It's hard to believe, but there are only a few short weeks left in the 2011-2012 school year. As we wrap up another year, it's a good time to reflect on what went well over the past months and also how we can improve things in our district. Happy Spring, everyone!
252 comments:
1 – 200 of 252 Newer› Newest»Anybody notice the Beacon article today about the EHS alum making a movie? It takes place in the D131 neighborhoods, including East High.
The soccer coach at East High is leaving, and moving to Colorado.
About the change of bus service--did administration ask the PARENTS of the special ed kids for their input/experience/recommendation? If so, then maybe switching to a different bus company is worth a try. If not, then shame on D131 for once again giving parents the middle finger.
Many of the special Ed parents like myself complained. We are told the contract is with west and they administer it. Ms Latz is always very rude when resolving problems. We have told her the problem is with routes. They pick up kids from Fox Tech with Hope Wall kids. Fox Tech is a lock down facility and students who attend are very violent. When West was contacted they said well Rich Lee changed routes because of gas prices and they need to do this. Latz refused to remove students from the bus and said then provide your children with a ride to school. I wanted to thank the board last night but nobody informed us how to speak. There is a table in the back but when I came in I did not see it nor did I get a agenda. At the end the lady spoke and talked about all the problems and how Rich Lee put a lower price out than this year. The other companies is lower than what Rich Lee was charging this year. if they take Rich Lee because of that much lower price you can bet kids will get beat up worst and they will never put anyone other than the driver on the bus like a aid. I hope the school board does not even consider Rich Lee.
9:41 a.m., thanks for posting! We need to hear from parents like you, who have firsthand knowledge about this. Hopefully others will also speak up about their experience, both positive & negative.
Central Office news is Deanne Adams and Kathy Laetz are meeting with the Urban League tomorrow and they are being forced to find more students for Theodia (Jerome's) Landlord. West Aurora will no longer let their students attend due to a horrible education. When she was asked to make changes she refused because it would cost more money. They are not participating next year and East will send more kids.
Cathy knows now not to challenge this she saw first hand what became of Raquel
Something needs to be done. The other six do nothing Board members need to ask questions we know this is a pet organization of the Board President.
Hopefully, the board has learned that long term contracts for superintendents are the worst decision they can make. Their only true power is to threaten the superintendents job if he doesn't do what the board wants. If they start off by giving the superintendent a long term contract, they've essentially given away all their power for that length of time.
I know that people run yellow lights all the time and a ticket is given when the car is in the middle of the intersection when the light turns red. A richlee bus ran the yellow/red light this morning at on lake street Bad Example just saying
I take Eola in the morning and I see First Student do that also so Rich Lee is the only one to do that and I'm not standing up for them just saying this happens especially at busy intersections and the bus gets stuck because traffic has slowed down at the light.
And now our Board, full of people unaware of what it's REALLY like inside the school, has all the power. That's not smart either!
It seems we have administrators who don't know what is going on either. I hear Marin and Raquel have their resumes out all over and not a bite. Looks like the other school districts are smarter than ours for not getting stuck with them.
Well, one reason Marin might be having a hard time in her job search may be her résumé, which includes several grammatical errors:
http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=1&sqi=2&ved=0CDIQFjAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.browardschools.com%2Fsuperintendent%2Fresumes%2FGonzalez%2C%2520Marin%2520Resume.pdf&ei=gHyPT8_5JOru2gWe9oHzBA&usg=AFQjCNHzFqnMnR4U2XBebpPor_heVTYnag
Marin should loss the picture she comes across as the witch she is.
It shows how sloppy she is not only does she have typos but she did not even take the time to scan it neat. Actually it shows how off center she is
I notice that the EHS choir director position is no longer listed as available--was Mr. Stellmacher rehired for next year? I had heard that there were some issues with his certification not transferring from Wisconsin; hopefully that was cleared up & he will continue at East High. He had some big shoes to fill (replacing much-loved Ms. Nadel, who retired last spring), but when I heard his choir last weekend at the Fine Arts Festival they sounded good.
Something has to be done about the Urban League. It is true, Jerome rents from Theodia so that he has an East Side address:
http://www.co.kane.il.us/TaxAssessment/Treasurer.aspx?parcelnumber=1527108017&TaxYear=
This is a MAJOR conflict of interest. Thousands of our tax dollars are going to an organization that is robbing kids of a quality education!
How do you know that Roberts lives at
335 S LINCOLN AVE
AURORA, IL 60505-
IL is the most corrupt State in the US what makes you think anyone would do anything?
Saw this last night on Facebook:
Class of 2012's BRIAN NUNEZ received word this evening that he is one of a select group of students to receive the coveted scholarship that funds 100% of his education from undergraduate school to grad school to a doctoral program! WOW! THAT IS INCREDIBLE! ..... Brian, we are so proud of you! CONGRATULATIONS!!!!
One more Simmons product achieves, big-time!
Obsess much?
Negative, much??
I don't see how the phrase "obsess much" is negative.
Well, I don't see how 6:57 mentioning a Simmons graduate receiving an award is obsessive.
Well then you're stupid - The truth is you do see, but you just want to argue. So shut up.
So all those Simmons teachers & staff members who spoke up about the many GOOD things happening at that school must be "obsessed", too?
Maybe some of us are, indeed, obsessed; we're obsessed with mentioning the positive in our district, and encouraging our Simmons students & their families.
:)
Hey did anyone catch the Razzle Dazzle show last night at East High?
Word is that Wilson Morales is back at Simmons come Monday. So teachers who let the students go to the restroom without a pass or other nonsense and get suspended without pay but fighting a student off school grounds gets him administrative leave with pay. There is absolutey no confidence at Simmons from most of the teachers who put up with the threats and intimidation their. Will there ever be an end to this schools administration? Maybe if Patterson and Moralas beat up each other. I'm so glad that Joan Glodsbach and Jerome Roberts did their investigation.
I saw all those Simmons teachers and staff members who were part of the Razzle Dazzle Teacher Talent Show last night. The thing that struck me the most about their performance was that there were only two tenured teachers performing.
It was a strong indication to me that much of what has been said here about Simmons may be true. The administration in that building does not have the support of their teachers. The only way Simmons Administrators could put on their performance was to strong arm non-tenured teachers and staff members.
Who cares the tenure teachers need to go they are why the kids are not learning. They got hired years ago when the district could not find teachers and now we can't get rid of them
So now they were all "strong armed." Where did that tidbit of information come from.
The exact opposite could be said. That the tenured teachers are all boring and unmotivated and didn't want to do it.
Both statements are completely fabricated with little basis in reality.
More examples of this blog taking a fact - "most of the simmons razzle dazzle performers were non-tenured teachers" and then bending it into something that makes people look bad with gross exaggerations.
SHUT UP when you don't know anything.
I don't doubt that Wilson Morales will be allowed back to work at Simmons. If you remember, Wilson was not "Suspended WITH PAY" until 5 days after the district knew about his fight with a child. And then, only after the Aurora Beacon began asking questions. The district administrators had to make it look like there was a legitimate investigation occurring. Of course, everyone knows it's just one more coverup.
That's all you needed to see is the way administrators and board members celebrated Lisa Morales last night at the Razzle Dazzle Talent show. She received flowers, a plaque and the accolades of all. There was love and hugs all around for her. Does anyone really think there was any sort of real investigation regarding Wilson?
This is exactly why Simmons is so screwed up. The man is a sadistic little idiot who will try to destroy anybody he considers a threat. Many teachers have had to deal with his vindictive nature. Most teachers at Simmons are simply hiding in their rooms and hoping Patterson and Morales will be gone at the end of the year.
razzle dazzle was fabulous. Cowherd Middle School turned it out all the way. all of the administrators, tenured teachers, and new teachers who by the way choreographed it, were in the performance. they don't need lights or gimmicks they have the talent, enthusiasm and love! and the prove was in their performance. We better see them on Red and Black Day! You guys rock!
I couldn't care less whether my daughter's teachers performed at Razzle Dazzle. It's an optional, fun evening for those who like to do that sort of thing & are talented at singing or dancing.
My daughter's teachers are doing a good job teaching her, and that's what is important to me.
Razzle Dazzle is a great way to gauge a buildings, school spirit and morale. Last night showed the contrast between schools. Cowherd and Simmons were just the most stark difference.
Simmons was represented by just the principal and a few, mostly non-tenured staff and there were just a few people in the audience cheering for them.
When Cowherd took the stage, there were dozens of staff including all three administrators, and teachers and staff of every level. All these people volunteered their time and their joy and enthusiasm was not just evident but overflowing. They had hundreds of Cowherd Students in the audience cheering them on.
Even to somebody walking in for the first time, the contrast was evident. Cowherd is obviously the better school and the place I would prefer to send children. It's clear that awesome things are happening in that building.
If the Central Office and Board truly want our schools to excel, they should be looking at what Cowherd is doing. They are clearly doing a outstanding job.
To: April 21, 2012 8:35 PM
You stated "My daughter's teachers are doing a good job teaching her, and that's what is important to me." What evidence are you using to support your statement?
According to the State of Illinois, Aurora East School District 131 is in the bottom 5% for schools in the state. Simmons Middle School has been failing and on the State Watch List for the past 12 years.
If you have evidence to the contrary, we could use some good news here.
I said that MY daughter is receiving a good education at Simmons. I do realize that there are problems at Simmons, and that ALL our district's middle schools (as well as the high school) have been on the "watch list" for some time now. But my daughter's achievement test scores are in the 85% range. I also know several other families whose kids went to Simmons and are high achievers at East (another example that hasn't been mentioned here is Mauricio Palma).
A good education is a partnership: the students, teachers, parents, and community all have to do their part. I cannot speak for all Simmons parents, but I can tell you that MY daughter is getting a good education there!
Cowherd has had some excellent sports teams this year--let's see how many of those kids end up playing at EHS.
But there are a LOT of discipline problems at Cowherd.
Parents are the root of every problem. If you look at the successful kids in 131 most, almost all of them will have good parents who support them and are chenking in with them.
There aren't nearly as many discipline problems at Cowherd and Waldo as there are at Simmons. The difference is that the discipline problems are swept under the rug at Simmons. At Simmons, you have administrators go to faculty meetings and chastise teachers for writing referrals. The Simmons administrators also throw referrals in the garbage or simply not assign discipline as they did with the SpEd kid Jose Vega. It then appears to the board that discipline is improving when, in reality, it is actually much worse.
At Cowherd and Waldo, we are not having student fights 3 or 4 times a week. We don't have students assaulted (physically or sexually) and then have administrators hiding the evIdence. Only Simmons has an administrator who has assaulted a child.
Someone here keeps trying to state that Simmons is just as good as the other middle schools in this district but it simply isn't true. I can only guess that it is a Simmons administrator posting in a desperate attempt to keep their job.
why is east sending more kids to the urban league school? WEST IS PULLING OUT and east sends more? Annette Johnson could care less about the kids. Its all about doing favors for the mayor weiner(who as you might know is kickin it with THELESPIE. Little does she know that she is just a pawn in the mayors game. Johnson is such a fool.
I believe in all the schools there are students that excel there is no doubt about that. You still have to watch for the things that aren't going right. Some on here go a little over board with their statements but should the community turn their heads when something is wrong. We need to praise the good and fix the bad.
cowherd performance wise is the worst middle school and should not be since it was the lowest percentage of kids in the bilingual. Simmons students score better. If you are measuring school sprite how about the schools like Bardwell,Beuprue, and Oak Park that did not have a act at all. Mike Smith is always given credit for his school morale. then why not a act. Your position is flawed.
Central office news source is Raquel Wilson false rumor was given to her and it got posted
Cowherd feels the need to bash Simmons because they are inferior. Simmons is the better school and it is obvious. Instead of bashing Simmons maybe your energy should be put into improving your school.
Everyone needs to come and speak against the Urban League contract in May. Rumor is it will be larger so East Aurora can give the monies that West will not be spending to the Gillespe. Gillespe needs this to keep her doors open.
Adams and Laatz had been given marching orders and will be putting a large increase of students in a program that produces no results. West Aurora demanded change but East will not go along because of Roberts lease. A student was killed because they lost track of him last year. Morales was beaten up and whether you agree with Morales or not the student showed no respect to a adult. This student was also bullying children along with two others from the Urban League. It has become a gathering place for students that do not belong in the school system. Why should the d131 residents pay over $700,000 for this.
It seems Anie Thompson & Bob Gonzalez husband of loser Marin Gonzalez and West Aurora Board members should worry about their District and employment of Superintendent Rydland.
After obtaining court documents on Steve Orland it appears Rydland knew he was sexually harassing students as reported in the Daily Herald
Among the allegations, according to court documents:
Ÿ Orland exchanged 31,339 text messages with one of his accusers and 15,552 text messages with his other accuser — a total of 46,891.
Ÿ Orland sent one victim nine notes and greeting cards to her locker and to her home. Some notes said he was thinking of her and wanted to spend more time together. An Illinois State Police handwriting expert will testify that the writing on the cards is from Orland.
Ÿ Orland made sexual advances toward one girl while on a band trip to Peoria from Jan. 26 through Jan. 29, 2011. The girl had problems with her instrument and went to Orland's hotel room, which he was sharing with another male faculty member who was gone at the time. Orland made sexual advances toward the girl, who was worried the other teacher might return unexpectedly. Orland sent his co-worker a text to find out his whereabouts. He also sent the girl texts that said “I want to kiss you now” and “I want you now” and took a picture of the two in bed together, according to court documents.
Ÿ On May 5, 2011, a teacher tried to open the door to the band storage room, but someone pulled it shut. She tried again and after it opened, found a “disheveled” Orland and one of the victims standing behind him. The girl “immediately looked away” and the teacher reported what happened.
Ÿ A janitor on July 6, 2010, saw Orland hugging a blonde-haired student in the band storage room. As the janitor approached, Orland ran away. The janitor told his supervisor, and the complaint eventually reached District 129 Superintendent Jim Rydland, who had a meeting with Orland and prohibited him from being alone with any female student or risk termination.
If Rydland had been doing his job girls would have not been sexually abused. Also remember Orland was the person Marin and Joe Harmond wanted to replace K. Thanks to a group of parents that did not happen
9:18 pm is right. This is a good gauge, although not scientifically tested or the only way to gauge a building's moral. Did anyone notice the buildings that were missing. Says volumes.
Maybe buildings were missing because Razzle Dazzle is stupid and pointless and forces teachers to act stupid in front of the community.
Guess what, not everybody likes to be on stage in the spot light. Some of us just like to do our job and be left alone.
To: April 22, 2012 8:08 AM
You stated "Simmons students score better".
If you knew and spoke to staff members from Simmons, you would know that the administrators at Simmons have a long history of playing with the numbers. They are constantly fabricating numbers in an attempt to make Simmons appear better than it is.
If you think that it is only Simmons discipline numbers that they are falsifying, you are only fooling yourself. Simmons Teachers, for years have wondered why the Simmons Administrators have had a particular counselor locked in the room where the ISAT Tests are stored for a week after testing is completed. The only thing teachers are allowed to see is the man entering and leaving the room. It's very suspicious with him coming and going with large amounts of pencils and erasers.
If there was ever a real investigation at Simmons, the State would probably shut the place down.
First of all., its up to parents to make sure kids go to class; even at the urban league. What students do when they are not in that facility is and never has been their job to police. No weapons make inside their building. I recall a gun being found at waldo. If the school district take those students back what building has the space . The district will have hire more staff with benefits ,for a lifetime. These are kids who have broken serious rules and end up in the alternative program. THey do not belong in the building with students trying to learn. Even when west pulls out those students will not be going back in their buildings. 204,308,129 and every district have programs outside their buildings. Those programs are for students who may take advantage of a second chance. West had another provider for years called the Equity group and they were awful, they had it in the old Equipto building . If the kids dont go anywhere they will e committing crimes.
7:59 p.m., don't think it's only Simmons administration that has changed or influenced test results! I remember several years ago when the Dieterich principal got into trouble for "tweaking" achievement test scores. The thing is, except for that incident things were generally working well at Dieterich (my kids went there & got a good educational foundation).
Hopefully now that "No Child Left Behind" is being phased out, there will be less emphasis on just teaching to the test--and less temptation for admins to falsify the scores.
If students are not learning at any school , it begins at home and ends in the classroom. Reading this blog lets me know what the students deal with in the classroom daily. You can only control your attitude; not who the principal is. Please do your best and move on. The reality is that Mrs Patterson can be replaced but some of the teachers need to be fired as well,
The Dieterich Principal was terminated for "tweaking" achievement test scores. That is what should have happened. No one is expecting that all will be perfect. There will be individuals who fail us. There are human failings in all of us. It only becomes a serious issue when those in power cover it up.
It's a simple concept, all employees should be held to the same basic standards.
We should not be hearing about the Wilson Morales' and Bob Green's. We shouldn't have a Wilson Morales keeping his position just because his wife is the superintendent's secretary (When any other employee would have been terminated) nor should we have a Bob Green terminated because of a minor incident just because he had challenged illegal activities by the administration in the past.
Either the rules apply to everyone equally or to nobody. The multi-tiered justice system in this district needs to be abolished.
Annette
Why are the East side taxpayers paying to send kids the Urban League? Why? The programs there are a complete failure. WEST is pulling out so why are you sending more there? Did the mayor ask you too to help his girlfriend Theodia? Your duty is to the taxpayers and children of 131, not the Mayor. But we doubt you care.
Here's a link to a Beacon article about an awards ceremony this Thursday evening, to celebrate "unsung heroes" of our community. Our district has nominated Clayton Muhammad for this award (yes, he's a hero to many of our youth; however, he is anything BUT "unsung"--his face, statements, and presence are constantly front & center in our community).
He is being recognized for founding Boys II Men, an anti-gang organization for young men. One thing that stands out to me is the fact that the word "fraternity" is NOT mentioned, nor have I seen that word in any B2M publicity for several months. This is a good thing, because fraternities & sororities are illegal for Illinois high school students.
beaconnews.suntimes.com/news/11965600-418/compassion-foundation-honors-areas-unsung-heroes.html
Something must be done about the Urban League, they are toxic to our community. They cost us as taxpayers in 131 hundreds of thousands of dollars each year.
The only reason we're still using them (from insider information) is because Theodia has Jerome wrapped around her finger (she's his landlord and apparently lover).
Something must be done!
Where is the video from the Razzle Dazzle Talent Show. The district web site states that videos are posted within 24 hours of an event. We want to see it.
10:53 a.m., not every event is videotaped--but you can see 209 photos of "Razzle Dazzle" here:
http://www.facebook.com/EastAuroraSchoolDistrict131
East and West will both be back at the Urban League this year because of the City they pay both Districts to use this program. The Districts pay as well but the City makes sure they use them by paying.
Why are the programs a failure and please give a comparable. Stop slandering people with no justifiable reason except hate. Give some detail not just general statements. Have you had direct contact i.e. x employee
The district cover up is complete. Wilson Morales returned to work yesterday. What was the consequence? They give the man an extra week of paid vacation (They call it Paid Administrative Leave) on the tax payers dime.
The timing is strange but some kid last week walked up to Mr. Green and first tried to give him a high five. Mr. Green declined (with the district administrators out to get him, he tries to avoid all contact with kids, even the positive reinforcement kind). The child apparently had a mouthfull of water which they then spit directly into Mr. Green's face. The child wasn't mad, they simply thought this was funny.
Unlike Wilson Morales, Mr. Green didn't start a fight with the kid. He didn't take the kid to the ground and he didn't throw punches at the child. Mr. Green simply called for support and the child was taken to the office and assigned a five day suspension.
I can't help but wonder what the results would have been if the situations had been reversed. Can you imagine what would have happened if it was Mr. Green who started a fight with a child off school grounds? Mr. Green would have been terminated and arrested on the spot and it would have been the administrators calling the cops, not the child's parents.
According to the recent board agenda, the board dealt with no employee discipline issues. Apparently, the administration cleared one of their own. It will be interesting to hear how the district administrators try to defend their decision when the video is made public. It will also be interesting how the board justifies not having a meeting regarding this situation.
Of course we all know what their answer will be.
The matter is closed. We make no comments on personnel matters.
And once again the district will demonstrate to the community the enormous vertical strength of their middle finger.
I'm starting to doubt there is such a video. These kind of videos usually hit the internet even before things are reported, let alone investigated. It's been how long and still no video has been released?
There is no video just lies, no posts on Facebook other than Mr Morales got beat up. Anie needs to ask her her Superintenent how he could get a complaint and return Orland back to the class seems like a little cover up of their own in 2010. Think of the girls that could have been spared if Dr Rydland had done his job. Only in d131 will a former Board member run a blog of lies and get by with it
Whether or not there was a video, there were definitely eyewitnesses. And those eyewitnesses reported what they saw & heard.
And 10:35 a.m. has an interesting definition of the word "lies". Instead of a lie being something that is untrue, 10:35 thinks lies are verifiable FACTS that they don't happen to like, or that haven't been sufficiently swept under the rug.
Mechelle Patterson at Simmons believes there is a video and she knows at least one kid who has a copy. She has had the same kid in the office at least a dozen times. Most of the time with the building police officer in the room with them.
They have been demanding the video and telling the child that it has to be erased because it was illegal for him to have recorded it.
Truth be told, the only ones breaking the law are Mechelle Patterson and the school resource officer. If they are questioning a child for an activity that they consider illegal, the child's parents should have been notified and the parents should have been in the school/police interview to protect the interests of a minor.
It really is amazing the depths the Simmons Administrators will stoop to protect their own. They don't give a damn about the kids or their education, they only care about themselves.
The problem being, 10:47, is that I'VE never spoken to a witness, no witness has been named here, and probably no one on this blog has ever spoken to an eyewitness. And then at 11:51 comes more of the same. They'd have you believe they're a credible witness. I guess they sit outside Patterson's office all day counting how many times each person comes in and who's in the room. And then they've been secretely recording what goes on the room so they can tell us what was said.
The biggest problem here is that this blog is such a mix of truth, gossip, and lies, you can't sort them all out. Basically so much hate-filled gossip is spewed, it essentially destroys the credibility of everything on this blog. Making it for entertainment purposes only (i.e. not for learning what's going on).
10:06
Yes there are witnesses some being parents and they stated the kid attacked Morales. Now we know a video does not exist. What school resource officer would put himself on the line and tell a child erase evidence. The resource officer works and is paid for by the city and has a very active police union to back him. So again would he put himself on the line for Wilson. I think not. Anie you need to look at the West Side of town.
Who is Anie and why should she look at the West Side of town do they misuse taxpayers money?
It's not Anie with an N. It's Amie with an M. The ladies name is Amie Thompson and she teaches science at Simmons Middle School. She is also on the West Aurora School Board.
Actually she misuses d131 money Anie was given 8 paid days off because Rydland asked Roberts to give her time off to attend D129 events. Who loses the children of : d131 since they get a sub. Anie writes all the dirt at Simmons since she carried a grudge that she did not become asst principal. That's our Anie
I think that was a attempt to hide or cover the true name ooop's maybe maybe 2:32 knows
what fun
Speaking of FUN--
The Aurora Dia de los Niños celebration will be this Saturday, April 28th from 1-5:00 p.m. at the Aurora Transportation Center parking lot (the same area where the Farmers Markets are held in the summer, on the corner of Spring Street).
Activities & displays are planned for kids of all ages, and the weather forecast looks to be great.
Come and enjoy :)
Here is something from ISBA I hope they look into our district since we haven't made AYP for nine years.
Message From State Superintendent Christopher A. Koch
I will soon send notification to the local school boards in North Chicago and East St. Louis that the Illinois State Board of Education intends to remove the locally elected boards and replace them with an “independent authority.”
The School Code gives the State Board this authority in situations where a school district has not made Adequate
Yearly Progress for seven consecutive years; however I am of the mind that the State Board needs to exercise this authority carefully. With the two school districts in question, the State Board initially entered into intergovernmental agreements with the districts to promote a collaborative and supportive approach to intervention. Based on our experiences in these districts since the interventions began, we can no longer accept the involvement of the local boards. The local boards, prior to any action of removal, will be able to make their case to remain in place before the State Board.
This conclusion has been difficult, because these are locally elected officials selected to represent their communities and I know the importance and challenges of their voluntary work. Should the local boards be removed, I will work to ensure that both these communities still have a strong voice in running their schools, looking first locally for a pool of candidates to assume control under a new independent authority. Again, I simply do not believe the best interests of students can be served by allowing the current boards to remain.
Roberts could of said no to Rydland and doesn't she have paid time off anyway.
I wonder if D129 when they go to conferences and have a dinner if they pay for adult drinks like D131 does. Or administrators have a working lunch for one that the district pays for or retreats at golf clubs.
To: April 25, 2012 8:46 AM
That was a loud and clear message from the State Board of Education to all school boards. Your choice is just an illusion, you have no real control. School boards are only there to deflect blame away from those who are really making the decisions. You will follow the program we dictate you follow, or else.
The reason the State hasn't stepped in here is because we have a rubber stamp YES board. The State is in control. If the District 131 Board actually started to show a spine and start making decisions for themselves, their time would be short lived as well.
Welcome to America!!!!!
The State really hasn't stepped into anything like this for awhile and if you read why they did that you would understand. Last year in East St. Louis the replaced the Superintendent first and change must not of happened for them to do this. The abuse came from citizen going to the media with things that they FIOA'd and found that some on the board was misusing money by going to conferences that didn't apply to them and bring family members. So this doesn't happen very often.
Here is an article about North Chicago Schools and why the State made their decision to do what they did.
http://www.wbez.org/story/state-overrides-local-school-board-orders-charter-school-opened-north-chicago-97343
Here is the article about East St. Louis School District and it seems the State has the students best interest in mind.
Funny you should ask about the d129 board Anie can tell you they all just spent the weekend in Boston. All seven members. . This blog and Anie are so critical of everything the district does. Sounds like they are trying to hide the financial mis management to their side of town.
I saw all the six of the d131 board members Friday nite so sounds like none of them went to Boston
Charter schools are nothing more than a way for politicians to divert public monies to their crony private business partners. North Chicago is an extreme example where the State Superintendent has disenfranchised all the voters in North Chicago by superceeding the elected board's decision and imposing his will upon the citizens of that community.
The people of that community should be looking into legal action against the State of Illinois. The majority of money that goes to most schools districts comes from local taxes. The State Superintendent has effectively come into a community and dictated that they must spend their tax dollars on his business allies. This has to be illegal.
Craig Rhodes resigned yeah... But Adam Hardy is only interested in this job as a stepping stone.
Just like this board and administration spends two days in Chicago every year for The Title One Conference where it only goes to around 5pm every evening and they could come home every night and they bring someone on the districts dime. I don't believe it's Amie posting things I know I have about D129.
Charter Schools do well and there are a lot out there. They also don't spend as much on education and the students are not on watch list. Also, the money is watched more than in regular districts because community members watch over it.
West Aurora spends time the night in Chicago as well I know I saw Anie there. Anie is the one behind Simmons Sucks.
Who is Adam Hardy?
To: April 25, 2012 5:11 PM
You stated "Charter Schools do well and there are a lot out there. They also don't spend as much on education and the students are not on watch list. Also, the money is watched more than in regular districts because community members watch over it".
Where are you getting your information from? Every study I have every seen regarding charter schools shows the opposite of everything you stated.
Nationally, only 17% of charter schools can show any improvement over their public school couterparts and the rest actually perform the same or worse. One of the main complaints people have with charter schools is that large amounts of money are funneled into them (much of this money never reaches the classrooms) leaving much less money for the public school systems they come from.
What I have seen, once they become a charter school, teachers and the public lose all say in education. Teachers lose tenure and therefor their voice in the children's education.
I have seen no evidence that supports your claim that the children are no longer on the watch list.
If you have verifiable research to support your claims, please show us the reports.
It amazes me that all of the decent professional people won't say what they all know to be true.
Everyone at Simmons knows 95% of this blog comes from John McGary. He uses Chuck Rolfs as his pasty... it's easy, as Chuck goes screaming down the hall, "Hey watch the Blog tonight." The open hatred for the adminstration comes up in faculty meetings and in front of everyone everywhere.
Why do you think they are so tight with Green. Unfortunately, the "horrible" adminstration doesn't let them teach gym while sitting in their office chairs any more. Boo hoo. How'd you like your kids gym teacher to do that?
They spend every evening on the computer, trying to get their bosses fired. They can't achieve anything, so their jealousy drags everyone who has down. I don't know why they can't get fired for it.
Really sad that is actually all they have in their lives.
You saw her?
That makes you a board member, an admin, a stalker or a liar.
The Urban League school is a shame outfit run by the Mayor of aurora's girlfriend. East AND West should pull out of it. Has it proven to work? Could tax dollars be better spent?
So April 25, 2012 7:47 PM you are either someone on the board or in administration and must have a grudge against Amie since D129 is a better district. I do not believe she is the one behind Simmons Sucks because you have many that don't like how it is ran and only stand behind the administration their. We can only hope if the district doesn't make ATP this year the State does it's job and come here and clean house.
The North Chicago District's problems started thanks to Uncle Sam. The feds decided how much per pupil from the Navy base they'd give the Northo Chicago schools, and it was LESS than the cost of educating them. Some cities have enough money they can absorb this, but North Chicago is very poor. And the North Chicago schools have become so bad, that everyone being assigned to the base is now living off base in one of the surrounding communities with better schools.
Charter schools are a mixed bag. Some do much better than public schools, some about the same, and some even worse. It's really hard to compare, because it's like apples and oranges. Basically the big shots recognize the public school isn't performing, almost always because of the requirements they put on the schools, so they allow a charter school to set up shop and allow them to set the curriculum and do things in ways they won't let the public schools. Some of the charter schools have a lot of community input, and some almost none. Some are actually run by corporations, so of course they watch how every dollar is spent.
In reading the stats for E. St. Louis they have 65% low income and and 46% Hispanic and have been in School Improvement 6 years. Our district is 79% low income and 83% Hispanic and 8 years in School Improvement. It looks like we are worse off than them and yet the State doesn't step in here.
Blog Administrator_- PLEASE remove my two comments!! I don't think they are posted yet. I mentions gym teachers at Simmmons and the other xalls someone a stalker. I swore i'd never stoop to posting and I am. Really having an attack of conscience!
THANKS
Those Stats are for North Chicago not E. St. Louis.
If it's true that a lot of these posts are from Amie Thompson and John McGary, this should be a strong indicator of the issues at Simmons. These people are not your normal haters sitting on the sidelines just complaining. They are pillars of the community. Amie Thompson is a board member on the West Aurora Board. John McGary has been Vice President of the Fox Valley Park District Board for years.
What does it say about the administration at Simmons if people like these can find no recourse other than this blog to express their concerns?
Something is seriously flawed at the administrative level at Simmons if this is really true.
Blog Adiministrator- PLEAsE remove 9:03 and 8:24 pm! They are mine and I wasn't thinking. I dont want to be hurtful. Othecomments areas in the Beacon and such give you opportunities to remove posts if you have a stupid moment.
Thanks!
Here's a link to an article about charter schools, and how they are able to screen out undesirable students:
http://www.newhavenindependent.org/index.php/archives/entry/mirror_charters_do_cherry-pick/
And 10:25 a.m., why don't you think/proofread/sober up before you post? It isn't the blog admin's job to second guess or fix your mistakes.
Better watch it blog master because you are monitoring the content of the blog and still posting gossip and lies you are approving of these lies.
Example Gillespe is a girlfriend of the Mayor.
Both are married and not having a affair so it will not too long before they own your house and Caterpillar Pension from a lawsuit.
It person asking you to edit is just laying a trap for you to prove you are editing
No one said anyone was "having an affair". A girlfriend CAN be just a pal who happens to be female, unless someone interprets it to be sexual--it is not necessarily an affair.
Now if you'll excuse me, I'm off to the mall to do some shopping with a couple of my girlfriends!
:)
Isn't that the purpose of The Magnet School really to screen out undesirable students? I have no problem with that if the students that want to learn get a chance to sit in a classroom without distraction.
I am glad to hear that being on a Park district board that that is appointed and not elected makes one a upstanding citizen. Im sure he will enjoy both pensions. Likewise getting elected to a school board for the first time automatically makes you righteous then what about the individuals whom are being destroyed by some; people who have achieved higher heights over longer periods of time. Are the board members at d131 righteous and upstanding as well? . The Urban League under Ms Gillespe has contributed more to this community than all the board members on both sides of town combined (my opinion). The Alternative school is just one area of their community involvement. Oh yes ,there is no TRS , tenure, 300 plus sick days, arbitration, double digit holidays and they get to work with the kids most of the teachers and administrators want nothing to do with. Im still waiting for the facts about the lousy program.
"They are pillars of the community." ???????
LOL. No more so than any other member of the community.
Sure some of the kids at the Urban League have problems that can not be corrected by the time they get them in 7th and 8th grade. The Urban League offers a second chance and I believe every child deserves that. Also the Urban League provided over 1.2 million in savings by setting up Special Ed classrooms kids now don't get outsourced to Joliet a good thing for families to keep loved ones close to home. It also saves the tax payer I think the board/district is doing a great job
It sounds like the district is going to a charter school by opening the Magnet Acedemy at College Ave . The only difference is a Charter School is not run by union teachers it is run by people who are in education because they want to be they dont get the 300 sick days, pensions and other perks.
To bad our district does not just say here Charter School come in and the city sell their building to them . No e have to spend money making a Magnet School for the same bad teachers.
It sounds to me like you are getting the teachers that no other district wanted. Ant teacher worth their salt is going to find a teaching position where they are compensated for their hard work. The only people who would take jobs where they they are not compensated and treated poorly are those without a choice.
It's very simple. You get what you pay for, you rarely get more than you pay for. It's a reality throughout the world. For some reason, in this country, there are certain delusional people who actually believe that they will receive better service by paying teachers less, removing their pensions and few protections.
You must be part of the 1% who want nothing more than to take the last scraps away from the masses.
As a life long resident of this school district I am not happy with the quality of education D131 has to offer. I will not blame the teachers. Most of those I have had the pleasure of meeting, are sincerely here for the students. They do the best they can inspite of the programs & processes that are implemented by the superintendents of schools.
10:48 a.m. says:
"Any teacher worth their salt is going to find a teaching position where they are compensated for their hard work"
What planet are you living on, 10:48 a.m.? In this economy, jobs are hard to find (for teachers as well as most others). A recent college graduate is LUCKY to get a full-time position in his/her field of expertise. Many live with their parents & take part-time or temporary jobs, sometimes not even in their field of study. That is the REALITY in 2012.
And some excellent teachers take a less-paying teaching job because it's the only one available at the time, then stay (sometimes for decades!) because they fall in love with the kids and want to make a positive difference. My son & daughter were fortunate to have several such teachers in D131, and I will be eternally grateful to them!
It's not Adam Hardy, it's Harding.
Adam Harding is a 5th grade teacher at Krug the smallest building. He has no idea what it is to work at Simmon,Waldo, Bardwell, Hermes or Johnson. These are large building with Principals that care more about kissing up to central office than their teachers, a toxic environment exists in these buildings.
Harding works for one of the better Principals in the district and because of her Krug has shown the better improvement. It shows when a Principal works with her staff good things happen. Very little central office administration gets pushed their way. We are asked to change lesson plans in the middle of the day if Dr Aird is in the building socializing with the Principal. After changing these lesson plans most of the time we don't see her.
However when Rhodes resigned he called a meeting and gave members less than 24 hours to decide if they wanted to run. Rhodes stood up and endorsed Harding a announced e would be taking his place. He also said Harding would end up in a bigger spot someday. Which shows Harding is already looking to advance himself like his mother did in Yorkville.
It's not the School Boards fault or the administrators that we are not treated fairly it is the unions
We should have had a union president that worked in a real building. He seems like a climber to me
I have met Harding and he seems like a person concerned for a fair wage and contract. A big problem within many unions is the members. They expect the reps to be mind readers and magicians.
It is up to the members to keep their union reps informed of any issues. If anyone feels Harding is not aware of big building issues...educate him, teachers!
It is the teachers fault if they elect a rep who is in cahoots with the admin. It is ideal to have a good rapport with admin for negotiating purposes, but not to kowtow to their wishes.
One of the job positions advertised on the D131 website is "Fine Arts Accompanist". Mrs. Suzanne Allen has been the accompanist for the EHS music department for more than 15 years, and she is retiring this spring.
Mrs. Allen has been a wonderful asset to East High and to our district. She is a gracious, Christian lady who has always gone above & beyond what was required, encouraging our kids and bringing out their best.
I'd like to say "thank you" to Mrs. Allen, and wish her the best in her retirement. She is leaving some BIG shoes to fill!
I've taught in the district for decades. I did not vote for Adam Harding, nor did any of the other teachers. We have not even been informed by the union that Craig Rhodes is resigning, let alone that Adam Harding is taking his place.
The only time the union communicates with it's members is when there is an election and they want our vote or if they are communicating bad news from the district like in January when the district took away our Blue Cross/ Blue Shield insurance.
The teachers have not been part of negotiations at all and anytime we ask, we are told nobody is talking.
The last two times the teachers voted on their contract it was summer. One was on the last day for teachers after we were dismissed for the summer and the other was in the middle of the summer. Many teachers never even received the message that a vote was going to occur and many others were out of town and therefor unable to vote.
Then there is the way the vote is managed. The teachers vote by placing paper ballots in a cardboard box (no tally is made while the teachers are present as should happen) The box is then stored out of sight for many hours until, in secret board session, the votes are supposedly counted and the vote tallies released.
Nothing is done with any transparency. There are multiple levels where corruption can occur. No other votes in this country are handled this way. Even Chicago Politicians would be impressed with the corruption in District 131.
Don't forget when Bob French tried running for union president. It was the only time the position has been challenged. The union was forced to run a second election because when a judge reviewed how the vote was handled in this district, he declared it illegal.
The corruption never changes in District 131. It's continual and only hits brief speed bumps when it's challenged legally. Of course don't forget, it was only a short time later when the district administrators terminated Bob French. And the corruption rolls merrily on.
While it is known to some in this district that the union refused to represent Bob Green in his termination hearing, it has not been made public to all. The EEOC reviewed the Bob Green termination and determined that the union did not represent Bob Green as they were obligated to do.
The EEOC further determined that the union must come to a settlement agreement with Bob Green (Bob Green incurred significant legal fees that would not have been necessary if the union had done their job) and MUST INFORM THE UNION MEMBERSHIP THAT THE UNION DID NOT REPRESENT A UNION MEMBER WHEN THEY WERE OBLIGATED TO DO SO.
This was decided by the EEOC months ago. What has the union done so far: NOTHING. Bob Green now has to take the union to court and have a judge enforce the ruling.
Don't kid yourself. Our union is just as corrupt as our administration. That is why the teachers in District 131 are amongst the lowest paid teachers in the six county area and the contract provides no protections that aren't already dictated by Illinois Law.
The AFT does not represent it's members, at least not in District 131.
I have nothing against Mr Harding I am upset with the process. Craig Rhodes should have notified everyone and given everyone at least a week to decide if hey wanted to run. Not just appointed Mr Harding by endorsing him and giving less than away to decide. How about the people that are not reps the word has not filtered out to many that he is leaving. Mr Harding will always be under a cloud of suspicion now. Also could he have not waited until the contract was settled. He made several decision without informing anyone. If I am Harding I would not want to be elected that way. It speaks to his character if he takes the job
Harding mother was a Union President in Yorkville before selling out and going to be a Prinicipal. Some say she used her position to advance her career at the expense of teachers.
The story of the Harding family is mom was union pres like Rhodes before becoming a Principal and was a under handed . She sold teachers out but was also a friend of Hettinger. I have teacher friends who works in Yorkville and will verify this.
Hettinger helped her three kids get jobs at d131. That right three of them so do you think they won't kiss up to admin. They are at Krug, Odonnell , and Cowherd. To many of one family for our district if you ask me. But that is our union.
Now they tell us again they will not negotiate this summer if they can't get a deal. That's bad news for the teachers because new rules make it difficult strike so that means we will have a contract shoved down our butt.
Adam never came to meeting and was never active until now. So we all know Craig and Carla picked him. Why do we pay dues. sorry about being all over the place on letter I am so angry I can't write.
Roberts and Dick Manley the real head of the Union are friends they date back to Joliet and Dick gave Roberts many letters of recommdations in his sorry career
Rhodes was asked at our last meeting about negotiations and he stated he can not talk about it. Why, they are representing us. It will be another deal like the insurance.
We have nobody to blame but ourselves because we allow the Union to be run this way. The teachers are as bad as the parents in this District they never get involved and it is a race to see who gets out the building fast enough.
I will make a prediction we will work more hours and get the same raise Aird already told everyone the days are getting longer.
The AFT can be replaced. That's all it takes is for somebody to start a petition for the removal of the AFT in District 131. 30% of the teachers in the district would need to sign it. This shouldn't be too difficult as 30% of the teachers in District 131 are not union members but rather fair share members.
Once a petition with 30% of the teachers signing it is accomplished, a vote must be taken with the entire membership. That's all it takes is a simple majority of teachers to vote the AFT out. Just 50% +1.
Something to seriously think about.
I just will not vote but the sad part is the way Rhodes arranged this Harding and his two siblings would just have to vote for him and he would win. Many people in my building never vote because of the corruption of Rhodes . Did you ever hear him talk he gives teachers in his District a bad name he can not even form a grammical sentence. Harding will be no different.
The question isn't whether the school day will be longer. It will be longer. I heard that from a school board member. The question is whether or not the school district is going to fairly compensate the teachers for their added work or will we be striking like Chicago Public is sure to do.
In Chicago, the school board expects the teachers to work a 25% longer day for a 2% raise. They aren't even giving the teachers a fair cost of living increase but expect the teachers to work 25% more for it. It's obscene.
I have already been thinking up signs to make for when we strike. I have also started putting some money away to tide me over in case the strike last a month or more.
I hope the district parents have started to think about daycare as a strike is very possible.
New State laws make it very hard for teachers to strike and try to get people in this job market to feel sorry for teachers. Anyway the people who send their kids to 131 don't vote that why people like Mary Fultz get elected. The tax paying residents are angry they pay for the undocumented.
The mayor of Aurora ruined the schools look at what he just did the other day buying the Elks Club another building off the tax roles. As a resident if I could sell my house I would so I better not see the school board giving major raises. I work for a large company had to pay my education, had to pay my masters just to keep my job, had my insurance increased and have had NO raise for three years, I have had to watch my 401k disappear because my corporation lost many jobs to China. Get real teachers you deserve nothing. You also only work about 5 1/2 hours a day. I am not paid to prepare my lesson. I work at work then at home just to keep up that ais the real world.
Hey 4:39, I understand that this is just a blog, and sometimes we all make minor errors and typos, but the one time you should make sure that YOU spell everything correctly and use proper grammar is when you're commenting about somebody else. The word is "grammatical".
To: April 30, 2012 8:21 AM
The new state laws made it more difficult for teachers in the Chicago Public Schools to strike (A decision that can easily be overturned in court as it does not apply to everyone equally. You can't make laws for one specific group and other laws for the rest). The new strike law does not apply to any other teachers in the State of Illinois.
In fact, Illinois laws protect the teachers right to strike. Teachers can not be fired for striking. And since the school year must be 180 days long, teacher will not lose any pay. It will simply be delayed during the strike.
I'm sorry your job and life sucks but that doesn't mean the whole rest of the world should suffer with you. That is the life you chose, deal with it, change it or find a different career.
If your employer came to you today and said "You need to work an extra hour or two every day" I would expect you to be compensated for it. Only an idiot would agree to work more time for free.
As and educator and resident on the East Side, I say we strike. We need to show our lovely school board that they cannot bully us around and chief bully Annette Johnson needs to be put in her place. Our teachers are so grossly underpaid (especially when looking at 129 and 204), we've got to stand up for what's right and fairly compensating your employees is the right thing to do!
You don't deserve more money if my company produced the failure rate you do I would not have another job. If you don't like d131 find another job yourself. I am sure you don't live on the east side either
Go on strike it's not like the kids learn anything anyway.
As far as the students learning that starts at the top with the Superintendent then the administration and what tools and curriculum they give the teachers.
The teachers in this district have folded every time a contract has come up so you are part of the blame. If you want to make as much as D129 or 204 go work there at one time they had the revenue to pay that way but I think both of those districts are letting teachers go. now that things are changing.
Here's something to think about.
Tens of thousands of teachers have attempted to teach the children on the East Side of Aurora for 165 years now. Many of these same teachers have gone on to very successful careers in many other school districts. Why does it seem to be impossible for anybody to teach well in District 131?
The fact is you'll never get filet mignon from bovine excrement. You have to start with good materials to get a good final product. The only consistent factor that we have had in District 131 is children who come from poorly educated, low income parents, many of which are illegal immigrants. The teachers in District 131 deal regularly with all sorts of student issues that teachers in other districts just simply don't have to deal with. Child abuse, gang activity, murder, death are all too regular occurrences in District 131.
I have worked with many school districts. This is no comparison. Working in District 131 is the most difficult place to work by far. The teachers here deserve more support and a higher salary than other districts, not less.
Unfortunately, there are many in this town (many of which are in positions of power) who believe the people on the East Side of Aurora deserve only the bare minimum that the public dollars have to give. This is evident in every aspect of public living except the new police station. Those in power apparently only believe the East Side deserves an abundance of jail cells.
Look at the beautiful libraries on the West Side and in 204. Look at the school facilities on the West Side and 204 compared to the East Side. Look at the enterprise zones, the shopping malls etc. Compare the park facilities, the sports complexes etc.
There is not one public service that is not better on the West Side and in District 204 than it is on the East side excluding the new police palce.
When are the people on the East Side going to stand up and demand their due. It's time that the East gets more than the scraps from the table.
Good point everyone needs to remember we do not get the real estate taxes to support our district. We are supported by the State and they are not paying their bills. In the past several years many teachers and programs have been put back. I think until the city starts treating the east side as a dumping ground there is only so much the district and teachers can do. I can not believe the City bought the Elks Lodge why? Now it's off the tax roles. The alderman on the east side just voted along.
Let's not forget years ago the district gave up the area around Fox Valley when they had the chance to bring that area in the district and then also The Outlet Mall was passed up by the board at that time.
The City has let us down with all the section 8 they have brought in and are alderman just let these things go while they get medical and a check.
Yes, are property taxes are low but when you figure we now are at 75% poverty rate you can get what people don't have. As far as State payments we are still owed some but not as much as other districts are owed. Look how the district keeps buying up property for preschool which isn't mandated by the State. Shouldn't they be working on test scores? Yes, we have challenges with ELL but other districts have made better progress than ours with that.
When has the district purchased property for a preschool? Last I heard they are still renting on Indian Trail
You must of been out of the loop for awhile.
https://v3.boardbook.org/Public/PublicItemDownload.aspx?ik=31264893
Here is part of what it says and I do believe that preschoolers are going there.
On April 27, 2011, bids were received to renovate the existing assisted living facility at 1480 Reckinger
Road into the new EASD Child Service Center.
10:35-Your comment is dead on. There is something about 131 that is toxic and I believe most of it has to do with the home lives of these students. If we were to replace all of the educators at the high school with the educators from West, would our test scores be the same as West? Absolutely not, and for the record it you put all of the teachers from East at West High would their test scores drop to D131 levels? NO!
There is an endemic problem with the home lives of our students and whoever made the comment about a public company performing poorly and the effect that would have on employees-it's crap, you obviously have no idea that education is not a public company, nor should it be run like one. We real with the poorest of the poor-just look at the rate of SPED kids and ED kids in our district, it's incredibly high.
The good educators in our district do have a choice, they could easily get jobs in other districts because they all know, if you've taught in 131, you can teach anywhere. They're here because they want to be here.
By law the Special Ed must provide preschool. They had been going to West Aurora and d129 told d131 two years ago they could not keep them Reckinger Rd was built with Federal and State funds. Not one penny of District funds got used.
They also needed to test Special Ed students and that is also done there as well. Until the District opened that facility the programs had been out of compliance.
Sometimes things are not as they appear to be but we should ask questions that is the way people understand.
I have to speak up and say some things to defend some of the people mentioned here, lest the public believe all the negative things written about them. I will say I am a district employee in one of the schools, in direct touch with students and teachers each day. I see the struggles they all go through, and I have some thoughts.
1. The latest comment "bovine excrement" is appalling and truly reveals the attitudes of persons writing on this blog. I take exception to that categorization of our students. There are good kids from good families here, and many go to college and succeed. There are disruptive and frustrating students on both sides of town, as well as Naperville and surrounding areas. Recent meetings on heroin use among youth in Naperville highlight this. It is a shame residents of the community do not support the kids more. A student with a low income or in a section 8 apartment can and does do just as well as one in an expensive home, and both can also fail, those of us who are really there every day already know that.
2. The comments about Mr. Harding and his brother who are working in the district are simply incorrect. I know them both personally. They are amazing, standup guys and their students love them. Adam Harding knows plenty about bigger schools because his brother works in one. They are not corrupt and their mother did not do corrupt things to get them their jobs. They interviewed like everyone else and got their jobs and worked hard like most teachers do. I cannot sit by and read nasty things about people who I personally care about. I would certainly prefer working with either one of them than people with attitudes like I see on this blog.
3. Craig Rhodes is running for a position higher up next year, maybe because, oh, who knows, he might feel he can do some good there. He is also a standup guy, and a hard worker. I am still employed and have never missed a paycheck because of guys like him. When I have needed help he has never failed to return my phone call or represent me when I needed it. I would also be proud to have Mr. Harding represent us, although with the poisoned talk we all know is going on, I can't figure out why anyone would want that job. More power to him. If you don't like all this, why don't you run and try and do some good?
4. You all need to read the Illinois State Board of Ed website more. You would then realize that the things that are happening that you don't like come directly from mandates from ISBE. Our board is doing these things because they have to. Most school boards in the state are going to have to make the same decisions. Do you really think these people stay up at night dreaming up "conspiracies"? Read ISBE. Start in the Hot Topics section. Teachers will be required to be evaluated using their students test scores. We will work some longer hours. We need to work harder to ensure the kids learn better. And, oh yes, we will have to do all this with less money because that is the condition of the federal and state government.
5. By all means, if you with negative feelings have contact with students every day, then please quit. Your treatment of them and your constant complaining do nothing but poison their environment. They don't have a chance of improvement with people who think so poorly of them. The people who still care about what they do don't need your attitude around them. We have work to do.
To: May 1, 2012 5:42 PM
You have a long way to go to. The first stage of recovery is denial. In your ramblings, it is clear that you are in complete denial of the very basic problems in District 131 and the State of Illinois. It’s very simple. You can’t fix a problem if you never acknowledge that a problem exists. Let’s clarify a few of your misconceptions.
You stated “A student with a low income or in a section 8 apartment can and does do just as well as one in an expensive home”. Where are you getting your data from? Let’s take ISAT tests. Break them down by income levels, you will find that higher income districts score significantly higher than those in low income areas. This has been a consistent result in all subject areas.
You also stated “When I have needed help he has never failed to return my phone call or represent me when I needed it.” You were referring to Craig Rhodes. I am happy for you that Craig has always decided to help you in whatever issues you gotten in trouble with the district. However, the simple fact is Craig Rhodes and the AFT do not represent their members consistently. In fact, they have fought all the way up the Illinois Appellate Court their right to decide how and when they represent or not represent their members. There are many teachers that they have decided not to represent in order to keep the administration happy.
In section 4 you delusionally accept the premise that our state politicians can mandate that teachers will work longer hours for less money. Here are a few facts for you. The State of Illinois is dead last in the nation for funding education. This reality is in spite of a State Income Tax increase of 67% last year which was passed under the premise of funding education. There is not less money, there are significantly more tax dollars. Your political leaders just have no intention of using them for education. By the way, one of the leaders of the movement to defund all public education is your local representative, Linda Chapa Lavia. She truly believes that all money spent on public education is wasted.
Frankly, if you are unable to understand these basic concepts, I wouldn’t want you teaching children. You are supposed to be preparing our children for the real world, yet you are unable or unwilling to protect your own interests. How are you going to be able to teach our children to protect their livelihoods if you are unable to protect your own?
dead right on 5:42 The childs results are a product of the parents caring enouph to ask where is your homework how was school day having a conversation with the teacher besides conferences our kids have had good teachers and marginal at best and both of them are doing great mainly because of the effort at home and the teachers .
The District has been on a steady downhill slope for 20 years. You are correct you can take all the teachers in Naperville and have them teach in d131 and nothing will get better.
The District is also to heavy into State funds to make long term commitments to the teachers. The City of Aurora is to blame with all the free housing on the East Side.
Look at what they did for Jerico Circle on the West Side because their Alderman was vocal. Now d131 has over 200 kids from Jerico with Parents that do not care. The building have had big problems this year because of it.
Signed a District Worker
Who pays taxes on the East Side
You are wrong May 1, 2012 3:34 PM it was D129 that wanted to partner with D131 but we didn't want to share our money with them. Also, preschool is not mandatory by the State but is encouraged for the students to go. The url below talks about that.
http://www.isbe.state.il.us/earlychi/html/spec-ed.htm
It wasn't a grant that paid for the building and even if it was where do you think grant money comes from? It comes from everyone in the State that pays taxes.
If d131 would merge preschool with d129 the State would not pay for as many slots. The only reason the State pays is because of the low income students. The slots get allocated on single family homes, free and reduced lunch, unemployed families, number of students needing special ed so it is not as simple as you think. D129 would hurt are numbers not help because they do not have as money students in need.
It gets back to the same story just bring the Naperville administrators, teachers or board members over see if they can do better
It is our money for whatever is built because the fund money has to come from somewhere. It does not matter if it is federal or state. We still pay for it!
Website detailing how principals, assistant principals, and teachers must be evaluated starting in 2012.
This was signed into law by Gov. Quinn in 2010.
http://www.isbe.state.il.us/PERA/pdf/pera-faqs.pdf
Here's a link to an article about a neighboring district (Oswego Dist. 308):
beaconnews.suntimes.com/news/12270059-418/parents-petition-for-open-oswego-school-board.html
Evidently a large group of parents & concerned citizens are signing a petition to have the current School Board leadership step down and for more openness & accountability. Here's an excerpt from the article:
"The petition officially cites the board’s leaders for “a lack of transparency,” “inability to effectively communicate with the public,” “questionable fiscal decisions” and “a disregard for their role as a board members”
Good article it is too bad we can't get a group of parents to do this also. This board is not transparent and breaks the IL School Code.
Tho' I am all or boot the 131 school board, you cannot just make a statement that they are "not transparent and breaks the IL School Code." You have to show documented proof of what they have or have not done. How they have been lacking to their commitment to the community? Who hs cared enough to document this for any lenghth of time?
Oswego is in trouble because they forced out their Finance guy and paid the new one with less experience $40,000 more
"Forced out" would indicate a deliberate move to push him out. I think it's more a matter that once the superintendent decided he couldn't work w/ this new board, and decided to resign, a lot of the senior administrators started looking to move on so they wouldn't have to deal w/ this board, either. You can easily see this board is into micromanaging. Usually, when you're going to be bringing in a new superintendent, you hire them first then they hire the new assistant/deputy superintendents. In this case, the board has proceeded w/ hiring the new assistants/deputies, so the new superintendent is going to be stuck w/ who the board hired. And you see how good a job they did -- this board got elected primarily for fiscal reasons, with a pledge to be transparent and save the district money. And spent an extra $40k w/ their very first hire.
The latest Oswego School Board has managed to alienate everybody, administrators, teachers and community members.
They have micromanaged everything but have no real clue how to do it properly. It was at the point where the administrators had to go to the board to beg for every piece of paper for the copier.
The superintendent had come out of retirement at the request of the previous board. He was an excellent administrator and well liked in District 308. The new board harrassed the man to the point where he said simply said forget it and many excellent administrators and teachers agreed with the superintendent and have also tendered their resignations.
There are many people in the community who are also angry with the new school board mostly about the drawing of the new middle school boundary lines. The board has taken the students from what they consider the undesirable areas (Mostly kids who live in Aurora but are in the Oswego boundaries) and want to bus them to the new middle school which is near Plainfield. They will be passing up other middle schools on their bus trip to their new school. The extra long journey will be costing the district a lot more money on busing.
It's very sad how a few people can make so many other people's lives miserable. That is why so many people have signed the petition to have the board officers step down.
Here's a link to an article in today's Beacon-News:
beaconnews.suntimes.com/news/12304233-418/west-aurora-wont-renew-urban-league-contract.html
And a short excerpt:
AURORA — The West Aurora School District will not renew it’s alternative education contract with the Quad County Urban League for the 2012-2013 school year.
Instead the district will serve the students itself, West Aurora schools spokesman Mike Chapin said Friday.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
However, D131 does intend to continue to buy seats next school year at QCUL, according to Clayton Muhammad.
May 4, 2012 1:08 PM -I would say there is no proper way to Micro manage. wikipedia says -
"person takes a bully approach, in the level of control and influence over the members of a group. Often, this excessive obsession with the most minute of details causes a direct management failure in the ability to focus on the major details."
This sounds like what may be the case in Oswego and has been the case in EA for a couple years now. The difference is families have banned together at higher degree to have their voice heard by those they elected to represent THEM, not their personal agendas. Hooray for Oswego. Wake up EA.
To the commentor who left the link about the new evaluation process for teachers & admin. (May 2) There is not much that will change with that in place. If you read thru there are many things that leave room for 131 to wiggle thru, as they have with AYP and many other "rules."
It states "Districts may develop their own training program based on...." REALLY! D131 will design and train their own people to evaluate their own people to satisfy the state. The same state who has yet to make D131 accountable for all their schools failure to meet or exceed the required standards.
This sounds like the state is creating more work to justify their positions to appear they are working to improve their failures.
It is a vicious circle of rhetoric. The state requires the IL schools to explain why they fail and create a plan for changing their situation. Which each year is the same process with different plans but nothing changes for the students. This new accountability process sounds like the state must have had to do likewise for the Federal government. All those in this circle remain working in creating ACD (butt covering data). While IL children continue to fall behind in education.
Gillespie and Rydand had a blow out she threatened him with the black community and her community connections. Everyone knows she as used her connections with the Mayor of Aurora but it looks like he was the stronger man. Way to go Rydland for standing up for your District
This district is a mirror image of the parents that send their kids there.
What are you saying May 5-2:18 PM ? I don't get your point.
I believe the point about Ryland is spot on! Good for him.
Gillespie et al filled the D131 board room as a threat a few years ago and the district bowed.
Go here to see & hear the EHS Wind Ensemble and tuba soloist Dr. Bough (from NIU) playing "Con te partiro" at Friday's concert:
http://www.facebook.com/EastAuroraSchoolDistrict131
A grEAt performance, indeed!
And this Thursday at 4:30 p.m., you can hear the Simmons bands & choirs in their premiere performance of the new, ORIGINAL Simmons School Song.
Good things happening in our district's music programs!
Very good to see a positive post
Way to go Super. Ryland!!!! You are a class act. Not renewing the Urban League contract is spot on. The school is nothing but a holding pen for kids who really need help. Has anyone seen verifiable results of the successes at that school? No. Because they do not exist. East should pull out also, but since its Board is run by Johnson you watch and they will send more kids there now. I wish she would stop trying to impress the mayor and his girlfriend Theodia and start making some big changes at East. So far under her administration taxes have gone up, the schools continue to be overcrowded and the test scores are going down further (hard to believe but true). Lets see if the East Board can piggyback off of what West did and both stand united on getting out of the urban league scam.
You are right about the tax comment. All the items listed on my tax bill, this year, went down with the exception of a minor increase (a few dollars) to Kane Cty Forest Preserve and WCC. EA D131 went up nearly 10%. What can they boast about accomplishing by way of improvements in education?
According to IIRC test scores on ISAT & PSAE-D131 is an embarrasment. Madam Board President and Dr. Superintendent how are your children's districts doing? You are failing miserably to educate ours.
BUT...D131 has a new football coach and D131 is buying property...all about IMAGE!? Speaking of property....whatever happen to that big windfall the district was suppose to get for supporting the drive-in to be torn down and more family homes to be built? That was another failed business venture BEFORE the recession hit, but the recession added insult to that injury.
Taxes have gone up because of Farmun, Wells, Weaver, Mccue and Maurice if you will remember they are the ones who voted for them. To stupid to understand the impact they passed it. The bonds have been totally levied and invested. They are now five years old and by law the District needs to levy that amount to pay the piper.
If the Board can continue to find low cost real estate they will be able to retire some building bonds and reduce the levy.
BTW the Boards of the past created the test scores they have actually gone up with this Board and when the High School failed Marin Gonzalez was terminated something the Boards of the past never had the back bone for.
As far as the Urban League they are saving the District close to one million dollars because the District returned outplaced special Ed students to the District and rents spaces at the Urban League instead of using expensive private agencies. If West Aurora was fiscally reasonable they would do the same.
Funny you should mention the theather again another example of the Board from hell thank goodness the all retired.
Why did the East Board renew Super. Roberts contract? His performance has been abismal. Why is the Board president supporting him. Makes you question what is going on between the two of them.
Read here about 14 of our EHS students who traveled to Michigan to volunteer their time, and also met with a Nobel Prize winner:
beaconnews.suntimes.com/news/schools/12318298-418/east-high-students-meet-nobel-peace-prize-winner.html
Another grEAt program happening right here in D131!
:)
The reason they renewed his contract is because he lets the president run the district while he gets his pay.
The taxes for d129 on school only showed a 35% increase Anie is sure doing her job.
I entire Board is to blame I never see them at community or school functions I seriously doubt that Tursa or Gonzalez even know what real east side is composed of since they she the district a social function. I will not say much about Lewis because she has always put her time in whether be the band or other functions to support the children. Leonard is another one not sure he is even on the board he is never sure what he is voting on Cervantes wants to be the Latino leader and only worries about that. Hull misses to many meetings and only cares about promoting his own daughter. Many of us at EHS only shake our heads, usually a student is asked to help out in the office for a couple of months to this date 3 years later she is still in the office and gets a private college advisor. I will agree Johnson runs the district and that is not a good thing. She thinks we are all robots and should preform miracles .
Interesting the D131 tax rate went from 3.62 to 4.49 -- that's a 24% increase. BUT the D131 pension tax rate went from .678 to .425 -- that's a 37% DECREASE. Same thing w/ Aurora City -- increase in city, decrease in pension.
Board member are at all kinds of activities. You personally are only be at the ones for alumni and old timers. You obviously don't have a life other than d131. Does that help with the academics? Mr. Hulls daughter has only been at east two years not three; typical hyperbole from needalife.com
Who assigns the office monitors? I think you should take up your complaints with that person. I really want to know how do you manage to retain your job? who do you know
beaconnews.suntimes.com/news/12383243-418/oswego-school-board-files-complaint-against-itself.html
Meanwhile, in our neighboring district of Oswego the School Board has problems of its own. Evidently there were FIVE consecutive meetings that were not audio-recorded live (as required by law). The School Board president claimed that no one could get the recording equipment to work (a plausible explanation for one meeting, but five?)
Office monitors are first come first served at the beginning of the year. You can volunteer at any of the offices i.e.attendance.. if you have a study hall. So in other words Mr. Hull daughter knew this and stepped up and asked.
The bonds are totally levied now that will be our tax rate for 20 more years unless the district plans to retire the 1993 building bonds. We better make sure the do not intend to renew them in 2013. The district can retire some at that point or vote to renew. This is the tax increase coming to full taxation from 2007.
Last night's School Board meeting was a packed house. The Board voted 4-3 to replace the Richlee bus service to Dunham, for our special-education students. Mr. Hull, Mr. Leonard, and Mr. Cervantes cast the dissenting votes.
As the parent of a special-needs student, I appreciate the concerns expressed by those who mentioned that our children need consistency. However, a new school year always brings a few changes--and a new bus service will just be one of those beginning-of-the-year things. Also, the new company has promised to hire Richlee's drivers (if they are qualified), so many of our kids' current drivers may be familiar faces in the fall.
Saw this on Facebook this morning:
Join us for our final concert of the year this Thursday. It will also be Mrs. Allen's LAST choir concert as she is retiring at the end of this year. Come out to support her! Alumni, please plan to join us on stage at the end of the concert for the singing of the Alma Mater.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Someone mentioned Mrs. Suzanne Allen's retirement earlier in this thread, but it was buried in all the discussion about finances, the Urban League, and Oswego's school board.
Mrs. Allen is one of our district's most hard-working, caring staff members. She is an excellent pianist who has always gone above & beyond her "pay grade" for our students. She will be greatly missed; it will not be easy for our district to find someone to fill her shoes.
Best of luck in your retirement, Mrs. Allen!!
Correction, 7:47 a.m.--the name of the new bus service is Durham.
To: May 8, 2012 7:47 AM
So, if you are getting the same drivers and same service, why are we paying 1.7 million dollars more?
You know damn well this is a political favor to someone. I am sure if it was their own money, the boards would never have voted the way they did.
I heard that Durham does not have a base station in Aurora but in Elgin so does that mean a driver would have to drive to Elgin to pick up a bus then drive back to Aurora? That is a long drive back from Elgin and in the morning the commute is long.
The way I see it, if we were already having so many problems w/ Richlee, how many more problems would we have w/ them when they were trying to operate on a shoe string after lowballing their bid? Or were they figuring that once they got the bid, they'd be able to slip extra costs into the bills?
I attended the West Aurora meeting a presentation was given. They will do background checks and drivers tests something Richlee did not do. They also agreed to have all the equipment working on there buses and to warm the buses in the winter.
As a former driver for RichLee and a current driver for first Student I quit RichLee because our contract stated they should pay $12.50 per hour. I never made that more like $10.00. Now I understand Durham agreed to pay $14.00 per hour so I guess the drivers win.
I know someone who worked for RichLee and they did a background check and a drivers test.
Tomorrow our community has TWO opportunities to support our student musicians and their grEAt teachers & staff:
At 4:30 p.m. at Simmons Middle School the bands & choirs will present their spring concert. Don't miss Ms. Gawlik's choral students as they perform for the first time the Simmons school song, composed by Kevin Kaisershot.
Then at 7:00 p.m., the EHS choirs will perform under the direction of Mr. Stellmacher, accompanied by the wonderful Mrs. Suzanne Allen (who is retiring at the end of this school year).
Two concerts, two opportunities to see and hear some of our finest students perform under the leadership and guidance of four of our district's BEST.
Support the arts in D131!
Excellent article in today's Beacon about EHS senior Brian Nunez:
beaconnews.suntimes.com/12376452-417/bill-gates-helps-pay-for-east-seniors-dreams.html
This young man received a scholarship from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation that will pay for his college education through graduate school. Congratulations, Brian--you're one of our district's finest!
:)
Another Simmons success!
Here are a few more Simmons successes.
Max Aguilar: Currently serving a 20 year sentence for his part in the murder of a rival gang member.
Antonio Clark: Currently serving a 17 year sentence for a drug deal gone bad. The drug dealer was murdered. Antonio's sentence was reduced for his testifying against another participant in the murder.
Matthew Quigley: Currently serving life without the possibility of parole for the murder of two rival gang members in seperate incidents.
Erbel Valdez: One of the rival gang members killed by Matthew Quigley.
All of these kids are products of Simmons Middle School from recent years. Yes, it's good to look at the successes but you can't ignore the problems in that building. Way too many children are being lost there.
Murderers are not born, they are created from years of systematic abuse and neglect. Why do so many of these kids come from that building?
10:48 p.m., those "bad apples" you mentioned are gangbangers--and gang activity is a big problem at ALL our middle schools, not just Simmons.
You say that these kids are products of Simmons. While that may be technically true, the larger picture is that they are products of parents who dropped the ball when it came to supporting their kids' education and moral formation. Especially with boys, when a positive parental figure is not present a gang may step in to be "family" for a child.
Behind every Simmons success is a supportive parent/mentor/role model; and behind every failure is probably a poor excuse for a parent.
I agree. You can't just look at a few good students or a few bad students and judge a school. There will be successes and failures at every building.
You need to look at the school's overall record. According to the state, Simmons has been failing for the 12 years they have been keeping records. They are in the bottom 5% of schools in the state.
Don't show me a few exceptional students and try to tell me that Simmons is a success.
Behind every student success are good parents - not just Simmons - And that is why the district has been failing for years, not because of bad schools or bad teachers or bad administrators - IT IS BECAUSE OF BAD PARENTS.
Annie Thompson should know her school district that she sits on the Board of has expelled 3 times as many students. Now there solution is provide the children no Alternative interventions and term them loose on the streets. Way to go West Aurora. Let us not forget Marin's husband is on the Board
Hey 12:29 PM
You must have all the answers about education, especially since I see you know the difference between there, their and they're. Just kidding, you don't... (PS-You may want to look it up since you used the wrong form: http://www.theretheyretheir.com/
The West Side school board should be applauded, they made a courageous move in standing up to the Urban League since they're (notice the right form used, it means they are) providing a TERRIBLE education to dozens of behaviorally challenged youth. The only reason Dr. Gonzales and Dr. Wilson were asked to step down is because of their (again used properly, in the possessive form) investigation into the program and all of its failings.
SHUT THE URBAN LEAGUE DOWN. They are corrupt and are stealing taxpayer dollars!!!!
It sounds as though East Aurora will be buying all the spots at the Urban League that West Aurora no longer felt benefited their kids. There has already been a rearranging of the SpEd department for next year. They are closing the Ed/Bd classrooms. Rumor is the children that will no longer be serviced in the buildings are going to be farmed out to the Urban League.
In the article from the Beacon if you read it stated that D129 was going to school those children within the districts so you are wrong they won't be out in the streets.
http://beaconnews.suntimes.com/news/12304233-418/west-aurora-wont-renew-urban-league-contract.html
Hull needs his job with Weisner and Johnson is big friends with Theo, Roberts rents Theo so the Urban League will be well taken care of.
Gonzalez has been asking for months for more social workers and the Board pays Kurt Becker and Nestor over $100,000 per year
Other news is Roberts and Johnson made up so all is well with the District
Marin and Raquel lost their jobs because they had been bad administrators. Both had many problems and played a big roll in the failing High School.
With both having Doctorates and being minority with Marin being Bilingual why is it they have not been hired yet? We all know they spend their days interviewing.
It has nothing to do with the Urban League. They are just bad news. I applaud Dr Roberts for finally taking action.
All the school districts have pulled out of the Urban League except East Aurora. What will the board do this summer when it votes on whether to renew the contract? Why can't there be a board and superintendant like West Aurora, IP, Oswego have? We are stuck with low class wannabees. Really look at the board, Johnson and Roberts they are so inferior to what West has. Not only should they not renew the Urban League contract they should take it one step further then West.
Ask the teachers do they want the kid who brought the gun to school back in their building. West is hurting financially , just like Oswego is cutting bus routes to save money. Why not put criminals back on the street we could have saved 32 million . The urban league is necessary and your real issues are motivated by race. If E A schools are in poor shape why would a logical person want these troubled kids back in the building.s
11:59 kids who bring guns to school should not be put at the Urban League either. The Urban League is a sham outfit run by the mayors girlfriend, period. Where is the data on how well it actually does???? There isnt any and any information now would just be manipulatedd by Theodia and Weisner. It is a money making operation that seves noone but those raking in the cash.
Speaking of summer the kids at the Urban League will be out in the streets in fact after school they will be out in the streets so are we suppose to have something to keep the off the street all the time. Haven't there been two cases where students there got in trouble when they where suppose to be at the Urban League. It is time parents started taking responsibility for their children. I believe that students that make a mistake and do something wrong if they say they are sorry deserves another chance but most of these kids don't care to have a education and looking into other ways to educate them.
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