But you may now have all info the Board members receive. With exception of sensitive/ confidential information.
Go to the 131 website:
http://d131.org/
Click on Board of Education in the left hand column.
Then click on Board Packets in the right hand column.
You will come to a page called BoardBook.
Click on agenda packet.
You can now be an informed community member.
Questions? Plenty of people are an email away.
130 comments:
I think it is great that the board is finally posting the packets what a step into the 21st century. I also think it is a step forward with the paperless packets.
I did see the football field Friday all dressed up for our returning soldiers. Let's all remember if we see any of them to thank them for their service and the sacrifices them and their families have made to help us keep our freedom.
Let's remember that freedom of speech is one of the things they are fighting for.
As this new school year begins lets hope all our children have the right to learn to their best ability. That they are not just numbers to make any district look good but to be all they can be. I hope that parents will encourage their children to be the best they can be. I pray for this district to find a way that all children can learn and that all children have that opportunity. It may not be easy to do this but we must find a way.
Yes, it's a good thing that our new, improved School Board is making the board packets viewable to the public. Along with the check register, this is definitely a step toward greater transparency and accountability. Thanks, School Board!
And now, could we please have the Board Bits published from the July 20th and August 3rd School Board meetings?
Yes, it's time to get them posted. There for awhile they where posting them before they approved them and now nothing.
Looking at the check register I wonder what the district is paying the Rotary Club of Aurora three times for. One did say something to do with PR.
From the openline blog
Tommy boy is involved in a stew pot with his pals over at the urban league. The Urban League has been involved in shaking down D129,D131 and D204 for more seats in the alternative school. I guess the upkeep is to large on the new building. When the schools said they did not need additional seats the Urban League said the city would be pulling funding. The city had been paying Theodia Jesse Jackson Gillispe. $300,000 to run a alternative program. So far Tommy is quite. Jerry Sharpton Jones came to D131 demanding that since the district recently passed the referendum they should pick up the tab. However rubber stamp Carol FARTun is no longer in charge. So now the new board said no. So now Tommy, Theodia and the cast of shake down artists have painted themselves into a rat hole.
If the district pulls the other districts will follow. At the Urban Leagues prices both districts can hire there own staff if the city does not pay. The poor urban league will loss a $800,000. Funny how things work out.
8/18/09 12:12 PM
I am sure rubber stamp Carol and Juanita both had a hand in this. Making corrupt promises with the referendum money to fund Clayton's favorite charity. Why does the district not fund their own alternative school. Million dollar father march, urban league is this the best use of Clayton's time. Clayton uses offices at the Urban League to run Boy's to Men while the district pays to keep the lights on. That is a conflict of interest.
Rubber stamp Carol also managed to get her daughter in law and grand daughter jobs at d131 even though they were educated and pay taxes on the West Side. The board needs to end this patronage. Every time rubber stamp Carol approves the payroll report she is in violation. Her grand daughter has a no real title besides to meet and greet new teachers. I is funny how Carol and Juanita talk about personal agenda's and micro managing but the new board does not seem to check their personal pockets. Juanita got a job with references from the Urban League which see is a member and now votes to get them a big contract. Sounds fishy to me. The old guard board members all benefited financially from the district so if I were them I would quit while they are ahead.
If Juanita is a member of the urban league she should not vote on anything that has to do with it.
If we have a 6 million dollare surplus than we should run our own alternative program or partner with the other districts instead of the urban league. Doing it with the urban league sounds fishy to me anyway with tommy boy involved. I don't think he did it for the best of the districts children there had to be something in it for him. If the Urban League wants to threaten then get rid of them.
There is no reason to be disrespectful to people on this blog. I am referring to the way that someone is spelling a board members' last name here.
Who is Carol's daughter-in-lw and granddaughter that has now been hired in D131. There was a new employee introduced last night, are you referring to that person and what position did the other one get?
5:46 p.m., the disrespectful misspelling of Ms. Farnum's last name was a quote from the Openline blog. I agree that it's wrong, but it was originally posted on the "other" blog.
If Carol were five years old, I would worry about name calling. While I would like to see more important issues about her addressed like rubber stamping illegal activities and decisions that have cost the district millions of dollars, I don't really care if someone calls her Fartnum or not.
I apologize, I missed that it came from the other blog.
The electronic board information is about as transparent as one can get. There are the actual memos, requests, forms right there to see. I understand the need to keep certain things confidential such as personnel issues.
This is such a step in the right direction. The money saved in the long run is well worth the start up costs of this.
The only thing missing is the interraction and discussion, which one can really only gather by attending the meetings. Frankly, the board bits are such a short summary, I think the electonic packets and a standing open invitation to attend meetings are about as open book as a board can get. Thanks for your work on this!
The minutes for the August 3rd board meeting are available now (click on "Board Packets", on the Board of Education page).
And WOW--they are superb! It looks like every detail of the meeting has been included, word for word. It's truly the next best thing to being there. THANK YOU to our School Board and administration for providing this!
Yes, I did see the minutes under the board packets but I wouldn't con graduate the administration I don't think they had anything to do with it. But yes it is a step in the right direction.
For another Blog
Urban League just another holdup artist like ACORN. Get the taxpayers to feel sorry for some idiots that don't care and than take their dollars to keep themselves in a job. All BS. From what I hear Theodia is pimping every taxing body she can while investing in realestate with taxpayers funds.
8/19/09 7:30 PM
Anonymous Anonymous said...
Ms. Gillispe ignored the board when she was told her time was up and kept talking. After everyone left she and just about all the others, including Alderman Hart-Burns, who did also speak,left in such a hurry that it disrupted the meeing. If this is how this league is run then no wonder the kids have no respect and do whatever they want to. So much for caring for all the students, for if they did they would have stayed to here the rest of the meeting. The officer did stay for awhile longer. If I had a child that was having a problem, after what I witnessed Monday night, this league would not be where would want my child to be. Ms. Gillispe comes across as give me what I want, when I want it as it is my right for this handout.
8/19/09 9:21 PM
Anonymous Anonymous said...
Forgot to state that the Alderperson Hart-Burns arrived late and it makes me wonder how her name got on the list to talk as that is taken to the board right before the meeting starts.
8/19/09 9:24 PM
Anonymous Anonymous said...
Theodia has gotten so many hand outs over the years that our tax monies have now become her entitlements to support her realestate empire. How stupid can you people in Aurora be? It's time to wake up and stop this nonsense.
8/20/09 8:39 AM
I was at the Red and Black Pride gathering today. A great way to start the year.
Thank you for all the board members who took time out of their day to attend. Dee gave a great welcoming address. And to hear the good financial situation of the district at this time just adds to the enthusiasm. Agree or disagree with decisions - but there is no excuse for anyone claiming that are not being informed about things from here on out with our new board packets online.
Let's have a great school year!
I wouldn't say the district is in a good financial state. Maybe right now it is but wait it won't be long until you hear that they have to make cuts.
Area High Schools Improve ACT Scores
Test scores, in this case the ACT, are one of many factors to evaluate not only a high school student, but the high schools themselves. Each high school varies in number of students and demographics. Regardless, here are the average ACT scores for various local high schools:
> 25.4 - Marmion
> 23.7 - Geneva
> 23.4 - St. Charles North
> 23.2 - Batavia
> 23.0 - Waubonsee Valley
> 22.5 - St. Charles East
> 21.1 - NATIONAL AVERAGE
> 21.0 - Aurora Christian
> 20.9 - Kaneland
> 20.8 - STATE AVERAGE
> 20.5 - Oswego
> 19.8 - Sandwich
> 19.6 - West Aurora
> 18.9 - Plano
> 16.8 - East Aurora
From the Beacons article it did say we where up 5 points which is good but we still have a long way to go.
When are they going to take of the picture of the old student representative and put on the two new ones?
The math scores went down so I would not boost
New pictures were taken of all board members and the 2 new student reps prior to the last meeting.
I see in the register that someone order Ranger Rick and American Girl and it looks like just one subscription each is that for a classroom?
The magazine subscriptions were probably for one of the grade school libraries--I know that the school libraries have magazines available for kids to read and use for research (as do all public libraries).
It's great the check registers are online, and even better that people are reviewing them. Every penny counts, but why are we talking about magazines when there are people getting paid many thousands of dollars that aren't contributing to the district? I'm hoping people who aren't employees can pick up on some of that and start asking some questions.
So how did the first day of school go?
So how did the East/West game go?
Oplenlineblogspot had a posting about the East/West game and here are some posting from it.
How about a game of soccer West?
8/29/09 9:26 PM
Anonymous Anonymous said...
East Aurora should simply dump their football program. In fact, East should dump all athletics until the students improve their academic performance.
Sadly, I don't think that will ever happen. East Aurora (and district 131 for that matter) is simply a lost cause for a number of reasons.
8/30/09 12:08 AM
Also this from Openlineblog:
The kids on the East side have always been hardworking and have a great attitude, for the most part.
It's the administration that's dragged the district down. They're famous for being all about their own image, and making decisions against kids' best interests (remember the band director's "reassignment" a few years ago? The EHS band sounds terrible now, thanks to Gonzalez, Harmon, and their cronies).
But there is hope. New leadership on the School Board was a step in the right direction, and I'm optimistic that things can & will get better, little by little.
Where are the minutes (Board Bits) for the July 20th board meeting?
Aren't they required by law to be posted within a certain amount of time?
Is someone trying to hide something??
They where not approved at the last meeting so they won't be posted until they are approved.
Why the big delay in approving a set of minutes from more than a month ago?
Again, is someone trying to hide something??
They were approved at the last meeting. Why is everyone so willing to think that there is something hidden, etc. whenever anyhone posts something instead of contacting the service center or a board member to find out information?
Maybe if you went to the meetings you would know what happened? That way you would see if they are trying to hide things but I don't think so know with the board packets you see what the board does except the closed sessions which is not intended to be seen by the public.
We shouldn't have to contact the service center. The minutes for a meeting that took place more than a month ago should be available online.
And some of us remember the secrecy and deception of the old-guard School Board; that's why we think that someone may be trying to hide something.
Oh, for heaven's sake go before the board and state your concerns. Many of us remember what has transpired in the past and do this. It is so easy to type and gripe here. And was there a special board meeting on July 20th as that was on a Thursday. Could this be the reason there are no board bits?
Should state-Could this be the reason that there are no board bits for July 20th?
Yes, they should be available it has been too long and since they have a full time person for the website by law it should be there with that being said unless someone wants to contact the States Attorney nothing will be done.
As far as secrecy that will proably go on board bits or not. The old bits didn't really say to much but now they have a board that wants try and make things more open with the new board packets but I believe the administration will still try to keep things from the board. Remember they are just as much a part of the secrecy as the board prably more because before the board let them pretty much run things.
There was no meeting on July 20th.
There was a meeting, looking at wrong calendar.
The new picture of the board looks good.
Now if we could only get those minutes on the website.
Does anyone know someone who went to the 89 reunion that is sick? It seems like some people have gotten sick since going to it.
Why is Lisa Morales picture under the Meet the Board on the website as a member of the board? I do not believe she is a elected member of the board she is just the acting secretary.
I see the Urban League is up for debate. Why the problem they have been doing this program for better than 10 years. Every school district has a alternative program. The new board claims they are all for school discipline but are they. When teachers had these types of issues and reached the end of the line we always had the alternative school. Now the screw board feels they need make these choices. They are using there personal agendas to be against this program because Well, Roberts and Clayton are black. Not because of the program they are playing get even. The state pays for these children to be in school not matter where. I had hopes for this board but they wait until the last minute to disrupt the education. This was seen in the Magnet school and now the Urban League. Put your petty differences aside and do what is right by the kids not yourselfs.
11:30 - While I agree with you that the board should tread very carefully in their consideration to either expand, continue, or discontinue the alternative program, I don't feel race should be used as an excuse. I know such racial issues unfortunately exist in society, but until I see solid proof of such behavior (and I attend board meetings regularly) I feel an accusation like that negates an argument.
However, I feel the board is trying to "tighten the belt" and is looking at everything. They should tread with great caution on eliminating alternative programs. In the long run, it could cost a great deal more money with no or limited alternative programs. Increased expulsions (hearing officers cost money), or heaven forbid, a lawsuit because of the actions of some child in school who should have been alternatively placed but wasn't because there were no option. And let's not forget the rehabilitive nature of some program - they can assist children, not just be seen as "punishment".
Just things to consider and I hope they do after seeing all the information.
This board jumps into issues without knowing all the facts. They blame administration for not getting them the information and while I feel some of this happens they can also ask. I have never seen them ask for a presentation at their individual meetings. I have seen informational items for the individual committees but nothing about the Alternative school or the Magnet school. It goes both ways. Many of the current members just want to play I got you and the old members just want to be negative. They should all realize they are playing with the kids futures. They all just need to get along. As far as belt tightening the city payed for the entire program last year. It is my understanding that the Urban League charges less than the school gets paid by the state so what is the problem. If the child is expelled they do not get paid. That is why most people think they have a hidden agenda. Its the old if Wells & Farnum don't support it then I am not going to.
First I would have to see the numbers about if the Urban League charges less than what the district would pay. Doesn't the ROE have a alternative program to for the children. I also heard that there where treats to the district from the Urban League if the district didn't do what they wanted. I would as what kind of program they have for these children also and does it really benefit in their education. Also I think there is some political issues here with the Mayor and the person who runs the Urban League since she got some black votes for the Mayor. Remember the city just laid off people and they have a whole in their budget do you think the city is still going to give that much to this program? No it was said the we got the referendum and now the district can pay for it. Are you parents willing to give up money for some programs so this can continue? Also I think the state has some grants for alternative schools but not that much so the district will be paying for this.
Where are the parents of these children that are getting in trouble all the time. Don't they hold some responsibility to their children's education? It seems no a days that parents but it all on the cities and schools and that is not fair.
In looking at other districts I see that their administration does not wait until the board asks them how their programs are doing they bring it to them so the board can see how well it is doing. I bet when these programs where approved by the board which all programs should be the board did not ask for follow ups about how they are doing and that should be done.
It is said that are district is doing good financially better than others who had good budgets before us. But if you listen to the State Superintendent in FY10 money will be tight that is given to districts. So when the money gets tight and the board has to make cuts what are you parents willing to give up for your children?
I will have to look into if the Urban League has been doing this for 10 years but I don't think so I think the district and ROE ran these before. Isn't it funny when some don't get their way they play the race card and say that something wasn't done because some are black. What about the 80 percent Hispanic that are in the district I don't see them throwing down that card. Or the 10 percent whites that have children that are in trouble saying their children are being left out.
For all you people that live in this district that wants to complain about how it is run and if someone is racist run for the board and then you can sit up there and take the heat for some of the decisions you make that will make parents mad they they aren't treating their child the right way because they are of a different color and you are a raciest.
If anyone attend the meetings as I and another poster here does, they would know that this board has asked repeatly about information on the Magnet Academy for one. I cannot not address the presentation at individual meetings as do not know what you are referring to in these statements. This I do know and that the City did not pay the whole thing for us last year, we paid for so many spots or openings and they wanted us to take more of these this year which would be more money.
Those racist remarks are way out of line as obviously someone does not know anything at all about some of the boards families.
Hope to see slot of you at the meeting tonight.
You won't. Unless the meeting is on somebodys couch.
Very good an imformative meeting tonight. Something very interesting did happen. Can't wait to see who crawls out of the woodwork for something that was revealed tonight.
It was very interesting. I can't believe what it was.
Whatever it was, I'm sure we'll find out eventually thanks to the new, improved minutes.
But why are we still waiting for the minutes (board bits) from July 20?
I attended the meeting and I am not sure what the big deal was. A lot of union people in the audience. If the board acts the way they did about the Urban League for sure this district will face its first strike. I was glad to see Carlson, Johnson and Gonzalez finally speak up of what is right. If is funny how the new President wanted to drag this out. The union knows this and is watching. If found Johnson's remarks on the budget interesting. I am glad it came out that the referendum did not fix the financial problems. It does seem like Weaver real personality is coming out. So you must be referring to that as far as coming out of the woodwork.
And yes Carol Farnum resigned everyone was waiting for the day she had not been happy with the direction of the new board for a long time.
As far as the Urban League the teachers can strike if they want their are a lot of out of work teachers that are proably just as good or better than some we have.
Some on the board was all for not getting those seats with the Urban League but then they threathen them an changed their minds. You might not see it now but money will get tighter and there will need to be budget cuts.
Carol Farnum quit the School Board awhile ago (hadn't attended meetings for several months). She just made it official last night.
And 10:05 p.m.'s comment about who crawls out of the woodwork was probably referring to Carol's replacement. Now the Board will have to appoint or elect someone to take her place--I hope they choose wisely.
Rayanne, Dee and Anita are just going to pick one of their friends to be on the board. You have the exact same type of board as before.
Which is a heck of a better board than under Carol Farnum's leadership! We can blame her and her cronies for a lot of the mistrust this community has for D131 administration.
I really hope they have some good candidates that apply and that the parents really take a interest in this one. We need someone that when they decide on something on the agenda they stick with it and when parents or community members come and cry about something being cut and how it might hurt they stay with that decision if it is the right one.
Times are going to get rough in the money situation come FY10 like the state superintendent said and programs might have to be cut. Just like Johnson said the referendum really didn't give us 32 million dollars so that will hurt too.
As far as the district facing it's first strike by the teachers I hope the board or administration has a plan in place for replacements. I just looked at the report card for the district and saw that the middle schools are in their 8th year of school improvement and the high school in the 6th year and the union is trying to tell the community and the board they what more money I think not they have done nothing to justify getting a rasie and that goes for the administration too. I hear they didn't get one. It is time for the state to follow their policies and come down and take over this district but the state is like so many other government agencies that make policies but don't follow them.
Saw this on Openline Blog:
Ms. Farnum has effectively been gone from the board for several months now, ever since she nominated Juanita Wells for School Board president and Dee Weaver was elected instead.
She will long be remembered as the president of the "School Board from Hell"--known for secrecy, deception, cronyism, and disregard for our children's best interests. We can thank Ms. Farnum for the current School Board, which was elected by a community that was fed up with being told "no comment, the issue is over".
Ms. Farnum insisted that replacing the East High band director was necessary to bring, in her own words, "brisk ideas, new ideas". What happened instead, thanks partly to her leadership, was disastrous. Now we have a new School Board bringing brisk & new ideas.
Good riddance to the old-guard; good luck to the new leadership in replacing Ms. Farnum with someone who will make decisions in children's best interests!
Did anyone else read in the paper today about the 2 German tests and German novel stolen from a classroom at East High last Friday and the teacher suspects a student? If it is found that a student did this they should be expelled. It is time for zero tolerance to be applied. I am tired of the coddling that is being done with students that do not follow the rules and tow the line. It is also time for parents to start the same thing and use tough love, and I do not mean sending them to an alternative school. This is just passing the buck elsewhere. Enough is enough.
Hey "annee" shut your stupid mouth.
Why should I? Because you have nothing intelligent to say to my comments?
If anything, I'll speak out more often.
Have a nice day!
:)
Someone needs to check out the athletic director at Simmons. I believe his name is George Trejo. He changed the athletic fee policy this year and is demanding sports fees from all students. Those students on free and reduced lunch have always been excused from paying sports fees and are still excused at the other middle schools but they are forced to pay at Simmons.
The money (most of it cash) is being given directly to him and no receipts are being issued. Fees are normally collected in the office and a receipt is given for every fee collected. Where is this money going?
My daughter is in Volleyball and it isn't going there. The students don't even have uniforms. The girls wear a T-shirt and their gym shorts to games. It's embarrasing.
When you add up all the fees collected for sports, it comes out to thousands of dollars. It's bad enough we have to pay extra money for sports programs but it's worse when the money isn't going to the children.
Someone has to do something to investigate this.
It doesn't surprise me with the administrators at Simmons. The athletic director couldn't get away with those things unless you have a corrupt and/or incompetent administration. Either they know this is going on and have done nothing about it or they don't have a clue what is going on in thier own building. This is the SMS administration and sports program that led to the discrimination lawsuit against the district. When are the central office administrators and board going to wake up to the incompetence and corruption going on in some buildings.
Well, guess wheat, every kid in every school district has to pay a sports fee if they are involved in sports. So get over it.
But, you are right that there shoulc be some kind of paper trail as who has paid and where the money is going.
There should be a paper trail of the money. I think they are justified in charging we pay for everything while these parents have no problem paying $400 per kid for soccer. We are the only district that pays everything.
This is why we are in the shape we are.
I agree, it's probably the administration at Simmons. They're probably refusing to authorize any money for the volleyball team, using it instead for their pet projects. So the coach has to charge more from the parents.
Parents should approach Ms. Patterson directly and ask about this. And if they don't get an answer that satisfies, go to the School Board.
First of all George Trejo can't change policy it has to go through the school board so if he did the parents need to contact the Board with that information and if they don't then they deserve what they get. If a principle is allowing this than they are going against the school code and should be dealt with it is time for the administration to start following board policies. In any other district someone would have been fired by now.
If these low income students can have cell phones and wear expensive sneakers then they can pay something if they want to play sports.
What needs to be done is get the administration at Simmons all worked up about this and call the parents and have them go to a School Board meeting and cry about how if they have to pay for the kids to play sports some of the children won't be able to and they will be running around after school in the streets talking on their cell phones and wearing their expensive sneakers that ought to help stop parents from having to pay for sports in this district. Someone must of forgot not matter what as long as we bring in all the low income children the school gets more money and we can give kids a free ride.
Dee Weaver will find out about call for all involved to be fired and make a motion to put a end to sports. The other half of the board will then become the voice of reason after a month of debate and put a stop to it after of course a board meeting and a special meeting and many hours of wasted admin time. Lewis will then be confused and not know which way to vote. What to bet money on the outcome.
No Ms. Weaver is all for sports. If this is true than yes something should be done to the administration because they can't change pollicy on their own. Most of the administration should be fired they have done nothing to help this district. The middle schools in the 8th year on watch list and high school the 6th year that doesn't say much about administration. The Magnet Program is a joke it is only in place to the non ELL don't have to be in the classrooms with ELL. I say fire all administration and superintendent and start fresh.
You must not know how to read no one said Weaver is. Her approach before looking into anything is to just fire them all. Have you ever looked at the test scores of other heavily minority/Latino schools. In comparison the state keeps changing the bar. To always say it is the admin's is false. It the kids they teach and it is not like the kids don't learn they do just at a slower pace.
I found this on another blog.
"Pig sex"
Pass it on.
No her approach is not to fire everyone it is to make them do their job. I have talked to some of the other board members and they wanted some of this about the Magnet Program and Urban League but then changed their minds and Ms. Weaver went along with the others. I think it would be the last thing she would vote for to stop sports. Should the board look into what they said about Simmons yes they should. Should someone be accountable for going against policy yes they should. If the parents of the student go before the board and ask what is going on with that and having to give money and no receipts yes they should or nothing will ever change in this district. I think what was said about this is a bunch of crap and someone is just trying to take away from the real problems this district has.
Compared to other districts we are doing pretty good there was a article in the Beacon about schools today and how some are having problems with money and how we have been making out ok. Next year will be a different story if something doesn't happen with the state it will probably be in bankruptcy and the money we get from property taxes will be less which means less money for the district.
I say get rid of this district see if another would take it over so the children of this district gets the best education they can have because no other district would put up with this crap.
They should also investigate why Trejo is only teaching one class. He is being paid a full teaching salary but isn't teaching a full load. And he is not the only teacher at Simmons getting a full salary who aren't teaching a full load.
Apparently, if you are part of the Simmons administrators "In-Crowd" they take good care of you. It's been going on for years. Patterson, Mitchell and Morales are the worst administrators we have in this district. If you kiss their rears you don't have to teach to collect a salary and if you don't watch out, they are as vindictive as can be. Many excellent teachers have been transferred or fired simply because they wouldn't kiss their butts.
You want an example of the poor leadership at Simmons. They are still redoing schedules in the building. The scheduling of classes was done so poorly, they have been trying for a month to fix it.
This isn't the first time either. The schedule at Simmons has been screwed up for three years in a row now. Last year 450 students were assigned the same lunch period and they didn't have a clue until the first day when they couldn't fit even half of the students in the lunch room. They have placed 50-60 students in one class and only 2 in others. One gym period had 300 students in it for 5 teachers. It was an extremely dangerous situation. There was no way to supervise this many kids properly.
The leadership at Simmons is a clusterfu#$. The central office has to know about these problems. It is another example of the poor leadership at central office, that they have done nothing about these problems.
7:52, I actually think that Wilson Morales is one of the better administrators in the district. My spouse teaches at Simmons, and Mr. Morales has gone out of his way to help teachers with scheduling (a big headache, with so many students to coordinate). Mr. Morales has always been accessible to teachers & parents, and he's reasonable to communicate with.
Let's acknowledge the positive administrators in our district, not just complain about the negative ones!
So you claim the district is doing fine> It was not under Weavers watch.
I guess that means that Dr Roberts is doing a good job. You say Weaver voted with the other board members then why if see was so right. Could it be the other board members don't back her and she is a island of one
9:10
Are you kidding? Wilson Morales is the administrator directly responsible for the scheduling screw ups at Simmons. He has done the scheduling for the past three years. The staff has barely gotten the screwed up schedules before the students show up, where at the other schools, the staff gets their schedules a week or two in advance. (And they aren't all messed up).
He is also a little bully. He gets into loud arguements with staff members on a regular basis both publicly and privately. He is slightly more competent than Patterson or Mitchell but that isn't anything to brag about. You also better watch out because he will stab you in the back the first chance he gets. None of the Simmons administrators has the support of their staff. Except, of course, for the ones who don't have to teach and still collect a salary.
Before you defend these administrators, you should actually speak to some of the staff members at Simmons. You would be amazed at some of the stories. The unprofessional behavior of these administrators, the illegal acts, the personal vendettas, the favoritism shown for those who kiss ass and the incompetence. These three really are the worst administrators around.
10:07, all I know is that Wilson Morales spent several (unpaid) hours with my spouse in July, discussing this year's schedule. Mr. Morales has also provided "backup" when needed for classroom discipline problems.
I do realize that others' experiences with administrators may have been different than ours. But I will continue to speak up about both the positive and negative in our district, from my 20+ years being involved in D131.
In every organization people don't all get along. Same with Simmons and many don't like their boss. We do have a teachers union why not file a complaint if Wilson is yelling at teachers in public. Because it does not happen.
Since Wilson is paid to do discipline and paid to do scheduling (in other words, this is his job) I don't know why you would be impressed that he spent a couple of hours doing his job. If he was actually doing his job, he wouldn't need to do extra hours in the summer and the schedule wouldn't be all screwed up. The fact is, he is a total screwup and he is the best administrator at Simmons. It's a disgrace.
You are not going to tell me that Simmons was the only school that had scheduling problems my child did at Waldo. Look at D204's first day to many kids on the bus children sharing lockers and to many children at Waubonsee High School. I would have to say what support did he have from his upper Administration. If he did spend out of hours with someone good for him if they needed it more should do that. I'm not a fan of this man I don't know him and in fact I think his wife steps out of bounds at the board meetings.
As far as the coach making students pay for sports he has no authority to do that if he did. He has to follow board policy so if you have a problem with that go to the board. The people of this district need to learn The School State law and how a board should work and until then you can complain all you want it won't work but if you make the district follow the School Code and how a board should run you might get further with your problems.
You are missing the point. Having a few small issues on the first day is normal. Not realizing that you have scheduled half of your school to one lunch period and scheduling a third of the school to one gym period or having to still reschedule huge numbers of students a month into the school year because you don't know how to schedule are examples of complete incompetence and major changes a month into the school year significantly interferes with a childs education.
These children are already disadvantaged in so many ways. They shouldn't have to deal with incompetent administrators.
These children are disadvantaged because their parents and this district allows it. They use the system for there own benefit to not learn English because our district and state and city allows it so they can live here are get benefits that most of children that are legal don't get. We allow them to not learn our language. Do you realize that in many foreign countries know they teach their children English in early grades so when our businesses come over their they can get jobs. The businesses in India and China look for that when hiring people in their countries so they can get jobs and compete and this is in their own countries. In the United States we allow ELL learners to go through school not learning our language because we get more money for it. Many people are disadvantaged but they strive to do better to get a good live not so much here. We let them use it as a crutch so they can not bring themselves up. Lets give them a hand up to do better and not give them a hand out to keep them where they are.
Ok what is up with the posting of board minutes. Still nothing from 7/20 and the others following it. You have put the board packets on which is nice but lets follow the law and get the others up. You have a full time person working on the website so there is no excuse why these aren't on there. The Secretary of the board should do her job and get them posted.
This is a new law signed by Governor Quinn. Let's hope this district follows the law since it has a full time webmaster.
Section 5. The School Code is amended by adding Sections
10-20.46 and 34-18.37 as follows:
(105 ILCS 5/10-20.46 new)
Sec. 10-20.46. Salary compensation report. On or before
October 1 of each year, each school district in this State,
including special charter districts, shall post on its Internet
website, if any, an itemized salary compensation report for
every employee in the district holding an administrative
certificate and working in that capacity, including the
district superintendent. The salary compensation report shall
include without limitation base salary, bonuses, pension
contributions, retirement increases, the cost of health
insurance, the cost of life insurance, paid sick and vacation
day payouts, annuities, and any other form of compensation or
income paid on behalf of the employee.
This report shall be presented at a regular school board
meeting, subject to applicable notice requirements. In
addition, each school district shall submit the completed
report to the office of the district's regional superintendent
of schools, which shall make copies available to any individual
requesting them.
Per Section 10-20.40 of this Code, as added by Public Act
95-707, a school district must post the contract that a school
board enters into with an exclusive bargaining representative.
The school board must provide the terms of that contract
online.
(105 ILCS 5/34-18.37 new)
Sec. 34-18.37. Salary compensation report. On or before
October 1 of each year, the school district shall post on its
Internet website an itemized salary compensation report for
every employee in the district holding an administrative
certificate and working in that capacity, including the general
superintendent of schools. The salary compensation report
shall include without limitation base salary, bonuses, pension
contributions, retirement increases, the cost of health
insurance, the cost of life insurance, paid sick and vacation
day payouts, annuities, and any other form of compensation or
income paid on behalf of the employee.
This report shall be presented at a regular board meeting,
subject to applicable notice requirements. In addition, the
board shall make copies of the completed report available to
any individual requesting them.
Per Section 10-20.40 of this Code, as added by Public Act
95-707, the school district must post the contract that the
board enters into with an exclusive bargaining representative.
The board must provide the terms of that contract online.
Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon
becoming law.
Effective Date: 8/13/2009
Did something happen at the July 20th board meeting that someone's trying to hide? Or does someone at the central office get a rise out of knowing they're withholding information from the community?
Whatever the reason, it's been almost 2 months since that meeting. The minutes SHOULD have been posted last month--where are they??
Get ahold of Lisa or Annette Johnson they are responsible for the minutes. It has been to long though.
If you have nothing better to do run for Carol's spot. Dee needs someone to back her because she lost everyone but flip flop Lewis.
If Mrs. Weaver has lost everyone it is because they don't have the backbone to say no to the programs that suck the money out of this district that does not benefit anyone. Would you enter into something with out knowing what it would cost you? That is what we did with the Urban League. There is nothing in writing that I have seen that when a students goes to them what it will cost us so they have an open check book from us for the education of that child no matter how many times they go. What impact will that have to the programs for the other children?
How about this Magnet Program does every child that deserves to go to it get to go? Do parents that don't want their children to go to a certain school because their children is afraid to go to a certain school get a pass at the Magnet Program even if they don't meet the requirements? We don't know because the board doesn't have that information. Do the children of this district deserve a good education and a safe school yes they do but lets not hide it with a Magnet Program lets make it happen for all that wants it.
It can be done if we have the right administration in place and as for now we don't.
I am glad they started posting the board packets but why can't they get the minutes from the 7/20 meeting posted even if it is under the old format. Is the secretary dropping the ball on this one? Don't make someone go to the states attorney on this it is a small thing but it should be done. Does some one need to get the two secretary s of the board some help? With Carol being gone it seems that we just don't know what to do. Maybe Rayanne can look into it.
From the other blog.
The, a, first, administration, teachers, of, who, when, then
Just thought you should know.
Again If you have all the answers run for the board. The minutes are posted online to bad you don't know who to use your computer. Probably related to Dee. When the board went to using the electronic packet Dee forced members of the staff to copy the entire board packet it sat on the table never looked at 3 reams of paper. So again you must be related to Dee.
It's September 17th, school has been in session for almost a month now and they are still making major scheduling changes at Simmons. That's a month of learning lost as the children are being shuffled from one class to another to another. The students at Simmons deserve much better than the three administrators there can provide.
8:50 p.m., what's your point?
Displaying your ignorance, wasting your time, or both??
Lets be clear about something. I do not teach at Simmons. I do not work in this school district and would really never want to after what I have been reading. This is what I derive- There is serious, and I do mean serious, patronage being accepted at Simmons by the "in" crowd. How does a new teacher survive? How does someone that just shuts his or her mouth and does their job survive? Sounds like, no it is loke, the AD is stealing the money. Good teachers have to muddle through the yearly bumbling of schedules, etc. Based on the increases admins gave themselves over the past few years- the union is in a unique position of getting exactly what they deserve after the current bargaining agreement is up. Strike if you have to. What are they going to do? No one in their right mind would want to replace you. They would be working for the bumbling current administration. 17% across the board. Additional 16.5 spread over 3 years. That may be enough to at least be competitive in the county. Hope you are well represented. If not, you need to be. Good luck! Boards got you all in the crosshairs. Economy means no jobs and you are stuck and they all know it. Time for a little payback. "Thats not your style Dillon". Get it?
What the hell are you talking about. None of that made any sense.
You must be one of the bumblers who is blogging at 8:30 in the morning instead of doing your job. The point is that the hardworking teachers who seriously give a damn about educating students in order to hopefully guide them to a life filled with success based on what they are provided in secondary education are getting screwed by having to deal with highly overpaid and woefully underacheiving administrators. They deserve better and do you not agree they should get better treatment and compensation? The next collective bargaining agreement is the linchpin to their quality of teaching in 131.
I don't believe that Ms. Weaver would force the staff to copy the board packets. It is because they wanted to go paperless they did it. Anyway she has no authority to do so the staff doesn't work for her.
Ms Weaver could not get her computer to work and assumed like she often does without looking into the facts that other board members had the same problem. She forced the staff to copy a entire set of documents then comes to the board meeting and gets instructions on how to use the computer and never looks at the stack of wasted paper. Pretty true of the way she has operated the last 2 years.
Lisa Morales works very hard and did research and install the paperless packet. The minutes of all the meeting are contained in the packets that is were the district decided to put them all members voted on this. It is clear you support Weaver because you have the same personality traits shoot off your month then get the facts later
Everyone to their own opion. I heard a different story and that some other members had problems seems there was a virus in the computers. If Lisa can't handle the work she should have someone take over for her. Is that why the 7/20 minutes aren't one the website yet is because Lisa is so busy? Other districts have had this paperless board packet for awhile and no one complains they are to busy to do it.
She can not force the staff to do anything and by the way she has worked with computers for a long time but I bet that the ones they are using have some kind of passcodes and they can be tricky. She usually comes to the board meetings right after work and doesn't get there until shortly before the meeting so how could she force the staff to do it if she was at work?
Only her sister would know this and no the other board members did not have problems only her. Many reports get requested that she never looks at. Remember when she is out bad mouthing the staff and fellow board members they will not sit and take it.
I would think only a board member or staff would also know this information. You can't tell me other members of the board bad mouth each other also. As I see it there is a lot of egos on that board and with the staff.
Mrs. Weaver has stated many times that she has come straight from work. At one meeting Mrs. Lewis started the meeting(I believe it was the one when they were interviewing the potential lawyers?). Mrs. Lewis stated that Mrs Weaver was held up at work so would be late arriving.
Only Dee's sister attended the meeting with the lawyer because it was a workshop. My point is she is the only one who would write anything positive about Dee. Your telling me Dee doesn't have a ego what a joke.
What is this about the workshop for the lawyers I thought we where talking about the start of the paperless packets and Ms. Weaver not being able to access this. I believe that the workshop was after this so yes there are other people out there that would stand up for her and for others on the board but maybe they shouldn't. By the way how many did show up for that workshop? It would have to be someone there that is posting this? Are you saying that none of the other members wanted to try another law firm? I would say yes Ms. Weaver does have an ego and so do the others but they all should try to do the best for the district. How do you know she never looks at those things she asks for?
You are right, this was about the start of the paperless board packets. In reading all of this I am wondering now what this entire subject is about in all of this at this point?
I've said this before and I will say it again this district needs to be dissolved. There are those that are so worried about certain programs or people salaries or peoples egos and what we really should be worried about is the education of our children where they are disadvantaged, low income or just don't care. There are many districts that have overcome this but we have to many that want to keep it this way.
I know that none of our neighboring districts will take us on but it would be nice just to have someone think of it. Maybe with the money problems some have they will think about us and the poverty money we get on time from the state that they don't and can see how it will work for them and our district.
What neighboring school district would want to take on a community with a 56% poverty rate? Please. Nobody want to go to school with poor people who don't give a damn about education.
You never know maybe some district would like to make Aurora better. As this district say we have no money worries because of our poverty rate and that the state makes sure we get our money for that. If another district was smart enough they could use that to their advantage and spread that money around. In reading all the district around us are losing money and we aren't so they could use that money to make there district better. But you can bet they will not give anyone an open check book on programs that some will not say what it will cost.
Say 204 took us over. Do you have any idea how much money it would take to just get the technology in our buildings up to what they have in 204. And how would "spreading the money around" make the other district better. You are going to ask them to hinder their current kids to make 131 kids better off. Yeah right.
Not everything is what you think in other districts and to think that they would have to get everything up to what they have is misleading it would take time. They would still have the good old just learning. It could mean that the old crap that this district is doing would be gone. Maybe they would have an idea of how they could get parents to get involved in their children's education. It could be done but it looks like some don't like change.
No some people live in the real world.
Have you been in our schools as compared to other school districts they are about the same administration is doing a great job with the lot they have been handed. Remember our kids have parents that do not value a good education. That is the only difference between use and other districts. Don't believe everything you hear.
You think the only difference between East High and Metea Valley High is the parents. Please. Tell me another one.
You know D204 is now facing some financial problems after building Metra and isn't there only two grades over there? It does help to have new up to date schools but it takes more than that.
Maybe if this district really pushed to get the kids to learn and show they where not going to let things slide we would get more people to move to this side of Aurora. How is it we had more children register for school when we have so many foreclosures here? Is is because we really don't make sure they live in this district?
Yeah, the are facing financial trouble. So that means they want to help a community that is 56% in poverty. Yeah, that makes sense.
D204 isn't the only district by us maybe one of the others. It was stated that it would be good if one of the districts would combine with D131 no one really said anything about D204.
You must no read the papers they have been running articles about the districts that are or will face money problems and our district doesn't because the state makes sure we get our poverty money and there is another one that we get it was in the paper this week. I believe Jay Augistine stated it.
Here is the article from the Beacon and if you go to the online paper the comments under this is very interesting.
D204 worried about long-term finances
Comments
September 15, 2009
By KATHY CICHON kcichon@scn1.com
While Indian Prairie School District 204's financial outlook for the coming year appears healthy, it is the budget projections for 2011 that have school officials concerned.
"Definitely cautious," said Dave Holm, assistant superintendent for business. "Concerned. I would say that the state of Illinois and their role is as big as anything for us," Holm said Monday afternoon. "State funding is going to have to change in some way. They have to be able to continue to fund education at a certain level. But they can't do that right now with their revenue flow, so they have a lot on their plate.
"We're going to be OK for the current year," Holm said. "We'll find a way to continue to survive for a while. But in the long term, we need the state to step up."
The District 204 Board of Education unanimously approved the budget for 2010 Monday night. Despite a $2 million deficit in 2009's budget, attributed to the district's all-day kindergarten program, the figures for 2010 show a slight surplus.
"The bottom line is we still have a positive fund balance all across the budget," Holm said. "It's a balanced budget."
The $284 million operating budget for 2010 shows a $437,726 surplus. Of the total operating budget, the majority of it — $188 million — is spent on salaries. The district's budget year runs from July 1 through June 30. By law the district has to have the budget approved by the end of September. The operating budget for 2009 was $270 million.
State funding is anticipated at $46 million for the year, which is actually an increase from 2009 state funding of $42 million. That, Holm said, is due to funding received as part of the all-day kindergarten program.
While the district had that one bump in state funding because of the program this year, that will not be the case come 2011, which is projected to have an $8 million deficit, Holm said.
"We're seeing a general decline in general state aid," he said.
Originally the district had a $6.5 million projected deficit for 2010, but it was able to close the gap through a variety of means, including an infusion of $3 million in stimulus money, redoing contracts, locking in lower rates on new energy contracts and working with bus company First Student to buy diesel fuel directly to save on taxes and labor efficiencies.
"We've negotiated some reductions, not huge, but some," Holm said.
And there were reductions across the board in non-labor line items.
The board will hear a financial forecast update next month, and in December it will receive the district's annual financial report. In the meantime, the district will continue to plan for future needs, Holm said. And the Citizens Financial Advisory Committee will be reaching out to the community for "forwarding-looking creative and innovative ideas" that can lead to cost savings, Holm said. The committee, which originally formed about five years ago, has been meeting over the last few months to look for ways the district can be more cost-effective.
"I think more than any time in our history, fiscal responsibility is at the forefront of everything we're doing," Superintendent Kathy Birkett said. "It has to be. And it always has been, but more so than ever before because we don't know what's going to come from the state. It's such a question mark; we have to make really fiscally sound decisions. So as we move forward over these next couple years, we're going to have some tough decisions to make."
Part of the article from the Beacon about the district saying thank you to the voters even though they mislead some people about that referendum.
After four years of cuts, and trimming more than $7 million from their annual budget, East Aurora administrators and students finally got a piece of their pie. It was time to rejoice -- and they did.
As other districts laid off teachers, slashed programs and closed buildings to deal with the economic difficulties facing their schools, East Aurora residents rested easy.
"Even though the state initially came out with a list of reductions that would have caused us -- even with the referendum money -- to make drastic cuts in categorical areas, when the governor increased the poverty grant and foundation level, it allowed us not to make any programmatic changes," Augustine said.
Less than a year ago, these programs were on the verge of extinction.
"It's a secure thing now," said district spokesman Clayton Muhammad said. "Last year, they weren't so sure of that."
In Augustine's eyes, however, nothing is set in stone.
"We will be very, very careful," Augustine said. "We may have a surplus now, but that doesn't mean it's going to stay."
"We're very dependent on state aid, and right now that works for us," he said. "We haven't had to suffer as much as some districts, but had they delayed general state aid payments, we would have been much worse off."
The one thing I see with D204 they are looking into the future now and looking at the reductions they can do. They even have a Citizens Financial Advisory Committee to reach out and ask community members for idea's in cost cutting. Not so much in our district all they want to do is spend. Even when the board tries to make spending cuts the administration brings in the crying parents to not cut programs. You can bet when D204 has to make these cuts they will listen to the parents but they will do the best for the whole district. It looks like they are looking into the future now not hoping that things will get better which the state is saying now that next year will be worse. It is also nice that their Superintendent talks to the community not their PR person. I like her quote here you don't hear anything like this from our Superintendent.
"I think more than any time in our history, fiscal responsibility is at the forefront of everything we're doing," Superintendent Kathy Birkett said. "It has to be. And it always has been, but more so than ever before because we don't know what's going to come from the state. It's such a question mark; we have to make really fiscally sound decisions. So as we move forward over these next couple years, we're going to have some tough decisions to make."
Comparing 204 to 131 is not even in the same realm. We receive many grants and low income money from the state. East Aurora's budget is in great shape compared to 204 or 129. Stop trying to micromanage and if you have a problem run for the board.
You don't need to be a board member to be a positive contributer to the district and community. It takes everyone working together to make positive changes for our children. It is so ignorant to think that only board members should have a say and if you don't like it you need to become a board member.
No one is trying to compare 204 with 131 there is no way you can. I looks like someone was trying to point out that even if we are in good shape there is nothing wrong with looking into the future which doesn't look so bright. The state might be making those payments to low income now but it you watch the news and listen to some of our representatives they are saying unless they get a state tax increase this year next year will not be too good.
Even if someone ran for the board there are some on that board now that do not want to make changes and prepare for the future.
New board old board sure looks the same, Rayanne is bob bossy and no idea, annette tall no common sense just wants to be bossy, dee the only one with a back bone willing to make a difference. Yes I agree all the new board members have there agenda, It is real hard to rope in a bunch of menopausel women Good Luck Dee the new members are showing thier lack of courage and are starting to buckle like the old boys club
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