Saturday, November 24, 2012

"What are YOU doing to make a positive difference?"

Once again, a good idea for a new post title came from a comment in the previous thread.

 In this season of thankfulness and sharing, how can each of us step up to make D131 better?

243 comments:

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Anonymous said...

So under Mayor Weisner the Aurora schools have remained some of the worst in the state. Lets all make sure nobody ever forgets that!

Anonymous said...

Board minutes from the Nov. 19 mtg. still aren't posted!

Anonymous said...

What does Weisner have to do with it? He's not teaching the students. District has plenty of money for all this technology. So, what is reason(s) for the poor performance?

Anonymous said...

West aurora is headed in the same direction

Anonymous said...

Is it that the kids don't care, or the parents? Or both? Until the kids care about the grades they get, nothing will ever change on the east side. They simply don't care. Ask any student with bad grades if they care. They say no EVERYTIME!!!

Anonymous said...

Under Weisner the schools in Aurora have sufferred, espcially the east side. He has done nothing about overcrowding, property standards, and has a inability to attract white colar jobs to the area.

Anonymous said...

It's not true that Weisner has done nothing about overcrowding in D131. He's increased it.

Anonymous said...

Close the borders!!! Until then, it's only going to get worse!!!

Anonymous said...

@11:50 Too funny!!

Anonymous said...

If you are an EAHS alum and have a facebook account make sure to join the EAHS Alumni group on Facebook!

https://www.facebook.com/groups/EAHSalumni/

Let's work to build a strong network of alumni to demand the changes we need for success in our district.

Anonymous said...

1:26 that should have happened before 1492.

Anonymous said...

2:18 isnt linda chapa lavia part of that alum? What is she doing?

Anonymous said...

Linda Chapa Lavia is cutting spending to public education (and every other social program) and sending her kids to private schools. I'm sure she is also trying to cut teacher and other public sector workers pensions as well.

If you want to improve public education, we can start by voting her out of office.

Anonymous said...

Huh, maybe the public should know how little Chapa LaVia has done for the Aurora schools while using our taxdollars to send her own kids to private schools.

They may all get elected and reelected but lets make sure the public never forgets their legacy and the State of the Aurora schools long after they are gone from office.

Anonymous said...

For the naysayers out there who have nothing good to say, here is a review of the concert tonight -- the concert had high moments and low moments. The choir was fabulous, the band hit only bad notes. Now that that is out of the way -- For the rest of you who have an open mind and enjoy music, come out tonight at 7 and enjoy the concert. It should be grEAt!!

Anonymous said...

Now the Board thinks they can run the building n grounds department. Lewis and Leonard are interviewing without anyone from the department being there. Wait til the kids dont have heat this winter I am sure Anita and Dick will fix the boiler.

Anonymous said...

@10:54. What position are they interviewing for? I'm sure they will hand pick one of their buddies!

Anonymous said...

12/13 10:54
The only reason the board has to be so involved in the day to day affairs is because Annette Johnson conitnues to support Jerome Roberts. Until he is gone it will only get worse. He should have been fired years ago but for some reason Johnson and the lap dogs on the board who follow her continue to protect this guy.

Anonymous said...

9:18 a.m., I'm sure tonight's concert will be an enjoyable one. Our band & choir students have been working hard, and it will be fun to hear their performances!

Fortunately, expectations should not be as high for this concert as for last week's. Certain people like to claim that the EHS bands pre-2005 played "Easy Baby" (middle-school level) music, and that the current top band was performing more advanced music than under the previous director. So when the 2012 EHS top band (Wind Ensemble) performance of "Sleigh Ride" (using exactly the same arrangement as pre-2005!) did not sound all that grEAt, it was another opportunity for unfavorable comparisons.

All I expect from tonight's concert is to see the kids enjoying themselves, and hear an entertaining program!

Anonymous said...

9:18 you pretty much summed it up. We will now here another 2 days of the band sucked and the choir is amazing.

I actually think people will say the concert band is amazing and give all the credit to the middle school directors and then say the symphonic band sucked because Liska has had them for too long.

Either way it is all BS and these people who don't like the personal agendas of the Administrative team can't see that their own personal agendas cloud their judgement.

Anonymous said...

Uh, 3:28, the Wind Ensemble never played "Sleigh Ride" under K. Because there wasn't any Wind Ensemble then. Liska's the one who started it.

Anonymous said...

Stay strong Annette!!! There is a whole community that is supporting you.

Anonymous said...

Uh, 7:51 p.m., 3:28 said "top band".

Right now the most-advanced EHS band is called "Wind Ensemble". Years ago it had a different name. Other schools' top bands are called "Symphonic Band", "Wind Symphony", "Honor Band", etc.

Anonymous said...

Actually, the top EHS band was indeed called "Wind Ensemble" for several years in the late 1990's. I have EHS band programs from 1997, 1998, and 1999 that prove it!

So 7:51 p.m. is WRONG to say that the current director started it.

Anonymous said...

I have to say I'm impressed with Annette's comments from the most recent School Board minutes. She is doing a lot to keep an eye on our district's financial bottom line!

Anonymous said...

Just saw this on the Beacon website:

beaconnews.suntimes.com/16994577-417/board-president-east-aurora-needs-tougher-superintendent.html

Anonymous said...

This article is better

beaconnews.suntimes.com/mobile/16994575-463/feud-between-east-aurora-school-board-members-turns-ugly.html

Anonymous said...

@9:54PM Wow! Just read that article! Wow!

Anonymous said...

How much would it cost to buy him out, instead of letting him "ride it out?"

Anonymous said...

Finally Johnson speaks up way to go Annette we do need a tougher leader. I am disappointed in Ray Hull I always thought he was not happy with Roberts. He tries to pass the buck on Johnson and make Roberts out to be a poor superintendent. Yeah Ray Roberts is laughing all the way to the bank.

Anonymous said...

9:47 p.m. SHUT UP ANNETTE! STOP TOOTING YOUR OWN HORN!

Anonymous said...

This was also in the Beacon:

http://beaconnews.suntimes.com/16994575-417/feud-between-east-aurora-school-board-members-turns-ugly.html

It has an audio tape of Johnson and Hull acting like a couple of incorrigible children. If the children of this district acted that way, they would be spending a few days in in-school suspension.

You then add the article where they are publicly bashing the district's superintendent but state they aren't going to get rid of him for at least a year and a half.

Is there anybody left in the community who doubts where the disfunction is, in this district. How can there be any positive change with people like this in charge.

The next election is in the spring. It's time to clean house. Both the board and the administration.

Anonymous said...

After reading about all the problems going on in this district, what superintendent worth a damn is going to want to walk into District 131?

If you paid me a million dollars, I wouldn't take the job. Being around Johnson and Hull constantly wouldn't be worth it. Nobody superintendent is going to be able to run this district, they will be spending all their time jumping through Johnson's hoops.

If these board members had an ethical bone in their body, they would step down and allow somebody with at least a shred of respectability to take over.

Johnson and Hull, your time is done, move on.

Anonymous said...

This is 7:51. My apologies. I just know that as of when my first got to EAHS in 1998 under K there was no Wind Ensemble. The only band you really had to try out for was Jazz Band. The others were Concert and Symphonic. In OUR family's experience there wasn't Wind Ensemble until sometime after my youngest arrived there in 2004, and Liska started/restarted it. She's the only one of our 3 who played in Wind Ensemble. And our oldest by that time was off at college majoring in biochem and music, and came home for break and attended one of those concerts and was impressed w/ both the level of music the Wind Ensemble played and how well they played it.

Anonymous said...

11:42 you are absolutely correct. Clean up and get to educating the children. We cannot waste another dime allowing ths Board to feather a supts retirement nest.
Johnson is allowing Roberts to ride out his contract. How much is it worth to let our children pay the price for the Boards bad decisions the last 4 years? Get your lawyer Annette and get Roberts out. He should have broken the terms of his contract if your lawyer wrote it in the best interest of the district!

Anonymous said...

"I just know that as of when my first got to EAHS in 1998 under K there was no Wind Ensemble"

C.D., you are either lying, or your memory is failing.

I am looking right now at a concert program from May 11, 1999. It is a Symphonic Band and Wind Ensemble program...

...and YOUR DAUGHTER'S name is listed under "Wind Ensemble Members".

Anonymous said...

Here is a thought - I don't care :) Have a nice day.

Anonymous said...

Some people DON'T care, because the verifiable truth bothers them. They'd rather just keep believing lies, even when presented with evidence to the contrary.

It's easier that way.

;)

Anonymous said...

Wow, Does Annette get along with anybody?

Annette sent a letter to the District Staff where she now bashes the Beacon (She also bashed many departments within the district). It basically begins with "DON'T BELIEVE WHAT YOU READ" her emphasis.

She claimed that ""riding Dr. Roberts' contract out" could not be further from the truth". She continues to bash how health care has been handled, continues by bashing the maintenance department, then continues on to finances. She also talks about the Tech. Department and Bilingual.

She then continues with "DON'T BELIEVE EVERYTHING YOU READ" her emphasis.

Also stated by Annette "Outside media forces like the Beacon News take statements out of context. The only real articles you can believe are the ones coming from the school district including the Letters to the Editor that Dr. Roberts wrote recently and the one that I will submit myself".

This woman needs some psychological help. Is there a process for removing an unstable board member? Somebody needs to check into this.

Anonymous said...

No. All they care about is yelling at each other during board meetings and making this district look bad!

Anonymous said...

Anyone else hear Dick Leonard bragging about the Board hiring his drinking buddy (Marty Feltes) to run the Building and Grounds Department? Im so sick of this Boards Profound Unprofessionalism! They announce new hires from barstools even? Really?

Anonymous said...

There is someone looking into this... and yes, a board member can be removed thru the proper authorities/process.

Anonymous said...

Interesting story today the problems with the school district have been around for years and finally someone is addressing them. I have seen the current administration and board taking many hits lately, you are in my prayers this new year. Thank you for starting the ball rolling and thank you for trying to fix issues

. I know teacher wages are coming along and I am hoping with the new found insurance money help can be given to us next year on that. it is another way to get us more money and close the salary gap. We are trying everyday to close achievement gaps with students remember many of us leave because oue net take home pay pays our mortgages.

As for Dr Roberts I hope you take a self reflective look and visit and see what is going on we miss many tools needed in our everyday job.

As for the Board keep asking questions someone needs to fill that role. Don't allow the naysayers to influence you.

Ms Johnson I hope you can continue the pressures of he last months must be horrible and I would not want to walk a mile in your shoes.

God bless all of you and Happy New Year!

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