The origins of this poem have been traced to a speech given by Pastor Niemöller in 1946. Since then, the contents have often been altered to produce numerous variations. My alteration- represents the effects as it continues to be done “their” way?
First they came after the gifted program
and we did not speak out, afterall our children were not gifted.
Then they came after the fine arts programs
and we did not speak out, our children were not artists.
Then they came after the sports programs
and we did not speak out, our children were not athletes.
They have failed our children.
Is there anyone left who will speak out for them?
There is an opportunity twice a month.
Board meeting August 16, @ 7:00 PM
SIMMONS SUCKS !!!!!
ReplyDeleteWho is "they"?
ReplyDeleteBully administrators, perhaps?
Yanno, comparing bully administrators and Nazis makes some sense...
ReplyDeleteBut many of us DID speak out when they came after the fine arts programs (band)--what good did it do??
ReplyDeleteIt was the one and only time I saw administrators who didn't want the limelight. As I recall they hid in the building and refused to face the community. It was a disgrace, everyone of them should have been fired and that includes Jerome Roberts who was Assistant Superintendent of Secondary Education at the time and Clayton who was in charge of the public relations debacle. Not in this district though. Here the worse you do, the farther up the ladder you go. Just keep kissing ass.
ReplyDeleteWhat a good poem and so true of how this district is going. They praise how much money the district has but who is benefiting from it? They seem to think only one person can solve all the problems but that program is only for a few. What has the board done during these summer months but hired administration positions while some in administration knew how the report cards would be. Have you heard anything about how they are looking into how to solve these problems?
ReplyDeleteWhat you have heard is how one person has such a good mentoring program and he is going to take it around the states and promote it. How wonderful the superintendent is and how good the board president is doing. Nothing about how they are going to improve the education of our students no matter who they are.
I wonder how prepared they are for the first day of school? While some on the board can only think about promoting one person agenda how much time have they spent on the first day of schools?
Rayanne you picked a very good poem and I would suggest that people look this up it is very interesting. Here is a quote from the man.
ReplyDeleteMilton Mayer's book, They Thought They Were Free: The Germans, 1933-45 (Chicago: Univ. of Chicago Press, 1955, 1966), p. 168f quotes a German professor in "Kronenburg" (probably Mainz--its population was about 42,000 at the time) whom Mayer interviewed between 1950 and 1954, as follows:
"Pastor Niemöller spoke for thousands and thousands of men like me when he spoke (too modestly of himself) and said that, when the Nazis attacked the Communists, he was a little uneasy, but, after all, he was not a Communist, and so he did nothing; and then they attacked the Socialists, and he was a little uneasier, but, still, he was not a Socialist, and he did nothing; and then the schools, the press, the Jews, and so on, and he was always uneasier, but still he did nothing. And then they attacked the Church, and he was a Churchman, and he did something--but then it was too late."
This applies to a lot of what we let happen in our government today.
Is anyone still taking a stand for the fine arts programs,and I do not just mean band. Just because that battle was not won does not mean the war is over. No war has ever been won by walking away after the first battle or continually harping on it. Hopefully some of us has learned something in how that battle was lost and going into the next battle for the same cause in a different way. Certain things do get old, like using the wording bully administrators. Yes, there are many of them, but it is time to regroup and come up with something else as it does not effect them. One gets more flies with honey that with you know what. There will be many who do the things that these have done, or try to. Until this community takes a stand, it will continue. The only time I see people go to the meetings or hear about something when they can't make the meetings is when it effects them personally as in something like the fine arts thing. The parents and people in this community just give up or in to easily. If they win a mute point on something that bothers them, they do not come back to meetings or back others that are trying to do something. Therefore, people like Roberts, Johnson and others will get what they want. Actully Johnson in a way reminds me of Hitler, she does spin a nice web and gets people tangled in it and tangled in it. Everyone does know, though, what happens when the spider has what it wants in that web what will eventually happen. The question in this is when will it happen?
ReplyDeleteThis district should not cut any programs since they are so quick to say they have 6 million in the bank. As the last post said you need to make a stand. Parents of these students get together and try to get other community members involved. When the administration wants to toot their horn they seem to be able to get their buddies from the community to come out. How about the alumni? You would think they would want the students to have what they had. Or are they all their just to promote one persons programs?
ReplyDeleteNo, 2 persons programs. THose being Roberts and Johnsons. They then will promote the programs of the ones they want such as Clayton. The money they will be using to get Clayton a secretary(my thoughts on that new position) would certainly keep many programs. Just wait until someone brings this up and it will be said that the money could not be used for this. This district has been known to move monies from on catagory in the past to another when they want to though.
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ReplyDeleteI'm interested in seeing how the teacher salary negotiations come out. It seems that central office is just throwing money around.
ReplyDeleteRudy maybe they can use the money for the gifted program. Rudy, also remember you are a member of this community and have the right, just like anyother member of this community, to come to the meetings and express your opinions. Also, if yuu do come to the meetings you can post if you want what you think about them. A fresh and younger input would be nice.
ReplyDeleteAw, Rudy, many think of the gifted program, but now they have the Magnet Academy. No matter what they tell you, this is what happened. From one who has been going to meetings for along time.
ReplyDelete"along time"
ReplyDeletea long time
Thanks.
So who's the new EHS choir director?
ReplyDeleteRudy, if you use the word "nostalgia" as a verb, you might not be gifted.
ReplyDeleteJust sayin'--after all, you were bragging about your intelligence in a previous thread.
Who cares if you want better test scores don't worry about the band & choir
ReplyDeleteOur kids deserve the BEST. That includes higher test scores, as well as an outstanding band and choral program, as well as great sports programs.
ReplyDeleteIt's not either/or--t's both/and.
My husband and I moved here from Texas a few weeks ago, and our kids will be going to East Aurora schools. Our neighbor told us about this blog, and I've been fascinated reading about what's been happening here (both good & bad).
ReplyDeleteI have a question. Why is everyone still upset about the band director thing from 5 years ago? And why are the administrators referred to as bullies?
9:50 a.m., welcome to the district. Hopefully you'll enjoy our slightly cooler weather--but be sure to get your family some warm winter coats, because it gets downright COLD around here in the wintertime!
ReplyDeleteAnd about the band director & administration issues, there's no need to hash that out here. If you really want to know about that just go to Google and type in:
kaisershot aurora east band
You can read all about what happened, who was responsible, and find out for yourself why some of us are still talking about this. And I'm sure you can also figure out which of the bullies are still with the district.
Maybe Kaisershot needed to go but tenure protected him. Maybe those same people you refer to as bullies did what was best for the kids. The real story of Kaisershot is he only worked with kids that had private lessons from him. Which he has paid for on the side. He is accomplished at publishing music nobody can take that away from him. The only problem is he also does it on the District dime. No different than Clayton who was smart enough to kiss up to the Superintendent unlike Kaisershot who did not.
ReplyDeleteK. worked with my children and we could not afford, nor were they given private lessons. Unless you consider him staying after school on his dime to make sure my children got a little extra attention.
ReplyDeleteHe not only did NOT suck up or cave to admin. He defied them on behalf of the students and their familes and paid dearly for it.
I don't think it would be possible to publish music on the District's dime. Music composition, arranging, and publishing requires a fairly complicated set-up involving midi keyboard, computer programs, and specialized printing equipment--none of which can be found in our district's band rooms.
ReplyDeleteAnd when would Mr. K have time anyway, considering that the middle school directors teach a full school day??
To the new residents from Texas, welcome to our community. Hope to see you at the board meetings. They are on the 1'st and 3'rd Mondays of the month at the aervice center. They start at 7PM. I will have to get back with the address for you and your husband. I think you are going to find this district very interesting, to say the least. Again, welcome.
ReplyDeleteMeanwhile, the current EHS band director lists himself on "LinkedIn" (a business-oriented social networking site):
ReplyDelete"Director of Bands at Aurora East School District 131".
He's representing himself as not just the director of the high school bands, but director of the whole district band program!
Arrogant, much?
The school board meetings are at the service center and the address is:
ReplyDelete417 Fifth St.
(630)229-5550
Hope to see you there.
Should have been there for the meeting tonight.
ReplyDeleteDid something interesting happen? Please share.
ReplyDeleteMeanwhile this blog continues to bring up dead issues that don't matter and state the same things OVER AND OVER AGAIN, while still being to lazy and ignorant to go to school board meetings and actually SAY SOMETHING.
ReplyDeleteAnything that people feel passionately about discussing (even years after it happened) is hardly a "dead issue", 6:58 a.m.
ReplyDeleteEspecially when some of the perpetrators are still around and fully capable of doing it again.
Forewarned is forearmed. Those who are new here (such as the family from Texas) deserve to know, and probably appreciate the information.
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ReplyDeleteTexas, I'm not sure I would use the same terminology as 7:31 a.m., but I would recommend you make up your own mind. Don't let anyone influence you. Keep your eyes open, attend meetings and then decide who is right and who is wrong.
ReplyDeleteAnyone who is new to our district (such as that Texas family) just needs to go to Google & type in four words:
ReplyDeletekaisershot east aurora band
They can then read for themselves, and decide for themselves.
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ReplyDeleteRudy, YOU are the one who bragged that you could "intellectually curbstomp" your fellow bloggers.
ReplyDeletePot, meet kettle.
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ReplyDeleteRudy you are right many intellingent people could not write a sentence but ones that want to act like they are smater than others will pick at things.
ReplyDelete"You must use commas to separate statements within punctuation marks"
ReplyDeleteWRONG.
Commas inserted outside quotation marks in the following example:
"if you use the word, 'nostalgia', as a verb"
would be gratuitous.
If someone claims to be able to "intellectually curbstomp" me, you can bet that I will look for any opportunity to point out his/her OWN displays of ignorance.
ReplyDeleteHung Jury on Blago for 23 counts, guilty for 1!
ReplyDeleteRudy,
ReplyDeleteYou're a perfect example of what every teacher and many parents in this district already knows, the students in District 131's gifted program would be regular education students in most any other district. Our regular education students would be special ed. anywhere else and our special ed. students would be farmed out in most other districts.
You're a perfect example of the results of the chronic lowering of learning standards. If you're what the district considers one of it's best and brightest, we really are in sad shape. Apparently, the state testing results really do show how far behind our kids are.
It's parents fault.
ReplyDeleteThe same is true with the magnet school those children are no way better than the others they are just picked so they don't have to sit in a classroom with ELL.
ReplyDeleteAs far as the gifted program I believe that in years past some of those got on to the whose whose of high school students. Had high scores. You have just degraded the good work from years ago that many teachers archived. The many that pasted through the doors of EAST AURORA HIGH SCHOOL that went on to do better things. I wonder if Johnson was one of the students of the gifted program? Maybe not since she seems to think a magnet school is better.
Or maybe Johnson was in one of those special ed classes. This district lowers the learning standards. Look how many years our schools have been on the watch list.
Johnson is a East Aurora student who did good. She is a good example of what our students can become. She owns her own businesses. She is a Tomcat and loves her school. She always portrays a positive image of the school to the community and teachers. Some Board members should follow her example and stop bad mouthing the teachers and students.
ReplyDeletePeople really need to show up at the meetings. There were some things that went thru last night that should not have. No one in this community cares. If they did once, just once in awhile there would be someone there other that teacher, admins, couple of rude union people and a few community members. This district will be imploded on day due to no one caring. Johnson is a dictator and Lewis is her right hand person. If there is a new committee started, Johnson and Lewis are the ones on it, and if any other board member is lucky, her highness and side kick just might let one of the other board members be on it.This new postion that has been made, would have bought many books for the students, lowered some class sizes due to the fact it would have been salaries for a couple of teachers. Yes, the classrooms are over crowded. Been at the meeting, one would have caught that little fact. Anyone out there know what there child's cirriculum is? You can bet the teachers do not either. Little things on picks up on when going to the meetings. There is something that is going to be paid for that should not be with the taxpayers monies. People will be irrate, as usual, for just alittle while and then do the same old, same old and complain on this blog and let it keep on keeping on. Shame on parents and this community for doing this to their children, grandchildren, and all students. Oh, and there is another thing, the monies that will be spent for something it should not be, might have helped get that gifted program back. Next meeting it will be the same with the same turn out. Why tell Texas to go and make up their own mind when people who are in this community do not go. Oh, but it will tell Texas what a caring community we have and how it cares about our students. Make me proud.
ReplyDeleteShould have said-Makes me proud.
ReplyDeleteWe will see how Johnson loves the district when the teachers contract comes up. Anyone can own a business doesn't make them special. We sill see who really cares about teachers when they vote on the contract. She promotes one person of that district and not all.
ReplyDeleteGreat job 7:39 and 7:41 correcting one of your many mistakes
ReplyDeleteYou used "thru" instead of "through"
You said "that teacher" instead of "than teachers"
You used "on" instead of "one"
"board members is lucky" should be "board members are lucky"
You used "there" instead of "their"
That just make me sad. Oh wait, that makes me sad.
I wonder if Johnson is so generous with her money to her employees as she is with our tax payer money.
ReplyDeleteIt also seems that she is smitten with Roberts and Clayton does she have an attraction to them that makes her give them everything they want even if it isn't the best for the students?
Yes the Board meetings are a joke we have a Board members sister get up and talk about her drunken father. What does that have to do the education of the kids.
ReplyDeleteWell one could say something about that last statement but some of us know not to go that far. Many in the districts don't have support from parents but yet they succeed.
ReplyDelete8:05 p.m. did indeed do a grEAt job!
ReplyDeleteOut of about 330 words (37 lines of text, with approximately 9 words per line), there were 6 mistakes.
That's a 98% average--an "A" by any standard.
Did you really just grade that as 1 point per word? Really? That is how you think English teachers grade? They count up the number of words right and wrong.
ReplyDeleteYeah, nice try.
No, most English teachers would point out the mistakes and have the student revise the essay as a final draft before giving a grade.
ReplyDeleteAnd most bloggers feel free to type their comments as they would speak (casually), not expecting grammar or punctuation to be corrected. Unless, of course, someone has declared themselves to be of higher intellectual ability; in that case, they can expect flaws to be pointed out.
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ReplyDeleteok. I'm gues ur rite. We can post on a blog how ever we waunt to. There're are know rules and wat every on says is smrt and rite. God job bloggers.
ReplyDeleteWhy don't you wait til the board bits come out to find out what that person was talking about when she spoke before the board? Oh, that's right, due to your comment you had to be at the meeting. Is that all the person talked about? Did that person ask any questions that might have been pertaining to things going on or you just wanting to pick on someone and select what you want and take it out of contest? Maybe the person does not feel at ease knowing, due to your statement,that a comment may be made, due to the fact that that person is a sister of a board member? Also, due to your statemnet I would guess that the board member is not one of the elite. At least there is a community member that cares enough to get up and talk.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteThe magnet school was not intended to be for the gifted. It was set up as a school for children interested in math, science and technology. I'm trying to recall the subjects. It could be only two out of those three. But I am POSITIVE it was not set up for the more advanced "honors" type student. And before anyone asks, YES, I do know that as a FACT because I was involved in the original setup of the program. The community was supposedly polled about how they would like the magnet school setup. Should it be for the musically talented, gifted, those interested in science and technology, etc.? The community did not choose for the gifted it was for those interested in science/technology (and maybe math). Just an FYI since people have been speaking about the gifted program and the magnet school together. The magnet was not a replacement for the gifted program.
ReplyDeleteRudy, don't take my word for it.
ReplyDeleteGoogle the following sentence:
"use the word "party" as a verb"
(the outer quotation marks are necessary for a Boolian search--otherwise Google will search for each individual word).
You'll find more than 11,500 hits matching that phrase. I went through the first few pages and found NONE that had any commas.
Again, commas inserted anywhere in the phrase:
use the word "nostalgia" as a verb
would be unnecessary.
So go ahead and point at me for using English incorrectly; you'll find four other fingers pointing back at yourself!
I don't think anyone thought the Magnet Program was to replace the Gifted Program. The Gifted Program was stopped I think even before the Gifted Program stopped without approval of the board.
ReplyDeleteThe point in the one post about the Magnet Academy is that the community was supposedly polled. If the community was polled the individuals that took that poll had to be hand picked and very few. Why was not that poll shown to the community? It was hidden from most of the school board. This board is also going in same direction and is more blatant about it. At least the last president and most of the board when the magnet academy was snuck in was subtle about it.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteHere is the rule about quoted materials and commas:
ReplyDeleteUse a comma to set off quoted elements. Because we don't use quoted material all the time, even when writing, this is probably the most difficult rule to remember in comma usage. It is a good idea to find a page from an article that uses several quotations, photocopy that page, and keep it in front of you as a model when you're writing. Generally, use a comma to separate quoted material from the rest of the sentence that explains or introduces the quotation:
Summing up this argument, Peter Coveney writes, "The purpose and strength of the romantic image of the child had been above all to establish a relation between childhood and adult consciousness."
If an attribution of a quoted element comes in the middle of the quotation, two commas will be required. But be careful not to create a comma splice in so doing.
"The question is," said Alice, "whether you can make words mean so many things."
"I should like to buy an egg, please," she said timidly. "How do you sell them?"
Be careful not to use commas to set off quoted elements introduced by the word that or quoted elements that are embedded in a larger structure:
Peter Coveney writes that "[t]he purpose and strength of . . ."
We often say "Sorry" when we don't really mean it.
And, instead of a comma, use a colon to set off explanatory or introductory language from a quoted element that is either very formal or long (especially if it's longer than one sentence):
Peter Coveney had this to say about the nineteenth-century's use of children
in fiction: "The purpose and strength of . . . . "
Taken from: http://grammar.ccc.commnet.edu/grammar/commas.htm
THANK YOU, 12:30 p.m., for proving me correct (and proving Rudy wrong--or as he would say, "blatantly wrong")!
ReplyDeleteHere is the example provided by Peter Coveney:
We often say "Sorry" when we don't really mean it.
And here is the phrase that Rudy INCORRECTLY insists should include commas:
...if you use the word "nostalgia" as a verb...
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The two examples are grammatically identical. Commas would be GRATUITOUS and WRONG in both.
Rudy, welcome to the United States.
I always hated Language arts when I went to school. Please wake me up when class is over.
ReplyDeleteI thought this blog was the East Aurora Community Blogspot, not the Obsess over Punctuation Blog of Triviality
ReplyDeleteSo tell us it must pay to be a Board members grandchild and be given your own credit for a District sponsored clothing drive. One former Board member was run out of Waldo another Board members reputation destroyed. But if you are a friend of Johnson or Roberts you get a clothing drive sponsored by the District. Now I am sure this is a good cause but really what will the District do for a favored Board member to win a competition.
ReplyDeleteLewis is that Board member.
Gonzalez's daughter got a plum high paying position $54,000 for a part time job.
You can bet Ray never show up to a meeting Hull transferred his daughter from a private school to East Aurora not because he loves the school he proclaims to but because his daughter will get a 4 year free ride to college.
So Johnson whats in it for you Roberts
No matter how mature a person may be, some youngsters insist upon things being their way.
ReplyDeleteIn their effort to prove how intelligent and grown up they are, they only succeed in proving pups should not try and run with the big dogs.
Tp 8/18 @ 6:54pm
ReplyDeleteI roared when I read your posting.
So good and so true!!
The clothing drive was a competition for someone to win what a shame it should of been for something that would help the needy.
ReplyDeleteI for one am very proud that, when given the oppotunity to excel, Bethany has chosen to do a service project that will benefit our schools directly. This fundraiser will put monies directly in the hands of the teachers and administrators at the school level. This will allow them to place the funds where they see most appropriate. As an added benefit any additional clothing that is left over will be added to the school inventory to aide the students that come to shool out of code in returning to class quickly. The schools would otherwise be spending monies on such inventory clothing items. All while providing a needed service to our districts' parents.
ReplyDeleteThe board has "sponsored" this event by putting it in their blast.
So much cost involved in that one!
The money raised is directly benefiting the middle schools! How could they not mention it favorably?
I personally have worked hand in hand with Bethay, as an active and involved parent, and she has put in all her own legwork for this one! She hasn't been given any advantages that ANY other student in this district doesn't already have. She has called meetings, she has designed fliers, she has solicited contributions, and has spent countless hours of her summer gathering, washing, and sorting donations. All without the "sponsorship" of the district.
These service projects are a competition of sorts...in that whoever has been able to make the most difference in their community will recieve a $500 grant FOR THEIR PROJECT.
So great the scools could use that too!
Bethany is a 12 yr old girl, she likes roller skating and loves her cat. She has school pride and was on student council. She will be taking honors classes at Waldo in the coming months.
My point is that we should not discourage the only student that has stood up and said Help Me Help You.
Especially for something as silly as a blast in a newsletter.
Sarah, you sound like a proud mom--and justifiably so! Your daughter is learning to care about and help people less fortunate than herself.
ReplyDeleteMy question is this: how can those of us in the larger community participate in this? My college-age daughter cleaned out her closets this weekend, and we have quite a bit of nice, gently-used clothes that we could donate. Is there a place to drop off donations?
Yes, what this young lady is doing is very nice and if I'm reading this right it is not a school project but a communtiy project.
ReplyDeleteThe problem is that the board has no authority of sponsor an event and if they did was it voted on? This is where Ethical problems come in. If it was voted on at a board meeting which one was it? Will they be doing the same for other students that are doing things like that. As for clothing our district should not be buying inventory of clothes for children that aren't dressed right.
Here is an article from the Beacon today and it is nice to see a district talking about a teacher and how she is emabled to try on her own to get kids to read.
ReplyDeleteTeacher aims to improve reading scores
Starting off on the right foot
Comments
August 19, 2010
By STEPHANIE LULAY slulay@stmedianetwork.com
AURORA -- "Maybe you like comic books, or reading magazines. Something funny. Something scary," said Jefferson Middle School teacher Shannon Arko.
Wednesday was the first day of school in Arko's sixth- and seventh-grade language arts classes at Jefferson and the new students had two tasks -- list the books they like to read and what they're excited to learn about in class.
» Click to enlarge image Shannon Arko, a sixth- and seventh-grade language arts teacher at Jefferson Middle School in Aurora, jokes with a student on the first day of class Wednesday.
(Marianne Mather/Staff Photographer)
And the students' answers on the first day of class may determine what they will be reading for the rest of the year.
After attending an in-district literacy management course, Arko was motivated to implement a hybrid of two teaching systems in her classes for the new school year that are designed to improve reading comprehension. The goal is to get kids to be better readers by letting them read what they want.
"I say give a book 15 to 20 pages, and then if you still really don't like it, pick a new one," Arko said to a student who complained about reading.
"This allows a lot more student choice, student-directed learning and small groups," Arko said.
The kids will do more partner reading, listen to more books on CD and pick their own reading material to read individually.
It also means the students in Arko's classes will not do "popcorn" or "round robin" reading -- reading out loud in front of the whole class -- which causes anxiety for some students and impedes reading comprehension, Arko said.
"If they get to choose the book, it makes them excited about it," said Arko, who has been teaching language arts for three years and French for 10 years.
The kids will still have one required reading book, but district-required skills may be taught with other books. Their daily homework will be to read anything they want for 20 minutes a day, and their textbook will stay in class.
The change in Arko's coursework came on a challenge from Jefferson Principal Pat Cross to improve reading scores schoolwide.
"(Cross) challenged all of us, but I also thought this sounds like so much fun -- I can make my class more enjoyable," Arko said.
Arko hasn't seen her students' scores from last year, but she said she could tell many of her past students weren't engaged in reading.
"I was watching my kids last year and they just didn't have this passion for reading and ---learning," Arko said.
So what did kids in Arko's seventh-grade class want to read?
The Harry Potter series made Daniel Carter's list, Jamarcus Reynolds said he liked books about basketball, and Lidiana Lara liked "Twilight" spin-offs "Eclipse" and "New Moon."
Students had their own goals, too.
"I am excited about learning to read better," Priscilla Gramillo wrote.
Cross said Jefferson is intent on improving reading scores this year. According to the Illinois School Report Card, 69.7 percent of Jefferson students met ISAT reading standards in 2009. The state average for students who met the ISAT reading standards in 2009 was 80.3 percent.
"We're just trying to see what kind of things will work for our kids and motivate them," Cross said.
While the concepts are new to her, Arko said West Aurora elementary schools have had these new learning strategies in practice already.
"I'm hoping it works," she said.
One thing for Johnson if you are her friend she will take care of you.
ReplyDeleteClayton is a good example, Johnson put in a person to help him and the Board did not know about it. When questioned she had a attitude of why question me and put it right through. What did all the loser Board members do they voted for it. Why do they even belong on the Board nobody can question her.
Another Roberts cronie was Glozbach given a $25,000 raise and big title. Johnson took care of that.
As for Lewis's grandchild yes it is a worth while cause but this district has many volunteers and other causes that do not get a personal endorsement of the Superintendents office. Nor does Clayton personally run the fundraiser. If this child ran the fundraiser she should do the work not Clayton. They tell us he is so busy yet he has time to help Lewis win a award.
Rayanne, please delete the duplicate posts. The Beacon article is excellent, but does not need to be posted multiple times; someone needs to find some other way to amuse themselves, unless they really have a spastic index finger and can't help pushing "publish" 5 times in succession.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
ReplyDeleteWow--7:16 p.m. has figured out how to push PUBLISH YOUR COMMENT 3 times in a row!!
ReplyDeleteI think there must be a glitch in the system I don't think anyone wanted to publish it multiple times.
ReplyDeleteMust be someone on the Board diverting the truth. Maybe about their charity, scholarship, job, or a love.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
ReplyDeleteIt's no wonder that the students are suffering so much, with a community of parents more worried about punctuation than the real issues. Open your minds people, stop hating those that help, and take responsiblity for your childrens' education. Where are you all when they are meeting to decide the future our children? Do you attend open houses, do you meet with teachers and administators, have you ever volunteered?
ReplyDeleteUnless your part of the solution, your just another part of the problem.
Stop criticizing and start acting.
Our board members are ELECTED officials. The community has voted them into the NON-PAID positions that they hold.
They are all persons that care about our kids! You thought so too, thats why they were voted into office.
I for 1 and P_R_O_U_D to be an East Aurora Alumni, and am excited to see the changes coming in the 2010-2011 school year!
Go EA!!
behind every successful person, lies a pack of haters!
ReplyDeleteYes, I did elect some of these board members and know I wish there was a recall because I do not believe they have the best interest for all the children in the district just some. Some on the board think only certain employees can help the students but just a few that they choose. They do not follow the IL School Code or even state law but think they can control the superintendent and administration which is not their job. The don't follow the Ethics Law and change it when they can to get their own or the chosen agenda's done.
ReplyDeleteWe have many in this district that are doing good things to help our children and they should get a head's up also. It seems that their is only a couple of people that the board thinks can change things here and that is not true.
As far as the Alumni they should be ashamed of themselves for not stepping up and say what is really wrong in the district and not helping to make changes.
I will never be ashamed of where I come from! I am an East Aurora High School Graduate! My kids go to school in the same district that I did. I will never stop insisting that we expect our children to BE the future leaders that they are.
ReplyDeleteIf you feel that there are laws being broken, then by all means, stand up and take action.
File a Class Action Law Suit if its necessary.
Justice will prevail.
In the meantime, I will continue on making sure that my children are the best students and individuals they can be.
I know the district has made some changes to the cirriculum and I hope that they help to bring up testing scores, however, the change of heart has to start at home.
If our children hear us bash the system we trust them in then they in turn become negative.
I don't really think a class action suit is the way to go it would be going to the States Attorney with any information that you have.
ReplyDeleteAll the board members did not vote for that helper for Clayton. Weaver voted against it. Over crowded classes and Clayton gets a helper but we do not get any new teachers. In other districts I do not think that the P.R. person or anyone employed by those districts are paid to get mentoring going much less a helper. Taz payers monies are not used. But Johndon will get what she wants and everyone just sits back and allows it to happen. I am not referring to the school board here, but to the community. There is only one person on that board that has the fortitude to question and challenge Johnson and Lewis, there seems like maybe, just maybe there is hope for one other board member. When that board member is gone who is going to do the questioning and take a stand for the students. Who would even want to try when everyone sees that no one backs this board member and even once in awhile come to meetings. This community will really not have an inkling then at all butit appears that is the way everyone here wants it to be. Everyone then will reap what they have sown.
ReplyDeleteDonations for the Blue & White Sale can be dropped off at the Service Center at 417 5th Street Aurora betweeen the hours of 8am and 4pm.
ReplyDeleteThey are asking for white or navy shirts and navy or blue jeans bottoms, as this is the dress code for Distict 131 middle school children.
Thanks for your reminding us that amongst the bickering, someone can still see a way to help!
Some people don't know what a class action suit is.
ReplyDeleteWELCOME TO
CLASS ACTION LAWSUITS
The purpose of this site is to try and shed some light on the subject of and provide information on CLASS ACTION LAWSUITS.
Almost all of us have at one time received notice from the courts that we are a member of a class action lawsuit and have wondered, "What does it all mean? What is the best course of action for us to take? What do I stand to gain or lose if I take one action or the other? Where can I get information to help me make an informed decision?" Not knowing the answers to the above and other questions, our normal course of action is to throw the notice in the trash and forget the matter. This is normally not the best action to take. In this site I will try to show what other actions are possible in a class action lawsuit and should be considered.
The purported purpose of class action lawsuits is to give the common man the ability to take on the largest corporate or private entities (who can afford the very best legal services) and have a chance of redressing the wrong done by these entities. It is important to remember that even though the actual damage or cost to the individual class member may be small, the illicit gain to the corporate entity can be huge if done to hundreds or even hundreds of thousands of class members. With this in mind, when you recieve your notice as a class member, you think "Gee, someone finally caught the S.O.B.s. I'll get what's due me. Justice will be done. The big corporation will stop ripping people off." HA! If you believe any of the above, I've got a bridge I want to sell you!
This site will give you information which you will probably find useful. The heart of this site is the Contacts Section . The following is a brief description of what is contained in the various pages.
Why is there only a dress code for the middle schools why not all?
ReplyDeleteI wouldn't claim to know the proper legal venue to address the law(s) that are allegedly being broken, but I do know that cursing at each other, trying to belittle each other with our superior knowledge of grammer and punctuation and googling class action lawsuit isn't accomplishing much in the way helping our students.
ReplyDeleteSo I guess the person that posted this under a previous topic:
ReplyDeleteAbout the EHS choir position: a new choir director has been selected. It is a woman from outside our district.
June 30, 2010 11:42 AM
AND THIS
No, I am NOT lying. I'm a friend and colleague of the woman who has been selected, and she has asked me not to mention her name, so I won't.
But the new EAHS choir director IS a woman, and IS from outside the district.
And when the "official" announcement is made, you will see that I wasn't lying.
July 3, 2010 1:34 PM
is a lying cunt. The new choir director is a man.
Did you ever think the community is happy with the direction of the District. I heard they are having community forums we will see if the community comes. I think not.
ReplyDeleteYou can also drop off clothes for the Blue and White Sale at any of the three Middle Schools, Waldo, Cowherd, or Simmons. The sale is at Waldo but all three schools are benefiting.
ReplyDeleteI don't think they where trying to belittle anyone but take the time to see what a board roles is and some of the rules that govern the board. It doesn't take that much time. If you do this you will see how some are not happy with the way they do things. In fact most of the rules and laws are for all forms of government and would be good for all to know if you vote.
ReplyDeleteGreat article in today's paper it seems Dr Roberts is addressing the concerns of the District. If this blog really cared about the District they would be supportive. He did fix our finances. It shows things are changing.
ReplyDeleteThe new EHS choir director is Mr. James Stellmacher--and he looks like a grEAt choice!
ReplyDeleteHe's fairly young (late 20's), and he's a graduate of Luther College in Iowa. He has several years experience directing high school choirs, including Appleton, Wisconsin and Berwyn, Illinois (a district very similar to ours economically and ethnically). He has a strong background in music theatre, including experience directing pit for musicals. He's also a church choir director. All in all, it appears that our district has made a wise decision in hiring Mr. Stellmacher.
Oh, and unlike some teachers in our district Mr. Stellmacher does NOT have EHS students as "friends" on Facebook. He evidently considers himself an authority figure, not a pal.
This is for 9:20 p.m.:
ReplyDeleteThe newly-hired EHS choir director is not the first person who was offered the job, back in June. If you remember, the choral position was again advertised as available at the end of July.
So the person who stated that the new director was a woman from outside the district was probably correct, AT THAT TIME, before the position became available again (for whatever reason).
Your use of the phrase "lying c--t" suggests that maybe you're a sore loser :P
We will see how great Dr. Roberts is when he get our test scores up. The reason he got the finances was because it looks better to have that score when you are selling bonds.
ReplyDeleteThe article was just a bunch of fluff. Do all the teachers know how to use the smart boards? I think it is good to upgrade computers as long as everyone knows how to use them. Is the district giving classes to help the teacher learn how to use the smartboards to their fullest capability?
ReplyDeleteUnder the article someone posted that they would like to see the students that graduated in 2009 get their year books.
All the teachers are receiving training that was promised by Roberts at another meeting. You should not comment if you don't have all the facts. Johnson also gave a interesting speech. She talked about our district being 5 years ahead of others because we are developing program the meets the needs of Hispanic students. She also said after learning in two languages the kids will be more marketable. It is true these days if you do not speak two languages then you will be the one hurting for a job. I know recent college grads looking for a job that are dual language get jobs much faster.
ReplyDeleteHas Johnson made sure the district is following these laws?
ReplyDeletePublic Act 096-0434 requires school districts to post administrative compensation on their web sites and to submit those reports to the Illinois School Board of Education and to their respective Regional Offices of Education (for Aurora West School District 129 it is the Kane County Regional Office of Education). The act also requires that the report be included in a school district’s Board of Education meeting.
Aurora West School District 129 reports the prior year’s compensation, which represents completed, rather than projected, payouts.
Public Act 096-0434 can be accessed by clicking the link here.
Or do they have this Public Act on the website? PA 95-707. What they have for the FOIA Act is a joke many of our surrounding districts have gone far beyond what they had to for the communtiy.
Here is a district website that really goes beyond what they have to. It shows the School Board, Superintendent and Administration respects the community and does their best to inform the community and follows laws. It also shows they take the burden of some of the paper work their FOIA Officer and others because they have it on the website for the community can access on their own.
ReplyDeleteIf this district wants to give a good image for new families moving into the district they should have this on the website and they new families should want to know this.
http://www.d300.org/about-us/freedom-information-act
Take the time to look at this it will show you what a district if they really respect the community should do wither they community cares about it or not it shows the district is following all rules.
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
ReplyDeleteI am glad you aren't the choir director with the kind of language you use.
ReplyDeletePublic Act 096-0434
ReplyDeleteSB2270 Enrolled LRB096 11338 NHT 21786 b
AN ACT concerning education.
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
represented in the General Assembly:
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.
This came into effect 10/09 and all school districts except ours are complying with it.
Gov. Quinn Approves New Employee Compensation Reporting Laws for School Districts, Some Higher Education Institutions
ReplyDeleteShare
August 26, 2009
By: Jackie Wernz
Governor Quinn recently signed two laws which require School Districts, public universities, and community colleges to report compensation information for certain employees, Public Acts 096-0434 and 096-0266. Both laws create the same new section to the School Code, yet each includes distinct requirements.
Public Act 096-0434 requires School Districts annually to make available an itemized salary compensation report for every employee in the district holding an administrative certificate and working in that capacity. The report must be posted on the District’s internet website, if any; presented at a school board meeting; and submitted to the district’s regional superintendent of schools. Public Act 096-0266 requires elementary and secondary school boards to issue annual reports to the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) that include the base salary and benefits of the district superintendent and all administrators and teachers employed by the School District. Public universities and community colleges must provide similar information under P.A. 096-0266 to the Illinois Board of Higher Education (IBHE) for the institution’s president, administrators and faculty members. The Acts are silent on the duty to update reports if circumstances change for an individual employee or the district (if, for instance, there is a change in personnel during the school year).
Each School District should begin preparing now to comply with the new reporting requirements. Districts must comply with Public Act 096-0434 by October 1, 2009, which includes presenting required information at a School Board meeting in October, and must comply with Public Act 096-0266 by July 1, 2010. ISBE has indicated that it expects to publish guidance on and provide a standardized form for compliance with Public Act 096-0266. We are currently developing a form that Districts can use to comply with Public Act 096-0434, which will also include all information needed to meet the ISBE reporting requirements under Public Act 096-0266. We will provide you these materials and continue to update you with more information regarding the interpretation of these laws as they become available. Please contact Brian Crowley, Dawn Spivey Moritz, Jackie Wernz, or another Franczek Radelet attorney with questions and to assist you with compliance with these new laws.
Looks like the district isn't up to date with the above Law.
ReplyDeleteActually yes they are.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.d131.org/Employment/admin_salary.asp
that link will take you to an excel file of all admin salaries. It can be found by clicking on the Employment tab on the left. When that page loads, you can then click on the Administrative Salaries tab on the right. This will bring you to the link to click on for the excel file.
You're welcome.
8:26 p.m., I'm glad you have a job. As a parent, I hope you're not working with my kids, because your pottymouth would be a horrible example for them.
ReplyDeleteAnd speaking of assumptions, you're making one yourself. You're assuming that I'm female. Maybe I am, maybe I'm not; maybe it's irrelevant.
How stupid are you to think that teachers don't swear. So no teacher can swear any time at any point even if they aren't around kids. That's stupid, and you are a moron.
ReplyDeleteI think we all know most people swear but are careful when they do it. Those kind of comments with swear words just show how immature some people are.
ReplyDeleteOk, then how is post Anonymously on a blog not careful?
ReplyDeleteDr Roberts stated at Red & Black that we hired 70 new positions this year. Our building alone had thousands of applicants for the positions posted. The majority being from other Districts. Many would have never considered d131 because of its reputation. Now that some of them became employees, they have all remarked what wonderful building, and what a great support staff. They had never been given the professional development in other Districts like ours. We have had many good informative seminars for these teachers to hit the ground running.
ReplyDeleteIt needs to be said that this blog continues to ruin the Districts reputation. If you are a new teacher and Google D131 you do run across this blog. To think that a former Board Member would be behind this is sinful.
The truth is Dr Roberts is a great Superintendent and does care about families we never experienced during budget cut times the massive lay-offs that other Superintendents make just for their image. I has happy to see him get out and talk about the District. It sure puts this image issue to rest for many teachers.
Dr Aird is also a quite leader she provides us endless professional development and support. Again, not what this blog states. She also has others that support us well Childress, Rowley, and Adams come to mind. The new Special Ed person is very good as well.
As far as the Board many times they are judged by this blog. Many have heard of the former member because of this blog. We have also heard of her side-kick who votes against the teachers for no other reason that to be negative. The rumor mill stated she did not vote for one badly needed position all year. The sad part is that is all the teachers and support staff ever hear of the Board. I will say that has put to rest at Red & Black. The Board President spoke as well. What a great job Ms. Johnson does understand the educational system of East Aurora and our kids. I will look out after those four kids this year. She made many of us think. I will agree we are 5 years ahead of other Districts and our kids are prepared for the real world. Many of us changed are perception of the Board because of her.
I hope this is what people read instead of the trash, swearing and bashing that does go on. If someone and injure a child for running a charity just look a the type of people are contributors to our reputation problem.
Excuse me but, may I borrow your rose colored glasses and while I'm asking, a little of what you're smoking would be nice also.
ReplyDeleteMaybe you do need some glasses if you can't see anything good about the district. You're an idiot.
ReplyDeleteWhen I see a article in the paper like the one they did from the West Side about the teacher being able to try something different to get the students to read I'll believe the district really thinks a lot about the teachers.
ReplyDeleteWe are 5 years above other districts you got to be kidding.
Johnson just likes to toot her own horn and probably is the one that thought of most of the things but she just promotes a few things. How about following the law like the posting up above states.
Our district is neither terrible nor wonderful; like most, it's a mixture of good and not-so-good.
ReplyDeleteAnd 8:44 is giving a blog way too much credit for affecting a district's reputation. All people need to do to find out about what REALLY went on a few years ago is to Google certain names and words--it's obvious who the bad guys were then, and where they are now. This blog didn't give those bullies (or our district) a bad reputation. They did it themselves.
Oh please.
ReplyDeleteAnd thank you, and you're welcome.
ReplyDeleteGood manners are always appreciated!
:)
The one board member that 8:44am on 8/21 says goes against the teachers, ia really the only one that stands up for the teachers. I f people went to the meetings they would have heard her say that a certain position that was being created would have let this districh have 2 more teachers, which would help with the over crowding. Teachers go to these meetings and I am sure that they have not heard this member say anything bad about the teachers. This member has already stated she will fight for an increase for them. The only teacher I have heard bad moth this teacher says roberts was her memtor. She worked at Gates and when she spoke, one could tell she was buttering up the superintendant and admistrators. This person was just made either principal or vice principal, but not at Gates. Does one good to butter up their mentor, does it not? There is only person 8:44am can be. When a person is in a public position and speaks to the publi, their postings come across in the same manner.
ReplyDeleteIt is interesting that this Board member never votes to hire teachers. She always votes no. Votes against additional much needed asst principals and even special ed required by law. She thinks she knows how to run the District better than a administrator even though she never attended college. It would be one thing if she held a teachers degree or a business degree and could back her statements up with facts but she can not. Yes I am one who sits Monday after Monday in the crowd of few listening to her talk in circles.
ReplyDeleteSometimes it is exciting when she had the power last year to attempt a deletion of a major program two weeks before school. A program the district actually won a award on this year.
The position referred to is one for Clayton. It helps gives the kids more opportunities from programs outside our district and helps with the mentor program. She actually sat with a straight face and implied Clayton did not work hard enough.
Now you may say I am pro administration not always. I sit and listen. When Ms Glozabach was promoted our one no vote did vote against it. However she never brought the topic up. The other members did not as well because they follow the president. Always voting with her. Sometimes the board needs to question but this member could be more well received if it not always no. I have watched her for three years and she always voted no just like all the other members vote yes they are all terrible board members.
I attended Red & Black as well and I attend meetinsgs so I have a interesting view. Roberts and Johnson could be one in the same their speeches had plenty of the same tones. Johnson is a positive with Roberts because she gets him to speak more and he is a better superintendent because of her. I did agree with all the things Johnson said and she/Robert believe because this time they had been said with meaning. But with that is the other members do need to question a little more because Johnson gives Roberts what he wants and Roberts like-wise. Glozabach is a recent example and teachers working without a contract is another. That being said this is how I grade the broad
Johnson/Roberts B
Lewis/Gonzalez C
Weaver D
Ttusa/Wells/Hall F
What has attending college have to do with knowing what people need. I think you are wrong about the college. Many people that did not attended college have succeeded and done very well for themselves and helped communities and on of the best known ones is Bill Gates.
ReplyDeleteDid anyone ever think that this district might be saying they have money but how long will that last and we will see who really cares about teachers when their contract comes up and who votes for a good raise for the teachers and who doesn't.
I wonder how many of them follow the law?
I guess you don't consider Harvard a college because Bill Gates did attend at Harvard University.
ReplyDeleteIn case you don't follow along, the teachers contract is up. Currently, the teachers are working without a contract.
Despite the 6.5 million dollars our district just received from the feds to keep teachers working and hire new teachers, the district will not negotiate the teachers contract until after the state elections in November.
Personally, I have my "ON STRIKE" already made up and am hopeful that our union will grow a set of cojones when Jerome and the board try to screw the teachers out of a cost of living increase. That's if the union can get out of the administrations bed long enough to stand up for the teachers.
Why don't you grow some BALLS and be a union representative.
ReplyDeleteI seem to remember Ms Weaver voted against the teachers last contract stating she did not have time to review it and blaming administration. She also voted against the Office workers and Maintenance as well. We are happy that she is no longer Board President many last year talked strike. This year we trust the Board will do the right thing. We do understand why we waited. I understand after the budget is passed they will start and we will receive a separate check. I do know the administrators have not received raise as well. It was Weaver at that time that lead the charge and gave them zero. I know it is going on 2 years for them and my building admin's work often till 7pm and on Saturdays.
ReplyDeleteBy the way Ms Lewis, Gonzalez & of course Weaver when you bash the Central Office for test scores you are bashing us. You should know better Ms Gonzalez how a score is determined. I would like to see the Board take the 3 grade test in Spanish a see how they fair. Better yet try it in English.
The reason she did not have time to review it is because she was not given the whole contract to review. Is there anything wrong in that? Would you vote for something that you did not know what it contained? This was stated at the meeting. Also, Weaver does explain why she votes no when she does. I may not always agree with her, but I will give rher credit for standing up for what she believes in and not just going with the flow. Please explain what the 3 grade test is.
ReplyDeleteDo you sign a contract without reading it? In fact with all the contract's coming up in all the districts you can go out and see the contracts on the other district's web site's which is now required by law. Also, for the administration for those that hold administration cert's the districts is suppose to have a listing of the administrators what their base salary is, how much the district pays for their insurance, pension, travel expenses (if any) and annuities. They all get a good salary and good benefits which are much better than most of our community members get. Go out and check all other districts have this on their website. This is what transparency means.
ReplyDeleteIn any form of government don't you want your elected officials to know what is in a contract or bill before they vote on it.
Our Central Office workers make good money and get great benefits so before anyone complains about someone asking to read a contract think of what you would do in that situation and ask to see what they make. Like I said for those other than the teachers they make more than a lot of the people in the district they get vacation time and paid benefits.
The person handing out grades, is no doubt the one friend of Johnson who shows up to support her.
ReplyDeleteThe person with the strike sign-good plan! Johnson was to have said the district could afford the raises the teachers want but Roberts doesn't want to give it to them. Don't look at your local union rep-it goes 2 steps higher to the person who is the bunky buddy with Jerome.
I hope teachers realize when fingers are pointed at our schools failing, the community knows who is keeping this boat afloat. The Capt. and his crew are shouting to the teachers "bail out the children" while they, themselves have grabbed the life jackets and are heading for the life boat.
And again, nobody talks about the parents role. It is always somebody else.
ReplyDeleteKIDS DO BETTER IN SCHOOL WHEN PARENTS ARE INVOLVED.
August 20, 2010 12:54 PM
ReplyDeletesaid-"I know recent college grads looking for a job that are dual language get jobs much faster."
Who are you kidding? A college degree and dual language doesn't even guarantee a job now,so how can you make such an absurd statement.
You also said-"our district being 5 years ahead of others" Ahead in what?!?
They have been on watch for 8 years!! They are not meeting or exceeding, the administrators have been telling us it takes time to see results. That song has been sung for over 5 years. I guess it is an oldie, but a goodie. But an old song, nonetheless.
I attended that meeting and for all of Weavers preaching I am for the teachers she always votes NO. No to new jobs and no to raises. She also has been blasting the test scores and calls us unqualified. For all her and one supporter (her sister) preaching about the law she should have abstained. I attended that meeting when she voted no. She was very clear that she was voting against the teachers.
ReplyDeleteYou are correct the strike signs were ready when she was President. The Board knew they had to make a change to avoid this and they were very smart to have. The union and teachers now have the trust that waiting is in the best interest of the District and the teachers. The budget will soon be completed.
Roberts was told this by the Union at the time. He told the Union the President at the time Weaver would not be the Board rep at the table.
That would be Johnson the Board then changed Presidents. The Teachers again regained trust in the Board. Johnson is very respectful. Our union president even asked us to support her mentoring program. Something the teachers will because she is for the kids unlike the past president.
The union reps will never forget her lodging a complaint to Roberts about cell phones and talking at meetings. Those complaints came from her only supporter her sister. Who by the way is not a taxpayer of d131. Why, because she always looks for the bad in someone not the good. Just look at the recent attack on Clayton.
9:13 must be Weaver she is the only one that can be that negative.
ReplyDeleteI am going to chime in on this one-whether I was at the board table or sitting in the back of the room with the community, there were a couple of people that would chat quite loudly, at times, in the area where the union president sits.
ReplyDeleteI did not hear of Weaver complaining about it, I had hoped admin. would say something to them, as it would be quite distracting at times.
Hey Johnson why not come to Simmons Monday or Tuesday and bring Roberts with you. I would like you to see first hand all the kids roaming around with schedule problems. We had computer problems again big ones I would like Roberts to see all the teachers having a bad day because of Patterson. If Roberts can't see maybe you can see for him.
ReplyDeleteAll the board members are acting badly. What I want to know since Johnson thinks she is so great is when is she going to follow the law and post the things that are suppose to be on the website like stated above and they could really do a better job with the FOIA act information.
ReplyDeleteTuesday would be better, then they can see the overcrowded lunchtimes also.
ReplyDeleteI wouldn't hold my breath though. The administration is well aware of the serious issues at Simmons but political considerations always outweigh student concerns in this district. As long as Lisa Morales is taking care of Jerome, he is not going to see the incompetent administrating going on with Wilson Morales and Mechelle Patterson.
I've had experience in more than a dozen different schools and half a dozen different school districts. I have never seen a school that was as poorly managed as Simmons.
Morale is extremely low, I know at least 7 teachers seriously considering harrassment lawsuits. The only thing holding them back is knowing that any money taken from the district is really money taken from the kids.
Scheduling has been horendous for years. You deal with 50+ kids in a class or 450 kids in a lunch period and see where your morale is.
Discipline is non-existent. The kids get away with everything, they know it and they throw it in the teachers face every chance they get.
Simply put, I've never seen a school with as many problems that Simmons has that the administration was not replaced and the new administration was directly controlled by central office until the situation was improved.
The problems at Simmons are a direct reflection of the decisions being made by the Central Office Administration and the School Board. It's way past time for a change in that building.
Lisa & Wilson are the problems at Simmons. Patterson is to concerned with her Doctorate and kisses up to Marin Gonzalez. I have heard Roberts is Patterson Dr adviser thought.
ReplyDeleteSecretaries were asked to work long hours the put schedules back in without pay. To put schedule information back in after being lost.
So who knows what the that will be like. As long as Lisa remains Jerome's secretary Wilson will have a job. She is also very tight with Marin Someone did take it up with Roberts personally and was told he backs his staff. His door is not open as he stated at Red & Black At this point your only hope is a anonymous call to the Board. I would start with Johnson, Hull or Lewis. Gonzalez/Trusa will only cover for Lisa. The other two are ineffective. I would start with Johnson she did push Roberts with the computers and mentoring.
That doesn't suprise me at all. Wilson Morales lost the schedule last year also. Michelle Henson did all the scheduling for Simmons last summer and Wilson came along and screwed it up completely. Just before school started last year, Wilson went to her and asked her to do it all over again because he messed it all up.
ReplyDeleteThis is just one more example of the incompetent leadership the teachers and students at Simmons have to deal with on a daily basis. It's a wonder that any education happens in that building. It is a testament to the loyalty and dedication of the staff at Simmons.
Hi Ho, Hi Ho, it's off to school they go.
ReplyDeleteYes, it's a half day for students today.
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately, the teachers have to waste their afternoon listening to Dr. Marin Gonzalez (Serial Bully Radakovich's protege) lecture about teaching Hispanic students. As though she's been anywhere near a classroom teaching the past several years--she's been too busy bullying and trying desperately to repair her image.
Yes we have to listen to Marin resume build. Roberts is Superintendent till 2014 that means Marin will never be. You can bet she is developing a career for herself just like Clayton. Marin is off teaching Survival Spanish and Hispanic Cultural Studies and Clayton is taking BoysIIMen national many are calling after NBC. When in the office he keeps his door locked now. Roberts told him not to let anyone know he is not on District business. Another note he always has high school students working for him earning community service hours something that never happened last year.
ReplyDeleteThen there is Joanie the new Asst Super. boy has the position gone to her head. Roberts is reassigning all the key staff positions to her. Aird has now gained all the big district programs this year like technology and the big reading overhaul. In order to free them up, Adams is now working for Roberts on special projects. Lisa is never in the office probably over at Simmons helping on scheduling and keeping a eye on her husband.
Then there is Roberts he has been very active lately making changes. But seems to be working on his image more than anything. Must be hanging out with Johnson to much. However he is certainly looking out all of them and their futures.
I do believe Weaver's sister is a taxpayer of the district. She pays rent where she lives and that complex pays real estate taxes.
ReplyDeleteI went out and looked at other districts website to see if what was stated about the contracts, administration salaries and how they did FOIA was true and found that they did have this information on the websites. I also found that D129 had done a better job with how to request FOIA information. Seems that they want to be more helpful in those area's and respect the communtiy by going an extra mile.
ReplyDeleteHow to Request Public Records
How to File a Freedom of Information Act
Request with the School District 129
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The following are instructions on how to file a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request with School District 129:
Please make your request for records in writing. Here is a form:foia request form.pdf. School District 129 does not require the completion of a standard form for this purpose. You may submit your written request by mail, fax or e-mail. Please direct your request to:
FOIA Officer – Mike Chapin
School District 129 Administration Office
80 S. River Street
Aurora, IL 60506
FAX: 630-844-5710
E-mail: mchapin@sd129.org
Please be as specific as possible when describing the records you are seeking. Remember, the Freedom of Information Act is designed to allow you to inspect or receive copies of records. It is not designed to require a public body to answer questions. To the extent that you wish to ask questions of a representative of School District 129, you may call our main number, 630-301-5000.
Please tell us whether you would like copies of the requested records, or whether you wish to examine the records in person. You have the right to either option.
There is no fee for up to 50 pages of standard paper copies. For pages beyond 50, there is a .15-cent-per-page charge for black-and-white copies. Color copies are at district cost.
You are permitted to ask for a waiver of copying fees. To do so, please include the following statement (or a similar statement) in your written FOIA request: “I request a waiver of all fees associated with this request.” In addition, you must include a specific explanation as to why your request for information is in the public interest—not simply your personal interest—and merits a fee waiver.
Please include your name, preferred telephone number(s), mailing address, and, if you wish, your electronic mail address.
Should your request be denied, you have the right to request a review by the Illinois Attorney General's Office. Here is the form and contact information: FOIA review request form for PAC.pdf.
Posted By: Mike Chapin on Saturday, January 30, 2010 - 1:54:36 PM
[Expires: Saturday, May 12, 2012 ]
John Young is over qualified for the position he got at Simmons. But working in U-46 he was part of the budget cuts. Look for him to make changes at Simmons and do Patterson & Morales work for them.
ReplyDeleteRumor is a certain nonpaying resident who does not pay the rent she proclaims to tried to make trouble with a certain State Official about the District FOIA and such. Does this High School drop out think she can catch the District not compliance. The District does employee lawyers that review this. Instead of spending your day causing trouble why don't you make a difference in a child's life.
ReplyDeleteThey are barly in complaince. Take the time to look at other districts websites and you will see they took the time to give as much if not more information than D131.
ReplyDeleteYou are wrong she does pay rent. Prove that she doesn't and she did graduate. If anyone wants to know the truth about paying rent call Silver Oaks and ask you don't live there for free.
If you are in compliance why did the State contact the district. I it wasn't the sister that contacted them.
ReplyDeleteTo: August 23, 2010 10:34 AM
ReplyDeleteSo, this new guy John Young is going to out for "Donuts" each day with the secretary?
Sometimes it hard when the shoe is on the other foot. Some people don't like the facts dragged up about themselves. Even if they get up and speak about falsehoods in the way a person spends his time. Nobody said the State was contacted only a Local State elected person. We all know where that is going. Good luck in attempting to make the district look bad. The voice of the children is stronger.
ReplyDeleteThen prove that the person is a drop out and that the don't pay rent. I know for a fact that they did graduate in 1967 and if you look up the reunions and alumni you will see that they did.
ReplyDeleteThis law came into effect 10/09 does our district have it on their website this is part of FOIA.
ReplyDeleteSB2270 Enrolled LRB096 11338 NHT 21786 b
AN ACT concerning education.
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
represented in the General Assembly:
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.
I love morons who post long lines of code and law and think people are actually reading it.
ReplyDeleteYou can find this information on the IL States Attorney website and does our district comply with this. Your statement says she proclaims to tried to make trouble with a certain State Official about the District FOIA and such. So it must mean that you are in the pocket of corrupt officials.
ReplyDeleteFOIA OFFICERS
What is a “FOIA officer”?
A FOIA officer is a person appointed by the public body to ensure that the public body complies
with FOIA. The FOIA officer’s responsibility is to receive FOIA requests from the public and to
send responses in compliance with FOIA. FOIA requires that each public body appoint at least
one FOIA officer and that the FOIA officer(s) complete an electronic training developed by the
Attorney General’s PAC. The initial training must be completed by June 30, 2010; trainings must
be completed annually thereafter.
Is every public body required to have a designated FOIA officer?
Yes. Every public body must prominently display at its office certain information, including the
name(s) of its FOIA officer(s). In addition, the office must display:
• Information regarding how to submit a FOIA; and
• A brief description of the office, including its purpose, budget and number of employees.
Any public body that has a website must also post this information on its website.
If the public body does not display the FOIA officer’s information, what should I do?
Contact the Attorney General’s Public Access Counselor at 1-877-299-FOIA. The public body
must post the name(s) of the FOIA officer(s), along with information concerning how to make a
FOIA request, at the office of the public body as well as on any websites maintained by the public
body.
I can tell you she wasn't the one.
It is too bad the state doesn't follow it's own laws.
ReplyDeleteA Tale of Three School districts.
ReplyDeletehttp://gapersblock.com/mechanics/2010/08/12/a-tale-of-three-school-districts/
When will anyone realize the East Aurora is using the system. Good article everyone should look at it. They barely follow the law and the law allows them to do it. Our students deserve the best but our School Board missuses it. All the districts in our surrounding areas deserve the best but our districts has learned how to misuse it.
ReplyDelete