Community service positions available. Team attitude a plus. Concern for the future of ALL the EA children an absolute necessity. Part time, rewarding-serve as an elected volunteer.
Elections for the East Aurora Board of Education will be April 7, 2009. The terms of 4 of the current members will be expiring.
For those wishing to have their name put on the ballot, nominating petitions may be obtained at the School Service Center.
Information is included in the petition packet on how and when to file. Candidates will be on ballot in an April 2009 election.
Two members of the Board of Education will hold Open Houses to discuss the East Aurora Board of Education roles and responsibilities.
The Open Houses will be held on Wednesday, November 5 at 6:30 p.m. and
Saturday, November 8 at 1:00 p.m. at the School Service Center – 417 Fifth Street.
These events are open to the public. All community members are welcome to attend.
102 comments:
Thanks, Rayanne, for going above & beyond the call of duty to encourage qualified residents to run for School Board. I'm looking forward to seeing some fresh faces who will bring much-needed accountability and openness.
If your definition of qualified is reflected in Rayanne, then you need to go back and look up Qualified. I have never seen a person so lacking in knowledge of protocol! And what were those comments by Mrs. Weaver in regard to past alcohol use????? at the last board meeting.
Oh come on, they went to East Aurora Schools, and had kids at East Aurora Schools, and they have grandkids at East Aurora Schools. Doesn't living in a place your whole life without outside influnece give you the qualifications needed to run a multi-million dollar budget? They mean well. (The preceding was done in a sarcastic tone of voice!)
I think they now more about protocol than most of the others. At least they follow board policy which the others do not. The administrators and some teachers might follow there own protocol but not the board policy. Then you have one board member that can't even make it to the meetings have the time. At least she is trying like most other districts do to help inform people that might want to run for board members how it works and not how the east side board works.
I'm glad you think "they now more"
"At least she is trying like most other districts do to help inform people that might want to run for board members how it works and not how the east side board works." (Quote)
Is she trying to inform or desperately working to get others like her on the board to back her personal agenda. For a adult that is a Union Stewart at work she knows very little about good faith bargaining. If you want to get involved in the school board you better have a working knowledge of what your responsibilities are or at least learn them before you open your mouth. You can't just do or say whatever comes to mind in an open meeting just because you want to impress your friends. The Board room is no place for personal agendas, and it is highly apparent that both ladies have more then one.
"The Board room is no place for personal agendas"--that's a joke, right?
Everyone knows that old-guard board members and administrators' personal agendas have contributed to the mess in this district.
Certain decisions were made and are still being defended based upon personal agendas, not the students' best interests.
I can provide specific examples from the previous thread, but I think most people know what I'm referring to.
Based upon 11:09's grammar and spelling; I think that person would be perfect for the "new, transparent" school board.
I think she knows about her responsibilities and how the board is suppose to work. At least they say something at the board meetings and ask questions about certain things that should be brought before the community.
I have a hunch that certain administrators have a strategy to try to get a large number of "yes" votes. Our district includes a significant amount of public housing, whose residents pay a percentage of their incomes for rent. These people do NOT pay property taxes; they do, however, vote for or against raising OUR taxes. Why wouldn't they vote "yes", since they wouldn't have to foot the bill?
Since a greater percentage of citizens than usual will be voting in this election, it is especially important that those of us who have reservations about the corrupt administration and who are voting NO show up on election day.
Reform, not referendum.
So nobody read the beacon today, with all of those great articles by teachers about why the referendum should pass. Don't forget to vote yes.
Read the paper and still not bying the propaganda about why the referendum should pass. Read about how they might have to cut some teachers, but noticed that there was no mention of cutting any administration which the keep making new postitions. Also noticed that it was Salinas family again. Shame on them if they really were handing out information of the referendum if that little one was trick or treating.
You're sooooo clever.
All of the Obama welfare votes will vote YES.
Is Rayanne qualified? Well, I suppose if qualified is a person who was voted to sit on the board by those in her community, as opposed to a person NOT voted for and then put back on by fellow board members. Yes, she is.
Someone seems to rant about things they know nothing about. Neither one of these ladies has grandchildren old enough to be attending any of 131 schools.
"qualifications needed to run a multi-million dollar budget?"
Administrators are paid quite well to "run" the budget. The board's employee is the Superintendent. It is his job to make sure things are "run" correctly.
Oh ok, the school board has nothing to do with the budget. Thank you oh smart one, I really believe that.
Wheather or not they have grandchildren DOES NOT MATTER YOU STUPID MORON. THE POINT IS WE HAVE TWO OF THE MOST UNEDUCATED PEOPLE ON THE PLANET ON THE SCHOOL BOARD.
(Here is just a preview of your response....Talk about uneducated, you are the one calling names. Yeah thanks.)
Some of the worst decisions made in D131 in recent years have been made by those with the most formal education.
For example,remember "Serial Bully" Radakovich? He had a Ph.D.
I want board members who can relate to the people in our district and who are committed to being accountable, and who make decisions in our childrens' best interests.
Let's elect more folks like Rayanne and Dee.
To anonymous Nov.2 @ 10:41am
Since I know who was at the last board meeting, your comments make me wonder if you are another board member, superintendant, administrator that was there. We in the community know who is trying to make Rayanne and Dee look bad and it is not working. The more things like what you posted keep showing up, we in the community know these two are doing what we elected them for. So anon just keep up the good work in your postings to remind us that Rayanne and Dee are keeping up their good work for the students and this community.
I read the Beacon articles today, and I noticed the one about Mary Taylor. I remember Mary from when our kids used to go to Dieterich School together. She was a very involved parent, always giving her time to help the kids. An upbeat, positive asset to our community.
However, she is also a resident of public housing (or was when I knew her). Therefore, it is probably easier for her to vote "yes" than it would be for those of us who actually have to pay property taxes. SHE (and the many others in our district in public housing) doesn't have to pay the taxes, but still gets to vote for my taxes to be raised.
Seems a bit unfair to me!
If it were necessary for board members to have an inexhaustible knowledge of finances, then I'm sure that would be one of the things they would mention under qualifications. Don't you think?
I learned a long time ago to ignore people who try to put me down, it is a sad attempt to bring me lower than they perceive themselves.
Since my name was mentioned, I thought I should address a few comments.
To 10:41 am- Protocol: the rules of correct or appropriate behavior for a particular group of people or in a particular situation.
I believe my knowledge of protocol is comparable to other members of the board.
To 12:20 pm-I have never said I was a union steward. That same reference was made in closed session, so it seems the circle of misinformed is spreading.
Good faith bargaining:
parties to a contract regularly meet and discuss with a willingness to reach an accord on proposed new contract terms. It does not necessarily mean that any party is required to make a concession or agree to any proposal.
I have not always been given the opportunity to be a part of the contract decisions. Most of that is handled by a lawyer for 131. My input has been, that I am not always in agreement with the amounts of money given in the contracts I have been involved in approving or not. (the preceding was done in a mild mannered voice )
To the person(s) speaking negatively about me-I will not get into a blogging argument with you.
Never argue with a fool, onlookers may not be able to tell the difference.
- Mark Twain
9:02 p.m. mentions public housing residents voting to raise our property taxes, when they don't pay any themselves. I agree this is unfair, but what can be done? Every citizen should have the right to vote, but maybe the referendum ballot should be separate and only those who pay property taxes (directly or indirectly, including renters) should be able to vote yes or no.
In the meantime we can be sure that folks like Clayton Muhammad will be getting out the vote in the public housing projects tomorrow to raise OUR taxes. That means those of us who want "reform not referendum" need to make sure we go to the polls and vote NO.
If you really want to know about who is in charge of the budget take time to read this.
http://www.iasb.com/pdf/understandingsf.pdf
If you can't access that website Goggle understanding school finance in Il.
I don't want to know the truth, but thanks for posting
Shame, shame, a sign was stolen from a yard on Union. Another one will go up and who knows maybe two.
Where are the minutes of the 9/2/08board meeting. They where voted on and are not posted. Maybe the service center workers are spending to much time reading this blog instead of doing their jobs.
In reference to "who is in charge of the budget-read this":
http://www.iasb.com/pdf/understandingsf.pdf
Great guide and information. Implementing those guidelines could help 131.
2:32, maybe there's something in those minutes that the administration doesn't want the public to know.
Somebody took a sign again out of the yard on Spencer and tied it between two stop signs on Spencer and Seventh Ave. This was at night and the police were called. The police told them to take the sign down and did or would not come out.
Stealing signs is really a example of
Making Choices for Excellence.
What benefit is it to steal a sign from someones yard. This has been happening during this election year and is a shame. Do people really think that stealing a sign from a yard will stop someone voting a certain way. It just shows that they do not respect the American way. Many people have died and are still dying to give us the right to speak our own voice. I respect others views even when I don't agree and they should respect mine. Tomorrow we have the right more than any other country to vote our own choice of what we want from our country and lets hope it will continue this way. So if you don't like what someone puts a sign in there yard that you don't agree with remember that may have died to give you this right to speak your voice. Lets make sure our children respect this right and carry this on so we all have the right to speak their minds.
Today I voted in Ward 1. Many seniors were attacked with Vote Yes paper work. This was at 1 pm when kids should be in school. The school with tax payer money printed material again to scare the tax payer. They campaigned on private property but no one could get the election commission on the line all calls went to voice-mail. Why does the district put more money and time into passing the referendum instead of respecting the tax payer. Shame on D131.
Well guess what, there was no school today.
As long as they where 100 ft. from the polling place they can and if they had permission from who ever owned the property they can. It is a shame but if what they where handing out was on school paper and it said to vote yes and someone has it they can turn it into the elections committee. These are desperate people who think they are above the law. If you do not have kids in school you probably wouldn't know that they didn't have school so give the seniors a break. They are saying that it is hard to get a hold of someone but if you have a camera you could take pictures and take them down there.
This district shows time and time again that they don't respect the taxpayers but expect them to just take what they say. We do need more citizens coming to voice there concerns to the board to make them really see how we feel. I know that many parents work but a lot don't so why are these kids out there pushing the referendum and not the parents?
In recent years, parent teacher conferences have taken place the week of Thanksgiving. It created a week long break that teachers and families taking vacations preferred to have.
This year the school calendar was rearranged so that students would be out of school so that they could be used to push for a "YES" vote. This administration has absolutely no morals or ethics.
Along with using students and fliers to push a "YES" vote, the district again used the emergency phone system to have a message given by the student board member pushing for a "YES" vote.
Last Year, ONLY, did parent-teacher confrences take place next to Thanksgiving. The years before they have fallen around early November.
"In recent years, parent teacher conferences have taken place the week of Thanksgiving. It created a week long break that teachers and families taking vacations preferred to have.
This year the school calendar was rearranged so that students would be out of school so that they could be used to push for a "YES" vote. This administration has absolutely no morals or ethics."
HERE WE GO AGAIN PEOPLE. GET YOUR FACTS STRAIGHT PLEASE BEFORE SHOOTING OFF YOUR MOUTH.
Last year was the first time P/T conferences were held the week of Thanksgiving. The teachers complained because it was too late in the school year for conferences. When asked the teachers said they wanted it early in the month.
THIS IS JUST ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF SAYING WHAT YOU WANT AND NOT BEING ABLE TO BACK IT UP. I READ POSTS THAT ARE FALSE ALL THE TIME.
THANK YOU!
Think about it. There are a ton of reasons why parent teacher confrences are stupid at Thanksgiving.
1. People go on vacation, and the teachers don't see the parents that they should be seeing
2. Give the kids a week off of school, and then three weeks later give them two more off for winter break
3. At the time of thanksgiving we are already about 3 or 4 weeks into the new quarter, thats a little late to make your 2nd quarter better if you faild the 1st.
Thanks for posting lies.
Looks like the yes voters have it. Thanks to all the Obama welfare votes
Thank GOD, maybe there is still some hope for this district
If, indeed, the yes voters prevailed then we need to turn our attention to electing some new school board members we can trust to manage these funds and make sure the money is truly used FOR OUR CHILDREN.
The yes votes were a vote of confidence for the students and teachers, not the corrupt administration.
And the YESSES have won it. Thank you to all of the yes voters for finally supporting District 131!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Time will tell if this will go for what it is supposed to go for.
I was a no voter and do attend school board meetings when I can.
Time will really tell now if the no voters start to attend school board meetings to really find out how to change things.
The yes voters that do not attend school board meetings to really see how the monies in this district is spent. One person I talked to said they did not know what was going on but let the referendum go thru and then make changes. This person does not go to school board meetings, in fact did not know about the referendum until I told them about it. There are so many people out there like this.
I truly hope the money goes for the students and teachers-BUT ONLY TIME WILL TELL!
I relayed to EA OCR-
My choice has always been for "Excellence" but I have never felt money was the answer. Many of EA children "who excel" come from homes with little income. I believe our district resources are not being directed efficiently to bring out the best from our schools.
The community has decided and I represent and support my neighbors.
WooHoo! for the nations choice for president. :o)
I notice from the latest "Board Bits" posted on the D131 website that Anita Lewis spoke to the board about making the district's checkbook viewable to the public. The board has now decided to show this information online.
Thanks, Anita--I look forward to voting for you in the upcoming School Board elections.
Now there's an example of making a choice for excellence!
I second Rayanne's "woohoo" for Obama being elected. Maybe now we can finally get rid of that awful Republican No Child Left Behind unfunded mandate, that held the schools 100% responsible when kids failed.
Lets hope more come out to speak to this district and keep them accountable. Lets hope also some come out to be candidates for the board who will follow board policies and not the good ole boy system and who can make the meetings regularly.
Isn't it interesting that when someone posts a post that refutes what was said and lets the truth shine that somehow that post disappears. Its magic I guess!!!!!!
8:34, posts that include profanity are deleted regardless of whether or not they are true.
Yes I see the referendum passed,so I will support what my fellow nieghbors voted for. I do have a slieght problem with the photographs posted in the paper. Here we go again Salinas photos in the paper, he looked like a Miller lite ad, hey Salinas have another beer for me. Mr salinas you are in the publics eye these photo's could rear thier ugly head come board election time. Dee and Rayanne keep up the good work be even more vigilant and keep your eyes on the founds. You don't want them to disappear like the previous 20 million. Good Luck, your supporters
I am the admin of this blog. I have not deleted anything. But it is Google's "blogspot."
I am not sure what you are referring to, 8:34am.
Possibly you could try and reword you message, and sincerely share your POV, if that was your true intent.
I have a few questions, 1- did any of the meetings for the referendum take place on school dist property? I hear Clayton met with several students early wendsday mornings to plan thier next area of attack is this true? Did they use school dist. paper for thier fliers? recycled or not the school dist still paid for it originaly. Did they meet in a classroom with no lights? To use the lights would be paid by the school dist. By my understanding they could use no dist. funds or buildings for this referendum they had to meet off school dist. property. Maybe someone should drop a note to the states attorney office and get thier input. I wonder if they had enough information they would have to rescind this referendum.
Hey Salinas I raised the rent on my Mexican renters to pay for your referendum so your wife and daughter can have a free ride.
FYI on using school resources- If the district provided information only- did not directly ask you to vote yes but essentially "made their case", they can use district resources. They just can't use district funds to make and distribute "Vote Yes" materials. When West did their referendum we used to get general info from the District but then would get door hangers and "Yes for West" signs from their referendum committee which raised its own funds.
I attended the open house last night given by Dee and Rayanne. It was very informative and they did a good job explaining some of the things about running for office that are not included in the "formal" packet. Anyone who is interested in running or at least interested in how things are done on the Board it would be worth you time to attend the other meeting which is this Saturday.
I did not go to a referendum meeting this time around but I did attend for the last one.
The meeting was at the high school and run by Clayton and other district people. There were handouts and a long discussion about how to push for a YES vote.
The States Attorney can also be requested to review the legality of the wording on the ballot. The word "referendum" was not used. If the wording is vague, it is not legal.
The States Attorney can also review the literature being handed out and the use of the emergency system to get out the referendum message. Only basic facts are legal to share. If all the facts are skewed to create a YES vote, it is just as illegal as telling someone to vote yes.
I can't wait to hear the comments on this web site and in the Beacon when the tax bills get posted this spring.
You better start saving now, you are going to need it. You might also want to check with your bank if you have an escrow account. You are going to need to start putting more money into it each month.
I sure hope someone is going to oversee where this new money is going. So far it was only board members and administration who were so excited. I guess they see large raises for the districts administrators in the near future.
What do you think the chances of this districts teachers seeing any of the new money? They have been the lowest paid teachers in the six county area for more years than anyone can remember. If you want excellence in education, you need to pay teachers a wage that encourages the best teachers to stay.
The Beacon today has a story about how it was the kids who got the community to vote YES for the referendum. They were supplied with pamphlets. If those pamphlets were supplied from the district, this too breaks the law.
This board went someplace and got knowledge how to do what they did with this referendum. This I know for a fact, but do not know where they went to get schooled in this and how it was paid for even though we know the answer to that. All of us can complain and gripe all we want, but until this community gets involved and starts attending the school board meetings to find out what really is going on this will continue to happen over and over again. It is our own fault that this is happening and be rest assured that the school board is aware of this. How soon will it be that the two board members that are fighting for this community gets tired of doing all of the work, with a few excemptions in the community, and quit? We can type on our computers all we want but it gets us nowhere until we actually, physcially, get out there and do something. The old guard school members know that we will complain and give up like all the other times. History keeps repeating its self in this case! How many of us ask on our computers about new school board members, but are actually willing to take on the responsibility and go in for the good of the students and community? Think about it.
I don't buy the have to pay teachers the best to have them stay. All the districts around us make much more than the average people in this district and I don't see any million dollar homes here. We can't pay like the other districts but what we can do is expect the students to treat the teachers with the respect they deserve. Not that any of the other districts don't have problems with that either.
Attending meeting as a non member of the Board does not work. Those meetings are for show. I heard Bob Mccue, Salinas, Wells and Fernando Chapa are running. Mccue said he was dropping out but now thats there is more money to line his pockets he is staying. The perks to the Board comes in the way of vendors.
McCue has lied in the past, I will retire when the freshman center is complete still here. It's funny West has NEW GYM FLOOR hey Bob did you clog the drain? on and on. Salinas the people have spoken we don't want you, the other four members needed a yes man but your not there half the time. go figure but you can still say yes.
Attending as a non member of the board is how to find out things and then tell people you know about what you find out. Speaking before the board and wanting answers is another way to find out. Yes, you can ask that you get an answer back either by letter, phone or email and then stay on top of it, that is, keep bugging them about it. It works and if it does not this is when you call the Beacon openline or talk to the reporter. Just do something. Again the school board knows what will happen with the community if they ignore us and that we will do nothing. If the board meetings are just for show, then why did Dee and Rayanne bother to run and try to do something for us? This community has more lame excuses than Carter has little liver pills!
Shame of these students that think money is what should make them proud to be a student of East High or any East side school! Are these students not proud of their parents and families if they come from if they are not as rich as their neighbors? Are they ashamed of their homes even if they are not in Oak Hurst? Do not they and their family take pride in the fact that they do the best they can with what they have and get?
And what in the world makes these students think that that referendum will go for what they say it will?
By calling the referendum a Bond issue many voters who did not follow the facts were fooled. Being a presidential election the voter crowd was not as informed. It is funny how so many people worry about the president but not about local issues.
However I have been to Board meeting were awards are handed out and no other business is ever talked about. Carol and crooks do that to stop tax payers from becoming informed.
I for one do not respect my fellow voters Rayanne because they were not informed voters.
I would be interested in knowing how many "yes" voters were public housing residents, and whether there was any lobbying done in the public housing areas.
People living in public housing do not pay property taxes, so it is probably very easy for them to support a referendum.
After the awards are handed out Farum always if anyone wants to leave they can as the rest is boring. Almost everyone leaves who was there for the awards that are handed out. The boring part of what she is talking about is the actual meeting. I have been there when the place is packed for the awards, but when she says this the place will then be bare. One time a boy scout troop stayed after the awards to see how a meeting is run. They were doing this for a badge or something. Really felt sorry for them because the sure got an eyefull and earfull. Some of the board members really made fools of themselves. So please stay after the awards are handed out and you might hear and see something really interesting like those boy scouts.
If you are worried about who is going to run in spring maybe you should...lets give the current board members some competition and give taxpayers a choice.
Attend the open house given by Dee and Rayanne on Saturday. I went Wednesday and it was very informative and they did a good job explaining some of the things about running for office that are not included in the "formal" packet. Anyone who is interested in running or at least interested in how things are done on the Board it would be worth you time to attend.
10:18am- the few days since the election, I have had a few calls that have let me know what you say is somewhat true.
Not all people understood what they were voting for. A referendum by any other name is still a referendum. I have been informed, some thought they were allowing the district access to funds that were already in the districts possession.
I have no doubt that was part of the strategy and it apparently worked. Shame on those who vote on things they are not better informed, and shame on those who practice to deceive.
Transparency is coming and will help people be informed community members.
Thank you Anita for bringing transparency to 131 and thank you for your support of the Candidate open house.
According to the recently-published Board Bits, Carol Farnum has resigned as board president. Does this mean she will not be running for re-election to the board this spring?
I have not been voting for long but I do know that it is my responsibility to know what is on the ballot and if there is anything on there about bonds or a referendum than that means someone whats money. I do believe the district mislead some or just told them to vote that way but it is too late to complain now. Let those who led this referendum what you think and how you feel not that they will care but let them know when they go the next referendum soon you will not be tricked again.
I read the board bits and the way it sounds that she is only resigning for the three months she will be gone and participating by phone. I think this needs to be looked into to because they have changed the rules of teleconferencing but I believe that it can't be an on going thing.
3. Electronic attendance of members of a public body may be allowed by the public body at regular, rescheduled or reconvened meetings of the public body, subject to certain limitations, including (Note: the Governor returned this bill, HB699, to the General Assembly with recommended changes; it is not yet law. This description assumes acceptance of the Governor’s changes.):
• a majority of a quorum of the members of the public body are physically present at the place designated in the notice of the meeting;
• the member is prevented from attending because of
• personal illness or disability
• absence from the jurisdiction for personal or employment or for the business of the public body
• family or other emergency
• a member may not attend electronically more than half of the regularly scheduled meetings held in a calendar year without a physician’s attestation that the member is physically unable to attend.
• communications made by the member attending electronically are made concurrently available to the public.
I believe this board is walking a fine line with Carol. Does she have a job she has to go away to do? Has she given the board a letter to say why she will be gone except of what is on the board bits and if she resigned McCue will be the president until the next board election and when she comes back she won't be president anymore?
I'm reading in this morning's Beacon about the Oswego High jazz band (James Connon's article). Evidently their jazz band sees the value in having the kids perform with outside musicians (college students and older adults, as well as kids from other high schools). What a great idea--a "choice for excellence", you might say.
But when Mr. K did that (had a jazz concert with Waubonsie H.S. and also had his wife play piano with the group), that was one of the reasons the old-guard School Board and administration used to get rid of him.
Again and again over the past 3 years we've been asking "where's the promised improvement" in the EHS band program. And again & again we get silence or lame excuses.
Some of us have good memories, and will continue to remind the community of this disastrous decision until every person who was responsible is gone from the district.
"Making Choices for Excellence"?
Not in this case!!
My son is in the jazz band, and say what you will about past issues, he's having a great experience.
They brought in the Marine jazz band to the high school this year, and the experience at NIU was extraordinary.
I'm not commenting on the past and what happened. But I am very pleased with the experiences my son is having in band - and the exposure he has been getting to outside musicians. He doesn't need to have them playing in his ensemble to gain an appreciation and understanding of the possibilities of music.
Your son may not need outside musicians to play in his jazz ensembles, but it's evident that students and parents in Oswego feel that they're benefiting from having college & older musicians play. And it's the parents who should be able to have the say about whether outsiders participate. In the case of Mr. K., the parents were very supportive of the Waubonsie joint concert as well as Mrs. K. volunteering to help out. It was administration (specifically, at the high school--two of whom are still there) that twisted this issue around against Mr. K.
As a Election Judge I know for a fact people were misled. It is horrible the all the Mexicans who came in for ballots did not know what they were voting for. We had many spoiled ballots. The scanner rejects those ballots and until they get it correct they are given another ballot. Most seemed to be voting for the President. They were not informed.
Then we had the problem of kids asking voters to help them by passing the vote. They never explained taxes were going up it was very well coached. The Aurora Election Comm was on voice mail all day long and they had nobody to enforce the 100 feet rule. We could not get in touch with them to even ask ballot problems.
The Board used the confusion and high minority turn out to put this over the tax-payers. I called the Beacon they agreed about the Election Comm but yet no article. They can print the crap about D131.
I am an Election judge also and yes, when one called the commission it went to voice mail. We just kept calling back and did get through. Judges where I worked at the Visitors Center in the park took turns when we could and went outside to check about the 100ft. If someone is not complying about the 100ft we can call the police. You can also call whomevers headquarters to tell them and they will do something about it. As far as the referendum goes, it did say on the ballot that taxes would go up. There was all that literature that was sent out in the mail and given out at the schools to explain about it. Again this community needs to be aware and get involvled with what is going on in this district. There is also more things to pay attention to other that the band situation. This is just one issue and there are such things as outdated school books that need to be replaced. As much as I think bands and clubs are important to students their education is much more important.
Glad to see that Mr. K is posting again.
I know Mr. K.
He's the most non-political, non-confrontational person I know. I think he reads this blog, but doubt that he posts.
Nope, I suspect that the Liskas (or their 2 or 3 friends) are trying to sabotage the blog. Interesting how whenever someone questions how the band is better or mentions some truth such as a bogus plaque being displayed or the band getting a Division III at contest, they're told to shut up or called a moron.
I guess the truth hurts, huh?
Bond Issue and Tax Increase mean deferent things to deferent people. Yes one sided paperwork that the taxpayers paid for was handed out in the schools. Many residents are not informed but the wool was pulled over peoples eyes. The language again that we the tax payers paid the lawyers in Orland park to write never mentioned a tax increase.
Many people came in and did not know how to vote. The lines at my polling place were long. Calling the Election Comm over and over again to get around voice-mail just added to the confusion
Regardless of how it happened,the referendum was approved. What we need to do now is make sure to elect some new School Board members that we can trust to use this money wisely--board members who will listen to the wishes of the people & make decisions in students' best interests instead of supporting cronies' personal vendettas.
Yes, District 131 voters, we have a chance this spring to make choices for excellence!
If someone does not know how to vote on the ballot an election judge should have been showing them how it is done with the sample ballot. If someone needed help with the ballot there is a legal way for them to get help when voting as all election judges should know as we are taught in the class that we went to.
If needing help with the touch screen they should have asked for help. No election judge can tell anyone how to vote and who to vote for. It did not add to our confunsion when we kept trying to get ahold of the Elec. Comm. All voice mail gets filled when it is as busy as their phone lines were.
Do not understand about what is being stated about the Orland Park lawyers. Biggest thing about where we worked was people who was trying to vote who had not voted in years, moved out of their ward and precident years ago and not registering again. If you think this presidential election was bad, you should have worked the last one. We actually had someone who stayed by on the phone trying to get through to the Elec. Comm. as people who had not voted in years came to vote and we had to try to find out if they were in our ward and prec. and the only way to do this was to call as we did not have the palm pilots then. NO, maybe it was not quite perfect, but it could have been much worse. The ones handing out information outside(they were before the 100ft)did not make it easy for the judges either as the voters carried that info in with them(voters then were in the 100ft.)and the voters were not aware that this is considered electioneering.
I believe the finance committee meets Tues of this week. Now if anyone is really concerned about if this money will go for what it is supposed to show up at the meeting. This is our chance to be on top of things. Also, Farum was chair on this committee and lets show up to see who if anyone has replaced her. Weaver is also on this committee so hopefully she would be taking Farum's place while she is gone. Let us hope it is not Salinas as he cannot show up for the regular meetings, but it would be ironic if he is and always shows up for this meeting
It's been slow on here this week. The district blocked teachers from posting on here. I guess they don't want the public receiving any inside information unless it comes from the administration.
Clayton Muhammad=Big Brother
Are administrators paranoid or what? The referendum passed--why should they be so afraid of letting D131 staff access this blog?
Because they are idiots...with a degree.
Maybe they are blocking them because they are doing it on the districts time. The teachers can still do it from home if they want to. Wouldn't we the community being saying something about admins, teachers, etc. if they were using the computers for things other than the districts work? Of course I know this really applies to some. Bet Lisa is still reading on this blog and our dime. Also noticed that none of us in the community has posted if they went to the Finance committee meeting. Guess we really do not care how our money is going to be spent. Now I know that we just like to complain and gripe. Unless, of course someone went and then I apologize to them for making this blanket statement. But, if this blanket statement is true, I and everyone else has got what we deserve.
Agree that employees (and that includes administrators) shouldn't be surfing the net (blogs, etc.) on the district's dime.
Of course, that would also apply to staff lobbying for the referendum on the district's dime--none of that ever happened either, right?
Looks like the service center staff is trying to stir things up again. To me it seems like the service center people have too much time on their hands and maybe if that is the case we could do without a couple of them. I believe the teachers in this district are very busy with teaching on school time and after school when they are on their own time they have every right to visit any blog they want so no one in the administration can keep them from doing that. Someone seems to want to still put things on the blog to get people to start complaining out lies that someone in the administration level or service center wants to put out there but we are getting wiser. In fact why not stop using Clayton as your scape goat in all this.
Speaking of teachers has anyone said anything to the teacher that got 30 years of service in last year that the policy did state that they get recognized for that much service? If the HR person or the principle did not look at policy 500.99 they could just say they made a mistake. Although I think myself it may be too late for them to say anything they should step forward and correct that mistake. What would it cost them put a piece of paper. I think with all this Excellence stuff that goes on at the board meetings at 30 years they deserve a plague at that many years from the board.
I think if you start giving the teachers the "plague" when they have 30 years of teaching, you will have a lot of teachers dropping out at year 29.
With the way administrators have treated some of the best teachers in this district, I wouldn't be surprised if a lot of good teachers avoid East Aurora like the plague.
The teacher was Kate Keilty and NO, the district has never done anything to acknowledge Kate's 30 years of service. The district has continued their stonewalling and not come off their position that board policy does not require them to acknowledge a teacher for 30 years of service.
Board policy 500.99 states:
Employees will be recognized for 5,10,15,20,25 and 30 years of service to District 131 and its predecessor school systems in an appropriate manner.
It doesn't surprise me though. I have been in the district for about 15 years and I have never received any recognition. For me, it is not a big deal. I am here for the kids, not for recognition from a group of individuals for whom I have absolutely no respect.
I know Kate was hurt by the slight. She asks for nothing for herself but she did feel that she deserved a thank you for thirty years of service to this district and these children.
It is amazing to me that the districts administrators can not figure out why they have so many disgruntled employees (and lawsuits). It's very simple, follow the cardinal rule. Treat others as you would like to be treated.
I'm not surprised that this district's administrators refuse to admit that they owe Ms. Keilty recognition for her 30 years of service. This might involve using words like "sorry", "wrong", or "mistake"--words inconsistent with the arrogance of certain folks in power in D131.
Making Choices for Excellence? More like, making choices for arrogance.
Was not the referendum for the students and teachers? Shame on D131 school board and administration! But then, mostly shame on us, the community for again not going to the meetings and voicing our opinions and then not following through. People will come back with retorts to my statement, but it is the truth and this includes me! As for Kate K. and the other wonderful teachers who have taught these students for so many years, I hope the parents and students of these teachers recognize them with cards or something theirselves to show these teachers that they are appreciated. I know if it was me I would appreciate this more than anything else!!!!!
Looks like someone did a type o for plaque. Either way the teachers do desreve the recognition.
I too wondered access was blocked to not only this site but others. So I inquired with the technology department at the service center. They recently installed a new filter/firewall system that has greater filtration that the previous one. The main objective was to protect student use and access to inappropriate web sites. Some of the sites such as this one are considered "personal" web pages and are blocked as a large group. They seem to be grouped into the same category with Myspace and Facebook, which have been blocked for quite some time. That is the answer I received.
Where were all of the concerned community tonight for the school board meeting? I did not get what I deserved when this referendum passed as I do go to the meetings when I can to find out what is going on. For everyone else who voted no but do not attend meetings, you got what you deserved. I know everyone cannot go all the time, but once in awhile would be nice and know that now they are talking about what they will be doing with the monies from this referendum. If anyone had attended they would have noticed that all that was talked about was the magnet school. If I was to guess, it appears that this will be top priority and not the regular classes. But what do the rest of you care if regular classes still have out dated books, if cuts were to come it would be in the regular classes and not the magnet schools and they are talking about increasing the magnet schools? They got this last referndum through and do not be surprised if they end up asiking for another one as people keep losing their houses and jobs and we keep letting the superintendant and admins keep getting higher raises due to lack of attending meetings.
11-17 10:34 PM. It sounds like you went to the meeting. I really wanted to go but was out of town. What was the "Truth in Taxation Hearing of the 2008 Levy" all about?
What did they say about the Magnet School?
The info on magent school was silly. It certainly wasn't anything out of the ordinary, actaully if we aren't teaching that in regular classes than I have the answer why we keeping failing AYP. It just looks like segration to me and that isn't going to get us anywhere.
The truth in lending was just what we ask from from the state every year.
Post a Comment