In case a few of you thought I may have been missing in action, I assure you I am here and have been keeping up with the dialog on this blog.
Although, we may not solve the districts problems on this blog community, I feel it is a great medium for folks to share their opinions.
That being said, I'd like to say thanks to those who have defended Dee & I and our efforts. Please do not worry about the negative comments. It is part blogging, as it is with any anonymous forum. Some people feel the need to attempt to "bait" people into a debate or just like to throw out slanderous comments to make their own opinion seem more valid.
It is obvious by some of the comments that have been made, it can only be among a few people that could possibly be making them. The best way to deal with those types of bloggers is to ignore them and do not respond.
I am encouraged to see people speaking out. We need to wake up our 131 community and hopefully more people will become involved in helping to get our district back on track.
I am not AWOL, Dee & I have been busy trying to bring some of the "business as usual" stuff to the public, so you have a better understanding of what goes on in your districts offices & schools.
The more we share the more people become aware and our 131 community may educate each other.
Please continue blogging and sharing. You will find your questions and observances are not unique, there are many others with similar concerns & comments.
~Rayanne
ps Be sure to take the time to let yor voice be heard in the voting booth!
157 comments:
If you actually believe Clayton is a man of his word, you only have to go back a few months to his opinion/editorial article in the Beacon.
On October 19th he wrote the article called COMPETENCE BEFORE COLOR. he stated in the article and I quote "I can unequivocally say that I would never be the spokesman or even a staff member of any district or company where discrimination of any sort is the order of the day".
Clayton is not a man of his word. If he was a man of his word, he would step down as he himself stated he would do rather than be a part of any organization that discriminates.
Instead, at the very same time he was writing this article, Clayton had been running an illegal fraternity that had been discriminating against anyone not Black or Latino for years.
Clayton needs to follow his own words and separate himself from any organization that discriminates.
Clayton's own actions have seriously damaged his reputation. Continuing as though nothing wrong has happened only makes that damage permanent. Clayton needs to resign and disband this illegal fraternity.
Although I could see a lot of good in Mr. Muhammad's original intentions to mentor at-risk young men, I still remember his defense of "Serial Bully" Radakovich's destructive agendas. Mr. M. wrote about "competence before color", and yet didn't seem to want the district to put competence ahead of a personal vendetta in the band director situation a couple of years ago. His comment was "this issue is over".
If the band director had been a Black man instead of White, would Mr. M. have been so quick to ignore the community's overwhelming support of a very competent individual?
Seems to me there's a double standard here: competence before color, but not before defending cronies' destructive vendettas.
Rayanne,
Your posting of "I am still here..." is very good and so true about the postings to bait.
You both are welcome from those of us who defend you both-and-THANK YOU BOTH-for doing the work that you do to get information out to us! This cannot be easy for you both with having full time jobs, family functions, homes to clean, meals to make, groceries to buy, etc., that the rest of us have to do and take for granted. From reading this blog it appears that there are many obsticles to be hurdled for you in your endevor for us. Others who might have tried to do this at this point might have quit by now from the pressure that is quite apparent being put on you, and if you both had done this, it would have been justifiable due to lack of help and apparent support from most of the community of D131.
Many things that have been brought on this blog have been proven to be true and really helps to inform the community.
Rayanne and Dee,
God Bless you both for what you have done and am quit confident that you will continue to do. Know that He will give you the strength to do what is best for all(children, community members, teachers,etc.)in what you are doing. In the times when you both think your efforts have been for nothing, please know this is not true.
Above comment should read quite confident, not quit confident. Noticed my mistake and wanted to point it out.
I recall hundreds of community members marching over to the service center wanting to speak to the administration about that situation. I also recall Dr. Radakovich, Dr. Roberts and Clayton all hiding in the building and refusing to deal with the community. I further recall 7 administrators ganging up on one student representative of the band to "discuss" community concerns. And yes, I too recall Clayton stating the issue is over. Apparently the administration has never been concerned with what the community thinks. Probably never will.
If they could completely ignore the hundreds of people coming out to make their concerns known, it is no wonder people have given up on this district. Anyone who speaks to someone and is constantly ignored will eventually just give up trying to speak at all.
That incident was not right, but it is just one in many. The administration and school board members know this is how the community will react. Now is the time for the hundreds that did it before to unite and do it again. Thank you Dee and Rayanne for not giving up and running away from things. Rome was not won in a day, but if the troops keep leaving after defeat, then it will never win. Many battles are lost before the war is won. It takes time and commitment with the realization that it will not happen overnight. Now is the time to go into the next battle and even if it is not defeated at this time, we know that our best have been done and on to the next, as the lost battle can be reconstructed when others have been won and new policies instated.
I'm still here too, not doing anything and not giving the community any real answers. Just telling you that answers will come sometime about something.
Unfortunately the reality much more resembles Russel P. You bang your head against the wall for a while trying to change things for the better but when you realize that the only thing you are doing is getting a headache you say enough is enough. You move to somewhere where the schools are good like Oswego or Naperville and have a little peace in life.
I read his resignation speak. He knew exactly why this school district fails. Unfortunately people don't like to take blame when something is wrong. So it is easier to attack the messanger than it is to take responsibility yourself.
If you haven't read it you should. Until we start to deal with the problems that he outlined in his speach, this district is going nowhere.
I did read his speach. His speach was perfect. The problem with the district is the community. The lack of support to the programs, the lack of support for their kids, and the lack of support in every way. The community does not care.
As the President said last night as the taxpayers have to tighten there budgets so does goverenment. That means school distiricts and when I see that they even try to make some cuts and look into ways to save money on things beside teachers and kids I will think about doing my part.
It's a shame that they treated Kaisershot that way. I in particular recall the administration stating the the high school program here could not compete with the one in 204. What they failed to mention is that there are 8 directors in 204 to the one here in 131. That doesn't include the army of private instructors that they have for the children. They simply twist facts to serve their needs and
deceive those that they serve.
How can you possibly make an intelligent decision about how they spend district money when they refuse to open the books and let the public see exactly where monies are being spent. This is the communities money and we have a right to know how it is being allocated. I can't believe the district treats the community as though they are children who couldn't possibly know better and I can't believe the community allows them to do it. Wake up!!!
Anyone can FOIA the budget, but here is the problem. When looked at you cannot tell how they break it down. This is the hard part. Have seen one from a couple of years ago, and let's say it stated supplies, it did not what they were and the individual amounts. This is where it gets hard. Hope someone FOIA's the budget and see if they can figure anything out.
The Lighthouse Survey has been activated for AURORA EAST USD 131.
TO: Certified Staff, Principals, Central Office Staff, and Board of Education
Check your district email.
Reminder: The survey will only be available from Monday, January 28, 2008 – Sunday, February 10, 2008 for CERTIFIED STAFF, CENTRAL OFFICE STAFF, PRINCIPALS, AND BOARD MEMBERS.
Please remember that there is no option to save each survey after you have started it.
Please plan your schedule to complete them in one visit.
Lighthouse Conditions and Beliefs Surveys
Our District has been scheduled to participate in the online Lighthouse Conditions and Beliefs Surveys. These surveys are key components of the Targeting Achievement through Governance (TAG) program that our Board of Education is currently involved with.
The results of your surveys will be part of a national research study and will, we believe, provide valuable insight into the beliefs and conditions that exist in our district around student achievement.
Each survey can be completed and submitted separately; directions are provided once you log-on to the survey. The total estimated time for completing both the surveys is 30 - 45 minutes.
URLs to log on:
Conditions Survey –
http://websurveyor.net/wsb.dll/7356/LHMulti-State-conditions-survey-IL.htm
Beliefs Survey –
http://websurveyor.net/wsb.dll/7356/LHMulti-StateBeliefsSurvey-IL.htm
NOTE:
Hit the “Enter” key only when you have completed the survey and are ready to submit it.
***Please complete each survey openly and honestly.****
Yes, looking at the budget is a problem. How can even they say there is no abuse of money when they cann't account for the numbers. As far as the supplies if they used the state program that they have I believe the all the office supply places sends a statement with everything that was ordered. I know thats what our company went to to see how much they spent on those things and if they where really needed. Lets just say now some things that are ordered you have to see why you need it. In fact most of us just bring our own pencils and pens to work. Also, they need to look at the petty cash because there can be misuse of that. I have looked at other districts websites and they have the packets that the school board gets and some are very detailed of what is spent. The district really needs to let us see that things that are not relatled to teaching the children are spent right.
What is this Lighthouse survey?
View
Administrator
DR JEROME ROBERTS
417 5TH ST
AURORA IL 60505
(630)299-5554
Avg. Teacher Salary: $52,082
Avg. Teacher Experience: 11.7 Years
Instructional Expenditure
Per Pupil (2003-04): $4,832
Operational Expenditure
Per Pupil (2003-04): $8,619
Low Income: 68%
Come to the next Board meeting. Ask Dr. Roberts how can he ask the board to approve giving the administrators a supplemental retirement bonus.
What happened to his main concern being "the 13,000 children" in the district.
Cutting their programs to give himself and his coworkers a fat retirement check is not going to be done with additional money from my taxes.
Has Clayton resigned or been fired yet?
openline blog has some interesting comments and questions.
Any input from 131 bloggers?
Check it out:
https://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=8854980&postID=6120290917740026949
"East Aurora School Board Takes Step Backward By Inserting Ousted Member for Interim Term | Fernando Salinas Wants to Increase Your Taxes"
To:January 29, 2008 6:21 AM
Don't be fooled. Kaisershot being removed as the High School Band Director had very little to do with Radakovich. The fact is that Dr. Roberts hated Kaisershot since the time that he was principal at the high school. So much so that he wanted Kaisershot out with a passion. Dr. Roberts also knew even before it happened that this would cause passions to flare in the community. Removing a loved band director has been major problems for other communities. So Dr. Roberts had Dr. Radakovich as an outgoing superintendent take the heat of this unpopular decision. Don't kid yourself, the decision to remove Kaisershot was Dr. Roberts' not Radakovich's.
5:52 a.m.--
I am VERY close to Kevin Kaisershot, and I can tell you that Dr. Roberts and Kevin are, and have always been, friends. Both are men of integrity who have worked hard for this district.
Radakovich, on the other hand, was brought into D131 after being "instrumental" (pun intended) in at least two previous districts' losing qualified, community-supported fine arts faculty. Maybe that's why some call him the "Serial Bully". And the whole Kaisershot situation started with a personal vendetta by Gordon Postlewaite, a previous East High principal who "had it in for" Kevin ever since Kevin dared to speak up for parents' interests years ago.
Of course, Radakovich's Minooka buddy Rick Johnson (athletic director at East) didn't appreciate Kevin respecting students' and parents' wishes regarding the pep band's scheduling. And Kevin's refusal to kiss administrator's behinds was probably the last straw for the "Minooka Mafia" and old-guard school board.
But Dr. Roberts was, and is still (I believe) a friend of Kevin's. The two share an interest in their dogs (Siberian Huskies), and recently had a fairly long, pleasant conversation when Dr. R. visited Simmons Middle School.
Just wanted to set the record straight!
January 29, 2008 3:27 AM
You are surprised that administrators lie? These people have been lying to the community for years. Clayton is just so ignorant and arrogant that he thinks that there was no way he would ever pay a penalty for illegal actions. So far it appears he is right. He is in so tight with the administration and board that they have been willing to overlook all sorts of illegal actions.
Do you think that Clayton was speaking for himself with that Beacon article? The Beacon doesn't have a policy that allows for personal half page editorials. He was speaking for the district. The end of the article even stated that Clayton was the district spokesman.
Clayton has actually opened the district up to a further lawsuit with that article. Clayton was obviously referring to the teacher that had filed the lawsuit against the district recently. In the article he indirectly stated that the teacher was incompetent. That leaves only one of two conclusions. 1) The teacher is not incompetent which can lead to a lawsuit for slander for falsely calling him such or 2) the teacher is incompetent and the administration has knowingly had an incompetent teacher working with our district children.
The more you see our districts leadership actions, the more you realize that the questions of competence should be directed there.
To: January 31, 2008 7:14 AM
Your statements don't explain two points. If what you say is true why would the "serial bully" wait til just before he was leaving to remove Kaisershot, Second, if Kaisershot and Dr. Roberts are such good friends and Roberts knows how the removal of Kaisershot has upset the community to the point that the band parents were the leading force against the referendum (the referendum you have stated many times is your number 1 goal), then why has Dr. Roberts done nothing for almost two years to reinstate Kaisershot to the high school position?
If I were superintendent and someone that I had such a friendship and respect for had been treated in such a way. I would have no problem with reassigning a first year teacher and reinstating such a wonderful friend and educator. Your statements only lack the merit of being true and show that you are not as close to Kevin Kaisershot as you claim you are.
7:42, let me enlighten you about a couple of things.
First of all, "Serial Bully" Radakovich (& pals) did NOT wait until just before he was about to leave to get rid of Mr. K. at East High. Gordon Postlewaite (mentioned before as having a "personal vendetta") had approached the Personnel Policy committee and the School Board with "issues & concerns relating to the leadership of the EHS band" more than a YEAR before Mr. K. was "reassigned", and more than 2 years before Radakovich retired.
And Dr. Roberts had such high regard for Mr. K that when Dr. R. left East High back in the '90s to take a position elsewhere (I think it was Downers Grove), he asked Mr. K to consider joining the staff at his new high school. By the time that Dr. R. returned to D131 several years later, the wheels were already in motion (thanks mostly to Radakovich, Postlewaite, Gonzalez, Johnson, and a few others who didn't seem to care what parents & students wanted) to get rid of Mr. K at the high school. At that point, there was little that Dr. R. could do for his friend other than try to make sure he stayed in the district as an outstanding middle-school band director.
Dr. Roberts never worked for Downers Grove, He worked for Claumet City and Joliet.
Since your head is still in the dark, let explain how some things work. Dr. Roberts has been the superintendent for almost two years now. Radakovich is long gone, each of the others that you mention all work under Roberts not the other way around and the school board simply rubber stamps everything the superintendent wants in this district.
If Roberts wanted Kaisershot as the high school band director, there would be nothing to stop him from assigning him there. Roberts is the boss. Kaisershot is not the high school band director because Roberts doesn't want him to be the high school band director.
Illinois Residents Want School Choice: Poll
Written By: Aricka Flowers
Published In: School Reform News
Publication Date: February 1, 2008
Publisher: The Heartland Institute
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
When it comes to education, the people of Illinois want options, according to a survey of 1,500 people statewide.
Released in December, the survey was a joint effort of the Indiana-based Milton & Rose D. Friedman Foundation, the Illinois Policy Institute, School Choice Illinois, and six other organizations. The survey results appear on page 5.
The survey, which posed questions about K-12 education, tax credit scholarships, and school vouchers, was conducted by Strategic Vision, LLC, an Atlanta-based public relations firm that specializes in polling.
More than half the respondents rated the current public school system as either "fair" or "poor." That bleak opinion was most prevalent among Chicago residents.
"Most interesting is, if given a choice, most taxpayers indicate they would choose to have their children educated in a setting other than a public school--four out of five, in fact," said Collin Hitt, director of education policy and reform at the Illinois Policy Institute. "Considering the current system has about 85 percent of schoolchildren enrolled in public schools, there's a huge disconnect between what people want and what they have to take."
School Funding Is Adequate
Even though people in Illinois are dissatisfied with regular public schools, they don't think funding is the problem. Sixty-three percent of respondents said the current level of funding for public schools is "about right" or "too high."
Support among survey respondents for the vehicles that would give them the most of both--school vouchers and tax credit scholarships--was also strong.
More than half of survey respondents would support a corporate tax credit scholarship program, with 9 percent of respondents saying they would "strongly support" such a proposal in Illinois and 45 percent saying they would "somewhat favor" such an idea.
Sixty-two percent of survey respondents said they had heard about vouchers in K-12 education, and more than half favored the voucher approach. Twelve percent said they would "strongly support" vouchers in Illinois, while 39 percent said they were "somewhat favorable" to the approach. Thirty-five percent were "somewhat unfavorable," and 14 percent rated themselves "strongly unfavorable" to it.
Choice Information Needed
"We see this all over. There's a disconnect between the people who want choice and the programs necessary to give them choice," Hitt said. "The role of think tanks and parent organizations is to close that gap. We see it with charter schools, tax credits, and vouchers. The more people know about tax policy, the more they favor choice.
"There are more people who want choice than there are people who understand what the policies for school choice need to be," Hitt continued. "Advocates really need to step up their educational efforts to inform parents about what school choice programs are."
The poll was conducted from November 9 to November 11, 2007 and carried a sampling error of plus or minus 2.5 percentage points.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Aricka Flowers (atflowers@hotmail.com) writes from Illinois.
Who is most responsible for the situation of Illinois' public school system?
State government: 24 percent
Unions: 22 percent
Teachers: 18 percent
School boards: 15 percent
Parents: 11 percent
Undecided/other: 10 percent
10:03 says that "the school board simply rubber-stamps everything the superintendent wants in this district". Well, back in 2004-2005 when certain administrators were out to get Kaisershot that was certainly true! Larry Malaker was the School Board president at the time and was a close friend of "Serial Bully" Radakovich (Radakovich's car could be seen in Malaker's driveway on an almost daily basis, and Malaker was able to get a "sweetheart deal" on the sale of his house--thanks to strings being pulled behind the scenes, I'm sure).
It looks to me like Malaker wanted to help his pals Radakovich & Postlewaite by pushing the Board to oust Kaisershot, before Malaker's term of office expired.
Also, 10:03 says that Dr. Roberts "never worked for Downers Grove".
But the June 2006 newsletter for the Aurora Economic Development Commission includes this statement:
"After leaving East High School, Roberts was appointed principal of Downers Grove North High School".
Seems to me it's YOUR head that's "still in the dark", 10:03!
The funny thing about the whole Radakovich/Malaker relationship is how well Radakovich and Malaker on the surface got along. However, Radakavich never pronounced Malaker's name correctly. He always pronounced it Mulaka. Radakovich was from a part of the world where he would have known full well what the mispronunciation meant. Mulaka was Greek for Jackass. It did make me smile everytime I heard him say it.
To: January 31, 2008 11:56 AM
Check TheChampion.org it will tell exactly who has paid Dr. Roberts for the past 8 years.
It still doesn't explain why the boss hasn't fixed the situation in the past two years.
I'm not sure that someone from Germany would necessarily know how to say "jackass" in Greek. It's more likely that the Serial Bully's accent (which sounded to me like Ah-nold Schwartzenegger with a bad cold) would make Malaker sound like "mulaka".
Sure just like how people from the USA would not know the bad words from Mexico. I don't speak spanish but I do know most of those words. By the way, he pronounced the Greek word perfectly.
Like the old saying goes, "birds of a feather flock together". Or in this case, "jackasses".
Another old saying, "takes one to know one".
Yes birds of a feather flock together. That is why all of the bitchiest people in aurora come to this blog to complain to eachother and never really get anything else done.
Who are you saying paid Roberts the last 8 years? I have looked this up and don't see him in Downers Grove which has three disticts in it and Joliet which has four I do believe. I have also looked at d131 and see him in three of the last years. I do believe he is a weak superintendent. He may go to schools when called but what does he do. He wants to cut teachers and clubs to get the budget right but he doesn't want to cut things that doesn't have anything to do with that and he could. Last year east and west had a referendum and both superintendents where in there first year and who won theres.
My understanding about a magnet school is that once instiduted that the school board has no say in it, that the superintendant has complete control. Does anyone else know anything about this? Where would their funds come from if this is true? For certain, I would not want this superintendant to have complete control over anything, as he is trying to do now in everything else.
Read Roberts bio on the D131 website. It states where he has worked. Downers Grove is one place. Read it and check out for yourselves. I also would like to know more about magnet schools.
I can not believe people in the district are still talking about the Kaisershot situation. This was unfortunate, but he was not transferred, "out of the blue." I understand there were big issues involved, -- issues which were not released to the public. It was unfortunate that the administration did not step forward to explain their motivations for Mr. K's because of privacy laws, they may have been trying to protect Mr. K through their silence(?)
It does seem that the SSC has had a history of transferring out to other district schools any teacher who is causing problems, not performing, failing to comply with administrative requests, or just plain taking advantage of their positions at the school of their original assignment.
Kaisershot's problem is sad but not unique. Several years ago a teacher at one of the middle schools was released because she was found smoking on school property. In another case, a male teacher was moved to a different school because of so many complaints from parents regarding their daughters.
I want to add, also, that Clayton's motivation for Boys II Men was to motivate and support a group of students who were the lowest scorers on tests. Statistics show that when a student feels he/she is a member of a school organization, that student feels he/she has a vested interest in the school; somehow that ownership translates into better grades. I learned this in masters classes. I can not say anything about what is happening in Boys II Men right now, but the original reason was to give these kids ownership with the goals of raising their scores and improving their self-image.
At the time Clayton began this club, he selected 15 kids -- I think it was 15 anyway. His motivation for that number was that, at the time, there were 15 big-name gang members in Aurora. Clayton was hoping to train the kids to be examples of GOOD kids... role models for others as opposed to the sterotypical gang role model which seems to be so attractive to many of our students.
I have posted this information in hopes it will clarify a few things. Take it for what it's worth.
While at East high, Kaisershot was asked to create small traveling pep bands that would attend girls' basketball games, wrestling,away games, etc. Kevin told me it would simply be too exhaustive to cover the territory he was told to cover. He also said he had concerns about taking his band members to so many different functions which occured on school nights, ending late. He refused to comply with administrative requests.
People are still discussing Kevin Kaisershot's situation because it was wrong then, and remains wrong now. And some of us refuse to pretend otherwise.
5:23 says that Kevin "refused to comply with administrative requests". What actually happened was, Kevin did NOT "refuse to comply"--he took the administration's requests to the parents and boosters, who told Kevin (as well as some administrators) that last-minute, late-night required performances were unacceptable. Kevin simply stood up for the best interests and clearly-expressed wishes of parents and students.
In other words, Kevin refused to kiss certain bigwigs' behinds. And his many, many friends & supporters refuse to let the community forget about it.
To 5:12--
I seriously doubt that the administration was trying to "protect Mr. K through their silence".
More likely that they were unable or unwilling to defend their support of a personal vendetta.
What happened with Kaisershot was wrong then and is still wrong now, I just wish I could see as much passion for what is going on that is wrong now. What happened should certainly not be forgotten, but kept in memory to be aware of what can be pulled on everyone, and use this knowledge for what is happening now. Let us use this passion being displayed on this particular issue and do something to change and better this district for the children. Come to the next meeting Monday and voice your opinion on the retirement package for the administrators, the proposed referendum, etc. Is all of this for the children, of course not, so let us use this passion for this. As policies might be changed, maybe Kaisershot can be brought back. Since I do not know this, has anyone asked Mr.Kaisershot if he wants to come back to the position that everyone is talking about? Is he aware that this is still such a big problem for everyone and it is taking away attention from what is going on now, since everyone who posts about this says they will not go before the school board as they were ignored in this situation? Has anyone asked his opinion on any of this? I was not aroung for Mr.Kaisershots issue, but remember being told something about this, and I am sure that Mr. Kaisershot knows how everyone feels on this and he has and had everyone's support. Has anyone asked for his input that is going on in this district now? From what I have read and heard about this man, I feel that he would want everyone to take their passion and use it to start rectifying things now. Just some thoughts of mine on all of this.
I am very sure that Kevin Kaisershot is aware of the fact that many people are still behind him over what happened 2 years ago. He's always been the type of person that you stay loyal to, and I know plenty of people that would willingly argue for him again if they had to. However, what you say is correct. Like many others have already said on this blog, who wants to gather up all their energy to fight against the School Board, to get them to instate better rules and cut back on money in different places, when in the back of their minds they have the Kaisershot situation? There were at least 200 people that marched from EAHS to the District center on 5th street. There was absolutely zero coverage of it done by local tv stations, and the local paper. After that kind of reaction from the people who are supposed to inform the community, and after the lack of respect shown by the administrators of the school district, why should anyone care what happens anymore? I think after that decision, lots of graduates felt extremely distanced from the school district, and have turned their backs on it, including their parents who may or may not still have children in the district, but certainly live there.
The irony of all this is that the district spokesperson, Clayton Muhammad, thought he had the last word when he declared, "this issue is over".
How very wrong he was!
Why should anyone do this again? How about the fact to see that this never happens again? No news coverage? Did any of these 200 people call any news media to let them know what is happening? These days the Daily Herald in more invovled in our City and what is going on than the Beacon. Nothing can be done if no one contacts the media. Did anyone call the River and let them know what is going on. They are willing to help with things at times by talking about it on their radio station. They were helpful with the Drive-In issue. Did anyone call different places to see if they could put flyers in their businesses to get the word out more. There are places that would be willing to do this. Has not anyone learned anything from this issue? Hasn't anyone figured out that this is why the school board gets away with what it does? People get their frustration out on this blog and know they will do nothing else. As for the ones who have graduated that was in this incident, do they want something like this to happen to the next students after them, to their brothers and sisters? What is happening here is certainly not setting an example for them. If you do not get what you want the first time, just give up and never try again? Many times, when a situation does not turn out the way we want and fight for, it will be can turned around in situations that come along after, but not just sitting by and doing nothing. Yes, I understand that the wounds still hurt, are still raw and that this was a slap in the face, but it is time to take a step again to start to get all of this to heal.
Clayton has been wrong on every issue, why would this be any different. It has been shown on this site the many different laws that Clayton has been breaking for years. It has been shown how the district and board have been complacent in these illegal actions. Does anyone really believe that they got rid of Kaisershot to protect Kaisershot or for the benefit of the children? Kevin mearly stood up for what was right for the children and their parents in this community.
The district treated him the same way that they have treated every teacher in this district who stands up for what is right for the children. They attack the teacher. They reassign the teacher. They harrass the teacher. They fire the teacher. That is the reason that you don't see even one teacher stand up against the district. We have seen the retribution taken against teacher after teacher.
The community asks over and over why the union doesn't stand up to them. The fact is that they never have and never will. Ask yourself this, the last salaries showed on thechampion.org have the last union president earning $145,000, far above the any amount the salary schedule allowed and far more than any other teacher in the district made. What do you think the district is paying for with this money.
There is a reason that the teachers of this district are the lowest paid in the six county area and why not one of them will stand up when they see illegal and unjust acts committed by the administration. If the administration can treat Kevin this way when he has the support of the entire community, what chance does any teacher have when they stand up for what is right.
No teacher or community member has been able to change a single decision made by administration. In fact even when hundreds of community members have come out stood up to the administration nothing has changed. The reason Kevin is not the high school band director is because Jerome Roberts doesn't want Kevin to be the high school band director. It doesn't matter in the least what the community wants, Jerome Roberts will do what he wants.
If there was ever a district that the state should come into and remove the entire administrative staff and board and start over again, it is this one. All the districts problems start and end with its leadership.
I bet our distirct dosen't have this policy. See how they say they vote before a public body for the new member.
A vacancy has occurred on the Board of Education which must be filled within 45 days by Board appointment. Whenever a vacancy occurs on the School Board, the Board wishes to accept letters of application from District residents who are interested in filling the vacancy. Letters, including a resume and reasons why you would like this position, should be sent or delivered to Prairie Grove Consolidated School District 46, 3223 IL Route 176, Crystal Lake, IL 60014 by Friday,November 9, 2007. You may also email this information by the November 9th deadline to msutfin@dist46.org.
After reviewing the letters of application, the Board may invite prospective candidates for personal interviews to be conducted during scheduled closed meetings. The Board will fill the vacancy by a public vote at a Board of Education Meeting. The person appointed would serve until April 2009, at which time the person could stand for election to the Board of Education.
To be eligible to serve, a candidate must be a citizen of the United States, at least 18 years of age, a resident of the State of Illinois and Prairie Grove Consolidated School District 46 for at least one year, and a registered voter.
I have always wondered why they did not vote in front of a public body when they chose the new member when you read the open meetings act that no final vote can be taken in closed session and this district did it. Did our district go by the rules of the open meeting act? If they didn't how do the new members feel about this if they voliated it. What else are they doing wrong. There are so many secerts in this district and what they do is wrong but the parents and citizens of this district don't care. We need to stop this now. When you read all the postings here and the claims of wrong doings you have to believe the adimistration is hiding things from us and if they want another referendum they need to honest with us.
I understand what is being said about the teachers, but if all unite together, do you really think they can move, fire, etc. everyone who does what they know is right if you all are united in it? As far as the union president goes, don't you vote for the one in this position? Someone else needs to run or is everyone afraid to do this also? Come on the woman is not even a teacher. Does any other guidance counselor make this type of salary, looked and I cannot find it. Am I the only one that remembers the song "FOR UNITED WE STAND, DIVIDED WE FALL, AND IF OUT BACKS SHOULD EVER BE AGAINST THE WALL, WE WILL BE TOGETHER YOU AND I"? It is not nescessarily true that all districts problems start and end with the administration. The community has to be involved no matter what anyone thinks. It is our responsiblity. Does anyone really think if they all were gone, that the next would be any better if the community is not invovled? I bet the ones that read this blog, be it administrators, all the school board members, union president just laugh, as they know no one will really do anything. As for certain new school board members, if anyone was to go to the meetings, they throw out information, but what good does it do if no one goes to get it? If anyone has questions about any and all school board members, ask them, see if they reply, keep it for future references, go to the meetings and ask why they did not respond, oh, but, this will lead us right back to where this all started, won't it?
Let me tell you how elections in this district are conducted. A few years back we actually had to have an second election because of the way elections are conducted. The ballots are cast at each of the schools. The votes are tallied by the union representatives who are appointed by the union president. The representatives then called the union president with their totals and the union president added the votes and declared "Hey look, I won". Even Chicago where you are encouraged to vote early and often doesn't have elections that are that crooked.
I have been in the district a long time and only one election in my time has had the union leadership challenged. There were three teachers who were the main challenge to the union leadership. All three teachers have had great difficulty within the district ever since. All three have been reassigned within the past few years and one was fired. They received no real representation from the union when needed.
Elections over the contract are equally frustrating. We teachers cast our votes, the votes are placed in a cardboard box. We have asked for the votes to be conducted in the open and we are told that it is not the way elections are conducted in this district. Instead, the union leaders "hold" the ballots until the board meeting, then the union leaders, the administration and the board go into a closed room somewhere and count the balots and always tell us that the vote passed no matter how bad the contract is.
The voting in the past two elections have had low voter turnout. The last election was done in the middle of summer. Many teachers work second jobs or are out of town during the summer months. The one before that was conducted on the last day of school hours after we were released. The union leadership consistently does what it can to minimize participation.
Maybe there is a reason that the union leader on the east side made $145,000 when the superintendent of schools on the west side made $123,000 in 2006 (the most recent salary information on thechampion.org).
Part of the reason the district gets away with it is because this district has a huge percentage of teachers that are not tenured. When the majority of the staff is not tenured the administration can get away with most anything they want. When you are not tenured they can fire you and don't even have to give the teacher a reason. They simply say we have decided not to rehire you for next year. The teachers will never be able to gain a majority to challenge the union or district. The district maintains a very high percentage of non-tenured, inexperienced teachers. They cost considerably less that experienced teachers which leaves more money to pay administrators their huge salaries.
Just because this is the way it is done in the district does not make it right. Has anyone looked into this situation at all, other than what has been stated here? It is quite obvious that this is not right. Do you even get to see your own contract? I worked in a much bigger union than the teachers, and never, ever, were things done the way they are stated here. I can smell many violations here. Number one, the ballot issue. Has anyone asked to see the policy on this for this district? Is there a policy? Also, many things I could state about on what I think about how the school board handled this.
First of all you need to see everything in writing that they have. How do your union stewarts get to become one? Are there any you can trust? Who governs over your union and I do not mean the president that you have. Give us something to work with, to start with. Everything invovling this district and what goes on really all combines together and nothing can be done unless the ones who TRULY wants change is like a baby learning to walk. Have to learn to stand first, then try for that first step, when fall down, get up try again and again and again until that first step is taken. Then that baby falls again and tries again until 2 steps are taken, then might fall again, have to get up again until finally can walk. Get the idea?
I have known teachers who have asked about the board policy book. There are two copies that I know of. One at central office and one that the union carries. When a teacher wants to see the book they must make a request to see it. The district will eventually designate a time that they may see it. Central office assigns an administrator to sit with the teacher and they note all pages viewed by that teacher. If the teacher requests any copies of pages they must fill out further forms and then the district has to approve it and given time to make the copies. The district can claim that if too many pages are requested that it is an undo burden on the district to make that many copies. Any teacher that I have known to make such requests were subsequently harrassed. Any pages that are copied are charged to the teacher. The teacher must pay for them.
You asked who governs over the union. The answer is Dick Manley, He is the head of Local 604 of the AFT. I have never once seen him come out on the side of a teacher. I have further caught him flat out lying regarding teacher issues. I personally asked him publicly about the hiring of people who are not certified teachers for coaching positions. He claimed that he was not aware of any such thing happening in this district. This was asked after I had already seen a letter from Dick Manley to a teacher who was making complaints about this practice and he stated to that teacher that he was aware of the issue but that he didn't consider it a union or contractual issue. The union would not back up the teacher who was challenging the district for using non-certified and non-qualified people for coaching positions.
I have been in a union for 25 years and have never heard of a president of the union counting votes. It was always union members picked by the membership and someone from the regional office of the union that counted the votes. This is worse than Chicago.
As far as board policy I cann't believe that they don't let teachers see it. I have looked at alot of other districts websites and they have the board policy on it. Of course that would be to much for this one. Why don't they want people to see it? All districts are suppose to be transparent but not this one. I guess they never heard of the FOIA Act. You can look up on the attorney general website about the FOIA act and call them with questions about this. If the district is wrong you can put it on here and maybe someone can call them and make a complaint if you don't want to.
On a post on openline.blog someone made a statement about the B2M and maybe the daily hearld would run something about it and someone repled that they might. So whoever has all the facts might give them a call and maybe tell them some of this other stuff. This was the writer of the articile on openline and maybe if you contact them they could get you to the right person.
By Amy Boerema | Daily Herald Sta
Found this on Openlineblog
Please know that some are trying to find a way to help.
Anonymous said...
Do you know who to contact from the Daily Herald? There seems to be alot of other things going on in the district that people are complaing about. They have a blog it's ea131.blogspot.com. It seems some teachers get a hard time if they want to see the board policy and they way there union elections are held.
2/2/08 9:43 AM
Saw on Weaver's calendar that there is a budget workshop before the meeting on Monday. Glad this calendar is there, I can find out things before the last minute.
To anon feb 21,08 @ 2:28P.
The Kaisershot situation was mostly student run with key input from band booster parents, and outside parents. Students did attempt to contact news media about the situation, but clearly that incentive did not do much good. It was a hot issue, and as many have stated throughout various blog entries, in recent years the Beacon has (unfortunately) certainly not stood up to its name in our town. Also many graduates of that year and the year or two after them, gave up on EAHS. Many of them gave up band, most of them moved out of town, and when they have brothers and sisters they tell them the way they see EAHS and administrative policy and how things "run" because these people had to challenge the system. Again, many people throughout this blog have commented on the same issue. Teachers have attempted to unite against union leaders, and nothing has come out of it. Students attempted to do what was right by their band director, and their words fell on deaf ears. It's hard for this community to suddenly have to come to terms with what it has for many years (for most) turned a blind eye to, or given blind trust to. It's hard to change things overnight. As seen some people have simply chosen to move out of this district entirely. Maybe with the publicity over the B2M issue and Clayton Mohammed things will finally start to change in this community, as I feel that this issue is accessible to more people, why the Kaisershot situation was certainly slanted in the direction of people dedicated to the fine arts, of which administration has always had a short tolerance for and never really supported.
Sorry that comment above should read to anon feb 1, 2008 @ 2 28P
Though many will not believe this, information has been thrown out for the public to notice if we went to the meetings. If we are not there to hear it, what good does it do for the ones who are doing it? No one really knows if the few who do go are doing anything, but maybe if any of the few that do attend once in awhile are, something might be accomplished, but as stated, it will not be overnight. Things do not always go the way I want them in life, but I do not run away. This accomplishes nothing either. Also, I have learned that when my prayers are not answered, they really were, the answer was no. But then later things happen and and my prayers are answered with a yes and it leads back to that no.
Found this on the Openline blog
There is a budget workshop before the board meeting. The public should be able to sit in on that one, also. Go listen to how they are going to cut classes to pay for retirement bonuses.
I wonder if Marin is going to get a trip to Spain again this year to hire bilingual teachers. Since there are none anywhere in the USA that want to work for 131 ?!?!
Pah leez!
2/2/08 7:58 PM
I bet NOBODY GOES except the board members. Everybody else is too busy. This community is too lazy and apathetic.
This was on Openline blog:
It is not posted on the agenda for Monday nights meeting as it should have been done. It is posted on Weaver's calendar and is available for anyone to view if they want to. This is how I found out about the workshop. Just remember people that these bonuses is for the children, right? Is not why they are going to vote on putting a referndum on November's ballot. It is for the education of the children, WRONG, it is for administrators and very highly overpaid guidance counselor. Wonder what she has on whoever to merit that kind of salary?
2/2/08 9:28 PM
I have used this calendar and found that it will also tell when there are committee meetings, what time they are and where they are at. Noticed that it stated something about a survey for teachers. I find it very helpful. The address for this calendar is somewhere in one of these postings.
To the person who put in that nobody will go to the budget meeting, are you?
Someone let me know if they actually deal with Clayton and his illegal activities. I figure they won't do anything so I've already written the letter that will be going to the State's Attorney.
Man I hope they do deal with him. He's already started sending out all the black history crap. Every staff member in this district is harrassed with multiple e-mails every day about black politicians, black entertainers, black sports figures. I guess in his mind if you are not black and in the public eye you're nobody.
I was just getting over all the Kwanza crap he sends out in December. We can't say Christmas in public schools but he can harrass us with Kwanza all month. Just some more of his racist agenda being forced on the community.
This is what the East Aurora Tax Payers are getting for his large and secret salary.
2/2 9:41pm
Who is they that you are referring to? When do you think this will be dealt with and where? If you think any information will be given at Monday's school board meeting, then go and find out. To the best of my knowledge a policy has to be made. Since this was given back to the school board, Roberts better not have a part of the policy decision.
With him being the Public Relations person I do no see why he is sending this stuff out to teachers. We have a PR person where I work and they do not do that. I think the district is letting him do things he shouldn't. Not that I don't think learning about GOOD Black Leaders is bad. As far a Kwanza I would think that is just like Christmas and should not be mentioned in the schools. He should know that in his position and stay away from it sinces it looks like he is promoting it. Does he promote the other months where they have a heritage month like Hispanic or Asian American Month?
About the budget meeting and people not going. This is a good reason why the board should video tape or audio tape the meetings and put them on the website. But they won't because they don't what people to know what is going on. There is no reason in this day that it isn't being done. You cann't tell me on of the adiministrators or someone in the district doesn't know how to do this.
Just got done watching Joel Osteen and what he was talking about sure hit home. If anyone gets a chance to watch him today or through the week, please do. Found it amazing that the subject is about what is going on in this district right now and how people are feeling.
Clayton sends out stuff during Black History month and Hispanic Heritage month. He sends out nothing for any other racial group. It's the same complaint the community has about the illegal Boys II Men Fraternity. Clayton has been promoting only Blacks and Latinos and discriminates all others.
The more I hear about Clayton the more I think he is predudice. I really don't understand why he is sending this stuff out. If he doesn't do it for all races then he shouldn't do it at all. Besides that it is the children that should be learning about this and not the teachers. In this day and age you have to be very careful not to offened anyone and I think he is crossing the line here. After watching him for awhile it does seem that he talks alot about the black students that do good (which is a good thing) but you don't hear him say to much about others which I'm sure there are. The board and superintendent needs to watch this closer.
If any teacher or principal catered to certain races at the expense of others it would be dealt with imediately. The district has specific policies on discrimination. It will not be tolerated in any way, shape or form in this district. For some reason the administration and board have ignored their own policies on discrimination when it pertains to Clayton.
The community needs to go to the next board meeting and ask why. Why are district policies and the law not being adhered to when it comes to Clayton. Why is Clayton allowed to continue discriminatory practices, why is a district employee allowed to continue running an illegal fraternity, why are district resources being used to run this illegal organization and why is he allowed to hide his organizations activities from the public?
!!!!!HOORAY THE PATRIOTS LOST!!!!!!
!!!!!HOORAY THE PATRIOTS LOST!!!!!!
!!!!!HOORAY THE PATRIOTS LOST!!!!!!
Sorry I've been waiting to say that all season. Ever since it was made public that the Patriots had been cheating.
It's difficult when you see wrongdoers win for a while. This makes a person regain faith that wrongdoers always lose in the end.
It gives a person some hope that the wrongdoer in this district will still be dealt with. After all, wrongdoers always lose in the end, right? I hope so.
Why we shouldn’t vote Clinton.
Remember the last time the Clintons were in the White House?
Whitewater, Travelgate, Filegate, Vince Fosters mysterious death, cattle futures controversy, Madison guaranty, the Mcdougals, the Rose Lawfirm, Kenneth Starr Independent council, Impeachment, selling the Lincoln Bedroom, Waco, Troopergate, etc, etc, etc.
Hope some can make it to the buget workshop tonight and that more make it to the school board meeting.
I don't know about the board meeting tonight but I will be voting tomorrow. At least there my voice is counted. Oh yes and I will be voting the next time we can vote out the rest of the board members that need to be removed. We took out two of the three running last time and i'm sure we can do even better next time. That's what happens when the people we elect to speak for us, stop listening to us. Start doing what is right or suffer the same fate as the previous board members.
Just to let everyone know, they will be voting on rather to put the referendum on the ballot in Nov. At least that is the way I understood it when reading on the front page today about the meeting tonight. Can understand you feelings about the board members you want to see gone, but how about some support for the ones who are trying to do something for us? Don't they deserve that, and better yet, don't you want to go and see and listen for yourself to see if they are really trying to do what they were elected for? We cannot find out everything by blogs and word of mouth. I know they are doing their best, but do the rest of you? Yes, I go to meetings when I can. I have missed some meetings where good information was put out to the public, and therefore cannot use it as it did not show up in the board bits. I do not doubt that what I was told was true, but since I was not there, this is second hand information and therefore feel that who told me should look into it theirself. Hopefully, this information will come up again at another meeting.
I see postings about a budget workshop tonite but I don't see an agenda shouldn't there be one?
Should be.
Probably an attempt to keep Beacon & public out.
Those kept in the dark are easier to slip things by.
Nobody is going to go, because the "COMMUNITY" of East Aurora SUCKS.
It doesn't matter if the community sucks or that the board really doesn't try to get people to come it's the law that they are suppose to do it. What does it tell you if they break the law. Maybe they should start having some of the meetings at different schools like some districts do or send surveys home about the board? Other districts do these kinds of things. Some even have babysitting.
I am a member of the community of the East side and I find it offensive saying this commity is that word that someone put in their posting. I do not do this and I go to the meetings when I can. It is people like the one who put that statement in that this particular word refers to. Your statement does not say much for you.
If anyone would have checked Weaver's calendar they would have seen this on there. You will probably find out more of what is going on there than anyplace else. Check it out folks. The only reason I am not at the budget workshop or meeting tonight is I had no ride, can't afford to take a taxi and live to far away to walk in this weather.
You should find it offensive, but not that I used the word suck, but that you live in a community that would rather have the district go down the toilet than get off their butt and attend a meeting, sporting event or concert. Be offended at the people around you, not me.
How many other districts have alot of people go to there board meetings? In fact how many districts have the amount of hispanic that we do? What kind of city alows this? I'm not saying that all hispanic don't get involved because it seems that there have been quite a few that ran for the board. It's the other ones that don't want to help there children learn English or care about the schools. Yes, we do have parents that go to sports events and other things. What distirct do you live in do you go to school board meetings? I believe there are parents out there no matter what race might come if they understood about the school board.
I live in 204, and no, I don't go to board meetings, but then again, I am not on a blog every day bitching about how they don't do anything I want them to do.
We are not on the blog everyday and yes we have things to complain about. How soon will it be before 204 taxes you out of your house? Where I work we have people from all around and I have heard from parents how even some of your books are falling apart. That they don't give the kids the notebooks and other things that used too. So before you judge us look in your own back yard. Is your poverty rate 50% and how about your below poverty rate.
View District Profile for Parents
View
Administrator
HOWARD CROUSE
780 SHORELINE DR
AURORA IL 60504
(630)375-3000
Avg. Teacher Salary: $62,073
Avg. Teacher Experience: 10.4 Years
Instructional Expenditure
Per Pupil (2003-04): $5,653
Operational Expenditure
Per Pupil (2003-04): $8,639
Low Income: 5%
Administrator
DR JEROME ROBERTS
417 5TH ST
AURORA IL 60505
(630)299-5554
Avg. Teacher Salary: $52,082
Avg. Teacher Experience: 11.7 Years
Instructional Expenditure
Per Pupil (2003-04): $4,832
Operational Expenditure
Per Pupil (2003-04): $8,619
Low Income: 68%
Year Fiscal Year Local Property Taxes
($) Other Local Funding
($) General State Aid
($) Other State Funding
($) Federal Funding
($)
D
I
S
T
R
I
C
T 1999 1997 - 98 - - - - -
2000 1998 - 99 - - - - -
2001 1999 - 00 - - - - -
2002 2000 - 01 119,172,894 8,645,336 24,724,268 14,287,274 3,532,152
2003 2001 - 02 145,056,580 7,508,020 25,188,801 11,014,859 4,103,514
2004 2002 - 03 163,600,272 6,239,073 17,843,749 31,253,840 5,061,235
2005 2003 - 04 180,950,385 5,744,341 19,707,147 26,829,674 6,519,505
2006 2004 - 05 198,441,022 7,798,277 18,937,207 15,980,831 6,845,759
2007 2005 - 06 209,369,998 10,137,686 17,486,138 15,003,176 7,962,921
I ask why would someone from 204 even look at this website. Your time is coming with all the foreclouser and bankrupcies. I see alot of them around your area and it will effect you just like us. With the money your district has you have schools in AWS so money doesn't mean everythng.
Status Made AYP School Name Years In SIP Grades %Meets & Exceeds
AWS No NEUQUA VALLEY HIGH SCHOOL 0 9 - 12 72.80%
AWS No WAUBONSIE VALLEY HIGH SCHOOL 0 9 - 12 63.90%
Ok, now I'm going to say I live in Oswego School District 308. I do go to board meetings and I am very involved with the schools sporting events and concerts. Now give me all the stupid data for that district.
The problem with D131 when it comes to monies is not the teacher's salaries, it is the overpaid superintendant, asst.superintendants, and one guidance couselor whose salary is past ridiculous. More money goes out for them and their benefits than anyone realizes. It is when people do not care enough to go to meetings once in awhile to find out what really is happening that allows so much to go on and get by. There is much more going on in this district that needs to be addressed and taken care of also, some of which has been stated on this blog. For anyother district to think this cannot slip up on them, they are very wrong. There is something wrong when superintents, asst.superintendant etc. make more than the President and govenor, especially when they do not do as much as those two do even if I do not agree with them or think they are worth the money we pay them. The teachers, for the most part, deserve what they are making. They are the ones who put out the product(children) of the district and not the above mentioned, yet this is what is implied by the salaries they make. Bet if anyone out there bought a product that did not conform to what it said it would, also would complain and do something about it. I know when I buy a product with my money and it doesn't work or perform right this issue will be resolved. After all, it is my money.
So who went to the meeting. I was too busy eating doritos and watching reruns of the Drew Carey show. That fat guy is too funny.
Hey look at that, the Sun-Times Media Group is up for sale. The Sun-Times owns the Beacon. Maybe, just maybe, we'll actually get some real reporting when it comes to this district. At least we can hope.
to 2/04 6:38pm
I have to agree with you. Data is important, but I do not understand why the last where put in and the meaning of it as to me this is not the important issues right now. The isssues deal with the way overpaid administrators,etc., other issues at hand and now the fact that the referendum will be put on the Nov. ballot without the fact that there can be cuts made and not at the expense of the children's education. These cuts can come in other areas in the budget, but you can bet again the administration and most school board members are going to threat to take away sport, clubs, etc. There will be a even bigger problem although depending on how this Clayton thing turns out. I really feel that this school board, superintendant and administration is going to start to tumble now. Just a feeling.
Kudos to the woman who had the courage to stand before the board about the problems at Waldo.
Everyone does not have the same issues. So just because someone puts something in that you don't think is important to you it might be to someone else. I think it was put in just to let people see that although we would like to be like other districts we cann't because we come no where close to what they make. You look at the poverty level and maybe that has something to do with why people don't support the district.
This referendum is not about $82. It's about something much more important than money. This is a referendum about principle and values. It is about holding District 203 accountable! THIS IS THE 3RD REFERENDUM IN 14 YEARS! It never ends because voters keep bailing out the fiscally irresponsible school district.
The 2002 referendum has become the largest taxpayer rip off in the history of Naperville! Taxpayers were told it would cost them $511. False promise. The amount is now $1,200. Parents don't increase the allowance of children who act irresponsibly. Why then would voters even consider handing over tens of millions of dollars more to such a fiscally irresponsible school district? Taxes have skyrocketed 55% over the last six years! The graph above is very distressing. Let 203 get their $82 from the hundreds being over collected from the 2002 referendum. If District 203 cannot makes ends meet with $220M and declining student enrollment, they are incompetent.
The report from the engineering consulting firm says our schools are structurally safe & sound. It is because the district has not been putting enough into facilities over the last decade that they need some work now. But the district does not need any more taxpayer money to get the job done, they have a ton in the bank right now. As a result of misleading voters with their 2002 referendum, District 203 is now carrying a huge $40 million surplus! That's one fifth of their total operating budget. Not enough to build a Taj Mahal, but more than enough for significant improvements to Central and Mill St.
Click on the link below to view District 203's budget for 2007-08.
http://www.naperville203.org/about/QuickLinks.asp
Ihave to agree. I think that the two things that will determine if both this administration and board will be around a year or two from now depends mainly on two things. How they handle the referendum and how they deal with the Clayton debacle.
They need to first show that every bit of wastefull spending has been dealt with and they do this by opening budgets to the public. They then need to pass the referendum.
Second Clayton needs to go. If Clayton is here a year from now I don't think the current administration or board will be.
Many good people in this district now see the man for what he really is. The community will not accept an administration and board that do nothing about such a serious problem.
YES, THRE REFERENDUM WILL appear on the November Ballot. VOT YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES
The East Aurora Office of Community Relations welcomes you to its 2008 series of daily e-mails highlighting the achievements of African-Americans throughout the world.
For the last two years, the award-winning 'Someone You Should Know' series provided you with information about and insight into the lives of contemporary Black Achievers.
This year, the Office of Community Relations will commemorate Black History Month by focusing on African-American couples and their work in advancing the progress of the Black community. In this series, PEOPLE YOU SHOULD KNOW, we will highlight power-couples in politics, business, entertainment, philanthropy, and religion on the world, national, and local scenes!
We begin our 2008 PEOPLE YOU SHOULD KNOW series with the two achievers who have been called the Prince and Princess of Black America....Will Smith and Jada Pinkett-Smith!
Enjoy and Happy Black History Month!
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PEOPLE YOU SHOULD KNOW!
They are the personification of love, family, success, and power in the African-American community. Dubbed the Prince and Princess of Black America, Will Smith and Jada Pinkett-Smith are influential as individuals, but together they have proven to be magical.
In just ten years of marriage, Will and Jada have become one of the most powerful couples in Hollywood, and one of the most admired couples in the neighborhoods across America. The fact that they each earn, on average, 15 million dollars per movie is quite impressive. The fact that they donate millions per year to youth educational initiatives is extremely inspiring! They never realized in their young dreams that they would one day be movers and shakers, record-breakers, and history makers!
Willard Christopher Smith II was born in 1968 in the Overbrook section of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He was the second of four children in an upper middle class family. Through his antics, he earned the nickname ‘Fresh Prince’ at Overbrook High School. Will turned down a full-ride scholarship to M.I.T to pursue a career in entertainment. That one decision sent him on his road to stardom. After huge success as one-half of the rap duo, DJ Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince, Will moved into television and finally on to the big screen. His TV show, The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air was a mega hit and set the stage for his blockbuster movies Bad Boys I & II, Independence Day, Men in Black I & II, Ali, and I, Robot, the Pursuit of Happyness, and I Legend. Fortunately for Will, that decision to choose entertainment also connected him with the love of his life.
Jada Koren Pinkett was born in 1971 in Baltimore, Maryland. Raised by a single mother, Jada attended the Baltimore School for the Arts where she began her friendship to legendary rapper, Tupac Shakur. After graduation, Jada earned a scholarship to North Carolina School of the Arts, but she chose to leave after one year to pursue her career in acting. Her big break came in 1991 when she was cast on the hit NBC sitcom, A Different World, a spin-off to the Cosby Show. Her film debut came two years later in Menace to Society and continued to thrive with such movies as Jason’s Lyric, Set It Off, The Nutty Professor, Ali, the Matrix trilogy. Her most treasured script came in 1997 when she said her vows and became Jada Pinkett-Smith.
Over a decade later, Will and Jada have produced an entertainment dynasty that is a force to be reckoned with in Hollywood. Their company, Overbrook Entertainment, produces music, television shows, and movies. They produce the hit UPN comedy, All of Us. The show, starring Lisa Raye, is loosely based on their marriage and is one of the highest-rated sitcoms on television. Overbrook also produced Will’s hit movie, Hitch.
Together, they have made history by establishing the Will and Jada Smith Family Foundation to fund charitable organizations in Baltimore, Philadelphia and other cities. The focus of the foundation is on youth educational projects and urban, inner-city, and family welfare. The foundation has donated over 25 million dollars, not including the personal donation of millions more that the Smiths gave to hurricane-ravaged New Orleans.
Will and Jada are the proud parents of 16 year-old son, Willard “Tre” Smith III (Will’s son with his first wife); 9 year-old son, Jaden Smith (Will’s co-star in The Pursuit of Happyness); and 7 year-old daughter, Willow Smith (Will’s co-star in I Am Legend).
WILL SMITH AND JADA PINKETT-SMITH ARE PEOPLE YOU SHOULD KNOW!
“Families are like a business. The key is one person having a vision of what it needs to be and being able to pull everyone together. That’s Jada for sure.” Will Smith
“Every woman should have a ‘Will Smith’ in her life. I’d trade it all for my husband and my children.” Jada Pinkett-Smith
These are your tax dollars at work. Its no wonder the district hides what they pay this guy.
Does everyone realize that we can fund almost all the districts after school activities (clubs, sports, etc.) if we just get rid of this worthless position?
That is a waste of taxpayers money. I still don't understand why a PR person is doing this. Shouldn't the kids be learning about Black History month?
I agree, this is a worthless position. It is Dr. Roberts job to speak for the school district. Dr. Roberts should communicate with the community and the press. If you need to cut, this is a perfect place to start. If he has time to put out all this worthless crap, the position is not needed.
I can't imagine looking at a child and explaining that you will have all after school activities cut and you will go to a class with fifty kids in it but we are keeping this worthless position.
I also can't imagine going to the public and saying we are raising your taxes but we are keeping this worthless position.
If the administration and board can't see the waste that is happening in the next office how can we believe they have cut all the wastefull spending in the district?
I don't understand what gives him the right to send stuff like this everyday. Even though it is Black History Month it doesn't mean that he should be sending things out to teachers every day. You should have the right to recieve them or not. Of course no one would proably say they didn't want it but this is too much.
People, get over it. I don't understand what the big deal about sending out Black and Latino History month emails is. Shockingly I believe you are all over-reacting.
Not on a every day basis and not if he doesn't do it for all the other months. You would not find this acceptable in any other kind of business and it really isn't the PR job.
By itself it may not be overly significant but when you add it to the fact that Clayton has been running an illegal fraternity that has been discriminating against anyone not Black or Latino for years, it begins to show a definate pattern of unacceptable behavior. Clayton consistently caters only to these two groups at the expense of every other ethnic group. It is a consistent pattern of discrimination.
Ok, so now we need to have Clayton send out a bunch of White people, Aisen people, and arab people emails too, and then nobody would have a problem?
No, you fire the racist jerk and then nobody would have a problem. The other option is to wait for another discrimination lawsuit. As long as discriminatory practices continue another lawsuit is inevitable.
Does anyone know how the Federal discrimination lawsuit is progressing against the district? I am guessing slow but sure. The district administration is probably doing what they can to drag it out as long as possible. This way it is decided near the end of their term if not after their term will end.
To anon who is posting Clayton's emails, rather than repost what he has already sent, I will inform the blogging public they may contact him at the district office. He will gladly add interested parties to his emailing list.
Thank you for your trouble. I have deleted the postings to conserve space till I am able to make a new posting.
All others if you care to be put on the district email list to receive Claytons email just call or email him.
From what I understand he is sending it to everyone in the district. Yes, if he does it for those two months he should do it for every heritage month. By the way there is no white month. With him doing just those two it does look like discrimination.
Now whoever feels so strongly about this and keeps posting why don't you contact the daily herald if you have all this information. I believe other people are working on other things that are going on in the adminitration and school board.
Why can't Clayton do a weekly, bi-weekly or monthly (daily is overkill) email highlighting people who make a difference - regardless of race.
I have a better idea. Why don't you stop Clayton from sending out all this racist crap. Or at the very least, make him get approval from each person he is sending this crap to. I am sure that the list of people to send it to would be very short if people were given a choice about receiving it.
I find it amazing that after just 3 postings on this site that you are already offended and deleting his stuff. The staff of this district has been receiving hundreds of these postings from Clayton in the past few years.
Rayanne, you also deleted my comments at the same time you deleted Clayton's black "history" posting.
My statement and question in that posting was, Clayton is sending these "Black people you should know" emails. All the people that Clayton's promoting are current black politicians, entertainers, etc. How does this celebate Black HISTORY? Answer, it doesn't!!! It just promotes Clayton's racist agenda.
This blog is here to let the people of the community know what is going on in the Aurora 131 School District. These postings show 1) exactly what the community is paying Clayton to do and 2) shows the community just a small part of things the teachers of this district have to put up with and 3) the community can decide for themselves if Claytons actions are indeed discriminatory.
When you start deleting posts like these that are not inappropriate in any way, it starts to look like you are trying to cover up for Clayton. Just like he has done by blocking the community from seeing what he is sharing with the children on the Boys II Men Fraternity MySpace Page.
These are hardly racist emails. Again, people are blowing this way out of proportion. Is channel 8 or CBS racist when they have a mini-commercial saying "CBS Supports Black History Month, thanks for watching.”? I don't ever see that of Asian History Month, and I never see it for Arab history month.
Calling Clayton a racist is very strong language and I think you need to tone it down a little bit.
And now you will bring up B2M. It is NOT racist to have a group for GANG TARGETED MINORITYS. Lets be real, what are most gangs made up of, blacks and Hispanics. So there is really nothing wrong with having a group that helps young blacks and Hispanics make better choices.
It may be a frat or not that is a separate issue. All I'm saying is watch your ignorant language and leave the word "racist" out of it.
Apparently you are not familiar with the law. Discrimination was defined at about the time of Brown vs. The Board of Education. Schools in the south were arguing that they were being singled out unfairly. The claimed that there were school districts in the North that were of one race.
The Federal Courts spelled it out basically this way. It is not discriminatory if a neighborhood is primarily one race because of the housing patterns of the community. It is discriminatory if the leadership in a school district have a policy that segregates based on race.
In short, if Clayton had set up a legal organization that targets at risk students and the group ended up primarily Black and Latino it would have been legal and non-discriminatory. By setting up an organization and publicly stating that it is only for Black and Latino students. Clayton is in violation of Federal Discrimination Laws.
The actions of a school district can not promote discrimination. What Clayton is doing is no different than when certain states and districts in the south said that a little black child could not go to the same school as a little white child. He is basically stating that a little white child can not be a member of my group for Black and Latino children.
His postings are about Black Entertainers and Politicans that are current but one could say that is alright. I do believe that there are many in history that he should be talking about and he doesn't need to do it everyday. As far as deleting the postings I agree this blog isn't in the district so we can delete it without feeling someone in administration will get back at us. If you feel so strongly about this go to someone. The board can not do anything until you go up the chain of command. We know Dr. Roberts won't do anything but that's what you have to do. Or go to a paper and see if they will do something.
Dr. Roberts is well aware of the situation. He need to use his authority and deal with Clayton. The board is also well aware of the Clayton situation. They need to make sure that Dr. Roberts does his job and deals with Clayton.
Mr. Muhammad sent out a "People You Should Know" feature a while back on Marin Gonzalez.
At least his choices of folks to highlight seem to have improved--I'd much rather read about Jada Pinkett Smith than Marin Gonzalez. Ms. Smith seems to have integrity.
Boy if Clayton was the only problem we had in this district wouldn't that be great.
Wake up folks, the titanic is sinking but too many of you are "concerned" about the actions of the adminstration and the school board. Here's a newsflash the school board and the admin. aren't the one's in the classroom "teaching" the kids, they are not the one's failing as parents, nor are they the one's taking the tests. Could they do better, absoultely, but so can the teachers, parents, students, and community.
The negativity that is too often on display here helps explain why the situation is the way it is.
When the Titanic is sinking you don't blame the passengers, you don't blame their relatives and you don't blame the crew. You look to the captain, the person whose orders got you into this sinking mess.
Saw in yesterday's paper that DAR is going to present Good Citizens Awards to teens. Samory Liggins to be recognized is Samory Liggins. I am very happy for him. It states about him being a student representative on the Board of Education and other admirable accomplishments. It also states he is vice president of the Boys to Men Fraternity.
Yes, this district is a sinking ship, and it does go back to the captain. If I remember right, when the sink is sinking, the captain gets the passengers out and the captain stays with the ship.
I do believe this is going to happen to Roberts and some of the school board members. Roberts does really run most of and controls most of the board. This is not his job nor place. He is still the one and only employee of the school board and soon will know this, I am predicting. I believe their ship is just about to hit that iceberg and lets see what happens with the captain and ships crew then.
I meant to say Samory Liggins is one that is going to be recognized. I must learn to proof read before posting.
I apologize for deleting someones comments. Only intended to weed out reruns of Claytons emails.
I just did not feel people should have to read through them on the blog no more than those who are complainng about receiving them in their emails. Putting one example in your comment made your point.
Don't read more into my deletion than what is was. Since this blog began over a year ago, there has been maybe 3 times I have deleted comments.
It is not personal, nor was it representing alliance with 131 PR. Just trying to trim the fat from a lengthy post.
I hope to start a new one shortly. No harm intended.
I am glad for Samory Liggins. I work with his mom. It doesn't shock me that he is part of B2M. Most of the upstanding guys from this city are from that group.This is much ado about nothing to me. If im not mistaken the other two student board members, Clayton son Jared (Valedictorian) and the hispanic young lady from last year were part of B2M and the girls group that goes with it. (don't know the name of it). I'm happy to see some great kids doing great things. My friend's son is also a part and he is a white kid who loves to go. It has really helped him and he is getting good grades and talking about college now.
This is my frist time on this site and I laughed when i was readin these blogposts because we have more important things to worry about.
While u guys are all bitching about discrimination and prejudice and groups helpin minority kids, I am sittin here looking at todays paper with six top gang members from the Insance Deuces. Nobody said anything about them being all African-American and Hispanic! Maybe Clayton can change his group to Boys to Insane Deuces Gang and you people wouldn't say anything about it!
As for the tax referendum why can't our kids have a nice education. I don't know if I will vote yes, but I know that I want our kids to do better. Don't you? Aren't you tired of our kids failing and joining gangs and not succeeding in life? I don't have kids in school no more but I will hope that those of u who do and are younger will make some corrections to the mistakes of my generation. When is the referendum group going to start? I think we should at least go and listen.
As a retired educator, I know what goes onin the schools and I know what is needed. Some of you need to go visit the schools.
I will keep praying for you for your anger.
From a 'middle-aged' white guy!
Kids will be in gangs wether they come from good familys or schools or poor it is just the attention that one gets over the other. I do believe the district needs to move away from kids that are in faternities. No final responese has come from anyone yet so the need to be careful. While B2M are a good thing it seems that it is being shoved down our throats. I'm sure there are other groups that are doing well. You hear nothing about the kids that are doing things in the ROTC or other groups it just about B2M. Can we not hear about other kids that are doing well in this district? I think most of us knows what are going on in our schools and is B2M the only group that is doing good things for children and if they are why cann't more of our kids be in it. Why is the website private and not out there if this is such a good group more kids would be involved. As for the referendum if you haven't noticed our district has a 68% poverty rate so money for most is hard to come by. Why haven't we seen this district trim the budget for things that are not related to teaching our children. Do you think service center employes should get a 10% raise? How about maintenance people when alot of the stuff is contracted out. You might not believe this but that can add up to alot when you figure in there benifits and vacation time. It does seem that alot of attention is being given to the B2M stuff but this is what the district is providing and not what other teachers might be doing to help children.
Laugh all you want being a retired teacher you are proably getting a good retirement and what to keep those referendums coming up so you make sure you get your piece of the pie.
Middle aged white guy-personally I do not care if you are purple, but we all know that the children need a good education. The problem is that no referendum goes for this. THose of us who go to the meetings know it all ends up in administration and above. THis is not educating the children, nor helping the teachers to educate the children. THe superintendants salary is based on what raises are for the teachers and aministrator and above this. His raise should be given on how the students are performing and not the above. He should also not being doing his own evaluation when it comes to his raise. What is he going to do, questions himself about his won merits? Heck, we all would like to get out raises this way, this district would not be the poverty one it is, now would it. The way that his salary is based, helps keep this district the way it is and the children being ignored and not getting the education they need. Of course, lack of parental and community involvement is a big factor. HOpe to see you at a meeting.
I've heard about this website and I have looked at the postings and yes there are many things that need to be addressed but I wanted to take a look at this discussion about the faternity. I have done a web search on faternities in Il and can not find anything on them at the high school level. Why do you think that is even if it isn't just for one district. Could it be that they are really not suppose to have them. You would think that even if the kids where from differnt schools you would see something about them. So this district is starting something new with a PR that works in the district that states that he runs it. The district reconizes it and talks about it at school board meetings. Lets see how many distircts think this is a good idea and follows in our footsteps.
You are not going to find another fraternity like this one. They're ILLEGAL. Only in this district can something illegal be praised.
One thing that I have learned over years is that there is some truth in the old saying that the apple doesn't fall far from the tree. Children are influenced greatly by the adults around them. If we show them the example that laws are optional, that if we don't agree with the law we find a way around it or simply ignore the law altogether, what does that teach them?
I am absolutely amazed that Clayton and even more so the Beacon News would make comments publicly that the law is outdated and that it should not be follwed. NO, the law is the law. If you disagree with the law there are ways to try and change a law but when a law is in effect you follow it. You don't decide which laws you are going to follow and which ones you will choose to ignore.
Clayton is setting a very poor example by commiting illegal acts and publicly stating that the law is outdated and then refusing to follow the law when it has been brought to his attention that the law is being broken.
Why should the board or superintendant be concerned about the issue surrounding Clayton, when all they can think about is getting a referendum to pass? They are like a robot, "Keep trying to pass referendum, Spend more money uselessly trying to do this, Aministratrators need more money" "Keep trying to pass referendum, Spend more money uselessly trying to do this, Administrators need more money"--Keep repeating as robots do. Maybe they are thinking if everyone keeps focus where it is going now, the referendum will be forgotten and will pass. Nope, will not happen.
In response to January 31, 2008 9:34 PM.
You claimed that the male enhancement drugs listed on Claytons and the Boys II Men Fraternity website through BOKIG.COM were not illegal and that people on this blog exagerate the truth.
The fact is and you can go to the BOKIG.COM website and read the fine print for yourself, you must be 18 years old to purchase this legally. In other words, it is illegal for anyone not 18 years old. The Boys II Men Fraternity site is for high school aged children and thus it is ILLEGAL for these intended users. There is no exageration.
I wonder why these young people need to use male enhacement drugs. Should they be teaching no sex. When you look at the teen age pregnecay you would think they would be advertizing birth control.
With this sort of cr** happening on Clayton's/ Boys II Men Fraternity website, it's no wonder that he is hiding his website from the public. No other staff member could run an activity in the dark, how can the district allow him to cover up these questionable activities from the community? If the activities that the Boys II Men Fraternity are doing are such a positive influence on these children, why does Clayton need to hide them?
Only in District 131 does the administration allow illegal activities after they have been exposed. It's bad enough that illegal activities at times happen behind closed doors but I've never before been in a place where after illegal activies are made public, they are allowed to continue.
This district definately needs to be cleaned out from the top down.
Ok, when you say "Illegal Drugs" what do you think of. Call it what it is and don't EXAGERATE the truth. If he had a picture of a knife on his website would you call it a "Deadly Weapon." You are painting a picture of pot, cocane, alachol, with the phrase "Illegal Drugs" and I hope you are not that stupid to realize it.
Interesting that you used alcohol as an example. It exactly the same. Alcohol is illegal for minors, no one would say that someone who promotes alcohol use for minors is a responsible adult. No one would say, these male enhancement drugs which are illegal for minors, it is OK for a responsible adult to promote their use on a website meant for minors to view.
To a minor they are illegal just as alcohol is illegal to a minor. Just because you only think of drugs such as cocaine and pot with the term illegal drug doesn't mean that the rest of us do. An illegal drug is any substance banned to all or to some due to their young age. Any one who promotes a substance to child that is illegal for that child to take is violating the law. It's called contributing to the delinquency of a minor.
SHUT UP. EVERYBODY. You act like everything you do is perfect and everything that the school does is wrong. Well if you are so perfect maybe you should have gone to college so that you could run the school.
There's an intelligent arguement, SHUT UP. EVERYBODY. That took a lot of thought.
Nobody is saying that EVERTHING the school district does is wrong. They are saying that certain decisions and policies are wrong. Mostly they are saying that they want a voice in the community, they want a district that is open with the public, they want administrators that support their teachers not go after personal vendettas, they want an administration that enforces school laws, they want administrators that don't break the law, they want an administration that handles the district's finances in a responsible way, they want aministrators whose salaries don't exceed the Illinois State Govenors, they simply want responsible leadership.
These are things that should already be happening. Nobody here should even have to ask, it should be automatic.
You SHUT UP too. All you bloggers have are personal vendettas, but that's ok because they are yours. You don't see a problem with twisting facts the way you all do? SHUT UP, SHUT UP, SHUT UP.
How do you know that none of the people posting on this blog didn't go to college? Who do you think is running the schools? Just like this magnet school they are trying to bring in isn't the school board suppose to vote on that before it even gets out to the public? I believe so.
I do agree that there is too much time being wasted on this B2M thing. Clayton is smart and did not start this as a school faternity. He started outside of the school and if you read about this there is a fine line. The board should have a policy on this but I bet they don't. How about all the kids that goes to other schools do they? Take the time to do a web search about high school faternities and you will see most schools do not like it. When I did a search I did see a url of a college faternity web site that talked about this very interesting. You will also see not is mentioned about high school faternities. I really do think something needs to be done but there are more things ging on in this district that needs attention.
No what I find interesting is that these young men feel that they need to get a male enhancement to get girls. I did read that post and it said that his friend was getting more dates since he used it. What does that tell you about the girls that all they want in life is to go out with someone that has a big one. To me it is a slam on girls. Shouldn't the girls these young men are going out with be someone that wants more out of life? Since they are saying they do all this good shouldn't they want a girlfriend that also feels the same way? It seems they are degrading girls because they think they can only get one if they have a big one thatso the girls want to go out with them. I hope these girls are much smater than that and what more out of there lives.
Why should we SHUT UP! There are alot of good things in this district but the way it goes you would think that Clayton is the only one that is doing good for some of the children in this distrct and that is not true. There are many teachers and outside people that are trying to help them. Do they get reconized? A little but not as much as this group. There are many churches that do the same thing. We won't SHUT UP unitl all the children have the same advantage and be reconized. There are alot of groups that are trying to keep the kids out of gangs and helping kids that are having trouble learning and are maybe homeless to live a good life lets hear more of this. There is more to this district than Claytons kids and they deserve more.
The only time a staff member, teacher, student, etc. gets mentioned in this district is when an administrator can somehow claim the credit for it.
I have been teaching in the same school in this district for well over a decade and in that time I have seen the three superintendents in my building a total of five times in all those years. Four of the five times the superintendent was there, there was also a Beacon reporter. That's not five times for Dr. Robert's, that's five times total for the past three superintendents. I could understand if this was Chicago Public with over 600 schools but this district has only 16 schools. You would think the central office administrators would be in the buildings more.
The reason the Boys II Men Fraternity has constantly been recognized is because Clayton has used his public relations position to try and further his own career. If you noticed though, since it was made public that the Boys II Men Fraternity is violating the law, there has been no publicity around Boys II Men.
Clayton forwards all articles from the Beacon to the entire staff of the district. However, none of the recent articles that have outlined that the Boys II Men Fraternity is under investigation for violating Illinois School Code have been forwarded.
Don't kid yourself, the administration is not there for the children, they feel the children are there to further their own careers.
Everybody needs to read the Beacon today about a new person breaking the law. The beloved savior of the district Rayanne. She is apparently going to Teacher Union meetings trying to get them on her side for some personal vendettas and that is against the law. I call for the immediate dismissal of Rayanne as a school board member.
Almost everyone of those board members have broken the law so don't single out Rayanne. Lets see how this turns out. Hang in there Rayanne where behind yoy.
Here someone goes again about getting rid of someone without hearing and waiting for all the facts.
The myspace page that B2M uses is filled with spam and thats why most people are changing to facebook. Whatever BOKING was on there was surely was spam and the way to get rid of spam is to change ur passwords and make your sight accesible to those who are on ur list. I dealt with the same thing here at my campus. You guys are out of touch with reality and technology OBVIOUSLY! Ask any person on myspace about the spam and they will tell you!
Rayanne said...
In defense of the use of myspace.
I have a "myspace" address:
myspace.com/eahsalumni
I created it to find EA Alumni and it has been quite successful. People from all over the country, ranging in ages 15-60 have wrote to my alumni space.
Just like any email, people hack into it and can send mail with your name on it. I believe it happens more often due to the larger audience base in individual myspaces and the frequency with which information flows through these spaces.
My alumni space has frequently gotten penis enhancement and pot ads on my friends comment section.
Once I become aware of them, I delete them.
I prefer not to set safe guards that are available because that would defeat the purpose of having the alumni myspace open to all who care to keep in touch.
My children helped me set this up and those (young people) who use it are aware of the ways they may be subject to getting "spammed" and also how to fix the problem when it happens. ( as my children had to show & tell me when myspace got hit).
Just responding to clarify. Hope it helped
Clayton is a racist and he runs a racist organization. His position is also a waste of money.
Someone out there is a little consumed by Clayton.
Put some of your "I hate Clayton" energy into finding and accentuating some positive aspects of our districts children & staff.
You've got to accentuate the positive
Eliminate the negative
Latch on to the affirmative
Don't mess with Mister In-Between
You've got to spread joy up to the maximum
Bring gloom down to the minimum
Have faith or pandemonium
Liable to walk upon the scene
- Bing Crosby
Who is Bing Crosby?
Bing Crosby is a crooner (Type of singing)from the 30's, 40's 50's and more.
He was in movies, White Christmas, Going my way.(Black & White).
You must be a young person to not know Bing or you attempting to be humorous :oD
~Rayanne
The fraternity is not ILLEGAL it’s ILLUSTRIOUS. It is the training ground for Aurora’s most notable youth and has been an extremely positive influence on the community. I also am not clear on YOUR definition of discrimination…. Merrium-webster defines it as the process by which two stimuli differing in some aspect are responded to differently. The stimuli in question here are people, on this we can agree. Also the aspect of difference would be race; this can also be viewed as true. Lastly the separate response would be admission into this “fraternity”. But though we agree on these things I MUST and I believe we ALL MUST disagree on this “fraternity” being racist!!!!! Because ADMISSION INTO THE “FRATERNITY” IS NOT BASED ON RACE. It is based on other aspects of each individual. It is no secret that this “FRATRNITY” has members of the Caucasian, African, Spanish, and Asian decent. This “Fraternity” is so OBVIOUSLY MULITI-CULTURAL that you would have to be blind not to notice. SO BEFORE you make anymore claims of this nature RESEARCH
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