The next Board of Education meeting will be at East High School – room 239 beginning at 6:00 p.m. The reason for the change is the district Grant Writer will be holding a grants showcase at the high school from 4-6pm.
Hopefully, this change will allow for more people to attend who may already be in attendance at the showcase.
Notice has not yet been posted on the District website, but I wanted to give people who may not otherwise attend, an advance notice, so you can take the opportunity to come.
This is a chance to see what grants have been sought and the outcome. Then come to a board meeting and hear how other business is handled in our district.
Both, the showcase & the meeting are April 21st.
109 comments:
Will this be a regular meeting? Will business be done as usual, such as, public comments, etc.?
Wow, yet one more example of this boards complete disregard for the rule of law. Perhaps a higher authority needs to be brought in to review all of the recent actions by this board.
It's interesting that no notice was given that the board was conducting a meeting to discuss the illegal Boys II Men Fraternity. It's interesting that Clayton had presenters ready for this meeting that there was no public advanced notice for. It's very interesting that the board needed no time to consider the statements made at this unannounced meeting. This was a disgraceful show and completely disregards the rule of law.
The Beacon misrepresented statements in it's article. The State Board never investigated this matter. The Regional Board claimed they were going to do an investigation but they never made a conclusion, instead they simply dumped the matter on District 131.
I don't know all of Juanita Wells qualifications but I am sure she is not qualified to make a determination regarding State Law. The board has a history of disregarding the law every time it's suits some purpose of theirs. This is yet one more example.
Great idea to have the meeting at East High. Maybe more community members will come and voice their opinions. Thanks to whoever had this idea!
This will also be a good opportunity for people to see the newly-decorated walls that the article in today's Beacon was talking about. Some nice positive publicity.
East High art students rock!
Although I was not sure if the B2M was illegal I thought it was a good thing and I don't think I was a hater just wanted to know like others if it was legal. I went to the website and saw this which makes me wonder if the district made the right decision.
MAKING HATERS LOOK FOOLISH IS SO MUCH FUN! 4/7/08...FINALLY - THE TRUTH WILL COME OUT! B2M IS NOT ILLEGAL! MEET US THERE: 417 FIFTH STREET!
If they think they are legal then they should be able to answer people's questions just like they stood before the board and told them what they thought.
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When all of this started I had spoken with a legal instructor for a university. It is her job to teach the law classes to aspiring administrators. She assured me that Boys II Men is most definately in violation of the law.
This is yet again an example of the district doing anything that they want and completely disregarding the law. They have done it so many times in the past did anyone really think that they wouldn't do it again in this instance.
There is no question that this illegal fraternity needs to be investigated by an independent outside agency.
According to Gonzales at last school board meeting, B2M is against policy.
Marin is correct, that is because the school policy is an abridged version of the Illinois School Code. It is listed under "Prohibited Student Conduct" rule number 11,
"Being a member of, joining, promising or pledging to join, or soliciting any other person to become a member of any public school fraternity, sorority or secret society."
Juanita Wells may have some authority as a board member but she does not have the power to superceed Illinois Law. She can claim that this fraternity is not illegal but that doesn't make it so.
Shouldn't the board be the one that determens what should happen with this faternity? They are suppose to be the ones that determine policy right. So once again they look away and let administrators do there job. Does anyone know an outside party that could look into this?
I do think it is a good idea having the board meeting at East High. Now lets get the word out to parents. Does the board have flyers that they send home from school with the kids to let the parents know about them?
The board does have the authority to establish district policies. The board's authority does not superceed Illinois Law. The board can not ignore Illinois Law on fraternities and set policies that are in violation of that law. It doesn't matter how politically connected Clayton is, this will eventually catch up with him.
I am a Tomcat graduate and proud parent of two men in Boys II Men!
My boss, who is an attorney, has been very involved with this matter since December along with other attorneys.
They agree that this organization does not fit into the school rule code. First, its not a public school program and second it does not base its membership on irrelevant purposes. If you all would go back and read the school rule code you can see the definition.
I was at the meeting like many of you and no time did Marian Gonzales ever say that Boys II Men was illegal!!!! She said the district already had a policy in place and Boys II Men does NOT fit those categories. The district attorney and other attorneys all looked into it and met with the Urban League attorneys and agreed. YOU GUYS SHOULD TELL THE WHOLE STORY!
My sons are so successful in school and in life thanks to Boys II Men. I am a single momo and the group helped my kids out with mentors from different companies and college trips and summer jobs! I doubt if anybody on here is actually out there doing the same thing!
If you were, then why do we have gang members at the schools and in Aurora. We should be happy that there are programs who have positive young kids doing positive things! You people are so sad to sit and complain instead of getting out there and helping our kids stay off the streets. Thanks to Boys II Men, my son has a full ride scholarship to college and I am so proud of him and what all the kids are doing!
The law that is being broken is that our kids drop out of school and turn to negative things and many don't do nothing about it. Focus on all the kids who stand on the other side of Fifth Ave in the morning smoking cigarettes! Focus on all the teen moms!
Some people have such sad lives that their misery loves company. Well, as a proud parent, we still stand up and support our kids in doing positive and productive things!
I asked my boss to look into this and he did it for free because he believes in our kids!
Let's join together and see if we can make the Latin Kings or Gangsters illegal in our schools! How about that?
on another note, where are all of you at the board meetings? if you have problem, show up at the board meeting and express it! i didnt go much before Monday but I went a few times before and it was empty unless kids got awards. I will go to every meeting from now on and let my voice be heard!
Come to East high and see the new murals and the great things that are happening with our kids! Write about that on the blogs and maybe we can live safely around here and see some better success!
Martha
First the state code states that a public school fraternity is a public school fraternity if it's membership is "wholly or in part" made up of public school students. In short if there is one public school student in the fraternity, it is legally a public school fraternity and thus an illegal entity.
Second, the law doesn't concern itself on whether you consider their criteria relevent or irrelevent but rather if its membership is chosen on the "basis of the decision of its membership rather than upon the free choice of any pupil in the school who is qualified by the rules of the school".
In addition to the Illinois School Code issues he faces there are the anti-discrimination laws he is in violation of. The organization is for Blacks and Latinos. Their very symbol is a black and brown roman numeral 2 to represent the skin color of its membership. This discriminates against all other races and is thus illegal.
I am glad your children are doing well but lets put the credit where it should be placed. Parents deserve credit, the hundreds of teachers and coaches that your children have had deserve credit, principals, social workers and counselors deserve credit. There are thousands of influences on any given child, not only one. You act as though your child was raised by wolves and had no future but pure survival until the Honorable Clayton Kinard oops Muhammad placed his hands upon your children.
Get your head out of your A&& and realize this guy is nothing but a con man who does nothing unless it advances his own career. He couldn't even adopt a child without making a press release and putting the story in the Chicago Tribune. Very touching but the fact remains the story wasn't for the child it was once again all about Clayton. It always is only about Clayton.
By the way the district and Urban League have been supporting and funding Boys II Men since day one. Their own rears may be on the line when it comes out that this group really is illegal. Do you really think they can possibly do a fair and impartial review of the situation. They might as well have said, Hey, I investigated myself and decided to tell you that I am not breaking the law, now please leave me alone before someone with real authority starts to investigate this.
I bet if you got a room full of lawyers on this matter you would find half say it is legal and half say it is illegal. Not all lawyers know all parts of the law. I never heard that the states attorney said anything about this or made a public statement so I will not take your word on what he said until it is public. I think many good things have come out of this but if faternities are illegal like to school code says then it should be changed to some other kind of club.
I did see a while back when there were things in the paper about what was going on with them it did give a district email and a district phone number to get ahold of Clayton which is wrong. Does any other member of the district get to use email or phones to conduct there business with a club. Do not say other businesses let people do this on there dime that was the old way now with money getting tight that is no longer being acceptable plus it is an ethic violation.
I can give only one other group that has done alot for the district and that is the band boosters. I do not see the board falling all over them with prasies like they do the Boys2Men and that little comment that was on the website does bother me. Lets be fair to all the clubs that do good for kids and are not titled faternities. Does anyone know how the other districts feel about these things. Maybe the Beacon could look into that.
Will any of these lawyers that some of you talked to write a letter or stand before the board and the community and state that it isn't illegal. Until then it's up for grabes.
One of the things that makes me wonder is why do they have to have someone from the group get a new member in why cann't anyone just join.
Lets see if we can get a crowd at the next board meeting like they had at the last meeting.
Now that Mr. Muhammad knows "Boys II Men" is being carefully scrutinized, maybe he'll see the wisdom of making the group more of a community service organization instead of an exclusive fraternity. There's so much good going on in Boys II Men that benefits our at-risk young people--it would be great if these benefits could extend to Caucasian youth as well.
And 4:25, I seriously doubt that the old-guard School Board members would go out of their way to praise the Band Boosters like they have Boys II Men. After all, the Band Boosters have always been very supportive of the kids' best interests as regards the EHS band program, which goes against administration's preference for supporting a personal vendetta.
Here's a direct quote from the '07-'08 East High Band handbook, under "IHSA Organization Contest":
"This year we will be expanding this event and taking every East Aurora Band to this event".
Oh really? When? Where?
It's my understanding that only two bands attended the organization contest last Saturday (and many band members didn't show up). Are the other East High bands scheduled to attend a different contest?
Or is the administration going to dismiss this as just another "mistake"?
Well which one is it? In one breath it's said that we are supposed to ignore it's illegal aspects because this group is saving those students most at risk of failure and drugs and gangs, they make it sound as though these kids have no future. In the next breath they say the students have to show great academic and social excellence to even be considered for this illegal fraternity. This is ridiculous double talk and it's very typical when you're dealing with a con man.
Say what you want about the Band program - at least they do some challenging music. The 4 years my child was in the choral program they seemed to sing the same songs over and over. And one year I had a child at the high school and a child in 7th grade and they sang the same song at their concerts. I'd much rather see my child challenged.
6:32, there are different arrangements (and difficulty levels) of the same choral pieces, which may explain why a 7th grader may have sung an arrangement of the same tune as a high school student. I've always been impressed at the variety of styles of choral music presented at East High--classical,Broadway, jazz, gospel. And the choral students I've talked to are definitely challenged by the difficulty of the music Mrs. N. chooses, without being frustrated or embarrassed by unrealistic expectations, as some band students have experienced.
Unfortunately the band director chooses to deceive the community by publicly stating one thing while doing another. Unless, of course, there is another organization contest scheduled before the end of the school year that he intends to have the other bands participate in.
7:22 - Your right - It could very well be that they did different arrangements of the same songs. I guess from going to the band concerts with my son and then the choral concerts with my daughter I see my son enjoying a challenge while my daughter never talked about her experiences in the choir. I would rather have the band struggle a bit with a tough piece that what I heard during my years attending the choir concerts. Went to see my niece at West Aurora for their choir concert this past fall and was amazed and what they did. Didn't even compare.
It's my understanding that there are three choral directors at West High, and twice as many students in the choral program, so it's really not fair to compare the two. The EHS choir director does an outstanding job with what she has to work with.
And it's great that your son feels challenged--band music tends to be more difficult for the individual musician to prepare than choral music (I know, because I did both in high school and college). A good indicator of whether or not a high school band program challenges kids is whether or not they are able to step into a college band successfully--and East High alums have been playing in colleges throughout the country over the last 25+ years. I hope that your son continues to play after high school, as well.
The problem that I have with the current EHS band program is that the director claims to do something and does not follow through. This is dishonest, whether or not he "challenges" the bands.
I feel that there is no doubt that Boys2Men does a lot of good. However I don't think they should be officialy sanctioned by the board. They do and should be supported by the citizens of our community. No organization based on a students race can be sanctioned by any school district. Clayton and the board mean well but this time thier wrong Clayton you have my full support but this time your wrong old buddy.
I can except Clayton's group. But he could save himself alot of problems by not being so political. He ran the yes referendum and makes these kids do his dirty work. If he sticks only to this group and does not get involved in politics I am sure people will not give him a hard time
Clayton ran the YES referendum?
I teach in the district. Every employee of the district was given strict directives that we could not tell anyone publicly to vote yes for the referenum. It is very illegal. We could tell them to vote but were forbidden to tell them which way to vote. If he was running the yes referendum and using his position of authority over children to influence them to tell others to vote yes. He has once again broken the law.
It's amazing, the principal at Krug supposedly told a kid to double check an ISAT answer and she has to resign. Clayton violates law after law after law and gets praise from the district.
Regarding the band and taking all 3 to contest - if someone is so concerned about it why not ask the director? Maybe it was a lofty goal to take all three or something came up scheduling, but things do change from the beginning of the school year to now. And I'm all about accountability, so I think if someone wants to know things ask. I'm sure he has an email address.
And to 5:54 - what do you mean "with what she has to work with"? Sounds a bit insulting to the students of D131. Hope she doesn't have the attitude like that working with students. Been to a couple concerts myself to see my grandchildren and I agree with 4:20 - wasn't all that impressed.
3:58, check your facts. There are 4 bands that were supposedly going to organization contest, not 3. And in the "Jazz Band" section of the band website it lists "IHSA organization contest--April 11th or 12th" as one of the upcoming events. To my knowledge neither the concert band nor the jazz band participated.
It's understandable that circumstances may prevent attaining "lofty goals". But the band director did not say "it is our goal", "we hope" or even "we plan". The direct quote is, "we WILL be...taking every East Aurora Band to this event".
I remember a sign that used to be in the East High band room that read, "Results Not Excuses". Some of us are still waiting for the improvement in the band program promised three years ago by administrators who were so quick to support a personal vendetta.
Talk is cheap. It's results that count, not excuses.
Again, have you spoke with the band director. If not, shut up until you do.
5:47, some of us refuse to "shut up" in the face of blatant arrogance and immaturity.
Speaking with the band director privately (phone call or e-mail) would probably be the best approach if this were a private issue. Unfortunately it involves accountability for a public statement, so discussing it on a public blog is appropriate.
6:49 pm - I think you may be mistaken. I also work in District 131 and was told only we could not support the referendum (tell people which way to vote)on company time. On your own time you are free to publicly walk neighborhoods telling people why they should support the referendum and post "YES" signs. No company time/materials/phones etc. can be used, but otherwise you are free to recommend a yes vote if you so choose.
To: 5:58 am
I was at one of Clayton's vote YES for the referendum meetings. It was in the evening but was conducted at East High. There were administrators (including Dr. Roberts), board members, teachers and community members in attendance. Clayton discussed plans they had for mobilizing community support. Materials were passed out. In short, he was publicly telling people to vote YES and district resources were being used.
Clayton can be involved in support of a referendum but he should be very carefull to let citizen know that he is on his own time and not the district which him being a PR person could be iffy. Even the board member should be careful that there is not enough to make a quorm. They can use the school too but if I was in administration I would make sure that no employee was running the program because someone could challenage that. In fact if you go to ISBA they have a phamplet on how to run a referendum which I believe the board or administrators have not read. Their lawyers state that it is better for board members and administrator to help but not lead. Before I even think about voting yes I want to see our superentindent out there like Ryland did when HE WON THIERS. It must be nice for him to sit back and let this district go to ruins and make the kind of money he does.
Didn't this board and superintendent go after someone for what Clayton did when he spoke at the yes meeting.
Discussing band issues in a public forum is perfectly fine. My point is when there are issues why not ask the source? And one cannot assume they read this blog. There are always going to be issues and questions deserve to be asked.
REgarding my "facts straight" I just said 3 bands because a previous posting did. I'm not a past parent of a band student but do attend the choir and band concerts as a community member.
I will say that at least the band is more visible than the choral program. Two concerts a year for chorus vs. the other performances by the band and at least they went to contest. Choirs could go to and I wonder with "what she has to work with" has anything to do with that.
When we look at fine arts and criticize why not include them all. Things could certainly improve all over.
to 6:23 am
I don't understand your post. Clayton was on his own time, organizing support - No problem
Admin & Board members present - No problem, unless they are telling people to vote yes (they can be present at these functions)
Meeting held at East - No problem (East holds Church Services, etc., doesn't mean they promote a specific religion)
'Materials' handed out - No problem, unless you're suggesting it was Dist. time, copiers & paper that was used
Exactly what 'district resources' were used?
7:49 a.m., I just looked at all the previous postings about the band contest, and no one else mentioned "3 bands". The number 3 WAS mentioned as the number of choir directors at West High School (as a reason why it's unfair to compare East and West choral programs).
And it's too bad once again that you're not checking facts when you talk about the choirs only performing twice each year. I'm constantly reading in the Beacon about East High's "Singsation" chorus performing at various community events. I've heard them--they sound great! The choral department has also sent quite a few students over the past years to solo & ensemble contest, where many earn first division ratings. And don't forget about the many choir members who perform in the musicals at East High. That adds up to plenty of performance experience for our high school singers!
Yes, you are right it was mentioned of 3 choral directors at West, not 3 bands. I think anytime the arts can be showcased it's a good thing.
I am not the person who was comparing the east and west choirs but I too have heard both and West may be larger but they also have a high quality sound. My point is there is always room for improvement. Bottom line look at band AND choir when speaking about the performing arts. That was my main reason for posting.
8:28, don't forget about theatre. It is also one of the "performing arts".
To: 7:53
How do you define his own time. Clayton is salaried (there is no own time if you are in a district building), he was at a district school, obviously with district administration support running a vote YES campaign. He was organizing all these people to support a YES vote for the referendum. Each was asked to volunteer for different activities in support of the referendum.
As far as your religious reference, yes church groups are allowed (dictated by law) but staff members can not speak in support of the religion, can not lead the group, can not even participate in a prayer. These are illegal also. The only function they can legally do is supervise the children in attendance.
If you think that Clayton travelled to a copy place and spent his own time and money making copies, you are very naive. Why would he have to? Do you think anybody at central office would actually question him?
to 11:22
in what I assume is your own post you state the meeting in question was "after hours" - this to me signifies someone's own time. If you have proof of illegalities I would encourage you to seek out the proper authorities and report them.
Take the time to read this and then you decide about how school employees should handle referendum issues. Again I believe this district crosses the line.
http://www.iasaedu.org/pages/uploaded_files/FAQreferendum207.pdf
http://www.iasaedu.org/pages/uploaded_files/FAQreferendums207.pdf
To 8:06- Why isn't it fair to cmpare the East choir to the West High choir? It's been fair game to compare East to the West district in every other area. Either it's fair for all or fair for none.
It's amazing, if any employee in this district is accused of any wrongdoing, the district investigates imediately and disciplines the employee accordingly.
Clayton has commited one illegal act after another and the standard line is if you have evidence, go to an outside agency and prove it. It's alright though, eventually someone will.
6:58, then I suppose we can compare their drama department to ours, too. West High is doing "Rent" this spring--the first high school in the state to do the show. And what was East's musical? "Little Shop of Horrors", a show that was already performed at East several years ago and brought back again last fall.
And we could continue the comparison with the sports programs. Let's see--how long has it been since East had a winning football season?
Instead of making comparisons to West High's choirs I'd rather look at the positive aspects of our choral program. Mrs. Nadel and her assistant Mrs. Allen inspire East High students to develop a lifelong love of singing. The choir performances include a wide variety of styles of music chosen to challenge the students while still being within their ability to perform well. I'm a singer myself (classically trained), and I've attended many East High choral performances, so I know what I'm talking about when I say that the choral program at East High is excellent.
It looks to me like a couple of people are trying to shift the focus away from the fact that the band director has tried to deceive the public by making claims that are untrue.
I agree, about the ladies in the EA choral dept.
They also have the admiration and respect of their students. I have been to the school on a number of occasions at different times of the day and have seen students roaming in and out of the band room.
How can this be a good learning atmosphere? I have seen at the football games how some students speak to their band director, they are dispectful and defiant.
I think the principal there is blind and deaf to what that new fella has done to the band. Back in my day the band was a respected group. Now they have a couple of kids beating the hell out of the drums, upstaging the REAL musicians and they call it a drumline !
That young, green band director needs to get his head into the light. Realize taking on all those side jobs at the school don't make him a better director just a boot licker with mediocre skills at teaching.
2:31, I know for a fact that at least 6 or 7 people were offered the East High band job and turned it down (probably because they realized how strongly the parents & kids supported Mr.K). So the school board and administration ended up frantically searching for any warm body with a Music Ed. degree.
As the saying goes, "Fools rush in where angels fear to tread".
Like you, I wonder how the administration at the high school can turn a blind eye & deaf ear to what's going on. But of course if they were to acknowledge that there are any problems with the "new, improved" EHS band program that might be an admission that mistakes were made. What are the odds of THAT happening?
So they can just look in the mirror when they want to know why the referendum keeps failing.
Just attended the events at the high school with all fine arts and the parent fair. We have such a talented, artistic group of students in our district.
Regardless of what you think about the issues and controversies - our students are the best. Let's be proud of them and remember this.
Yes, our students are the best.
And they deserve the best teachers. Teachers who have proven themselves to be qualified; teachers who inspire respect from students.
Our students deserve better than an administration that defends mediocrity in order to cover up past blunders.
Too bad it's the kids who end up with the short end of the stick.
I am a proud alum of East High. Since I graduated 15 years ago, I have attended many sporting events where the band played. I think the band now is as good - maybe even better than it has been in the past. The drum line at the football games was a real crowd pleaser. Some very talented kids who made it look easy. the crowd cheered for them- something that I didn't see several years ago.
It must be difficult for the new band conductor to take constant critisism for being the new guy. Do all the new reding and math teachers take the same public critsism? i haven't seen any.
Sounds to me like some people just can't move on. Maybe its time for them to apply to work or live at West since the grass must be greener over there.
2:55 - very good point. You don't hear much about from people being critical of the math or reading teachers. I think the big differences is in areas like the arts you tend to have the same teacher for 4 years which certainly builds loyalty and connection.
East is not the first school to have this controversy. I am a proud EA band alum as well and have been attending games since I have graduated. I, too, feel the band sounds just as good as they did in the past. What I like is that there's some risk taking with the music selections. I played in college as well and found that some of the recent selections at the band concerts, especially the top band, are ones I played in college. To me that is impressive.
Have no idea what the new director is like, never talked to him. But I like what I hear for the most part. I'd much rather have new challenging music than the same songs over and over again at concerts.
My big concern is the future of the district financially. I live here but work in another community where the support of education is high. They have their issues too, and people complain in the paper all the time - but they support education and recently passed a referendum
It seems from here lately that the only two issues are a band program that is still up and running and a "fraternity" that seems to be helping students set goals for the future. Is that the only thing holding back the financial future of the district?
Keep the arts alive at East!
Proably where you live now doesn't have a 40% proverty level or 60% Hispanic population. They also might have a superintendent that goes out and talks to the people about why we need a referendum to pass. I bet they don't have kids starting in kidengarden and goes to 6th grade still not knowing English. I bet you don't have multipule families living in one home and putting a burden of the school system. The parents where you live proably lets there children know how good an education is and supports the school and teaches there children to respect teachers. As things are going now I think we all need to look at how are taxes are being spent by any form of government and if it is the best for all. I have to tighten my belt now that everything is going up and I would like to see that this district does too with the wages they are giving administration and school center employees. If we are going to say we are doing it for the students lets make sure we are doing it for them.
2:55 I agree that the drumline is "a real crowd-pleaser". In recent years, many area high schools (including West Aurora) have added drumlines to their marching programs. Another great opportunity for our kids!
And 3:26 I've attended band (as well as choral) concerts at East High for almost 20 years, and I definitely didn't hear "the same songs over and over" at band concerts. In fact, the previous band director would often compose original pieces and have them premiered by the EHS band before they were published. How's that for risk-taking and innovation?
I agree that the main challenge facing the district is financial. Unfortunately many of us are hesitating to support a referendum because we're unwilling to ignore the obvious results of administrators' misguided decisions. The band problem is just one major example of this, that happens to be in the spotlight right now because the director publicly claimed that all bands were going to contest and did not follow through.
More important to me is the fact that the administration and above are the only ones getting anything. To what benefit is it to the children for that early retirement package for admins and above? How is it that our maintenance and secretaries are paid more than anyone elses benefical to the children's education? How is all these workshops that they take their families to at our expense helping the children's education? They can do these workshops on line. Why did Lisa Morales and her family, Juanita Wells and family members going to Florida at our expense, help educatate the children? Travel arrangements should have been made from here and if anything went wrong, these are grown people who should be taking care of theirselves. This is why Lisa went to Florida and her family. Look at all the wasted monies. Roberts over rode their own policy on that workshop in Chicago. What gives him the right to do this? Check into how much money was spent on this, when they were not supposed to stay there, much less take their families. Go to the meetings, do you hear about how to get the children better educated? NO! It is always about admins and above. The board president needs to get her head out of the hole it is in and take control, not letting Roberts have it, as is being done. If a referendum makes it at this point, the same thing will happen again, in the admins pocket. These people are not willing to take a cut, have a ceiling put on their raises, do they have to pay for their insurance like the rest of us? Gee, how that would hurt them with pittance of pay that they get. We have a superintendant that is not doing right, still has not moved here(was supposed to)and where is his stratejic plan at it. The one with definite details and not just vague anything that later he can blunder around to say was there, but never was. Best of all, when is this community going to take a stand and do something? We reap what we sow.
Just wanted to say "thanks" to whoever is responsible for the updated district website. Not only is the agenda for tonight's board meeting up, but several sets of "Board Bits" are there for the public to read as well.
A step in the right direction, and a nice positive start to the week!
several sets of "Board Bits"
What are you talking about. There is only ONE Board Bit up from 2008. There are still none up from January, February, & March. There is ONE from the April Meeting. Step in the right direction. What a joke.
I noticed that the newest one was the one they said that Boy2Men was legal. I'm tired of this board thinking we are stupid. We might not go to all board meetings but we do know what is going on and the things they try to keep secret that should be open to the public. This is not a good thing when you are trying to pass a referendum.
6:02, there are nine sets of "Board Bits" that have been recently published on the district website. True, only one is from 2008; but all nine were added within the last week or so (previously there were no "Board Bits" accessible on the new website, only agendas).
I'm one who's been very critical on this blog about things that the administration has bungled (the band issue, the fraternity, expensive trips, etc.) But I think it's important to recognize the positive as well, and there are many positive things happening in our district.
That is not a positive because all of those board bits were on the old web site. Who cares if they are on the new one? Oh look, we put the same old information on a new web site, what an improvement. I'm glad you are encourgaged by presenting old information in a new way, but I am not.
I don't know if you noticed but the board bits for 4/7 hasn't been approved yet. The will vote on them at the meeting tonight. The board bits that have been approved like 2/9 both closed and open sessions and the same for 2/19 are not on the website. Why? How can they post the minutes if they haven't been approved. This just goes to show that someone doesn't know are care about rules.
I have not read the board bits yet, but Gonzales did state that B2M was not legal at the last meeting. It is a frat and therefore this is what makes it illegal. She stated this before the board. They are just working their way around this. Before anyone goes off on a tirate, if something is to be done about it one would have to take it to the States Attorney, not the Attorney General.
It's interesting, every time someone says that you need to go to the states attorney about something illegal going on in this district, what you're really stating is that the board and administration will not listen to members of the community. This happens almost daily on this blog. Then they wonder why the community gives them a big F YOU when they go to the public and ask them to pass the referendum.
By the way Marin is absolutely correct on this one, Boys II Men is most definately an illegal organization. The board can state what it wants but you are wrong about them getting around this. They can try but it is going to catch up with them.
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It's interesting, every time someone says that you need to go to the states attorney about something illegal going on in this district, what you're really stating is that the board and administration will not listen to members of the community. This happens almost daily on this blog. Then they wonder why the community gives them a big F YOU when they go to the public and ask them to pass the referendum.
By the way Marin is absolutely correct on this one, Boys II Men is most definately an illegal organization. The board can state what it wants but you are wrong about them getting around this. They can try but it is going to catch up with them.
Well let's look at it this way. The Illinois General Assembly has declared that any and all high school fraternities are illegal. The East Aurora School Board disagrees with the Illinois General Assembly and pubicly declares that this fraternity is legal. Who do you believe?
None of the recently-published "Board Bits" on the district website had been published before (I downloaded & read them all, and they were all new to me). True, only one 2008 "Board Bits" is up, and there are many more missing. But it is, as a previous poster said, "a step in the right direction".
No it isn't a step in the right direction. The board is playing games with these board bits. Don't you find it strange the only board bits that are on there is the one that talks about boys2men and isn't even approved yet by the board while the other board bits that have been approved are not on there. A step in the right direction would be all the 08 ones on there and some of the older ones. You notice that you cann't access any of the 07-06 ones anymore.
What do you think will be discovered in these board bits that some are in desperate need of. Should they be posted, absolutely, but if you think that you will discover the secrets of D131, the board or some other conspiracy you’re mistaken. In case you haven’t figured it out by now the board meetings are not where issues are discussed in any great detail. If you go to the meetings the board has stated numerous times that the committee meetings are where the detailed discussions take place.
BTW as long as Dee and Rayanne continue attacking other board members and administrators they will get nothing they want accomplished because no one will be willing to work with them. Look what their confrontational ways have gotten them thus far, nowhere. Try some diplomacy and tack. As the saying goes you catch more bees with honey than with vinegar. It’s probably time to buy some honey ladies.
Not looking for anything like that I want them to go by the law. Yes, they have stated that you should go to the committee meetings to hear what is discussed but most of us have to work and most of the meetings are at 4 or 5pm. Why cann't they post the board packages like some other districts since those have more information. As far as Rayanne and Dee I like how they bring out how this board breaks many of the open meeting acts law it is just to bad that the goverment that makes the laws don't enforce them.
Board bits tell what has happened after a meeting. It also lets people know is such things as open meeting acts have been broken, and many other things that might not being done right. There is also a time limit for these "bits" to be posted. If nothing else, this board is in violation of this. There is no excuse for them not to be there. After all, if Lisa Morales and family can go to Florida for travel arrangements on our dime and Juanita Wells(secretary of board) and family on our dime, the least we can expect is the bits to be posted on time. For the person making the comment of Dee and Rayanne, just what kind of "honey" are you referring to? Please explain. I for one, am glad to see that someone is willing to stand up for what is right. It is blantantly apparent that most of this board is going to do what it wants without any regard to the community for certain board members. It is a 2 way street and one would hope that all would have respect and listen to what everyone wants to say and weigh accordingly. And Roberts does not have the right to run the show, which apparently he does. Reinstating Salianas on the board was a slap in the face to this community and as far as I am concerned Maurice is a disappointment as he appears to have no individual thought or backbone.
About the government that makes the laws about the open meetings act, they have to be conatacted first. That would be the States Attorney and not the Attorney General.
With only Rayanne and Dee on the board against 5 others, it doesn't matter if they use honey or vinegar, no one is listening. If the numbers were closer, their opinion would be listened to a little more.
As for Maurice he got on the board illegally too. Remember no votes in closed session all votes must be done in front of a public body and his vote wasn't just like Salanis.
BTW the committees aren't much better I've been to at least one. As usual the administrators think they run the district and don't have to listen to board policy. Most of the board lets the administration and the super run the district instead of following the policy because they are lazy. I like the suggestion of seeing the board packets that would help alittle. So in your way of thinking if you need to go to committee meeting instead of School Board Meetings than why have board meetings at all?
I think this community needs to go to school board meetings, if they can. This is a useless statement, though, as it always is. I could not go to the meeting tonite, but do attend as regularly as I can. If just one sixteenth of this big community would attend the meetings, it would be make a big difference and when they talk to others, it might get them to go once in awhile. Dee and Rayanne are on their own except for the few of who do attend. I do not know why they or some of us waste our time. It is not appreciated. If it was, there would be others attending once in awhile. The only time there is a good turn out is when there are awards to be given, then they leave because Farum says if they want to they can because it is now the boring part of the meeting. Yeah, right, this is when things come out and the people NEED to stay.
For the parent that had their boss look into the boys2men and say it isn't illegal come to a board meeting and state that it is alright. Or any of the other people that state that they have talked to lawyers that say it is alright come out and state that. I'm not stating that there hasn't been good from this but with so many poeple that have said they have talked to lawyers than why cann't they put it in writing. Still before they made the one website from boys2men private I must say they even might do some wrong. Yes, there are kids that stand outside of East High and smoke and there are kids that get pregant but that has been going on for a long time and some have made good of there life. The school code has to be followed though and if you belive that high school faterinties should be in the high schools than you should contact someone to change that law. As someone stated in one post this might cause problems later. I also think that this group should look at the school code and see what they think if they are right. Should we just change things in a district if we know better than the people who make up the law?
Anybody find out anything interesting last night? Where there tons of people because the meeting was at East High?
This blog sucks.
What would you like to see addressed in this blog to make it a non-sucking blog ?
I am open to others posting a topic they'd like discussed. I am the administrator of the blog, so you'd have to post your topic through me. I will do it anonymously or you may sign your name.
My email is JCarl419@aol.com. Type "EA Blog" in the subject otherwise I delete addresses I do not recognize.
This blog ROCKS!!
:)
Anybody who thinks that truth sucks, or facts suck, will think this blog sucks.
The rest of us say,
"Rock on, Rayanne!"
This blog is filled with twisted truths and lies presented as facts. If anybody believes most of the information on this blog then they need to get their head checked.
10:46, please be specific. What truths have been "twisted"? What lies have been presented as facts?
If you can, indeed, give specific examples of untruths I'm sure many of us would appreciate being enlightened. Otherwise, your statement has no credibility.
I ignore comments like 10:46am. They would back up their comments with what they are referring to if, what they put here is true. Until then, I will not waste my time on them. Things like this is just to get people going and it works. I hope everyone else will also ignore comments like this and keep up the good thing that is going here.
I agree what facts are not right. Give us an example so we can see what you mean by your statement. If you cann't them it means that what is said here is right.
Nope. If I went into everything that is wrong you would not believe me. You would turn it around and just say it is true. I will give you an example. And I just can't wait for this to be turned around.
Somebody said that the choir sings the same songs every year.
That is not true.
There are many other posting like that, that are also not true, not just in this thread but many previous threads.
The important thing to me is what is going on at the school board and issues pertaining to this. The referendum issue is important to me. Since I do not go to hear the choir every year I would not know if the same songs are sung every year. This issue might be very important to some, but in a way is petty to me.
In response to a comment from March 17th.
Topic was posting minutes on the 131 website.
I wrote to Dr. Roberts only last week, I apologize for my tardiness in replying.
He answered back to my question on missing minutes, saying he will have Lisa check into it.
That was on April 21st.
We'll see what happens.
All of the board bits are now posted. They were posted yesterday sometime. Every bit from at least this year is now up except for this last meeting.
No most of what is said on here is true. Some do go on about the choir and band to much but what is said about the administration and board is true.
One thing that's pretty evident to me from reading this blog is that most of us seem to have good B.S. detectors.
If something is said that someone else thinks is untrue, people will jump in with specific examples (often from their own experiences) to defend their position.
And it's up to us to filter out and ignore those frustrated few who just want to say "shut up" or "you suck".
Test scores prompt West High to extend school days this fall
• No Child Left Behind: District making changes to improve student performance on tests
April 24, 2008Recommend
By HEATHER GILLERS hgillers@scn1.com
AURORA -- West Aurora High School students could wait a little longer to be saved by the bell next year.
Administrators are moving forward with a proposal to extend the school day from seven to eight periods in fall 2008 as part of a high school restructuring plan approved by the board this week.
The high school is not federally mandated to put the plan in place until fall 2009 -- if at all. But administrators want to adopt some parts early "because that's what's best for our students," said Rosemary Pinnick, assistant superintendent for teaching and learning.
The U.S. Department of Education requires the district to draft a restructuring plan aimed at raising achievement among black, Hispanic, low-income and disabled students because many of those students at the high school did not meet academic standards in 2007 for the fourth year in a row.
The school is required to put the plan into action only after five years of inadequate test scores -- or fall 2009 at the earliest. But administrators are planning to go forward with the eight-period day in order to allow time for extra courses for star students and added homework and study skills help for teens who are falling behind.
"We've really approached it as 'we have students who are not being successful -- what is it we need to do differently?'" Pinnick said.
About 160 students who are falling behind are expected to spend one period in a 20-student intensive tutoring workshop where an assigned teacher would help them attack difficult assignments. Teachers in each subject would be available down the hall.
The high school is planning to hire 12 to 15 new teachers to teach the additional courses.
Under federal No Child Left Behind legislation, schools track achievement within certain subgroups in the student population. Schools are deemed deficient when low-income students, learning-disabled students or any racial group fail to meet federal standards.
At West Aurora High School, a quarter of black 11th-graders met academic standards on the math portion of Prairie State Achievement Exam (PSAE) in 2007 and 28 percent met reading standards.
Among Hispanic students, 35 percent met reading standards and 40 percent met math standards.
Among low-income students, a quarter met reading standards and 30 percent met math standards; and among students with disabilities, 21 percent met reading standards and 11 percent met math standards.
All of those percentages fall below the set of incrementally increasing benchmarks set by federal officials under the No Child Left Behind law. The West Aurora High School student body as a whole managed to stay within federal education officials' expectations after 43 percent of all students met reading standards and 49 percent met math standards.
Wow that's an interesting stat. 35% of hispanics are meeting standards in reading and 40% in math. This is while taking a test in what to many of those taking the tests is their second language. Spanish is their first language and english is their second.
Contrast that with the stat that blacks are passing the reading portion at 25% and 28% are passing the math portion. English is the first language for these black students.
I have heard way to many times on area blogs about how it's the illegal immigrants who are pulling Aurora's school test scores down. Pleases remember these stats before you make your next comment.
Yep, all the Board Bits from '07-'08 are posted!
A big thanks to: Rayanne, Lisa M., Dr. Roberts, and last but not least those on THIS BLOG who kept mentioning them.
Sometimes the squeaky wheel really does get the grease!
7:53, if you see something posted here that you believe is untrue, all you need to do is provide the facts that show why.
For example, if I were to say "the choir sings the same songs every year", you could point out that your daughter at East High never performed the same song twice. That would be "personal experience". Or you could mention that you had copies of programs from the past several choir concerts and that no song was duplicated--that would be "documented evidence".
Or, when someone said that the band director publicly stated he would take all bands to organization contest this year and he didn't. There's no question that this was the truth, because the person making the statement quoted directly from the band handbook. This was also "documented evidence".
It's only when someone makes a comment like "you're ignorant" or "that sucks" that we're dealing with distortions and unfounded claims. And most of us know to just skip over those.
The west side handles their spanish speaking children much differently than our district. You don't see them catering to them like ours does with letting keep speaking spanish until they are in middle school. While there hispanic population is becoming larger the kids speak english more than spanish.
It is mainly this district that the spanish speaking kids are holding us down.
If that's the case, I wonder what the percentages are in this district.
These are the scores according to the district report cards for 11th graders broken down by ethnicity.
In Math Blacks 0% exceed, 13% met, 54% were below, and 33% academic warning. Hispanics 1% exceed, 28% met, 52% below, and 19% academic warning.
In Reading Blacks 2% exceed, 19% met, 44% below and 35% academic warning. Hispanics 1% exceed, 19% met, 59% below and 20% academic warning.
In Science Blacks 2% exceed, 8% met, 62% below, 29% academic warning. Hispanics 1% exceed, 20% met, 64% below, 15% academic warning.
This clearly shows that the trend is not exclisive to the West Side. Blacks have trouble competing on this side of the river with english as a second language hispanics as well.
I think it would be interesting to have test scores analyzed according to degree of parental involvement in students' lives instead of ethnicity or income level.
It's too often the parents who are responsible for students being "left behind", not the schools.
Though slightly unrelated I wanted to mention that two of the best Teachers at EAHS are about to retire at the end of this year from the English Department. I find this unfortunate as both teachers, Mr.Hopp and Mr. Powles, are some of the very few teachers that offer a course that encourages students to learn those things that you are "expected" to know about. They taught a lot of kids over the years a lot about classic novels, classic music, classic pieces of art that are still talked about today and encouraged their students to reach for college and were always more than willing to stay back and do something for a student. I'm not saying they were the only teachers to do so, but I regret seeing them leave EAHS. I suggest if anyone would like to stop by EAHS and thank them or see them, that they do.
I have heard some secrets that possibly some "kids" may be planning to "stop by" and see the retiring teachers who were very favored by their students.
I had some students telling me about fights that have occurred in the district that are posted on youtube.com, so I checked it out.
They were right.
I typed in Aurora Fight into the search line on youtube.com and several very viscious attacks were posted. One had several people beating up on one person.
It makes you wonder 1) where was the supervision and 2)Is there any wonder why test scores suffer in this district? How can you teach when there is no control.
If you think East Aurora is the only school with fights, take a pin and pop that little bubble you are living in. Did you type in West Aurora fight, or Naperville North Fight, or anything else. Probably not. The test scores are bad because lazy people like you would rather type on their computer than help.
Are you saying that these fights where at school?
Okay I went and looked up East Aurora fights. One looked fake but the others looked real. The thrid one looked like a teacher might have come out in the hall but didn't do anything. So for the people that posted about kids being bullied I think it is time for the superintendent, administrators and the school board to look into these things. They cann't keep putting thier heads in the sand.
I've been teaching for many years and have broken up my fair share of fights. I have never sat there watching as 4 girls beat the crap out of one girl. At one point the girl is being held in a head lock while the others are beating the crap out of her. You can actually see the teacher stand there and do nothing.
I can tell you already why the teacher is standing there doing nothing. I've seen it many times before. If the teacher touches the student to break up the fight and the childs parents complains about it, administration will write up, suspend or bring charges against the teacher. Even though the law specifically protects a teacher when they restrain a student from hurting another student, the district will take action against the teacher.
I just Googled "east aurora" and "high school", and most of the hits were not in Illinois, but in New York. There are many towns throughout the U.S. called "Aurora" (Colorado and California, for example). A fight on YouTube from Aurora could be from anywhere in the country.
All three fights were posted by the same person. In the fight with the girls you can see a large red and black tomcat on the wall. What more do you need?
Yes, there are fights at East Aurora. Who's fault is that. IT'S THE PARENTS FAULT. THE PARENTS HAVE FAILED THEIR STUDENTS. THE PARENTS DO NOTHING IN THIS DISTRICT. THE PARENTS ARE NOT AROUND. THE PARENTS HAVE NO IDEA THE VALUE OF EDUCATION. THE PARENTS SUCK IN THIS DISTRICT.
Let's be careful about how we lump people together! When the ISAT & PASE test scores are posted there's a big difference between Hispanic and LEP students. Hispanic refers to enthnicity/race like the categories named Black, White, Asian. Limited English Proficiency or English Language Learners are another group that may include students from all ethnic groups. Before we jump to conclusions about other district's test scores we should know these differences. There are many Hispanic families who have been in Aurora for several generations.They and their children speak English.
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