The previous 131 School Board president was the scapegoat for many controversial discussions. She dared to question- why?
Nearly all new faces are on the 131 School Board since the Bigelow & Indian Trail discussions. It seems it is back to business as usual. The few small steps forward for transparency have gone to the wayside.
I recall the Magnet Academy parents packing the Board room when there was a possibility of their children being denied that ”special place” for learning. I wonder if those parents will attend the Board meeting on Monday to offer the district their monetary contributions should there be a rent increase on the space that houses the Magnet Academy?
According to Dan Barriero, the city has asked the district to respond to the rent increase by Oct 1st, prior to the Board meeting on Oct. 4th. Should this 131 decision have warranted a vote by the School Board in open session?
The Board president was quoted in the news. She thinks a dollar a year rent would be fine. I am sure she does, as she has stated on several occasions her contacts with the Mayor left her confident there would be no additional costs to the district for this school. Seems like that song has been sung before. Arguments in favor of opening the Academy included the fact "no additional costs to the district for this school."
The new face at the gavel has reverted to singing the songs of yesteryear.
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SIMMONS SUCKS!!!!!
East cites need to improve reading program
By Stephanie Sep 21, 2010
AURORA — If the East Aurora School District wants to improve standardized test scores, the focus needs to be on improving students’ reading skills, Superintendent Jerome Roberts said at a special meeting Tuesday night.
In 2010, the district had about 50 percent of students achieve a “meet” or “exceed” score on the reading ISAT test. In math, the district scored 67.8 percent. The district’s adequate yearly progress target was 77.5 percent for both scores. The target is mandated as part of the No Child Left Behind legislation.
“Reading has to continue to be a focus for our district,” said Angela Rowley, coordinator of assessments and evaluations for the district.
Lagging test scores have landed the district on the state’s academic warning list, and average scores have hovered around the same number during the last three years. Every third- through eighth-grader in the state takes the ISAT, which measures math and reading comprehension.
“The ISAT is a reading test — it doesn’t take a scholar to know that if the student doesn’t read well, they won’t do well,” Roberts said.
School Board member Dee Weaver said the schools need to get a plan in place to address the students’ needs who scored in the lowest category — ISAT “warning” — on the test. Roberts said the district hasn’t identified a comprehensive program for these students yet.
“In the last couple of years we’ve fallen backward here,” Weaver said. “For every day, week, month we wait (for a program) and they fall behind, that is more time they must make up.”
Roberts said the program to address the students’ reading scores needs to be researched.
“If it doesn’t make a difference for the students, then we’re just throwing money away,” Roberts said.
Administrators said the limited English-proficient students, who may not understand the test given only in English, and special education students who take the test brought the district’s scores down.
At the elementary level, 52 percent of the students who didn’t meet reading standards were limited English-proficient students. At the middle school level, 46 percent of those who didn’t meet reading standards were limited English-proficient students.
But Weaver asked why 33 percent of general education sixth- through eighth-graders who took the ISAT reading test also didn’t meet the test’s standards. Denean Adams, director of curriculum and title programs, said the administration hasn’t been spending enough time ensuring that classroom teaching is consistent.
“They need to be more specific with teachers regarding what needs to be implemented (in their classroom),” Adams said.
According to Adams, the high mobility rate in the district also has a negative effect on test scores.
“They say you lose half a year for every year you move,” said Rowley.
According to the article:
"Roberts said the district hasn’t identified a comprehensive program for these students yet".
The district has been on the state watchlist for 8 years now and the administration and board have not identified a comprehensive program yet?
What the hell have they been doing? What are we paying millions in administrative salaries for? If reading hasn't been a priority for the administrators of a district that has been on the state watchlist for 8 years, what can possibly wake them up and give them a clue? And then he has the nerve to blame the teachers?
The purpose of the board is to ensure that the superintendent is doing his job and set policies for the district. The board didn't know that the district doesn't have a comprehensive reading plan for the students?
The only things the board seems to be able to do is give the administrators huge raises, cover Clayton and his illegal fraternity and make excuses for the poor state of the district.
It really is time for a complete change.
Rayanne, please delete the duplicate posts.
Has anyone else read about some of those policy changes that is on the agenda for Monday's meeting? Even if no one wants to go to the meeting or can't, they can read the changes. I found one very interesting. Who will be willing to ask questions and speak up for the students and teachers after Weaver is gone? for the teachers who thinks she did not you are sadly mistaken and this administration(plus your union from things I have read}will stick it to you royaly> I also found it interesting about the letter that Roberts sent to the man who had questions at the last meeting about the overcrowding in classes. Teachers out there, is it true about the overcrowding in the school that this man mentioned? Who will pay the rent for the Root St. rent? Tsk, tsk, it is going to come back to haunt how this Magnet Academy was snuck it and the only original ones left who was a part of the sneaky deal is Roberts, Gonzales and Arid. I do not feel like perviewing this, so for the one(s) who get aggravated by the truth as some of us see it please feel free to point mistakes out like you do when you do not like what is posted.
Why wouldn't the board have to vote on a decision like the rent? Here is the board policy about this in part.
UEast Aurora School District No. 131 415.01 U Page 1 of 2
UOperational ServicesU
UPayment ProceduresU
All bills for goods, services, salaries, expenses or other items must be approved by the Board of Education in advance of payment except when paid for from Board-authorized imprest funds for school cafeterias, lunch rooms, athletics, petty cash or similar purposes, provided such funds are in the custody of an employee who is properly bonded and who is responsible to the Board and the Treasurer. All bills presented for payment approval to the Board of Education shall be certified, as listed, by the Assistant Superintendent for Business and approved by the Superintendent of Schools. This list shall be presented to the Board at least three (3) days prior to the regular meeting at which action is to be taken.
The Assistant Superintendent for Business is responsible for preparing a listing of current bills and presenting it to the Board of Education at each month's regular business meeting. The Board will authorize payment of these bills, but only after a careful review of the listing and supporting documents that will be available upon request. District bills will be approved by a roll call vote of the Board and the amount paid for each bill will be listed in the Board meeting minutes. The Treasurer will pay the bills after receiving School Board approval. All disbursement checks drawn on District funds will be signed by the Treasurer and by the Board President.
Interim payments may be made for contracted services previously approved by the Board
The district sends the superintendent, administration and board members to seminars to learn different things and I'm sure there are other districts that have the same problems with ELL that we do that have improved their scores so maybe we should reach out to them.
I am a teacher and yes, there are many problems with overcrowding in the classrooms. However, the majority of the problems in the classrooms could be alleviated by simply having people who understand the intricacies of scheduling do the job.
Part of the problem is administrators who have to go before the board and show that they are making changes to improve education. They are so desperate to keep their positions, they push changes they know are not in the best interests of the students.
It really is very simple. You must first balance class sizes so that education can happen in all classes. It really doesn't help to have classes as small as single digits and classes as large as 50. After the classes are balanced, then you make changes necessary to improve education.
No changes that you make to education matter in a class of 30 or more. Little, if any, education happens in large groups. Instead, the teacher spends the entire time dealing with discipline issues.
Nothing is more frustrating to the teachers than to hear that the administration is deliberately unbalancing classes for some off the wall idea they have, except for maybe, the classes are unbalanced because their building administrators have no clue what they are doing.
Hermes is the school that this person was asking about. I believe it was mentioned that at least 2 classrooms had 38 students in it. Roberts replied that there was no overcrowding in Hermes. Roberts answer is in the board packet for the next meeting. They really need to get that old picture with last years student board members off of there.
Oh, and wouldn't it be nice in the SEVENTH week of school if the EHS website were updated, so parents could have contact information for current teachers?
But that would happen only in a district where administrators have consideration & respect for the people who pay their salaries.
I do believe the PR person has responsibility over the website and wouldn't it be nice if he had respect for all parents and community to keep it updated. Anything that applies to him or his pet projects are sure to make it on the website. It is the responsibility of his boss to make sure it it keep up to date and I believe his boss is Roberts. Then it goes to the board and they are his boss and you would think they would make it so but if anyone says anything about what is wrong with the website they have their good ole buddies on the board to make sure nothing changes.
Thanks for that lesson.
There has been one person on that board who has mentioned about the website and being updated. It was stated by the PR person that it had been updated, if I remember right by the person whose job it is to update it. We all know who that is.
The website is not updated. It has wrong information about the teachers and has employees on there that don't even work there anymore.
Wrong, it's up to date, you are just stupid.
Wrong. The student board members pictures from last year are still there not the new ones.
Wrong, you must be looking at the wrong page.
Wrong, I'm eating cereal.
Wow, 9:51, you must know something we don't if you claim that the website is up to date!
Like, Ms. Nadel has come out of retirement and is teaching at East High--after all, her contact information is listed on the "Faculty and Staff" page of the (up to date, according to you) EHS website. And there she is again, smiling in a picture on the (up to date, according to you) "Fine Arts" page (although someone named James Stellmacher is mentioned as being the choir director on that page). I guess we must have TWO choir directors at the high school this year--according to you!
And on the "Board of Education" page there's a nice picture of all the current board members, including the student members. WOW--those two girls really need a makeover! They look like guys to me. But as long as those gals do a good job it doesn't really matter what they look like, and our district scores points with the GLBT community for selecting two transgendered teens as student board members.
But on whatever planet 9:51 comes from, that's the up-to-date truth. And the rest of us are "just stupid". Yeah, whatever, asswipe.
It's SO nice to know our district doesn't discriminate against transgendered teens!
And also that we allow a retired teacher to work remotely from the East Coast, where she and her husband have been living since June.
Our district is so progressive!!
:)
It's up to date, maybe your computer is broken.
Of course it's up to date.
And there are two choir directors at East High, one of whom now lives on the East Coast.
And the new (female) student board members are either transgendered teens or wearing fake whiskers and
Adam's apples.
And the Downer Street bridge is for sale--wanna buy it, 9:52 a.m.?
October 4, 2010 9:52 AM must be a district board member or administrator. Reality doesn't matter, just image. It doesn't matter that there is information on the web site that is 4 years old, just say it's up to date and everything is alright.
I guess the web site is up to date if you're Clayton. Boys II Men information is completely current.
I don't know what you guys are talking about, I see the picture of the new choir director and student board member.
Just go to the page. It's right there.
Yeah, 2:10 p.m., it's there in your dreams.
Or in an alternate reality.
What page are you going to? I went to Board of Education and also Meet the Board. It is not up to date. If you see the new student member then there is something the rest of us are missing. Please let us know.
2:10's just playing with us, trying to amuse themselves. They know damn well the website's not up-to-date.
But that's o.k. because they're just perpetuating this discussion.
:)
Yeah, the "discussion." Wow, what good "discussion." Insulting people and stating the same things over and over again.
And, it is right there. I found it, maybe your internet is broken. Look again.
When something remains a problem, it is APPROPRIATE to discuss it "over and over again". And the outdated information on the website has indeed been mentioned repeatedly since school started, because it REMAINS AN ISSUE.
If that annoys or bothers you, 5:06 p.m., that's too bad.
2:09 said it best:
"Reality doesn't matter, just image".
:)
Did you know that the website still has outdated information on it? Come on, it's like the 6th week of school or something.
Actually, no, it's the seventh week of school.
But who's counting?
Bully Administrators= "Making Choices For Arrogance"
:)
Ignacio and Samuel are Chicks? I need to see a doctor, or maybe go to a health class or SOMETHING. The website is out-of-date/regularly updated. Get over it!
I don't understand why you guys don't just stop arguing and face the facts. There are a couple of problems in our community and those are: That you guys are ugly, and that there are idiots like me that are allowed to just randomly roam about. Though both of those problems have solutions (well, the first one is rather tricky), you guys prefer to just sit there and talk about nothing when you guys could be doing something more productive with your time like being active members of a family/community or getting into prison or something. I hope you guys grow up and realize that talking about relevant topics in a blog is nice, but that it's better when you guys are honest. Giving something a face also gives something a credibility value, list your sources and say who you are every once in a while. If you don't want to reveal your real identity, make up a screen name!
So anybody go to the meeting tonight? No? That would require actual work
Yes, somebody went to the meeting tonight.
The website is up to date now. HA on you.
If you are posting on the blog at this time you must also not go to board meetings or you would be there it is still going on.
"The website is up to date."
"All schools in D131 made AYP last year."
"The EHS football team is undefeated."
~~~~~~~~~~~~
Everybody knows that saying something makes it true--right, Bitch Whore??
8:58's an administrator.
Whoa if God said it, it must be true. I did not realize that God was a blogger.
This is sort of a funny thing on the districts website. While some of our children do get rides to school most of them do walk and I see them walking in the morning to the high school.
International Walk to School Day
October 6th is International Walk to School Day. It is an annual event when children across the world walk or bike to school. It is a fun way to raise awareness about how walk-able a community is and where improvements can be made. It also encourages physical activity by teaching children safe walking behaviors, such as how to cross streets.
It is important though to teach your children how to cross streets at an early age even before they start school.
There's a pledge of blogs? Really? Where?
Maybe on that fantasy updated website.
So we don't have facts well as of two minutes ago this was on the meet the board of education.
(L to R): Dee Weaver, Anita Lewis (Secretary), Annette Johnson (President), Juanita Wells, Ignacio Cervantes (Student Member), Stella Gonzalez (Vice-President), Raymond Hull, Mary Anne Turza, Samuel Nunez (Student Member)
From the staff directory as of today.
Name (click to sort) Title School (click to sort) Phone/Email Webpage
Nadel, Lynne Choir/Music Teacher East Aurora High School (630) 299-8146
lnadel@emaild131email.org Webpage
Najera, Angelica Bilingual Kindergarten Teacher Hermes Elementary (630) 299-3250
anajera.hermes@emaild131email.org
Narayanan, Amy 3rd Grade Teacher Allen Elementary (630) 299-5200
anarayanan.allen@emaild131email.org
Nash, Karie Science Teacher East Aurora High School (630) 299-2349
knash@emaild131email.org Webpage
Navarrete, Aleli Bilingual 1st Grade Teacher Gates Elementary (630) 299-5641
anavarrete.gates@emaild131email.org Webpage
Neil, Barbetta Teacher Assistant Gates Elementary (630) 299-5600
bneil.gates@emaild131email.org
Nelson, Mary Language Arts Teacher Cowherd Middle School (630) 299-5986
mnelson.cowherd@emaild131email.org
Nelson, Cory Math Teacher Simmons Middle School (630) 299-4150
cnelson.simmons@emaild131email.org
Nenia, Marcus Science Teacher East Aurora High School (630) 299-8000
mnenia@emaild131email.org
Ms. Nadel is retired.
Hey, did you guys know that the new student board member is really a guy. That's what the website shows.
You really should take your meds.
Well if you know she is retired then don't call the phone number or email her. Why do you need it on the website when you already know it?
Who needs current contact information for teachers, when your child can just be Facebook friends with them (along with the teachers' college drinking buddies and high school pals)?
After all, who cares if teachers have contact with their students without parents' knowledge or approval? It's just a lawsuit waiting to happen (and our district has plenty of extra money to pay lawyers & damages, at least in the fantasy world!)
I need websites full of stuff that I already know. I need websites that show me how to post on blogs. I need sites that show me how to use a fork. I need a site that shows me how to sleep. Without these, and they better be updated regularly, I cannot function.
Good question why should it be on the website if she is retired.
BECAUSE THE LAZY BULLY ADMINISTRATORS CAN'T BE BOTHERED TO UPDATE, that's why.
Favorite Topics of stupid bloggers:
Facebook Friends
Clayton
Website Updates
"Bully Administrators"
"Serial Bullies"
Masturbation
Anal Play
Money
The West side has a good website no information that isn't up to date. No employees that don't work there. It is easy to find information. All teacher information is there and homework assignments. You can see how they are dealing with the problems the district is having with late state payments and how they are handling it. If you want to find how to get FOIA information it is all right in one place you don't have to click board policies to find the form or how to contact the FIOA Officer. The board information is all up to date.
How can you possibly know that every teacher is correct?
I remember when teachers were role models, not pals. We referred to them as "Mr.", "Miss", or "Mrs." and wouldn't dream of considering them our peers. Our parents would communicate with teachers on our behalf, because we (as minors) knew that legally the school and its teachers were responsible for our actions as "in loco parentis" (Latin for "in the place of parents".
Most teachers do NOT have their current students as Facebook friends--probably because those teachers are too professional to blur the distinction between authority figure and pal.
It's only a few immature teachers who are foolish enough to view 15-, 16-, and 17-year-olds as "friends".
You pay someone to know. At the end of the year you give the person in charge of the website the teachers that have left or retired and they delete them.
You are right October 4, 2010 9:37 PM
the teachers years ago and some now are to be respected and role models not your peers.
I love you
So you say you don't have time to go to a board meeting at the times you are posting the meeting was still going on. Posting on this blog gets you no where. I you have this kind of time to waste your life is meaningless and I feel sorry for you.
"Call the school directly"--
Rudy, this is 2010, not 1980. First of all, when I (a parent) call East High, I'm lucky if I get to talk to a live human being who speaks English understandably well. Then it's a game of phone tag as I wait for someone to get back to me, if I happen to need information after 4:30 p.m. or on a weekend.
My point is, this is unacceptable and extremely disrespectful to parents who are trying to do our part to be involved in our kids' education! We SHOULD NOT need to revert to 1980-era technology to access information we DESERVE to have available at the click of a mouse!
I have to agree about calling the schools or Central Office you are lucky if someone answers.
The same company does the West side and East side website but they don't have the same district employees running them. I remember when they change to this one how it was said it would be more parent friendly but it took time because they where having trouble picking the pictures that would go on it. We have a full time person that is suppose to run the website so should be functional like all the others and if not there shouldn't be one at all.
If people do not like what is on the blog don't visit it. Some have went head to head with the board and it gets you no where it is there way or the high way.
At least the people that complain don't have to use foul langauge.
Interesting article in the Beacon.
East board president proposes eliminating ‘board comments’
By STEPHANIE LULAY slulay@stmedianetwork.com Oct 4, 2010 10:35PM
AURORA — During board comments at the East Aurora School Board meeting Tuesday night, President Annette Johnson proposed eliminating just that — board comments.
Johnson said that she decided eliminating board comments would be a good idea after reviewing other school boards’ practices. The proposal will be voted on at the next board meeting on Oct. 18, Johnson said.
“Every school doesn’t necessarily have board comments,” she said. “We should keep board meetings very informative for the community and utilize the board time for more of school business.”
Board comments is a specified time at every meeting where members speak about what gatherings they attended in the district during the past few weeks or address other issues in the district.
Board member Ray Hull said that he would be against eliminating board comments and that he’s not aware of a reason to eliminate that part of the meeting.
“I think that we were elected or selected to be a voice for those that don’t have a voice in the district,” Hull said. “Our comments are relevant.”
Hull said Tuesday night during his board comments that he was surprised to find out at the East High School open house that most of his daughter’s classes have more than 30 students.
“I want to apologize to teachers and parents that we find ourselves in this predicament,” Hull said. “We have a serious issue there.”
District spokesman Clayton Muhammad said that the goal of eliminating comments is not to make meetings shorter, but to allow more district voices in meetings to discuss schools and programs.
Earlier this school year, board member Stella Gonzalez proposed a time limit on board comments to three minutes, the same amount of time the public is allowed to speak.
We have children not making AYP in reading and overcrowded class rooms and this is what the board is worried about. I have to say that I have been to meetings and got irrated listening too about some of the members going out to dinner and not about what they thought about what was going on in the district. Mr. Hull brings up a good subject since the Superintendent stated that the classrooms did not have 30 in them.
The West Side has the solution to overcrowded classrooms. It is in the teachers contract.
If a teacher has more than 28 students in their classroom they receive a stipend (extra pay). All stipends must be passed before the board. Needless to say, the administrators do their job with scheduling because if they don't, they have to go before the board and explain why classes have more than 28 students in them and the district is being asked to pay for the overcrowded classrooms.
The West Side has almost no classes with more than 28 students in them. They also have no classes sitting with 5 or 10 students in them. It's a simple device that motivates their administrators to do their job in regards to scheduling.
Can somebody explain to me how "eliminating board comments" is even newspaper worthy? I mean really, there is a whole article dedicated to this?
There are a lot of great things being don't by great teachers and this is what gets printed about East Aurora.
That's what the board talked about at the meeting and Mr. Hull made a good statement about overcrowded classrooms. Maybe there is something to what they write about Simmons.
It's fine that they talked about it at the meeting, but why does that part of the meeting make it in the paper, what a waste of time.
Mr Hull is talking about the High School where it is sad to say but 45% that start out in the Freshman center never graduate. The sad part is Hull's daughter goes to East and he will never come to Simmons or any other school. Hull like his self serving counterparts only started sending his daughter to East once he got on the Board. His daughter now gets special treatment and will leave East with a free college education. He constantly berates the staff at the High School well Jerome offers no support. It is funny how he is given free reign while a former Board member who did far less was brought up on union charges. It is also more entertaining that Johnson is willing to do Roberts dirty work by putting a muzzle on Hull. But its funny the way one brother treats another brother. Certainly a different set of values.
Johnson, Roberts, and many of the admins do not like comments such as Hull made. Mrs. Weaver had pointed out other things in the past that was not liked by the board. In mentioning what he did about East, it does bring attention to other schools. Did anyone else read Robert's reply to the person who questioned about Hermes? The man does know how to squirm around things. Johnson is becoming quite the tyrant. It appears that she either does not trust any of the other board members, as she seems to be at all the committee meetings, she also seems to have to be involved in any new committee that is made up. They did talk about how there is a new committee about how to do the website. Gonzales, the new student board member and Johnson are on it. It is nice that she has this much time to devote to the district and still take care of her business. Noticed not one board member talked about the Magnet Academy rent. As everyone knows, the Magnet Academy was not suppose to cost this district any money. Now I am not sure, but I heard it will now cost the district around $68,000 a year for rent. Yet we still need school books for regular classes, some classes are still using books that are around 10 yrs. old or older. Whatever that rent is, it would have bought a heck of alot of books. I believe the district had to give the City a reply by the 1'st of Oct. That money could have also been for a teacher for these overcrowded classes. Just be aware that Roberts, Johnson and many admins will get what they want due to lack of community participation. E-mail, call and hound Roberts and then the board. All of them. It is known that Johnson and a few othe board members do not share certain things, so be sure to e-mail them all. Heck, mail to one(Johnson being the best for this)and blind mail the same letter to the rest of the board and see what happens. Stay on them like white on rice.
In reviewing other districts practices, Johnson would have gone to their websites. Wonder why she did not mention about the fact that their websites are probably up-to-date? It must have been easy for her to find what she was looking for. I also wonder,if, instead on other webites, that it might have been worded differently than board comments or under another topic? Since others in the past have commented on how nice other districts websites are, would you be able to answer this?
It is very interesting that both Weaver & Hull shoot their mouths off and never attend a District event other than a Board meeting. Because they never look into the facts no one can believe a word they say. They are just blow hards
Both Weaver and Hull has attended school events. Weaver has had children in the district and helped with events and attended school events.
As far as board members I don't really think it is their responsibly to attend events but if they do that is nice. Until some of the new board members got on the board did they attend events before they became board members or just now when they got on the board. They look into facts that the board gives them I believe but are not blinded by the light of those that can't see the forest through the trees. Mr. Hull has a child in school right now and good insight of what is happening in the schools. Until anyone goes in and really sees the day to day events that goes on in the schools will not know what is happening and if the board lets the schools know you can bet they will make it look like everything is ok.
Are there really classrooms that have 30 students we will never know until the board ask the teachers to tell the truth. But those teachers will be afraid of the administration if they tell the truth. What needs to happen is an independent to come and look at the situation to see what is being said is true but that will never happen because they want to protect the superintendent.
So did anybody go to the test score meeting at East High tonight?
NO??? - SHOCKED
There are 2 school board members that it sounds like the only events they go to is the ones that have food at them as this is all anyone hears about when they talk at the meetings. Weaver has a job and so does Hull. It might be that they would have to take off of work for many of these events. Many people do not have the luxury of being able to attend and do many things as it appears the president does. As far as the overcrowding, any parent out there should be able to tell if there is this problem by how many are in their child's class.
I know there are 30+ kids in many classrooms in this district. I'm teaching a class with 35 kids in it. Several of the other teachers in my area of the building are also teaching classes of the same size.
Why does it need to be a case of cat and mouse? Why can't the board simply ask how many classes in the district have 30 or more students in them? Doesn't the administration have to answer these questions?
I think its great that Johnson is willing to spent time improving the education of our children. I have seen her visit our school several times whereas I could not tell what Weaver & Hull look like. The worst Board members are parents with a ax to grind because they want to make excuses for their children.
It is not really the job of the board to visist the schools they hired a superintendent to let them know what is happening in the schools. Johnson only has now come and visited the schools now that she is on the board. I don't know about Hull but Weaver had children in the schools and when they where there she went to school functions and stood up and complained about the old text books in the schools. So if Johnson wants to toot her horn about how she now goes to school functions then fine it is here time others have done theirs. If she was so concerned about the education of our children then she would make sure the classrooms did not have more than 28 in a classroom and that we had the teachers for that instead of hiring administrators and a assistant for the PR person.
So if Johnson has visited the schools she should of seen that we had 30+ students in some classes and done something about it.
Good article in the Beacon again today about schools. In the Superindents reply to Mr. Rivera about class size he stated they didn't have any classes with 38 students but in the article Arid said they did.
This superintendent and his administration is making fools of the board since the board doesn't even know what is going on in the schools.
The board does know and promote the PR employees group and spent time this summer in board meetings promoting it and even approving a helper for him so he could go around promote the group on the districts dime while we have crowed classrooms.
Oswego has 30 plus students also and I am sure they are paying more taxes than you. Or you are one of those lazy ass teachers who lives out of town and takes your money and runs.
It does not matter where this person lives if they are a teacher or not and about the taxes. This is about the quality of education the students are getting. How can they get it if the classes are overcrowded? Johnson sure did not care about the students in this district before she got on the board. She was one at one point that said she would never vote for a referendum to raise taxes for the schools. Where has she been before she became the tryant? Also, it is truly not her job to go around to the schools. That is the superintendant's job. When Weaver wanted to do something like Johnson is doing, Johnson put a cubash to it. She was buddy, buddy with Roberts when Weaver was president and at least on other. Sad thing is, she and one other(who also turned against Weaver)talked Weaver into being President. Then she(president now and the other one)turned Benedict Arnold on Weaver. So, where is the $68,000 going to come from for the Magnet? Notice there is no overcrowding there. Just favortism. Teachers teaching in the Magnet could be put back into regular classrooms and WaLa, big step to undoing the overcrowding and saving that rent is a lot of money vor new textbooks and a teacher. What the heck, that is only common sense, which many of this board seems to lack.
Here is what the Beacon had about Oswego and 30 students in a classroom.
The Oswego School District has experienced higher class sizes at the elementary schools, too, according to Todd Colvin, associate superintendent.
Colvin said that Oswego elementary class sizes average between 26 and 30 students in third, fourth and fifth grades this year and that the highest class sizes have between 30 and 33 students. Three of the district’s elementary schools are at capacity.
“We’ve tightened our belt and didn’t hire as many teachers because of our financial situation,” Colvin said.
When class sizes reach 30 students, the district provides a teacher’s assistant, he said.
Next year, the district will offer several full-day kindergarten classes at the East View Elementary building to make more space for elementary classes in other buildings.
"When class sizes reach 30 students, the district provides a teacher’s assistant"
~~~~~~~
That's a BIG difference between Oswego and East Aurora! Adding a teacher's assistant to a classroom is almost like adding a second teacher, because it enables the certified teacher to concentrate more time on education while the aide deals with classroom management issues.
If I were a classroom teacher I would definitely prefer working in the Oswego district for this reason!
A district that is honest and transparent has NOTHING to hide and it's main concern is for students. The notice below was sent to parents in 204. 131 doesn't inform the school community about teachers accused of misconduct.
Dear District 204 Community,
As superintendent, student safety is always at the forefront of everything we do throughout our district. All adults in our schools share the responsibility of creating a safe learning environment for students. That's why I am deeply troubled to learn that Robert Smith, a teacher at Metea Valley High School, is being charged with sexual misconduct with a student.
School officials learned of the investigation on Tuesday, September 28. Smith was immediately removed from all his duties and responsibilities and placed on administrative leave. We understand the seriousness of the charges and are cooperating fully with the police in their investigation. Like all our employees, he successfully completed a background check and has taught in District 204 since 2008. He worked for one year at Waubonsie Valley High School before moving to Metea Valley High School in 2009. Investigators have not given the district any indication that Smith had involvements with any other students or that any of the allegations took place at school.
This is now a matter for law enforcement officials to handle, while we focus on the well-being of our students. We are providing support in the school for any student who may need to discuss this issue. If your student is seeking support at school, please direct him or her to speak with the social worker or guidance counselor in their class house.
We are encouraging students who may have pertinent information regarding this investigation to contact the Naperville Police Department. Thank you for your continued support.
Kathy Birkett, Superintendent
From The Beacon
AURORA — It’s Friday in Steve Huffman’s fifth-grade classroom at East Aurora’s Bardwell Elementary School, and the students are learning how to subtract decimals.
As Huffman circles the room helping students individually, five hands linger above their heads, waiting their turn to get the teacher’s attention.
Huffman is one of four fifth-grade teachers at Bardwell with class sizes hovering around 34 students. And the Bardwell teachers aren’t alone.
This year, large elementary class sizes are forcing many school districts to make decisions — to add teachers and support staff, to cut pre-school spots or to learn to live with larger classes.
Parent upset
East Aurora parent Jose Rivera took his frustration with large class sizes to a September School Board meeting where his daughter, Iliana, a senior at East Aurora High School, is the student representative on the board.
His grade school-age son was in a class of 38 at Hermes Elementary, he said, which he didn’t realize until he attended the school’s open house. (School officials said the largest class at Hermes actually has 34 students.)
“Nobody is going to put their kids in our school system,” Rivera said.
East by the numbers
At East Aurora, average class size is 26 to 27 students in elementary grades, according to Christie Aird, assistant superintendent of elementary programs. Class sizes have hovered around that number since budget cuts forced average class sizes up from about 25 students, she said.
Based on enrollment reports from the 10th day of school, there were 38 classrooms in the East Aurora School District with 30 or more students. There were seven classrooms with 35 or more students that the district has requested additional teachers for in order to reduce classroom size, according to Aird.
To date, there is no plan to get other teachers with 30 or more students a classroom aide, and it isn’t mandated by their contract, Aird said.
At Allen and Bardwell elementary schools, fifth-grade classes averaged between 34 and 36 students per class.
“We generally have about 30 classes with 30 or more students,” Aird said of yearly trends. “However, we have experienced a few kindergarten and fifth-grade anomalies this year — larger than normal (class sizes).”
When it comes to class size caps at East Aurora, Aird said the district considers the situation.
“We look at the scenario if the class is above 30,” Aird said. “We look at the ages of the kids, the size of the room, we look at if there’s space in the building.”
At Bardwell there aren’t any more classrooms to put kids.
“There’s nothing we can do,” Aird said.
Aird, a former teacher, said commanding a large classroom is doable.
“I taught bilingual kindergarten, I had 32 to 33 students in sections every year,” she said. “And I was OK with that. It depends on the teacher, I’m sure.”
Based on past experience, enrollment in the district will decrease by January.
“It’s a phenomena we experience yearly,” Aird said.
Reductions made already
The East Aurora district cut 400 preschool student spots this year to make space for elementary classes that are housed in the same buildings.
“We knew we would need those classrooms and preschool is not a mandated program,” Aird said.
Aird said that several elementary schools are at capacity in the district and future options are being discussed with the board, but no definite plans have been announced.
Aird said the district also used some funding from a class size reduction grant to reduce class sizes — hiring two part-time and two full-time teachers.
At Allen, fifth-grade classes were at 42, 39 and 38 students at the beginning of the year, before the district added a teacher. At Krug, a 42-student first grade was split when an extra teacher was added and two part-time kindergarten teachers split up classes at Rollins and Brady elementary schools.
Continued:
Larger Oswego classes
The Oswego School District has experienced higher class sizes at the elementary schools, too, according to Todd Colvin, associate superintendent.
Colvin said that Oswego elementary class sizes average between 26 and 30 students in third, fourth and fifth grades this year and that the highest class sizes have between 30 and 33 students. Three of the district’s elementary schools are at capacity.
“We’ve tightened our belt and didn’t hire as many teachers because of our financial situation,” Colvin said.
When class sizes reach 30 students, the district provides a teacher’s assistant, he said.
Next year, the district will offer several full-day kindergarten classes at the East View Elementary building to make more space for elementary classes in other buildings.
West classes limited
Class of 30 or more students don’t exist in West Aurora elementary schools.
Class sizes in West Aurora are capped by the teachers contract, according to district spokesman Mike Chapin.
The youngest classes are capped with the smallest class sizes, Chapin said. If a class goes over the number, the district can adjust by adding a teacher’s assistant or splitting the class with another teacher, but that is dependent on whether there is room for another class in the building, he said.
West Aurora classes are capped by grade. In kindergarten, classes are capped at 24; in first grade, 25 or 26 (bilingual classes are capped at smaller numbers); bilingual, second at between 25 and 27; and subsequent grades are capped between 25 and 28.
The largest class at West Aurora is about 28 students, and the district plans to add a teacher’s assistant when classes reach that number.
Experts favor small classes
Deborah Stevens, director of the education department’s initial certification programs at Aurora University, said an early-childhood study conducted in the late 1990s favored a class size of 17 to 19 students.
“A larger class size was determined to be more detrimental to student learning,” Stevens said.
Kids in smaller classes in the study, versus a large class — defined as 25 or more students — were one to three months ahead of their large-class peers, according to Stevens.
Stevens said research has shown that the greatest gains in learning have been when low-income students were placed in small classes.
Continued:
“One of the challenges for teachers of large classes is certainly the number of students,” said Stevens. “But because teachers are expected to meet all children’s needs because of No Child Left Behind, when you have larger class sizes, it becomes more difficult to meet everyone’s needs.”
Stevens said that students of varying abilities and needs — including gifted students, regular education students, special education students, special-needs children, low-income kids and English language learners — may all be in the same classroom.
Kids in large classes are missing out on valuable feedback, Stevens said, an important component of learning.
Estimating enrollment
Chapin said the West Aurora School District does its staffing in the spring, based on estimates, but plans have to be refigured when kids show up for class in the fall.
“We were expecting to lose 600 kids when Jericho Circle closed, and then we added the staff back after it didn’t close,” Chapin said of the public housing complex on Aurora’s southwest side.
High mobility rates and slow enrollment trends can make it difficult for a district to plan, he said.
“It would be ideal if every student was fully enrolled and in their seats on day one, and we work hard to get as many kids there as possible,” Chapin said.
Chapin said the district experienced more enrollment problems than usual this year because families have been moving in with family members because of the economy.
“There was a lot of registration pressure that you wouldn’t normally get if the kid was staying in their house and going to the next grade,” Chapin said.
Aird said while East Aurora experienced larger pockets of students in certain grades this year, it won’t mean that schools’ boundary lines will be adjusted next year.
The district works with a demographer that examines enrollment trends, Aird said.
“To react based on one year wouldn’t make sense,” she said.
We have by far the most students in classes. Oswego sizes are up because of budget reasons. West has appropriate class sizes.
Our administrators brag about our excellent financial situation. So, why do we have the largest class sizes? Bardwell has four 5th grade classes sitting at 34. If you hired another teacher, there would still be classes of 27 students. That would be appropriately sized.
You listen to Dr. Aird and she makes one excuse after another, after another. Quit making excuses and take care of the students.
Dr. Aird stated that average class size was about 27. What she doesn't tell you is that incudes special education (LD, BD, EMH etc.)classes that include 5 - 10 students. Ask what the average size is for regular education classes. You will find that they are much higher than they are telling you about.
The article also talks about how class sizes effect education. Students in smaller classes average months ahead on standardized tests. The smaller the classes, the more individualized attention each student receives. There are less discipline problems and more learning that occurs.
Give it up. Our administrators don't give a damn about the schools, teachers or students. They only give a damn about their own pocketbooks.
What the care about is that Magnet Academy that was not suppose to cost this district a dime. That rent they are paying now could have gone for a teacher or very much needed text books. Let us not forget that Clayton needs a helper. What ever they pay that person would gave 131 how many teachers. Then let us not forget that some got raises due to change of titles in admin this year. How many teachers is that? Robert's got what on his renewal? Then how many pay for their insurance in admin? How many teachers are that?
Teachers, get it in your contract not to exceed certain # of students in your classrooms like West has done? Wonder how those realators feel about the overcrowding? No one wants to send their child to a district with this problem and where we stand with the AYP problem. Oh, but the overcrowding and new textbooks and things like this is not on Roberts or Johnson's agenda. They'll squirm around this also.
Sounds like Weaver with her sour grapes rant on the Magnet School & Books. What she fails to mention is all the classrooms got new computer & smartboards.
I read the Beacon today. Yeah the parents are real concerned about the education only 90 parents showed up out of 13,000. DO you think the administration & teachers ever get tried of just running a baby-sitting service because the only education that takes place is the one that is given at school. Do you think they are asked by their parents what have you done in school. I high amount of low income students and loser no caring parents are the problem at 131. They just don't value education. In fact I am amazed they do as well as they do. No amount of class size reduction, more books or better computers will ever change 131. Its the parents. We need a magnet school it separates the kids who's parents want them to learn from the ones who only use the school for baby sitting
The district could do one thing to help with classes being over 30 is to start checking and make sure all the kids live on the East Side. All schools are checking residency now and yes there are probably students that don't live here. This district doesn't do it because it means more money for them with ELL.
Yes, there are parents that don't value education but that doesn't mean they don't care. The district needs to do more than have the Superintendent to talk to them. Most people don't even know what the school board role is in their childs education.
Most of us knew the Magnet Program wasn't a real one like most district that it was to get the children out of classrooms and into classrooms that they could learn without all the disruption but not all of those students get the chance to go if they don't have a way to get there.
Other district's have over come this problem so we should be able to. I bet when they go to those seminars there are even lecture's about that.
Some people make decisions for our students who have NO idea what our community is all about. Then they make statements categorizing "loser parents, low income students." They believe they live in the ivory tower of the eastside. Unlike the majority of the EA families.
Many of our students have parents working multiple jobs or night work, that does not allow for them to attend meetings or their children’s extra curricular events. Many of these students have close family connections and encouragement, even when the adult family members can not be physically present at school they are very present at home.
131 does not and has not had an "open arms" atmosphere for parental involvement. They do not even have good communications with parents who try to keep in touch. Only someone who has no children or has not had children in this district would even try to blame the parents for our districts failed programs.
Possibly the parents do not want to hear any more rhetoric from the boards star employee.
Instead of segregating a few children who do not even qualify as gifted or talented, why not create a alternate school for those who disrupt the learning of the mainstream classrooms.
Maybe treating those students, who do not value the education opportunity, as outcasts and put them in a school that does not allow for extra curricular participation or admission to the after school events would work to get more students back on track.
I suppose this is not an idea that would be something Roberts or Gonzalez want to put their name on. It is better to outsource that negative aspect of 131 and pay the Urban League.
Yeah, and a lot of people sat on their asses and just did not care enough to go to the meetings.
I love these people who hide the entire East Side of Aurora behind two or three jobs that always work at night, every day and can never support their kids in anything that goes on.
Guess what, I was at the football game last night, there were more than 90 parents there - Was that at night? Hmmmmm guess more people could have made it.
There's plenty of blame to go around! Yes, some parents drop the ball, but the schools aren't exactly forthcoming with information either. Just try to find contact information for new teachers: even now in the 7th week of school some basic information is outdated and/or missing.
You went to the game last night? What did you think of the band's halftime show?
"there were more than 90 parents there"
You actually counted?! How do you know they were parents? 90 is not many to be there to support NJOTC, Cheer, Poms, Band & Team. SO maybe many were still working or had to worry about getting up early the next day.
Well, when bleachers that are designed to seat somewhere around 2000+ are FULL - you can probably assume that there are more than 90 parents there.
You think that 90 parents at three meetings over three different nights, one of which was catered to Spanish speaking parents is a success? You think that is acceptable?
You are a moron if you think that all parents in this district have 2 jobs when we have the highest unemployment rate to date.
More than 90 parents attended the soccer game.
As far as contact information do you really think any of the 13,910 families that did not attend the forums really care about contacting teachers. If you claim they are at work how did they get off on a Tuesday nite go to the soccer game well a forum was taking place inside the building.
How could they not show up at 6pm for education but 6:30 pm for soccer.
Complain all you want about the Board, teachers and administrators people on the East side do not care about education. Plenty of young students were sitting in the stands and not one had a book or was doing homework. At the end of the day we run a babysitting service.
Read the story about the quarterback today the only person helping that kid was a East Aurora social worker. Read the type of family he grew up in a drug mother with 22 kids, and a women who took him in not because she wanted children but because she wanted the welfare check. Four of the five kids are already in trouble. Only through the social worker are positive results happening. I say bravo to the Board and administrators of trying to mentor they kids sounds like that is all that will help. So if they miss a contact or two who cares it is not like the parents will be ringing the phone off the hook.
"a women who took him in not because she wanted children but because she wanted the welfare check"
That's NOT the case with Ms. Robinson, the adoptive mom profiled in today's Beacon-News article! Ms. Robinson truly cares about helping these kids. She goes above & beyond the basic requirements of being a foster parent, to actually adopt the kids (and I'm sure she's giving up some of the financial rewards so the child knows he/she is truly part of a family). And she seeks out a support team of teachers, counselors, mentors, etc. to help her raise these troubled kids.
Ms. Robinson is a wonderful example of parenthood, and we are very fortunate to have her in our community!
Roberts and Denean Adams stated that if a student is identified as needing extra reading help, that they are provided with a reading interventionist. About half of our students are not meeting state standards. Are all these students provided with a reading specialist?
The answer is no. Only the students who are at the very bottom receive these services. Also the students who are just a couple of points short of meeting standards get some extra services. The district is trying to make their numbers look a little better.
It's simple. Ask how many students are not meeting standards. Next ask how many reading interventionists the district has. It will be pretty simple to do the math and realize most of our students are not receiving the services the administrators are bragging about.
It will also be interesting to see how bad the numbers are going to be with this years scores. We all know that larger class sizes equate to lower scores. We have many classes sitting between 30 and 35 students or more. The kids aren't learning in them.
Are all the students that are playing sports making the grade they should or are they getting special treatment so they can play? I hear that is true so why don't they look into that and you can bet if some of them are getting special treatment and they are made to follow the rules like all the others parents would want to listen?
Ms Robinson is on Public Assistance and does not work four of her children are already in trouble. One served time in jail. Ms Robinson does not hold down a job. Her financial reward is the five kids that is her paycheck.
"Ms. Robinson does not hold down a job"
WRONG.
Ms. Robinson is doing one of the most important jobs on earth. She is raising five children.
How much does that pay?
Not everything has a dollars-and-cents value! Some things in life (like the love and support a parent gives a child) are PRICELESS.
How much love and support will pay my mortgage and taxes?
Many parents, single or married are raising children and do work. They still are able to help their childre. No one needs to depend on the system to support them. They can work just like others.
So the work of a homemaker and mother has no value, 9:42 p.m.?
I feel sorry for people with your attitude.
Did I say that moron. If you have this idea that "All you need is Love" you are full of crap.
Go to the grocery store and fill your cart up with as much as it will hold, then when going through the check out tell the cashier that you love them and the store very much. Then walk out with the groceries and see if you get away with it.
To: October 10, 2010 6:34 PM
Our students have a harder standard for eligibility than any of the districts that they play against. At least at the middle school level. It actually hurts our chances at winning tournaments.
Students in other districts are ineligible if they have TWO F's. Our students are ineligible if they have ONE. Other districts do eligibility every TWO Weeks, we do it EVERY WEEK.
We have the toughest standards of any of the districts around us. If we did eligibility like the districts around us, we would have more students eligible and our teams would have a better chance of winning championships.
It sure does help when your principal, Mechelle Patterson, knows nothing about athletics and has never been one to support...only blame and criticize. At Simmons eligibility was just done for the last two weeks of the fall season! This new little Wilson Morales puppet (Kevin Thacker) is too busy making sure his buddies can coach 3 sports, miss due to team leader meetings, miss due to cohort classes the district is paying half for, kissing ass and planning home improvement projects at Simmons. If you can build, plant or kiss ass----you can keep your job at Simmons from what I hear. Nevermind that you are teaching your 3rd subject in 3 years because you suck as a teacher! But then again, Patterson would have to actually be in the building and Morales would have to have his nose out of any cute little teacher's butt he hires. They get whatever they want and screw everyone else. No wonder Lisa...Nevermind.
Ms Robinson is on Welfare. Yes many mothers go to work. She does not. People should only have kids or adopt them if they can afford them. I know many families who need to go out of the country for adoption. One teacher I know last year went to Kenya another to China. So why is it acceptable to push black children into welfare homes and make then grow up in homes that can not afford to properly give them what they need. This women should have never been given five children she could much less afford one. For those teachers would it had not been much better to adopt American kids even if they are Afro-American. The answer is yes, but our laws make it very difficult to happen. The real story is where did the 22 children of the biological children end up. The other question is would Ms Robinson have adopted them if a Welfare check was not involved.
BTW - I thought the band did a very nice job. Way more entertaining than the football game.
6:57 a.m. says:
"People should only have kids or adopt them if they can afford them"
The biological mom of Ms. Robinson's five adopted children was definitely irresponsible. She had NO business having kids she couldn't support. But that being acknowledged, the kids are here! They came into the world as innocent children created in God's image (as we all did). It falls to us as a society (or "village") to help provide for them, and Ms. Robinson is willing to step up and do the day-to-day hard work required. Ideally, the kids' biological father would be helping with their financial support so we taxpayers wouldn't be burdened--but it looks like he's out of the picture (again, irresponsible bio-mom). I did notice in the Beacon-News article that one of the older boys has a part-time job and contributes financially to the household expenses.
As a parent who has earned a paycheck for 30+ years and raised 2 children, I'm not thrilled to pay taxes for someone else's kids to be raised. But what's the alternative, 6:57 a.m.? Putting them on the streets or in an orphanage/institution? It is definitely in these kids' best interests to grow up in a stable home environment with a parental figure like Ms. Robinson and loving siblings. And I would MUCH rather see my tax money spent on a family like this than on "Serial Bully" Radakovich's exorbitant pension, or sending corrupt administrators to get their doctorate degrees on OUR dime!
Let these kids go to American families instead of American's going the international adoption route because American laws make it so difficult. There is a stigma that white responsible families should not raise Afro American children. I would rather see these children in that type of household than Ms Robinson. The article stated one kid had spent time in jail. If you spent time trying to teach Ms Robinson's children you would not be so quick to say she is a good parent. Now the Social worker is involved she is doing a great job turning this family around not Robinson. Lets give credit were credit is due. This is a family out of control and if our Social Worker was not involved all the kids were at risk.
7:25 a.m., I agree that the band did a great job at halftime. This year's show is very entertaining, and the kids are obviously enjoying themselves. Plus, the music is full of energy & enthusiasm. Nice work, Mr. Liska & BandCats!
But it's too bad that it took 5 years of blunders before the band looked and sounded decent! We can never get those years back (and they didn't have to happen, except for administrators who refused to listen to the community's questions and protests at the time). Our district's administration still has a negative reputation among music teachers in Illinois, because of what they did to Mr. K. And anyone who is new to our district and wants to find out what happened in 2005 needs only to Google "Kevin Kaisershot", band, and Aurora to read the whole story.
And "Here it goes again"
So who brought up the band this time?
It wasn't Team Kaisershot!
When the administrators responsible for the five years of band blunders are gone from the district and no longer capable of doing any more damage, people will probably stop bringing it up.
Until then, it is still news.
It was somebody who asked what somebody thought of the band at the game. And then team "can't get over it" chimed in with their same old BS.
Mentioning the band does not mean that team "full of it" has to say anything.
But on this blog they always do.
I did not say that the work of a homemakeer and Mother did not have value. I stated that one can raise children and be single and not depend on the system. Many do this. Why should the system pay for raising children? I do understand at this point Ms. Robinson probably has health issues. Therefore she should be able to be on social security due to her age. As for being a Mother and homemaker some make a life time of having children to keep in the system and not have to work. I did not make that statement about Ms. Robinson.
We'll "get over it" when those responsible for the 5 years of embarrassment are no longer around.
And if you can't handle the band being a topic of discussion (both positive and negative--and the team supposedly "full of it" was definitely full of compliments about this year's halftime show!), don't bring up the subject.
:)
Hopefully "This Too Shall Pass", but you honestly, you guys can "Do What You Want". We have a band we can be proud of, and the best part is that it's getting better.
"This Too Shall Pass"--yes, bu only when those administrators are finally GONE.
Until then, we'll do what we want--we'll remind this community what happened and who was responsible.
And yes, 1:31 p.m., the 2010 EHS Marching Tomcats is indeed a band to be proud of!
:)
Yeah, it took 5 years to recover from 22 years, but it happened. Now if only the middle schools would get it together.
No, it took 5 years for the EHS band to finally get to the place where it's beginning to resemble what it was before the administration screwed Mr. K out of his high school teaching position.
And Rudy, you're welcome. Now clean the soda off your keyboard & go practice!
:)
That's your version. I have mine.
There's the truth, and then there's your version, 4:00 p.m.
"There are none so blind as those who will not see" (or, in this case, hear!)
Goes both ways.
A right way, and a wrong way!
:)
I don't know why you are calling yourself wrong but whatever you want Rayanne.
Here we go with the band thing again. Yes, what was done was maybe wrong but I have never heard any of you band boosters just giving the students that stayed in the band support. You got shot done by the board but where are you when other things have happened in this district that wasn't right. This district knows what it is doing as long as they keep every change different they will get what they want because parents have their own pet projects and only concentrate on those. Stand up with all the parents that have complaints and maybe you will get somewhere.
Change comes in all walks of life and you have to work with that and make things work. But as long as you band boosters that can't get over 5 years ago move on nothing will. You should be supporting the students that are still in the band who ever is teaching it. They do hear the comments that are being made and can it hard for them to go on and that is what we want in the end students playing in a band and having fun and doing the best they can.
Anybody got an 8-ball?
Yeah, I do and it says Johnson will leave and things will get better in this district.
Many of us ARE willing to support the current EHS band students! I certainly have (for example, I contributed to the Buona Beef benefit last month & bought cheesecake last year).
But what I am NOT willing to do is pretend. The fact remains that certain ADMINISTRATORS who are still working in this district would love for their decisions of years past to be forgotten or overlooked. This will not happen as long as those of us who remember what they did to one of our district's finest are around to remind the community of those administrators' WRONG choices.
Awareness is power. And if people like Joe Harmon, Clayton Muhammad (remember "the issue is over"?), Marin Gonzalez (who got her doctorate at Aurora University, taking courses like "School & Community Relations" with Serial Bully Radakovich) ever think this community will forget who they've shown us they REALLY are, they are sadly mistaken.
Thanks Rayanne, we know you're a bitch.
I doubt that 8:38 is Rayanne. She works until past midnight at Caterpillar.
And there's nothing especially bitchy about 8:38's comments--unless you're one of those administrators being discussed, maybe??
Many administrators have made other mistakes too and to think by bring these up will change is wrong. You can't hope to get rid of them until you get rid of the superintendent and board will these things happen.
You might support the band by contributing to fund raisers but when you continue to bring up about one certain teacher you don't help. I bet many teachers have been done wrong in this district. It is only in a school system where employees will continue their employment because they have tenure and will not move to another district where they might be given the opportunity to expand their qualities. They are not willing to move because of the money they are getting.
For those of us that are not in a school district and those things that happened to Mr. K we will move on and find a place where they will help us with our careers. So for all of you that have the luxury of working at one place where you will get a good retirement for staying where you are and not moving one because your employer did you wrong then that is how it goes. For the rest of us we move on to another place that will treat us right.
This will go on because no one will stand up to the board and the administration. You band members think that if you keep bringing this up it will change but it won't. There are others that have been done wrong and they move on and so should you. If you haven't figured this out yet they do not care and Mr. K can go on and maybe not get as much in retirement that he would but he will get one not so much for some that live in this district.
I think some people still have a lot of bitterness about that whole situation, the way Radakovich and his cronies railroaded not only Kaisershot but also a few others (like Roger Scott) who refused to kiss butt. It has to be very difficult to see someone like Radakovich still very much involved in our district (collecting his exorbitant pension and teaching/mentoring Marin Gonzalez, for example).
Maybe those who still bring up the band situation get some satisfaction from reminding people about what happened, so those who were responsible can't brush it under the rug. History can't be changed, much as some (like Clayton Muhammad) might want to mention only the good and pretend the bad didn't exist.
Just FYI-straight from the "bitch's mouth"- though I wouldn't mind taking credit for some of the comments here, I was at work from 5am-5pm and in bed by 7:30pm, so I did not get to read all this blog chat until this morn.
Since someone is giving me credit where it is not due-I'll give my POV on all the above.
I believe the district intentionally screwed K. to put the fear in others who may have thought about standing up to admin. His mistake was speaking up on behalf of parents, and was accused of being insubordinate by Marin. I do believe some 131 employees in authority are not working for the students best interest.
Considering my job personally, changing jobs (moving on) and standing up to those in authority is not always a valid option. Especially when you enjoy your work and the people you work with. Why would you want to be forced out?
I cannot make comments about the band. I have not heard them play this year. I have been a parent who remained a booster for a couple years after my children graduated. So to the person who commented about this-many parents remain involved long after their students are gone, some until their grandchildren are in school! Nearly all of sports boosters are folks whose children graduated over 10-20 years ago.
Then you have some repesenting our district, who get involved to be acknowledged at events for the media moment.
Hey, remember when this blog actually ACCOMPLISHED SOMETHING????
No???????
Oh Right, me neither.
The EA Soccer team is now Conference champions. They beat Metea Valley tonight 2-0
It still is accomplishing something and everyone can tell when someone is unhappy about it or hit a nerve due to the statement on 10/12 @ 9:13pm. Happy Birthday Mom and Columbus Day to all.
Congratualtions EA Soccer team.
Oh yes, everyone can tell.
I spelled congratulations wrong.
Like most blogs, there's a lot of nonsense & BS posted here. But there are also some nuggets of valuable information that are mentioned.
One example: the fact that former superintendent "Serial Bully" Radakovich has been teaching graduate-level courses in education at Aurora University, where Marin Gonzalez got her doctorate (paid for by OUR tax dollars). This is significant because a doctoral degree is often a stepping stone to a superintendent's position; Dr. Gonzalez proved herself to be a vindictive bully several years ago and would be a DISASTROUS choice as a superintendent! Thanks to this blog, many of us now know that the serial bully is still trying to exert his influence on our community, through his current position at Aurora University.
We have at least seven District employees taking the serial bullies classes including Patterson, Adams, the loser football coach, a teacher at Simmons, East, and Cowherd.Most of these people have mentor relationships with Roberts. So who do you think is sending them over. Roberts is also on a recruiting Board for St Francis. He already has a job lined up for himself there. The serial bully helped Roberts. Roberts helped the serial bully. Roberts is mentoring Marin for Superintendent and Marin will help Roberts place d131 employees. In all honesty the admin's are the only ones being mentored. They have no program started at any of the schools it was all for show. The other one that benefits is Clayton he got a new assistant.
No one cares they only want to discuss issues that happened 5 years ago with the band. That is why things happen the way they do.
Like a previous poster said, awareness is power! And this community learned several years ago exactly who & what some of these administrators really are: vindictive bullies. The Aurora University connection is no surprise to many of us, and will continue to be brought out if people like Marin Gonzalez think they have a chance to become the next superintendent.
Radakovich was hired by the board at that time to do exactly what he did do. In reality everyone is calling the wrong one serial bully. It should be the board members then that should be called serial bullies. If the board at that time was unhappy with what that man did he would have been fired. No matter how much everyone goes on about this, the man did what he was hired to do. Roberts is the problem now when it comes to certain ones getting certain things. Johnson will allow him to do what he wants as long as she is getting what she wants. As far as Radakovich teaching those from D131, is he the only teacher for the courses they are taking? The only one left on the board now from when Radakovich was hired is Wells, so in reality she is only serial bully left, in my opinon.
Amen October 13, 2010 6:02 PM. The board brought in someone who would do the job that they wouldn't do and stood behind him and let him take the blame. Sometimes change is hard to do but it needs to be done and the board at that time did not want to do that job so they let someone else do it. Just like now a job needs to be done but they have weak people on the board that can't get the job done. Change needs to happen in this district to have it move forward and they don't have the right people in place to see that is done.
People don't like change (in general). Some people don't realize that East High is NOT the East High from 1967 and they don't want to deal with that.
6:02 p.m. is right that the board (at the time) was partially to blame for the nastiness. But Radakovich was an expert at bullying, having pushed out well-regarded teachers at (at least) two previous school districts, in Minooka and Niles. That's why some started calling him the Serial Bully.
And don't forget about all of the others who were involved, like Radakovich's Minooka crony Rick Johnson, School Board president Larry Malaker (Radakovich's car would be parked in Malaker's driveway on almost a daily basis), and Gordon Postlewaite, a former EHS principal who openly despised Kaisershot for years and finally got his chance to stick it to him.
The good thing is, most of the "bad guys" are now gone from our district. Only a few remain, including Gonzalez, Harmon, Muhammad, and Wells (who will be leaving shortly).
Change is usually a good thing, when it's clear that it's for a positive reason (like improving a program or giving our kids something they need). After all, many of us voted for "change" when we went to the polls in November 2008--definitely a step in the right direction!
But the band director bullying was NOT one of those choices made for positive change. It was basically the administration & School Board saying "we don't care what YOU want or need; we're not even you the courtesy of an explanation". They basically gave this community a big middle finger!
No wonder it's still being discussed (and those who are still working "for us" are being called out on it)--we're P.O'ed!!
When you are so blinded by ignorance and hate any change is bad.
"any change is bad"--
8:26, would that include the change from Bush to Obama?
There's ignorance and hate, and there's disrespect. Two very different things, 8:26.
Being given a big "F*** YOU" by administration (as in, "we'll do what we want & who cares what the community thinks") is disrespect.
Righteous anger is not the same as hatred. And being pissed off is not ignorance.
See how easy it is to twist words when you only quote part of the statement.
8:26 did not say "any change is bad"
It says that when you are blinded by ignorance and hate that your veiw of change is bad.
Good job missing the point. Work on reading comprehension and you will get there.
Since I'm not blinded by ignorance or hate (although I'm definitely angered by disrespect, i.e. being basically "flipped off" by those previously-mentioned administrators), my view of change must not be bad. How very reassuring, 11:17 a.m.!
And maybe you should work on spelling (and you will "get there", wherever "there" is for you!). Two sayings come to mind when I read your comment:
--"i" before "e", except after "c"
--people in glass houses shouldn't throw stones.
:)
Did anyone see about East's Ryan Boatright going to sign his college letter this weekend? Does his previous verbal committment not mean anything? I don't blame him or his family for making the most of any talent he may have to ensure him the most successful future possible, but then they shouldn't have verbally committed if they weren't going to honor it.
Yawn
I give Ryan Boatright credit for going on to college, instead of trying to be another LeBron James and go straight to the pros.
And unfortunately, verbal commitments are often worth the paper they're printed on.
Ryan Boatright is no Lebron James. He'll have an average to slightly better than average college career and that's about as far as he'll go. If he's very lucky, he'll be a bench warmer for a last place pro team.
All the more reason for him to buckle down and get that college degree, so he can have something to fall back on. Plus, if he finishes college he'll be a great role model & example for our district's young athletes.
If he was a good player the team would have gone down State. He is not a team player and will never turn pro nor will he ever graduate from college. Sad but true the sports programs at East are a joke. We talk about the Band but at least after 5 years they improved. Sports at East other than Boys Soccer is a waste of taxpayer dollars.
The only reason Ryan Boatright is big news is Clayton. He is trying to cover up Mr Hulls comments about the sports programs. It leaves some like serial bully Marin Gonzalez sitting in horror. Johnson & Roberts look like they are ready to crawl under a desk. Buts hats off to Hull for talking about the sports program. The football team lost 50% of their players due to injury or throwing in the towel. Like the band now Clayton was sent out by Roberts to cover up. So lets put Boatright out there and hope everyone forgets.
See what's up with Ryan Boatright- Blogs:
http://blogs.suburbanchicagonews.com/beaconbball/ryan_boatright_blog/
OR http://www.nbebasketball.com/w3/2010-1012/decision-looming-for-ryan-boatright/
The Ryan Boatright 'business' is that he made a verbal committment to a college, and now the newspaper says he's scouting colleges and will annouce his decision. Not good personal ethics if you ask me. I am all for him furthering his athletic and educational career. He just shouldn't make promises he doesn't keep.
A couple of facts about the Ryan Boatright situation:
--Boatright was FOURTEEN YEARS OLD when he made that verbal commitment to attend USC. At the time, his family was just beginning to plan how they would finance his college education, and the idea of locking in a full-ride scholarship probably looked pretty darn good.
--The coach who recruited Boatright, Tim Floyd, resigned over recruiting violations (unrelated to Boatright's situation). It was only after Floyd's resignation that Ryan Boatright started to seriously consider other college possibilities.
I don't think it's right to criticize Ryan Boatright's "personal ethics" under these circumstances. It looks to me like he took an opportunity presented to him early on, without really understanding what it entailed.
I wish this young man success, and hope that he represents our district well.
Ryan Boatright will be publicly announcing his plans at 4:30 p.m. Monday, at East High.
Whatever he says will be carefully scripted by our own Mr. Clayton Muhammad.
You heard it here first!
:)
Who's the loser football coach?
To October 15, 2010 11:41 AM
I never said I didn't wish him well. I previouly posted that I don't blame him or his family for making the most of any talent he may have to ensure him the most successful future possible; and also that I am all for him furthering his athletic and educational career. You have said nothing to make me change my original opinion that he shouldn't make promises he doesn't keep. Whether you're 14 or 44 shouldn't matter. 14 is old enough to know what a promise is.
It's the job of the person making the promise to know 'what's entailed' before committing. If you don't know, then don't commit. If a full-ride sounded good, then take it - and stand by it. Don't jump at the next better offer. If you want a better offer, then wait for it; without stringing others along. No excuse will change that Boatright went back on his word, and that correlates to one's ethics.
I see Clayton is handling media activities for Boatright. Does Clayton not have anything better to do with his time. This is a kid who was good in Aurora but can't even lead East to a victory. But that is right now Clayton has all this time on his hands being he now has a new secretary for Boys2men on the d131 dime.
In the business world, people often back out of verbal agreements when circumstances change, with no harm done. Correct me if I'm wrong, but 14-year-olds cannot legally enter contracts because they're minors. Why single out this particular 14-year-old for criticism?
5:01, probably because Clayton is concerned that this story be "spun" to the media in the most flattering, positive light for the district.
He is all about blowing up and exaggerating any small successes, and denying anything critical.
Is Clayton doing this for Boatright on his time or the Districts? Does anyone else who gets a scholarship for the same thing Boatright is getting, get this much attention?
No but Clayton is all about "Image" these days. Roberts does not like Hull making a big stink about the loser football coach playing kids on both sides of the field. No wonder they are dropping like flies. So Clayton came up with this announcement story for image. We will never forget the days of the band and Clayton's spin on that. The same is true of the sports program. Showboat is also a Boys2men
If Boys2Men is mentioned in this announcement, then that is promoting Boys2Mem and that will definitly by on the on the districts dime. I also think that this announcement should not be on the districts dime, but just this person's thought. Hull is sure hurting some in his comments and I some others just have to love it! He will now be treated like Weaver.
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