There was comment in the last post to check out this article:
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/chi-aurora-njrotc-28-dec28,0,202339.story
I thought it was worth a post and a good place to start on a brighter note.
Our NJROTC has been a positive force in EAHS for quite sometime.
The article asks- "If the programs are so great, why aren't they in white affluent communities too?"
Is it possibly due to the fact those families can & do pay for their children to get involved in any and many activities outside the school. EA students options are limited by accessibility due to location & finances.
40 years ago when I attended EA, our basketball team gave us all EA pride. Now it is NJROTC.
The article also suggests ROTC programs could be "recruitment vehicles for the military."
I think the students & Lt. Cmdr. expressed well what NJROTC is to EA.
What do you see in our NJROTC and the students in the program?
197 comments:
If the article asked why they aren't in white affluent areas too.... then that person did not do thier research because groups like that are in white affluent areas. It may not be the army version, but all branches of the military have a similar program and those are in the "white affluent" areas.
Oops. I meant the navy not army. I have checked into similar programs in different communities and they are there.
I think the NJROTC is a great program. I read the article and it gives our kids a place to belong, find support, learn responsibility, etc. It is a positive force and I'm glad it is popular at EA.
Speaking of EHS pride, a couple of posts from a previous thread:
~~~~~~~~~
Anonymous said...
Students do have access to this material, as I am one of them. I am in band and I stand up for us. We are a family and no matter what politic bullshit you all speak of, we will continue to be that family. I do not care for your negative words, and I do not care for your idiotic comments on our band director. He leads us, and he keeps us together. Whats most important is the feeling we get when do a concert, a sport event, or a jazz concert. That is what we strive off of and that is what motivates us. The music tones out the rest of bullshit and makes it all okay. Do not insult Mr. Liska because you do not know what its like to be in his class, and you do not know what its like to learn in his class. That is your ignorance speaking and we can all hear you loud and clear.
December 27, 2009 9:01 PM
Anonymous said...
9:01 p.m., you say you're a family--true, but many families are dysfunctional.
I am one of many who are critical of the current EHS band program. However, I have been careful to aim most of my criticism at the ADMINISTRATION, not at Mr. Liska. It is not Mr. Liska's fault that Mr. Kaisershot was BULLIED out of his high school teaching position. Mr. Liska was simply a well-meaning recent college graduate who needed a job, and who was rushed in by a corrupt administration desperate to fill a position that at least a dozen candidates had rejected for good reason.
Because the administration had promised that replacing Mr. K was necessary to improve the EHS band program, many of us keep asking,
"where's the improvement?" We remember a band program that proudly represented East Aurora at Disney World and Universal Studios, and whose students won many first-division awards at the IHSA solo and ensemble contests. We repeatedly ask the ADMINISTRATION (not necessarily Mr. Liska) to show us how replacing (bullying) Mr. K was in the best interests of the students in this district. And we will continue to remind the ADMINISTRATION that this decision was just plain wrong--and the more time goes by, the more obvious this blunder becomes to any of us with eyes & ears who remember the "glory days" of the East High band program!
December 28, 2009 10:41 AM
I understand your loyalty to your band program. I have been part of good, bad and great programs through the years and felt loyalty to all of them. Unfortunately, you are only showing your ignorance.
You need to go out and see real programs in action. You won't have to go far, go see Waubonsee or Oswego perform. Let us know your thoughts after seeing a real program in action.
11:27--no, you're showing YOUR ignorance!
"Waubonsee" is a community college. It does not have a high-profile band program. Maybe you meant Waubonsie Valley H.S.? Now THERE's a great high school band program (I should know, because my kids were in it!)
Big difference, 11:27!
Bull Penis
Vagina of a moose
Whale anus
I see we have a wildlife biology student spouting their knowledge.
Or it could be a creature sharing it's view being the lowest of low lifes.
No it's not Rayanne!
Is this that person from Yorkville way?
Wow - I thought it was bad when an ROTC post took only 3 comments before band became the topic - AGAIN (can you say beat a dead horse?) Then, to my dismay, things only got worse with juvenile name-calling.
Anette is that you saying all those vile things I think so.
About the reasons our kids want to join NJROTC--not only can they join the military, they can get good scholarship opportunities through ROTC in college, if their grades are good enough. Yet another great motivation to stay in school and graduate!
People will keep bringing up the band as long as the administrators responsible for its downhill slide continue with their denial. We can be proud of good things like the NJROTC while still holding district leaders accountable for their poor decisions several years ago.
Yes we can be proud of the ROTC - GOOD JOB, You have an article in the paper!
who is anette?
We all know Rayanne is so bitter it is just her starting trouble because as keeper of the blog she could remove these statements. By not doing so it shows it her.
You figure it out who Annette is.
I heard a Board members kid was cut from ROTC. I wonder who.
What is it I am bitter about? You are correct, if I wanted, I could remove any comment I do not agree with or don‘t like.
FYI-Some one out there is PO'd because they posted long nonsensical comments copied and pasted about curse words. They continued to type in curse words just for the sake of putting them under the new post. There was no relation to the topic, just random repeated cursing. I deleted them.
So they continue to post more words to be offensive. I left them as a reminder of the mentality of the people behind the comments you may read on any blog. You cannot take them seriously, and it is best to ignore them, rather than try and have reasonable dialog with them.
I suspect this person is the bitter one, who has suggested to me, personally, a few times, I should discontinue this blog.
About the NJROTC--it would be nice if the Beacon could do an article or two about some of the East High students who have been through the program, and what they're doing several years later. How many of them have joined the military & honorably served their country? How many have gone to college with an ROTC scholarship?
Extracurricular programs such as NJROTC and band (to name just a couple of examples) cost families a bit more, but students get plenty of bang for their buck in what they learn: teamwork, respect, work ethic--all skills which translate well to the "real world". More parents might be motivated to have their kids participate if they can read about specific examples of success; I'm sure there are many!
I have been teaching for many years and, like most people in this district, was happy to see the NJROTC program instituted. I thought it was a good alternative to gangs and the streets. I was sick and tired of burying my current and former students.
The longer this program has gone on and the more former students I have watched come back from war in a box, the more mixed feelings I have about the program.
I know being killed for your country on the streets of Iraq or Afghanistan is supposed to be a more honorable way to die than in the streets of Aurora Illinois but dead is dead. I am still tired of watching teenagers being killed needlessly.
I agree. It is not a program to be celerated. It is a program run by the government to encourage kids to go into the armed services. The program is NOT in Naperville, it is NOT in Plainfield, it is NOT is Oswego because those kids generall don't go in the army after high school - THEY GO TO COLLEGE. It is in East Aurora, because many of East kids don't go to college, so the government thinks, lets encourage these kids to go and get killed overseas.
It's true, wheather you want to believe it or not.
Juicy Bear nipples!
It's a well known fact that military recruiters target low income, poorly educated kids. They go after these kids because they have few real options in life. They are easy targets for recruiters.
It's bad enough when rogue recruiters go after these poor individuals, it's much worse when it becomes a standard public practice to go after these kids. To establish a program with the full knowledge of the government and education leaders that targets these kids.
Crank up the old meat grinder. Fresh meat, fresh meat.
It's even worse when the program is then celebrated as a huge success.
The program and what it does for East Aurora students is something to celebrate.
EA does no exit surveys, no post grad follow up, so it is speculation how many of our NJROTC students actually enter the service. Some volunteer from a sense of pride for their country, having never been in any ROTC program.
We had a lottery to recruit during Viet Nam
Years ago delinquents had the option of a youth home or volunteering for the armed forces.
EA cadets have pride in self, school, & country, if they chose to go to fight for the freedom of all others, that is honorable. It is the ultimate community service.
Better than the gang family teaching them how to shoot up their community. EA cadets are not all banger wannabes. What is the difference in coaches and colleges recruiting students with athletic ability, that are less than desirable on the academic scale?
Isn't that taking advantage of certain young people with no real training for post college work.
Why do some of you jump so quickly to find fault & criticize the positive in 131?
I have been teaching for more than twenty years, the NJROTC has been around for far fewer. I thought that I had lost a lot of students to drugs and gangs. Both those that were killed or just as bad, rotting their life away in some prison.
I never realized how many I would see buried with a flag on their coffin. Glorify it any way you choose but dead is dead. It's the life of our children that has been wasted. I never knew when I decided to be a teacher that I would be part of a system that encourages students to place themselves in harms way. I became a teacher to protect and teach children, not encourage them to die.
Only Rayanne's Blog can turn the ROTC into a negative.
Only a seriously warped mind could take the systematic destruction of childrens lives and turn it into a positive. How can you celebrate a system that encourages death and destruction.
We need to teach these children how to live a positive life of peace. Not turn them into killers or tell them them there is honor in death.
Did anyone read this article?
"Even though it's military-based, this is not a recruiting arm for the military," Person said. "What we push is going to college. That's our emphasis. Please go to college."
Better yet...have any of you spoke to the students in this program to find what they are getting or taking from this program and how it has affected them personally?
Read the story!
So what you are saying is that we should have no military at all to protect you and your families. These kids get a choice to go into the military or on to other things but they have learned how to be a better person in like after this program. I know a few that went through this and did not join the military and have used the skills they learned in the program to better their life. It is there choice just like others in different districts make choices to make their lives better.
Lets not degrade the students from our district that chose to serve their country and I'm sure they did not think they would die in doing that. We should be proud that some of our students chose this path. Remember we have a President that promised that we would pull out of many of the countries we are fighting in now and has change his mind.
So as some of our students have chosen to go into the military let's support them for the fight they fight so we can post on blogs.
People have many comments in all circles about The Reserves and now the talk about The NJROTC program about how it targets certain Ethic groups which might be true but then if we want to make it right then maybe they should bring back the Draft so all of America's young will have the opportunity to serve our country so we all have the FREEDOM OF SPEECH for one thing. Some are right why should only the low income be targeted. All should be targeted and they only way to do that is bring back the draft. Most of us should remember how well that worked with the Vietnam War.
So maybe we should get rid of these programs and make sure all 18 year old register for the draft and fight for their country.
I am not saying we should not have a military. I am saying we should not be indoctrinating children before they have the mental capabilities to make a decision that can affect the rest of their lives.
The kids education shouldn't be reading, writing and a M-60 machine gun.
They teach the NJROTC about
M-60's ?!?
They've come a long way in a few years. The only thing my son was able to do was twirl a white wooden rifle.
Now they have machine gun exhibition? What is this district coming to?
Anybody check out the minutes from the last meeting. It is clear that the sides have been taken. Carlson, Weaver, and Lewis vs the other 4. Nobody for educating the kids, everybody for themselves. 7 Women who can bitch and argue about anything forever.
I was in ROTC many years ago. We did fire live weapons regularly and had a firing range in our high school. We had a rifle team and went to competitions all over the USA against other ROTC units. If East Aurora doesn't use firearms, they are the only unit I've encountered that didn't use them.
You may want to double check with your kid about what weapons are used by the students. By the way, we also had the wooden rifles, they were only for drill team practice and public exhibitions.
We should be so proud that some adults in this district can use such language on the blog. It just shows that some don't like what is said and I know we have people that understand that some needs to vent but don't have to go to the lengths to degrade themselves by using bad language. Is this what we are teaching our children in this district?
It's OK to teach our children to be militaristic but don't say a bad word in front of them? Are you kidding?
Make sure you say nice things when you kill people children. We don't want to be perceived as rude.
Don't count on Lewis she sang Roberts praises to high heaven. It is back to a 5-2 Board the same as the old Board.
Hail the conquering HERO!
http://www.suburbanchicagonews.com/beaconnews/news/1963962,2_1_AU30_EASTSUPER_S1-091230.article
So Dr. Roberts' contract has been extended. That's a mixed bag for me: I remember back when he was principal at East High, and he's always impressed me as being a reasonable, honorable man (unlike his predecessor, "Serial Bully" Radakovich). But he definitely plays favorites when he chooses the issues he advocates. And he has been unwilling to "rock the boat" when it comes to dealing with controversial issues (like answering those of us who ask how replacing the EHS band director has proven to be in students' best interests).
The only thing he conquered was the boards good judgement.
He is a hero to them and only them.
8:14 must not remember Radakovich. Believe me, Roberts is a saint compared to the previous superintendent!
ROBERTS TO LEAD EAST UNTIL 2014
(Aurora) - On Monday December 21, 2009, the East Aurora Board of Education approved a contract extension for Dr. Jerome Roberts, Superintendent of Schools, in a 5-1 decision (one member was absent).
Roberts’ current contract, which will be in effect until June 30, 2011, has now been extended until June 30, 2014.
“One of the things that I said when I became the superintendent was that ‘this is my dream job’ and that remains the same and that has not changed at all. Very rarely in a person’s career do they get a chance to have the job that they always wanted and to be able to maintain the job,” said Roberts who took over the helm of East Aurora School District 131 in 2006.
Members of the Board of Education lauded Dr. Roberts for the positive changes that have been made in the school district since 2006.
“Many excellent things are going on in this district.….Keep up all of your good work. You and your staff are doing great. That is why I am here,” said Stella Gonzalez.
Of the ‘many excellent things’ that are going on, Board members highlighted the implementation of the Magnet Academy, reading and math programs, and technological advances as some of the most important.
“I’ve been out visiting some of the schools. I'm very impressed. I think the Magnet School is wonderful…the reading programs and the state of the art equipment that the schools have, I think all of that speaks very highly of the leadership that we’ve had here in the district,” said Mary Anne Turza.
Board Vice-President, Anita Lewis, based her motion to extend Dr. Roberts’ contract on the success of the programs that she has seen since her tenure on the Board of Education started in April.
“For me to make a decision not to renew his contract, would set the district back several years. All of the programs that are now working and that we are trying to grow would basically be put on hold until we changed our superintendent. Therefore, my yes vote for the renewal of Dr. Roberts’ contract is vote in favor of our district, a vote in favor of our superintendent, his great staff, our principals, and all of our teachers,” she said.
The district has made several noted advances over the past several years that Dr. Roberts plans to leverage for greater success in the future. In 2008, the district passed a $32 million dollar referendum and due to astute financial planning, the district made no staff cuts this school year and stands prepared to receive financial recognition from the state of Illinois.
“Basically, there is no district right now that has gone from financial watch to financial recognition in this economy and that is 100% attributable to Dr. Roberts and the way he has managed the budget,” said Annette Johnson, Chairman of the Board’s Finance Committee and an accountant.
“I just expect great things to come in the 2010 and I am going to be happy to spend the next three years on the board with him. I am going to vote for him unequivocally yes,” she continued.
For Board veteran, Juanita Wells, the proof of the district’s success is evident from its programs and from the opinions of other educators throughout the state.
“The district is going forward and we are doing a lot of wonderful things in the district. I’ve had to fight off a lot of school districts who want to take our superintendent. Others see what we have…Dr. Roberts, I appreciate what you are doing for the district. I know that you put the students first,” Wells said.
Roberts previously served as the principal of East Aurora High School from 1989-1993. During his five years as principal of East High, he is credited with increasing ACT scores, bettering student attendance, and reducing tardiness. Roberts is also credited with helping to create the Parent Coalition, a group of adults who stood on six troublesome street corners north of East High at the beginning and end of school to watch over the children coming to and from school.
Roberts returned to East Aurora Schools in 2004 as Director of Secondary Education and was later approved as Assistant Superintendent of Secondary Education before assuming the top post in 2006.
In his classic style, Dr. Roberts accepted the praise with humility and passed along the credit to his district administrators, building administrators, and teachers.
“I am from a genre and philosophy that says the work proves the craftsman. When you are doing a good job, people will speak for you, and you need not speak for yourself,” he said
He continued, “The staff members are the people who have made the district successful. It is not me. The superintendent is simply the band director, but he is only as good as those members in the band who play the instruments.”
East Aurora School District 131 will have four more years to write new songs and play beautiful music.
"Play beautiful music"--what an ironic joke! Typical Clayton Muhammad comment. After all, he's the one who, when EHS "new & improved band program" students couldn't manage to bring home even one first-division rating at the IHSA solo & ensemble contest a couple of years ago sent out a press release bragging that the students had "won silver" and "won bronze"!
Certain administrators in this district wouldn't know "beautiful music" if it bit them in the butt.
Is anybody else noticing that we always seem to get the F-bombs when someone mentions the band? Big clue as to someone's identity?
Big CLUE????? Oh yeah. BIG CLUE?????
I know who: December 30, 2009 10:32 is - A BITCH with no ability to judge anything that is going on in the district. Hmmmmm, who could that be.....Rayanne, Anita, Dee, Annee - All are correct answers
LOL
I guess 10:42 has outed their self.
I am unsure who Annee is unless they meant Annette, but I know it wasn't me and I have it on good authority it is very unlikely it is the other ladies, so is it possible there are others who recognize the "bomber?"
I think the "Annee" they're referring to is someone who comments on the Beacon site. She (or one of her friends) usually cross-posts her comments on this blog and Openline.
Hey Hey Its been more than a week since there has been a scandal coming out of Simmons. I know there's been no school but on the East Side we have to celebrate any accomplishment, no matter how small.
whomever stated that the neighboring districts are not involved in njrotc programs is incorrect. There are similar programs in neighboring districts. Not navy related, but there are other branches of the service represented in other districts. These programs are not tied as closely to the schools like ours is, but they meet in schools and have students from those schools in them. The schools just do not take recognition for them as if it was one of their programs. The njrotc is treated more like a scout group would be using the school after hours.
Ok, then it is not like our program, and more like a scout program. So therefore, it is NOT in the other schools. There is a BIG difference between NJROTC being a class during the school day, and an extra curricular activity NOT RUN BY THE SCHOOL but using a school building. So, I guess I was correct after all.
So it is in no way, shape or form part of the school curriculum.
If you are going to make a claim about another school district, you should mention the name of the district so that the rest of us can actually verify your claim. There are people on here who claim all sorts of nonsense that is later shown to be incorrect.
Happy New Year Everyone.
I hope now that the Superintendent got his contract renewed the teachers will get a fair raise and be paid like the other teachers in the County like the Superintendent did. I also hope the board thinks about updated the scheduling system and how the teachers have to put the grades in for report cards. That would be what a Superintendent that really cared about his teachers would do.
I don't think there is anyway this school board is going to give the teachers a fair wage. They don't give a crap. They are just trying to save money at all costs. I wouldn't be surprised if they asked the teachers to take a cut in pay.
It's the Superintendent and Lawyers that go over the contract and the board votes on it so if the Superintendent has balls he will go for the most first and see what they say. I think you might be surprised how some of the board members feel.
About the band situation--I don't care who the director is. He could be Mickey Mouse for all I care (come to think of it, that might be one way to get our kids to march at Disney World again)
What I do care about is holding our overpaid, corrupt administrators responsible for the decisions they make concerning our kids! People keep asking how replacing the EHS band director was in our students' best interests. Not one administrator or old-guard School Board member has responded to this basic question! If they can't justify this decision almost 5 years later, how can we trust any other decisions they make?
Specifically, the administrators who were involved in supposedly "improving" the EHS band program and who are still working for D131 are: Dr. Marin Gonzalez, Mr. Joe Harmon, Mr. Clayton Muhammad (remember "this whole issue is over?), Mrs. Juanita Wells (on the School Board at the time). Hold these folks (and maybe there are some I'm unaware of) accountable for this decision. Keep asking them "how is this in our students' best interests?" Our kids deserve the best, and we taxpayers deserve answers!
Dec. 31 8:31:
Check out Bolingbrook High School's JROTC
https://www.edline.net/pages/Bolingbrook_High_School/Departments/AFJROTC
Joliet West High School JROTC
Joliet Central High School JROTC
http://www.jths.org/district204/curriculum_info/course_offerings/als.aspx
They are programs offered during the day, not extra-curricular programs.
Hope that helps! Happy New Year!
I checked out both sites. Both school districts list ROTC under clubs and activities. I couldn't find them under the schools curriculum.
Bolinbrook has both Air Force and Marine JROTC programs and they are courses:
https://www.edline.net/files/99e768d2f94b5c1e3745a49013852ec4/Course_Catalog_09-10.pdf
They also have clubs and activities related to these programs - as East does. But the courses are part of the day curriculum.
Joliet is a similar set up at both their campuses - the link:
http://www.jths.org/district204/curriculum_info/course_offerings/als.aspx
It states:
RESERVE OFFICER TRAINING CORPS (R.O.T.C.)
The purpose of Junior R.O.T.C. is to “motivate young people to bebetter citizens”, and is therefore open to all students. Students may enroll in Junior R.O.T.C. in lieu of Physical Education, or may enroll in both Junior R.O.T.C. and Physical Education. En¬rollment in Junior R.O.T.C. does not in any way obligate students to enlist in the Armed Services.
The Junior R.O.T.C. curriculum consists of seven units: (1) Citizenship in action; (2) Leadership theory and application; (3) Foundations for Success; (4) Wellness, fitness, and first aid; (5) Geography, map reading, and environmental awareness; (6) Citizenship in American history and government; and (7) Civilian air rifle marksmanship and safety program. In addition, students create individual portfolios which are updated every semester of J.R.O.T.C.
Extracurricular activities include color guard, honor guard, drill team, air rifle team, and raider team. All military uniforms andcourse books are provided by the Junior R.O.T.C. department at no cost to the student.
The course listing links for each course are on that page.
Right. Those schools are not Naperville, Plainfield, Oswego. Joilet, low income, high minorities. Bolingbrook, statring to change, but at one time had a high gang population, large minority population. Keep finding school similar to East Aurora. I would not call Bolingbrook or Joliet high income areas.
You will never get the answers for those questions. You should ask the Superintendent why he allows the band to keep be bad when he has a very good band director in the district. He holds all the answers and those administrators won't have to as long he is superintendent.
We all know that the military are targeting low income, poorly educated kids. They've been around a long time and know where most of their recruits are going to come from.
The only question is, do we really want the military recruiting our children when we send them to school? That is the fundamental question that must be asked.
Apparently Roberts and the board have already decided they do want to sacrifice our kids, are you going to let them continue doing it?
For some state funding and I believe we get that funding the schools have to let recruiting in the schools.
So the government takes your money and says that if you want some of it back, you have to let our recruiters into your childrens lives.
Before any child can enlist they have to have their parent, guardian, or anyone who has legal custody sign for them to enlist if they are not of legal age. When they are of legal age who are you all going to blame then? It cannot be NJROTC or any such similar program. Many do chose to go into service for schooling once they are of legal age, knowing there might be a possiblility of going to war if there is one. I am proud and support out troups for whatever capacity they are in, in whatever branch of service they joined. Wether I agree with these wars or not, I will not demean our soliders, no matter what age, sex or ethnic background they are from. They are the reason I have the rights and freedoms I have, be it the wars that are going on now or the wars in the past. My prayers, thoughts and thank you's to them and God Bless them all!
I like sex
No one has mentioned the biggest reason some of our young people join NJROTC--serving in the military is a fast track to U.S. citizenship!
A lot of kids are brought up here from Mexico when they are very young, when their parents move here. Their brothers and sisters who are born here are automatically citizens, but they are not (through no fault of their own; most of these kids learn English quickly and very much want to be part of American culture). So joining the military gives them the opportunity to be legal, official Americans.
Plus, in the service they're learning marketable skills which will enable them to contribute in a positive way.
And they're protecting our freedom. I join previous posters in saying "Thank you"!
I agree with previous comments about having pride in all our soldiers.
I have 2 stories. One is about a cadet who was an outstanding individual, student & member of JROTC. Senior year he earned a free ride to the academy for his work in HS, but he had a secret. He was illegal. His family had tried to make things right years before he graduated, but they kept hitting roadblocks. This young man CHOSE to enlist. He didn't fault his parents or the system for not being allowed the privilege of the scholarship -he had earned! He gave back to the country he called home and is serving so we can all enjoy many freedoms.
FYI-story #2-I know at least 5 EAHS grads serving presently who were NOT in NJROTC. Who do we "blame" for their enlistment? Why don't we just applaud them and say thanks to ALL veterans. We can only imagine a life without the armed forces and pray we never have to live it.
January 1, 2010 11:26 PM
Some do it, others talk about it.
Wishing you a better new year!
I have several stories also. They all came home in pine boxes. So much for citizenship, marketable skills or better future.
Here's a number for you 44 cents. 44 cents of every tax dollar you spend goes directly to the military. That number does not include the hundreds of billions that goes to companies like Haliburton which is basically another army that we hire. It also doesn't include the trillion dollars we have borrowed to fight these two wars that we are currently in. We are going to need extra citizens to pay off all this debt we are creating. Our great grandchildren will still be paying it off a hundred years from now.
A world without militaries, I wish for it all the time.
So where should would we be if not for the military? Who do you think should defend our country? I don't think anyone wants to see our children, Wife's, Husbands, Sisters or Brothers go fight. The only way around this is to impose the Draft back so all 18 years old have to sign up and then all walks of life will be out there fighting for your right to complain about this.
Here's a alternative to spending trillions of dollars and having all the death and destruction, it's called peace. Try it sometime.
I'm all for that. Now if we could just get those pesky Al-Qaida types to sign on, we'd have it made!
Unless & until that happens, we need our military forces.
Get the American military out of Al-Qaida's back yard and I'm sure they quit coming into our back yard. They didn't attack us until long after we stuck our noses into their business.
To: December 30, 2009 2:45 PM
Sorry, I am late in saying thanks for the "annee" explantion. That makes it clearer on past comments I have seen referencing that name.
I was reading about the praise the board has for Dr. Roberts and the technilogical advances this district has made. What a joke.
The district is still using a scheduling and grading system that was purchased in the 1970's. When you go online you can get almost no current information about events in the schools. I have to call the school to even know when my kid is playing a basketball game at Simmons. No schedules are shown online.
When my kid was in 204 he was able to get homework assignments and projects online, it was a program called Blackboard that they used, it's the same program I used when I was in college in the 1980's but this district does not use it.
This district doesn't use basic programs that have been used for decades by other districts. How this board can praise Roberts for his technological advances, I can't understand.
It's simple, Roberts has brought the district up to the early 80's technologically, our board must still be behind him from a technological standpoint.
It's amazing to me that in a district where the community does not want to pay for ANYTHING, that they start demanding the best technology. PAY FOR IT.
That type of performance is apparently good enough for a long contract extention and raise for the superintendent in this district. It really would be amazing to see what our kids could do if they were on the same playing field with the other districts around us.
It would be great if their teachers were paid the same as others around us (so the best and brightest would stay), if they had the same technology, if the could use the same equipment, if they had coaches of the same caliber, if they had four football coaches per grade like a Jewel MS does or eight music directors (plus dozens of private instructors)like a Waubonsie.
I guess it's alright as long as the superintendent gets paid like other superintendents around us and lies through his teeth to say the district is doing a great job for our kids.
Between federal and state income taxes, sales taxes, gas taxes, property taxes, licensing fees, road tolls, etc. etc. etc. we give the government well over half of everyones income.
Is it really too much to ask that our kids get the best education possible.
WHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA
A budget of more than 100 million dollars a year and they are still using a grading system from the 1970's? Where has all our money been going?
Some of the money has been going to preserve the image of administrators and try to cover up their blunders. Like, for example, hiring 3 adult professional musicians for the pit for the musical at East High, in addition to the $6,500.00 for the conductor (that's a whole bunch of money for someone to wave their arms and give downbeats for a few hours, for a total of maybe 6 or 7 evenings outside of the school day).
Lies, cheating, extortion…just like a weekly drama. Lies being told from central office to cover ineffectual top administrative management. Cheating the children out of an education we are paying for, which in turns leads to cheating the teachers out of the tools and wages the district could afford if not for the waste at the Central Office. Extorting commitment of the staff through intimidation and threats concerning their employment.
It’s all about the education of the children in 131-I think not!
Isn't it amazing how certain administrators can always scrape together & justify money for their pet projects (or to cover their a$$es), while some of our kids' needs are ignored and they have to do without?
Making choices for arrogance.
I know who Annee is: she's the goddess of fertility. Get on her bad side and no babies for you!!
:)
More lies and half truths on the EA Blog. Way to go Rayanne
half truth is better than no truth.
what lies ?
"Making choices for arrogance" sounds at least 1/2 truth if not all.
More hitting of the sore spot on the EA Blog. Way to go Rayanne.
Did anyone else notice that when the board was singing Roberts praises, the districts test scores were not mentioned.
The only real and measurable way of evaluating Roberts performance was simply ignored by those who are supposed to be overseeing the performance of the district.
It would be the same as a professional football team looking at their teams record of 1 win and 15 losses stating, things are going great, we are going to give the head coach a raise and contract extention.
What a Fu*&ing joke. This board needs to be replaced.
3:17, enlighten us. Specifically what are the lies you're referring to?
You would not believe me if I told you. This blog does not deal in truth. If I told you the lies, you would say, where is the proof. But you accept the lies on here without proof. You want proof from anybody that dares to question you but no proof from the people that are being questioned.
This blog deals with half truths and lies and you like to be in the dark and ignorant, because then you can bitch.
Enjoy
What do you all mean about not moving forward. This Superintendent got a Magnet Program and we have the PreSchool that not only under privileged go to but some that can afford to send their children to a preschool and then some of those children go to another district for the rest of their education. We can now say that we are getting closer to paying our Superintendent about what others make in our county when some of them have 55, 25 and 17 schools that they look over. Yes, some of them are on the watch list but if you look their Superintendents have gotten rid of some of the administration to try and stop it.
While some of these districts if they have a Charter School or Magnet School they have busing to make sure the kids that need to go their get there.
As long as this district keeps treating this one as a kingdom for some to promote their own agendas we will never get anywhere and as long as you have some board members that the Superintendent has put under his spell to make him look so good we will not move forward. I just wonder how he can juggle all these women with the stuff he tells them until they realize that he is full of it. By the way what does his wife think of him playing all these women?
There have been a lot of proofs brought out on the blog and I hope it continues. It just some don't want to see it. What has been said here that is not the truth but some won't come forward because they know all hell will break loose for them?
There is no proof of good things being done by the central office because they aren't happening. The only good things happening are at the school level and are being done by teachers and students with little or no support from the administration.
The only things that the community hears about are the things that the central office tries to claim responsibility for. The central office administrators are always trying to steal credit for events they have little or no part of.
Don't waste your time on here. If you see something going on in this district that you know is wonderful for our children, find the teacher/s actually doing the good work with the kids.
I can tell you who the "some" are that don't want to see the truth. LOOK IN A MIRROR.
For someone that has been in this district a long time from going to school through grade school to graduation I can say this district is in a sad state. It isn't only the administration and Superintendent it is the city also. I will say if you know a teacher that is doing good for the children let them know. I know that my grandchildren had a wonderful teacher in grade school before they left the district that was wonderful and I bet she doesn't get the praise she should get. My grandchildren left when they where in third and fourth grade but they still remember that teacher and so do I.
Maybe you think we always say the bad but many of us would like to see how it used to be. You can't fix problems if no one says anything.
6:50 says "you would not believe me if I told you"--what a cop-out! What a coward's way out!
It's so easy to complain about half-truths and lies without citing any specific examples. What are you afraid of? Someone might call YOU a liar?
As the saying goes, put up or shut up!
How about you but up or shut up!
What I notice on the blog lately that most that post don't have to use foul language like some that have started posting recently.
Why tell the person involved, they already know the illegal and corrupt things that they are doing. What is required is that the community is informed and then they need to act. Unfortunately it takes a lot to get this community motivated.
9:43, I asked for a specific example and all you could come up with was profanity.
For a textbook example of ignorance, look in the mirror.
Have a nice day!
--Annee :)
You're looking in a mirror? Good for you. Your lack of knowledge about every subject astounds me.
To January 4, 2010 8:15 AM
What makes you think you know everything or what is stated on here isn't true.
From todays Beacon.
Millions and millions
Amount of money state is behind in payments to area schools, as of end of December:
Batavia $2,180,216.77
East Aurora $5,869,270.33
West Aurora $6,095,796.15
Geneva $2,702,556.58
Hinckley-Big Rock $469,516.27
Indian Prairie $8,724,974.78
Kaneland $2,412,572.90
Oswego $6,856,375.60
Plano $734,934.60
Sandwich $1,103,456.36
Somonauk $588,574.44
St. Charles $5,129,431.18
Yorkville $2,338,978.65
Total: $45,206,654.
This is the part of the article that I like:
Last year, Geneva got 2.8 percent of its budget from general state aid. At East Aurora, the state provided 45.1 percent.
45% of this school districts money comes from the state. And you bitch about not having the best technology. Why don't you try to pay for a little more of the kids education.
When you take into account that we have a 70% poverty level how do you think we can pay more. I don't know if you have noticed either that no one is in a hurry to buy any of the forecloused houses in the district.
The people in this district also pays State Taxes so we do contribute to that.
Here's another part from the Beacon.
Unlike the usual budget bellyaching when political pressure can make money appear, this time is different, said state Rep. Linda Chapa LaVia, D-Aurora. There is no money.
"This is not a false alarm. This is not someone pulling a fire drill. This is a fire," Chapa LaVia said.
Didn't one of our Board members say the they had a lucheon with Linda and she said next year would be fine we would not have nothing to worry about. How can that be so when Chapa LaVia is saying the state is in trouble this year.
What other lies is this Board and Superintendent telling us.
Now the Board can say they are broke and the teachers will get screwed when they ask for more money. Roberts pal is the Boards rep and who better to carry his message forward. After-all she did such a good job getting Lewis to vote for him and pushing his contract through in 2 weeks.
It is a shame about Lewis I thought she was smarter than that. Now that she did what some other board member wanted her to do and if she crosses that one she will be on the hot seat.
This was on the Openline blog:
I can not post on the East Aurora blog because it is blocked however this one is not. Way to go Rayanne you really hit a nerve at the central office however I was disappointed that you did not show up to vote against Roberts contract. He has had great pride in telling the staff about his 5-1 vote. Lewis was also elected to shake things up and she is beginning to sound like that big month Johnson more and more.
However residents of the lower East side well you barely have enough to get by. Jerome makes $215,000 plus a year. Clayton & Lisa work full time for him. Lisa with office work Clayton with traveling around the District for him.
Certain Board members know he is legally blind. In the last year he is unable to preform his duties. He is good at hanging out and going to lunch or dinner with his favorite Board members. Gonzalez is always driving him around. She even found him another Carol Farmun (Truza) to vote with her. Johnson is the staff's favorite and will do anything to make the staff look good. The buzz around the office is she just arranged a big visit from the State. Making 131 look good feeds her ego.
It is sad when Lisa spends her day enlarging his print and reading to him. It is sad when Clayton runs to all the events for him plus his own and then needs to drive him around. Certain Board members did know they just took a blind eye to it.
If Roberts is truly legally blind, then he should not be driving. Is the district suppose to pay for someone to do this? Is the district to pay for someone to read to him or have special equipment for him so he can hear certain things that he alone should hear? Many things come to mind if this is true. Also, I would think that this would have been something he told the whole board, especially since his contract could not wait to be done until this month in this new year. If he is truly legally blind then he might have hidden this from the old board, as legal blindness does not happen overnight.
Yes, and this supt. just got a nice gas allowance on his contract, too.
Do you think he pays when he car pools?
Are we participating in this?
We are in the process of preparing Illinois’ Race to the Top (RT3) application, which is due in Washington on Jan. 19, 2010. As part of the evaluation process, the U.S. Department of Education will consider the commitment of local districts to participate in RT3 and whether that commitment will allow for the State’s reform plan to have sufficient impact. As part of this application process, we are asking you to sign a Memorandum of Understanding to show your district’s willingness to partner with us, which we will in turn submit to Washington with our application.
Table of Contents
Board News...................................................2
ARRA..............................................................2
Funding and Disbursements........................5
Legal...............................................................6
Data Analysis and Reporting.......................6
Charter Schools............................................7
Longitudinal Data System............................7
Innovation and Improvement.......................7
Curriculum and Instruction..........................7
Nutrition.........................................................9
Rules and Waivers........................................9
Professional Development.........................10
Student Opportunities................................10
Employment Opportunities........................10
In the News..................................................10
At a minimum, the Superintendent for each district must sign on. But we will receive additional consideration if local board presidents and local union leaders sign on as well. We are asking that you return the signed and completed MOU’s to rt3mou@isbe.net by Jan. 11, 2010. We know this is a very tight timeline and may require you to call a special board meeting this week to review the MOU. Please know that I, along with several other state school chiefs, asked for additional time from the feds, but were denied.
I want to thank those of you who joined us for the Race to the Top Webinars on Dec. 18. Several hundred of you were able to go over the application and MOU in greater detail. For those of you who were unable to participate, you can review the Webinars at http://www.isbe.net/racetothetop/. Whether or not to sign the MOU is a local decision. But as many of you have already noted to me, most of these reforms are ones to which we as an education community have already committed. The additional RT3 funding simply allows us to move much more quickly to implement them.
The Race to the Top is a highly competitive grant process open to all states. Secretary Arne Duncan has said most states will not receive funding in this first round. However, we are still developing an application because if we’re not initially successful, we will gain valuable feedback for a second round application.
If selected, Illinois could receive in excess of $400 million, half of which would be distributed to participating districts and the other half would be retained by ISBE for implementation of statewide reforms. RT3 funds may only be used for those purposes specifically spelled out in our application and may not be used for other purposes such as General State Aid.
There is a God.
Why did Carlson resign from the board?
Who cares, one down - two to go.
Christmas was early for Roberts he got his contract and Christmas stayed late now that Carlson resignation. Weaver will not be far behind her. Roberts and his Board pal Johnson can now focus all their efforts.
It doesn't sound like anyone is too upset that Rayanne is leaving. I also find it interesting that our school board is having a greater migration rate than our highly migrant Mexican student population.
I am disappointed but not surprised that Rayanne is leaving. I can understand how frustrating it has been for her to pour her heart & soul into trying to make this district better, and continually run up against a brick wall. I wish Rayanne well in her future endeavors. It will be very difficult to replace her!
There is a posting on Openlineblog about Rayanne leaving. It is very good and people should go there and read it.
The administrators in the district have got to be pissed. They have all dealt with a pay freeze this year. It was said that it was necessary. They all received no raise and now are seeing their superintendent take a nice raise and contract extention.
This board and superintendent really have their heads up their A$$ES. How can anyone want to follow such leadership? I know RayAnne said no comment but any halfway intelligent person can guess why she stepped down.
Who cares why she is gone? All that matters is THAT SHE'S GONE.
The question is, who will fill her position?
And what will their agenda be?
I hope "annee" puts in an application. She always knows what the right thing to do is. So put your name in "annee" and fix this district, or shut your mouth.
And before you tell me to put my name in: I don't have a damn clue how to fix the district. I don't claim to like you do.
Who says Annee even lives in the district? She could be an alumni, have grandchildren who go to school here, or have a family member who works for D131. "She" could even be a guy!
What I do notice about Annee is that she/he likes to use certain phrases (corrupt administration, serial bully, students' best interests). Those phrases must really offend some people...I wonder why??
What I notice about Annee is that everybody else is always wrong.
8:03, please show me one specific instance where Annee has said everyone else is wrong. Seems to me your bitterness and frustration is on display.
One more thing I notice about Annee's comments (here and elsewhere): she/he is able to make a point without ever resorting to profanity. Some of us could learn a lesson from Annee!
Everyone is glad to see the end of such a negative few years. I am sure we will never see a end to this hateful blog. Rayanne and Dee made attempts to stall the Board on many things over the past 2 years she finally ran out of steam. Hopefully Weaver will take a hint as well. Rayanne was the smarter of that duo she realized she lacked the ability to get anything done. I hope we also see a end to her at alumi meetings. Her negative comments and nit picking have become legendary.
Negative? Oh, you must mean that you dislike when unpleasant facts are mentioned!
Rayanne has gone out of her way to bring up POSITIVE topics for discussion, like the NJROTC, Mr. K's national award, and the Boys II Men service organization (just to name a few). And she has reminded us to be respectful (and frequently removes profanity-laced comments).
I guess one person's truth is another's negativity!
She took part in a Board that removed Boys II Men. The blog attacks all the good programs like NROTC and of course everyone has never heard the end to the Band. Name one program that she ever made a positive impact on. Oh there is one they had the pictures changed in the Board room.
"She took part in a Board that removed Boys II Men"--just because Rayanne was on the board doesn't mean she was against Boys II Men! If anything, she defended it against those who couldn't see the good in the group.
And Rayanne does NOT attack good programs like NJROTC; the negative comments you read are from others, not Rayanne.
We can thank her, Dee, and Anita for the new improved transparency on the School Board. Before they were on the board the minutes for board meetings were published in a very abbreviated, edited form ("Board Bits"). Now the full minutes are available for all to read. And the check register is now published online as well. But of course people like 2:49 p.m. would rather ignore those positive changes and make general, critical, unfounded criticisms of someone who selflessly gave of her time to our district.
I speak for many when I say, "Thanks, Rayanne"!
Who cares?
Lisa Morales and Dr Roberts instituted the check register and Board Books. We should be thank-ful for the wonderful Superintendent we have.
Fernando Salinas was in at the Service Center today talking with Roberts and Clayton. You can bet they are talking with him about coming back on the Board and putting the squeeze on Weaver.
Just for the record Roberts did not suggest nor initially support the check registry online.
Adam Andrzejewski contacted me approx. 2 years ago about online check registry (which West Aurora had already implemented). I brought it to the board and the idea fell on mostly deaf ears.
I arranged a small community meeting with Adam, he recruited a person outside the board to present the idea. This time it was accepted.
Ta-da! Community involvement, district transparency. Now if they could get a better registry software program that details more info as to where that money is actually being spent.
There are some that know who really helped to get that check registry so say what you will. For those that think the postings above are funny you are sick and it is sad that it might be someone on the board.
What ever anyone thinks at least Rayanne tried to follow the rules set out for board members not so much now with the new ones.
Rayanne please post under you original blog name so people can see that some are using your name.
Lisa Morales has been involved with the School Board (some would say overly involved) for far longer than the minutes & check register have been made available--so I seriously doubt that she was responsible for that improvement.
No, the thanks goes mostly to Anita Lewis (it was originally her idea), Dee Weaver, and Rayanne.
And Salinas doesn't have a snowball's chance in hell of getting back on the School Board. Everyone remembers that he was one of the secretive, corrupt old-guard members--that's why he lost the election by so big a margin!
Excuse the comment confusion. I have deleted a comment using my name which was not me.
~Rayanne
No it wasn't Anita idea and if she had want's to keep her creditability she will let people know. There are some who know who really started that.
This is from Openline.blog and I thought it would be good to bring over to let people know how some fell about this district.
nonymous said...
I have two options. I am either going to run for the D131 school board, or pound a nail into my skull......
I think I'll go with the nail.
1/7/10 6:59 PM
You know what this district needs? A planned parenthood right in the schools. That way the kids can get abortions during their study halls.
Yeah, right, 8:50--as though our kids are any different than the West side kids in that regard.
I used to be a defender of Dr. Roberts, but no more!
I was hopeful when he became superintendent that he might steer our administration in a positive direction. He seemed to be a man of integrity and a breath of fresh air compared to "Serial Bully" Radakovich. Many of us remembered him fondly from when he was principal at East High.
But as time passes, it seems that the old saying proves true: "Power corrupts; absolute power corrupts absolutely" (originally said about the Pope, but relevant to any governing structure). Dr. Roberts gathers his friends around him (Annette, Lisa, Clayton, etc.) and listens to what THEY tell him while ignoring others and pretending controversial problems don't exist.
If this School Board (led by Dr. Roberts) sneaks Fernando Salinas back onto the board, it will signal a total disregard for the wishes of the community, as well as a return to the old-guard mentality in our district. Board, we are watching you. We WILL hold you accountable for your decision in this regard!
Bob Mccue is applying and you can bet he will be the one that goes back on the Board he is Johnson old neighbor and bought the serial bullies house. Friends of his say he is submitting next week. He and Roberts recently attended a basketball game together or at least sat together. Carol Farnum recently sent a congrads to everyone on rayanne's resignation.
I hope Bob makes it back on.
I can't believe more people aren't pissed off. You vote somebody in to make changes in the district and then when it gets hard or things don't go their way, they quit. What a bunch of BS. You don't like the job, you don't like the district, don't call everything that the district is doing wrong, get elected to fix it, and then quit after doing nothing.
Who called everything the district was doing wrong, 9:39 p.m.? Certainly not Rayanne! She has gone out of her way to mention and celebrate the positive in our district, both in her comments at board meetings and in the topics she brings up on this blog.
How do you know she let because she wasn't happy with the district? It could be something else and it is none of your business.
or not.
Rayanne was a public official. She was elected by the people of this community to represent them. She has repeatedly spoken of transparency and accountability. For her to resign without warning or explanation flies in the face of everything she stated. She just slunk away in the middle of the night. It was despicable.
annee who always blogs on the Beacon Blog and Open-line Blog is Rayanne.
Just look at the spelling Rayanne or annee all she adds is a e. This person surfaced in the last couple of years when the district was under attack by Carlson. If you read annee's comments they are always negative or vile just like Rayanne. The only time I heard Rayanne make any positive comments was on the Band. The only reason Rayanne would talk about the Band was to get even with administration. I think the reason she quit was the Board was becoming to positive. Many people in the District are very happy to see a end to that chapter.
Rayanne did NOT slink away in the middle of the night! She followed the proper procedure and announced her resignation in front of administration, media, and her fellow board members at a public meeting.
And I'm sure there's a lot she could say about why she left, but there are confidentiality clauses agreed to by certain elected officials, such as School Board members.
1:26 p.m., I challenge you to specifically quote ANY "vile" thing that either Rayanne or I (yes, this is Annee speaking!) have said on this or any blog.
And "always negative"?? That's definitely NOT Rayanne! She has gone out of her way to put the positive things in our district in the spotlight. Did you even bother to read this post ("Red, Black and Navy blue")? If so, point out ANYTHING that Rayanne said that was the least bit negative. I'm looking at Rayanne's post as I write this, and I see words like "brighter", "positive", and "pride".
And you brought up the band issue. What I (Annee) have repeatedly asked is simply this: how has the decision to replace the EHS band director resulted in a better band program? How has this decision by administration proven to be in the best interests of our students?
You can bet that I will continue to remind our community about both the good and bad decisions made in our district. If you have a problem with that, it will be YOUR problem!
Have a nice day!
--Annee
:)
Thanks Rayanne
"What I (Annee) have repeatedly asked is simply this: how has the decision to replace the EHS band director resulted in a better band program? How has this decision by administration proven to be in the best interests of our students?"
WHO HAVE YOU ASKED? This blog, the beacon blog, openline blog - WOW you have asked some tough questions to NOBODY. Good for you.
Maybe Rayanne couldn't think of any kind parting words.
So, if you can't say something nice, tis better to say nothing at all.
"WHO HAVE YOU ASKED? This blog, the beacon blog, openline blog - WOW you have asked some tough questions to NOBODY. Good for you."
If you really had a clue of what has happened in this district, You'd know how often and how many people have asked those questions repeatedly of a number of our administrators.
The answers have not been proven to come to pass. No new improved band classes, nor more frequent appearances at games, etc. No music theory or additional challenging classes.
Behind closed doors, admin admits some poor choices were made concerning the changes in the band.
Publicly, admitting error in 131-doesn't happen. Why do you think our schools continue to fail?
Who have I asked? Oh, just several hundred (maybe thousand) community members (I guess you consider them "NOBODY")--anyone who reads any of the blog posts here, on Openline blog, or the Beacon-News online comments.
This includes many administrators (yes, they read online comments too!)
And the response? A deafening silence.
I will continue to ask these questions unless and until I receive a satisfying response.
--Annee
You have asked nobody. And you are full of it if you think I believe you have personally talked to thousands of community members.
More lies from the EA Blog.
Yeh this blog was a real positive message Rayanne(annee) has. She only puts story up to egg people in debate. Once articles are up on the blog she knows the blog turns negative. Prediction she will now become Weavers scape goat community member and come and speak against the board and administration. Of coarse the board will stick to the positive message they adopted and the facts and the two will just come up foolish again. Weaver will sit and put up with all the heat because being Board President will be the best she ever gets in life. My advice to her sit and shut up because she is out for her league.
3:01, I challenged you to quote just one specific "vile" thing that Annee or Rayanne had posted. You obviously can't find any one specific example--so instead you choose to argue about how many people read these blogs.
It's irrelevant how many dozens, hundreds or thousands of people read this. What's important is the TRUTH, and the fact that you dodge around any specific discussion of exactly how a decision made almost 5 years ago by corrupt administrators was in students' best interests. You (and those administrators) have no intelligent response, and so you make unfounded generalizations instead.
Why don't you start your own blog? I'll gladly cross-post on that one, too!
--Annee :)
Good point Annee :)
Here is an example of vile things stated by Rayanne. Knowing full well that Boys II Men is an illegal fraternity with a long history of discrimination. Rayanne made a speach comparing Boys II Men to the Boy Scouts.
It was a completely one sided view (deliberately ignoring the illegal aspects of Boys II Men) of a very controversial issue in this community. It was geared to deliberately skew the debate in support of this illegal organization and will forever remain her legacy as a board member of East Aurora.
If I were her, I would never be able to look another human being in the face again. She should just hang her head in shame forever more.
This is the one and only Rayanne on this blog.
Believe what you like. I find amusement in your fixation on who’s who in the blogs. I am also, anonymous...guess which one. LOL
There is one or 2 people blogging who seem to have a problem when the topic goes to the band supporters. They would rather continue bashing Boys II Men.
I’d like to say thank you, for the credit, but I do not think I have done anything worthy of a "legacy" with regards to B2M. I must have done enough to get your goat, since you give me so much credit for something another board member pushed to the agenda, not I.
I am not aware of B2M being "controversial" in the community. I knew of 1-2 people who seem to obsess negatively over this group.
When I spoke about B2M, I did not hear anyone at the Board meeting dispute my statements or bring any evidence of the illegal aspects of which you claim. Who have you made your claims of illegal activities to -the blog, the Beacon blog...? WOW you have made some tough claims to NOBODY.
I also find it amusing that someone states that boys II Men are illegal but no one even the Mayor, The State Board of Education or The States Attorney will state that. I'm not say that it isn't but as far as the one mentioned above and who represent you as public officials say they aren't so until you get them to do something about it as some in this district has said IT IS OVER!
We all know most if not all public officials are only out for their good own good and make the laws but don't enforce them and they have us by the nose and so many look up to them because they do what they want and ignore the best of the whole.
It is funny even in todays paper it refers to Clayton being the founder of Boys II men Fraternity.
I see nothing that says "exclusive"
fra·ter·ni·ty
1. society for college men: a social society for men who are students at a college or university, with a name consisting of individually pronounced Greek letters. See also sorority
2. people with something in common: a group of people with something in common, for example, being in the same job or sharing the same pastime
the banking fraternity
3. brotherly love: brotherly love, or feelings of friendship and mutual support between people
liberty, equality, and fraternity
4. society formed for common purpose: a group or society formed by people who share the same interests
Encarta ® World English Dictionary ©
You see posts marked as anonomous that refer to making "claims to NOBODY". Now we see a posting by "Veteran Tomcat" whom we all know is Rayanne with this exact same phrase. Rayanne, WE ALL KNOW YOU POST ON HERE AS ANONYMOUS AND HAVE FOR YEARS.
8:46, I think that Rayanne was being sarcastic and referring to the original poster who talked about making "claims to nobody".
But I do realize that sarcasm is a form of humor that only those of moderate or higher levels of intelligence can appreciate. So it's not surprising that you didn't recognize the comment for what it was.
--Annee (posting anonymously, as usual!)
Marin Gonzalez (the assistant superintendent) stated at a board meeting that Boys II Men is illegal. The district is aware that Boys II Men is ILLEGAL.
The Kane County Regional Superintendent and the Kane County States Attorney both were made aware of the Boys II Men Fraternity, they both stated that it was the East Aurora School Boards responsibility to enforce the school code in this matter. Instead of enforcing the school code, the school board (including Rayanne Carlson)covered it up.
There is no question in this matter. High school level fraternities are illegal according to the Illinois School Code. Boys II Men is an illegal high school fraternity. The East Aurora School Board knew these facts and are allowing illegal actions to continue in East Aurora.
This school boards actions are attrocious.
As for Boys II Men I seem to remember to old Board got rid of it so to speak because they did not allow it to be a district recognized activity. It is now a business partner. Rayanne may have voted for it but Johnson made a motion to bring it back. She is the Board member who only does things for her own good.
SCHOOLS
(105 ILCS 5/) School Code.
(105 ILCS 5/Art. 31 heading)
ARTICLE 31. FRATERNITIES‑‑SORORITIES
(105 ILCS 5/31‑1) (from Ch. 122, par. 31‑1)
Sec. 31‑1. Definition.
A public school fraternity, sorority or secret society, in this Article means any organization, composed wholly or in part of public school pupils, which seeks to perpetuate itself by taking in additional members from the pupils enrolled in such school on the basis of the decision of its membership rather than upon the free choice of any pupil in the school who is qualified by the rules of the school to fill the special aims of the organization.
(Source: Laws 1961, p. 31.)
(105 ILCS 5/31‑2) (from Ch. 122, par. 31‑2)
Sec. 31‑2. Inimical to public good.
Any public school fraternity, sorority or secret society is inimical to the public good.
(Source: Laws 1961, p. 31.)
(105 ILCS 5/31‑3) (from Ch. 122, par. 31‑3)
Sec. 31‑3. Suspension or expulsion of members, pledges and solicitors.
The governing body of any public school shall suspend or expel any pupil who is a member of or joins or promises to join, or who becomes pledged to become a member of, or who solicits any other person to join, promise to join or be pledged to become a member of any public school fraternity, sorority or secret society.
(Source: Laws 1961, p. 31.)
(105 ILCS 5/31‑4) (from Ch. 122, par. 31‑4)
Sec. 31‑4. Solicitation unlawful‑Penalty.
It is unlawful for any person not enrolled in any public school of this State to solicit any pupil enrolled therein to join or pledge himself or herself to become a member of any public school fraternity, sorority or secret society or to solicit any such pupil to attend a meeting thereof or any meeting where the joining of any such fraternity, sorority or secret society is encouraged. Whoever violates this section shall be guilty of a petty offense and fined not less than $25 nor more than $100.
(Source: P.A. 77‑2267.)
(105 ILCS 5/31‑5) (from Ch. 122, par. 31‑5)
Sec. 31‑5. Not applicable to universities.
The provisions of this Article do not apply to fraternities, sororities or secret societies in any State University nor to students thereof in their relations to such organizations in these institutions.
(Source: Laws 1961, p. 31.)
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We all know that this district and most of this board does not believe in the IL School Code but some of us do.
Rayanne stay out there for those of us that really know you we know what you stand for not so much for some in this district.
Remember sticks and stones may break my bones but words will never hurt me. As I go on in my life and as I get older I find that it is not how educated you are or how may degrees you have or if someone thinks you our honorable it is how you live your life and you touch other peoples lives and you stand in what you believe in. Remember many of these people have sold out to get benefits only for themselves. Many people might not like it but you stand your ground.
You can't only blame the district you have to blame also the state since they seem to want to ignore the law. They seem to want to look the other way and not step in to follow the law they make.
How is quitting a post that the people of this community elected you to, standing your ground? She had an inside track being on the school board. If she was actually doing the wonderful things that she claims she was doing on this blog, perhaps she could have gotten a couple of the other board members to follow.
As you read Rayanne's post, you begin to understand why this district is in the shape that it is. She didn't address the the issue of Boys II Men, she instead attacked the person bringing up a legitimate school district issue.
It's no wonder her first response is always "stand up and say something publicly" it creates an easy target for her and the others to go after. It's quite clear, they do not have any intention of addressing the real issues of this district.
Rayanne did the right thing resigning, she was an absolute waste on our school board.
Or as Jeff Duhnum would say "300 million sperm and thats the one that got through?"
So 10:13, what are YOU doing to address what you consider the real issues in this district?
And if you're so concerned about Boys II Men being illegal, why pick on Rayanne? Why not go straight to the source and complain to Clayton Muhammad?
Maybe you just find it easier to anonymously insult Rayanne because she has a blog and Clayton doesn't. Or maybe you're just grabbing any opportunity to be anonymously nasty to someone who has had the guts to speak up against the corruption in this district.
I have one word to describe you, 10:13. That word is BULLY.
When you see criminal activity going on, do you you reason with the criminal or do you go to the authorities, report the crime and expect the authorities to do their job and address the criminal act?
What would you do if the authorities refused to do their job and did nothing about a criminal? Would you stay quiet or tell the story publicly?
And you are again showing why there are such enormous problems in this district. The problems are never addressed. The whistleblower is attacked and destroyed.
I am disappointed when I read this blog. With all the time and energy that people spend on here complaining, there are so many positive things that could be done instead. Standing up for what is right is not the easy choice. Complaining about things but never trying to change them is the easy choice. One day I hope that 90% of the people complaining will take a stand and try to make a difference by their actions and not their words.
I hope none of the people on this blog ever leave their house. These are not the typed of people that District 131 needs.
ROTC teachers only teach part time and get a full salary. Also they do not have to follow the same rules as the rest of the teachers. If a student is not behaving they have them removed.
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