Happy 100th birthday to our district's band program!
This school year marks the 100th anniversary of the District 131 band program. Stay "tuned" for information about events throughout our district celebrating this achievement!
183 comments:
Thanks Dr Hoyda
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Concerned, I attended the last meeting and the entire board was well aware of the consultant. They all voted to terminate DImare. So quit causing problems. We have worked with Dr Hoyda and McDonald and find them nothing but professional. It is sad that you work so hard to bring this district down. The membership has been happy with the interim's. They listen and when we complained about the lack of maintenace and supplies in our buildings they looked into it and obviously it pointed to DImare. The supervisors and Nestor are not qualified to determine problems in B&G so again it is obvious the district needed a consultant.
Mike Stapleton was talked with principals, teachers and maintenance people inside our building to determine our needs and in my twenty years at 131 that has not happened. We have listened to your Koolaid long enough and will no longer entertain your hate.
The district including every Superintendent has used a consultant. Why did you not complain about the worthless Life Coach for Popp. The Life Coach had ZERO benefit to students or staff. It benefited him and him alone at $2000 a month. This went on for two years.
Why did you not complain about his two friends getting hired at EAHS? They had been ghost payrollers for months.
We also use consultants for curriculum and student safety programs to name a few.
It looks like you have an ax to grind with either Johnson or Hoyda but nobody is drinking your koolaid.
The band is 98 years old and the blog manager Rayanne Carlson should know better. Everyone knows Liska acted on his own and even paid a friend to compose music for the celebration.
Shame on Rayanne who helped us fight the band battle for honoring a early celebration.
Our DISTRICT band program is 100 years old this school year; the high school band officially started 2 years later, in the 1918-19 school year. Our band program (5th through 12th grade) is a real strength in our district, and a 100th anniversary is worthy of celebration. The high school band website says "100 Years of Band in Our District". It was the Beacon that got it wrong by claiming the high school band was 100 years old. Even after someone contacted the reporter the Beacon continues to say the HIGH SCHOOL band is 100 years old. Put the blame where it belongs: on the Beacon's shoddy reporting, not the blog or Mr. Liska!
Don't blame it on the Beacon blame it on Liska. The logo clearly states EAST AURORA HS BAND 100 years old. NOT DISTRICT BAND. Just checked it out on the district Facebook page.
I agree that consultants provide valuable services. What I'm wondering is why has Ralph Padron been radio silent on this? He was against ALL consultants not just the life coach. Did Annette make a deal with the devil (RP)? Terminate Dimare and RP agrees to back off his 'investigations'? Why are the taxpayers dollars any less valuable now? Again, not saying the consultant isn't a good thing, just wondering why Ralph's not all over this since it's a LOT of money, there's probably no multiple quotes, and he's coming from out of state. And why isn't Nestor qualified? He used to run B&G.
With this much disinformation maybe Liska should become a politician
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The Beacon reporters story was based on what Liska told her. The misinformation came from him and him alone. Even about a week ago at the Oswego Panther Fest where ten bands performed and thousands of people attended, the announcer stated that the East High Band was celebrating their 100th anniversary. Do you think the announcer received the bands opening statement from the Beacon reporter or Brian Liska? Liska is going around telling everyone that the band is 100 years old. Apparently accuracy doesn't matter to him or the administration.
Word is Ralph has left the District and is focused on exposing other Districts. Sounds like Ralph already got someone fired in West Chicago. Our local has had many meeting with the interim's and they are doing a terrific job. A Life coach added nothing to the District already Stapleton has found our voices important and we as employees are the most capable fixing the District.
Annette Johnson is doing a terrific job as BOE Prez. Her tormentors are gone and she has been focused throwing the bums out. Maybe we should loan her to Chicago.
Hopefully Ralph is never going to be seen again in District 131. Think of all the time and money that had to be allocated to his asinine requests, all the board meeting that we had to put up with listening to this person's verbal vomit - from one who suffers from short people syndrome and all the tantrums from his merry band of nitwits.(aka crybullies).
Ralph hopefully is addressing the shortage of low income housing for illegal immigrants in Naperville. Look, he never did say how long his wife and others knew they were taking advantage of the district before it came to light. So, again, hopefully we don't see him around anymore. The district is moving forward and people are doing their jobs. The interims and the board are doing well and hopefully will finally get rid of the bad teachers, maintenance workers and staff.
Hey you! Paige! You are showing your Trump side, again. Calling people names based on their physical appearance, yammering on about illegal immigrants. We have many people of all nationalities that need "affordable" housing. Maybe Ralph's stature have him a better POV and that has made you angry. Who would feel the most pain due to FOIAs and who would have reason to carry the hate torch over and over on blog posts? Maybe a writer? Since they love using all the witty little pen names. You are correct, the district is moving forward. It is rid of much of the central office staff that was sucking the district dry, to over paid under achievers. The Board and interim are doing very well and are working with teachers, maintenance and staff to continue to improve the way business is done. Move on, Paige. It is a new day and a new way in EA. Ralph is probably the one that opened the door and let people see what has gone on for too long on 5th Ave. The house has been cleaned and your trash talk is not going to hide that fact.
The last Crespo/Popp hire turned out to be another winner of a hire in our school. Our DC sexually harassed staffers and then attempted to shake us down for reporting it. What did happen was a swift investigation and swift action. It shows administration is not allowed to do whatever the he** they want and get by with it.
In the past the staffer would have been made the liar and victim. It shows throwing out the garbage was a good thing.
Thanks again Hatchett, Arroyo, Leonard and Johnson.
The lazy teachers and maintenance employees are up to their old tricks by not coming to work on Fridays and Monday's. The new interim's may be top administrators from other high preforming districts. They may also be great problem solvers in other district, but EA is turning out for them just like every administration prior has experienced. The teachers and maintenance people are so over medicated party hardy people their priority is not work.
Change all the administration you want AJ you are still stuck with Ralph and his merry band of medicated nitwits.
Hey board heard Crespo got you again. He told the girls basketball team to show up and protest the firing of a basketball players mother. She was in Crespo's parent group and the story goes she tried to sue the district for back injuries she had in a car accident. Maintenance employees admit she never worked for a couple years.
The administration/board should be well aware he has parent meeting with the same group over at the extension campus. He has also allowed to hire a Para Pro. Equiring minds want to know who did the background? Hopefully not the same person who did Michael Ray or Cardora.
AJ won't be making any noise with employee unions this year. The contract were not settled because she is pro labor it's because the election is in April. You go girl , you are GOOD and sheep are relatively dumb
$7 Million in reserves being used for football field is crazy! Wasn't this supposed to be paid with grants? Shouldn't the district have someone getting grants for the district??
Thank you Annette Johnson, you do not get enough credit for the little things you do. You were able to get a $23,931 donation from Mannington Flooring. You heard our concerns about the moldy carpet at Beaupre and Oak Park which we have been complaining about for years. You kept your promise to remove the moldy carpet from the hallways and classrooms and change it out with beautiful tile. Now we are all breathing better. Thanks again!
It's more than a Football Field. It is a play surface. Soccer, band, track, ROTC and PE classes will use the field. Why should EA not have the same facilities other schools do. One thing I have been proud of Johnson for is standing up for our students against her Ward 1 friends and they are getting grants.
It's not the football field that's the issue. It's long overddue to get done and yes our kids deserve it. But get the grants first, then get the football field. Don't use reserves. What if they don't get the grants? What if that money is suddenly needed for something else? Why weren't grants gotten first? That's what taxpayers were told would happen, don't put the cart before the horse.
Don't talk out of your a**. Nobody was told the district was getting millions in grants. They are getting some grants but it would be foolish to think somebody will pay for a stadium with the money 131 has in reserves we deserve the same and did they not get 50 million that we helped petition for from the State.
First things first is absolutely correct! Grants are not guaranteed until you have cash in the bank. Even then, sometimes stipulations are made and if they aren't met or followed the grant money can be lost. Does the district currently have an accountant? They should be advising about the finances to keep adequate dollars in reserves. Especially considering how the district is growing and the age of many of our buildings.
First Things you're forgetting the stadium is just one piece of a larger overall project. From the very beginning we were told that grants were coming in that would pay a lot of the costs for the majority of the project, but that the district would still have to cover some costs as well. In particular, the grants weren't going to cover much of the stadium portion. Using reserves to cover part of this large project was ALWAYS part of the deal. Most grants don't completely cover whatever project they're for, they usually require some level of local matching funds, and usually also timelines including an expiration. If you wait too long trying to find additional grants to cover everything, you find out some off the earlier grants have expired.
The 50 million had stipulations that the money had to be spent in 2 years. The Feds wanted construction jobs right away. There is also a long list of elementary repairs and large rehab projects for Waldo and Simmons. It is easy for us to sit on the blog and play Monday quarterback but a 1957 stadium with environmental concerns and a condemnation report from the ROE needs addressing. I googled stadium costs for schools and it seems ours are more than inline and everybody is doing turf for year around use.
Who did the Comminty ever elect Ken Darby. He was at the oldtimers last night and his comments about Mexican American football players was racist and offensive.
Wow! Our district cries poor, but hires a consultant for nearly $1000 per day? This man makes as much money in one month as the support staff does over 1 year. F'in ridiculous.
This is a Industrial Engineering company who has worked with many school district. Mr Stapleton puts in 12 hours days so he can overlap all shifts. I am surprised it is so cheap and companies like this make $2000 to $3,000 per day my husband works for one. The purpose is to indentify goals and objectives something that the department has lacked for years. As an employee of 131 I am impressed with the processes that are being worked on across the the district. It shows they are attempting to make the future leader successful. I hope they stick to the plan.
I attended an event recently with Ms Strand and I always felt she was phony but recently it was confirmed. The event was a proverty discussion in Naperville . Ms Strand stated the Fred Rodgers Magnet is not good for the district because it removes high preforming students from their home school and puts them into a special school. I sat in disbelief because was it not Ms Strand who removed her children and educated them at the Magnet School. The funny thing is she left that out. She is a prime example of do as I say not as I do. She has no problem discriminating against brown children and pretends she is the holy roller. Glad to hear she is not running.
Elementary school library in Aurora closed because of mold
An East Aurora School District 131 elementary school library is closed because of mold, district officials said.
The library at Allen Elementary was closed two weeks ago, when mold was first discovered, and will remain closed as the district works to evaluate and remove the mold, district spokesman Tom Jackson said in an email. He said the district anticipates it will remain closed for another two weeks.
While it is closed, the school identified books and materials that are free of mold that teachers can bring to classrooms for their students to use, he said.
The library's carpeting has been removed and a company brought in to evaluate the mold and provide an estimated remediation cost, Jackson said in the email.
Jackson said the district does not yet know what caused the mold, but a report from the mold removal company should include that information. Any steps necessary to address the root cause of the mold will be determined when the district receives the report, he said.
Jackson did not say how much the district is spending to evaluate and remove the mold, saying only those costs would be determined when the district receives a report on the extent of the problem.
Mr Padron had pictures of the mold and it was shared with many at the SSC last year. Popps response was a coverup including even painting over some of the walls in question at Allen School. Another-wards a coverup. The mold did not get addressed last year and has come back. Popp and his band of nitwits should never be allowed in work in the public school system. Like him or not Padron had this case well documented but Popp choose his ego over student safety. Mr Popp if you are reading this I intend to do a little research of my own and forward your many transgressions to school districts looking for a superintendent. Here is hoping any school using modern search tools will read all about you.
Wow, I am shocked an Community email from the Drs Hoyda and McDonald that actually admits they take responsibility for a mistake. When has that ever happened in 131. How can we keep them forever?
Somebody needs to do some stories on the beleaguered special ed department at East High 4 times a year. Admins keep switching up when they want info sheets, they now make us print 2 copies of goals (tree wasting) The KIDS program is the most outdated program of any in the other districts. It was really meant only as a file storage program. That explains the 20 plus hours each case manager must spend on trying to do an IEP when the program is constantly down. Not only that but then they ding you for being late with paperwork that you spent an entire weekend trying to work on. Add to this to a dingbat department chair who walks around in a mental haze and dips out at 3:05, and you get some inkling what we are dealing with.None of this has anything to do with the teaching that we need to do and plan for. What a nightmare year!!
It's admins against teachers this year!! If a kid is violent against you, social workers and admins will bond together to bastardize the poor teacher who has been violated. No "sorry this happened to you." Whatever nonsense the student comes up with is believed. The teacher is victimized; and everyone has at him/her. What a great year at EA!!In the future, if any student is violent towards you don't hesitate, call 911!
There is a discipline committee go join it. Demand that you get a spot on it. I joined a committee we need to be back of the solution. We have an equal voice on the committee's .
The union and teachers complained and complained and the board reacted getting rid of administration. Granted some of the administration made it easy to terminated like the unseen highly paid Matt Hanley but other administration like Mr Truckenbrod, Waddell and Popp tried to work with making EA a better place. The teachers went into attack mode telling anyone who would listen they are unpaid, victimized and mistreated.
The board reacts and hires retired impeccable records of McDonald and Hoyda now again the teachers cry. FYI is correct many committees have formed but no takers in EA land That means teachers will actually have to stop complaining and join in the solution.
Question for EA teacher now who are you going to blame and who will you victimize Mr Padron.
As a footnote Mr Padron is attacking West Chicago were Mr Truckenbrod is a fine Principal. This is sick let the man go in peace he has a family to support.
This is nothing to do with him. Because of recent mandates, East High has become an even more unsafe school. Kids know they rule the place. Funny though, the mandate is to make sure that not all of the suspensions are minority. In a school that is 90% minority who would that leave? Our minority is white students. Teachers are feeling unsafe and no one is trying to clear the hallways. The kids rule. PPA's hide together and are not a presence in the hallways It will take a tragedy before some of the do-little admins take control. They have no problem running roughshod over the teaching staff and making them feel underappreciated and harassed, but doing their job, being in the hallways and leading the school, that won't happen.
Jackie please tell the truth the halls are clear. Please take your worthless self to Little Village like you have told us for three years. Stop telling stories about Marina because she actually checks on the work you do which is nothing. You have been miserable at East for years and walk around starting trouble all day.
Being Student Focused first doesn't mean having no consequences for students--that is not helping our kids--they are not stupid- they know there are no consequences-- they are taking over -how are we helping them if there are no rules and no consequences and we allow them to roam the hallways when they are supposed to be in class?It is ridiculous that they are allowed to represent in the student center until 7:55 no PPA tries to move them until the second bell and that means they are all late to 1st period.One of the worst years ever and don't blame it on that lame mandate--we have had mandates before--we need LEADERSHIP!!! QUIT BLAMING THE TEACHERS TAKE SOME RESPONSIBILITY ON YOURSELVES ADNMINS!!!!!!!!!!
Mestek, Holt, Garcia promised issues would get addressed. Why are they allowing Crespo to suspend a teachers and allowing our PPA's to get verbally abused, threatened, and beaten at the Extension Campus. Crespo is in his element allowing gang bangers to attack us and yet our union stays quite like little mice. Gerry does not teach any longer and it is hard to discover what his duties are. East Aurora is out of control because of people like Crespo who allow students to do whatever and our union does nothing. We need to vote him out, I was told Gerry is under review by the membership and if that is the case get rid of him and let's have representation across all schools not just the Cowherd unch.
I'm not sure what your agenda is but it's interesting to see the names that you bring up. You neglect to mention Jennifer Gentile who is the Vice President for Certified Staff and would be the person who should be representing a teacher who is up for suspension. You also neglect to mention Judy Durham who is the Vice President for Support Staff and would address any issues with PPA's.
The board is the only one who can suspend an employee. I just went through all the board personnel reports and no teacher has been suspended recently. I'm not sure what you expect of a Union but a Union is NOT there to ensure that no employee is ever disciplined. They ARE there to ensure that every employee receives proper due process. If after going through proper due process, the employee deserves discipline, they should receive discipline. Unions who cover up for bad behavior receive the bad reputation that they deserve. Are you claiming that this employee is not being represented by the union?
ANY employee can file a grievance (or a police report) if they feel that their Union rights (or human rights) are being violated. If you have all the information that you claim, have YOU filed a grievance or police report? The Union isn't one person at the top, the Union is every member standing strong together. You need to get off your half moons and do something other than just complaining anonymously on a blog. Until you do, there will not be a positive change in EA.
Mestak does not teach and please answer me what he does all day. He has defended Crespo and still does. He never speaks up for the teachers only his middle school agenda. Crespo did suspend someone recently and the board never voted on it because Gerry is sitting on his dead a** and they are not following protocol. Garcia his lacky padded his pocket with additional stipends. Holt never works and claims she is attending union meetings during the day. How many fools does it take to change a light bulb. We will vote for a new union "Gerry" some of us are researching what we need to do and it looks like we have to have a year without representation. BIG DEAL we have no representation. Our union is only interested in sending us booklets on who to vote in the general election. Pawns for Michael Madigan. They have ZERO right to print the book with our money. Our money is for representation something we don't have.
Where in the constitution does it state that you as an American have the right to impeach your voted in leaders because you don't agree with them? I do know that there are provisions for the Congress to remove the president IF they have been found to have committed illegal acts.
I am beginning to understand why so many people on here are calling the teachers "crybullies". You don't have the cajones to stand up and do the right thing. You can only hide behind an anonymous blog and disparage others.
You claim that Crespo suspended a teacher but no administrator has that power, only the board. You claim Mestek does nothing all day but how could you possibly know what Mestek does if you were doing your own job.
If you want to get rid of your Union, then do it. Don't sit on your computer all day like some sort of stalker. Get out there and see if you can get a majority of the staff to join you.
This union has gone through president after president after president. They can't all have been bad. In fact, the only consistent factor in all your disfunctional relationships is you. The teachers who whine and complain about everything and do nothing about it. You are the Union. If you don't like what's happening, get off your lazy A$$ and do something about it.
The hate comes in the asforememtioned union leadership for teachers. It shows YOU only took the union positions to get paid and protected because you are BAD teachers.
Tony's band always sounds horrible and it's not the students it's the teacher. Simmons and Waldo have always had better bands
Mestak is known for putting is students to sleep good thing he is not teaching. Ÿ
Gentile was in administration and when she could not cut it she transferred to Magnet and used her union pull to get to the best school. It shows because she is the Magnet schools weakest teacher.
The list goes on and yes a teacher did get suspended by Crespo and the board NEVER voted it on it.
The teachers should never fear we emailed the board and they are looking into it but without union representation because Gerry was sleeping in his office and with the teacher so afraid again of the bully Crespo she will not fight.
Crespo has no teaching degree and we all know they would only keep him because Popp stuck them with a bad contract.
Fortunately, the new interim's are fair and will not bully us so we should all consider going a year without representation and get new representation. Do we really want these BOZOs negoicating our contract.
It looks like somebody is really trying to get the staff to turn against themselves. Divide and conquer. Somebody is really panicking early. They are trying to destroy the Union leadership before they even have a chance to get themselves fully organized. The school year is only two months old and they are already calling them all failures.
Let’s analyze the posts: Poor Spelling Poor Grammar Praises the Board Praises the New Administration Critical of the New Union Leadership Blame the Union Leadership for Decisions Made by the Board and Administration
It appears very clear to me that Annette Johnson is up to her usual bag of tricks. No staff member, even if they had issues with the union, would be praising the board and administration. No staff member trusts the people causing the issues to resolve them. It’s the board and admin who are constantly violating the contract. It’s the board and Admin that are cutting field trips and professional development. It’s the board and admin who always have issues compensating staff members properly (and the mistakes are always in their favor). It’s the board and admin who suspend and fire staff members. It’s the poor decisions and neglect by the board and Admin that have caused all the mold issues in our buildings and it’s the board and Admin who have tried to cover issues up for years. As always, it’s only after the district receives bad publicity in the press that they pretend to be outraged and start firing people.
Annette must realize that we have the strongest union in many years and is already worried about negotiations coming up at the end of the year. She is attempting very early to drive wedges between the union members. Don’t fall for her divide and conquer tactics. Make your own decisions. Don’t listen to her anonymous nonsense on this blog.
No not Annette, put the blame on yourself for not defending members Who is defending administration? Crespo is the one who is up to his bag of tricks. Maybe our union should do their jobs.
Maybe Annette and her fellow board members should stop paying off the union with perks such as full release. The union president should work in the classroom and discover what we do all day.
Why would Annette care if it is the strongest union in years. She has been more than accommodating to us and we would not have the contract we do if not for her. The administration also works with the union these days. It seems Sara Interum paid the price and got us our rights and money. Jerry/Tony and others need to learn we still have bad administration like Crespo, Young and England. They need to be aggressive when issues arise.
Crespo still believes he can elect a school board that will return him to power and Strand is already causing problems for Kosek. Ralph FOIA her emails for all to see.
Your problem is not Annette it is Strand out to save the world with her 204 friends. Her band of nitwits believes it is better to have Popp in charge, and with Popp brings Crespo. We are back to the merry band creating chaos again. They are the ones that do not want a strong union. If you believe that then answer this. Why did negotiations stop when Strand and Hull give Popp complete control? Why did they get better for us when Johnson and company who ousted Popp~Crespo took over?
I was one of you drinking the Kool-aid but no more.
In the lastest chapter at East Aurora Extension Campus, a student was allowed to bring in a knife and other gang related weapons. The Extension Campus had a rule that all students get searched daily before entering. This was no ordinary knife, this was a large hunting knife big enough to bring down a deer. Police got involved and the student was taken into to custody.
The reason students had not been searched this year was it is against their rights. Crespo was again given a pass. Our union has again done nothing and our safety at risk. We have been lucky nobody was injured this year but why has the administration not suspended him. He always breaks the rules and is always allowed to get by. This is not one of our regular schools and rules are different here.
The District is Being Run Better Than Ever
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To: Crespo Hater
A child from the alternative school WAS expelled for the next two years at Wednesdays school board meeting. Apparently the powers that be are taking care of threatening situations and dealing with them very seriously. Maybe you should get your facts straight before you get on the blog and start spewing your hate and pointing fingers.
I heard there were 47 knives and 125 guns that entered the school district buildings this week. I don't have any proof, I just know it's true and I'm going to sit and post anonymously on a blog. NOT!!!
There are good leaders now in the district. IF there is an incident, it will be dealt with. There is no need to violate everybodys rights because a few children make poor choices. Rather, it's a teaching opportunity. It's pretty simple. Most children will live up to our expectations of them. If we treat them all like criminals, that's exactly what they will become.
It's amazing how many freedoms some folks will give up out of fear.
Missing the point again! Crespo did not follow rules and a student had a hunting knife because he knew Crespo was allowing students to do whatever. His incompetence puts everyone at risk.
What rule was he not following. Was it a violation of the contract or board policy? What have you done to report this violation or have you just bit€#£d on an anonymous blog? Be part of the solution, not the problem.
Next year East High's football team will be playing in a brand new stadium. A stadium that our community can be proud of. However, I feel that it is in the best interests of our kids that we find a new head football coach. Mr. Kurt Becker has tried hard since he arrived here five years ago. But it is time to find a new varsity football coach. During that time span his varsity football team has won just three games and lost forty-two. His first year he went 0-9, then 0-9, then 1-8, then 1-8 and last fall 1-8 again.
With our large school enrollment and new stadium we should be able to find a qualified coach to lead us to victory.
Becker developed a youth league and they have won many games. It starts with a feeder system which nobody ever developed. He has many parents out running the league and our small guys even won the small guys Super Bowl.
In his time he also got donations from the Bears which has totaled hundreds of thousands of dollars.
John missed yet another board meeting last week. Word is he was too busy this time protesting the election results in Chicago. John has zero time and energy for the community and students of east Aurora. He obviously only cares about himself and his personal agenda. It's time to start a protest outside a board meeting demanding John's resignation from the board. He is not on any committees and rarely makes time in his day to attend meetings. He is an absolute joke and he lied and swindled his way to getting votes.
"Large" school enrollment? Our students don't play football. East high is more like a 3a or 4a football school with the small population we pull football players from. Mr long time fan have you seen the dismal numbers in our mostly awful middle school teams?!? You are not going to compete with 8a schools when you only have 40 players if you're lucky. The freshman football team went 7-2. Help is coming up through the ranks. The tomcat youth football will have its first members enrolled in the high school next fall. No coach worth their salt would even take on the challenge Kurt has. There's more to it than wins and losses and large school enrollment, you would know that if you were a true long time fan and saw what is going on in our schools. Maybe it's time you find a new team to be a fan of.
Becker is not going anywhere. If wins and loses mattered Coach Bryant would not have been coach as long as he was. The same is true with basketball and baseball . West coaches get bounced every three to four years if they don't win. Eimer improved their team every year and they didn't have a good feeder system either. A new stadium is nice but the program will not progress under Becker .
It's not about wins and loses it is about character. Mr Becker has built character in the youth he works with. The Tomcat youth is an example of this. The parents run and pay for their children to be a part of the program. Yes they PAY, Yes they volunteer, and that is a win. Parent involvement has been a major fight in this district forever and Becker has solved it with a small group. We have heard about the fact it is not a Latino sport and yet we see additional children joining the program. We need to give credit to Mr Becker.
Why is the same long time fan not talking about basketball. They have had a losing season for years and even with Ryan Boatright they could not win. Jefferies has had many questionable relationships with students and we certainly can not call him a leader. Recently many basketball players from his team just happened to be present when a student was dragged by gangs and beaten. The word among students always seems to be Jefferies gives them a pass. Why is he still coaching Mr long time fan? Look at the empty stands at a basketball game or tge failure of his Christmas tournament. Has anybody run the numbers ?
Though I don't like the tone of the comment at 6:39pm, I agree with them. EA has not had a "winning" team in a long, long while. We have had coaches and kids who put their heart into playing but the true commitment is not there. Our team used to have shabby uniforms. We had a coach that got new ones and even coaches who got lots of local support and donations, t-shirts and such with sponsors names on them. I have been to games in the past when our team would line up on the sideline after being introduced and there would twice as many players lined up on the visitors sideline. We have students who come to the game wandering in and out and around, NOT supporting their classmates team. Those on the team don't have the family/ parental support that other teams get. Many of our students have to take care of siblings or work after school, so total commitment is difficult. I am not making excuses, because our teams don't need excuses. They may not leave with the most points but our teams have been praised many times for their respect and sportmanship behavior by refs and others spectating the games. We need a person in charge at the school who promotes pride in the school and encourages students to rally for their team. I won't pretend to be a dedicated fan, I rarely attend games and I won't be an arm chair coach and say things about those who have taken on the job for EA.
I am an old fan. I know some of our best basketball teams were boys who grew up playing ball together in their neighborhoods. So I am hopeful with the new younger teams that have started and I look forward to better things to come.
Becker did get the youth tackle team together and they have parents who run the teams and join in. We need to look at the HS parents don't even come to games. If Becker has them coming out why would you want to get rid of him
Just heard you have a grievance in against EA because your car allowance was taken away. Questions for you 1 How many times have you not put in your 8hrs 2 Have you "Padded" the overtime given to you 3 Is there a documented daily work log accounting for your time 4 Have you gone home for several hours during your work shift these past years
Last but not least 5 Did you and your Union Leaders ever take action insisting the overpayment of Scott Osmond be returned.
According to the FOIA documents I have for the multiple years in question, it amounts to 50K + of TAXPAYER dollars.
Unions can be a good thing however the above is plain and simply GREED +
I will be forwarding this and other issues concerning yourself and others in gathering additional info to bring out the TRUE ISSUES
Ralph
Merle
Just heard you have a grievance in against EA because your car allowance was taken away.
Questions for you
1 How many times have you not put in your 8hrs
2 Have you "Padded" the overtime given to you
3 Is there a documented daily work log accounting for your time
4 Have you gone home for several hours during your work shift these past years
Last but not least
5 Did you and your Union Leaders ever take action insisting the
overpayment of Scott Osmond be returned.
According to the FOIA documents I have for the multiple years in question, it amounts to 50K + of TAXPAYER dollars.
Union can be a good thing however the above is plain and simply GREED +
I will be forwarding this and other issues concerning yourself and others in
gathering additional info to bring out the TRUE ISSUES
ASK more questions said... Big news is admins are totally screwing over teachers- and interviewing students to get dirt to screw teachers. The real problem is students in the hallway and students being physically/verbally assaultive to teachers and no one does anything. They haul you out or have your division chair ream you for yelling at a student. You might have been going over the rules so that such a thing would not happen again. Doesn't matter. When admins want to go after you, they are like a pack of rabid dogs .Well guess what admins.. Every single member of my family is a high powered attorney who has never lost a case, and my uncle is a labor judge... You have messed with the wrong person. I am a well-respected member of the faculty. All excellent evals except for those involved in this witch-hunt. i will sue this time... back off of me. This is harassment.
The same thing is happening to me at the high school- a kid is 20 minutes late, constantly, and this is when he bothers to come to class- i ask him to get a pass and his dean brings him up and is very officious. I go over my expectations, and go back to the lesson, next thing I know my department chair is reaming me out that was yelling at this kid. Never happened.I finally have him to the point where he will sit down and work for me. At the beginning, if I would even try to redirect him, he would say "F this" and storm out. My department chair has"witnesses" who have told him I yelled at the student. A baseless and ridiculous accusation. This is what admins are spending their time on. Not supporting or helping us.
The Union is at fault and if we report something it goes unanswered. We have never been invited to join the joint committees because the four mafia style leadership controls all the positions. We have no voice and that is why admin gets by with it. Mestak, Gentile, Holt and Garcia control everything. What does Jerry do all day and furthermore his office needs to be with the largest membership at EAHS. Maybe then Jerry would see first hand what goes on.
Why is John Laesch on a school board? He has missed more meetings than he attends. It seems Laesch cares more about feeling the Bern and telling his Bern friends that he is on a school board than actually serving. See Bernie tells you public service is good and to serve on local boards in your town and that was his message at North Central when he thanked supporters last week. It makes perfect sense now that Laesch darken the school board doors. He did it for his political gain and lied to Sanders committee in the process.
Heather Kincaid is a good choice for T&L. Happy to see her get the job. She is stable and will not drive the staff crazy with her ego or pet projects. She is 100% better than what we had.
I guess we are back to the old days of crony-ism and administrator favorites. Since when does an asst superintendent just get appointed? Does she even have a degree in curriculum or any experience? Last time she was in d131 she must have made friends in the right places.
Ms Kincaid, has her Masters from Syracuse in C&I and eight years of experience in Curriculum as an administrator. I teach must be the Popp nitwits who graduated from AU. Green with invy that tge district has moved ahead.
KIncaid is an excellent choice. She moved on because one the many nitwit administration was jealous of her ability. When we worked with her at the HS on grading that year it was perfect. We should all remember the first time the grades program was used without her it created the fiasco that lasted years. I for one am happy she returned. She is not about the blame game.
Whether Kincaid is a good choice or not isnt the real issue here. What IS the real issue is that she was appointed to the job. Why wasnt the job posted and all candidates with good degrees and experience considered. That is the real issue. Even if she does a good job, her appointment smacks of favortism and cronism.
Voter alert Feltes and Leonard are running their act over to the Aurora Township. Feltes needs to be exposed more coruption has been discovered.
Felte's long time pal Dave Rana has moved over to D168. He is using the same no bid contracts and same Marty Feltes construction pals. Mr Padron is on the job exposing him.
The district advertised for the position during the summer and apparently they did not find anyone. I like Heather, and if people in our district are qualified they should be promoted. I think the two interim's verses Popp and his poor choices have made great choices.
Kincaid does NOT have a degree in curriculum. She has two degrees in math. Check you facts before posting. I cannot believe that the district could not find someone with a degree in curriculum to fill an assistant superintendent position. Guess they did not look very hard, there are many other in district employees with curriculum degrees, and I am sure that there are many people with the right degrees outside the district who would have been qualified for the curriculum position.
The high school is a joke this year. The hallways are a mess and nothing is being done. Student discipline has never been worse and the students know that there are no consequences for their behavior. How do we expect kids to take education seriously when they are running the school?
The division and department chairs are spending their energies humiliating teachers during meetings and calling them on the carpet for trumped-up nonsense; who the hell are any of you-- most of your teachers have more educational/work experience than you, and if this year is any indication you just need to have a pulse to get an admin job in our district--sad sad I have been in district 28 years and I can recall when we had a collegial atmosphere, everyone helped each other, joked around with each other and supported each other. Morale is the lowest I have ever experienced and the kids see no point in their education--who can blame them? Pearson owns us lock, stock, and barrel.Let's just test test test these kids with expensive Pearson products.
Senate bill 100 has led to your perceived notions of no discipline, not the administration. Administration cannot hand out consequences as in years past. The hallways are not any worse than they have been in years passed. You must be one of the crybullies the community lumps all teachers in when they complain about our district. Were you the one that doesn't feel safe now because the ROE, not the district, mandated removal of the mag locks? Oh no, the kids can now open the doors and let other people in.....I'm scared. The mag locks could be kicked open without an alarm going off, you didn't seem to be scared that that problem actually has existed all along. Grow up! Maybe you should teach in a bubble, or become an online teacher. Want to help with discipline? Manage your classroom better, have engaging lesson plans so kids want to be in your room and not in the hallways. Crespo's babysitting room did not work last year. Same students daily in there, and it did not change behavior although it did allow you with the lack of skill to manage students and your classroom to kick kids out of class and send them to ISI and away from you for the day. So I bet you loved that way of managing your class. Because you perceived it to be better. Now you lost your binky this year and are inconsolable and crying to anybody that will listen.
Be a part of the solution, not more of the same and the problem, projecting issues onto administration when you are a part of the problem yourself. This blog has yet to solve a problem, stop wasting your time. Maybe you should go to Tony Garcia's puppet, oops I mean the union president Gerry Mestek. He'll stupidly file grievances about doors and cameras - none of which is actually grievable because it's not in the CBA. A monkey would know that, but not the corrupt ignorant Cowherd crew that secretly holds meetings with themselves and leaves out the rest of the union leadership/cabinet. Tony is angry at the world and mad at administrators who have since been let go, but unlike frozen, Tony cannot "let it go." Can't wait for them to piss off administration more with stupid and pointless complaints and grievances and Tony gets his puppet to give him the strike he so desperately wanted last year. Maybe the superintendents should 're-evaluate' release time for the president and make Gerry teach half time so he has something better to do with his time. Gerry needs to be transparent, stop listening to Tony, and represent all of us, not just his Cowherd cronies. A big step would be to use the office at the high school - get away from his bubble at Cowherd and to actually listen to his cabinet not just the crazy, delusional tony and crazy cat lady holt who hasn't done her job in years, but can cry at board meetings to pretend she's a good educator. Who's the old timer on here that predicted the crybullies would still complain.....he's starting to be proven right by the I teach morons posting on here. Why don't you cowards name names, which division chairs? You've lost us by lumping them all together like you have experience and knowledge of this. But we are in Trump's America now, where facts don't mean anything and the loudest crybully in the room gets heard. It's always funny how the ones posting on here always citing the most experience and deem themselves excellent have nothing but complaints but stick around anyway. Can't get a job elsewhere? Maybe you're not that excellent? Don't try to use the I do it for the kids talk when all you do is complain about the kids and their lack of discipline. Hmmmmmmmm
You like to complain. What's your solution to the hallways? Please read SB100 first before you come up with stuff that can no longer be used. And your solution has to not put undue paperwork onto teachers or deans - a la last year's policy. Find a solution, don't just complain. Your colleagues would love to hear your plans to make EA great again.
Tony Garcia gets several stipends and did not want to give them up so he did not run for union president. Gerry is a lazy worthless teacher and everyone knows it at Cowherd. He did not want to learn a new text book series so he became union president. Tony put him up to it. Holt is worthless and we should have a bylaw stating that all the union leadership should not come from one building. We should demand a vote and get rid of them. Three can hold a meeting and leave everyone out that is wrong.
The mag lock grievance was stupid, I for one was worried that the doors would not open. When they did that I questioned them and was told that was legal. I now kick myself for not calling the ROE myself. Doors locking us in could have injured many who did not have the strength to kick the door open. If that is what Gerry is spending his time replace him NOW.
Nov. 30- 9:58pm If I could I would click the like button. You sound very knowledgeable about the inner workings of D131. Not only on a blog but in many work places you find those "I teach" people. They often seem to perceive themselves the victims. Poor me sort of individuals.
I am a blog reader and feel that people can discern between those with heart for teaching in EA and those who just want to keep up drama....and I am not talking about Thespians. Still hoping for some permanent changes in the central offices that acknowledge the teachers as being the most important element in the success of educating the students in EA. I try to tune out the whiners and pray for the those who are working hard for that success.
Speaking of causing Drama, the Popp cry bullies are still hanging on sending anonymous emails and attempting to upset we knownthe staff, board and administration.
Went to the district Holiday party and much to my surprise no Gerry Mestak, Tony Garcia, Loretta Holt. A complete snub by our union leadership and an opportunity to socialize and get to know the membership. It must be true that they think they answer to nobody and live in the secret society of Cowherd. When are the next elections they need to go?
I don't know about parties but I did see Gerry and Tony at Allen after school on Monday where they were helping our reps and staff as we fight for a safe, mold free place to work. We have been sick for the past few years and nobody has done a thing about it. They were here for the meeting and walked all through the building for at least an hour after with our teachers, the testing rep and our building and grounds director finding all sorts of problem areas.
Somebody on here was also griping about how the union filed grievances. I have been in the district for thirty years and this is the first time I heard that our union ever filed a grievance. It seems pretty clear to me that our leadership, maybe for the first time ever is fighting for our membership. It is so much better than last year where Sara and Annette sat in back rooms and screwed the staff with one MOU after another. I couldn't be happier.
I don't expect perfection as some on here seem to want but I am elated to find that somebody for once is working for us. Keep up the good work and don't let the anonymous crybullies on this blog deter you.
First, Tony's wife works at Allen and that is the only other school he cares about. If you teach there you are well protected.
The mold was handled by Dr Hoyda who has come to the school on numerous occasions. It is Dr Hoyda that has brought in professionals to talk with staff and parents.
The mold was reported by Ralph Pardon last year when maintenance people gave Ralph mold reports in several schools. Dr Popp ordered maintenance to paint over the mold in all schools just to prove Ralph wrong. The Allen library has had mold in it before and all summer was musty. Finally, maintenance complained again and the two sups made no excuses. Other building also seemed to be getting addressed as well.
Tony and Jerry are worthless the only difference is the interim's who fix issues and not sweep them under the moldy rug.
Union sucks is correct they showed disrespect to all by not attending a joyous celebration.
Union sucks seems to be very confused (and full of hate) if they think the union is one or two people. The union is over 1500 teachers, support staff and secretaries. If you don't like what's happening with your union go to a union meeting and speak up. You can also go to board meetings, committee meeting or better still, step and become building rep yourself and fight for your school.
If you think that you are going to solve any of our districts issues by spewing your venom anonymously on a blog, you are delusional. That's all you are going to do is create divisions. Of course, if you are an administrator or board member writing on here, I'm sure you already know that. That's exactly why you do it.
We the rank and file think that it is important for Mestak to share what is going on. Don't try to deflect , Tony Garcia that the Board or administration is writing about The Cowherd Three. He writes up issues that are not part of the CBA or important to membership. It looks shady that three are elected from Cowherd and he never moves out of Cowherd. The latest is the holiday party, Mestak again decided to not socialize with the 1500 members. Do not deflect, start by updating membership, moving away from Garcia, place other members from all schools on district committees, not just yourselfs. Advice, become the respective for all.
Happy today that the entire administrative team is at the HS today. It is sad that all the haters are out there because I feel this year they have been listening. A union can claim to be strong but without administration to address problems it not happening. Our DC is actually on door duty today. Glad to see students put on notice about weapons today it was long overdue. We have a ways to go but let's stay positive.
Agreed, first Sup ever in a building at 7am. It shows they are looking at building problems and fixing them. The SSC staff was also on door duty and in the hallways. Very surprised.
I was glad to see everyone in in the halls today including central office staff. It was great to have the support, but this was really a knee jerk reaction. Why haven't metal detector checks been done all along as a prevention? They used to be done on a regular basis, and my students always told me that they felt safer in the building because of them.
Wanding of students had been done in the past until Popp stopped them. I am glad everyone was present and could see the problems we face daily. Hopefully we can all work together to make East great again to copy a phrase.
Encouraged , that is a lie. Dr Roberts never had the kids searched. Even during heavy gang activities of the 90s it was very rare that all students were searched. I can guarantee you that the searches will not continue especially since EA image is most important . Someone at the school should be held accountable .
I wish there were a way to gather all the district's accounting, audit and financial issues from the last eight years. That is how long the self proclaimed accounting major, Board President has been overseeing the finance committee and approving budgets. She will be coming up for reelection and I hope people share this information, when they are considering for whom to cast their vote. Even without the last eight years, the above audit information is enough to make you ask, who has been minding the store?!?
Good idea, please FOIA all docs from the past 8 years! See how Popp and Hull spent way to much money on their pet projects, wasted money on "life coaches" how many of Hull's friends got hired by the District? The public deserves the truth!
The problems with 131 started long before Hull or Johnson. They started with the serial bully and free insurance for all that retired. Others on the board like Melacker sold their property to the district for double the price. Hull and Johnson have never gained like others.
As an old timer in the district things are much better and whomever throws their hat into the ring I hope the keep it that way. We have a excellent group of people that care for our students. Our union leadership is better and nobody can debate our wages have improved during the time Johnson has been on the board. On other wish is that the person takes the board seriously and does not run for political gain. I think all the current members with the exception of Mr Laesch do.
@East Sider Why didn't the great and powerful AJ, who says she is the ultimate manipulator, stop those things from happening? Especially, when she says Hull was a "loser."
I heard that recording several times and AJ was correct to be mad that the administration LOST 10 MILLION DOLLARS!! You must be MLP, meddling in our affairs. The community should be outraged about 10 MILLION DOLLARS LOST, not at AJ getting mad over it!!
Check out DICK LENOARD. Since he has been on the board and chairman of B&G see all the chaos and corruption. He traded votes and more for his buddy MARTY FELTES to become B&G Director. How did that work out? It cost the district millions. B&G went downhill as a result of no bidding, staff harassment, no records, hiring all Feltes’s friends, DICK LEONARD AND MARTY FELTES driving around the district together, breakfast and lunch and no work. MARTY WAS FIRED
CHECK OUT ALL THE FOIA’S FOR THIS WORK THAT RALPH UNCOVERED! IT’S MILLIONS WITH NO BIDS, ONLY FRIENDS.
That people on here blame Annette for when people in charge of finances and admin in charge of bids fail and do not do their jobs. The audit report seems to show we have or had inept administrators who are not doing their job. How is this Annette's fault? But I guess these are the same people that like to place all the blame on teachers for students low test scores, or is that Annette's fault too? The school board does not get to see the day to day operations and goings on daily of the district. They are not in the office with admin making decisions. It's funny how people on here blame Annette whenever they get a chance. How about blaming the finance people making 6 figures to oversee finances and letting this happen?! It's obvious we have Laesch and Strand minions trying to have Annette not get re-elected posting on here. It's funny how the people who have posted seem to not want an audit of the Bible thumper Strand and how much her groups have made unmonitored in the district since she's been a board member......
Annette Johnson is in a no win situation. When she asked the administration to do their jobs and they did not she became frustrated and yelled at them. Unfortunately we live in a world that no longer allows us to raise our voices. Annette gets blamed. When Annette raised the issue of firing some of the incompetent administration some our our own teachers came out to protect incompetence. The administration did get fired and many things are improving. We all live in bubble if we think the tens of millions of lost insurance money did not cost us our just salary for years . I will defend Annette because whether she did it or did not do it fast enough it got fixed. Our contact was the best ever. The new teachers are paid correctly because of Annette. We that committed to East still have a ways to go with salary. However, I only wish Annette would have been on the board in 2004 because my wages would have been better.
I am a minion who thanked her and asked her at the holiday party to run again. It would unfortunate that we go backward.
Ms. Johnson helped save our district band camp this past summer when the administration was ignoring parents' questions. She was responsive to us and because she cared, a 30+ year tradition continues. I will always support her because of that!
I thought the same thing Blog reader, except that Ms. Johnson is not as well spoken as the supporter. To: It's funny, it is AJ's fault for not making her one and only employee, the superintendent, accountable for his staff. The board has the final approval on the raises and all finance by way of the budget. So Annette along with the whole Board accepted those 6 figure salaries and they approve the personnel hiring of many of those central office people.
The self proclaimed minion* defined their support.
*min·ion ˈminyən/ noun a follower or underling of a powerful person, especially a servile or unimportant one. synonyms: underling, henchman, flunky, lackey, hanger-on, follower, servant, hireling, vassal, stooge, toady, sycophant; informalyes-man, trained seal, bootlicker, brown-noser, suck-up
Get your facts straight everyone knows Johnson did not hire Popp it was Hull, Leonard and the two older ladies. Strand opposed him at the time because he did not fit into the culture of EA and Johnson felt he did not have enough experience with the bilingual population. Both did however vote for him because they wanted to show unity and support but taking the high road did not work.
We know who the haters are it is the Aird heads. I will always be grateful to Ms Johnson for stopping Aird. Aird was forcing teachers to gender identify students in second grade. I am so happy Aird married her sweetheart Irene Villa a our students are rid of her. Hater hate but Johnson has done many good things for our district. The real bully was Aird and her Aird heads. We have so many teachers who because of her are so highly medicated they can not function.
Huh, Johnson is the board president . She has been president since forever. She was given a break for one year rest from her journey to greatness . There has never been anyone greater. During one year out as president the board voted in the worst president since Obama ,Ray hull. Under Hull the district test scored plummeted after years of increase under johnson. East Aurora was the standard in academic and athletics in the valley. Hull ruined all that in a year. Hull hired his buddy feltes against johnson and Leonard's wishes when he was over B/G , thanks to some good luck Johnson got control again and fired him. Under hull students were allowed to carry guns and sell drugs and not even be suspended let alone get expelled; it was an experiment he cooked up and force the admin and board to go along with ; he was a tyrant. Hull is the reason deans assistants are not on post outside the schools before letting out. He stop staff from questioning students as they flowed freely in and out the buildings. In that year kids were stabbed and shot frequently. Teachers were assaulted until this past year.The teachers are the best just check the data. The parents and students are the worst just ask the teachers. Finally they've been rewarded by johnson after after years of neglect. The schools are finally safer than ever . I don't know about you but Johnson and Leonard have my vote
I have several close friends who work in the buildings. Johnson hired Feltes because of Leonard not Hull. Johnson caught Feltes doing no bids. When Johnson attempted to stop Feltes Leonard punished Johnson by not supporting her and Hull became President. Johnson exposed Feltes and told the b&g she made a mistake with Feltes. I say nobody is perfect unless we are God so at least she learned from her mistakes. Leonard is running for the Township on the Dems ticket. What a joke, he is Donald Trump if we ever had one. Good riddance for East Aurora but he and Feltes will now steal from somebody else. Let's remember that when we are voting.
It will be interesting to see how Popp does in Flossmoor. Looking at the report cards, it is more similar to 131 than it is 204. Majority non-white students. High percent of low income students. Not many non-English learners, though.
Giddy- the teachers are still being assaulted=they are fearful to report it; those that do report it are punished with reprisals and nothing is done. Kids get more repercussions for ditching a class than for assaulting a teacher.
Why does no one at the high school get that the problems begin and end in our over-crowded hellish hallways. Kids are making out and making babies, four or five kids are having a pow-wow smack dab so no one can get through and traffic flow is halted.Some are in the boys bathroom across from the gym smoking their skunkweed, every morning you can smell this. Why is no one doing anything about it? Kids report being bullied and harassed in the hallway, cussed at, knocked into, yet where are the PPA'S? They tell teachers to be in the hallways and we are, but how many times have i looked out and there is not a single PPA in sight and the kids are running and screaming down the hallway-. The kids are running the school and they know it. How many fire drills a day? Say what you want about Crespo, the Deans were out front and no one was in the hallways. Deans see kids in the hallway joke with them and do nothing. Sad
Well I'll just repost this for you since you seemed to miss this to the "I teach" crowd.
The dean's weren't out front anywhere with crespo they were too busy writing 735284 tardy passes daily. You miss your babysitting room too?! Miss your binky?!? Get a job elsewhere already. I hear posting on here solves all your whiny complaints.....
Senate bill 100 has led to your perceived notions of no discipline, not the administration. Administration cannot hand out consequences as in years past. The hallways are not any worse than they have been in years passed. You must be one of the crybullies the community lumps all teachers in when they complain about our district. Were you the one that doesn't feel safe now because the ROE, not the district, mandated removal of the mag locks? Oh no, the kids can now open the doors and let other people in.....I'm scared. The mag locks could be kicked open without an alarm going off, you didn't seem to be scared that that problem actually has existed all along. Grow up! Maybe you should teach in a bubble, or become an online teacher. Want to help with discipline? Manage your classroom better, have engaging lesson plans so kids want to be in your room and not in the hallways. Crespo's babysitting room did not work last year. Same students daily in there, and it did not change behavior although it did allow you with the lack of skill to manage students and your classroom to kick kids out of class and send them to ISI and away from you for the day. So I bet you loved that way of managing your class. Because you perceived it to be better. Now you lost your binky this year and are inconsolable and crying to anybody that will listen.
Be a part of the solution, not more of the same and the problem, projecting issues onto administration when you are a part of the problem yourself. This blog has yet to solve a problem, stop wasting your time. Maybe you should go to Tony Garcia's puppet, oops I mean the union president Gerry Mestek. He'll stupidly file grievances about doors and cameras - none of which is actually grievable because it's not in the CBA. A monkey would know that, but not the corrupt ignorant Cowherd crew that secretly holds meetings with themselves and leaves out the rest of the union leadership/cabinet. Tony is angry at the world and mad at administrators who have since been let go, but unlike frozen, Tony cannot "let it go." Can't wait for them to piss off administration more with stupid and pointless complaints and grievances and Tony gets his puppet to give him the strike he so desperately wanted last year. Maybe the superintendents should 're-evaluate' release time for the president and make Gerry teach half time so he has something better to do with his time. Gerry needs to be transparent, stop listening to Tony, and represent all of us, not just his Cowherd cronies. A big step would be to use the office at the high school - get away from his bubble at Cowherd and to actually listen to his cabinet not just the crazy, delusional tony and crazy cat lady holt who hasn't done her job in years, but can cry at board meetings to pretend she's a good educator. Who's the old timer on here that predicted the crybullies would still complain.....he's starting to be proven right by the I teach morons posting on here. Why don't you cowards name names, which division chairs? You've lost us by lumping them all together like you have experience and knowledge of this. But we are in Trump's America now, where facts don't mean anything and the loudest crybully in the room gets heard. It's always funny how the ones posting on here always citing the most experience and deem themselves excellent have nothing but complaints but stick around anyway. Can't get a job elsewhere? Maybe you're not that excellent? Don't try to use the I do it for the kids talk when all you do is complain about the kids and their lack of discipline. Hmmmmmmmm
whenever someone strikes a nerve, the crybully namecalling starts, ala Matt Hanley teacher hater supreme, who started all this nonsense. Genius, the reports of the hallways come from the kids themselves who I actually do talk to and care about, who are terrified each day going through these hallways, where bullying does occur. One should never look out into a crowded hallway and not see another adult anywhere. We should not have any locks that malfunction and we need metal detectors. The kids laugh at inadequacy of wanding and searching.."They didn't even check my backpack".Or I could just not say anything and wait for the other shoe to drop. Or stick my head in the sand... No Pollyannas here...
Well, well heard from a colleague another gang fight broke out with the only 30 kids Crespo has to manage. Multiple arrests but oops they are all brothers and freinds of Crespo.
Crespo empowered the students and like the Extension Campus kids think they run the hallways. Do we all understand how difficult it is for the new administration and Marina. They listen and are attempting change. We need to become a part of the solution only for the simple reason they may accually hear us and use are ideas.
The sad fact is you think posting on here is providing a solution. Posting on here has yet to supply a solution to any problem. You say you want to speak out and not be silenced why don't you do that at a board meeting?!? Or are you the coward we all know you are? There's 3900 kids in a building made for 2500. The hallways should be much better by the time we get back. Stop pointing fingers and laying blame. Propose solutions! Posting on the blog does not make you a hero. Speaking at a board meeting will make board members aware that this is a problem and not just whiny crybully talk put on the blog. You are a joke. Step up show your face, say your name and speak at a board meeting. Until then, stop wasting your time and everyone's posting on here all your whiny complaints. There's a discipline committee that is starting up, have you joined? Or are you who we think you are and a complainer for complainigs sake?
Due to extreme cold expected for tomorrow, all East Aurora School District 131 schools will be closed on Thursday, December 15, 2016.
All after-school activities are also cancelled for Thursday, December 15, 2016.
School is closed for students, teachers, and other non-twelve month employees. Administrators and other twelve-month employees should report to work.
As the temperatures fall, East Aurora School District 131 families are reminded that there are multiple places to check for information about weather-related closings.
Information will be released through:
A phone message to parents in both English and Spanish. The District website: www.d131.org The District Facebook page: www.facebook.com/EASD131 The District Twitter account: @EASD131 (twitter.com/EASD131) Local newspapers, television stations and radio stations. The Emergency Closing Center website: www.emergencyclosings.com
The District will only send out a notice when schools are closed. If there is no announcement, schools are open.
Re hallways--- I have an idea who you are-- you like to yell at people for voicing their opinions..You also like to tell people how to react and voice their political ideologies as well. yet I do not see any of your caterwailling result in any change. As to your commands that I go to a Board meeting- I have been to many in my time, voiced my concerns, and yet, nothing changed. I have the right in this democracy to voice my opinion and as a veteran educator who has actually been a force for many important changes in my building and district, and have been given awards for such, I will not be cowed by YOUR BULLYING. You do not control me or my thoughts or my caring and nurturing for the students I teach. In some arenas there are no grey areas; there is black and white and right and wrong. Until you have walked in my shoes and have fought actual wars for the good of my peers and students and won and suffered huge reprisals then and only then will you see from my perspective. I am not about histrionics; I am about if there is a sickness we need to address it so the sore doesn't fester.Quit using the pronoun "we" to try to fool me- you are an iolated, misdirected individual.
Hilarious. It's always the ones with the awards and excellent ratings that seem to post on here. One begins to wonder, if you're so smart and so excellent and have many leather bound books and your house smells of rich mahogany.....yet you think posting on here solves anything. Posting on here does nothing for the alleged students you care so much about. Posting on here only soothes your own ego to help you sleep at night that you did something for the students. As people have posted on here and I have challenged you.....are you on the discipline committee to fight for your students?!? Do you have any solutions other than whiny complaints and posting anonymously on a blog that nobody cares about?!? You don't. You'd rather change the subject and start the whoa is me, walk a mile in my shoes, next you'll be like the high schoolers and start shouting "you don't know me" when they get into trouble or arguments in school. Can't wait for the next diatribe. Let's all brace ourselves for the knowledge and revolutionary re hallways with all their excellents and awards that make them the foundation of knowledge on a blog.......
Re hallways it appears when challenged to propose solutions by others on here you do not answer. Why not? One would think writing a state legislator about the impact of SB100 would be time more well spent than posting on a blog that will not end in any solutions to your cited problems you think you bear alone.
Re: hallways you oviously did not read through and thoughtfully condider any of my comments. I have many suggestions for improvement. First and foremost we need more PPA's asap. Next,a company needs to be brought in to fix the locks on EVERY DOOR-- this is basic safety people come on now!!
As to your comments on SB1OO- This was legislation in the schools where the majority population was white and where blacks were receiving all of the suspensions. In a school where we are all minority, the situation is different.
We went to the BOE meeting and complained, GUESS WHAT, they listened and all the powers that be have been seen at the HS. We are now getting cameras, door alarms and random searches have returned. All we can do is try to improve EAHS by telling people the problems. The interim's have been hired to solve problems and they have when they are brought into the loop. When we look back at past leadership they never cared.
Re= hallways--no mahogany here- most of my money goes right back into school and the students I teach=as for posting on this blog if I care to do that it's my business in a democracy--you must have endless hours of free time to sit and mull over my qualifications and motivations, etc. The people I work with know what time it is;the answers are simple and in reach but we need to work together to enact them, teacher bashing and pulling rank aka the military chain of command bullshit is not helping things; we need to work together to get this show on the road; this dysfunction will not cure itself.
re hallways.. you like to dictate to people how they should react to a certain situation, how they should think, what committees they should be on etc. How about being a force for true change and gathering to your bosom any and all who care for students and go from there You slam me for spinning my wheels but you are letting so many people with energy, love and activism remain dormant.
DICK LEONARD RESIGNS B&G CHAIR POSITION AND FINANCE COMMITTEE POSITION. THAT’S GOOD NEWS BUT TOO LATE
LEONARD had the perfect setup to help his buddy, MARTY FELTES, giving millions of dollars of work to their contractor friends. LEONARD, B&G, approved all the illegal work with no bids. totaling millions. His buddy, FELTES a plumber with no experience in charge of repair. A coyote in the hen house. So LEONARD, Chair at B&G, approves all the (illegal) building maintenance. And LEONARD, at Finance, approves the (theft) payment. MILLIONS GONE
And LEONARD, HULL, STRAND, & PERYEA, the corrupt board members, approved the payments. IN 2015 VOTERS REJECTED HULL AND PERYEA. STRAND (Family Focus with a 5 year contract - unconscionable) learns how it’s done.
LEONARD RESIGNS COMMITTEES TO AVOID THE CONSEQUENCES. STRAND SHOULD RESIGN ALSO. THEY SHOULD LEAVE NOW
Tell the whole truth and nothing but the truth
said...
If you are a true insider, then you should be well aware Johnson and Leonard were partners in the Feltes crimes you speak of. Once the stuff started hitting the fan is when Johnson started distancing herself and tried to claim Leonard was the sole person supporting Feltes.
We took the illegal bills to Johnson and she attempted to stop Feltes that is what cost her and Leonard put Hull in. Johnson still continued to vote against all the list of bills for months always a 6 to 1. Hull and Peryae attacked her at every meeting and the others voted with them. She had a right to distance herself and although I have had my issues with her based on hearsay she has done the right thing for 131. The others have not.
Blog reader: Guess what!! Way ahead of you-- have a lawyer on this as well!! reams of documentation have been submitted on this one!!I am not an individual who lets the grass grow under my feet!! Have done a hellava lot more than you havebut yet and still am not telling you what to do and how to live your life.. last time I checked we are not living in a fascist state.
I am up taking care of our buildings and yes we start at 2am salting.
If you refer to the meeting of Dec 2nd 2013 it shows all the BOE members voting yes and that would include Hull, Strand and Peryea. We took the complaints bills to Hull and Peryea and they did nothing. Ms Peryea took detailed notes at Grandmas Table in Montgomery. The breakfast proved to be a major mistake because they told Feltes and then he targeted many of us or became parinoid with employees that did not attend the meeting.
Ms Johnson was also told by the former Tech Director. We did not go to her because we did not trust her., Johnson did act and then continued to attempt to stop him. She could not stop him because the other board members would not vote with her. This is all documented. Hull was made president by Leonard and if you attended that meeting the looks on Truza and Gonzalezs face told the story. You could tell that Leonard sold his vote to Hull and Gonzalez. I knew level,of BOE politics was learned with common denominator Leonard is a dishonest deal maker who profited from our district.
Please check it out since Feltes has been gone less than $50,000 in work orders to outside service providers have been given out. Last month alone we repaired several heat exchangers that the district under Feltes spent $250,000.
The actions of the individuals, in the story, in the paper is what minimizes the statement of BLM. My child's life matters, no matter what color they are. When any individual disrespects and attacks authority, who are trying to create peace when there is chaos in the halls, I am all for giving them the full force of the law they so blantantly disrespect.
I hope an example is made to show all students, their school is a safe haven and a place for learning and, violence will not be tolerated. I am very happy to see felony charges placed against these individuals, and the students placed in custody. I hope they find the others and ID them through the video feed, who decided to put their kicks in the mix.
Sorry to hear this incident happened at EA, but very satisfied with how the law has handled it thus far.
Annette and Trump were separated at birth. Liar liar pants on fire. Mary Lou and Ray actually sat and stared at johnson every board meeting as she did her grandstand act. She voted against every finance report but as soon as she became president again she vote yes to the same finance report. There wasn't a delay she voted yes the first meeting back and never voted no again.
The financial reporting changed after Johnson complained and she actually started voting yes once Feltes has fired. Ray and Lou were on the board at the time the only difference was we started doing the repairs again and bidding was being followed. Tyler hated Johnson but Tyler knew she has being held accountable by Johnson.
I am glad they have returned to explusions it will help weed out some really bad students. The Fleming kids has assaulted so many staff members at EA before I am glad she was locked. The mother if I can call her that, worked at the extension campus for Sodexo but last year was best buds with Crespo. Is it not convenient that she worked there this year. Popp even gave her a ham for Christmas last year. A dean that quit after working eight years was pushed to the ground last year. The mother chased the daughter through our halls. Popp and Crespo never moved for any discipline. Now this, she has been allowed to get by. The only difference is with the new sups the children or parents will never be allowed to return.
Crespo is a loose cannon! He influenced the family to create chaos just like he did with families at EAHS. If she worked at Extension you can bet he told her to demand rights at EAHS.
A teacher resigned two weeks ago because of the unsafe working conditions at Extension Campus. It was also revealed students are in gang fights everyday and those issues did not occur with Orstead. He is a friend of parents and students but only when it benefits him. You can bet many students including the Fleming children have had their lives destroyed because of Crespo
John laesch is an absolute joke. At the board meeting Monday, one he finally took time out of his day to show up to, he decided to bash the high school staff, school resource officer and deans for out of control students and parents who jumped a police officer and dean. Yes the school is totally racist John. You would obviously know that since you are at the buildings every day and attend every board meeting. If this action by John doesnt wreak of crespo collision I don't know what else does. John trying to say the staff at the high school is racist trying to vilify staff to make crespo look good is terrible. Just stop John, resign already, you're not better than the man you protested against in trump with all your lies and deceit.
The people are not telling you to not do something about it. They're saying why not just be the person of action you claim in real life and not post on here? This blog is not a positive reflection of the district and you're claiming to want to better things but are joining in on the bashing on here. Get your reams of evidence and ball rolling. You can do all that without putting it on here. This blog has not impacted change at the district. This blog has scared away people from coming here to work. But you're probably one of those people that thinks if you don't check in on Facebook that you went to the gym, did you really go?! That's great that you are fighting for your students. Nobody seems to question that, but why do it on here when this provides no solution for what you're fighting for. But maybe your ego needs the boost and pat on the back and that's what you're looking for.
Also if we think cameras are the solution, we aren't asking the right questions because cameras only help after the fact, they do nothing to prevent anything.
The whiny liberals aka teachers posting on here about their skewed one sided opinion and then they cry 1st amendment when somebody shares their opinion on their opinion. Delicate snowflakes who need safe spaces. Guess what whiny liberals, this place isn't your safe space. If you can dish it out you gotta be able to take it too without your 1st amendment nonsense and cries of fascism. But most of the crybullies on here only care about the 1st amendment when they speak, not others.
I attended the meeting and found it very disruptive that Laesch called in again. You can not hear with people talking over each other. He should go to the meeting but calling in constantly is a joke.
Another joke is he and Alex Arroyo, the both did not want the cameras tied to the police department. If a shooting or fire occurred it would be nice for the police to see the halls. It does not violate anyone's rights are these two crazy. Walk down any public sidewalk in large cities or public buildings they have cameras.
Laesch should resign and Arroyo needs to prepare better.
I think you are missing the point and your namecalling, cybullies, whiny liberals-- we all are posting. If you see no benefit to it don't post. Don't like my posts, don't read em'. My we are certainly full of dictums and directions and labels aren't we? Quit worrying about my motivations and the impact of my blogs on the district.. You have no idea who reads this and how it impacts them... the first step to change is to posit the problem and then in a collegial manner to discuss options. If you don't want to enter your voice into that arena, then don't. Your choice. free country... still....
Maybe you should read something other than "change for dummies" at the library. The first step for change is to post the problem - on an anonymous blog? Then the next step is to discuss options in a collegial manner - on an anonymous blog?!? One would think you would go to union leadership, have them bring it up in their meeting with the building principal and then has a discussion as to how to fix the problem. Real solutions in real life you know not some made up I feel better about myself now because I posted what I deem a problem on an anonymous blog thinking I'm changing the world. Go to the source that can actually help solve the problem. Admin isn't on here posting or reading or giving any thought to a random post on here.
Let's try it though. Taxes are too high in Illinois. Options everyone?! The people of the blog have the solutions and can put them into place not leadership like a governor or principal.
Wow = You are truly obsessed with me and my thoughts and for some reasons trying to tell me what the f to blog or not to blog--you really have too much time on your hands-- a blog is to let off steam when a kid has been violent or an administrator has not had your back and believe it or not ==Listen buddy I have had many discussions with principals, admins, board and union members.. Who knows what will light the spark that will initiate real change and true safety in our schools? You don't know and I don't know-- Hey and have a merry Christmas will ya?
Annette's up to her old tricks again. Directing the interims who apparently either believe AJ does know more than they do about education or are too afraid of losing their $1000/day payout. The biggest joke is 'her' recent article in The Beacon. Anyone who has heard Annette speak or have seen her writings knows that this was not penned by her. This is all in a bid to show how SHE alone is capable of doing what's best for EA and get reelected in April. Should the new communications guy be writing her election propaganda? He probably doesn't want to lose his gig either.
you probably need to get someone to wipe your butt as you obviously need assistance with basic living.
Annette has actually cleaned up some of the mess that is District 131. Everyone should have appreciation for Annette as she stopped Ralph's wife and some of his merry band of nitwit retired teachers take well north of ten million out of the system for their undeserved health insurance premiums. They never said they were sorry either. Cleaning the swamp takes a long time.
What is needed now is help from teachers and staff to rid the ranks of the crybullies who really do not want to work to get 131 back to normal again. Sad that the teachers union leaders won't stand up against bad behavior of students. There should be protests in Springfield against insane laws that prohibit proper discipline in the schools. Very sad indeed.
Local elections coming up......Hopefully there will be public service announcements all over Aurora saying that you have to be a US citizen to vote. Don't want people getting into trouble......
It sounds like the blog puppet is back to her old tricks of attacking Annette.
It's funny how this blog puppet has decided to not say one word about Dan Barreiro who created the entire financial distruction of 131 along with his group of thieves. Dan created back room deal after back room deal.
Let's name a few
Hometown land deal that the district never received a penny from. Dan did he received a promotion at the CIty.
The Police palace that featured a 3.5 million profit for Walmart when the board conveniently forgot to appraise the police palace land.
Insurance fiasco that saw district employees paying higher premiums while Dans million dollar freind Arlene Hawks got free insurance.
The insurance fiasco produced a referendum and stopped teachers from a living wage.
Hired the serial bully that paid former board President Larry Melaker double for his house.
Destroyed the band program by firing K.
Created budget cuts that lost art, music, sports and clubs for EA students.
Increased class sizes.
Froze teacher wages while getting himself higher pay.
So yes community let's all go out and vote for Barriero and 131 employees be ready to give back all the raises you got under Annette.
I do not know who the "Blog puppet" is, but I agree about Dan B. He was self serving. The same as Annette J. They would probably work well together. NOT in the the best interest of students or teachers. Their only issue would be a power struggle. Yes, lots of bad choices were made during the times Barreiro et. al. were over seeing 131.
Ms J is not self serving she never gained nothing from her time on the board but a ruined reputation for exposing the bad guys.
She has many haters because she exposed the insurance including Dick Shindal who again was at the holiday basketball game selling his heart attack donuts to our students.
Ms J needs to find out why he is allowed to sell unhealthy snacks other districts would not allow this. He also doesnot pay for his space. I have read board packets in that he gives small donations which is a faction of what he is taking in. Why our the clubs not allowed to sell food items? Renner is someone to look into.
Shindal yis another example of someone who Ms J partially stopped. He is always complaining about his lost free insurance. What a fine example of another scammer.
However, this is the crap EA puts up with and Ms J is one of the few that takes it on. Keep up the
I've been an East Sider for +30 years, and known the Schindel family for about that long. Dick Schindel has always been involved in and proud of our district. For at least the past 20 years he has had a small business making and selling Dick's Donuts. He sells these delicious donuts at various events throughout the area (farmers markets, athletic events, city festivals). The donuts are reasonably priced and a portion of the proceeds benefits various charities in our community. I make a point of buying some and chatting with Dick whenever I have the opportunity.
As far as "heart attack donuts" are concerned, just about any sugary or fatty snack is unhealthy if consumed in excess. I would NOT want our district to dictate which snacks we are allowed to buy! A few small donuts once in awhile are very unlikely to cause health problems for anyone who eats a balanced diet and exercises regularly. Lighten up and quit trying to decide what other people should or shouldn't be allowed to consume.
I agree. Dick Schindel has been around for a very long time helping students. He has allowed students to sell the donuts to learn about business and he has shared profits for various organizations. He has helped students get their community service hours through various places he has friendly contacts. The person who is blasting the fear of heart attacks sounds like a friend of "Ms J" who is probably still PO'd because AJ couldn't sell her cookies in the school. Though she made an attempt by giving free ones to students in hopes of getting a deal with the district.
Stop trying to make her look good by bashing an upstanding distinguished alumni. If she is Ms. wonderful, her reputation should stand on its own and heart attack shouldn't need to degrade others to attempt to make Ms. J look better.
I received a donation from Ms Johnson and my class had a educational lesson on the use of QR codes which was on the cookie. The cookie came in a package that had a Sped work center program make the cookie. Several of my colleagues wanted to purchase cookies but Ms Johnson refused to sell them . She again donated them and more students learned about QR technology to the point several of us now show students how create a QR and build a lesson. It was a cute idea.
I also have several colleagues that attend Ms Strands church in which she is a director. Many learned about her church by her many donations at 131. I guess we could argue Ms Strand got a promotion and maybe she did. for recruiting members. I say good for her she has helped our students.
I don't know about his free insurance but I will say this. Schindel brings his donut machine in our buildings and the hallways have a smell for days. They are not healthy and I have not seen a donation to our school. He makes big dollars with families buying unhealthy snacks. He should not be the only one asked to events. Why not the local taco cart ? Why not the local business, or why not Ms Johnson's cookies?
Fair is fair and Ms Johnson has earned my respect.
My question is why is this blog always trying to bring EA down?
Despite these purchases in 2014/2015 I bring this out publicly for the following reasons:
1 The facts show how incompetent and wasteful those involved in requesting and approving the purchases were with TAXPAYER Dollars in a Poverty School District. 2 NO COMPETITIVE QUOTES 3 July 2014 Purchase Orders totaled nearly $ 50,000.000 This is Clearly "Bid Stringing" and appears to manipulate these purchases 4 Painting of Doors totaled $ 3,625.00 The Maintenance Dept could have done this?
Many have commented to me "All those involved just find another job at a different School District and it continues" Very True Dave Rana -(Marty Feltes Right Hand Man) is now working at Dist 168 Sauk Village and happens to be doing business with Ashland Door. He also purchased Floor Scrubbers from PCS Industries (Sound Familiar) D168 does not require competitive quotes
Please review the facts and ask yourself
"WHY DOES EAST AURORA D131 CONTINUE TO DO BUSINESS WITH THESE VENDORS Do I need to name them? Corporate America would mandate they not be considered for everyday purchases
I urge the continuation of Cleaning Up D131 with those employees whom have taken advantage and betrayed the Students, Community and Taxpayers to benefit themselves.
Dan B. was one board member of seven. If he is responsible for all the " financial destruction " then Johnson can't get a pass for Marty Feltes , Alex and Rana . Not only was she president she always had the majority vote to stop these hires. Dan B reputation is being disparaged because he will not need Johnson to coach him because of his experience in business , budgets you name it. Johnson wants someone who can't pour piss out a boot with directions on the bottom and that not Dan. There's no need to fear Dan he is an asset to 131. Besides even though puppet 1 (Leonard ) is gone she still has 2/3 Arroyo and Kim, and a sucker is born every day. Annette, Bruce and Dan👍
Dan is an asset really. Dan did have experience but used his experience for p*ss poor choices. The board was weak and listened to him. Dan used his influence at his job to push the district into the Bigalow deal. Dan knew about impact fees in his job at City of Aurora and he knew all the new subdivisions in Indian Prairie and North Aurora had to pay them. Conveniently Bigalow did not. EastAurora gained a high density subdivision and the school district got nothing.
Dan is a good business man really? Dan conveniently forgot to ask for an appraisal on the police station property. Would we sell our homes without an appraisal. The district was broke but Dan conveniently lost almost 4 million dollars and Walmart gained. Schubert exposed him and will be a great board member.
As for Johnson all of the people mentioned had been fired and she has had financial cleanup with insurance, credit cards etc.
Dan is running with Perez who works for Dan/Clayton. Some character a person picked up on a drug charge? It will not matter because it sounds like there are problems with his petitions. Again ethics?
I am a oldtimer with a good memory and Dan was either paid off by the developers or very stupid.
Are you kidding is correct Johnsons time on the board did not keep the bad guys. The only one I remember Dan B and company going after was Kaisershot
I also know Dan B was paid off his salary doubled to about $175,000 after his time on the board. Dan B is worthless and nobody is that stupid that they would not appraise a property. If administration was responsible the BOE should have immediately fired them. Since Dan B was the only one working for the City that knew Stephen Nann Developers and Terry Bigalow the only conclusion is Dan was paid off. He was one of the highest paid officials more than the Chief of Staff, Mayor, Police Chief or Fire Chief. The question is why? They all donated big dollars to Dans boss.
Every one of you old timers is EA real problem. Still trying to hold on to "power". You may have the vote now but it's a matter of time. We are coming out for Linda in the mayors election and we are going to offset your old timer votes. If not this time it's coming sooner than you think. To say DB salary dbl after the Bigelow deal is pure ignorance but it par for EA . Dan can dbl his salary but couldn't muster up votes to get elected. Malaker , old man Bud and MCQue were the leaders. Your comprehension level is not good either. I said Dan had business knowledge , I never said he was a good business person. You wastes precious time trying to get novice up to speed but stability is not virtue I guess . It may be in more successful districts but not at EA
As the DECA Advisor at EAHS I have asked Dick Schindel and his mini donuts to come in during P/T Conferences to fund raise for the club he used to advise. This year DECA received a check for $450 which will help pay for DECA members to compete at Sectionals this month. He also made a donation of $150 to the Forgotten Teens Project, helping Tomcats have a Merry Christmas, which he started 17 years ago when he was at the high school. That donation went towards giving gift cards to 49 students listed as homeless in the amount of $65 each thanks to other donations and fundraising efforts which can be read about in the February school newsletter. At spring conferences his sales help with costs for the DECA members advancing to State. As far as nutrition is concerned there are lots of things that are not good for you though passed off as such like chewy granola bars, which can't be sold in school. It's up to people to take responsibility for their actions and purchases. And for the record, after expenses Dick's Mini Donuts gives a minimum 25% back before his expenses including his extra labor. Thank you
I posted on Dec. 29th Mr. Lyons. I am very happy you stepped up with the facts. I know Dick Schindel has done a lot for the students and EA community in general. I just didn't have specified facts. Thank you so much for clarifying, what really should not have needed to be clarified.
183 comments:
Concerned, I attended the last meeting and the entire board was well aware of the consultant. They all voted to terminate DImare. So quit causing problems. We have worked with Dr Hoyda and McDonald and find them nothing but professional. It is sad that you work so hard to bring this district down. The membership has been happy with the interim's. They listen and when we complained about the lack of maintenace and supplies in our buildings they looked into it and obviously it pointed to DImare. The supervisors and Nestor are not qualified to determine problems in B&G so again it is obvious the district needed a consultant.
Mike Stapleton was talked with principals, teachers and maintenance people inside our building to determine our needs and in my twenty years at 131 that has not happened. We have listened to your Koolaid long enough and will no longer entertain your hate.
The district including every Superintendent has used a consultant. Why did you not complain about the worthless Life Coach for Popp. The Life Coach had ZERO benefit to students or staff. It benefited him and him alone at $2000 a month. This went on for two years.
Why did you not complain about his two friends getting hired at EAHS? They had been ghost payrollers for months.
We also use consultants for curriculum and student safety programs to name a few.
It looks like you have an ax to grind with either Johnson or Hoyda but nobody is drinking your koolaid.
The band is 98 years old and the blog manager Rayanne Carlson should know better. Everyone knows Liska acted on his own and even paid a friend to compose music for the celebration.
Shame on Rayanne who helped us fight the band battle for honoring a early celebration.
Our DISTRICT band program is 100 years old this school year; the high school band officially started 2 years later, in the 1918-19 school year. Our band program (5th through 12th grade) is a real strength in our district, and a 100th anniversary is worthy of celebration. The high school band website says "100 Years of Band in Our District". It was the Beacon that got it wrong by claiming the high school band was 100 years old. Even after someone contacted the reporter the Beacon continues to say the HIGH SCHOOL band is 100 years old. Put the blame where it belongs: on the Beacon's shoddy reporting, not the blog or Mr. Liska!
Don't blame it on the Beacon blame it on Liska. The logo clearly states EAST AURORA HS BAND 100 years old. NOT DISTRICT BAND. Just checked it out on the district Facebook page.
I agree that consultants provide valuable services. What I'm wondering is why has Ralph Padron been radio silent on this? He was against ALL consultants not just the life coach. Did Annette make a deal with the devil (RP)? Terminate Dimare and RP agrees to back off his 'investigations'? Why are the taxpayers dollars any less valuable now? Again, not saying the consultant isn't a good thing, just wondering why Ralph's not all over this since it's a LOT of money, there's probably no multiple quotes, and he's coming from out of state. And why isn't Nestor qualified? He used to run B&G.
The Beacon reporters story was based on what Liska told her. The misinformation came from him and him alone. Even about a week ago at the Oswego Panther Fest where ten bands performed and thousands of people attended, the announcer stated that the East High Band was celebrating their 100th anniversary. Do you think the announcer received the bands opening statement from the Beacon reporter or Brian Liska? Liska is going around telling everyone that the band is 100 years old. Apparently accuracy doesn't matter to him or the administration.
Word is Ralph has left the District and is focused on exposing other Districts. Sounds like Ralph already got someone fired in West Chicago. Our local has had many meeting with the interim's and they are doing a terrific job. A Life coach added nothing to the District already Stapleton has found our voices important and we as employees are the most capable fixing the District.
Annette Johnson is doing a terrific job as BOE Prez. Her tormentors are gone and she has been focused throwing the bums out. Maybe we should loan her to Chicago.
To Where's Ralph:
Hopefully Ralph is never going to be seen again in District 131. Think of all the time and money that had to be allocated to his asinine requests, all the board meeting that we had to put up with listening to this person's verbal vomit - from one who suffers from short people syndrome and all the tantrums from his merry band of nitwits.(aka crybullies).
Ralph hopefully is addressing the shortage of low income housing for illegal immigrants in Naperville. Look, he never did say how long his wife and others knew they were taking advantage of the district before it came to light. So, again, hopefully we don't see him around anymore. The district is moving forward and people are doing their jobs. The interims and the board are doing well and hopefully will finally get rid of the bad teachers, maintenance workers and staff.
Hey you! Paige! You are showing your Trump side, again. Calling people names based on their physical appearance, yammering on about illegal immigrants. We have many people of all nationalities that need "affordable" housing. Maybe Ralph's stature have him a better POV and that has made you angry.
Who would feel the most pain due to FOIAs and who would have reason to carry the hate torch over and over on blog posts?
Maybe a writer? Since they love using all the witty little pen names.
You are correct, the district is moving forward. It is rid of much of the central office staff that was sucking the district dry, to over paid under achievers.
The Board and interim are doing very well and are working with teachers, maintenance and staff to continue to improve the way business is done.
Move on, Paige. It is a new day and a new way in EA. Ralph is probably the one that opened the door and let people see what has gone on for too long on 5th Ave. The house has been cleaned and your trash talk is not going to hide that fact.
http://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/aurora-beacon-news/news/ct-abn-east-aurora-band-boosters-20161013-story.html
Here's a link to 9 pages of recent articles about our district:
https://v3.boardbook.org/Public/PublicItemDownload.aspx?ik=39516524
The last Crespo/Popp hire turned out to be another winner of a hire in our school. Our DC sexually harassed staffers and then attempted to shake us down for reporting it. What did happen was a swift investigation and swift action. It shows administration is not allowed to do whatever the he** they want and get by with it.
In the past the staffer would have been made the liar and victim. It shows throwing out the garbage was a good thing.
Thanks again Hatchett, Arroyo, Leonard and Johnson.
http://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/aurora-beacon-news/news/ct-abn-east-aurora-sex-assault-st-1016-20161014-story.html
The lazy teachers and maintenance employees are up to their old tricks by not coming to work on Fridays and Monday's. The new interim's may be top administrators from other high preforming districts. They may also be great problem solvers in other district, but EA is turning out for them just like every administration prior has experienced. The teachers and maintenance people are so over medicated party hardy people their priority is not work.
Change all the administration you want AJ you are still stuck with Ralph and his merry band of medicated nitwits.
Hey board heard Crespo got you again. He told the girls basketball team to show up and protest the firing of a basketball players mother. She was in Crespo's parent group and the story goes she tried to sue the district for back injuries she had in a car accident. Maintenance employees admit she never worked for a couple years.
The administration/board should be well aware he has parent meeting with the same group over at the extension campus. He has also allowed to hire a Para Pro. Equiring minds want to know who did the background? Hopefully not the same person who did Michael Ray or Cardora.
http://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/aurora-beacon-news/news/ct-abn-east-aurora-njrotc-formation-st-1020-20161019-story.html
AJ won't be making any noise with employee unions this year. The contract were not settled because she is pro labor it's because the election is in April. You go girl , you are GOOD and sheep are relatively dumb
$7 Million in reserves being used for football field is crazy! Wasn't this supposed to be paid with grants? Shouldn't the district have someone getting grants for the district??
Thank you Annette Johnson, you do not get enough credit for the little things you do. You were able to get a $23,931 donation from Mannington Flooring. You heard our concerns about the moldy carpet at Beaupre and Oak Park which we have been complaining about for years. You kept your promise to remove the moldy carpet from the hallways and classrooms and change it out with beautiful tile. Now we are all breathing better. Thanks again!
It's more than a Football Field. It is a play surface. Soccer, band, track, ROTC and PE classes will use the field. Why should EA not have the same facilities other schools do. One thing I have been proud of Johnson for is standing up for our students against her Ward 1 friends and they are getting grants.
It's not the football field that's the issue. It's long overddue to get done and yes our kids deserve it. But get the grants first, then get the football field. Don't use reserves. What if they don't get the grants? What if that money is suddenly needed for something else? Why weren't grants gotten first? That's what taxpayers were told would happen, don't put the cart before the horse.
Don't talk out of your a**. Nobody was told the district was getting millions in grants. They are getting some grants but it would be foolish to think somebody will pay for a stadium with the money 131 has in reserves we deserve the same and did they not get 50 million that we helped petition for from the State.
First things first is absolutely correct! Grants are not guaranteed until you have cash in the bank. Even then, sometimes stipulations are made and if they aren't met or followed the grant money can be lost. Does the district currently have an accountant? They should be advising about the finances to keep adequate dollars in reserves. Especially considering how the district is growing and the age of many of our buildings.
First Things you're forgetting the stadium is just one piece of a larger overall project. From the very beginning we were told that grants were coming in that would pay a lot of the costs for the majority of the project, but that the district would still have to cover some costs as well. In particular, the grants weren't going to cover much of the stadium portion. Using reserves to cover part of this large project was ALWAYS part of the deal. Most grants don't completely cover whatever project they're for, they usually require some level of local matching funds, and usually also timelines including an expiration. If you wait too long trying to find additional grants to cover everything, you find out some off the earlier grants have expired.
The 50 million had stipulations that the money had to be spent in 2 years. The Feds wanted construction jobs right away. There is also a long list of elementary repairs and large rehab projects for Waldo and Simmons. It is easy for us to sit on the blog and play Monday quarterback but a 1957 stadium with environmental concerns and a condemnation report from the ROE needs addressing. I googled stadium costs for schools and it seems ours are more than inline and everybody is doing turf for year around use.
Who did the Comminty ever elect Ken Darby. He was at the oldtimers last night and his comments about Mexican American football players was racist and offensive.
What comments regarding Mexican-American football players did Mr. Darby say?
Wow! Our district cries poor, but hires a consultant for nearly $1000 per day? This man makes as much money in one month as the support staff does over 1 year. F'in ridiculous.
This is a Industrial Engineering company who has worked with many school district. Mr Stapleton puts in 12 hours days so he can overlap all shifts. I am surprised it is so cheap and companies like this make $2000 to $3,000 per day my husband works for one. The purpose is to indentify goals and objectives something that the department has lacked for years. As an employee of 131 I am impressed with the processes that are being worked on across the the district. It shows they are attempting to make the future leader successful. I hope they stick to the plan.
I attended an event recently with Ms Strand and I always felt she was phony but recently it was confirmed. The event was a proverty discussion in Naperville . Ms Strand stated the Fred Rodgers Magnet is not good for the district because it removes high preforming students from their home school and puts them into a special school. I sat in disbelief because was it not Ms Strand who removed her children and educated them at the Magnet School. The funny thing is she left that out. She is a prime example of do as I say not as I do.
She has no problem discriminating against brown children and pretends she is the holy roller. Glad to hear she is not running.
http://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/aurora-beacon-news/news/ct-abn-east-aurora-allen-mold-st-1025-20161024-story.html
Elementary school library in Aurora closed because of mold
An East Aurora School District 131 elementary school library is closed because of mold, district officials said.
The library at Allen Elementary was closed two weeks ago, when mold was first discovered, and will remain closed as the district works to evaluate and remove the mold, district spokesman Tom Jackson said in an email. He said the district anticipates it will remain closed for another two weeks.
While it is closed, the school identified books and materials that are free of mold that teachers can bring to classrooms for their students to use, he said.
The library's carpeting has been removed and a company brought in to evaluate the mold and provide an estimated remediation cost, Jackson said in the email.
Jackson said the district does not yet know what caused the mold, but a report from the mold removal company should include that information. Any steps necessary to address the root cause of the mold will be determined when the district receives the report, he said.
Jackson did not say how much the district is spending to evaluate and remove the mold, saying only those costs would be determined when the district receives a report on the extent of the problem.
sfreishtat@tribpub.com
Mr Padron had pictures of the mold and it was shared with many at the SSC last year. Popps response was a coverup including even painting over some of the walls in question at Allen School. Another-wards a coverup. The mold did not get addressed last year and has come back. Popp and his band of nitwits should never be allowed in work in the public school system. Like him or not Padron had this case well documented but Popp choose his ego over student safety. Mr Popp if you are reading this I intend to do a little research of my own and forward your many transgressions to school districts looking for a superintendent. Here is hoping any school using modern search tools will read all about you.
Wow, I am shocked an Community email from the Drs Hoyda and McDonald that actually admits they take responsibility for a mistake. When has that ever happened in 131. How can we keep them forever?
http://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/aurora-beacon-news/news/ct-abn-allen-elementary-mold-aurora-st-1027-20161026-story.html
re:newshound:
Somebody needs to do some stories on the beleaguered special ed department at East High 4 times a year. Admins keep switching up when they want info sheets, they now make us print 2 copies of goals (tree wasting) The KIDS program is the most outdated program of any in the other districts. It was really meant only as a file storage program. That explains the 20 plus hours each case manager must spend on trying to do an IEP when the program is constantly down. Not only that but then they ding you for being late with paperwork that you spent an entire weekend trying to work on. Add to this to a dingbat department chair who walks around in a mental haze and dips out at 3:05, and you get some inkling what we are dealing with.None of this has anything to do with the teaching that we need to do and plan for. What a nightmare year!!
It's admins against teachers this year!! If a kid is violent against you, social workers and admins will bond together to bastardize the poor teacher who has been violated. No "sorry this happened to you." Whatever nonsense the student comes up with is believed. The teacher is victimized; and everyone has at him/her. What a great year at EA!!In the future, if any student is violent towards you don't hesitate, call 911!
I believe the board is back to expelling students, so if a admin at the building does not respond report it to our Union.
There is a discipline committee go join it. Demand that you get a spot on it. I joined a committee we need to be back of the solution. We have an equal voice on the committee's .
Now the moment of truth will come out.
The union and teachers complained and complained and the board reacted getting rid of administration. Granted some of the administration made it easy to terminated like the unseen highly paid Matt Hanley but other administration like Mr Truckenbrod, Waddell and Popp tried to work with making EA a better place. The teachers went into attack mode telling anyone who would listen they are unpaid, victimized and mistreated.
The board reacts and hires retired impeccable records of McDonald and Hoyda now again the teachers cry. FYI is correct many committees have formed but no takers in EA land That means teachers will actually have to stop complaining and join in the solution.
Question for EA teacher now who are you going to blame and who will you victimize Mr Padron.
As a footnote Mr Padron is attacking West Chicago were Mr Truckenbrod is a fine Principal. This is sick let the man go in peace he has a family to support.
Ditto ~ administrators were bad just because they were student focused FIRST!!!
Re:Friend of Trukenbrod;
This is nothing to do with him. Because of recent mandates, East High has become an even more unsafe school. Kids know they rule the place. Funny though, the mandate is to make sure that not all of the suspensions are minority. In a school that is 90% minority who would that leave? Our minority is white students. Teachers are feeling unsafe and no one is trying to clear the hallways. The kids rule. PPA's hide together and are not a presence in the hallways It will take a tragedy before some of the do-little admins take control. They have no problem running roughshod over the teaching staff and making them feel underappreciated and harassed, but doing their job, being in the hallways and leading the school, that won't happen.
Jackie please tell the truth the halls are clear. Please take your worthless self to Little Village like you have told us for three years. Stop telling stories about Marina because she actually checks on the work you do which is nothing. You have been miserable at East for years and walk around starting trouble all day.
Re:Also Proud:
Being Student Focused first doesn't mean having no consequences for students--that is not helping our kids--they are not stupid- they know there are no consequences-- they are taking over -how are we helping them if there are no rules and no consequences and we allow them to roam the hallways when they are supposed to be in class?It is ridiculous that they are allowed to represent in the student center until 7:55 no PPA tries to move them until the second bell and that means they are all late to 1st period.One of the worst years ever and don't blame it on that lame mandate--we have had mandates before--we need LEADERSHIP!!! QUIT BLAMING THE TEACHERS TAKE SOME RESPONSIBILITY ON YOURSELVES ADNMINS!!!!!!!!!!
http://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/aurora-beacon-news/news/ct-abn-east-aurora-construction-st-1102-20161102-story.html
Here's a link to 11 pages of recent articles about our district:
https://v3.boardbook.org/Public/PublicItemDownload.aspx?ik=39612199
Mestek, Holt, Garcia promised issues would get addressed. Why are they allowing Crespo to suspend a teachers and allowing our PPA's to get verbally abused, threatened, and beaten at the Extension Campus. Crespo is in his element allowing gang bangers to attack us and yet our union stays quite like little mice. Gerry does not teach any longer and it is hard to discover what his duties are. East Aurora is out of control because of people like Crespo who allow students to do whatever and our union does nothing. We need to vote him out, I was told Gerry is under review by the membership and if that is the case get rid of him and let's have representation across all schools not just the Cowherd unch.
I'm not sure what your agenda is but it's interesting to see the names that you bring up. You neglect to mention Jennifer Gentile who is the Vice President for Certified Staff and would be the person who should be representing a teacher who is up for suspension. You also neglect to mention Judy Durham who is the Vice President for Support Staff and would address any issues with PPA's.
The board is the only one who can suspend an employee. I just went through all the board personnel reports and no teacher has been suspended recently. I'm not sure what you expect of a Union but a Union is NOT there to ensure that no employee is ever disciplined. They ARE there to ensure that every employee receives proper due process. If after going through proper due process, the employee deserves discipline, they should receive discipline. Unions who cover up for bad behavior receive the bad reputation that they deserve. Are you claiming that this employee is not being represented by the union?
ANY employee can file a grievance (or a police report) if they feel that their Union rights (or human rights) are being violated. If you have all the information that you claim, have YOU filed a grievance or police report? The Union isn't one person at the top, the Union is every member standing strong together. You need to get off your half moons and do something other than just complaining anonymously on a blog. Until you do, there will not be a positive change in EA.
Mestak does not teach and please answer me what he does all day. He has defended Crespo and still does. He never speaks up for the teachers only his middle school agenda. Crespo did suspend someone recently and the board never voted on it because Gerry is sitting on his dead a** and they are not following protocol. Garcia his lacky padded his pocket with additional stipends. Holt never works and claims she is attending union meetings during the day. How many fools does it take to change a light bulb. We will vote for a new union "Gerry" some of us are researching what we need to do and it looks like we have to have a year without representation. BIG DEAL we have no representation. Our union is only interested in sending us booklets on who to vote in the general election. Pawns for Michael Madigan. They have ZERO right to print the book with our money. Our money is for representation something we don't have.
Where in the constitution does it state that you as an American have the right to impeach your voted in leaders because you don't agree with them? I do know that there are provisions for the Congress to remove the president IF they have been found to have committed illegal acts.
I am beginning to understand why so many people on here are calling the teachers "crybullies". You don't have the cajones to stand up and do the right thing. You can only hide behind an anonymous blog and disparage others.
You claim that Crespo suspended a teacher but no administrator has that power, only the board. You claim Mestek does nothing all day but how could you possibly know what Mestek does if you were doing your own job.
If you want to get rid of your Union, then do it. Don't sit on your computer all day like some sort of stalker. Get out there and see if you can get a majority of the staff to join you.
This union has gone through president after president after president. They can't all have been bad. In fact, the only consistent factor in all your disfunctional relationships is you. The teachers who whine and complain about everything and do nothing about it. You are the Union. If you don't like what's happening, get off your lazy A$$ and do something about it.
Gerry, Tony, Jane, or Jennifer
The hate comes in the asforememtioned union leadership for teachers. It shows YOU only took the union positions to get paid and protected because you are BAD teachers.
Tony's band always sounds horrible and it's not the students it's the teacher. Simmons and Waldo have always had better bands
Mestak is known for putting is students to sleep good thing he is not teaching. Ÿ
Gentile was in administration and when she could not cut it she transferred to Magnet and used her union pull to get to the best school. It shows because she is the Magnet schools weakest teacher.
The list goes on and yes a teacher did get suspended by Crespo and the board NEVER voted it on it.
The teachers should never fear we emailed the board and they are looking into it but without union representation because Gerry was sleeping in his office and with the teacher so afraid again of the bully Crespo she will not fight.
Crespo has no teaching degree and we all know they would only keep him because Popp stuck them with a bad contract.
Fortunately, the new interim's are fair and will not bully us so we should all consider going a year without representation and get new representation. Do we really want these BOZOs negoicating our contract.
It looks like somebody is really trying to get the staff to turn against themselves. Divide and conquer. Somebody is really panicking early. They are trying to destroy the Union leadership before they even have a chance to get themselves fully organized. The school year is only two months old and they are already calling them all failures.
Let’s analyze the posts:
Poor Spelling
Poor Grammar
Praises the Board
Praises the New Administration
Critical of the New Union Leadership
Blame the Union Leadership for Decisions Made by the Board and Administration
It appears very clear to me that Annette Johnson is up to her usual bag of tricks. No staff member, even if they had issues with the union, would be praising the board and administration. No staff member trusts the people causing the issues to resolve them. It’s the board and admin who are constantly violating the contract. It’s the board and Admin that are cutting field trips and professional development. It’s the board and admin who always have issues compensating staff members properly (and the mistakes are always in their favor). It’s the board and admin who suspend and fire staff members. It’s the poor decisions and neglect by the board and Admin that have caused all the mold issues in our buildings and it’s the board and Admin who have tried to cover issues up for years. As always, it’s only after the district receives bad publicity in the press that they pretend to be outraged and start firing people.
Annette must realize that we have the strongest union in many years and is already worried about negotiations coming up at the end of the year. She is attempting very early to drive wedges between the union members. Don’t fall for her divide and conquer tactics. Make your own decisions. Don’t listen to her anonymous nonsense on this blog.
No not Annette, put the blame on yourself for not defending members Who is defending administration? Crespo is the one who is up to his bag of tricks. Maybe our union should do their jobs.
Maybe Annette and her fellow board members should stop paying off the union with perks such as full release. The union president should work in the classroom and discover what we do all day.
Why would Annette care if it is the strongest union in years. She has been more than accommodating to us and we would not have the contract we do if not for her. The administration also works with the union these days. It seems Sara Interum paid the price and got us our rights and money. Jerry/Tony and others need to learn we still have bad administration like Crespo, Young and England. They need to be aggressive when issues arise.
Crespo still believes he can elect a school board that will return him to power and Strand is already causing problems for Kosek. Ralph FOIA her emails for all to see.
Your problem is not Annette it is Strand out to save the world with her 204 friends. Her band of nitwits believes it is better to have Popp in charge, and with Popp brings Crespo. We are back to the merry band creating chaos again. They are the ones that do not want a strong union. If you believe that then answer this. Why did negotiations stop when Strand and Hull give Popp complete control? Why did they get better for us when Johnson and company who ousted Popp~Crespo took over?
I was one of you drinking the Kool-aid but no more.
In the lastest chapter at East Aurora Extension Campus, a student was allowed to bring in a knife and other gang related weapons. The Extension Campus had a rule that all students get searched daily before entering. This was no ordinary knife, this was a large hunting knife big enough to bring down a deer. Police got involved and the student was taken into to custody.
The reason students had not been searched this year was it is against their rights. Crespo was again given a pass. Our union has again done nothing and our safety at risk. We have been lucky nobody was injured this year but why has the administration not suspended him. He always breaks the rules and is always allowed to get by. This is not one of our regular schools and rules are different here.
To: Crespo Hater
A child from the alternative school WAS expelled for the next two years at Wednesdays school board meeting. Apparently the powers that be are taking care of threatening situations and dealing with them very seriously. Maybe you should get your facts straight before you get on the blog and start spewing your hate and pointing fingers.
There was another knife and another student this week. I would ask why no search for weapons coming into our building.
I heard there were 47 knives and 125 guns that entered the school district buildings this week. I don't have any proof, I just know it's true and I'm going to sit and post anonymously on a blog. NOT!!!
There are good leaders now in the district. IF there is an incident, it will be dealt with. There is no need to violate everybodys rights because a few children make poor choices. Rather, it's a teaching opportunity. It's pretty simple. Most children will live up to our expectations of them. If we treat them all like criminals, that's exactly what they will become.
It's amazing how many freedoms some folks will give up out of fear.
Missing the point again! Crespo did not follow rules and a student had a hunting knife because he knew Crespo was allowing students to do whatever. His incompetence puts everyone at risk.
To:Extension Campus
What rule was he not following. Was it a violation of the contract or board policy? What have you done to report this violation or have you just bit€#£d on an anonymous blog? Be part of the solution, not the problem.
Next year East High's football team will be playing in a brand new stadium. A stadium that our community can be proud of. However, I feel that it is in the best interests of our kids that we find a new head football coach. Mr. Kurt Becker has tried hard since he arrived here five years ago. But it is time to find a new varsity football coach. During that time span his varsity football team has won just three games and lost forty-two. His first year he went 0-9, then 0-9, then 1-8, then 1-8 and last fall 1-8 again.
With our large school enrollment and new stadium we should be able to find a qualified coach to lead us to victory.
Becker developed a youth league and they have won many games. It starts with a feeder system which nobody ever developed. He has many parents out running the league and our small guys even won the small guys Super Bowl.
In his time he also got donations from the Bears which has totaled hundreds of thousands of dollars.
John missed yet another board meeting last week. Word is he was too busy this time protesting the election results in Chicago. John has zero time and energy for the community and students of east Aurora. He obviously only cares about himself and his personal agenda. It's time to start a protest outside a board meeting demanding John's resignation from the board. He is not on any committees and rarely makes time in his day to attend meetings. He is an absolute joke and he lied and swindled his way to getting votes.
"Large" school enrollment? Our students don't play football. East high is more like a 3a or 4a football school with the small population we pull football players from. Mr long time fan have you seen the dismal numbers in our mostly awful middle school teams?!? You are not going to compete with 8a schools when you only have 40 players if you're lucky. The freshman football team went 7-2. Help is coming up through the ranks. The tomcat youth football will have its first members enrolled in the high school next fall. No coach worth their salt would even take on the challenge Kurt has. There's more to it than wins and losses and large school enrollment, you would know that if you were a true long time fan and saw what is going on in our schools. Maybe it's time you find a new team to be a fan of.
Becker is not going anywhere. If wins and loses mattered Coach Bryant would not have been coach as long as he was. The same is true with basketball and baseball . West coaches get bounced every three to four years if they don't win. Eimer improved their team every year and they didn't have a good feeder system either. A new stadium is nice but the program will not progress under Becker .
It's not about wins and loses it is about character. Mr Becker has built character in the youth he works with. The Tomcat youth is an example of this. The parents run and pay for their children to be a part of the program. Yes they PAY, Yes they volunteer, and that is a win. Parent involvement has been a major fight in this district forever and Becker has solved it with a small group. We have heard about the fact it is not a Latino sport and yet we see additional children joining the program. We need to give credit to Mr Becker.
Why is the same long time fan not talking about basketball. They have had a losing season for years and even with Ryan Boatright they could not win. Jefferies has had many questionable relationships with students and we certainly can not call him a leader. Recently many basketball players from his team just happened to be present when a student was dragged by gangs and beaten. The word among students always seems to be Jefferies gives them a pass. Why is he still coaching Mr long time fan? Look at the empty stands at a basketball game or tge failure of his Christmas tournament. Has anybody run the numbers ?
Though I don't like the tone of the comment at 6:39pm, I agree with them. EA has not had a "winning" team in a long, long while. We have had coaches and kids who put their heart into playing but the true commitment is not there. Our team used to have shabby uniforms. We had a coach that got new ones and even coaches who got lots of local support and donations, t-shirts and such with sponsors names on them. I have been to games in the past when our team would line up on the sideline after being introduced and there would twice as many players lined up on the visitors sideline. We have students who come to the game wandering in and out and around, NOT supporting their classmates team. Those on the team don't have the family/ parental support that other teams get. Many of our students have to take care of siblings or work after school, so total commitment is difficult. I am not making excuses, because our teams don't need excuses. They may not leave with the most points but our teams have been praised many times for their respect and sportmanship behavior by refs and others spectating the games.
We need a person in charge at the school who promotes pride in the school and encourages students to rally for their team. I won't pretend to be a dedicated fan, I rarely attend games and I won't be an arm chair coach and say things about those who have taken on the job for EA.
I am an old fan. I know some of our best basketball teams were boys who grew up playing ball together in their neighborhoods. So I am hopeful with the new younger teams that have started and I look forward to better things to come.
Becker did get the youth tackle team together and they have parents who run the teams and join in. We need to look at the HS parents don't even come to games. If Becker has them coming out why would you want to get rid of him
To Merle Herron
Just heard you have a grievance in against EA because your car allowance was taken away.
Questions for you
1 How many times have you not put in your 8hrs
2 Have you "Padded" the overtime given to you
3 Is there a documented daily work log accounting for your time
4 Have you gone home for several hours during your work shift these past years
Last but not least
5 Did you and your Union Leaders ever take action insisting the
overpayment of Scott Osmond be returned.
According to the FOIA documents I have for the multiple years in question, it amounts to 50K + of TAXPAYER dollars.
Unions can be a good thing however the above is plain and simply GREED +
I will be forwarding this and other issues concerning yourself and others in
gathering additional info to bring out the TRUE ISSUES
Ralph
Merle
Just heard you have a grievance in against EA because your car allowance was taken away.
Questions for you
1 How many times have you not put in your 8hrs
2 Have you "Padded" the overtime given to you
3 Is there a documented daily work log accounting for your time
4 Have you gone home for several hours during your work shift these past years
Last but not least
5 Did you and your Union Leaders ever take action insisting the
overpayment of Scott Osmond be returned.
According to the FOIA documents I have for the multiple years in question, it amounts to 50K + of TAXPAYER dollars.
Union can be a good thing however the above is plain and simply GREED +
I will be forwarding this and other issues concerning yourself and others in
gathering additional info to bring out the TRUE ISSUES
Ralph
Re: Newshound:
ASK more questions said...
Big news is admins are totally screwing over teachers- and interviewing students to get dirt to screw teachers. The real problem is students in the hallway and students being physically/verbally assaultive to teachers and no one does anything. They haul you out or have your division chair ream you for yelling at a student. You might have been going over the rules so that such a thing would not happen again. Doesn't matter. When admins want to go after you, they are like a pack of rabid dogs .Well guess what admins.. Every single member of my family is a high powered attorney who has never lost a case, and my uncle is a labor judge... You have messed with the wrong person. I am a well-respected member of the faculty. All excellent evals except for those involved in this witch-hunt. i will sue this time... back off of me. This is harassment.
Re ask more Questions:
The same thing is happening to me at the high school- a kid is 20 minutes late, constantly, and this is when he bothers to come to class- i ask him to get a pass and his dean brings him up and is very officious. I go over my expectations, and go back to the lesson, next thing I know my department chair is reaming me out that was yelling at this kid. Never happened.I finally have him to the point where he will sit down and work for me. At the beginning, if I would even try to redirect him, he would say "F this" and storm out. My department chair has"witnesses" who have told him I yelled at the student. A baseless and ridiculous accusation. This is what admins are spending their time on. Not supporting or helping us.
The Union is at fault and if we report something it goes unanswered. We have never been invited to join the joint committees because the four mafia style leadership controls all the positions. We have no voice and that is why admin gets by with it. Mestak, Gentile, Holt and Garcia control everything. What does Jerry do all day and furthermore his office needs to be with the largest membership at EAHS. Maybe then Jerry would see first hand what goes on.
Why is John Laesch on a school board? He has missed more meetings than he attends. It seems Laesch cares more about feeling the Bern and telling his Bern friends that he is on a school board than actually serving. See Bernie tells you public service is good and to serve on local boards in your town and that was his message at North Central when he thanked supporters last week. It makes perfect sense now that Laesch darken the school board doors. He did it for his political gain and lied to Sanders committee in the process.
Heather Kincaid is a good choice for T&L. Happy to see her get the job. She is stable and will not drive the staff crazy with her ego or pet projects. She is 100% better than what we had.
Here's a link to 5 pages of recent articles about our district:
https://v3.boardbook.org/Public/PublicItemDownload.aspx?ik=39700112
I guess we are back to the old days of crony-ism and administrator favorites. Since when does an asst superintendent just get appointed? Does she even have a degree in curriculum or any experience? Last time she was in d131 she must have made friends in the right places.
I teach 2
Ms Kincaid, has her Masters from Syracuse in C&I and eight years of experience in Curriculum as an administrator. I teach must be the Popp nitwits who graduated from AU. Green with invy that tge district has moved ahead.
KIncaid is an excellent choice. She moved on because one the many nitwit administration was jealous of her ability. When we worked with her at the HS on grading that year it was perfect. We should all remember the first time the grades program was used without her it created the fiasco that lasted years. I for one am happy she returned. She is not about the blame game.
Latest from the Maintenance Dept:
Larry Wilson is back from Medical Leave and is now
on LIGHT DUTY & limited to 20 hrs per week.
I thought this was his job description the past 30+ years.
NOTHING CHANGES AS LONG AS HE IS MARTY FELTES & "MOLE"
Whether Kincaid is a good choice or not isnt the real issue here. What IS the real issue is that she was appointed to the job. Why wasnt the job posted and all candidates with good degrees and experience considered. That is the real issue. Even if she does a good job, her appointment smacks of favortism and cronism.
Voter alert Feltes and Leonard are running their act over to the Aurora Township. Feltes needs to be exposed more coruption has been discovered.
Felte's long time pal Dave Rana has moved over to D168. He is using the same no bid contracts and same Marty Feltes construction pals. Mr Padron is on the job exposing him.
The district advertised for the position during the summer and apparently they did not find anyone. I like Heather, and if people in our district are qualified they should be promoted. I think the two interim's verses Popp and his poor choices have made great choices.
To I teach tooooo:
Kincaid does NOT have a degree in curriculum. She has two degrees in math. Check you facts before posting. I cannot believe that the district could not find someone with a degree in curriculum to fill an assistant superintendent position. Guess they did not look very hard, there are many other in district employees with curriculum degrees, and I am sure that there are many people with the right degrees outside the district who would have been qualified for the curriculum position.
The high school is a joke this year. The hallways are a mess and nothing is being done. Student discipline has never been worse and the students know that there are no consequences for their behavior. How do we expect kids to take education seriously when they are running the school?
Re : I teach
The division and department chairs are spending their energies humiliating teachers during meetings and calling them on the carpet for trumped-up nonsense; who the hell are any of you-- most of your teachers have more educational/work experience than you, and if this year is any indication you just need to have a pulse to get an admin job in our district--sad sad I have been in district 28 years and I can recall when we had a collegial atmosphere, everyone helped each other, joked around with each other and supported each other. Morale is the lowest I have ever experienced and the kids see no point in their education--who can blame them? Pearson owns us lock, stock, and barrel.Let's just test test test these kids with expensive Pearson products.
Senate bill 100 has led to your perceived notions of no discipline, not the administration. Administration cannot hand out consequences as in years past. The hallways are not any worse than they have been in years passed. You must be one of the crybullies the community lumps all teachers in when they complain about our district. Were you the one that doesn't feel safe now because the ROE, not the district, mandated removal of the mag locks? Oh no, the kids can now open the doors and let other people in.....I'm scared. The mag locks could be kicked open without an alarm going off, you didn't seem to be scared that that problem actually has existed all along. Grow up! Maybe you should teach in a bubble, or become an online teacher. Want to help with discipline? Manage your classroom better, have engaging lesson plans so kids want to be in your room and not in the hallways. Crespo's babysitting room did not work last year. Same students daily in there, and it did not change behavior although it did allow you with the lack of skill to manage students and your classroom to kick kids out of class and send them to ISI and away from you for the day. So I bet you loved that way of managing your class. Because you perceived it to be better. Now you lost your binky this year and are inconsolable and crying to anybody that will listen.
Be a part of the solution, not more of the same and the problem, projecting issues onto administration when you are a part of the problem yourself. This blog has yet to solve a problem, stop wasting your time. Maybe you should go to Tony Garcia's puppet, oops I mean the union president Gerry Mestek. He'll stupidly file grievances about doors and cameras - none of which is actually grievable because it's not in the CBA. A monkey would know that, but not the corrupt ignorant Cowherd crew that secretly holds meetings with themselves and leaves out the rest of the union leadership/cabinet. Tony is angry at the world and mad at administrators who have since been let go, but unlike frozen, Tony cannot "let it go." Can't wait for them to piss off administration more with stupid and pointless complaints and grievances and Tony gets his puppet to give him the strike he so desperately wanted last year. Maybe the superintendents should 're-evaluate' release time for the president and make Gerry teach half time so he has something better to do with his time. Gerry needs to be transparent, stop listening to Tony, and represent all of us, not just his Cowherd cronies. A big step would be to use the office at the high school - get away from his bubble at Cowherd and to actually listen to his cabinet not just the crazy, delusional tony and crazy cat lady holt who hasn't done her job in years, but can cry at board meetings to pretend she's a good educator. Who's the old timer on here that predicted the crybullies would still complain.....he's starting to be proven right by the I teach morons posting on here. Why don't you cowards name names, which division chairs? You've lost us by lumping them all together like you have experience and knowledge of this. But we are in Trump's America now, where facts don't mean anything and the loudest crybully in the room gets heard. It's always funny how the ones posting on here always citing the most experience and deem themselves excellent have nothing but complaints but stick around anyway. Can't get a job elsewhere? Maybe you're not that excellent? Don't try to use the I do it for the kids talk when all you do is complain about the kids and their lack of discipline. Hmmmmmmmm
So I teach....
You like to complain. What's your solution to the hallways? Please read SB100 first before you come up with stuff that can no longer be used. And your solution has to not put undue paperwork onto teachers or deans - a la last year's policy. Find a solution, don't just complain. Your colleagues would love to hear your plans to make EA great again.
Tony Garcia gets several stipends and did not want to give them up so he did not run for union president. Gerry is a lazy worthless teacher and everyone knows it at Cowherd. He did not want to learn a new text book series so he became union president. Tony put him up to it. Holt is worthless and we should have a bylaw stating that all the union leadership should not come from one building. We should demand a vote and get rid of them. Three can hold a meeting and leave everyone out that is wrong.
The mag lock grievance was stupid, I for one was worried that the doors would not open. When they did that I questioned them and was told that was legal. I now kick myself for not calling the ROE myself. Doors locking us in could have injured many who did not have the strength to kick the door open. If that is what Gerry is spending his time replace him NOW.
Nov. 30- 9:58pm
If I could I would click the like button. You sound very knowledgeable about the inner workings of D131.
Not only on a blog but in many work places you find those "I teach" people. They often seem to perceive themselves the victims.
Poor me sort of individuals.
I am a blog reader and feel that people can discern between those with heart for teaching in EA and those who just want to keep up drama....and I am not talking about Thespians.
Still hoping for some permanent changes in the central offices that acknowledge the teachers as being the most important element in the success of educating the students in EA.
I try to tune out the whiners and pray for the those who are working hard for that success.
Thanks Blog Fan
Speaking of causing Drama, the Popp cry bullies are still hanging on sending anonymous emails and attempting to upset we knownthe staff, board and administration.
Went to the district Holiday party and much to my surprise no Gerry Mestak, Tony Garcia, Loretta Holt. A complete snub by our union leadership and an opportunity to socialize and get to know the membership. It must be true that they think they answer to nobody and live in the secret society of Cowherd. When are the next elections they need to go?
I don't know about parties but I did see Gerry and Tony at Allen after school on Monday where they were helping our reps and staff as we fight for a safe, mold free place to work. We have been sick for the past few years and nobody has done a thing about it. They were here for the meeting and walked all through the building for at least an hour after with our teachers, the testing rep and our building and grounds director finding all sorts of problem areas.
Somebody on here was also griping about how the union filed grievances. I have been in the district for thirty years and this is the first time I heard that our union ever filed a grievance. It seems pretty clear to me that our leadership, maybe for the first time ever is fighting for our membership. It is so much better than last year where Sara and Annette sat in back rooms and screwed the staff with one MOU after another. I couldn't be happier.
I don't expect perfection as some on here seem to want but I am elated to find that somebody for once is working for us. Keep up the good work and don't let the anonymous crybullies on this blog deter you.
Let's give credit in the right places.
First, Tony's wife works at Allen and that is the only other school he cares about. If you teach there you are well protected.
The mold was handled by Dr Hoyda who has come to the school on numerous occasions. It is Dr Hoyda that has brought in professionals to talk with staff and parents.
The mold was reported by Ralph Pardon last year when maintenance people gave Ralph mold reports in several schools. Dr Popp ordered maintenance to paint over the mold in all schools just to prove Ralph wrong. The Allen library has had mold in it before and all summer was musty. Finally, maintenance complained again and the two sups made no excuses. Other building also seemed to be getting addressed as well.
Tony and Jerry are worthless the only difference is the interim's who fix issues and not sweep them under the moldy rug.
Union sucks is correct they showed disrespect to all by not attending a joyous celebration.
Union sucks seems to be very confused (and full of hate) if they think the union is one or two people. The union is over 1500 teachers, support staff and secretaries. If you don't like what's happening with your union go to a union meeting and speak up. You can also go to board meetings, committee meeting or better still, step and become building rep yourself and fight for your school.
If you think that you are going to solve any of our districts issues by spewing your venom anonymously on a blog, you are delusional. That's all you are going to do is create divisions. Of course, if you are an administrator or board member writing on here, I'm sure you already know that. That's exactly why you do it.
We the rank and file think that it is important for Mestak to share what is going on. Don't try to deflect , Tony Garcia that the Board or administration is writing about The Cowherd Three. He writes up issues that are not part of the CBA or important to membership. It looks shady that three are elected from Cowherd and he never moves out of Cowherd. The latest is the holiday party, Mestak again decided to not socialize with the 1500 members. Do not deflect, start by updating membership, moving away from Garcia, place other members from all schools on district committees, not just yourselfs. Advice, become the respective for all.
http://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/aurora-beacon-news/news/ct-abn-east-aurora-stabbing-st-1204-20161202-story.html
Happy today that the entire administrative team is at the HS today. It is sad that all the haters are out there because I feel this year they have been listening. A union can claim to be strong but without administration to address problems it not happening. Our DC is actually on door duty today. Glad to see students put on notice about weapons today it was long overdue. We have a ways to go but let's stay positive.
It has been several years since a search of students at the HS and I am glad to see it return. Maybe this will help.
Agreed, first Sup ever in a building at 7am. It shows they are looking at building problems and fixing them. The SSC staff was also on door duty and in the hallways. Very surprised.
I was glad to see everyone in in the halls today including central office staff. It was great to have the support, but this was really a knee jerk reaction. Why haven't metal detector checks been done all along as a prevention? They used to be done on a regular basis, and my students always told me that they felt safer in the building because of them.
http://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/aurora-beacon-news/news/ct-abn-east-aurora-teens-charged-stabbing-st-1205-20161205-story.html
Wanding of students had been done in the past until Popp stopped them. I am glad everyone was present and could see the problems we face daily. Hopefully we can all work together to make East great again to copy a phrase.
Encouraged , that is a lie. Dr Roberts never had the kids searched. Even during heavy gang activities of the 90s it was very rare that all students were searched. I can guarantee you that the searches will not continue especially since EA image is most important .
Someone at the school should be held accountable .
http://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/aurora-beacon-news/news/ct-abn-east-aurora-late-start-st-1207-20161206-story.html
http://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/aurora-beacon-news/news/ct-abn-east-aurora-audit-st-1208-20161207-story.html
I wish there were a way to gather all the district's accounting, audit and financial issues from the last eight years.
That is how long the self proclaimed accounting major, Board President has been overseeing the finance committee and approving budgets.
She will be coming up for reelection and I hope people share this information, when they are considering for whom to cast their vote.
Even without the last eight years, the above audit information is enough to make you ask, who has been minding the store?!?
@Voters open you eyes...
Good idea, please FOIA all docs from the past 8 years! See how Popp and Hull spent way to much money on their pet projects, wasted money on "life coaches" how many of Hull's friends got hired by the District? The public deserves the truth!
Open your eyes
The problems with 131 started long before Hull or Johnson. They started with the serial bully and free insurance for all that retired. Others on the board like Melacker sold their property to the district for double the price. Hull and Johnson have never gained like others.
As an old timer in the district things are much better and whomever throws their hat into the ring I hope the keep it that way. We have a excellent group of people that care for our students. Our union leadership is better and nobody can debate our wages have improved during the time Johnson has been on the board. On other wish is that the person takes the board seriously and does not run for political gain. I think all the current members with the exception of Mr Laesch do.
@East Sider
Why didn't the great and powerful AJ, who says she is the ultimate manipulator, stop those things from happening?
Especially, when she says Hull was a "loser."
http://openline.blogspot.com/2012/12/east-aurora-school-district-131-drama.html
Click and listen. In case you were forgetting some of the truth.
@Voters open you eyes...
I heard that recording several times and AJ was correct to be mad that the administration LOST 10 MILLION DOLLARS!! You must be MLP, meddling in our affairs. The community should be outraged about 10 MILLION DOLLARS LOST, not at AJ getting mad over it!!
Check out DICK LENOARD. Since he has been on the board and chairman of B&G see all the chaos and corruption. He traded votes and more for his buddy MARTY FELTES to become B&G Director. How did that work out? It cost the district millions. B&G went downhill as a result of no bidding, staff harassment, no records, hiring all Feltes’s friends, DICK LEONARD AND MARTY FELTES driving around the district together, breakfast and lunch and no work. MARTY WAS FIRED
CHECK OUT ALL THE FOIA’S FOR THIS WORK THAT RALPH UNCOVERED! IT’S
MILLIONS WITH NO BIDS, ONLY FRIENDS.
All the wasted money- corruption - harassment.
DICK LEONARD OWNS IT
That people on here blame Annette for when people in charge of finances and admin in charge of bids fail and do not do their jobs. The audit report seems to show we have or had inept administrators who are not doing their job. How is this Annette's fault? But I guess these are the same people that like to place all the blame on teachers for students low test scores, or is that Annette's fault too? The school board does not get to see the day to day operations and goings on daily of the district. They are not in the office with admin making decisions. It's funny how people on here blame Annette whenever they get a chance. How about blaming the finance people making 6 figures to oversee finances and letting this happen?! It's obvious we have Laesch and Strand minions trying to have Annette not get re-elected posting on here. It's funny how the people who have posted seem to not want an audit of the Bible thumper Strand and how much her groups have made unmonitored in the district since she's been a board member......
Annette Johnson is in a no win situation. When she asked the administration to do their jobs and they did not she became frustrated and yelled at them. Unfortunately we live in a world that no longer allows us to raise our voices. Annette gets blamed. When Annette raised the issue of firing some of the incompetent administration some our our own teachers came out to protect incompetence. The administration did get fired and many things are improving. We all live in bubble if we think the tens of millions of lost insurance money did not cost us our just salary for years . I will defend Annette because whether she did it or did not do it fast enough it got fixed. Our contact was the best ever. The new teachers are paid correctly because of Annette. We that committed to East still have a ways to go with salary. However, I only wish Annette would have been on the board in 2004 because my wages would have been better.
I am a minion who thanked her and asked her at the holiday party to run again. It would unfortunate that we go backward.
Ms. Johnson helped save our district band camp this past summer when the administration was ignoring parents' questions. She was responsive to us and because she cared, a 30+ year tradition continues. I will always support her because of that!
Ms. Johnson should stop posting about herself.
BLog reader
MS Johnson does not need to write about herself she has many accomplishments and has shown passion for our district.
I thought the same thing Blog reader, except that Ms. Johnson is not as well spoken as the supporter.
To: It's funny, it is AJ's fault for not making her one and only employee, the superintendent, accountable for his staff.
The board has the final approval on the raises and all finance by way of the budget. So Annette along with the whole Board accepted those 6 figure salaries and they approve the personnel hiring of many of those central office people.
The self proclaimed minion* defined their support.
*min·ion
ˈminyən/ noun
a follower or underling of a powerful person, especially a servile or unimportant one.
synonyms: underling, henchman, flunky, lackey, hanger-on, follower, servant, hireling, vassal, stooge, toady, sycophant; informalyes-man, trained seal, bootlicker, brown-noser, suck-up
Get your facts straight everyone knows Johnson did not hire Popp it was Hull, Leonard and the two older ladies. Strand opposed him at the time because he did not fit into the culture of EA and Johnson felt he did not have enough experience with the bilingual population. Both did however vote for him because they wanted to show unity and support but taking the high road did not work.
We know who the haters are it is the Aird heads. I will always be grateful to Ms Johnson for stopping Aird. Aird was forcing teachers to gender identify students in second grade. I am so happy Aird married her sweetheart Irene Villa a our students are rid of her. Hater hate but Johnson has done many good things for our district. The real bully was Aird and her Aird heads. We have so many teachers who because of her are so highly medicated they can not function.
I worked with Aird for many many years and know her well. she would never post on this blog.
Who on earth is "Johsnon"??
Johnson does not post I do
http://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/daily-southtown/news/ct-sta-flossmoor-interim-superintendent-st-1211-20161209-story.html
Huh, Johnson is the board president . She has been president since forever. She was given a break for one year rest from her journey to greatness . There has never been anyone greater.
During one year out as president the board voted in the worst president since Obama ,Ray hull. Under Hull the district test scored plummeted after years of increase under johnson. East Aurora was the standard in academic and athletics in the valley. Hull ruined all that in a year. Hull hired his buddy feltes against johnson and Leonard's wishes when he was over B/G , thanks to some good luck Johnson got control again and fired him. Under hull students were allowed to carry guns and sell drugs and not even be suspended let alone get expelled; it was an experiment he cooked up and force the admin and board to go along with ; he was a tyrant. Hull is the reason deans assistants are not on post outside the schools before letting out. He stop staff from questioning students as they flowed freely in and out the buildings. In that year kids were stabbed and shot frequently. Teachers were assaulted until this past year.The teachers are the best just check the data. The parents and students are the worst just ask the teachers. Finally they've been rewarded by johnson after after years of neglect. The schools are finally safer than ever . I don't know about you but Johnson and Leonard have my vote
Uh, giddy is your last name Leonard? He was not against hiring Feltes, and he was one of Feltes big supporters and tried to keep him in that job.
Hahahahahahaha!!!
Good one! No wonder you are "Giddy."
What a fanciful tale.
All you are missing is......and they lived happily ever after.
I few corrections
I have several close friends who work in the buildings. Johnson hired Feltes because of Leonard not Hull. Johnson caught Feltes doing no bids. When Johnson attempted to stop Feltes Leonard punished Johnson by not supporting her and Hull became President. Johnson exposed Feltes and told the b&g she made a mistake with Feltes. I say nobody is perfect unless we are God so at least she learned from her mistakes. Leonard is running for the Township on the Dems ticket. What a joke, he is Donald Trump if we ever had one. Good riddance for East Aurora but he and Feltes will now steal from somebody else. Let's remember that when we are voting.
It will be interesting to see how Popp does in Flossmoor. Looking at the report cards, it is more similar to 131 than it is 204. Majority non-white students. High percent of low income students. Not many non-English learners, though.
Giddy- the teachers are still being assaulted=they are fearful to report it; those that do report it are punished with reprisals and nothing is done. Kids get more repercussions for ditching a class than for assaulting a teacher.
Why does no one at the high school get that the problems begin and end in our over-crowded hellish hallways. Kids are making out and making babies, four or five kids are having a pow-wow smack dab so no one can get through and traffic flow is halted.Some are in the boys bathroom across from the gym smoking their skunkweed, every morning you can smell this. Why is no one doing anything about it? Kids report being bullied and harassed in the hallway, cussed at, knocked into, yet where are the PPA'S? They tell teachers to be in the hallways and we are, but how many times have i looked out and there is not a single PPA in sight and the kids are running and screaming down the hallway-. The kids are running the school and they know it. How many fire drills a day? Say what you want about Crespo, the Deans were out front and no one was in the hallways. Deans see kids in the hallway joke with them and do nothing. Sad
Well I'll just repost this for you since you seemed to miss this to the "I teach" crowd.
The dean's weren't out front anywhere with crespo they were too busy writing 735284 tardy passes daily. You miss your babysitting room too?! Miss your binky?!? Get a job elsewhere already. I hear posting on here solves all your whiny complaints.....
Senate bill 100 has led to your perceived notions of no discipline, not the administration. Administration cannot hand out consequences as in years past. The hallways are not any worse than they have been in years passed. You must be one of the crybullies the community lumps all teachers in when they complain about our district. Were you the one that doesn't feel safe now because the ROE, not the district, mandated removal of the mag locks? Oh no, the kids can now open the doors and let other people in.....I'm scared. The mag locks could be kicked open without an alarm going off, you didn't seem to be scared that that problem actually has existed all along. Grow up! Maybe you should teach in a bubble, or become an online teacher. Want to help with discipline? Manage your classroom better, have engaging lesson plans so kids want to be in your room and not in the hallways. Crespo's babysitting room did not work last year. Same students daily in there, and it did not change behavior although it did allow you with the lack of skill to manage students and your classroom to kick kids out of class and send them to ISI and away from you for the day. So I bet you loved that way of managing your class. Because you perceived it to be better. Now you lost your binky this year and are inconsolable and crying to anybody that will listen.
Be a part of the solution, not more of the same and the problem, projecting issues onto administration when you are a part of the problem yourself. This blog has yet to solve a problem, stop wasting your time. Maybe you should go to Tony Garcia's puppet, oops I mean the union president Gerry Mestek. He'll stupidly file grievances about doors and cameras - none of which is actually grievable because it's not in the CBA. A monkey would know that, but not the corrupt ignorant Cowherd crew that secretly holds meetings with themselves and leaves out the rest of the union leadership/cabinet. Tony is angry at the world and mad at administrators who have since been let go, but unlike frozen, Tony cannot "let it go." Can't wait for them to piss off administration more with stupid and pointless complaints and grievances and Tony gets his puppet to give him the strike he so desperately wanted last year. Maybe the superintendents should 're-evaluate' release time for the president and make Gerry teach half time so he has something better to do with his time. Gerry needs to be transparent, stop listening to Tony, and represent all of us, not just his Cowherd cronies. A big step would be to use the office at the high school - get away from his bubble at Cowherd and to actually listen to his cabinet not just the crazy, delusional tony and crazy cat lady holt who hasn't done her job in years, but can cry at board meetings to pretend she's a good educator. Who's the old timer on here that predicted the crybullies would still complain.....he's starting to be proven right by the I teach morons posting on here. Why don't you cowards name names, which division chairs? You've lost us by lumping them all together like you have experience and knowledge of this. But we are in Trump's America now, where facts don't mean anything and the loudest crybully in the room gets heard. It's always funny how the ones posting on here always citing the most experience and deem themselves excellent have nothing but complaints but stick around anyway. Can't get a job elsewhere? Maybe you're not that excellent? Don't try to use the I do it for the kids talk when all you do is complain about the kids and their lack of discipline. Hmmmmmmmm
re re hallways
whenever someone strikes a nerve, the crybully namecalling starts, ala Matt Hanley teacher hater supreme, who started all this nonsense. Genius, the reports of the hallways come from the kids themselves who I actually do talk to and care about, who are terrified each day going through these hallways, where bullying does occur. One should never look out into a crowded hallway and not see another adult anywhere. We should not have any locks that malfunction and we need metal detectors. The kids laugh at inadequacy of wanding and searching.."They didn't even check my backpack".Or I could just not say anything and wait for the other shoe to drop. Or stick my head in the sand... No Pollyannas here...
Well, well heard from a colleague another gang fight broke out with the only 30 kids Crespo has to manage. Multiple arrests but oops they are all brothers and freinds of Crespo.
Crespo empowered the students and like the Extension Campus kids think they run the hallways. Do we all understand how difficult it is for the new administration and Marina. They listen and are attempting change. We need to become a part of the solution only for the simple reason they may accually hear us and use are ideas.
The sad fact is you think posting on here is providing a solution. Posting on here has yet to supply a solution to any problem. You say you want to speak out and not be silenced why don't you do that at a board meeting?!? Or are you the coward we all know you are? There's 3900 kids in a building made for 2500. The hallways should be much better by the time we get back. Stop pointing fingers and laying blame. Propose solutions! Posting on the blog does not make you a hero. Speaking at a board meeting will make board members aware that this is a problem and not just whiny crybully talk put on the blog. You are a joke. Step up show your face, say your name and speak at a board meeting. Until then, stop wasting your time and everyone's posting on here all your whiny complaints. There's a discipline committee that is starting up, have you joined? Or are you who we think you are and a complainer for complainigs sake?
From the district website:
Due to extreme cold expected for tomorrow, all East Aurora School District 131 schools will be closed on Thursday, December 15, 2016.
All after-school activities are also cancelled for Thursday, December 15, 2016.
School is closed for students, teachers, and other non-twelve month employees. Administrators and other twelve-month employees should report to work.
As the temperatures fall, East Aurora School District 131 families are reminded that there are multiple places to check for information about weather-related closings.
Information will be released through:
A phone message to parents in both English and Spanish.
The District website: www.d131.org
The District Facebook page: www.facebook.com/EASD131
The District Twitter account: @EASD131 (twitter.com/EASD131)
Local newspapers, television stations and radio stations.
The Emergency Closing Center website: www.emergencyclosings.com
The District will only send out a notice when schools are closed. If there is no announcement, schools are open.
Re hallways--- I have an idea who you are-- you like to yell at people for voicing their opinions..You also like to tell people how to react and voice their political ideologies as well. yet I do not see any of your caterwailling result in any change. As to your commands that I go to a Board meeting- I have been to many in my time, voiced my concerns, and yet, nothing changed. I have the right in this democracy to voice my opinion and as a veteran educator who has actually been a force for many important changes in my building and district, and have been given awards for such, I will not be cowed by YOUR BULLYING. You do not control me or my thoughts or my caring and nurturing for the students I teach. In some arenas there are no grey areas; there is black and white and right and wrong. Until you have walked in my shoes and have fought actual wars for the good of my peers and students and won and suffered huge reprisals then and only then will you see from my perspective. I am not about histrionics; I am about if there is a sickness we need to address it so the sore doesn't fester.Quit using the pronoun "we" to try to fool me- you are an iolated, misdirected individual.
http://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/aurora-beacon-news/news/ct-abn-aurora-preschool-st-1215-20161214-story.html
Playing the martyr now are we....
Hilarious. It's always the ones with the awards and excellent ratings that seem to post on here. One begins to wonder, if you're so smart and so excellent and have many leather bound books and your house smells of rich mahogany.....yet you think posting on here solves anything. Posting on here does nothing for the alleged students you care so much about. Posting on here only soothes your own ego to help you sleep at night that you did something for the students. As people have posted on here and I have challenged you.....are you on the discipline committee to fight for your students?!? Do you have any solutions other than whiny complaints and posting anonymously on a blog that nobody cares about?!? You don't. You'd rather change the subject and start the whoa is me, walk a mile in my shoes, next you'll be like the high schoolers and start shouting "you don't know me" when they get into trouble or arguments in school. Can't wait for the next diatribe. Let's all brace ourselves for the knowledge and revolutionary re hallways with all their excellents and awards that make them the foundation of knowledge on a blog.......
Re hallways it appears when challenged to propose solutions by others on here you do not answer. Why not? One would think writing a state legislator about the impact of SB100 would be time more well spent than posting on a blog that will not end in any solutions to your cited problems you think you bear alone.
Re: hallways you oviously did not read through and thoughtfully condider any of my comments. I have many suggestions for improvement. First and foremost we need more PPA's asap. Next,a company needs to be brought in to fix the locks on EVERY DOOR-- this is basic safety people come on now!!
As to your comments on SB1OO- This was legislation in the schools where the majority population was white and where blacks were receiving all of the suspensions. In a school where we are all minority, the situation is different.
http://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/aurora-beacon-news/news/ct-abn-east-aurora-field-trips-st-1216-20161216-story.html
We went to the BOE meeting and complained, GUESS WHAT, they listened and all the powers that be have been seen at the HS. We are now getting cameras, door alarms and random searches have returned. All we can do is try to improve EAHS by telling people the problems. The interim's have been hired to solve problems and they have when they are brought into the loop. When we look back at past leadership they never cared.
http://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/aurora-beacon-news/news/ct-abn-east-aurora-fire-st-1218-20161216-story.html
Re= hallways--no mahogany here- most of my money goes right back into school and the students I teach=as for posting on this blog if I care to do that it's my business in a democracy--you must have endless hours of free time to sit and mull over my qualifications and motivations, etc. The people I work with know what time it is;the answers are simple and in reach but we need to work together to enact them, teacher bashing and pulling rank aka the military chain of command bullshit is not helping things; we need to work together to get this show on the road; this dysfunction will not cure itself.
re hallways.. you like to dictate to people how they should react to a certain situation, how they should think, what committees they should be on etc. How about being a force for true change and gathering to your bosom any and all who care for students and go from there You slam me for spinning my wheels but you are letting so many people with energy, love and activism remain dormant.
DICK LEONARD RESIGNS B&G CHAIR POSITION AND FINANCE COMMITTEE POSITION. THAT’S GOOD NEWS BUT TOO LATE
LEONARD had the perfect setup to help his buddy, MARTY FELTES, giving millions of dollars of work to their contractor friends. LEONARD, B&G, approved all the illegal work with no bids. totaling millions. His buddy, FELTES a plumber with no experience in charge of repair. A coyote in the hen house. So LEONARD, Chair at B&G, approves all the (illegal) building maintenance. And LEONARD, at Finance, approves the (theft) payment. MILLIONS GONE
And LEONARD, HULL, STRAND, & PERYEA, the corrupt board members, approved the payments. IN 2015 VOTERS REJECTED HULL AND PERYEA. STRAND (Family Focus with a 5 year contract - unconscionable) learns how it’s done.
LEONARD RESIGNS COMMITTEES TO AVOID THE CONSEQUENCES. STRAND SHOULD RESIGN ALSO. THEY SHOULD LEAVE NOW
If you are a true insider, then you should be well aware Johnson and Leonard were partners in the Feltes crimes you speak of.
Once the stuff started hitting the fan is when Johnson started distancing herself and tried to claim Leonard was the sole person supporting Feltes.
Here's a link to 19 pages of recent articles about our district:
https://v3.boardbook.org/Public/PublicItemDownload.aspx?ik=39834684
Feltes was approved by Leonard, Hull, Gonzalez and Turza, get the facts straight.
We took the illegal bills to Johnson and she attempted to stop Feltes that is what cost her and Leonard put Hull in. Johnson still continued to vote against all the list of bills for months always a 6 to 1. Hull and Peryae attacked her at every meeting and the others voted with them. She had a right to distance herself and although I have had my issues with her based on hearsay she has done the right thing for 131. The others have not.
Blog reader: Guess what!! Way ahead of you-- have a lawyer on this as well!! reams of documentation have been submitted on this one!!I am not an individual who lets the grass grow under my feet!! Have done a hellava lot more than you havebut yet and still am not telling you what to do and how to live your life.. last time I checked we are not living in a fascist state.
http://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/aurora-beacon-news/news/ct-abn-east-aurora-fight-st-1219-20161219-story.html
I am up taking care of our buildings and yes we start at 2am salting.
If you refer to the meeting of Dec 2nd 2013 it shows all the BOE members voting yes and that would include Hull, Strand and Peryea. We took the complaints bills to Hull and Peryea and they did nothing. Ms Peryea took detailed notes at Grandmas Table in Montgomery. The breakfast proved to be a major mistake because they told Feltes and then he targeted many of us or became parinoid with employees that did not attend the meeting.
Ms Johnson was also told by the former Tech Director. We did not go to her because we did not trust her., Johnson did act and then continued to attempt to stop him. She could not stop him because the other board members would not vote with her. This is all documented. Hull was made president by Leonard and if you attended that meeting the looks on Truza and Gonzalezs face told the story. You could tell that Leonard sold his vote to Hull and Gonzalez. I knew level,of BOE politics was learned with common denominator Leonard is a dishonest deal maker who profited from our district.
Please check it out since Feltes has been gone less than $50,000 in work orders to outside service providers have been given out. Last month alone we repaired several heat exchangers that the district under Feltes spent $250,000.
The actions of the individuals, in the story, in the paper is what minimizes the statement of BLM.
My child's life matters, no matter what color they are. When any individual disrespects and attacks authority, who are trying to create peace when there is chaos in the halls, I am all for giving them the full force of the law they so blantantly disrespect.
I hope an example is made to show all students, their school is a safe haven and a place for learning and, violence will not be tolerated.
I am very happy to see felony charges placed against these individuals, and the students placed in custody. I hope they find the others and ID them through the video feed, who decided to put their kicks in the mix.
Sorry to hear this incident happened at EA, but very satisfied with how the law has handled it thus far.
Annette and Trump were separated at birth. Liar liar pants on fire. Mary Lou and Ray actually sat and stared at johnson every board meeting as she did her grandstand act. She voted against every finance report but as soon as she became president again she vote yes to the same finance report. There wasn't a delay she voted yes the first meeting back and never voted no again.
The financial reporting changed after Johnson complained and she actually started voting yes once Feltes has fired. Ray and Lou were on the board at the time the only difference was we started doing the repairs again and bidding was being followed. Tyler hated Johnson but Tyler knew she has being held accountable by Johnson.
I am glad they have returned to explusions it will help weed out some really bad students. The Fleming kids has assaulted so many staff members at EA before I am glad she was locked. The mother if I can call her that, worked at the extension campus for Sodexo but last year was best buds with Crespo. Is it not convenient that she worked there this year. Popp even gave her a ham for Christmas last year. A dean that quit after working eight years was pushed to the ground last year. The mother chased the daughter through our halls. Popp and Crespo never moved for any discipline. Now this, she has been allowed to get by. The only difference is with the new sups the children or parents will never be allowed to return.
Crespo is a loose cannon! He influenced the family to create chaos just like he did with families at EAHS. If she worked at Extension you can bet he told her to demand rights at EAHS.
A teacher resigned two weeks ago because of the unsafe working conditions at Extension Campus. It was also revealed students are in gang fights everyday and those issues did not occur with Orstead. He is a friend of parents and students but only when it benefits him. You can bet many students including the Fleming children have had their lives destroyed because of Crespo
http://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/aurora-beacon-news/news/ct-abn-east-aurora-cameras-security-st-1222-20161221-story.html
John laesch is an absolute joke. At the board meeting Monday, one he finally took time out of his day to show up to, he decided to bash the high school staff, school resource officer and deans for out of control students and parents who jumped a police officer and dean. Yes the school is totally racist John. You would obviously know that since you are at the buildings every day and attend every board meeting. If this action by John doesnt wreak of crespo collision I don't know what else does. John trying to say the staff at the high school is racist trying to vilify staff to make crespo look good is terrible. Just stop John, resign already, you're not better than the man you protested against in trump with all your lies and deceit.
The people are not telling you to not do something about it. They're saying why not just be the person of action you claim in real life and not post on here? This blog is not a positive reflection of the district and you're claiming to want to better things but are joining in on the bashing on here. Get your reams of evidence and ball rolling. You can do all that without putting it on here. This blog has not impacted change at the district. This blog has scared away people from coming here to work. But you're probably one of those people that thinks if you don't check in on Facebook that you went to the gym, did you really go?! That's great that you are fighting for your students. Nobody seems to question that, but why do it on here when this provides no solution for what you're fighting for. But maybe your ego needs the boost and pat on the back and that's what you're looking for.
Also if we think cameras are the solution, we aren't asking the right questions because cameras only help after the fact, they do nothing to prevent anything.
The whiny liberals aka teachers posting on here about their skewed one sided opinion and then they cry 1st amendment when somebody shares their opinion on their opinion. Delicate snowflakes who need safe spaces. Guess what whiny liberals, this place isn't your safe space. If you can dish it out you gotta be able to take it too without your 1st amendment nonsense and cries of fascism. But most of the crybullies on here only care about the 1st amendment when they speak, not others.
I attended the meeting and found it very disruptive that Laesch called in again. You can not hear with people talking over each other. He should go to the meeting but calling in constantly is a joke.
Another joke is he and Alex Arroyo, the both did not want the cameras tied to the police department. If a shooting or fire occurred it would be nice for the police to see the halls. It does not violate anyone's rights are these two crazy. Walk down any public sidewalk in large cities or public buildings they have cameras.
Laesch should resign and Arroyo needs to prepare better.
I think you are missing the point and your namecalling, cybullies, whiny liberals-- we all are posting. If you see no benefit to it don't post. Don't like my posts, don't read em'. My we are certainly full of dictums and directions and labels aren't we? Quit worrying about my motivations and the impact of my blogs on the district.. You have no idea who reads this and how it impacts them... the first step to change is to posit the problem and then in a collegial manner to discuss options. If you don't want to enter your voice into that arena, then don't. Your choice. free country... still....
Maybe you should read something other than "change for dummies" at the library. The first step for change is to post the problem - on an anonymous blog? Then the next step is to discuss options in a collegial manner - on an anonymous blog?!? One would think you would go to union leadership, have them bring it up in their meeting with the building principal and then has a discussion as to how to fix the problem. Real solutions in real life you know not some made up I feel better about myself now because I posted what I deem a problem on an anonymous blog thinking I'm changing the world. Go to the source that can actually help solve the problem. Admin isn't on here posting or reading or giving any thought to a random post on here.
Let's try it though. Taxes are too high in Illinois. Options everyone?! The people of the blog have the solutions and can put them into place not leadership like a governor or principal.
Wow = You are truly obsessed with me and my thoughts and for some reasons trying to tell me what the f to blog or not to blog--you really have too much time on your hands-- a blog is to let off steam when a kid has been violent or an administrator has not had your back and believe it or not ==Listen buddy I have had many discussions with principals, admins, board and union members.. Who knows what will light the spark that will initiate real change and true safety in our schools? You don't know and I don't know-- Hey and have a merry Christmas will ya?
Annette's up to her old tricks again. Directing the interims who apparently either believe AJ does know more than they do about education or are too afraid of losing their $1000/day payout. The biggest joke is 'her' recent article in The Beacon. Anyone who has heard Annette speak or have seen her writings knows that this was not penned by her. This is all in a bid to show how SHE alone is capable of doing what's best for EA and get reelected in April. Should the new communications guy be writing her election propaganda? He probably doesn't want to lose his gig either.
To here we go again:
you probably need to get someone to wipe your butt as you obviously need assistance with basic living.
Annette has actually cleaned up some of the mess that is District 131. Everyone should have appreciation for Annette as she stopped Ralph's wife and some of his merry band of nitwit retired teachers take well north of ten million out of the system for their undeserved health insurance premiums. They never said they were sorry either. Cleaning the swamp takes a long time.
What is needed now is help from teachers and staff to rid the ranks of the crybullies who really do not want to work to get 131 back to normal again. Sad that the teachers union leaders won't stand up against bad behavior of students. There should be protests in Springfield against insane laws that prohibit proper discipline in the schools. Very sad indeed.
Local elections coming up......Hopefully there will be public service announcements all over Aurora saying that you have to be a US citizen to vote. Don't want people getting into trouble......
It sounds like the blog puppet is back to her old tricks of attacking Annette.
It's funny how this blog puppet has decided to not say one word about Dan Barreiro who created the entire financial distruction of 131 along with his group of thieves. Dan created back room deal after back room deal.
Let's name a few
Hometown land deal that the district never received a penny from. Dan did he received a promotion at the CIty.
The Police palace that featured a 3.5 million profit for Walmart when the board conveniently forgot to appraise the police palace land.
Insurance fiasco that saw district employees paying higher premiums while Dans million dollar freind Arlene Hawks got free insurance.
The insurance fiasco produced a referendum and stopped teachers from a living wage.
Hired the serial bully that paid former board President Larry Melaker double for his house.
Destroyed the band program by firing K.
Created budget cuts that lost art, music, sports and clubs for EA students.
Increased class sizes.
Froze teacher wages while getting himself higher pay.
So yes community let's all go out and vote for Barriero and 131 employees be ready to give back all the raises you got under Annette.
I do not know who the "Blog puppet" is, but I agree about Dan B. He was self serving. The same as Annette J. They would probably work well together. NOT in the the best interest of students or teachers. Their only issue would be a power struggle.
Yes, lots of bad choices were made during the times Barreiro et. al. were over seeing 131.
Ms J is not self serving she never gained nothing from her time on the board but a ruined reputation for exposing the bad guys.
She has many haters because she exposed the insurance including Dick Shindal who again was at the holiday basketball game selling his heart attack donuts to our students.
Ms J needs to find out why he is allowed to sell unhealthy snacks other districts would not allow this. He also doesnot pay for his space. I have read board packets in that he gives small donations which is a faction of what he is taking in. Why our the clubs not allowed to sell food items? Renner is someone to look into.
Shindal yis another example of someone who Ms J partially stopped. He is always complaining about his lost free insurance. What a fine example of another scammer.
However, this is the crap EA puts up with and Ms J is one of the few that takes it on. Keep up the
http://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/aurora-beacon-news/news/ct-abn-east-aurora-charter-school-st-1228-20161228-story.html
I've been an East Sider for +30 years, and known the Schindel family for about that long. Dick Schindel has always been involved in and proud of our district. For at least the past 20 years he has had a small business making and selling Dick's Donuts. He sells these delicious donuts at various events throughout the area (farmers markets, athletic events, city festivals). The donuts are reasonably priced and a portion of the proceeds benefits various charities in our community. I make a point of buying some and chatting with Dick whenever I have the opportunity.
As far as "heart attack donuts" are concerned, just about any sugary or fatty snack is unhealthy if consumed in excess. I would NOT want our district to dictate which snacks we are allowed to buy! A few small donuts once in awhile are very unlikely to cause health problems for anyone who eats a balanced diet and exercises regularly. Lighten up and quit trying to decide what other people should or shouldn't be allowed to consume.
I agree. Dick Schindel has been around for a very long time helping students. He has allowed students to sell the donuts to learn about business and he has shared profits for various organizations. He has helped students get their community service hours through various places he has friendly contacts.
The person who is blasting the fear of heart attacks sounds like a friend of "Ms J" who is probably still PO'd because AJ couldn't sell her cookies in the school. Though she made an attempt by giving free ones to students in hopes of getting a deal with the district.
Stop trying to make her look good by bashing an upstanding distinguished alumni.
If she is Ms. wonderful, her reputation should stand on its own and heart attack shouldn't need to degrade others to attempt to make Ms. J look better.
DO not love the donuts
I received a donation from Ms Johnson and my class had a educational lesson on the use of QR codes which was on the cookie. The cookie came in a package that had a Sped work center program make the cookie. Several of my colleagues wanted to purchase cookies but Ms Johnson refused to sell them . She again donated them and more students learned about QR technology to the point several of us now show students how create a QR and build a lesson. It was a cute idea.
I also have several colleagues that attend Ms Strands church in which she is a director. Many learned about her church by her many donations at 131. I guess we could argue Ms Strand got a promotion and maybe she did. for recruiting members. I say good for her she has helped our students.
I don't know about his free insurance but I will say this. Schindel brings his donut machine in our buildings and the hallways have a smell for days. They are not healthy and I have not seen a donation to our school. He makes big dollars with families buying unhealthy snacks. He should not be the only one asked to events. Why not the local taco cart ? Why not the local business, or why not Ms Johnson's cookies?
Fair is fair and Ms Johnson has earned my respect.
My question is why is this blog always trying to bring EA down?
Subject: Ashland Doors
To: Board of Ed
Despite these purchases in 2014/2015 I bring this out publicly for the following reasons:
1 The facts show how incompetent and wasteful those involved in requesting and approving
the purchases were with TAXPAYER Dollars in a Poverty School District.
2 NO COMPETITIVE QUOTES
3 July 2014 Purchase Orders totaled nearly $ 50,000.000
This is Clearly "Bid Stringing" and appears to manipulate these purchases
4 Painting of Doors totaled $ 3,625.00
The Maintenance Dept could have done this?
Many have commented to me "All those involved just find another job at a different School
District and it continues" Very True
Dave Rana -(Marty Feltes Right Hand Man) is now working at Dist 168 Sauk Village and happens to be doing business with Ashland Door.
He also purchased Floor Scrubbers from PCS Industries (Sound Familiar)
D168 does not require competitive quotes
Please review the facts and ask yourself
"WHY DOES EAST AURORA D131 CONTINUE TO DO BUSINESS WITH THESE VENDORS
Do I need to name them?
Corporate America would mandate they not be considered for everyday purchases
I urge the continuation of Cleaning Up D131 with those employees whom have taken advantage and betrayed the Students, Community and Taxpayers to benefit themselves.
Respectfully
Ralph
http://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/aurora-beacon-news/news/ct-abn-faces-kurt-becker-stadium-st-1228-20161229-story.html
Dan B. was one board member of seven. If he is responsible for all the " financial destruction " then Johnson can't get a pass for Marty Feltes , Alex and Rana . Not only was she president she always had the majority vote to stop these hires. Dan B reputation is being disparaged because he will not need Johnson to coach him because of his experience in business , budgets you name it. Johnson wants someone who can't pour piss out a boot with directions on the bottom and that not Dan. There's no need to fear Dan he is an asset to 131. Besides even though puppet 1 (Leonard ) is gone she still has 2/3 Arroyo and Kim, and a sucker is born every day. Annette, Bruce and Dan👍
Dan is an asset really. Dan did have experience but used his experience for p*ss poor choices. The board was weak and listened to him.
Dan used his influence at his job to push the district into the Bigalow deal. Dan knew about impact fees in his job at City of Aurora and he knew all the new subdivisions in Indian Prairie and North Aurora had to pay them. Conveniently Bigalow did not. EastAurora gained a high density subdivision and the school district got nothing.
Dan is a good business man really? Dan conveniently forgot to ask for an appraisal on the police station property. Would we sell our homes without an appraisal. The district was broke but Dan conveniently lost almost 4 million dollars and Walmart gained. Schubert exposed him and will be a great board member.
As for Johnson all of the people mentioned had been fired and she has had financial cleanup with insurance, credit cards etc.
Dan is running with Perez who works for Dan/Clayton. Some character a person picked up on a drug charge? It will not matter because it sounds like there are problems with his petitions. Again ethics?
I am a oldtimer with a good memory and Dan was either paid off by the developers or very stupid.
Are you kidding is correct Johnsons time on the board did not keep the bad guys. The only one I remember Dan B and company going after was Kaisershot
I also know Dan B was paid off his salary doubled to about $175,000 after his time on the board. Dan B is worthless and nobody is that stupid that they would not appraise a property. If administration was responsible the BOE should have immediately fired them. Since Dan B was the only one working for the City that knew Stephen Nann Developers and Terry Bigalow the only conclusion is Dan was paid off. He was one of the highest paid officials more than the Chief of Staff, Mayor, Police Chief or Fire Chief. The question is why? They all donated big dollars to Dans boss.
Stupidly or payoff, I vote payoff.
Every one of you old timers is EA real problem. Still trying to hold on to "power". You may have the vote now but it's a matter of time. We are coming out for Linda in the mayors election and we are going to offset your old timer votes. If not this time it's coming sooner than you think. To say DB salary dbl after the Bigelow deal is pure ignorance but it par for EA . Dan can dbl his salary but couldn't muster up votes to get elected. Malaker , old man Bud and MCQue were the leaders. Your comprehension level is not good either. I said Dan had business knowledge , I never said he was a good business person. You wastes precious time trying to get novice up to speed but stability is not virtue I guess . It may be in more successful districts but not at EA
As the DECA Advisor at EAHS I have asked Dick Schindel and his mini donuts to come in during P/T Conferences to fund raise for the club he used to advise. This year DECA received a check for $450 which will help pay for DECA members to compete at Sectionals this month. He also made a donation of $150 to the Forgotten Teens Project, helping Tomcats have a Merry Christmas, which he started 17 years ago when he was at the high school. That donation went towards giving gift cards to 49 students listed as homeless in the amount of $65 each thanks to other donations and fundraising efforts which can be read about in the February school newsletter. At spring conferences his sales help with costs for the DECA members advancing to State.
As far as nutrition is concerned there are lots of things that are not good for you though passed off as such like chewy granola bars, which can't be sold in school. It's up to people to take responsibility for their actions and purchases.
And for the record, after expenses Dick's Mini Donuts gives a minimum 25% back before his expenses including his extra labor.
Thank you
I posted on Dec. 29th Mr. Lyons. I am very happy you stepped up with the facts. I know Dick Schindel has done a lot for the students and EA community in general. I just didn't have specified facts. Thank you so much for clarifying, what really should not have needed to be clarified.
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