Here we are nearing the end of January! It's a time when many of us have made (and possibly already broken) resolutions about how we intend to improve certain things in our lives. Maybe we're trying to exercise more or save money; maybe we've resolved to keep our temper under control or maintain a positive attitude at our job; maybe we've just decided to make the most of each day as it comes.
What can we do in this new year to make our district better? And what seems to be working well, that we can celebrate and resolve to continue?
208 comments:
1 – 200 of 208 Newer› Newest»Honoring legendary employees like Ernie Kivisto is definitely something to celebrate!
I see in the minutes from the December 19th meeting that the Aurora Public Library will be setting up kiosks in our schools so students can access library materials & information easily.
This is also a positive development, in the best interests of students and community.
Closing this blog would make the district better.
No, closing this blog would take away one of the few sources of timely information in our district.
2:25, how right you are!
The local news media dropped the ball on 131 news several times in 2011. A few examples:
--Mary Fultz' unqualified School Board "win"
--Robert Green's winning his lawsuit against D131
--Moldy band uniforms prevented the EHS band from performing at a football game (to my knowledge, no explanation was EVER published in the papers). This was the game where middle-schoolers and their families had been specifically invited to attend; the band's 17-year-old drum major was the one who finally gave the public the courtesy of an explanation, on this blog.
--A Simmons student was sexually harassed (pants pulled down) by another student, and the child's parent was not immediately notified as required by law. Also, the child's written statement may have been altered by administration.
There are probably more examples, but these were the ones that sprang to mind.
Wrong - None of those things happend.
I agree, this blog has brought about many things in the district that admin and the media have swept under the rug.
So January 23, 2012 1:10 PM-don't be a hater of the blog, be upset, disappointed or frustrated that a blog has to give you this info and NOT your local hometown paper.
Oh, do you mean that the beacon doesn't print gossip. Oh, ok.
Lawsuits are settled on facts, not gossip.
And sometimes gossip is challenged and corrected on blogs. For example, someone was accusing Mr. Garcia of being romantically involved with an EHS student whom he got pregnant & "had to" marry. That was proven untrue on this blog.
3:55 p.m., if none of those things really happened then you're saying Mauricio (the drum major) is a liar?
Yes, that's what I'm saying.
Yeah the Beacon printed the story of the year Roberts was sick and near death doors. All started on this blog
Ok, thanks.
I would believe the EHS drum major, Mauricio Palma, before I would believe 6:37 p.m.
And I suppose you also believe that Simmons event didn't really happen, too, even though the boy's mother and aunt both testified before the School Board.
There's no accounting for ignorance.
That's not just ignorance--it's denial & distraction.
It's what a certain "team" is famous for!
:)
So I hear that the band room is being expanded and renovated? .. Great news!
And Waldo is getting air conditioning.
Believe it when (and if) it happens.
Waldo should be getting torn down - What a piece of crap that place is.
They must be using all the money they were going to use to build an orchestra program to expand the band room.
It is nice to see some money actually being spent on the kids for a change. It's much better than the cell phones and the huge salary bonuses being given to the administrators.
I don't think there are any immediate plans to expand the EHS band room; there are too many other areas in the district that need improvement.
Waldo, for one.
Just one question... where is there even any room to expand the band room? Would they build into the front of the school? That is ....the grass?
Maybe 9:56 p.m. was talking about the Waldo band room; this district has several "band rooms".
Actually, I doubt that our district has the funds to expand/renovate much of anything. They need to save up to pay the mounting legal fees for administration's blunders.
I was just looking on the West Aurora site at job vacancies and saw the band director vacancy posted.
I found it interesting that our high school band director doesn't have the qualifications to even apply for the position on the West Side (and had far less when he was first hired).
The West Side wouldn't even interview him, let alone hire him. His resume would be tossed into the trash. Maybe that's just one of the reasons why the West Side program is so much better than ours.
Here is the posting:
High School Teaching/Music - Instrumental (Band)
Date Posted:
1/9/2012
Location:
Aurora West High School
Date Available:
August 2012
Vacancy for 2012/13 school year
Requirements include either a type 09 certificate with appropriate endorsement or appropriate type 10 certificate
Additional requirements include prior high school and wind band directing experience including knowledge of wind band literature, knowledge and experience to assist jazz and athletic bands, and a MASTER'S OF MUSIC.
11:16 a.m., let's be fair & reasonable!
Maybe our current high school band director has no interest in applying for the West High job. Maybe he's making the best of things where he is, and is earning a living for his family in a tenured position. And maybe the kids in the band program at East High are also making the best of their band experience, recognizing that Mr. Liska has a lot to offer in terms of energy, enthusiasm, and passion (not that Mr. Kaisershot didn't possess these traits also, but the administration at the time chose to go a different direction).
If you insist on complaining about our band program, at least aim the blame at those responsible (administration), and give credit where credit is due to the current director.
(their program was better than East when Mr. K was here too) Their program is better than ours because for 19 or 20 years (before he became a pervert) Mr. Orland whipped the West sides program into shape.
The FACT is that the West program is better for these reasons.
1) The elementary bands have a unified curriculum where all the teachers are on the same page teaching the same things at the same time
2) The middle school bands have a unified curriculum where all the teachers are on the same page teaching the same things at the same time.
3) Many of the students on the West side can afford private lessons for their kids.
4) The West side has proper funding for the Elementary, Middle and High school programs.
(it's not beacuse somebody has a masters degree) Get over it, The East side program is growing, playing challenging music and doing a GREAT job with marching band, pep band, jazz band, and the concert bands.
Didn't anybody ever tell you, Size isn't everything.
I heard both WAHS and EAHS band concerts back in the '90s, and actually thought our bands sounded better (okay, as a D131 parent I could have been a bit biased). Both the East and West high bands went to Disney every two years throughout the 90s and early 2000s. Both the East and West H.S. instrumentalists scored many first-division awards at Solo & Ensemble contests. The biggest difference I saw in the two programs is that they had multiple band directors at WAHS, while we only had one.
Private lessons.
11:36 a.m., I agree that private lessons may make a difference between some students' success and others.
But I disagree about the West Side having a unified curriculum for elementary and middle school band students. Hundreds of current WVHS students did NOT attend West Side elementary or middle schools, but are products of Holy Angels, St. Ritas, or Annunciation private schooling. Holy Angels, especially, has an outstanding instrumental music program. These students enter WVHS with a very different background than the average instrumental musician.
It is not an apples-to-apples comparison!
Hundreds of students, some of who play in band.
But West still does have a unified Elementary and Middle school curriculum.
You are not denying my point just trying to by stating an abscure fact.
I was actually talking about the east high band room.
As a parent, I couldn't care less whether my child's curriculum is "unified" with another elementary or middle school; I just want my child to get a high-quality educational experience.
And my child did, indeed, get a good experience as a band student at Rollins. He is currently at Simmons, and the bands there sound great. When he goes to East, I expect that good experience will continue. That's what matters most to me--not some ivory-tower administrator's ideas about a unified curriculum.
From the Montgomery Patch:
The race for the 84th Illinois House district got a little less crowded this week, as Auroran Ken Maurice was removed from the ballot.
According to State Board of Elections records, Aurora resident Winford Woods objected to Maurice’s candidate petitions on Dec. 12. In order to be listed on the ballot, Maurice needed to collect 500 signatures from registered voters within the district. He handed in 994, but Woods objected to 725 of them.
Woods charged that some of Maurice’s collected signatures were not genuine, and some of the signers were not registered at the address given, or lived outside the district, or signed more than once, according to his objection.
The State Board conducted an investigation, and found that only 475 of Maurice’s signatures were valid. Maurice and his attorney then obtained affidavits for eight of the stricken signatures, and had them reconsidered, but that still put his total at 483 valid signatures, 17 short of the requirement, according to the State Board’s decision, rendered on Tuesday.
Maurice works for the City of Aurora as youth and senior services coordinator. He will still have the opportunity to run for the 84th District seat as an independent, according to state election rules.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
This guy was on our School Board a couple of years ago. He's also an EHS grad (class of 1980).
Thank heaven for whistleblowers like Winford Woods!
To: January 25, 2012 6:33 PM
There's an interesting scene in "Malcolm X" where two glasses of water are shown. One is rather murky and hard to see through while the other is crystal clear. His point was that much of the world is drinking from the murky water because they've never known anything better. But, people who have known the crystal clear water will never drink from the dirty glass again.
If you had ever been part of a quality music program, if you had known the amazing performances given in other districts, you would not be defending this districts music program.
You will never have an excellent program until you start demanding one.
Maurice and Mary Fultz have one thing in common they both tried to cheat to get elected. These are the types that run for our board. It makes you wonder if Juanita Wells had valid petitions
11:24 a.m. says:
"If you had ever been part of a quality music program, if you had known the amazing performances given in other districts, you would not be defending this districts music program"
As a matter of fact, I HAVE been part of a quality music program! I grew up on the west side, and was in band through 8th grade (dropped out in high school to concentrate on athletics). The concerts I've been to at Simmons are every bit as good as the ones I remember playing in when I was in middle school. Plus, our district has a "unified" band camp experience for our kids during the summer--something the West side does NOT offer.
I would challenge you to see the strengths of our programs instead of judging them unfavorably in relation to others. As someone else mentioned, compare apples to apples!
Why are you people taking the word unified as a negative?
It is really funny to hear people discuss things about which they have NO CLUE.
Isn't a unified band camp experience a positive, 4:22 p.m.?
To: January 26, 2012 3:47 PM
In the "real world" our children do compete with the children from other communities. They need to have skills equal to or greater than those that they will be competing with.
The band is just one (very public) example of how the District 131 administration and board are falling short of providing our children with the education that they deserve.
While we do have individuals who provide excellence for their students, it is glaringly apparent that there is no overall structure in our buildings. It's not in our academics, our fine arts or our sports programs.
While the band program at Rollins and Simmons is good, it's mediocre at Cowherd and Waldo and poor or non-existent at the other elementary schools.
While there have been some bright spots in the sports programs at Cowherd and Waldo. The programs at Simmons and East High have been, for the most part, an embarrassment.
When is someone going to step up and fix this broken system. We are paying these administrators obsene amounts for their salaries, shouldn't they have to demostrate improvements in all areas?
Who cares about the band worry about the education of our children. I can only hope the rumor of Marin Gonzalez being fired is true
Adults buy girl scout cookies to support the children not because of quality or quantity. The students are the important entity here, support them or go away. I have been to so many terrible concerts from grade school until now but I will continue to support my child. It seems as though many of you suffer from low self esteem and it makes you feel better about yourself to put someone else down. You knock the instructors, the schools, and ultimately the students. So let me help you. Youre right, everyone else is wrong , 131 is the worst district in the world, our kids are dumb and lazy. Our teachers are the worst , the administrators , board, support staff are the pits. The buildings ought to all torn down and you are will to pay for more. West aurora does everything better, all their sites are top notch, their administrators and board are the best in the entire state and you can verify it because you attend all their meetings and go to their concerts. I hope you feel better now YOU ARE RIGHT. Bitterness is like a little poison everyday. It is slowly eating away at your insides. I have news for someone there was a time when only west side snobs put east siders down. They don't have to any longer, we do a great job on ourselves.
12:39 p.m., one little clarification:
Ken Maurice was never "elected" to our School Board. He was SELECTED. Big difference! He didn't campaign, and no one voted for him--the board (under the leadership of Carol Farnum) interviewed several interested people and chose Mr. Maurice as the best of the lot.
Just one more disastrous choice from that era's School Board!
3:47 p.m. said:
I would challenge you to see the strengths of our programs instead of judging them unfavorably in relation to others. As someone else mentioned, compare apples to apples!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
You speak for me, also!
Maurice was a good old boy who got appointed. It is interesting to note that the Afro Americans always have petition problems. Maurice was no better than Fultz. She lied about her information he lied about his. Watch he will be yelling discrimination
I disagree that it has anything to do with race--I know of plenty of Caucasians who have tried to run for political office despite being in violation of the rules (remember the DUI deadbeat dad from Hometown who ran for alderman against Stephanie Kifowit a few years ago?)
This is either about genuine ignorance ("I didn't know you had to be a resident for a particular period of time") or just plain ARROGANCE (as in, "the rules don't apply to me").
In this case, I believe that Mr. Maurice knew that many of his signatures were phony--but he thought he wouldn't be caught. The rules didn't apply to him.
In other words, he was making choices for arrogance.
Doesn't our district have a policy against school officials (teachers, admins, staff) being "friends" with current students on private social networking sites?
And if so, does Clayton Muhammad think the rules don't apply to him??
If there is such a policy then it must have started as a result of Ern ie kivisto having boys spending the niight at his house. You have probably never done something for which you were recognize. Mommy didnt hug you or what.
When individuals run for public office they usually have others help obtain signatures. The chances of Ken Maurice going out to fraudulently obtain signatures is slim. Ken is a stand up guy period. Many times the person obtaining the signatures are not deligent in watching who signs or worse lets someone else take petitions. I signed a petition for Lauzen and the person who asked me didnt ask me any questions and assumed i was okay based on the setting we met in. But then again as some stated earlier its easy to assume the worst, especially those african american because even the president is not a citizen.
MORE THAN HALF of the signatures turned in by Mr. Maurice were found to be fraudulent. That means there were more bad ones than good.
It is the candidate's responsibility to look through the nominating petitions to double check duplications, suspicious handwriting, etc. If Mr. Maurice did not purposely falsify the petitions then he is still at fault for failing to oversee his campaign workers.
And I find it interesting that this news story is only available on this blog, or the Montgomery Patch site. No mention of it on the Beacon-News; but is anyone really surprised??
Dear January 27, 2012 8:54 AM,
http://www.d131.org/boardofed/Board_Policies.asp
Please put your money where your mouth is and find me the policy you speak of.
Okay, 8:06 p.m., here's a direct quote from the Personnel section 500.19:
"Social interaction between staff members and students that is not connected with school or school-related activities should be avoided when the parents or guardians of the students are not present"
Nice job 9:05 PM, except the language of 500.19 is clearly making reference to actual social interactions and not social media (a legal background helps). And even if it was referring to social media it certainly does not forbid "school officials (teachers, admins, staff) being "friends" with current students" as 8:54 AM believes.
There is however 645-E2 which states "In addition to the use of District approved communication tools, students and teachers have access to personal or private communication tools, such as social networking sites (e.g. Facebook or MySpace), email, instant messaging, and other emerging technologies. The District requires that any communications between a teacher and a student via such personal or private communication tools be (i) to promote teaching and learning opportunities, and (ii) after advance notice to the student’s parent or guardian on the District’s approved form"
So until you can show that Clayton is NOT using his Facebook page as stated in (i) or has not provided parents the required form (see 645-E3 page 6) people like 8:45 AM just sound like ignorant jerks with a grudge against district employees, and not persons who are genuinely concerned for the students.
7:25 you are correct that a candidate is absolutely accountable for what he hands in but thats a long way from being a crook . Did the person contesting check every signature for every other candidate? I worked on a campaign before where the candidate had the cash and volunteers to do just that. Individuals set at computers verifying addresses and signatures. There is a website that allows you access to registration rolls. Not only does the address matter but so does the signature from your voters registration card. Whether you can read a signature is irrelevant as long as it the same on the card. How many doctors have a legible signature;not many. Lets face it some candidates are more organized and some have more experience teams working with them but it still does not raise everything else to the level of criminal intent. The Beacon did have the story in the online version. Look in the news section and you have to follow the link into the older story headlines. Once again easy on the conspiracy theories.
By the way this blog is the source of more hateful rumors not news. People I know on the west side snicker at the calamity that goes on this blog. This is like the Springer show minus the faces. Every biased , prejudice, racist ,ignorant, silly and ridiculous thought comes out with just a small touch of relevance. You can tell because if a comment makes too much sense no one will touch it.
7:25 p.m. did not call anyone a crook. They simply said that Mr. Maurice was "at fault" for not checking the signatures.
And it's totally understandable that a few fraudulent signatures might slip through undetected. But more fraudulent than legitimate? It does look like criminal intent--not necessarily by Maurice himself, but maybe someone else behind the scenes is making "choices for arrogance".
10:08 p.m., social interaction does indeed take place on social media like Facebook! Comments, messages, shares, and "likes" are all virtual social interactions. And if the site is open to viewing by the public that can be beneficial for everyone: students, parents, and community. The EHS choir, drama, and band departments each have such a page. It's clear that these teachers recognize appropriate boundaries between staff and students--a GOOD thing.
But a PRIVATE Facebook page is different! This "social interaction" is between a staff member and underage students, without parents being able to witness what is said or participate in the (virtual) interaction. BAD IDEA, whether or not it is technically "legal"--and I highly doubt that each & every one of the current students who are Clayton Muhammad's Facebook friends have had their parents submit a permission form. I know that I as a parent definitely wouldn't.
A lawsuit waiting to happen!
Since there seems to be some sort of learning impairment going on here, I'll explain again:
500.19 refers to in-person social interaction. This is due to 1) The inclusion of the word "present" and 2) the fact that it was adopted in 2004 (before Facebook was open to high school age kids) means it could not possibly be referencing Facebook.
It is because of this that the board amended 645.E2 to include social media sites.
645.E2 does not forbid interaction and you can not show that the guideline of 645.E2 have been violated (oh I almost forgot, you "highly doubt" that Clayton have given out those forms. That counts for sure.)
Is it illegal? No. Is it forbid by the board? No. Is Clayton opening himself up to trouble by interacting with students on his private site? Possibly. But I have been to his Facebook page and don't see anything inappropriate.
To summarize: If you can't prove it, keep your mouth shut.
Roberts is going out with Adams he promoted her and she never works of is in meeting with him behind close doors all day. She has forced out all the qualified people in her department. Nobody sees the Jill her lackey. She has no experience at the East and everyone pokes fun of her when she walks around with Roberts.
All I know is, at the beginning of the school year the staff was specifically told that it was inappropriate to have current students on social networking sites. We were basically told to give a (cyber) cold shoulder to any friend requests--no ifs, ands, or buts.
It looks to me like the rules and expectations for at least one "special" individual in our district are different in this regard. And if ONLY ONE of the parents of those students on that personal Facebook page did not submit a permission form, then the law has been violated and/or overlooked.
Can we really afford to look the other way and have double standards like this?
Yes, we can.
...say the arrogant, hypocritical "special" people in our district!
What?
...a shame that certain people get a pass on following the rules the rest of us have to follow.
No question about it, it's WRONG.
Who?
Did everyone notice it they have one common tread
Wison Morales husband to Lisa a bully
Patterson a liar and ill prepared to do her job so she lies
Raquel Wilson a bully and racist only nailed the white employee's
Clayton breaks every rule in the book has a four people doing his job
Marin Gonzalez the biggest bully and loser of the group
Adams promoted because shes kisses Roberts rump
Roberts well enough said
What do these people all have in common they are minorities
Thanks for displaying that character trait for "your side." You have never heard anything as racist and ignorant out of "this side."
Moron.
I have a colleague at Simmons that travels to Pennsylvania every year with district students, with the district permission.I believe the policy was changed to make this activity officially okay. He is like Coach K., he is one of us so they don't count.Is it a coincidence that the most despised, talked about, are Roberts, Clayton, Adams, Patterson ,Fultz, Wells, and Hull. Followed closely by M.Gonzalez, S.Gonzalez, W.Morales. Even Johnson couldn't crack the top ten. I think I see a pattern. If it wasn't for those people maybe things could be like they were in the good ole days. I never like the way that white hood made me look, now I can just be anonymous.
Wow, that post was stupid.
2:05 p.m., are you new to this district?
You must be, if you think Caucasians haven't been called out for criticism!
"Serial Bully" Radakovich, Larry Malaker, Gordon Postlewaite, and Carol Farnum were all in the group of corrupt folks who were instrumental (pun intended) in driving down our district's reputation among many in our community. They are all Caucasian.
3:45 p.m., add Joe Harmon to your list.
1:42 p.m., I've got news for you:
Hispanics are NOT minorities in our district; Caucasians are.
:)
GET OVER IT - MOVE ON
3:45 read the post clearly I said MOST "despised, talked about" . I did not bring up race you did. If thats the pattern you see then maybe that your take on the list of names. Don't be so defensive I'm with you. The people you mentioned are just the ones you have a personal beef with. The sell of a house , the sell of school property, the removal of a ego maniac teacher who ran into another ego maniac just like him. The others constantly have their character and integrity attacked as liars, thieves, lazy, dumb, shifty, and shady. Were in this together so lets call this what it is. Let it out you will feel better besides were all anonymous.
2:05 said:
"I never like the way that white hood made me look"
That's not bringing up race?
What another stupid and pointless conversation full of misunderstandings and ignorance. Let's keep this blog going!!!!
(That last sentence was sarcasm)
No, it wasn't.
Get over it.
(That last sentence was sarcasm)
So you don't want me to get over it? I don't get it and I don't think you do either, because you are stupid.
That last sentence was sarcasm.
:)
Ok, good job. Continue the pointlessness - you are just furthering the stupidity of this blog.
Anybody know how that $165,000.00 fundraising drive is going?
Yeah, they are using all of the money for hookers and drugs - spending it on themselves and not giving any to the kids.
I heard they were looking for community input on how to spend it, for our kids' best interests.
Most of the administrators I know personally really do have some integrity, and care about our kids & community. It's only a few who spoil the reputation of many.
Shouldn't they have asked for the community input before they started asking for money? When they started this it was said the money would be for sports camps or other type of camps has this changed?
Keep asking this blog, maybe you will find out.
Maybe, maybe not.
It's your time to waste. No one is forcing anyone to look at this (or any) blog.
But based on the track record of other local media on keeping our community informed, a blog is as good a source as any.
I would like to know more about the teacher taking students to Pennsylvania; whats that about? Someone from Simmons share with us. I'm trying to understand if interacting with a student on social media is criminal and in violation of policy then maybe Clayton can stop doing that and take some students out of state if thats okay. Anything to enhance their high school experience.
I don't know about Pennsylvania, but do know that some of our Simmons students (and maybe some in Waldo & Cowherd as well) go to Washington, D.C. as an incentive for good grades and leadership. It's a great opportunity for our future leaders to learn about our country's history and political system!
Oh good. Thanks for sharing.
You're so welcome!
:)
I guess people on this blog have the same problem that many of our students do, an inability to read. I'll say it again: Interacting with students on social media sites is NOT criminal and NOT in violation of policy, no matter what you may have been told.
Please re-focus your blind hatred on an actual issue.
All social media sites are not the same. Sites which are open to be viewed by all (for example, the EAHS choir or band site) are not being objected to--it is the "friending" of current students by D131 staff on their PRIVATE Facebook pages that many parents find objectionable.
Finding it objectionable is fine. Calling it poor judgement is fine. But people keep saying that he is breaking a rule when that is not the case.
Blatantly continuing to do something that other district staff have been explicitly told NOT to do may not be "criminal", 7:32 p.m., but it is definitely hypocritical, arrogant, and WRONG.
Since Annette Johnson has taken to the board Pres. what has she accomplished to improve test scores and better 131?
First of all, it would only be hypocritical if Clayton was the one who told you not to do it.
Second: I don't know (and more importantly can't control) what some district employees were told. What I DO know is what I was told: That if an employee is going to interact with students on social media sites then it needs to be within the guidelines set forth in the district policy (see 645-E2). Don't blame others if you were given bad information by an employee or administrator (unless that other is the person who gave you the bad information, blame them all you want).
Third: For the record, I would NEVER open my Facebook to any of my students, current or former. I think it blurs the line between teacher and student, and has the potential to blow up in the teachers face. That is my opinion. Clayton is not a teacher and his his opinion probably differs from mine. If he chooses to open his Facebook to students then that is his choice. District policy does not forbid it (as long as he is within the guidelines).
Lastly, I really don't think any of this will make any difference to you. You obviously have a grudge against district personal and that most likely will not be swayed by facts. It seems to me that you are the one who is arrogant.
If you don't like the man, fine. But find a real reason to not like him.
12:05 p.m. says:
"I think it blurs the line between teacher and student, and has the potential to blow up in the teachers face"
Clayton Muhammad is considered an administrator (according to our district's website). Replace the word "teacher" with "administrator"--there's little if any difference in meaning or intent.
Shouldn't administrators be setting a good example? And why is a parent's concern about their son or daughter being "friends" with an administrator on his PRIVATE site holding a grudge? I'd call it concerned parenting!
If you do not understand the difference between a student/teacher relationship and a student/-Director of Community Relations relationship then it is pointless to argue with you. Nevertheless, I will continue to argue (thanks for quoting me out of context by the way).
Shouldn't administrators be setting a good example? Of course they should. But Clayton is not breaking any rules, so how is he a BAD example?
Parental concern? You had me for a second on this one. But after careful consideration your argument falls apart (as do most that are baseless).
1: If you don’t want your student to be friends with Clayton then sign form 645-E2 to indicate so and return it.
2: If your student was friends with Clayton prior to this policy going into effect and you don’t want them to be friends, then have your son/daughter to remove him from their friends. If they refuse? Contact Clayton directly. I’m sure he would be happy to oblige.
3: Are these really concerned parents speaking out about this “issue” on this blog? Because if you are such, didn’t any of the above occur to you? Have you brought the concerns about current policy to the board in an effort to ban social media interaction between students and staff entirely?
I doubt it.
Rather I think that most people who have a problem with this “issue” are ones like January 29, 2012 1:42 PM who think that “Clayton breaks every rule in the book”. I’ve been reading this blog for a few months now and have never read about any accusations of Clayton “breaking rules” other than when it comes to Facebook (which of course, he’s not doing)
3:12 p.m., do you really not see any difference between a social media site that is accessible to all, and a site that is restricted to private "friends"?
I doubt that you have raised any teenagers, if you truly believe it should be up to parents to fill out a form to opt their minor children out of an administrator's private site. Yes, "administrator"--that's how our Community Relations Director is officially classified by this district.
And I am not the one who accused Clayton of breaking every rule in the book. I don't have any particular animosity toward him as an individual (in fact, I believe he's done a lot of good things for our community). I just believe that private friendships between district personnel and minor students are inappropriate.
Here's a link to an article about a wonderful program in our district:
beaconnews.suntimes.com/10324920-417/ipads-broaden-reach-of-aurora-classrooms.html
Third, fourth, and fifth graders at Johnson School have been provided with iPads to use in their classrooms. The students are using them for math, language arts, and science activities--and it's been a definite boost for our kids' motivation & achievement.
What a grEAt idea!
It sounds to me like you have a problem with the policy, February 1, 2012 4:35 PM.
Yes there is a difference between private and public social media sites but let me be clear, I am NOT arguing in favor of the policy regarding social media. What I AM arguing is that Clayton has not violated the district policy regarding social media.
You have to admit February 1, 2012 4:35 PM that until I posted my first comment on this thread (see January 27, 2012 8:06 PM) the conversation was NEVER about policy, but rather about how Clayton has “broken” it.
Below are some excerpts:
January 27, 2012 8:54 AM “does Clayton Muhammad think the rules don't apply to him??”
January 29, 2012 1:42 PM “Clayton breaks every rule in the book”
January 30, 2012 5:21 PM “if interacting with a student on social media is criminal and in violation of policy then maybe Clayton can stop doing that and…”
And those are just from this thread! There are plenty of others from previous threads that I did not spend the time to find.
I’m sorry if I implicated you as one of these people February 1, 2012 4:35 PM, but it’s hard to argue when you don’t know if you’re arguing against 1 or 1 dozen different people (that's the problem with anonymous posting). I guess I just assume that I’m arguing against the same person.
It’s ok if you don’t like the policy. And if you don’t like it then fight for it to be changed. But it’s not ok to spread falsities by saying that Clayton is violating policy. Because he’s not.
Here's the School Board's response to the concerns publicly expressed by the aunt of the bullied Simmons student:
"The Board of Education has designated the administrative staff and legal counsel to handle the matter regarding your nephew. It is the determination from the investigation that this matter has been handled in a timely and appropriate fashion and the matter is considered closed"
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
In other words, GET OVER IT.
That family's lawyers might convince a judge that the matter was NOT "handled in a timely and appropriate fashion".
Stay tuned.
Good clip about the CPS system and how Mayor Emanuel is looking out for taxpayers in school spending. He is stopping paying non-union employees there non used sick pay when they retire and it will save millions of dollars.
http://www.nbcchicago.com/blogs/ward-room/CPS-Spent-Millions-on-Unused-Sick-Days-Report-138634589.html
3:10 p.m., you make some excellent points.
Maybe those who are critical of Clayton's having minor students as private Facebook "friends" should talk about unofficial expectations or standards instead of official policies or rules. I agree that poor judgment is not the same as breaking the law.
Rahm Emmanuel is an idiot. His new policy is going steal money from non-union employees in the short run but cost tax payers millions in the long run.
If the employee is going to lose unused sick pay, they are simply going to use every day they are entitled to. Each time they are absent, someone is going to have to be paid to fill in for them. Usually at overtime pay. So now you are paying the employee's salary plus the subs salary at time and a half.
This is just one more example of politicians screwing with a system they really don't understand. I think it's quite clear by now that Rahm Emmanuel is completely anti-worker. He is just another elitist who wants to divert public monies to his business buddies.
Private sector employees should also watch out. Many of them (not all) also get paid their unused sick leave at retirement. Step 1 is to take that away from the public employees, which will have EXACTLY the result that 10:26 predicts. Once they take that benefit from the public employees, the private companies (who actually run the country to begin with) will use that as an excuse to stop that as well.
Now, there IS a middle ground that might actually save the public some money w/o encouraging the employees to use all their sick leave: cap the amount of sick leave they can carry over. You do need to set the cap fairly high, because some people do build up a big bank of sick leave thinking they'll get it paid later, but then get a major illness and end up having to use it. We've had employees here get sick and use all their sick leave, then they ask the rest of the employees for "donations" of sick time from their bank to that sick employee.
I work for a private company and we can't carry over our sick days if we don't use them in a year we lose them. Sick days are a benefit that can be taken away in fact many companies now don't even give sick days or you have to work so many months before you get them. The people that work in the public sector get far to many benefits like this while others who don't work for the State don't get these high benefits. I don't know of any private company that pays out unused sick time at retirement and that is because you don't get to carry it over.
I give Emanuel credit for doing something sick days should not be allowed to be carried over. It is time for change of how public employees live on that taxpayers dollars.
Here is how it works in the outside world with major companies and sick leave. You will get 5-10 sick days a year and yes people do use them but with those days if you call in sick you can for two days and on the third day if you are off you will have to bring in a Dr. note saying that the Dr. said you had to stay off work. If you are off for a long time because you had an operation or major illness you are put on disability through your work and most companies will pay for a year. So most companies only give you a few days to just call in for one day and that takes care of workers who like to abuse the system.
Also with major companies if they let employees carry over sick time they would have to make sure they put that in their operating budget each year to make sure they have the money to pay out the federal government makes sure they do that it has something to do with accounting and how the companies show stockholders where the money is.
Now with the public sector they don't have to account for the sick time that is carried over because they know when it is time to pay those retirees they can stick it to the taxpayers.
Johnson has a business I wonder if she does that for her employees.
This is just another example of our public leaders making promises through the years. The hardworking middle class public employees serviced the community, put into the pot, follwed the established rules and now when a large group of them are nearing retirement, the politicians want to pull the financial rug out from under them.
They remove benefits, raid pension systems and the big business buddies are getting rich off the public sector. Every time they privatize public services, the costs to the public go up while the services go down.
When is the public going to wake up.
What do you mean the public sector is not that hard working in fact they have 3 people to do one job. Why are you any different than any other worker that has lost benefits and pay lately. It's too bad that you may finally have to see how the other half lives. If you don't like it and chose to slow down hopefully they get rid of you.
11:43 and 12:27 I did work in the private sector at one point, and we COULD carry over sick leave, but there was a cap. And we DID receive credit for that leave at retirement (essentially after your last day of actual work, you were considered on leave until that ran out, and that was your official first day of retirement).
And 12:27, I am now in the public sector and what you describe about a few days on your own word, then a doctor's note after that, is the way it works here. Same thing also if you're gone longer term you go on disability. BUT we can't go on disability until 30 days AFTER we've used up all paid leave (sick leave, personal days, or vacation days). And we not only need a doctors' note saying we needed to be off after a certain number of days, we might need another doctor's note saying we were fit to return to work. One year I had a severely blown disk, and kept coming to work for a week (leaning so far to one side I was a walking C) so I could have the surgery and recover over winter break (I work in a school). I was actually supposed to be off work 6 weeks, but I was only off the 2 weeks of winter break because my partner was going to be gone that first week after break, and there'd be no one to take care of the kids. So I came back to work 4 weeks early. Everybody (including my boss) knew I was in pain, but the kids needed me. My partner ended up being stuck out of town, so I worked 2 weeks alone. Finally, my back is starting to feel better, and my partner is back in town. NOW my boss comes up and tells me I can't come back to work again w/o a doctor's note clearing me. So I had to use up my last sick day to go get that clearance. Notice she didn't need the note as long as they really needed me at work.
There is no company out there now that does that they would have to keep the money you would get at retirement on the books and make sure they have it when you retire it is just too much of a liability today. Now if you have vacation time left when you retire they make you use it before they don't pay a lump sum.
You should be happy you have something many people out there don't have medical or get paid time off even for operations. Welcome to the real world.
3:01 I guess I'll have to take your word for it, because I haven't researched EVERY company in the entire country and their benefits, like you must have to be able to make such a blanket statement. And yes, there are many people out there w/o adequate medical coverage. That's why "Obamacare" was passed, to try to fix a problem that has existed for years but neither party (until now) ever had the guts to at least try to fix. As far as paid sick leave, while there may be many w/o it, I believe that the majority of those employed full time in the private sector DO still get it. Everybody that I know in the private sector does. I also don't need to be welcomed to the real world, I've been in it all my life. Can't speak for you, though.
What always puzzles me in this discussion of private companies cutting benefits, is where is the exploration of why it's happening? There seems to be this blind acceptance, and then comes the mentality of "well, I'm getting screwed by my employer, so I want to see someone else getting screwed -- let's go after the public workers!" The private employers all cry "oh, the economy is so bad I have to cut benefits, and lay people off". While at the same time executive compensation has continued to shoot thru the roof. If the company was doing so bad, how could it afford to increase the CEO's salary? Instead of the "I'm getting screwed so let's screw someone else too", how about we look into NONE of the workers getting screwed at the expense of boosting the executive's salaries?
I work in the District we do not get paid for sick days. It is funny the teachers get the least amount I have always found that unfair
I think they are talking about Major Companies that have locations in many cities with the sick pay and they don't pay you for them if you don't use them. I know people that work at Cat, Lyon Metal, NiCor, ComEd and The City of Aurora and yes they get sick time but they do not get paid if they don't use it. If you work in a restaurant, retail or a small company many of those don't have sick days or just a few. Obamacare is only for insurance not to get paid if you are sick.
8.1 Sick Leave
Each full-time employee shall be entitled to thirteen (13) days sick leave per school year.
Sick leave shall be allowed to accumulate up to a maximum of three hundred sixty (360)
days. Sick leave shall be determined to mean personal illness, quarantine at home, or
serious illness or death in one's immediate family or household. Immediate family shall
mean parents, spouse, brothers, sisters, children, grand-children, grandparents, parentin-law, brothers/sisters-in-law, and legal guardians.
8.2 Absence Due to Assault
Absence due to injury or illness incurred in the course of employment shall not be
charged against sick leave if caused entirely by the willful and wanton negligence of the
Board or by an assault. For the period of such absence, the Board shall pay the
difference between the teacher's salary and the amount received by the teacher under
the Illinois Worker's Compensation Act.
You need to read your teacher's contract if you work for D131.Here is the url for it.
http://www.d131.org/Employment/Teacher%20Contact%20_%20Fin.pdf
http://www.d131.org/Employment/
Teacher%20Contact%20_%20Fin.pdf
You can go on the districts website and look under employment and on the right side the contracts are there to read.
I believe this is standard for all districts.
Is that "8.1 Sick Leave" quote from a district policy, or from the teacher's contract? If it's from the contract, what about the support staff?
Sick days should be for sickness and nothing else. Sick time should not be a benefit that employees can take advantage of at retirement. If you are fortunate enough and have job where you can accrue them there ought to be a reasonable amount and I'm sorry but 340 days like 131 has for teachers and administrators is crazy. But in fairness thats how all school districts operate not just 131.It is not the worker fault they have been allotted these type of benefits but don't act as though anyone deserves 2 years off with pay. A HR director told me many years ago that good employees come to work everyday. Sick time is abused and if it were not available and honest ,good employees would come to work anyway. BUt when you are told to use or lose what do you expect; greed kicks in.
As much as I dislike Mayor Emanuel he is doing the right thing. You should not have that type of deficit hanging over the head of tax payers. The salaries and retirement plans administrators have should be plenty if not too bad.
Private sector employees have their perks to. Big bonuses, stock options, personal days, plus sick days, expense accounts, vehicles and if you don't its because you are officially a worker. When all was good they didn't take notice to public sector now they cry like baby's and want some company. Many of their bonuses were on the backs of blue collar workers losing their jobs since the 80's. I mean your company.
we are all dependent on each other. When private sector lose their job it affect the public sector because tax revenues dry up, then public sector gets laid off, furlough days, school programs get cut, but everyone still wants us to teach their kids, keep the school building open, plow the snow with short staff . The wealthy one percent have working class individuals fighting each other while they pay their 15% in taxes vs our 25 and 33%. How do you want to be taken advantage of by big business or big government. We are in this together or is that type of talk socialism?
What about the support staff take the time to look up their contract.
You talk about the private sector and their bonuses and such but the top in school districts get the same things. Superintendents get annuities, some get a travel allowance, and other perks like cooperate officers. That goes for administration also. They get a different medical than the workers in the district also with many getting their medical paid while others pay for theirs. In richer district some get more than others.
As far as cuts and cutting programs school districts can take a close look at how the administrators are spending money. Should they be having retreats at golf clubs, taking family members with them on the districts dime, having Christmas parties for themselves when money gets tight and then cut programs? How about they give up some of that and keep the things that benefit the students and not them.
Oh what tangled webs we weave when we practice to deceive.
Don't private sector companies have parties with investors money. They give out their bonuses while sending work overseas and laying off workers. With all that big business did to little people and their life savings no one is calling for regulations on investment banker etc... just public employees. So what if staff have one measly Christmas party. If you were not such a drag with a perineal cloud over your head maybe someone would ask you to attend a party ; private or public. So what if someones spouse gets a meal ; big deal. No programs are being cut at D131. If referendum after referendum during good economic times had not been shot down the district would be miles ahead. I know more middle income families would have stayed on the east side, but why would they when sports, arts, extra curricular activities were being denied their children. When a class is cut out because of a staff at Christmas time let me know.
teacher and support staff don't get paid vacation. most private sector employees do. before the argument starts, yes so teachers elect to have their pay spread over 12 months, so they receive a check - but they are not paid for breaks, summer, etc. unless they work a summer school program. many private companies if you work there long enough you can get 4 or 5 weeks paid vacation. a teacher will never get paid vacation.
The problem with school district employees taking spouse with them on vacation or going to a party and getting a meal is that it is against The IL School Code which means they are breaking the law. Here lately many citizens are FIOA school districts records and there have been a few that has got into trouble for spending.
2/3 @ 10:31pm and if everyone jumped off a cliff and it looked like fun would you all do it too?
How about those ocercrowded classrooms. Why not use the monies for the parties for the students who do not have coats, etc.? Aw, but that would be the decent thing to do, after all what does it cost this district for a meager party? How about giving the students a Christmas party? Quit thinking of just yourselves.
What a stupid argument - giving the students a christmas party - just dumb.
Last I knew, our elementary schools have Christmas/holiday festivities for the students; why do you think that's dumb, 9:48 a.m.?
The City and churches and the schools have coat drives. If a child does not have a coat shame on the parents when there are plenty of ways to make it happen. If the law is being broken then FOIA the ledgers and CC statements and make a federal case of it like you already have. Read the school board minutes genius classrooms are being shrunk when possible. You have to have space and staff also. Everything is not as simple as some want to make them. Small minds think alike. If the district said we need to build another school to relieve over crowding I have no doubt that the good voters of D131 would say no; they always have. You pick the reasons why , blame the teachers, administration, new board, old board, free dinners, coats first, the same old scapegoats.
There are some bad teachers, administrators, board members but they are not the sole reason that East Aurora 131 is in the mess they are in. 129 has a many challenges that will soon manifest. Their teacher contract limits the amount of students in a classroom. Their demographics are changing quickly and those two issues alone are on a collision course. Can you say new schools and referendum and no in the same breath.
Loaded handgun discovered in Aurora middle school locker
By Erika Wurst
AURORA — A 13-year-old Waldo Middle School student is facing felony charges after allegedly bringing a loaded handgun to the school Friday morning.
Aurora police were called to Waldo Middle School, 56 Jackson St., at around 10 a.m. and learned that the seventh-grade student was apparently overheard by another student bragging that he had brought a gun to school.
The student who overheard the conversation notified school administrators, who pulled the suspect out of class. After questioning the teen, police searched his locker and found the weapon, a loaded .357 handgun.
The school was put on lockdown as police conducted their search.
Police said the boy apparently had no plans to use the gun, was not involved in gang activity, was not being threatened, and did not have any police contacts.
He brought the weapon to school simply to show it off to other students, police said.
“We talked to the student, and he had no ill intent,” said East Aurora School District spokesman Clayton Muhammad. “It was a foolish decision he made. There was no intent of usage.”
Police are still investigating where the gun came from and how it came into the boy’s possession.
The boy was charged with two counts of aggravated unlawful use of a weapon and taken to the Kane County Youth Home in St. Charles Township. He will appear before a judge on Monday for a hearing.
Evidently the District is not making it clear to students that bringing a gun to school is not allowed. Even if this student didn't mean any harm he should of know.
Look at you, blaming the DISTRICT for a kid bringing a gun to school.
This blog never fails to move blame to the district.
You are sooooo stupid. What about the parents? How the hell did this kid even have access to a gun? And my guess is the kid knew not to bring a gun to school.
In your world I guess kids always do exactly what they are told, but in a community where parenting SUCKS, kids often have to be told multiple times and then they still break the rules because they have no respect for authority.
What a stupid comment, blaming the district for a kid doing something stupid.
So, at Waldo, if there are 1,000 kids. 999 of them don't bring guns to school and 1 did -
Your conclusion - The district messed up.
Also, 1 kid told the right people about the kid with the gun, the absolute right thing to do.
So these two students go to the same school, one brought a gun to school, one did not. What is the main difference between these two kids.
I'll give you a minute to think about it.
Got your answer?
THE PARENTS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
How was church?
Does anybody else find Clayton Muhammad's statement on the gun incident outrageous? Of course this student is going to tell you his intention was not to use the gun! What do you expect a kid to say, "I brought the gun to school to blow Johnny's head off"!!!! WAKE UP!! Muhammad is the ultimate sugar coater and came off sounding really foolish.
This is a huge problem in public education today. Students are taken at their word without question. Many times a student statement is accepted over a teacher statement.
The student at Simmons, who pulled off the gym shorts and boxer shorts of a special education student, was taken at his word. He told the assistant principal that he tripped and while falling down he accidently pulled the boy's clothing to the floor. COME ON!!
You really dropped the ball on this one Clayton. Your statement should have been harsh and to the point, "district 131 will not tolerate behavior like this in any of our schools and this student will be expelled". A loaded .357 handgun...GET SERIOUS! You made it suond like a minor infraction.
Now, I want to hear somebody defend Mr. Muhammad on this.
I find the statement that blames the district for the kid bringing the gun outrageous. Clayton simply stated what the kid state - They did not defend the kid and I'm pretty sure he will be expelled. If he isn't expelled, then you have a right to be mad.
Stop hating Clayton because he is Clayton. Get over it.
This was the actual quote in the Beacon from Clayton.
“We talked to the student, and he had no ill intent,” said East Aurora School District spokesman Clayton Muhammad. “It was a foolish decision he made. There was no intent of usage.”
Apparently the district administrators are God. They are now looking into the souls of children and sharing the children's true intentions with the community.
I've never heard such an outrageous statement made. I'm sure this child will be one of Clayton's Boy's II Men (If he is not one already). Maybe even a student board member. Of course he will have to compete with the kid who likes to sexually assault other kids for the position.
This is just an extreme example of a major problem in education. Simply put, you can not teach if there is no discipline.
Administrators don't want teachers to write referrals, return referrals if the teacher hasn't gone through a long line of procedures first, literally throw some referrals in the trash if they don't want to deal with them and then take the students word over the teacher when they do finally deal with some of the referrals. Even when there is no doubt that the child is in the wrong, they simply make excuses for them.
A student shows up to school with a loaded .357 and there is Clayton in the Beacon defending the child. It's inexcusable.
New 131 rumor. To trim the budget the board is working to outsource the janitors jobs. Personally, I feel the schools maintenance people have done an excellent job taking care of our buildings and events.
The company I work for did likewise. Not only were the washrooms lacking in cleanliness, but things deteriated in general upkeep, requiring replacement of mechanical type items in the facility.
That's not a rumor about the outsourcing of the janitor jobs. The janitors have already been told that their jobs are gone.
Knowing that privatizing any public service always costs the tax payers more (all the costs still have to be paid plus now we will now have to pay the companies profits)my first question was, who is going to profit from this?
Now here's the rumor. Word is that the company that will have the nice new lucrative contract from the district is a client of Annette Johnson's husband.
My next question was how if it is illegal to hire an employee without a hiring process in place that gives all qualified individuals an equal chance at employment, how does the district get away with hiring one company after another without any bidding process?
It's just one more form of corruption that happens in District 131 every day.
With the way politicians have been raiding teacher pension funds, anything is possible.
When did Johnson get married?
To 4:32 pm. I do not hate Clayton Muhammad. I'm just sick and tired of him acting as if d131 is a perfect school district. There is no such thing as a perfect school district. Every district and every community in America has it's faults. Clayton always puts a positive spin on everything that happens in d131.
So what if the kid had no intention of using that gun, don't try to sound as if there is no reason for alarm. The children in district 131 read the newspaper and they need to read about how tragic this situation could have been. They need to read that an accident may have occurred and someone might have been seriously wounded or killed! They also need to read that a student who brings a gun into district 131 schools will be dealt with swiftly, discipline will be severe and the student will be expelled.
Where were his quotes when the article on the Simmons boy broke? Where were his compassionate words for the boy's mother? This would have been an excellent time to teach a lesson in humanity to his Boys II Men organization. Instead, the "spokesman" chose not to speak.
This is what disturbs me about Clayton Muhammad.
Yes Kivisto was arrested for stealing steaks and he had students spend the night at his house. His english was terrible but they had him teaching a English class. He would spend the whole period talking to us about basketball, what a joke. I took the credit like everyone else did. Has Clayton ever been arrested? No, but he was teacher of the year at Waldo before he left the district the first time and once again he exercised poor judgement by coming back to D131. He is out of place in this job because a man of his intelligence,character and integrity belongs in a classroom where he can impact students in an academic way. I guarantee that the next time he walks away he will immediately resurface in Indian Prairie or some other district with a culture of excellence.
Johnson is not married that I know of. Many districts have done this and I am glad they are looking into it. I understand they make as much as $32 per hour and I work for a local bank that many of them bank at these wonderful employees often use the district truck to bank with. Good for the Board.
Most of our janitors are making $8-$10 an hour. The only ones who are making $30 an hour are the guys who are going around repairing the HVAC, plumbing etc. It's a lot cheaper than calling a heating or plumbing company.
There is no doubt. This will cost the tax payers of this district significantly more money. We will be paying for the same number of employees AND some company will now have to make their profits. The only real question to ask is who's getting rich in the deal? Everyone knows Annette Johnson is the one who pushed for the deal. Has anybody asked why?
From the districts website.
EMPLOYEE CLASSIFICATION – 2011-2012
PROBATIONARY SALARY
CUSTODIANS
A $ 16.56 $ 17.01
B N/A $ 23.66
UTILITY $ N/A $ 11.81
FIREMAN $ 25.24 $ 25.96
ENGINEER (Middle School) $ 27.59 $ 28.47
ENGINEER (High School) $ 28.38 $ 29.22
MAINTENANCE $ 28.38 $ 29.22
LEAD GROUNDSKEEPER $19.11
Any employee promoted to a Fireman or Engineer position on or after July 1, 2005 shall be paid
the Custodian A rate plus $5.00/hr for elementary and middle school position, or the Custodian
A rate plus $7.00/hr for the high school position.42
Any employee hired for a Fireman or Engineer position on or after July 1, 2005,
http://www.d131.org/Employment/131-%20CUSTODIAN%20CONTRACT%20-%2008-11%20-%20CLEAN%20-%204-28-09.pdf
Annette Johnson has had it in for Nestor & company since she got on the board. She thinks she knows more about B&G than anyone just because she has a building that houses her business. When people don't do things her way she puts them to the highway. Kicking her heels and screaming like a spoiled child.
10:09 p.m., you must be new here if you were expecting Clayton Muhammad to say anything about the Simmons bullied student situation.
Clayton Muhammad is very good at what he does: putting a positive spin on anything that happens in this district. If nothing positive can be said, he says nothing; and I have never known him to make any kind of apology for anything (even the bullying of a child) on behalf of this district. If you want any current news that may show D131 in a not-so-favorable light, don't go to the mainstream media--because our district "spinmeister" will have filtered it out first.
Hopefully Quinn won't do this but if he does us taxpayers will be messed with again.
http://beaconnews.suntimes.com/news/10429438-418/schools-fear-quinn-idea-to-shift-pension-costs.html
Hiring an outside firm for janitorial services may be about more than money. I'm retired now, but I remember that the custodians at Waldo were like the heart & soul of the building. They knew everyone (students and staff), and they were the people everyone would go to for not only handling janitorial issues like cleaning and repairs, but also some pleasant conversation and occasionally good advice. They really CARED about not only the building, but also the people in it!
Would we still get people like that, if we outsourced those jobs? Call me old-fashioned, but there's a lot to be said for people being involved in a job for more than just a paycheck.
10:22 p.m., a D131 "Teacher of the Year" award is worth less than the paper it's printed on. That and $5 will get you a cup of coffee at Starbucks.
I remember when Mr. Kaisershot got Teacher of the Year, at the annual D131 awards banquet. Just a couple of years later when he refused to kiss admins' behinds he was persona non grata.
It has taken years to create the maintenance staff that we currently have. You need to find people who will have access to all the equipment found in the buildings and not rob us blind. You need to have people who will have access to every dark corner of the building and not molest any children. You need to have people who know all the mechanical equipment in the building and its repair record.
We are now now supposed to believe that the district is going to outsource these jobs to some company who is going to pay employees minimum wage and this isn't going to come back to haunt us?
Clayton better get the PR department ready for the fallout from this one.
Many times when a business goes to contractors the contractors hire the people that already worked there the only difference is now the district is paying them. They will have to do a background check just like the district does. One difference is that if someone is not pulling their weight they can get rid of them faster than the district can. I know a couple of places that have done this and it has worked for them. The workers do get more than minimum wage also. There are many good companies out there that do this around the area and do a good job.
If Quin gets his way and districts have to start paying the teacher pensions the district will have to find other ways to cut cost.
To: February 6, 2012 7:52 AM
Pat Quinn is the reason people hate democrats. This man has never seen a tax increase he didn't like. Last year Illinois passed 125 different tax increases including the largest tax increase in US history, a 67% increase in income tax.
We were told at the time that they needed that tax increase to maintain funding for schools. Here we are a few months later with him claiming local districts must take over the funding from the state.
At the same time he always finds money for his big business campaign contributors. Road construction alone he found over $21 Billion. In comparison Indiana spent $8 Billion on road construction and Wisconsin only spent $4 Billion.
It no wonder to me that the former Mayor of Chicago Harold Washington fired Quinn for incompetence. The man needs to go.
To: February 6, 2012 10:37 AM
If they pay minimum wage, then the district saves some money but has the problems I mentioned. If they keep the same employees, then they are paying for the employees and some companies profit margins. Either way the tax payers of the district will be paying more.
And nobody's answered the question, who is profiting from this? It certainly won't be the tax payers.
Taxpayers don't pay for private companies. How they save is you are not paying for vacations and medical with is a cost saver in itself. Stockholders might lose out in their stocks but that has nothing to do with taxpayers.
If the district is hiring this company then the tax payers are paying the bill.
No business is going to take a job where they lose money. If they did they would be out of business. They are either making their profits on top of the cost or they are going to screw over the workers and take their profits from the workers salary.
If the workers make no money, they will be much more apt to do whatever they need to make ends meet.
School District like St Charles, Geneva, Indian Prairie already do this. Maintenance outsourcing has been around for years nothing new. It is clear these districts all mentioned above have a great educational system and their building are clean and not falling apart. The District would be saving over a million per year that to me sounds like alot of education.
There are 6 other members on the Board they must be for it as well why not complain to them
2:10 you're right, there are a lot of districts that outsource maintenance, but it DOES come w/ a cost. I work in another district in an even more affluent town than the ones you mentioned. We did a hybrid system, where the day custodial and maintenance crew are school employees. The night crew is a contracted company, with a supervisor from the company AND a high school employee supervisor also. Everybody knows if you need help w/ something, especially if you want it done right, you get it done during the day. The night crew can handle mopping and dusting, (if you get on them enough) and that's about it. They feel no pride of ownership or worksmanship. They also show no initiative, and little common sense. I work down in the athletic end of the building, where activities often go until 8:30 or 9 at night. Instead of changing their routine on those nights to start w/ the areas not being used, so they get to the other areas later when everyone's gone, they do the same routine every night. So they'll go in and clean the locker rooms while the game's still going on, so after the game the teams come back in and trash the locker room so it's a mess when everyone comes in the next morning. Yes, they're saving money, but the school looked better when it was school employees.
If I hear or read one more thing about the Simmons boy incident I am gonna crap. The story is long dead and over with. The teacher got his butt slapped and he now knows, along with the entire staff, that if choose to go beyond Patterson's iron fist, you will pay. Thus, the current culture is now one of hush up and just get through the day. At 3:15 hit the door running and keep watching for new positions in other districts. 131 needs to save money- hire "newbies" right out of school and dump the tenured troublemakers. Randall Ellison-come back and restore the order please!
In what other profession...
August 27th, 2010 by David Reber
I’m going to step out of my usual third-person writing voice for a moment. As a parent I received a letter last week from the Kansas State Board of Education, informing me that my children’s school district had been placed on “improvement” status for failing to meet “adequate yearly progress” under the No Child Left Behind law.
I thought it ironic that our schools were judged inadequate by people who haven’t set foot in them, so I wrote a letter to my local newspaper. Predictably, my letter elicited a deluge of comments in the paper’s online forum. Many remarks came from armchair educators and anti-teacher, anti-public school evangelists quick to discredit anything I had to say under the rationale of “he’s a teacher.” What could a teacher possibly know about education?
Countless arguments used to denigrate public school teachers begin with the phrase “in what other profession….” and conclude with practically anything the anti-teacher pundits find offensive about public education. Due process and collective bargaining are favorite targets, as are the erroneous but tightly held beliefs that teachers are under-worked, over-paid (earning million-dollar pensions), and not accountable for anything.
In what other profession, indeed.
In what other profession are the licensed professionals considered the LEAST knowledgeable about the job? You seldom if ever hear “that guy couldn’t possibly know a thing about law enforcement – he’s a police officer”, or “she can’t be trusted talking about fire safety – she’s a firefighter.”
In what other profession is experience viewed as a liability rather than an asset? You won’t find a contractor advertising “choose me – I’ve never done this before”, and your doctor won’t recommend a surgeon on the basis of her “having very little experience with the procedure”.
In what other profession is the desire for competitive salary viewed as proof of callous indifference towards the job? You won’t hear many say “that lawyer charges a lot of money, she obviously doesn’t care about her clients”, or “that coach earns millions – clearly he doesn’t care about the team.”
But look around. You’ll find droves of armchair educators who summarily dismiss any statement about education when it comes from a teacher. Likewise, it’s easy to find politicians, pundits, and profiteers who refer to our veteran teachers as ineffective, overpriced “dead wood”. Only the rookies could possibly be any good, or worth the food-stamp-eligible starting salaries we pay them.
And if teachers dare ask for a raise, this is taken by many as clear evidence that teachers don’t give a porcupine’s posterior about kids. In fact, some say if teachers really cared about their students they would insist on earning LESS money.
If that entire attitude weren’t bad enough, what other profession is legally held to PERFECTION by 2014? Are police required to eliminate all crime? Are firefighters required to eliminate all fires? Are doctors required to cure all patients? Are lawyers required to win all cases? Are coaches required to win all games? Of course they aren’t.
For no other profession do so many outsiders refuse to accept the realities of an imperfect world. Crime happens. Fire happens. Illness happens. As for lawyers and coaches, where there’s a winner there must also be a loser. People accept all these realities, until they apply to public education.
If a poverty-stricken, drug-addled meth-cooker burns down his house, suffers third degree burns, and then goes to jail; we don’t blame the police, fire department, doctors, and defense attorneys for his predicament. But if that kid doesn’t graduate high school, it’s clearly the teacher’s fault.
And if someone – anyone - tries to tell you otherwise; don’t listen. He must be a teacher.
no wonder moral is so low and the teachers are all miserable at the high school...here's a notice a bunch of teachers got in their mailboxes this past friday:
"This is to inform you that you have made (specific # - usually over 1,000) copies so far this semester using in-house copy machines. This is unacceptable. All copies are to be sent to reprographics. This is your second notice. Failure to comply with school policy may result in your copy code being deactivated."
So teachers are being expected to send ALL materials to repro, when it takes a minimum of 10 days to get back. And the worst part, in my opinion, was the tone of the notice - very unprofessional and rude. It sounded more like a company threatening to reposess your car than a school concerned with saving money on the backs of teachers!
Where I work they went to contract company for cleaning the building and in fact they hired to ones that where working there already and there has been no change to the service. When a business goes to this kind of service and they find the workers aren't doing what is expected of them then they have a right to say they want to have new people. It is up to the managers to let the cleaning people know when to clean and if they don't tell them again.
3:56 p.m., excellent post!
3:18 p.m., the Simmons story may not be over. Hopefully the mother & aunt of the bullied child will pursue legal action, and determine exactly who was responsible for changing the child's written statement. I know if it was my child I would want to get to the bottom of it, so no one else would be treated like my child was!
The Simmons Story is definately not over. The SpEd kid was at the meeting tonight with his mother and aunt. Apparently he had been beaten up in school again today. It was a very emotional moment during the meeting when he was asked what he said to a doctor. He stated "I just can't take the beatings and abuse any more, I'd rather be dead".
The teacher who has been getting harrassed for sticking up for this kid also came to speak. There was a touching moment when he spoke about how he had been docked a weeks salary and that he would do it all over again to protect this child. The spectators applauded the teacher when he made the statement.
I found it interesting that Mechelle Patterson and Wilson Morales got up and left the board room when all of this was being stated before the board.
The Beacon reporter was at the meeting and writing furiously as both spoke. She was outside talking to them afterwards as well. We'll see how long it takes her to get the story into the paper this time.
All the drama at Simmons boils down to one thing. The administrators at Simmons didn't do their job and they have been trying to cover their rears ever since.
To this end the have lied, falsified documents and covered up at every step.
Sacrificing this child and teacher are just part of doing business as far as they are concerned.
I understand why Mechelle Patterson and Wilson Morales have done what they have. They are trying to protect their six figure salaries. What I don't understand is why the board let's them get away with it. If they had any integrity, the board would put their foot down and simply state children come first.
The teacher has stood firm, risking his career to protect this child. The board has far less to risk, they need to stand up and do what's right.
The story is dead I worked with the teacher and he is unstable. The district tried to send him for help but he refused. Several teachers complained about him using the words
I would rather kill a child than a animal. He claimed he was joking but since his personal problems he has not been right
He has encouraged the aunt to file against the district and put this child through a drama seen to play her story out in front of the media. She actually told the child to say I am going to kill myself
11:12 pm 2/6 what you are staiang about the aunt telling her nephew is not correct. This is what he told his doctor and stated to the board.
The reason for the child being there tonight was to tell about how the bullying is still going on and what had happedned today.
February 6, 2012 11:12 PM
Mechelle you are so full of $&it!
Typical in this district though, when you are in the wrong, attack the messanger.
In your short statement, you slandered a teacher, a special education child and his aunt and of course, his mother is just allowing all of this to happen.
I suppose the teacher and family of this child arranged the sexual assault and beatings of this child as well?
You are one sick individual.
I heard all sorts of statements about how Bob Green was an unstable individual as well. The was even a half page OpEd article in the Beacon calling Mr. green incompetent.
First Mr. Green went to Federal Court and won a discrimination suit against the district. When the State Board of Education investigated, they concluded that Bob Green had done nothing wrong and the district had terminated him illegally. The EEOC then determined that the union did not represent Mr. green as they were required to do and set down a judgement against the union.
The unstable ones are those running our district. They have every resource at their disposal and a relatively unlimited budget and they still get nothing right.
Children get bullied and his aunt has one mission and that is to have the principal fired. The students that are doing the bullying will still be in the building but the principal wont. The young man is now being exploited by everyone including his aunt. Mr. Rohlf is unstable to say the least; ask his peers they will tell you. Tell him to show someone a copy of a referral he has made on behalf of this young man he claims to champion. Surely since he is willing to help the young man he comes to him every time.
Nothing in the Beacon yet--but no surprise, since everything in D131 has to be run through Clayton first. Good luck putting a positive spin on this one.
Mechelle & Wilson are probably not as much to blame as the central office in covering up the bullying of this student. Someone falsified the child's written statement; someone tried to keep this swept under the rug--probably the same person who is supposedly responsible for supervising secondary education (including middle school) in our district.
For those of you firing bullets at this teacher- you are completely misguided. Or, you are just plain guilty in this matter. Yes, there was applause last night. Yes, Patterson and Morales bailed during the meeting. Yes, the scramble will be on today to dump the teacher and make this all go away- guaranteed! Why? This is standard protocol for Simmons. If the ISBE ever planted a mole at this school to keep a mindful eye on all the doings, I swear they'd close it. So, all the late night posts on being unstable, coersing the child to say things for dramatic effect are all nonsensical tools used to deflect the blame away from those who deserve it. This boy has been shamed beyond repair and, yes, these things do happen are often beyond faculty control. It's the way it was handled that is truly sad and the atmosphere that still exists today is one of "you can get away with it". The alledged offender was allowed to continue playing on the basketball team after this all happened.What's the message? Maybe the PR team can field that question.
The whole thing is sad. I was at the meeting Mr Rolf is unstable he was so angry he could even clearly tell the Board what he was asking about.
The aunt is trying to use this child for a big pay-off and comes and creates a drama. She could share the child and address the Board by a call.
Michelle did lie to cover-up with Wilson Morales the teacher was correct about that.
Roberts was sleeping and does not care.
The Board looked confused.
Because the aunt made such a example of this boy the kids are picking on him more.
The loser is a shy boy who's aunt forced him to stand up in front of a group of adults all looking at him and force him to say he can not defend himself and she put the idea in his head about killing himself.
The adults have alot to be disappointed with in themselves
The administration goes to bully seminars and conference and by now they should know how to handle this not look away. If they know who is doing it the student should be punished or it will never stop. It looks like the student that is doing the bulling gets better treatment than the one who is getting bullied. I give credit to the Mother and Aunt for standing up because this child is not the only ones and until the parents stand up to this it will keep going on. They can also talk to The Regional Superintendent which might get them somewhere with this.
To: February 7, 2012 9:52 AM
You are doing a disservice on many fronts.
First off, the aunt wouldn't receive a penny if the mother did decide to sue the district. Secondly, this has been going on for months and the parent has not filed any suit. The mother simply wants the other other child disciplined and the administrators held accountable for doing nothing to protect her child.
I agree Mr. Rohls can be emotional but that doesn't mean he is wrong. Let's put this way, he's will never be the cold, calculating administrative type. He can't smile at you while he is stabbing you in the back.
I wasn't sure if Roberts (and Clayton) were asleep or simply to full of shame to look anybody in the eye.
I disagree about bringing the boy before the board. First, the board needed to see who their decisions are affecting. Second, this child needs to stand up for himself. The school administrators are not doing anything to protect this child.
You want to know just how far administrators willl go. Just look at the story about Miramonte Elementary School in California. There were two teachers there accussed of abusing children. The administrators knew of allegations against them for years and did nothing about it.
Now the $&it has hit the fan. The community is up in arms about it. What do the administrators do about it? They have replaced all the teachers in the building.
The ones who knew what was going on were the abusers and the administrators. Who takes the fall? All the hard working teachers. The administrators sacrificed the entire staff rather than take any responsibility.
If this isn't an extreme example of what's wrong with education, I don't know what is.
Everyone talks about teacher accountability, who is making the administraors accountable?
Here is a link to the Miramonte story:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/02/06/miramonte-school-closing-teacher-arrests_n_1257134.html?ref=los-angeles
This is a good article for parents about bullies.
http://momshomeroom.msn.com/articles/7/30723922/?WT.mc_id=msn
Mr Rolfs quotes to teachers
I would rather kill a child than a animal
Is this someone stable
You can claim he said whatever you want to claim he said years ago. It wouldn't be the first time someone's words were taken out of context.
The fact is clear, there are over 100 staff members at Simmons and Mr. Rohlfs is the only one who has stuck his own neck out to protect this child. The rest of you should be ashamed of yourselves.
The SpEd student at Simmons was beaten on again today. Yes both yesterday and today.
Mechelle Patterson came down to the gym and immediately wanted to know where Mr. Rohlfs was and why he was not supervising the child. She immediately was trying to somehow blame Mr. Rohlfs for the child being abused again.
Another teacher had to explain to Ms. Patterson that Mr. Rolfs was in a classroom teaching health. They also had to explain to Patterson that they were in the gymnasium all alone watching all the students.
That is one teacher watching an obscene number of students in two different gyms and two locker rooms at the same time. An impossible task.
Mechelle doesn't know where her teachers are, she doesn't know or doesn't care that there is a completely unsafe situation going on in the gymnasiums every day and her only concern is how she can lay the blame on Mr. Rolfs.
It absolutely amazing that the board still supports these administrators. With everything that happened at the meeting last night, the only action the board took was to support the administrators suspension of Mr. Rolfs.
Meanwhile the abuse of children and the harrassment of teachers continues. It's only a matter of time before all this turns into lawsuits. The only question is How many lawsuits will be generated.
Zero is the answer to your stupid question.
The boy stood demurely in front of the East Aurora School Board on Monday night with tears in his eyes and a tissue in his hand.
After years of bullying, 12-year-old Jose, a Simmons Middle School special education student, had had enough, and he wanted something done about it.
When he came home from school Monday afternoon, the small, unassuming boy had a visible handprint on his back. He said he was smacked by a fellow student who told Jose and teachers that he was “just saying hi.”
“I didn’t believe him,” Jose told The Beacon-News after Monday night’s School Board meeting.
He also said he regularly is called names, hit and harassed, yet no one at the school has done anything about it.
Accident or assault?
In October, Jose’s shorts and boxers were pulled down during gym class by a boy who claimed the incident was merely an accident. The other boy claimed he had tripped, and when he fell, he grabbed onto Jose’s shorts by mistake.
Simmons Principal Mechelle Patterson never contacted Jose’s mother about the incident, and took two statements from the boy without a guardian present.
Jose’s family claims that statements made by the boy were tampered with, and that no disciplinary measures were taken against the alleged bully.
Last month, Jose’s aunt, Sylvia Carillo, approached the board about her nephew being bullied and school administrators’ mishandling of the situation. The family has pushed for the School Board to investigate the situation which they feel was handled improperly.
Case closed, bullying continues
On Jan. 31 Superintendent Jerome Roberts issued a letter to Carillo stating that the case was closed.
“It is the determination from the investigation that this matter has been handled in a timely and appropriate fashion and the matter is considered closed,” Roberts wrote.
The determination was made by administrative staff and legal counsel.
“The case is closed, but (the bullying) continues,” Carillo told the School Board on Monday, with her nephew by her side.
“Tell them what you told the doctor,” she said, directing a visibly shaken Jose.
“I want to kill myself because of the bullying,” he answered.
“He has been bullied all of this time, and the board hasn’t done anything about it,” Carillo said with anger in her voice. “ … If something happens to him, that’s on you.”
School Board President Annette Johnson said Tuesday that the district has put a $50,000 bullying prevention program into place, and training has been provided to students and teachers at the middle school level.
“It is very hard to sit there and listen to, but we’ve really taken hard stance on bullying,” Johnson said.
“From the board’s standpoint, we are addressing it,” Johnson said, citing the legal investigation of Jose’s case. “It’s a touchy … It’s a really difficult thing, and it’s hard to be in the hallways to protect every child.”
Boy shows courage
Following Jose’s heartfelt speech on Monday, he and Carillo quickly left the board room. As they left, they found the boy’s principal, Patterson, sitting silently just outside the room. As Jose and Carillo walked by, Patterson avoided eye contact and stared straight ahead.
Marin Gonzales, East Aurora’s assistant superintendent of secondary education, rushed out after the meeting to console Jose and his family. She applauded Jose for his courage, and said she would make sure plans would be put in place to help the bullied boy.
“He’s a good student, he has a disability, but he doesn’t need to be constantly picked on,” Carillo said. “If the principal won’t do something about it, (the board) needs to.”
Interesting article Marin Gonzalez claps.
Roberts writes in support of Patterson and Clayton is nowhere again to be found. It sounds like the band all over or could
Maybe Anette Johnson needs to review her and the boards duty to protect the students that attend 131. If I were her I would get a second opinion for some other legal counsel. Better yet, get control of the schools. East schools are a complete disaster. From their deplorable academic scores to their unsafe environments.
Hey Annette you may want to read this and share it with your second rate Board. Maybe "Nacho" can interpret it for you:
http://www.oyez.org/cases/1990-1999/1998/1998_97_843
Oh, yeah Annette you should share the link with your looser Aurora attorneys.
Whoever posted the article - I hope you get arrested, or at least fined - Now that the Sun Times Media Group has made their website a PAY website - taking and posting their articles for free, would probably be considered illegal.
There is a little thing called copyright. Now, just because you can get a certain amount of information for free does not mean you can go post it so everybody can get it for free all the time.
I suggest the Blog Administrator take down the article or maybe this blog could be sued.
Looking for an EA band concert to add to your calendar?
Well, the East Aurora Fine Arts department presents "Music From the Movies" on Thursday, February 23rd at 7pm in Hawks Auditorium.
Tickets are 2 dollars.
Songs include themes from Harry Potter, Pixar movies, Fantasia's Sorcerer's Apprentice, and many more!
Also, thanks to the schools amazing tech group, the concert will have projectors running clips from the movies.
Please, don't miss this amazing concert.
We're hoping to get at least 1000, so invite as many people as you can! The students are putting in a lot of time and you can see that practice is a huge priority with many students who already have busy schedules.
Get the word out! I hope to see you there!
!!!!!SIMMONS SUCKS!!!!!
Maybe the bullied boy can go to the band concert so that he can feel better after being abused all day at Simmons.
If a parent smack a child and left a mark on their body DCFS would investigate it. If someone hits another and leaves a mark then they where hit hard and to think someone just did it to say Hi does not belong in the teaching environment.
When you hear about what the students said that did it it does sound like administration is sticking up for the ones that do the bulling so much for the training.
The Board does need to look at that URL because it could happen to you.
Good article February 7, 2012 8:42 PM. Our district has bent many laws, hopefully they will be found to have let too much go too far this time and be held accountable.
"East schools are a complete disaster. From their deplorable academic scores to their unsafe environments."
I recall a Board member being harrassed for trying to bring the unsafe conditions (of students & teachers) to light.
Seems like the current Board remains in the dark to what truly goes on in the EA schools.
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