Thursday, September 6, 2012
May cooler heads prevail!
We definitely had some HOT weather this summer--more 90+ degree days than usual, with hardly any rain to cool things down. Now that we're into September, let's hope that hot stuff's behind us for awhile. And as the political climate "heats up" in this election year, it's good to remind ourselves that maintaining a calm, rational attitude is in everyone's best interests!
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253 comments:
1 – 200 of 253 Newer› Newest»Becker is a coach of the team and that is all he should be.
The district will never have good teams no matter how much they spend. Look at our soccer team that is a Latino sport and still when they play St Charles or the Indian P schools they loss. It shows going up against kids who parents are committed to lessons, club sports, speed trainers ect. They Will be at a advantage.
Becker made enemies because he used his alumni status to push people around at East. The trainer was one of those examples. He went to Shelia and had her fired. She was a contract employee. He complained about everyone and gets appointments with Roberts all the time. If a teacher wants to meet with him they need to goto the Principal and then Assistant Sup.
They just got done telling us they are going to treat us with respect. This would be a first step. Everyone gets the same even retired football players.
Rumor is he is moving over to central office. Why so much catering for him.
My apologies--I tried to delete some spam and accidentally also deleted most of the comments on this thread :(
Again, I apologize!
i got a better idea...why don't you shut the hell up!
this district needs to hire Bob May... he'll get people in line!
tomcats
LOL I see no problem about the deletion. There were some real goof ball negative Nellies out lately on the blog anyway.
I bet you are really going to get a lashing about the deletions, though.
Personally, I accept your apology.
It's interesting, according to the district web-site, the average East Aurora Teacher Salary is $52,203. According to the Chicago Public Schools, the average teacher salary in CPS is $76,000. That's about a $24,000 difference.
What's the difference? The teachers in Chicago stand up for their rights, the teachers in East Aurora just bend over and take it. Of course, the real difference is the leadership of their union. Wherever the teachers union is strong, the teachers earn a decent salary. unfortunately, we have Dick Manley and the AFT.
And the community wonders why we can't attract (and keep) decent teachers (or pass standardized tests). Maybe three years from now, we can again make a big show about how the teachers are underpaid and then do nothing to make any real changes.
I think that with the high numbers in Clayton's club BII Men, I think there should be another Boys II Men Club. The district needs to hire another sponsor to split the large group in two.
Rumor has it is Pinky Zepeda is running for Board President in April.
Long live Kevin Kaisershot. The greatest band director in EA History.
Who is Bob May?
11:49 p.m. says there should be another Boys II Men club. That organization does seem to be a positive influence on many of our young people, as long as it is not styled as a fraternity (which would be illegal in the state of Illinois). I notice that Boys II Men has been described as a "mentoring club" in recent newspaper articles. Good call Mr. Muhammad to emphasize that, instead of the group's original "making the frat" nonsense.
Agree about Kevin Kaisershot.
And speaking of band, here's a link to a YouTube of the current EHS band's participation in NIU Band Days this past Saturday. The EHS band has participated in this event many times over the past 25+ years, and it remains a grEAt activity for our students.
Long live the EHS band program--past, present, and future!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xgsqhpLMCtY&feature=share
Yes Kaisershot is good but if you want to talk best this honor goes to G. Edward Nelson. In his day the band was outstanding and about 100 to 150 students involved. Watching Rich Lowrey strut his stuff down the field as drum major was a show stopper. It was like watching Florida A&M when he and the band took the field at halftime! Go East!
8:50 a.m., I go WAY back (1960's), and I remember G. Edward Nelson. He was really a mixed bag. Yes, the drum majors and baton twirlers (now I'm really showing my age!) were impressive, and the bands sounded solid and looked pretty good on the field. However, G. Edward Nelson was NOT a team player! I remember him intimidating (now we'd call it bullying) three students who had been selected for a state speech event, and they'd have to miss one day of a band trip. One of the parents was willing to drive the students to the band event after the speech contest, but that wasn't good enough. One of my friends was called out in front of the whole band rehearsal and ended up in the office crying till her mom picked her up.
I was in the choir, not the band, so I just heard secondhand from a lot of my classmates about Mr. Nelson's arrogant attitude and refusal to compromise with parents or fellow teachers. We choir kids used to say that the "G" stood for God, as in "God Edward Nelson".
In fairness to him, Mr. Nelson was a military band veteran and the '60s were a different era. But I wanted to give my perspective on the history of EHS bands.
Guess what people, every band director, no actually every teacher, has their +'s and -'s and every teacher does things their own way. And guess what, none of them are perfect and none of them do it the same way.
And you probably have fond memories of a teacher, even if they kind of sucked, it's just because they were your teacher.
The band right now is good, they were good before, and they were good long ago, and hopefully they will be better in the future.
I never understand why you people get so worked up over nothing. The band isn't worse now or better now, it is different.
To say that any teacher is perfect or does not have their flaws is just dumb. Maybe Mr. Nelson yelled too much, maybe Mr. Kaisershot played favorites, maybe Mr. Liska picks music that is too hard. They all have good points and bad points.
Well I'm from the west side and I don't know if Kaisershot played favorites, but Steve Orland certainly did!
;)
Just saw this on the district website:
East Aurora Council Approves Tentative Agreement
Members of the East Aurora Council of the AFT Local 604 voted on Friday, September 7 and approved the terms of the tentative agreement between the Council and the East Aurora Board of Education.
The Board of Education will take its vote on the new 3-year agreement on Monday, September 17.
Complete details of the contract will be shared with the community after the terms of the agreement are voted on by the Board of Education.
and another thing....if you teachers want $20,000 more a year... go down to hollywood casino and play some dice, like a real American!!
Is it possible that Coach Becker was trying to protect his players from a possible inappropriate relationship between the player and the trainer? Perhaps her injury protocol was in question.
More people need to volunteer and then maybe they might know what's going on.
More people need to volunteer and then maybe they won't leave comments about things they know nothing about. Coach Becker knows how to get things done. The athletic trainer position is a contracted position and the trainer can be replaced or substituted at any time. The trainer was not "fired".
ORLAND HAD SEX WITH KIDS
Pinky Zepeda is uneducated making him unqualified to be on the board of EDUCATION for our district. Plus you cannot run for board president, you are elected onto the board and then the board elects a board president.
Mr. Zepeda is neither uneducated nor unqualified; he is an EHS graduate as well as a Marine Corps veteran.
I think he'd be a good School Board member, and lots of us D131 old-timers would support him!
I thought the main concern at East Aurora should be the students. Why aren't parents showing up to volunteer at events. Why aren't people coming out to show support for the Tomcat sports and other school activities. Stop blaming people you don't know! Stop saying "the rumor is". Get your facts people and make educated comments on this blog. People need a place to vent, but maybe their would be a lot less anger if the actual facts were stated and people were hearing the truth. If you want to know what going on, SHOW UP and support your East Aurora schools at all levels. Grade school to high school, show up people. Volunteer. Its the community that makes the difference. Stop complaining! If you can do better, get out there and show us! Actions speak louder than words. If you say they won't have you, then push harder. Support your kids! Set an example, make a difference. Maybe the effort you spend spewing "rumors" should be used in the classroom. Goodness knows that schools could use your support.
bring back gene mitz!!
hispanic culture and hispanic parents are detatched from school and American sports...not all, but MOST of them. Unfortunately its over on the east side...thats the sad reality.
Graduating from High School is a far cry from being an educated citizen. The BOE should be filled with highly qualified, highly educated individuals who know how to lead large organizations, not angry sports boosters who have never led anything in their life who have an axe to grind with someone in administration.
Who is Gene Mitz?
11:49 PM was yanking peoples chains. Don't feed the gossip frenzy by acknowledging the sarcasm.
Zepeda can't even manage the sports boosters he scares any volunteers away. So good luck even getting him elected. I am sure the band boosters will not support him either
Pinky Zepeda is a true leader of our community. How dare you say Pinky is not qualified to be on the Board? Pinky is an East Sider all the way, and doesn't pretend to be anything else. Few people have stuck around the district and community like Pinky.
I am a licensed athletic trainer (AT) at another school district. I have no idea if this AT losing her job was appropriate or not. But in the selection of a new AT, the coaching staff, including the Head Football Coach should have NO say. The AT has a professional duty to provide the best advice and healthcare to their patient, even if that goes contrary to what the coach wants. If a coach is involved in picking the AT, that could make the AT beholden to the coach and could adversely affect the care provided to the athletes. The AT MUST be free (and feel it) to hold a kid out if that's what's best for the kid.
11:21 comparing average salaries is meaningless. If one district has more experienced teachers, it will automatically have a higher average salary. You have to look at the actual pay scale, and compare starting salaries and how much they go up each year.
Wait a minute.....this is a blog, and its not a gossip frenzy????? Puzzled.
Who has more money in their account? Sports Boosters or Band Boosters? No contest. Maybe Pinky needs to scare people away to get things done. The Band Boosters can't even support themselves, and cry that the Sports Boosters don't help them.
You must be the Trainer who got fired?
The Band Boosters do more for the kids the Sports Boosters just sit on the pot of money. No comparison the Band is better run and costs the District less money because they support themselves. Pinky needs to go.
As far as the response of Ms Becker I will email my Union tomorrow she had no business talking about this ladies background. that is a Personnel matter and it's shows her husband along with the sports boosters think they run he District. Cowherd will push ahead of the teachers and waste Shelia time for hours each week. Like that is important.
I would also like to see Pinky in a one on one debate with Johnson. She would clean the floor with him. Ask a question about Curriculum or Common Core Standards. He would not know the meaning of the words.
Better yet let's ask him about bids.
If the player and the coach had a inappropriate relationship them did the District not call DCFS. I hore Roberts and Conrad did.
Why do my children pizza for breakfast sometimes and what can I do to stop this? Can we run Sodexo out of East or something?
i know one thing.... Rocky Balboa never let no administrators or school boards tell him what to do...and he beat Drago!!!
who's gene mitz....WHO ARE YOU!!!!
I am not the fired trainer I coach another team and find her professional. Word is they had a debate over a ankle injury. Becker then told her to stay away from players. She wanted X-rays he said the kid was a cry baby. They did not have coverage for Saturday.
It shows he is unprofessional his wife should not know this is going on or fighting his battles
You can complain over and over about EA children but we all have to remember they are children who need responsible adults to guide them. We don't have the parental support from many parents or guardians needed to accomplish this to enhance the child's educational experience. What's going on in Chicago is happening all over. Teachers have had to become that support when children come to school. Many times EA teachers and staff go that extra mile to become that support again and again. I realize board members have other jobs but it is just sad that our superintendent does not visit the schools he is in charge of. I am talking about the occasional visit he makes and says oh I visit the schools. It takes more than one or two visits Dr. Roberts. Most of our students don't even know who he is yet he is compensated very well considering the amount of work he actually does. As for our teachers making the same dollar as Naperville or communities like Naperville; be realistic and know that will never happen. Look around you. If you want the big dollar then you are in the wrong place.
To 6:19
You were correct. Comparing average teacher salaries showed that the Average Chicago Public Teacher was making $24,000 more than the average East Aurora Teacher but when I looked at what my salary would be if I taught in CPS I found that the numbers were skewed. I would actually make $30,000 more if I taught in Chicago. The discrepancy was much larger than before.
Since the taxpayers of this district has voted down busing for our students a couple of times how is it that the district can bus preschool children without taxpayers voting on it? There is something wrong when a district doesn't bus the students that we are required by law to teach and then we bus children that we are required to teach.
9:04 this is 6:18. Who are you referring to? If me, No, I've never worked in this district. I've lived here over 21 years now, and put 3 kids thru the schools. I've worked at another high school for 20 years, and have over 35 years experience.
September 10, 2012 10:03 PM -You don't say where your child eats their breakfast. @ the HS?
If you don't like your child having breakfast pizza in the morning, I'd suggest they choose something else or you give them milk and cereal before they leave home.
Don't blame the cafeteria.
I found this on ISBE about busing
Are districts required to provide transportation for regular education prekindergarten students?
No. Districts may provide transportation to prekindergarten regular education students but are not required to do so. If a district elects to transport regular education prekindergarten students, they are considered non-reimbursable on the Annual Claim for Pupil Transportation.
Statutory Citation: 105 ILCS 5/29-5
Administrative Rule: 23 Ill Admin Code, Section 120.30(a)
Here is the url where you can find this:
http://www.isbe.state.il.us/funding/pdf/pupil_transp_faq.pdf
I think if they are paying for busing for pre school they would have to do a referendum for it since this would be like busing K-12th grade students. This is paid by the voters of the district with our property taxes which is only suppose to be used for K-12 grade.
This is 6:18 again. As I said, I have over 35 years experience as a licensed athletic trainer (AT) at the high school, collegiate, and professional level. Everyone would agree it would be inappropriate for me to tell a football coach what position to put a player in, what plays to call, or other coaching decisions. It's just as inappropriate for a coach to question or try to overrule an athletic trainer on a medical issue. The only person to do that would be the team physician. At one point I was the AT for a professional soccer team in Florida, and the coach was questioning my medical decisions, including talking to the press about me. The team owner (who also owned the Miami Dolphins) called me in to chew me out about what he thought was a personality conflict. When he found out what it was really about, he talked to Don Shula and asked him what he did. Shula told him if the AT said someone didn't play, they didn't play. End of discussion. A memo came out from the owner to the coach telling him to stop questioning my medical decisions. If the AT says the kid needs to see a physician for x-rays or whatever, the coach should stay out of it, ESPECIALLY when dealing with minors.
CPS teachers have more years of experience that 131 teachers that why the average teacher wage is so different. D131 hires a lot of teachers with only BA degrees and no Masters also. Look at the starting wage very close. I am not sure that is a good thing it shows admin is trying to cut corners again
Proposal to Blog Master
I work in d131 but live in d129. I know what your going to say. However, that had been my family homested.
I like working here and find the District BOE and Admin. very transparent about meetings and agendas.
I recently took more of a interest in school boards over the flap in d129 over the band director. Many parents are speaking at the next meeting in 129. However, they found out that they need to call 3 days in advance to d129 headquarters to speak.
I noticed d131 gives you two opportunies and you can sign up right at the Board meeting.
The other difference is the agenda. D131 is much easier to read. I can read exactly what they are voting on and have a great level of detail.
Freinds of mine in Oswego have the same problem with their Board. They hired a Superintendent that was fired. They are now using cash reserves to get by.
The EA Board is doing a far better job. I like the Board Bits.
Why not have a Community Blog devoted to schools in the area. This one could be the catalysis for putting topics up. People do look at this blog from other Districts.
I think it holds them more accountable. Openline is a front for West. I has been noted by many that they will not run a article on the problems over at d129. They also delete Facebook posts.
District 129 agenda can be hard to read but once you get used to it it's not that bad. One thing that they make clear is the list of bills they have what the money is spent not so much ours. D129 also shows how the credit cards are spent by everyone that has one ours just puts the statement amount. Also they taped there meetings so if you don't understand the agenda you can watch the meeting when you have time to see what is going on.
my suggestion would be for you to buy some cereal and not rely on the government to feed YOUR kids....and while you're at it, learn to construct your thoughts properly in the english language
amen
Ha Ha your funny they sure taped Steve Orland. Anie should do something and protect the kids and allow the parents to speak at West
11:32
Please get past your bloated ego. You've stood in need at one point in your life. Perhaps when you finished college and those student loans came due. Someone took a chance and hired you or maybe even married you with your debt. Perhaps you didn't have a bill because daddy paid for it. Ignorance is bliss and I say that because any student can have breakfast at school but some have to purchase it. How do you know this person was receiving a subsidized breakfast. Do not make assumptions because it make a ... out of you. BTW you should begin a properly constructed sentence with a capital letter.
September 12, 2012 3:42 PM Your statement is childish. It looks like D129 had that policy for awhile to sign up and speak so if the citizens didn't like it they should of spoke up before now. There was a lot of mistakes with that situation but remember the students did not tell about him when they went with him. The students that where involved could of stop it sooner if they spoke up.
5:50 Real classy. Blame the victims. That shows total ignorance of the situation. This convicted sexual predator knew how to groom his victims, so that when he finally put the moves on, they would do what many rape victims do. They often don't report the crime because they're confused, this major authority figure in their lives, who's got them convinced he loves them has gotten them thinking this must be okay. Or that it's all their fault. They didn't stop it because he was an expert at manipulating their minds. Probably pretty good at it too, probably had lots of practice. It probably could have been stopped if he'd been caught earlier -- it's almost certain there are numerous other victims out there that have been keeping this bottled up inside. But why wouldn't they come out now? Because ignorant people like you would just blame THEM. The temptation for name calling is so strong it's hard to say what you obviously are. I'll just say your comment is disgusting and a new low even in the world of blogdom.
oh yeah....look out for the big shot trainer of the decade!!! Miami Dolphins....? Don Shula...? yeah right, loser! you're on the EA blog...yeah, you're real big time. Sincerely yours, Jim McMahon
Let's move on to something about this district like why are we busing preschool children when the district never got a referendum for busing. If I was a parent in this district I would be asking how that can happen. Just think of the students that could go to the Magnet Program if they could be bussed. The you take into account that the district doesn't get reimbursed for busing the pre schoolers so that is taking money for the students we are suppose to be using the money for. If you look back you do not see anything in the board minutes about this why is the board not letting people know?
Hey Becker, quit having your loser wife stick up for you! Go back where you came from. We don't want you around. You're never going to turn the football program around!
Come out tomorrow night to the FIRST HOME FOOTBALL GAME of the 2012-13 school year! Cheer on our Tomcats and their new coach, Kurt Becker!
Our kids deserve our support. They've been working hard, and sometimes the home crowd advantage makes a big difference on the scoreboard.
See you at tomorrow night's game--
Go Tomcats!!
Who cares if you worked for the Dolphins or 20 other NFL teams? If anyone has to openly start name dropping people such as Don Shula, they are not worth listening to. Get over yourself and your ego. No one is impressed. Go Bears!!!! The Dolphins suck anyway, and this is Chicago. Home of the Monsters of the Midway and Brian Urlacher!
Hey tough guy, Becker is an East Sider to begin with. He is back where he came from; idiot. Did you go to East High? If so, and you don't know Becker is an Alum, then you need to brush up on EA history. If he is not the answer for football, then why don't you offer a suggestion on who is.
Oh, and don't forget that our EHS marching band will be performing tomorrow night also. The West High band's halftime show at the East-West game in August was outstanding, especially considering they only had a couple of weeks to practice. Just imagine how grEAt our band's show will be, with several more weeks preparation time!
Prepare to be amazed!
...Or not.
:P
Nice job totally ignoring (deliberately) the entire point. The coaches job is to coach, whether he's in the pros, college, or high school, whether he graduated from East High, or West High, or Anytown High. The athletic trainer's job is to make the medical decisions. And IF Becker or any coach is interfering with the athletic trainer's job of taking care if the kids, it's just as WRONG as the athletic trainer trying to decide who should be the starting quarterback. Unfortunately I guess you can't handle a true story being used as an example of my point. You're right, this isn't Miami. So do your own research on the Bears (the team I prefer to watch, too, BTW). Their current Head AT (just took over this year) has been w/ the Bears for 12 years -- longer than Lovie Smith. The previous Head AT was w/ the Bears for 4 years as an assistant and then 15 years as the Head AT. How many coaches did they have in that period? The Bears organization has recognized my point for years. If it's good enough for your beloved Bears, it's good enough for our beloved Tomcats.
It is ok that Becker remain the Football Coach. No body has a problem with that. What many are complaining about is his attitude. He kicked kids off the team and had some injuries the team only has 25 players that is sad and dangerous for the kids.
He also needs to realize he is just a coach bad mouthing all the teachers has not won him any friends.
Then there the Board they should not be worried by a few sports boosters. They should not give him a position on staff. He still has his own business and he will become a ghost payroll employee.
Please stop the madness with him
It does not matter how the band does, this blog will rip them apart no matter what the truth is. It will never be good enough for the two of you who run this stupid blog.
I agree that coaches should do their job and trainers should do their job. One thing that is missing here is the kids. Those football players are trying so hard. They have played so hard the last few weeks. You may not agree with the coach or the policies of the EA school district, but come out and support those kids. It's more than the football team. Its the band, the cheerleaders and all the other kids we see out there working so hard and trying even harder. That team may only 25 kids, but they are trying. They can't succeed without the support of the community. If you're not out there volunteering (soccer, basketball, track, football, etc) you don't know what goes on. Don't worry about things that you don't even know are true. Put up or shut up! Come out and support your Tomcats. They could really use it.
Injuries in football are unfortunate but part of the game. Kids who do not attend practice daily or do not adhere to team rules need to be removed from the team. Keeping a student on the team who misses practice all the time, isnt in shape, and doesn't know the plays after a month only creates a safety situation for the kid who put themselves in the situation in the first place. In other words, kids are going to get hurt. They also do not deserve to stay on the team if they are not doing the same work as everyone else. That's sports, and if EA is ever going to compete with everyone else, then kids need to be held accountable, and need to be kicked off if they dont Work as hard as other kids and miss practice. Deal with it. Stop the madness? Settle down, its not that serious. You are complaining that he has an attitude? Have you met him? Have you had a conversation with him? If not, then you are personally judging him without having factual knowledge.
How did your email to your union go? Hopefully you are making progress. Pinky is checking on bids. keep in touch.
12:24 says "it does not matter how the band does"--how true!
We're stuck with the results of administration's decision from years past.
But I plan on coming out to support our hard-working students tomorrow night. They deserve it!
you dont need capital letters to read words in a fluent order, donkey. and what does 3 dots mean? if want to say something....say it, loser. get off the blog and go feed those street urchins!!
dam... he told you!!! Becker!!
1:36 I agree with you on that. At our school, kids that are hurt and can't participate are expected to report to the athletic training room for treatment and rehab daily so we can get them back into action (safely) as quickly as possible. And they are expected to attend all team meetings and practices, even if all they can do is stand on the sidelines; the idea is to at least try to keep their head in the game, even if their body can't. One advantage we have at our school is we're in the athletic training room during lunch periods, which are 50 minutes long. So the kids have time to get lunch AND rehab. Not sure about East High, but a lot of schools the AT is teaching during the day so the only time they can do rehab is after school.
dude...get over yourself. You're a clown. How much did they pay those coaches and how much did the trainer make? THANK YOU...and dont represent yourself as some big time trainer because you were an EMT and a lifeguard at the Aquatic Park for one summer.
The board should pay Becker to coach that's it. Not any made up created position. Don't listen to Pinky and Cowherd . Save $100000. Cam made a lot of promises he could not keep.
I voted a big fat NO!! So not all of us bend over. Unfortunately, I would say over half the member didn't vote on the contract. So until that changes (and we get rid of the bully running the board) nothing will!!!
That's real grown up of you!!! We have better things to do with our money, like buy school supplies for kids who come without!
You know what...I agree. I was a coach at one point and there is absolutely NO REASON a coach should have a say in who is AT. Everyone needs to learn to work together and act professionally. We want the best for our student athletes (as well as our students). The trainer who was there before was unprofessional and unethical. I don't know how she got let go nor do I care. But let's get someone in there who can work with all teams and coaches.
Hell, most of our new teachers don't know who he is!!!!
Where as I agree, the school cafeteria needs to be providing healty food. I've seen it. It's not good. You can call it what you want. It still pizza!!!
How much do they pay for busing the pre school children that is not required by the State. We don't even care about the children that might be able to go to the Magnet program if we had passed a referendum for busing yet this district goes behind the taxpayers back and pays for the busing of preschool children that might live in other districts since when we get a grant for per school we have to let children from other districts go to it. How much more did the district pay for this years contract for busing? That is taking money from the children we are suppose to teach. For all the parents that worked so hard to get busing in the district and the referendum didn't pass you need to know that this district is busing preschool children and they aren't suppose to. what else is this district spending money on that they aren't suppose too?
Ok you seriously need to shut up. I agree with the trainer AND I'm a coach and parent. I would be really upset if I found out the trainer, who has medical training, said my kid needed something and the coach, who doesn't, over ruled it.
7:20pm spoken like a true secretary. As for the Board President she looks out for the East Aurora tax payers not teachers, secretaries or maintenance people that live out of town
How many schools in the East side have heard this, "Per administration, we cannot do announcements in the morning, not even the pledge or moment of silent, cannot celebrate students birthdays in classroom or any other holiday party like Halloween, Valentine's Day and so on because it interferes with instructional time. Once again this is Per administration" I guess administration forgot what it was to be in elementary and the joy students have to celebrate with their peers!
4:52 you must have been looking in the mirror with the name calling. I've never claimed to be a "big time trainer". I don't need to get over myself, because none of my posts have been about me, or the coach, they've been about the kids and their safety. That's been the point all along -- which you've ignored. Every one of your posts has totally ignored the point, and just gone with name calling and personal attacks on someone you don't know. Every word I've said has been true, but you'd never believe it because you would never let facts get in the way of your opinions. The biggest difference between us is that I tell the truth, make my point and actually care about the safety of the kids, and don't stoop to name calling. You on the other hand ...
how do you know what he promised or didn't?
If the board president is looking out for the taxpayers why are we busing students that we are not required to do and how come the district does not have someone looking at the credit card statements of the administration? I as a taxpayer do not believe they need a golfing retreat in the summer. How does one have a working lunch when there is only one person? I do not care if the workers don't live in the district especially if they have children I wouldn't want mine to go to our schools unless of course they could get into the Magnet Program if we lived close enough to walk because the only students we bus is pre school.
It's TONIGHT--the first home football game of the season!!
Come support our hard-working Tomcats and their new coach, Kurt Becker!
Be part of the "home field advantage"!
Our kids deserve our support!
:)
Changing the subject just a bit, does anybody know who the new EHS choir director is? I hope our ChoirCats are finally getting to sing instead of sitting in study hall. And the choir position hasn't been listed on the district website this week.
Also, did they find an accompanist/assistant?
Well my niece tryed out for the musical Beauty and the Beast yesterday and said there was a blond lady there they said was going to be the new director. But my niece hasnt had any choir practices yet, they just study or watch movies.
8:41 pm The School Board is to work on behalf of the taxpayers who votd them in office. Which means they are to be the liaison between the public and the superintendent. There should be no hard feelings about where the employees live, but rather if these people are doing their job according to their job description. If there is no stipulation as to where employees live, 8:41, that is a NON issue, and certainly not an issue the board should be managing.
I teach at the middle school level and I am thrilled that someone realized announcements and other intrusions were taking instructional time away from the classroom!
You have that wrong the Superintendent is the liaison between the public and the and the board. He is there only employee and his suppose to make sure board policy is followed.
Yeah, let's go from too many announcements to Zero - Has anybody ever heard of moderation. Just limit them. Nope, not here, let's just get rid of them all together.
Busing is paid for by he State the sad part is the Building are so over crowded that if they did not spent money on busing they would not use up the preschool grant. I had heard D131 gets paid for up to 2000 students since they can only take in about 1200 it leaves open money to be spent on other things like busing.
what i understand is that the athletic director at any school interviews potential candidates with a committee, and then a recommendation goes to the board for appoval, then human resources figures out the salary, not the AD. if anything was promised, it was promised by a member of the board and district office, not the a.d. truth always comes out. time will tell.
care abt THIS!!! RIGHT HERE, BUDDY!!
Here is part of an article about PreSchool in Rockford and the cuts the State has made for busing. Now remember Rockford had busing where our district does not.
Collaboration necessary for transportation
The district has to supplement its Early Childhood funding from the state every year. Officials pledged about $3 million in additional funding for this year’s expansion even before they knew of the funding cut, said Chief Operations Officer Cedric Lewis. The Head Start partnership helped lessen that funding blow to the district, he added, in addition to belt tightening and other internal efficiencies.
So if the district is not using the money for what they gave them that is abuse also.
Coach Becker will be gone next year unless theBoard pays him big bucks you heard it hear first.
"Hear" should be spelled "here."
It's perfect football weather tonight--let's get out & support our Tomcats at the game tonight!
Can't wait to see the band's halftime show. They've been working on it for several weeks now. West's show was AWESOME 2 weeks ago, and our band has had considerably more time to practice so it should be at least as impressive as West's.
If you can't actually be there, there will probably be a video posted online.
:)
the band sucked tonite....football always sucks....can we just call a spade a spade, we need more white kids!
Liska sucks...Kaisershot forever!!!
band boosters couldnt raise $5.... ROTC is a joke!!
"Need more white kids"--what does race have to do with it? We need more guys go out for football who can run, pass, and block.
About the band, tough luck. Too late to fix that--blame administration, not the kids or even the director for the most part.
Football team looked horrible again they just need more kids. Lost 41 to 6. Becker is a joke he got rib of several kids so he says. I heard they got rid of him. They need to stop funding football and give the money to other programs like clubs. The clubs have to have certain membership to get paid why not the sports program. He gets the best stipend of all. Why?
Please Board do not spend our money on a washed up coach. Rumor is Becker is angry with the Board members for not supporting his program more. He is also bad mouthing them for not hiring him. He has all his henchman sports boosters bad mouthing them as well. If they don't cave he will not be back next year.
Becker's a coach not a magician. He can only work with whoever shows up for the team. I thought there were some good EA plays on the field last night, and although we lost it wasn't as bad as some games in past years & wasn't a shutout or ran the clock.
Wasn't impressed with the band, especially compared to West but no surprise there. At least the national anthem & school song were recognizable and kids uniforms looked EA OK. Probably the best we can hope for since administration "improved" the EHS band program several years ago.
washed up as a Coach? do you know how ignorant you sound? Becker is a great coach. This program has been struggling for 30 plus years. He can't work miracles. And if he is upset with the Board; whats the reason behind it? Is he angry because the board is not supporting him more, or is he angry because the board promised him things and there is no follow through with what they told him was going to happen? Big difference. All athletic programs at EA struggle, not just football. Do we get rid of all athletics? Test scores and students are struggling. Do we get rid of academics and tell our kids to get a job? What happened to Hope 165 and the money johnson kept promising? where is it? No follow through. Becker could have gone to any high School, college, or the NFL to coach, yet you say he is washed up. The sad reality is Becker is a great coach who took District 131s and certain board members word, and trusted that the football and all athletic programs would get the support they needed to succeed. The fact is that Becker and all coaches believe they are being mislead and they are. Johnson spoke about turning athletics around since she has been president, yet nothing has gotten done. Hope 165 is a perfect example.
Is there anything impressive with East other than kids who dress up in Halloween costumes, march around and are called rotc. its over on the East side. reality.
Who said the preschool children get bussed? The special Ed student do but that IS the law.
At least Marin got hers for her role in destroying the band
Ok people. I have read all the negative comments about the band and all the negative comments about the football program that I can handle. The fact is these are our kids!!! District kids and you are putting them down every time you say "they suck". We as a district need to be more supportive. Sure we aren't the best. But if you want to look around, who's to blame for that? Our kids do not have the same opportunities that other kids have. Most athletes have been playing that sport since they were 7. Most musicians have been playing their instruments since they were 10. Until we start fostering a community where this is occurring, our programs will still lack "talent". So I ask PARENTS to get our kids involved and teach them what it is to work hard and have dedication to their activities. Because inexperience and dedication is where the problem lies, not with the coaches or directors.
Becker has a bad attitude he never excepts responsibly for himself. It's everyone's else's problem
People don't come back to East Aurora because they are good hearted. Becker came back because his business is failing. Leadbetter pushed him in and the story has they would create a job once football season was over. Now Leabetter gets demoted a bunch of people start talking and the story is out.
He also tried getting a college level coaching job but that would have been out of town. Becker did not want to leave town. He also was never a true coach his time at Marmion was a volunteer. Look for him to try for a real coaching job or the board to cave and hire him. He was in begging Roberts, Clayton and Shelia for a full time job the other day
The board gave the band $200,000 last year and the sports program the same this year. The band got worst and sports still suck. They have funded programs in the elementary schools for art, extra music teachers, and sports camps. 165 hope is around and pays for programs. Maybe it's not the boards fault but the fact students don't join and need to help at home so they get after school jobs.
The State cut funding and maybe the Board is watching the money unlike other districts that use cash reserves.
Get your facts straight
The board saves money( they did not do it fast enough). The test scores go up (they did not go up enough). They give money to sports and the band (they are wasting money). 165 Hope helps kids ( it does not help enough). The teachers get the biggest raises any board has given them (it's not enough). The magnet school has other communities begging to attend ( they are spending to much money). They have reduced class size ( the classes are still to big)
Their kids get attacked, they are called names, they can never do enough. Yet the Board is not paid and as for Ms Johnson she has done more for this district than anyone will ever do. As for Becker he is paid. I thank the Board for all the free donated time they give the District and I hope you all run again.
About the band--I saw our band kids (grade school through high school) in the 4th of July parade and they sounded & looked great. So what happened between then and now that they didn't sound very good last night? Could it be leadership is the difference?
I know some don't like comparisons between now and back in the day, but when my kids were in band in the 90s the marching band sounded in tune and you could hear them all over the stadium when they played.
Of course back then there were more parents involved in the boosters, maybe that's part of it also.
"Excepts" should be "accepts", and "responsibly" should be "responsibility." Do you have a GED or are you a high school dropout? Becker at the very least has a high school diploma and a college degree. Accept the reality that you are uneducated.
Good for you. Too bad they will be voted out. Until then, you have until April to keep your lips puckered.
This was on facebook thank ROTC Students a wonderful song by Lee Greenwood about soldiers and I put this on here for our ROTC Students.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rM_tDB8OZok&feature=youtube_gdata_player
Take the time to watch it.
9:29 AM EA used to have a better programming, when the HS director was connected with the beginning band and with the Middle schools. I am NOT blaming Liska, but rather those who tore apart the program and segregated the directors.
4:20 PM-you give lots of credit to one board member. Maybe you are the lone supporter of that member that keeps singing her praises. Be a little more creative in your praise. As with the athletes, our district board needs a cohesive team to make progress. Anyone worth their salt would share the spotlight, if there were one to share.
Need more white kids for what to blow up the building or give us a reason to practice our stranger danger drill for real. Is there any wonder why s**t is so messed up in this district with minds full of crap who that's why are children are all doomed.
I was at the game last night and I will only say that that after listening to the band, they would not win any marching band competition. However, that being said, I would like to share an observation I made during the evening.
The varsity football team had 34 kids at the game last night. There were about ten adults (Coaches, Trainers etc.)working the sideline for the team. The band had well over a hundred kids including musicians and colorguard, yet Brian Liska was expected to organize all these kids by himself.
Considering the conditions (Complete lack of support from the district) that Brian Liska has to work with, I am surprised the band was as good as they were.
In comparison, looking at the Indian Prairie website, each of their high school music departments had at least ten music teachers (Not including the army of private instructors).
As always, the success of any school program starts at the top. Structure a program for success, hire the right staff and it will be successful. Unfortunately, this has never happened in District 131.
dam...he told you!!
We have the band program the administration in 2005 decided the kids and community deserved. If you don't like what you heard and/or saw Friday night, put the blame where it really belongs.
The students that go to the Early Child Service Center on Reckinger Rd get bused but how about O'Donnell and Johnson School do they have special needs children? Both of those schools have pre school and children do get bused there.
My last comments although few to the blog that can never have anything good to say got erased. I will post again
For the one or two that keep posting against Ms Johnson I had the pleasure of serving with her on negotiations. She was the only one that brought organization and direction to the administrative side after it failed the first time.
She asked us to survey the members and we did. Now we have reform committees.
The money end was explained by her not Mr Augustine. We clearly saw the District was in for every penny.
With the expection of Ms Glozbach the other administrators had nothing to say. Dr Roberts was present and she often waited for him to respond before responding for him.
One of our very last meeting Dr Roberts shared that it was her birthday. All of us said you did not have to attend. She said no this was important.
You can ask anyone who worked with the Union she was very professional. Yes the secretaries union rep did not get what was asked and may be bitter. However, the focus was on teachers and we made a big dent in catching up.
I dont know the other Board members but they all seem to deeply care about the children and teachers. I would like for them to be more public.
Maybe Dr Roberts should be a better leader but the District can only more forward and it will despite a few on this blog.
Amen to the band Liska does have help it is the Band Boosters we are true volunteers. The football team had 34 true they are from the JV team. We do not have a Freshman team, not enough kids.
The program has smaller numbers yet more coaches. Why?
The sports boosters have more say than others yet the programs are failures. A few have to much say in our District . Time to give everyone a equal chance.
If Becker was such a organizer why did they pay over. $;20,000 to his volunteers that half of them left.
The District has its priorities screwed up
The band has been he red haired step child of he district for years. It has more kids and no support. Last year we did get a lot of new instruments. That was the first time in thirty years. The band room is overcrowded and the uniforms old . The district could help by allowing us to raise money at district events. Get rid of the sports boosters.
The band room is the same size it's always been, so if it's overcrowded now it was also overcrowded in the 90's. It's not like a significantly higher number of kids are in the band now, they just had better leadership (director & boosters) back in the day.
And it didn't help things that a band student arranged a lot of the music for this year's halftime show. Unfortunately he didn't take into account the actual working/comfortable ranges of his classmates who would be playing the music. Nice try, but not such a grEAt idea.
You obviously haven't seen the raise!!!
Its great that the district bought so many new text series this year. Too bad someone wasn't good enough at math to order the right amount of any of them!
Ok, Hope 165 means it will raise $165,000, correct? Have they raised this much? And if they have, what has been paid for with that money? "Worst" should be "worse." Get your facts straight.
I was at the EA game on Friday. The one thing I notice from years of past is they make changes and and don't give up. If you know football you will know what I mean. You can't keep blaming the coach for the state of the football at East Aurora last I checked his name is Kurt Becker not "GOD". He can only work with what he has, he is not work miracles. This district has good athletes but keep leaving right before high school. I have coach the youth league for the last 12 yrs and I can count on all our coaches hands and some the number of players who's parents have left the district because they don't like district 131. Who is to blame? I don't know but it's a pattern. I hope Becker stays with this program, and anyone who knows football knows this will not happen overnight.
We the community need to stop pointing the finger and start helping. It's easy to complain but harder to help and follow because we all believe we are chiefs. I believe Becker is what this district needed, we have had athletes go pro don't give back. It's funny how the practices are open to the public to watch, but I bet all those who complain never go over there to watch. Coach Becker will stop and talk to you and welcome you if you stop by his practice. Try it. I think that all the so called vocal people should just give 3 hours out of the week to help a kid in the district and this district could be one of the best in the area. To sit back and point the finger it's just not fair to those who give their time wether it's a teacher, coach, BOE, and etc...#TOMCATPRIDE
Didn't take in to account "the actual working/comfortable ranges of his classmates"?
He asked them on the band Facebook. Unfortunately, the kids weren't interested enough to respond for whatever reason. When he didn't get a response, he did research to find average ranges and what not, but guess what? Our kids aren't quite "average" yet.
I am very proud of our band program. I think we can all agree that adding another director would probably channel the students' talents to unprecedented levels. Unfortunately, that seems very unlikely to occur anytime soon. We need more students like Tanner, the boy responsible for much of this year's halftime show music. We need students who take the band program on their backs and try to make something out of it. It's sad, but the adults won't come together anytime soon and the best thing we can do as band parents is to encourage our kids to make sure they learn the music, to participate in Tri-M, or to maybe seek private music instruction.
I'm looking forward to see what this band becomes. Marching band isn't easy. Unlike competition bands, everyone enrolled in the school's band program must participate. That includes Freshmen, some of whom have never marched before.
A lot of you guys go out and see the District band camp and compare the high school marching band to that, but keep in mind that that isn't only voluntary, kids pay to participate there! Sure, maybe a couple of kids go there because their parents make them or something, but many more of them really love band. It's getting better too because we have our dedicated high schoolers participating and even some college kids.
Some freshmen have no marching band experience and now that beginning band is feeding the marching band's numbers, the total of band students who have never marched before really climbs up.
It starts at home. We need motivating and informed parents. It goes to school, we need a great director.
I believe however that the students can bring on themselves the greatest amount of change in the shortest amount of time. It's just that like someone said a while ago, they need a bit of guidance. They need to be pushed in the right direction. They're not babies, they're teenagers. They like coming together and turning things around. Why can't we show them that doing that with the band program might be fun and awesome?
Working at East Aurora is very difficult. If Kaisershot had the band he would be having the same problem. In fact 33% percent of the kids coming into the band are taught by him. So why are they not better prepared?
I am not critiquing him. I just pointing out our student body is tough to work with. As for the Football team the bet at EHS is Becker will not be back. The only factor is will the give him a full time do nothing administrative job.
I was a friend of Kevins and now Brians. Kevin did not deserve the treatment he received. I am glad Marin G is gone she destroyed a lot of moral.
10:44 p.m., back before 2005 the situation was the same, with all band members expected to march & a lot of freshmen who had never done halftime shows before. I don't remember the pre-2005 bands' halftime shows as all that spectacular, but the formations were precise and the sound was solid. Last Friday's halftime was embarrassing, especially compared to the West show a couple of weeks ago. Yes I know some don't like comparisons between East & West or past & present, but they are unavoidable especially when so many of us remember how our administration insisted a new director was necessary to improve the band program. People are always going to be looking for that promised improvement, especially those who think Kaisershot got a raw deal.
9:24 PM many of us are/ have been giving of our time. Obviously, you cannot know who all of the "anonymous" blog people are. But you are right on target with the with the comment about helping. People do not realize what a tremendous impact it would make if every parent gave just ONE hour of their time to their children's school. Not only to benefit the school but also the feeling of being part of progress at the school by the parent and the student. I feel it gives the sense of pride we are lacking in EA.
Before that is taken wrongly. There is much EA/Tomcat pride. That is seen everyday in those who return to the district in paid and volunteer positions. But we need MORE, instilled early & daily.
I have not attended any games this year, so I am not aware of how the students performed in sports or band. Those who step up and out to go the extra for the school, they have that sense of accomplishment. Like the athletes and the student, Tanner, that was mentioned, they have pride in what they are doing and doing it for their school. I believe more community members and parents should give of themselves, if only to attend one game, one concert or volunteer one hour, each semester or even just each school year, to encourage the students of EA.
Kudos to Mr. Becker for having the guts to put her name and face on her comments. I'm not that brave!
(September 10, 2012 1:06 PM)
@ Rayanne it's not a debate on those who are giving their time. It's the ones who complain about the current state of district 131, and who do nothing. I am sure there are alot of people out there who do things as you state. But just like everything in life the negative is what gets the press or is heard the loudest. I have attended two games and seen the varsity practice for about two months now. Coach Becker is doing a good job with what he has. This program won't see the turn around until he gets kids who come out for football freshman year and believe in the program.
Can some please explain how there is no freshman football team this year when over 100 kids played last year at the middle school level? We need to figure this out because I bet you right now you have over 100 kids trying out for 4 basketball teams (frosh A,B soph A,B, and varsity) when they only can carry so many. I just think we need to hold camps at times some of the people in the community can come out a volunteer and stop holding so many of our camps during the time that most of the parents may be work (I said working). I would like to get involved in the sports program more but my current career does not allow me to get off, because I am working a 9-5 with the 30-40 minute commute. If they had things after 6 or 7, I would happy to give time but we all know that will not happen. So in order to show my support, I attend the games and cheer certain teams until the end. I remember being on a football team with 22-26 players and the coach just telling us to believe and we won 3 games at East High in the 90’s.
I just wish the district had more things after 6 to get the community involved. What happen to the open houses, pancake days, fruit sales, and other events that use to be held at the school? It seems the focus needs to be looked at again. Most business when they suffer or there is a decline will reevaluate things. Maybe it’s time for EA to look into working with the local university/colleges and local government into improving things. In district 131 our students are faced with other obstacles that other districts do not have. If we could find a way to get the community and others to give just 3 hours of their time per week the difference would be great as you and I have both points out. I could go on and on about things but if you have any website or something we could go to find out about these opportunities. I am all open to these chances. #TOMCATPRIDE
The thing is 8:36 you are not looking for improvement - you are looking for problems and then glorifying them like it is the end of the world.
you have no brains and are too uneducated to be part of the solution
Not the end of the world, just the end of a formerly fine band program.
Please stop comparing the East and West bands. They have more directors and their band is VOLUNTARY! People sign up to be in marching band! They volunteer more time and have more passion for it because of that. They are completely different. It's like comparing Harvard's music groups to Julliard's!
Comparing East & West, probably not a fair comparison.
Comparing past & present EHS bands, a different story. According to administration replacing the director was necessary to improve the program, so asking where's the improvement is a fair question.
How about the EHS choir program? 4 weeks into the school year and the choir kids haven't sung a note.
Yup the end of a fine program and the start of a great one. Looks like things are moving in the right direction.
It seems that the only common factor in all the district failures is a pattern of poor decision making and lack of support at the administrative level.
The only thing that the administration and board are concerned with are their public images. They want to do whatever short term stop gap measure they can to make themselves look good.
Nobody seems to understand that, while you must have the right support from your leadership, nothing in this world is built from the top, down. Every successful adventure must be built from the bottom, up.
The district, to be successful must build the elementary and middle school programs first. This will be a marathon, not a sprint.
I agree, you can't make something from nothing. Just look at the middle school football programs. Simmons and Waldo have won only one game between them. (Yes, Cam has lost every game as the head coach of Simmons and that was with a group of guys that the seventh grade coach, last year, called the most talented group he ever worked with). Apparently, he runs the Simmons Football Team as well as he ran the high school athletic department.
Cowherd is the only bright spot on the East Side. The Cowherd football teams have won almost every game this year. The school also won several different sports championships last year. Why are they competitive but the rest of the district is not? Somebody should figure that out and apply it to the rest of the district.
District continues to face storm of critics
Headlines today in the Beacon come on Anie Thompson you can't defend the kids on the West Side. I think you should resign the teaching profession. Hiring Criminal Defense with tax payer money to defend your Superintendent and voting to extend his contract. Shame on you. You are what makes a teacher look bad.
The Board needs to FIRE Jim Rydland at least this blog gives us a voice unlike the openline Blog that is controlled by Rick Lawerence who like Anie got special favors for his kids.
10:29 p.m. says:
"Looks like things are moving in the right direction"
...Only if you're blind, deaf, and/or delusional.
9:38 p.m., Juilliard does not have a marching band.
Only if you're not a complete jerk who actually has a brain.
And if you ARE a complete jerk who actually has a brain??
Just saw this in the Beacon:
beaconnews.suntimes.com/news/15208662-418/east-aurora-oks-teachers-contract.html
Oops, typo. I meant to say "Mrs. Becker."
There is an article in the Beacon of what Johnson said at the board meeting and Ms. Johnson if you can't trust some administrators then they should be fired and that goes for the Superintendent. It is not your job to to the things you are doing and don't forget that from what I hear you where the one to ok that dinner for Wells.
Simmons might have some talented kids on their team but they only won 1 or 2 games last year as 7th graders.
beaconnews.suntimes.com/15224446-417/east-aurora-board-president-lost-my-trust-for-administration.html
In this case our School Board president is correct: micromanaging is a GOOD thing.
If this president has to micromanaging then she should get rid of them and get administrators that follow policy. The board makes policy and they hire a Superintendent to make sure it is followed. As far as policy there still isn't one on how credit cards should be used.
wow-what an elucidating blog! adults calling each other names- --if you were to die tomorrow- would it really matter who ran the sports boosters or band boosters or who made more money? You all want these kids to win, and what are they winning? what are you teaching them? That you are a bunch of old twisted individuals and all you care about is a number on a scoreboard? And that you cannot feel good about yourself unless that number is high? You are using these young people for your own egos. And that is sad- Shame on you- and quit pretending you care about them.
Go East Aurora Board!!!!! You are doing a great job!!!!! Keep it up!!!
Wells is a joke today she claimed the teacher are on strike. The Board will be sued. The board should goto California and Florida like her and take her grand daughter at the expense of the District. What a joke the Board member from hell. Rumor is she and Mary Fultz are running. That is if Mary does not goto jail from beating up a cop with a frying pan that she is currently on trial for.
Some class Juanita.
I guess the Union President and the Board President labeled you 30 years of nothing.
The School Board is doing a great job it's seems they are cleaning things up. Look for more dirt to come out on Augustine. Two people in his department have resigned. I think the Board needs to fire him. He seems to be throwing a lot of papers out.
However Dr Roberts is also responsible
The BOE has made changes no doubt, the scores did go up a lot and my pet peeve is they pulled the credit cards. The maintenance staff has always been horrible and I would see them driving around but never around our buildings. I know the teachers and staff always had bad computers and the parents could never get the grades online. This year they started that as well. So yes we do have a good board. I get it.
My biggest concern is why so long? Dee and Raynne said many of these things four years ago. Don't get me wrong we need to support them for the next election. Juanita Wells would be a big step back wards and Mary Fultz with Juanita cost the district a lot of money. I am hoping the Beacon follows up on her frying pan incident because I know a police officer that was there. Juanita also took a lot of trips and it is clear a admin wrote that for her. Next time everyone needs to listen to the wisdom of others and I feel many for the things Rayanne and Dee brought forward are coming home to roost.
Go Board
It's it funny that it is happening now when the election for board members is coming up? The credit cards are a big thing and they still haven't got a policy on the books about using them and that was suppose to be done in 2010 according to IL Administration Code. Don't blame Jay on that it was the board that was suppose to have someone look at all the receipts where for district use and there are some that wasn't.
It is time for this district to find another Superintendent other districts that are a large as this one probably has some of the same problems but they get looked into faster and I believe Johnson wants the glory and if there was the right Superintendent he would do his job and not have to have the board overlooking him.
As far as Well's it wasn't just the administration that wrote things up for her remember the last time she went to the conference in Nov. she got a nice 2 night stay at the hotel and a dinner which Johnson, Lewis, Hull and Stella went. Should taxpayers money be spent on a trip when someone will not be on the board. The board members that where there could of stopped it but they let her go. What else are they letting get by? Now that some are up for re election they want to talk about how they don't trust them when they knew what was going on all along.
Picked up my Beacon-News this morning and saw a big picture of our School Board president, Annette Johnson, along with this headline:
BOARD PRES RIPS ADMINISTRATORS
The sideline says:
Johnson criticizes handling of East's finances, PAGE 6
Here's a link to the online version of the article:
beaconnews.suntimes.com/15224446-417/east-aurora-board-president-lost-my-trust-for-administration.html
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
In this case, our Board president got it right. She is definitely looking out for taxpayers' and students' best interests.
Juanita Wells is delusional if she thinks she has a chance of being re-elected to the School Board.
Does she think the community has forgotten how she blamed the band students for purposely mangling the National Anthem? Does she think taxpayers have forgotten how she helped herself to hotel stays & restaurant meals for friends and family members?
Some of us have long memories, especially when it comes to D131 administration and the "School Board from Hell".
Same old crap over and over again. The redundancy of this blog is amazing.
The redundancy of this blog is APPROPRIATE, especially considering the recent history of our district.
"Those who do not learn from history are doomed to repeat it"--George Satayana
Rayanne is the biggest joke today made more news in central office than Johnson. She wrote emails in support of administration to them personally this well she runs a blog ripping us apart. Everyone here jokes about her jealous attitude for all the changes the new Board made along with Wells they had been dysfunctional.
Johnson on the other hand at least praised certain administrators for a job well done. Not all are bad. However praising Roberts is another story people feel she lost some credibility. As far as election the cleanup on accounting, maintenance and technology have been going on fr awhile. That is why all the name calling.
Juanita Wells and Rayanne will go down in history as the school board from hell.
Would love to know who the new maintenance supervisor is that was mentioned in the Beacon today. Does anyone know???
Annette Johnson is tooting her own horn. Good job but we know its you. Stop trying to take credit for finding all this out , Leonard is who discovered all this.
What's going on with the EHS choir? Midterm is Friday, and the choir kids have not had one single rehearsal. The administration knew about the vacancy before school started, and have stopped advertising the position as available over 2 weeks ago.
Evidently there has been someone selected to fill the position, but for whatever reason it's being kept a secret and (most importantly) our kids are NOT being given the choral experience & education they signed up for and DESERVE.
C'mon, administration, do the right thing for our kids and fix this SOON!
People could you all grow up and do something Johnson does toot her own horn and could of stop this long ago. There is still so much misuse of money that should be stopped that she hasn't done.
A bit of GOOD news, from our district's Facebook page:
East Aurora's Abraham Kalusha Kanneh led the Tomcats to a 4-1 victory over Waubonsie Valley last night! The Tomcats remain undefeated at 3-0 in the Upstate Eight Conference Valley Division! #EastsidePride
Hello Friends. Apparently Mary Fultz is planning to run for school board once again. Can we all just take a moment and reflect on what a TREMENDOUS DISASTER it would be to have her on our board.
http://montgomery.patch.com/articles/judge-rules-mary-fultz-not-eligible-for-seat-on-east-aurora-school-board
Plus she was arrested for police battery. (maybe someone else could find a link).
Again, an example of an uneducated activist who knows nothing about helping our kids receive a better education getting onto our school board.
I have to agree on Mary Fultz she did not live in the district and lied and I believe some in the district pushed her to do it. There are good people out there that could run and don't say they won't because of this blog. If you believe you could make a difference and follow the law and not how the district thinks it should be. There are some on this board that have broke the law and then say others misuse funds. We need leaders not micro mangers. We need a Superintendent to do his job and follow policy that the board has put in place. There are some that say that this blog keeps people from running but I believe it is Ms. Johnson that keeps them from because if she doesn't get her way she will make sitting on this board very hard for them.
Mary has been on trial in the Kane County and Juanita Wells is also planning a run. Both are example of uneducated low life who raised their children to goto jail.
That is hy the East Side ended up as it did. Other than Cervantes the others on the current job hold down jobs have college degrees raised decent families and we will have this rif raf to put up with
Johnson made quite the indictment of the very school board that she is president. Who hired the people who can't be trusted? Who hired the people who are incompetent and keeps them around when proven incompetent? Who appointed a board member only because he is young, naive, and can be totally controlled? Who? Who? Who?
Oh great--now there's an owl on the blog :D
Augustine and everyone in the central office got hired by the old board. The new board is cleaning house. Some call them micro managers but they are not sleeping like the boards of the past.
I don't have kids in school and would have liked to run but I refuse to have my name dragged through the mud.
Cervantes runs circles around Juanita Wells .
Who would run for a non paid job and have their names messed up. Not me go boards
New choir director coming soon, possibly Monday.
The employees of d131 that are good workers have become closet cheerleaders of Johnson's for her term. She reformed many many programs in d131 and it had to be done. For that we are grateful.
The issue many of us have is she has lumped us all together as bad employees. We know what is in the paper is the tip of the iceberg. Many of us know the other audits going on now are really bad. It will show the true test of her leadership when it is all said in done.
Maybe some of us should have spoken up sooner.
We also do not understand why she is defending the Superintendent he is responsible for all of the bad apples. They along with his pet Adams are all part of the old boys club. Augustine, C Roberts, Nestor Garcia, Adams needed to go. It was a start last year with Wilson and Gonzalez these are the bad apples and we don't want to be lumped in . For there exists a longer list of employees that are also bad apples.
We also thank the other BOE members for supporting this change. The District is on the mend and I hope you are all planning to run.
I don't want a bigot on the board either. Many of our students family may not have a college degree or finished high school that doesn't mean they don't care about education. Many people have built companies that don't have a college degree and are rich. Common sense is what we need and people that will follow the law and take time to know the IL School Code. This board has broke that law.
I heard they selected a new choir director a couple of weeks ago. She's someone with many years of experience and sounds like a grEAt choice for our EHS students. She has already helped with auditions for the musical, but isn't officially in place quite yet because they need to tie up a few loose ends at the central office.
Hang in there, ChoirCats--your new choir director's on the way, and worth the wait!
Who are you people spreading these lies. You don't know what your are talking about.
Who are YOU, 8:32 a.m., that you can't use punctuation or grammar correctly?
There are obviously some really stupid and lazy people working in this district to have all of this time to be posting on the dumbest blog ever created. I hope you are close to retirement or get fired because you probably suck at your job.
Too bad people have to worry about their name being dragged thru the mud. Hopefully, the name caller will be voted off the Board and we can get a Board that is passionate about the community as a whole. We need people representing the community and ensuring D131 students get a quality education. We wouldn't need image management if actual characteristics of the district were improved.
If everyone one worried about their name being dragged through the mud when they ran for office we wouldn't have a US President or and other elected officials. If you are doing right then you should worry about it.
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