorney General’s Office
Yesterday September 2 2015 I received the ruling on the “Redacted Emails” which I had appealed.
The AG ruled against me based on a technicality of the wording
Dr Popp AND Bernie Weiler, whereas should have read
Dr Popp OR Bernie Weiler
It is important to understand this ruling was about the above and NOT the redacted emails in question which I contend should be made available to myself and the Public.
This issue was a result of an audit I did concerning Heat Exchangers NO BID Purchase Orders awarded to Youngrens. (see attached). In addition there was an inquiry by then Board Member (now Board of Ed President) Annette Johnson to Superintendent Mike Popp questioning the expense of $45,462.00 on PO 150010.
I ask this Board to demand from Mike Popp these emails un-redacted to review the content to determine (in their opinion) whether or this warrants redaction.
Needless to say I will be submitting a revised FOIA in compliance with the AG decision.
Will the Board of Ed agree these emails be turned over and avoid another appeal resulting in costly legal expenses to the taxpayers and valuable time of many?
All issues brought out by me have ALWAYS been proven with documents/emails via FOIA requests from EA and other Districts.
The center of this controversy is TRANSPARENCY and the attempt to get critical facts about the Heat Exchanger NO BID Contracts. There is reason to believe Taxpayer dollars were misappropriated to multiple vendors totaling 1 million plus dollars with this and other spending.
This is not the Hillary Clinton Email Controversy.
Respectfully
Ralph Padron
Can't Dick Leonard see the Beacon exposed him for his dirty deeds. Wow, not that stealing $3,000 is not bad enough, but the millions in wasted taxpayer dollars with the Marty Feltes should be the real story. I thank the Beacon reporter for reporting this it has been hard to catch Marty but Mr Padron must be smiling today.
When Leonard toured our building he never looked at the kids only the walls, or boiler rooms. He was clearly there to see what he could scam. Please resign I am sure anybody filing the position will have Internet and really care about the children.
Internet was not working this morning at Waldo for students but Leonards was. Does anyone believe he only conducts board business.
Yes, Dick Leonard has a nice internet connection with SBC, all paid for by the taxpayers and taken away from the district.
rrlaurorail@sbcglobal.net
Must be nice to have someone else paying your personal bills Leonard.
Saw this on our district's Facebook page:
You can clean out your closet and support the East Aurora High School dance team through a donation drive September 3-5. The dance team is accepting donations of clothing, shoes, accessories, books, linens and small household items at East Aurora High School, 500 Tomcat Lane. Donations will be accepted from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. Thursday, September 3; 4:30 to 9:30 p.m. Friday, September 4; and 8 a.m. to noon Saturday, September 5.
Savers, a local thrift store, will pay the dance team by the pound for items collected. All the funds raised will go toward purchasing competition uniforms, warm-ups and shoes.
The donation drive will not accept furniture, fax machines, tires or liquids.
For questions, contact Jen Gisburne at (630) 299-8142 or jgisburne@d131.org.
I am SO glad to see that D131 board members' communications/comments are no longer expected to be channeled through the Superintendent's office:
https://v3.boardbook.org/Public/PublicItemDownload.aspx?ik=37541812
Here's a link to 25 pages of recent articles about our district:
https://v3.boardbook.org/Public/PublicItemDownload.aspx?ik=37541650
Told you Padron was hot air. I got it Mr Padron. Let's send this to the U.S. AG. . After that the President will certainly come and weed out all these criminals. Nothing, nada, zilch, zero only the peanut gallery thinks your on to something. If you can't word a FOIA correctly after all this time surely you're not an evaluator or talent. Blah blah blah
LMOA- I think you may have a surprise or two coming...sometimes things don't happen at the pace we would like them too. No govt. agency works with much swiftness, but they do work. Just like the IRS and many others, if you have stolen money, especially from a public entity, you will pay them back and then some. Only a narcissist would think that they are smarter than everyone else and would be able to get away with their wrong-doings, especially by posting nonsense on a blog where facts have already prevailed in several cases. But we are talking about the likes of Feltes and Leonard here, so this is no big surprise to any of us.
...I can still hear the shrill voice of Mary Lou in the distance "All is fine with the district!!!". We all know that was a huge lie. So, Padron makes a mistake with wording (I believe it was 1 word to be exact) and that nullifies everything he's done? Don't think so, but you can keep hoping.
Why are they moving the meeting to EAHS at 7:30pm Tuesday what is going on.
We have a tentative agreement which is loaded up for teachers to pass the contract. We guess that Johnsson had a big role in this. Teachers get their money but so much for unity. Secretary and support get screwed. Just wait until a teacher with a masters asks use to provide instruction or a admin asks that because we are Bilingual to displine a child and call the parent. Everyday we do many things that teachers or administration should be doing. VOTE NO show we have a voice and if the teachers are fair they will not look out just for themselves.
History repeats itself again the last two contracts we have been screwed.
HOME FOOTBALL GAME TONIGHT!
Our football team looks to be the best we've had in YEARS!
Come support our students and coaches and cheer the TOMCATS tonight!
What's up:
The meeting will be Tuesday instead of Monday because Monday is Labor Day (a holiday).
As far as the location, it's probably so more community members can attend than could fit into the meeting room at the service center.
I'm looking forward to seeing the marching band this evening. My son says the show is going to be awesome. There are more kids in band this year (with a record number of students overall enrolled at East High), and the administration has seen the wisdom of hiring a second full-time band director along with 3 part-time assistants.
That is money well spent, since it directly affects almost 200 students. And the band program is very visible in the community so it's good PR for the district when they look and sound good.
I don't always say this, but GOOD JOB D131 Administration!
Excited to see the football team and band in action!
I looked on the District website calendar, I did not see anything about them moving the Board meeting to a different location??
I was confused, too, because the district's "News and Information" page says the Sept. 8th meeting is at 7:00 at the service center. But the agenda packet on the Board of Education link says 7:30, in Hawks Auditorium (at East High).
So I phoned Annette Johnson and she told me that the meeting is at 7:30 p.m. in Hawks Auditorium. She said the location change was to accommodate the anticipated larger attendance for this meeting.
So now, thanks to this blog and Ms. Johnson, we all know where the meeting will be held!
I just went to the D131 website. The scrolling news summary on the right side of the "Home" page lists the School Board meeting as September 8th at 7:00 p.m., at the Service Center. This is NOT correct.
Then I clicked on "Calendar" on the left side of the page...on September 8, it lists the School Board meeting. When I click on it, I'm informed that the meeting is at 7:00 p.m. at the Service Center. Again, incorrect.
Finally I went the the district's Facebook page. No mention whatsoever about next Tuesday's School Board meeting. No time, no place, nothing.
Oh, and no mention of the changed time & location in the Beacon either.
So as of today at 6:30 p.m., the only way most of us would know about the time & place of Tuesday's meeting being changed would be to either download the agenda, or read this blog.
Remind me again: why are we paying Mr. Hanley more than any teacher in our district??
Doesn't this fall under public relations (informing the public)?
I think the person who took it upon themselves to call Ms. Johnson (and report the correct info to the rest of us on this blog) should get a financial reward equal to a day's salary for our community relations director. After all, the caller did HIS job!
I heard the larger crowd is coming to talk about taxes and the City of Aurora inability to increase house values by decreasing density and cleaning up neighborhoods. A grass roots campaign with petitions will get presented. Aurora was recently ranked in 3rd in the nation for the worst place for seniors to live. Again you heard it on the blog first. The report was published by Wallet and the Daily Herald.
Taxpayer 1, you are correct about the change of venue being to accommodate a larger crowd for this particular meeting. I'm the one who called Ms. Johnson, and she told me that was the reason.
I'm hoping a lot of community members read this blog and show up Tuesday night...
...at 7:30 p.m., at EAHS auditorium!
Matt Hanley should get fired and anyone from the BOE should be outraged. He is paid $120,000 plus and now it is the weekend with a holiday and NO UPDATE until Tuesday. I just called Annette Johnson as well and asked her what is going on. She did state they would be discussing bond refinancing and expected a big crowd. I asked if this would be permanent and why 7:30. She stated 7:30 is for anyone who would come to the wrong place (I can see why being we can not rely on the website).
Kudos to Annette Johnson! Our School Board president is responsive to the community. At least two people called her yesterday, and she spoke to them and gave them correct information.
I tried to call several people in the central office yesterday around 2:30 p.m.: Lisa Morales, Dr. Popp, Wilson Morales, and a couple others listed on the Administration page of the D131 website. In every case, I got a recorded message like "I'm away from my desk, but leave your name and number and someone will get back to you..."
Really?? NO ONE is available to pick up a phone and answer a simple question in the middle of a Friday afternoon, before a three-day weekend? I didn't even get a busy signal, which might have indicated a live human was using the phone. Nope, I was just invited to join in a game of "phone tag", with no assurance I would even get the answer to my question before the office closed for the weekend.
This is unexcusable and unacceptable.
Fortunately, we have a School Board president who is responsive, transparent, and accountable to the public.
Thanks, Annette Johnson!!
Hey dummy....
When was the last time you got a busy signal? It's called voicemail. That's what happens when you are reaching someone who is already on the phone.
I get busy signals all the time when I call businesses during office hours. Yesterday I called Walgreens to check on a prescription. The line was busy, so I called back 5 minutes later. Or I get put on hold and listen to a repeated, recorded message when I call Comcast: "all of our representatives are assisting other customers". At least when I'm put on hold I know I'll get to speak with a live human if I stay on the line.
Voicemail is NOT "what happens when you are reaching someone who is already on the phone"...it's what's supposed to happen when the person you're calling is away from their desk (according to at least one of the messages I heard yesterday when I called the service center), or out of the office, or the business is closed. And at 2:30 p.m. yesterday, 5 out of 5 of the people I tried to contact by phone in the central office were either away from their desk or too lazy to pick up the phone.
I refuse to play phone tag. It is part of the JOB for central office administrators to be available to answer a simple question during business hours.
Fortunately our School Board president, a businesswoman herself, was willing and able to do what SHOULD have been done by one of those well-paid administrators. Thanks again, Annette!
Why is it still not up on the district website. Perhaps Ms Johnson should have complained to Popp. In fact Johnson should ask what Hanley does all week. I work in CSC and all of us laughed when Padron posted the kiss up email. See Matt is Popps personal photographer so Matt only leaves the building to take pictures of Popp or have long lunches. Speaking of long lunches, Matt visits 204 more often and 131 to participate in his children'activities we guess? Maybe he goes home to sleep.
The biggest Popp lie/joke is Matt is busy all day answering FOIA requests. Matt pawns that work off on his secretary, who then pawns it off on us. Popp lost what little respect he had when asking for the Hanley raise and then telling the board Matt needed a FOIA officer.
Last month we paid a former Beacon reporter to ghost write the Enlighten. We also paid $500 for another person to do a back to school picture presentation for Red & Black. Maybe someone a can pull the Vision Freindly bills, Matt calls them constantly for changes to the Website. In the past Clayton did many of the small updates, not Matt.
Here is hoping this is enough for the board to fire him.
The East High Band was amazing last night. The show was very entertaining. The music was awesome. They were having a blast in the stands. The only issue I saw was the fact that they did not have enough uniforms for the entire band (The district can never plan ahead, just panic after the fact). The entire percussion section (All 25 players) wore red shirts and black pants instead.
http://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/aurora-beacon-news/community/chi-ugc-article-east-aurora-high-school-band-will-be-marching-2014-01-24-story.html
The school district just purchased 250 new uniforms a year ago. If 250 uniforms were all used, add 25 for the percussion section and add the color guard, it appears that the East High Band now has close to 300 members in it.
It's remarkable how the district music program is growing and growing. Something has definately changed in the past couple of years. Kudos.
"Something has definitely changed in the past couple of years"...
Here's a BIG change in the EAHS band program:
There are now TWO full-time directors and THREE part-time assistants. That makes a HUGE (positive) difference in the program. And I credit the administration for being willing to support the band by authorizing the hiring of several adults to work with our kids.
The Tribune article about the band uniforms was great, and was another example of administration and School Board willingness to put their money where their mouth is to provide those expensive new uniforms.
With larger overall enrollment comes a bigger band program. Kids in band tend to stay out of trouble and are learning a lifetime skill. THANK YOU, administration, for supporting our students!
The administration was the Roberts era. Dr Popp is to concerned about Matt Hanleys $40,000 raise that would have more than covered the new uniforms.
To: Band Parent
The total enrollmant at East High has gone up 200 students in the past three years. Are we to believe that most of the 200 of these students joined band when they got to East High? I don't think so. The answer is your support/feeding schools.
Imagine how much the band program would grow if the district put an equal amount of resources at the elementary and middle school levels as they have at the high school. We still have elementary band teachers teaching in any corner the administration sticks them. They are in closets, hallways and even put on staircases to try and teach kids. The middle schools are overcrowded, without even adequate ventilation so the children can properly breath. They are desperate for support. Even the East High School Band Boosters cut them out of the program after decades of support for the high school.
We need to realize that children don't start band in high school, they start in elementary school. If the district truly wants the band program to reach it's potential, they need to support the bands support/feeding programs. Maybe then we can actually start seeing the percentages of students in band that other districts have.
Look at Waubonsee High School. They have about 2600 students in the school and they see 800-1000 (30%-40%) students in the band program (Not including the color guard). A lot better than the 200-250 (5%-6%) we see in the program when we have 3700 students in the building. (Please notice that Waubonsee High School is a far larger facility with far fewer students).
While the East High Program has been going very slowly in the correct direction the past couple of years, we are far from where we should be. The district administrators and board constantly talk about student growth and reaching potential, maybe they should put the pocketbook where their mouth is.
Teacher salaries are lacking in East Aurora. Looking at the tentative budgets for neighboring districts shows how far behind District 131 is in paying teachers. It also begs the question, where is the money going?
The first number is the total proposed budget for each district, the second is instructional expenses and the third is the percentage of the district budget being spent on educational salaries.
Geneva 304 $60,343,596 $47,509,507 79%
Naperville 203 $268,688,000 $203,852,050 76%
Indian Prairie 204 $263,116,417 $197,389,210 75%
Batavia 101 $87,986,915 $55,400,233 63%
St. Charles 303 $154,833,786 $94,076,434 61%
West Aurora 129 $145,363,117 $82,373,512 57%
East Aurora 131 $156,212,388 $88,049,714 56%
This really shows how much money the district is wasting on things other than the education of our communities children. Just as a reference, if we paid teachers at the 75% that Indian Prairie does, we would be able to give every teacher a 30% raise this year. That high of a raise is not needed for all teachers. The teachers with no experience are just a few percentage points behind other area school districts. It's the teachers who have proven to the district and community that they are devoted to our children who would need up to a 40-50% raise to make salaries competitive. The fact is that the district would only need to increase the education percentage 5-10% to give teachers all that they deserve.
It's a shame that Sarah Imthurn can't see this. Every time she opens her mouth, it sounds as though she is working for the administration and board, not the teachers. She claims that there is no money for teachers but as you can clearly see, the money is there, the district just doesn't want to spend it on teachers. It makes a person wonder where all that money is going and who is skimming off the top? It also makes us wonder what back room deals have been made for Sarah Imthurn? Mary Dudzienski was making $145,000 from the district while she was union president. Adam Harding became a district administrator right after the last contract was signed. We all know damn well the district is taking care of Sarah somehow. We will find out shortly after the contract is signed.
Do the math. That's over $68,000,000 every year being spent, not on teachers. Where is all this money going? The buildings are old and falling apart. Teachers don't have the resources necessary for teaching. We don't have the fields and grounds and equipment every other district has. Again, where is $68,000,000 going every year?
Our children deserve much better.
When I read the Tribune article about the new band uniforms I thought they were showing one of our uniforms from when I was in band in the 90s. Except for the plume on the hat, they look VERY similar.
Then I read this: "The new uniforms were designed by East Aurora High School Director of Bands Brian Liska"
Wouldn't it be nice if the current EAHS director would acknowledge the former one's (in this case, Kevin Kaisershot) contributions to the band program? Mr. Liska is doing a good job as Director of Bands, but part of the current success of the band program at the high school is building upon what went before (as well as the feeder schools, as Band Supporter mentioned).
Mentioning and thanking the many others responsible when something goes well would be a classy move, as well as the RIGHT THING TO DO.
As a insider I know Sarah Intherm has been promised a Special Ed coordinator job. This year she has full release something that was never discussed. So next year when we boot her out of office she is taken care of. Administration is already grooming Joe Harmon to take Sarah's spot. It our fault for electing her let's please not make the same mistake. Harding is still pulling the strings.
As for the 3% shuffle that was our leaderships fault as well. They insisted that everyone make the same. They claimed masters level teachers would be fine with it. We showed them by our strong message. We will now get 7% as masters level teachers and teachers with a BA will get 3.5%. That is unity!
When filling out your ballot enclose a note to recall Sarah and ask that Harding and Hettinger no longer involve themselves in d131. They allowed many MOUs to go through without never telling us.
Say it ain't so!
Joe Harmon was directly involved in one of the darkest pages of our district's history. He was one of the three principals at East High in 2005, when "Serial Bully" Radakovich conspired with his School Board cronies to punish at least two East High staff members (Roger Scott and Kevin Kaisershot) for daring to speak up for students and parents against administration. In Kaisershot's case there were HUNDREDS of community members who questioned administration, wrote letters to the editor of the local papers, put signs in their yards, and marched to the service center. Roger Scott was less known in the community but very highly regarded by his fellow teachers. Joe Harmon, Marin Gonzalez, and Rick Johnson (the Serial Bully's hometown pal) gave the community the middle finger, and I highly doubt that we oldtimers will forget or overlook THAT fact anytime soon!
We did not elect Sarah. Sarah was the only person on the ballot. When there is only one candidate on the ballot, there is no choice to be made. In fact, in the past 30 years, there has been only one contested election for the union leadership and those who dared to challenge the status quo have all been harrassed, suspended, terminated, etc. The challengers were Bob French for union president (he was terminated), Mike Simons for vice president (He was harrassed including suspensions from that election until he retired) and Bob Green was head of their election committee (He's been terminated twice).
It was a very interesting election or should I say two elections as the first one was nullified for illegal procedures. Union reps (appointed by the union president) counted the ballots and reported them to the union president who counted the ballots and stated that she won. The whole election was thrown out and a new election held.
I find it interesting that in the past, the elections always came back 75-90% in favor of every bad contract (with all of us looking at each other publicly stating we voted NO). Now that the union membership is demanding to see the results the tide has shifted strongly the other way. Keep demanding to see the ballot counts.
The D131 website now has the correct time and place for Tuesday's School Board meeting.
And there's this, also:
Last updated by Matt Hanley
on 9/5/2015 10:02:20 PM
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Proof positive that it is indeed Matt Hanley's job to keep the public informed about locations and times of meetings. And proof positive that our $120,000.00 Community Relations Director DID NOT DO HIS JOB in this regard.
Good thing our (volunteer) elected School Board president was willing to step in and provide the correct information. And good thing this blog published the information, too.
The reason teachers have a 7% and 3.5% raise is the BOE. They kept their word. During the last contract I had a discussion with Johnson and she stated the BA teachers with one thru five years experience would get brought up to scale. That way future years would continue to get paid higher rates to keep up. She stated they would work on the MS category next time. I now looks like the new BOE leadership kept their word. I have heard our leadership said 3% was okay and did not fight for us knowing the BOE was willing to pay more. Let us remember the leadership can not blame the old BOE they had been replaced.
I will now vote yes but continue to watch our union carefully. I hope Ms Gentile runs. I have heard similar rumors about Sarah I not running again and administration taking care of her. Let's hope it is a end to a very negative era. No way to Harmond he is a district flunky. Pull the stipends he makes well over $100,000 per year.
Hanley posted the meeting three days later. If I would run my classroom that way and file my lesson plans three days later you can bet Glotzbach and company would write me up. It must be nice. When is the board going to fire him.
While 7% may seem like a good deal on the surface, don't forget that every other district is getting a raise also (at least 3% for most of them). Considering that the top of the salary schedule (Year 23 with a Masters +48) is as much as $40,000 behind surrounding districts. It means that instead of being $40,000 behind, we will be $38,500 behind. At that rate, it will take 28 years of 7% increases to begin being competitive with the surrounding districts.
By the way, just wait til you see your first paycheck this year and realize that your salaries have been FROZEN at last years rate. We were told that we would follow last years contract but apparently that doesn't apply to our lane advancements. You will be making exactly what you did last year. Under the previous contract, we are supposed to receive credit for the years taught but the administration is violating the contract and our union president won't challenge them on it.
They want it to appear that you are getting a bigger raise next semester when they decide to present the new contract. For the next 4-5 months they will enjoy earning all the interest on everyones money. Welcome to East Aurora.
That is why the $40,000 raise to Hanley is such a slap in the face to teachers. Popp does not have the respect of the staff here's hoping Popp and Hanley will be sent packing.
Hanley gets a 40% raise and the teachers are supposed to get excited about 3 1/2-7% raise? Salaries are frozen. Dick Leonard gets free internet on the district's dime.
The district cries broke every time there are contract negotiations going on and our union president tells us we are just supposed to take it because there is no money (While the union presidents get sweetheart deals for their own personal gain). Yet look at the minutes from the board meeting on August 3rd. Buried near the bottom are two words that reveal it all, LAND ACQUISITION. It's in the items to be discussed in executive session. There are no personnel or security concerns in a land acquisition discussion. There is no reason why this should not have been discussed in open session except that the board and administration wanted to keep this hidden from the teachers during negotiations.
Even while the district is crying broke, in the shadows they are purchasing the land needed for the new Administrative Palace. You'll see, five minutes after the contract is signed, they will be using the millions they screwed out of the teachers contract to build the new administrative building.
Teachers wake up!!!
Vote NO!!!!!
Joe Harmon is a good man. He has worked for the kids in this district for his entire professional life. Anyone who would disparage him only shows their own smallness.
Here's what I know about Joe Harmon:
In 2005 he was one of the "Three Stooges" in the EAHS principal's office who actively participated in depriving well-liked, community-supported teachers (plural) of their high school teaching jobs. Then in 2006 he took over the Fine Arts chair position formerly occupied by one of the teachers he helped push out. In this capacity he spent a couple of years doing damage control, defending and excusing multiple blunders like the "Star Mangled Banner" and the fake Division I award plaque.
You say he "worked for the kids in this district". The truth is, in 2005 he worked for the corrupt ADMINISTRATION. Big difference. He is probably hoping no one remembers or cares what he did in 2005, but what he did back then is a big part of his record and reputation in this district.
He disparaged others, and what goes around comes around!
If you listened during Red& Black the BOE PResident and Popp said they would be addressing overcrowding at the HS. The new BOE stopped the administrative/kinder center Popp wanted to build. I believe the land acquisition is for additional expansion. I also heard at Red & Black that they will have open public discussions on space utilization. Come to East try to walk the hallways it is a fire hazard. Someone needs to do something. It is a good thing they have their priorities straight.
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