I noticed at last night's forum that all 6 candidates mentioned that their highest priority was the 15,000 students in our district. That being said, I didn't hear any discussion about how the new EAHS "bell schedule" (actually a sneaky way of removing students' options for taking an elective) is necessary, given that 500+ students signed a petition against it!
The forum was not a sham, we saw what we came for, candidates POV on topics. Also, Roberts can be moved from his position to another, or removed if his contract was written to assure he did his job, he may not being living up to his part, therefore may be let go.
Retirees can be good board members as long as they keep involved and informed with D131. I agree, at least 3 members are far removed. They sit on the outskirts of the community without a clue what the majority of EA community members concerns are about. Before becoming board members how often were the 3 NE ladies in the schools or at events......never. Observing from the balcony is exactly what the ISBA says is the management position school boards should take to monitor their employee, the superintendent.
The incumbent side has managed its priorities. Money, property, Ward one. It was not untill the challengers, on the right, spoke passionately about the students did the left side comments start concerning students and education at a more ambitious degree. Even then Ms. Johnson wants to spend and put more computers in the hands of students, like technology is a fix all. People please watch both forums. If you do not know any of the people running for the board, it is a good way to get a peak at how people reply to tough questions.
Here's a link to the minutes from the March 18th School Board meeting. Note the discussion of the proposed bell schedule, as well as Robert Green's comments:
I have to admit, it looks very impressive. They have a much clearer vision for district 131 than any board member has had in the past and it is clear that the children are first and foremost in their thoughts. The ability to have an updated web site on the East Side is outstanding enough.
Actually it will be a great improvement to just have a board that doesn't embarrass the community on a regular basis. Annette Johnson talks about all the drama surrounding the school board, what she failed to mention is that she has been the cause of a great deal of that drama.
Just 5 days until District 131 can move forward into a positive direction. April 9th, Voice your Choice.
I don't see where anyone running for an office has their phone number listed. Also by having a website to contact them they can keep track of communications between them and those that are asking questions in case someone whats to change what they said.
I went to the Strand & Montroy website and left an email message. I got a prompt response to my question (by email), and both of us have a record of what was said.
Someone is busy stuffing envelopes and the taking on the expense of mailing flyers and putting up new bigger signs with only the name Annette Johnson on them. What happen to the buddy system campaign?
Before you vote,keep in mind that "Tough Leader, Tough Decisions" Annette Johnson's verbal exchange with "Ray Hull" degrading his residence upbringing. "A REAL CLASS ACT" More to follow
I just read the Robert Green minutes, some questions are in order. Why when the Aurora police and DCFS did an investigation and found Robert Green acted correctly and did nothing wrong was he terminated? Joan Glotzspoch fired him illegally back in 2010, and the board approved it, but Mr. Green was given his job back by a judge with all his pay. Second question, why does Joan Glotzbach and the board keep acting in an unjust manner? Is this bulling by our board and human resourses? Something needs to happen in this district, for Glotzbach and the board to keep bulling a teacher should be criminal! People who are voting need to take a look at the link provided. I read the link and am disgusted by our boards actions. This is clearly a personal grudge by Glotzback and the board against Robert Green. And, do we really need these people working in this district any longer?
I live on a quite street and Annette recycled her old signs. She and the others are not getting thousands of dollars like Strand and Montroy from Distrist crooks like Janco and Alarm Detection to run their campaigns along with the teachers. Integrity Montroy has none he will line his pockets from district cronies if elected because the current board cleaned up all the crooked contracts.
6:55 What proof do you have of your dangerously slanderous allegations? It's ok to have an opinion but making up facts is an act of defamation that is completely wrong. Back up your statements or f*** off.
Annette should be ashamed over those emails. She's pretty illiterate. We told you that "Northwestern MBA" was a fake. How do you teach kids to value education when the Board President can't even put together a sentence? How dare we forget? She drives a Corvette and makes pasta and the kids will be able to grow up and work for her one day! That's what she tells them. VOTE HER OUT!
What it boils down to is this; for years, central office administrators (and a select few in the maintenance department) have controlled all the contracts and dealings in the district. Judging by the poor choices being made, there has been a lot of speculation about the kickbacks that these individuals must be receiving. At the very least, they were providing unusual benefits to their buddies. Now it appears that the board has taken over these sweetheart deals. Appointment of people like Leonard’s childhood buddy (in a less than open process) just serves to fuel the speculation about corruption. It also makes people wonder when tens of thousands of dollars are spent to replace relatively new dispensers. It is also very suspect when the district dumps a bus company they have used for decades and replaces it with a bus company that is charging an additional 1.7 million dollars for the same service. Who is receiving the kickbacks now?
Hiring has come into question and rightfully so. The fact is Raymond Hull and Nestor Garcia did, strongly influence the committee hiring Kurt Becker as our high school football coach. Procedures were put in place that gave certain candidates a distinct advantage over other candidates. Certain power players pushed certain individuals and eventually anybody on the committee who had an opinion of their own was quickly shot down by Hull. During the interview process (while every other coaching candidate was content with the stipend as provided in the teachers contract) Kurt Becker made it clear that the only way he would consider dedicating the amount of time necessary to make the team successful was if he received a six figure income. This made most members of the committee very uneasy but we were quickly instructed not to talk about this and not to worry about it. Hull stated that he was in direct consultation with Annette Johnson and this would be handled by the school board and Joan Glotzbach (HR). The only thing worse than the deal making that was happening behind closed doors was Annette Johnson then going against her own word and breaking the deal. Last I heard, many of the high school coaches had still not received their pay. Further, the team has not received resources promised that would help improve the program. If anybody did a real investigation of the hiring process for the football coach, I am sure charges would be forthcoming.
The fact is, the board has stepped into matters they had no business handling and they have been unethical in how they handle these affairs. The role of the board is to oversee the affairs of the district and ensure a transparent process that has little to no possibility for corruption. This school board has utterly failed in this mission.
Before anyone calls me an idiot I want to beat them to it. I must be an idiot because in all my year in East Aurora I never knew we had such a beautiful newsletter. just got it in the mail. I'll get to read it this weekend. "The Enlightener"! Sounds like a blockbuster movie. It's in Spanish and English! I'm sure glad it came before 4/9. Lots of things are happening right now. Visits from Annette and Jerome to all the school, free breakfast, top quality newsletter boasting the flagship magnet school on the cover! Wow! I'm impressed! Never see any of these people in the schools until the past two weeks! I've never seen these newsletters! I'm must be an idiot! I find it hard to believe that this board tries to take credit for cleaning up the district when they are responsible for most of the messes. How much does Roberts make? Please Dr. Roberts...if you're going to run the district at least show your face in a school once in a while. Annette, way to clean up that B&G fiasco! How did you punish Mr. Garcia? Oh yeah, you pay him $120G to do NOTHING!!! Hire some teachers for our kids for God's sake! Why didn't you give Becker a position that would have him promote sports in the schools. He would actually be in the schools meet the coaches, the kids, and use his contacts to make things happen. He would have been $50G cheaper than Mr. Garcia and you would have fulfilled the promise that was made to him when he was hired. Maybe you're hoping all these ghetto, welfare, free loading East Aurora folks like Mr. Hulls family will like your expensively glossy newsletter enough to vote you back in. Please understand something! You are not wanted! Cleaning house starts with Annette and Jerome. Than some of the other wasted tax money can be tossed out. Hey! I forgot! There is also a district fun fair this weekend! Everything is free! Yeah! I bet those face muscles will be strained again! Annette and Jerome will have those smiles on! Another perfectly timed event to spew lies to our parents.
Getting in the middle of it Johnson insists that Janco “wasn’t pushed out the door.” But district e-mails provided to the Beacon-News show that Johnson had her eyes set on changing the bidding process for janitorial supplies, partly because she thought Janco’s prices were too high. She also accused district maintenance personnel of having a “cozy relationship” with Janco. In an e-mail to then-district personnel dated June 11, 2012, Johnson wrote that she believed three maintenance employees “were on the take.” “I am very disappointed (with) the way (the department is) being run,” she wrote. “The day has 24 hours in it so I suggest we get moving or it will be everyone’s last year.” In an e-mail dated June 10, 2012, Johnson wrote that the board would reject the current janitorial bid if no changes were made. “I expect changes to the bid and I will approve those changes with our lawyer,” she wrote. “Everything Janco is private label and double the price that is a(n) unfair bid.” In an August 2012 e-mail to former East Finance Director Jay Augustine and Superintendent Jerome Roberts, Johnson wrote that the bid was on hold until “we agree.” “Again, I am in the middle with a supplier and the bid has not been awarded,” she said. Johnson wrote that the objective of the new janitorial bid was to get away from brand name products, to “go green” and to use dispensers effectively. “(This is) something Janco should have been doing but they are to(o) busy chumming around with the maintenance department,” she wrote. In a phone interview Thursday, Johnson said she didn’t think her maintenance staff was taking bribes, but that she’d heard reports they had. Then, she reconsidered: “Maybe they were. I don’t even know what to believe anymore.” Subpar quality? Since they were installed last year, the quality of the new janitorial products, especially the paper towel holders, has come into question, though Johnson says “the breakage on them is very low.” According to district e-mails from March provided to The Beacon-News, maintenance employees at several schools have had issues with the new universal paper towel dispensers. In one e-mail, a Gates Elementary employee said that he fielded calls about jammed dispensers. Hermes and Brady experienced jams, too. A Waldo Middle School employee said he was having issues keeping the soap dispensers on the wall. “It doesn’t matter if they lock or not. If they want it off, it’s coming off,” the employee wrote of the students. Two other employees said they were experiencing the same issues.
Vendor treatment For the first time in years, East Aurora changed the layout and wording of its janitorial bid, which goes out annually in the summer. Johnson said removing specific brand names from the bid meant more companies could bid on products, making the process more competitive. But there are questions about who wrote — or influenced — the final janitorial bid. Johnson said that district maintenance personnel prepared the bid document, which vendors use to offer their prices on janitorial products. But Kramer alleges that a representative of one of the vendors helped write part of the new contract. That vendor, Elk Grove Village-based Mayfair, won $184,000 in new contracts with the district for the 2012-13 school year, which is mostly for toilet paper, toilet paper dispensers and new green chemicals the company says it advised the district about. Mayfair won one-third of total janitorial contracts. According to Blake Harber, a Mayfair customer service representative, an independent contractor named Jim Masterson called East Aurora a few months before the janitorial bid was slated to go out to potential vendors. Masterson talked to the district about “going green” with their chemicals, Harber said, something he had also done at Chicago Public Schools. According to documents provided to The Beacon-News, the janitorial bid was changed at least five times last year. The second version had the words “Ask Jim if it is OK to use his language” scrawled at the top, and is filled with Ecologic brand products, which Mayfair and some other companies sell. Masterson’s name and email address also appears on green cleaning informational documents provided to the district while it was revising its bid. The final bid document did not have the Ecologic brand name on it — since the district was trying to move away from specifying one brand — but the company won many of the contracts for green cleaning supplies. School Board member Hull, who also supervises the city’s Water and Sewer Department, said it’s not “totally unusual” for a bidder to help write a bid. “Is it ethical? You be the judge,” he said. “But I have a problem with someone who comes in and helps write the bid and then gets a significant portion of the bid.” Mayfair’s Harber said it is “perfectly proper” for a salesman to show a potential client how it could save them money. A salesman will try to get a client to include a specific brand in a bid, which eliminates some competition, Harber said. “That’s what you hope to do and this is what Mr. Masterson does well,” Harber said. “There’s nothing nefarious there. He came in and he tried to sell them on using safe chemicals. If it does the job, that’s being a salesman.” Johnson said bid documents were prepared by maintenance staff and that Masterson did not help write the bid. Johnson maintains she did what she had to do to save the district money. “If Annette Johnson would have not gotten involved in that bid we would have paid $52,000 too much for toilet paper and $38,000 too much for paper towels,” she said. “I don’t think I did anything wrong
What has been done in the dark for far too long, is finally coming to light. Can't wait till the high beam comes on and the few culprits are made accountable and the bus can stop worrying about innocents being thrown under. Big thumbs up to the Beacon for finally digging in and reporting the facts.
In an e-mail to then-district personnel dated June 11, 2012, Johnson wrote that she believed three maintenance employees “were on the take.”
“I am very disappointed (with) the way (the department is) being run,” she wrote. “The day has 24 hours in it so I suggest we get moving or it will be everyone’s last year.”
When questioned by the Beacon, Annette stated "Maybe they were".(taking bribes)
Somebody please explain this to me. Former board member Rayanne Carlson just spoke to district personelle (hardly more than hello). The union filed a complaint, the States Attorney was involved and shortly thereafter Rayanne resigned from the board.
Annette Johnson is in direct communication with district staff, not only speaking with them but also directing their day to day activities and making threats against them. Why is the union not filing complaints against her? Why is the States Attorney not involved? Why is this woman still on the school board?
Does everyone realize, now that these e-mails from Annette are being made public, our maintenance workers could easily file (and win) a harrassment suit against the district?
This woman has got to go before she does irreparable harm.
Big kudos to Denise Crosby and her fellow reporters/columnists at the Beacon! Now that John Russell is finally gone, the kid gloves are coming off and news from D131 is being reported and discussed instead of being sugar-coated. Ever since D131 gave Russell a sweetheart deal on the sale of his house back in 2005, unpleasant details about administration's dealings have been glossed over. Welcome to a NEW era in Aurora journalism!
Is a board president even suppose to email personnel? This needs to stop and we need to clean house. I can' imagine how it must be to work for this district. Those employees that where said to be taking brides should stand up for themselves and find out if they can do anything. Just look how the board stated some maintenance workers where buying things for themselves.
Good for the Beacon bringing this out now if they would do like other papers and take the information to whoever can stop this I might buy the paper.
No wonder Annette Johnson dislikes the Beacon News, they expose her and Roberts for who they really are. Guess today's articles show how Annette CANNOT BE TRUSTED when explaining her involvment in many an issue. And lets not forget the Superintendent Jerome Roberts involvment either.
There has been some complaining about Zach and Kirsten using out of the district money and then you have the board president using The Highlighter to promote herself and using district money. There is no reason to put that out right now when an election is going on.
The Better Government Association is now involved in d131 employee will be exposed for the crooks they are. They slandered Annette Johnson fine name to defend their own playoffs. Good that Annette exposed them more to come. Records are being shredded at the Hill Annette. Denise Crosby will be fired and exposed for the hack she is.
Only one way to restore INTEGRITY AND HONESTY back in 131 and that is to rid East Aurora of Johnson and Roberts once and for all. How can they face the District, students, and staff for their failures and disgrace they have brought upon 131.
I hope the Better Government does come out and see how this district is ran by a board president and not by the superintendent like the law states. It also states a board member should be doing administrations job which you can plainly see when Johnson gets involved in bids.
Denise Crosby has every right to look into things she thinks is wrong and she took what was given her and let us know that Johnson isn't everything she says.
Annette, your poor spelling and grammar always give you away. You are a perfect example that education was no better in District 131, 30+ years ago as it is today.
Interesting this all comes up right before the election. Obviously Denise Crosby and her colleagues have decided to affect the election. Something I'm puzzled by; the second article by Lulay and the other reporter says "Janco Supply inked a five-year contract with the district". Then at the beginning of the next paragraph it quotes the Janco guy as saying "It was a naïve handshake deal". Was there a written contract approved by the board or not? The article basically says yes and no at the same time.
As far as the dispensers, I work in another school district. In the past 20 years we've gone thru about 5 different soap, paper towel, and toilet paper dispensers because each supplier uses that as the hook to sell their product. "Oh, we'll install the dispensers for free!" Then when you go to buy supplies, the only place you can get the ones that fit the dispensers are from that company -- at a premium price. Going to dispensers that can take products from multiple suppliers makes sense. As far as dispensers getting broken -- hellooooo. School kids. NOTHING is indestructible. We've put up dispensers here that looked like Superman couldn't hurt them -- but some student managed to destroy it.
!!!!! JUST 4 DAYS UNTIL THE REIGN OF TERROR ENDS !!!!!
How many scandals? How many lawsuits? How many negative press stories? How many embarrassments. How many students failed? How many corrupt administrators covered up and retained? How many public battles between board members? How many negative comments about staff members made by our board? How many tax dollars spent trying to reelect Annette Johnson? How many corrupt committees? How many people screwed? How Many?????
The community has had enough. We see you for who you are Annette. Your time is at an end.
It's no wonder Mr. Green has filed and won so many lawsuits regarding the hiring of coaches in District 131. It appears as though the entire process is corrupt. Is it really that difficult to set up one procedure and follow it?
Why were Annette Johnson and Raymond Hull interjecting themslves into the process? Why are backroom deals being made? Why are we pissing off a professional level coach and his staff by breaking back room deals?
Why are we wasting taxpayer dollars on a hiring committee if the decision was made before they ever entered the room. When you figure that there were ten staff members on the hiring committee. The process took at least 30 hours and each person was making a minimum of $40 an hour, we wasted over $12,000 hiring the new football coach. Was all this waste just to give the appearance that the board wasn't pulling the strings?
The school board has never been clean in District 131 but compared to the current board, former boards look lily white.
I'm voting for change starting with removing Annette Johnson.
I will be demanding every campaign contribution Strand and Montroy received from staff if elected to the board they need to have Integrity so as to not be showing preferred treatment of people who donated.
If elected they will shortly be involved in the same problems. Strand and Montroy don't know what they got themselves into.
Johnson did not give any proof that they where taking bribes and if they where why didn't the district prosecute them. In all the uncovering this district or Johnson has said they uncovered not one person was made accountable to pay back the district.
Hill Avenue news is that three people in the maintenance department were fired today. Yesterday, Annette Johnson stated for the Beacon that she had no evidence of wrongdoing by anybody, today she is firing three people in the maintenance department. Apparently Annette is on the warpath once again. Annette is embarrassed publicly so she is taking it out anybody she can. Jerome just goes along hoping to keep his job another day.
The three people fired have worked for the district for many, many years. Scott Sweigart, Roger Carlson and Jan Cinto. If I were them, I would be going directly to my attorney and filing against Annette and the district.
I am sure we will have another embarrassing story in the Beacon before Tuesday.
Strand and Montroy have spent over $10,000 on their campaign for a non paying job. ne has to ask WHY? They are getting money from special interest groups who don't want the dirt to come out ? However the dirt is coming out
East Aurora needs a strong school board president – Annette Johnson! As I watched the Daily Show this week, Facebook COO Sheryl Sandberg made a fascinating point about the lack of female leadership in Fortune 500 companies. She said that when mothers sit around the sandbox with their young children, while the boys are allowed to get a little crazy, if the girls get the least bit aggressive, their moms reflexively tell them to “stop being bossy.”
Then Ms. Sandberg took it a step further. She asked her own daughter what she would do if her coworkers started to dislike her because she was doing her job too well. The daughter responded that she’d try not to do so well.
Yikes!
And it’s this kind of archaic thinking that’s behind the insistent Beacon-News attacks on East Aurora School Board President Annette Johnson. To put it in simpler and more stereotypical Sinatra-esque terms, “No one likes a pushy broad” – least of all that insipid Denise Crosby.
The truth is, hiding behind her poison pen, Denise has never stood up to a soul in her sad life. If you confronted her face-to-face, she’d melt before your very eyes.
Of course disgruntled East Aurora staffers are going to run to the paper with their exaggerated “stories” whenever someone challenges their formerly unchallenged existence. That’s exactly what happens to strong female leaders because “no one like a pushy broad.”
But that’s what East Aurora needs – a pushy broad named Annette Johnson. Think about it! Considering the vast challenges facing the beleaguered, but generally improving school district, what would it mean if no one complained?
It would mean that nothing’s changing for the better!
So the fact that some staffers, who are used to having it their way at the expense of the children, are running to Crosby with every perceived slight is actually a good sign!
Can Annette Johnson be accused of micro-managing? You bet your sweet bippie! But that’s exactly what D131 needs right now – strong involved leadership. And the fact that Johnson is a strong woman should not be held against her.
God bless the ministers running against the board for their efforts. But the truth is, they want to run D131 from the pulpit – while East Aurora needs someone who’s willing to get in the trenches.
Dear readers! I’ve never lied to you and I’ve seen this before. A decade ago, facing similar challenges, the U-46 school district was on the ropes. But some strong and unpopular leadership came in, bucked the status quo, took the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune, and made a difference.
As a result, U-46 is coming back strong.
They say there are only two sure things in life – death and taxes – but I say there’s three. And the third one is voting for Annette Johnson for East Auroral School Board President on April 9.
Scott was fired after 30 years with 2mos to go. Jan, Roger and Nestor are on administrative leave until after the election. Annette never showed her face today or yesterday but we all know that Roberts decisions are not his own.
Scott Sweigart was FIRED? He was one of our district's best, and set to retire in a couple months.
Scott, if you're reading this please know that many of us think you've been royally screwed by a corrupt administration. You should SUE the district...ask Robert Green for advice, and maybe include Jan in a group lawsuit (share the legal expenses).
4:21pm Jeff Ward How bout commenting on the events the past year to begin with. Health Insurance monies being lost, Credit Cards, Late fees for utilities, Transgender fiasco, Bob Green's dismissal, Waldo school principal shootin power bow in the school, and now the Janitorial Fiasco and still more will be uncovered. Let's not bash Denise Crosby or anyone else but lets address the issues.
there is a fine line between a "Pushy Broad", a "Bully Broad" an "Egotistical Broad" and an "Emotional Unstable Broad" TAKE YOUR CHOICE in describing Annette Johnson.
I know that you are bitter after being fired by the Beacon (I can't imagine how humiliating it must be to be extricated from such a prestigious publication) but do you really have no other options in life other than coming on a district blog and bashing the Beacon and Denise Crosby?
The question is not whether or not Annette Johnson is a pushy broad, she is. The question is, is she handling her role appropriately, she is not.
If Annette had been trained as a superintendent and was acting in that roll, she may be justified in being a pushy broad. The fact is, she has ventured far beyond her acceptable roll as a board member by interferring in the day to day activities of staff members.
As a board member she should be working cooperatively with the other board members to oversee the districts policies and procedures. She does not run the district.
If you could step back from your hatred of the Beacon for a moment, perhaps you could see the situation with proper perspective.
When did the board go into closed session for these firings? The last one for closed session was for student discipline and the other for Bob Green so how can they fire someone without going into closed session? Did they have any knowledge that this was going to happen?
The Better Government Association is probably stepping in because elected folks on the d131 Board are not acting properly in the capacity for which they were elected.....or maybe it is just one crazy "broad."
East places former maintenance director, employees on administrative leave By Stephanie Lulay slulay@stmedianetwork.com April 5, 2013 7:20PM AURORA — East Aurora has placed three maintenance employees on administrative leave, and one retired immediately Friday, a school board member confirmed. Director of Student Athletics and Activities Nestor Garcia, who served as director of operations until April 2012, was placed on administrative leave, said East Aurora School Board member Ray Hull. A maintenance supervisor and a maintenance department secretary also were placed on administrative leave. A second maintenance supervisor retired effective immediately, Hull said. Hull serves on the school board’s Buildings and Grounds Committee. Hull said the Friday the leaves are a direct result of the district’s janitorial bid issues becoming public. On Friday, The Beacon-News published a story detailing a yearlong war over who would provide East Aurora with janitorial products. That dispute included accusations of tens of thousands of wasted taxpayer dollars, district personnel payoffs and preferential treatment for vendors. “It’s retaliatory because of the story that hit the newspaper. Someone had to pay,” Hull said. “(East Aurora Superintendent Jerome) Roberts has nothing to lose; only the Board President Annette Johnson has something to lose because she’s been intricately involved in this contract.” Johnson is up for re-election Tuesday. Eight candidates are competing for five school board spots. Johnson could not be reached late Friday. East Aurora spokesman Adam Harding could not be reached Friday. A request for comment to Roberts was not returned.
According to the Beacon article yesterday, Annette Johnson was writing e-mails accusing individuals in the maintenance department of illegally taking bribes as far back as June 11, 2012. If Annette Johnson had proof of wrongdoing a year ago, why has nothing been done to these individuals until there is an embarrassing article in the Beacon (days before Annette is running for re-election). I think Raymond Hull nailed it perfectly, “It’s retaliatory”. Of course, that is a stupid statement to be made by a school board member unless he is sure that the rest of the school board is not going to support Annette on this witch hunt. It opens up the district to a lawsuit for retaliation.
By the way, Steven Glink has been a great attorney for Bob Green. He knows the corruption in District 131 and has been very successful making legal arguments against the district. Here is his contact information for anybody needing legal services today:
Steven E. Glink 3338 Commercial Avenue Northbrook Il. 60062 847-480-7749
1) Annette Johnson, after an embarrassing newpaper article just ordered the puppet superintendent to begin termination proceedings against 4 long time District 131 employees because she is up for re-election next week.
2) Annette Johnson has known for years about illegal activity occurring in the district maintenance department but has covered it up until it became a public embarrassment (at election time).
Is there any version of this latest debacle that doesn't show the community just how out of control our current school board and Annette Johnson are?
Ray Hull is involved in no bid contracts at the City and I am not surprised he is defending this. This is the same man who had a private meeting with Jim Kramer on City of Aurora time and plotted two weeks before election to get Johnson fired off the Board. Johnson should FOIA the visitors log at the City. It is against the law to have political meetings at the City. Why was he meeting with Jim Kramer on City time anyway? I have first hand knowledge of Ray, he is hated in the sewer department and that is where he belongs in the sewer.
The only person who can remove a board member is the REO so talking to a lawyer doesn't mean that what he was talking about. How do you know this that he talked to him and it could of been City business which means he would talk to the lawyer on city time.
This district break the law everyday with letting the board president run the district that isn't her job. In fact she shouldn't even be talking to the employees on her own. It is a shame that the employees let her do it and that the don't even know the IL School Code.
Johnson could not be reached late Friday. East Aurora spokesman Adam Harding could not be reached Friday. A request for comment to Roberts was not returned.
Shrek, Donkey,and Baby Huey are an embarrassment! Adam aka Baby Huey, you have let all of us teachers down. You are one of them now!
April 5, 2013 at 2:48 PM You're exactly right. There will be at least one embarrassing article in the Beacon every day right up to the election. Then they'll stop -- unless it's new articles of the Beacon bragging how they altered the outcome of the election.
Jerome stays quiet because he knows Annette is in love with him and will let him slide until he retires. She's so naive and thinks that he loves her too. ANNETTE WAKE UP, JEROME DOES NOT WANT YOU! Look at you! ugh
I hope for the districts sake that they have proof about what these employees did according to the board president otherwise I can see a big lawsuit coming. The one that retired early just like Jay makes you wonder though.
First the Janco contract, then the ADS (Alarm Detection Service) contract. The District (Annette) went with an unproven, out of town vendor and saved a pittance as opposed to going with a proven provider that offered excellent service and knew the ins & outs of each building and system! Leadership & management are two different skills, Annette is lacking in both and exemplifies the adage, "penny wise, pound foolish!". She's a tyrant folks, who for months has cried that the sky is falling - remember her often repeated claims that the district has been a mess and disfuntional for 30 years?- and then claims in the Beacon News article from April 4 that, "this is not a district out of control likes everyone likes to portray it. We have got involved in way too much drama". Well, make up your mind Annette, is the District a mess or not? And, hey, you're the director and producer of this "drama"!!!
And what a slap in the face of all the administrators, teachers and staff who have dedicated their careers and lives to the CHILDREN of D131 who somehow appear to be forgotten here...
I have been watching the Robert Green second firing, where is the teacher's union on this? I am worried as a teacher in the district that our union has not support Mr. Green. Why does Robert Green have to hire an attorney to find justice? Where does our union money go? Can someone explain the the union's action or lack of action on this?
Why would Jerome Roberts put his job on the line and suspend employees for Annette Johnson's election. Also the district has lawyers who review these cases. Something major will come out of this and the board was not aware or the superintendent until a honest citizen took over the maintenanace department.
As for comments on this blog maybe Annette should sue.
My prediction the States Attoney will be involved before too long.
3:45am Please provide documentation to these allegations. If everyone is true, I will call the attorney general to get him arrested and prosecuted to the fullest. I am sure Roberts and Johnson are squeakly clean in all their business dealings especially the past year. PROVIDE THE PROOF !!!
3:45am Annette you shouldn't be slandering your fellow board member. Must be feeling the pressure of T R U T H and others challenging your pack of lies and EGO
It looks now like Annette had district personnel working at her house on district time. Is there no end to it?
Unfortunately, this is not an isolated incident in District 131. District administrators and board members have had such "perks" for years. A while back, I was listening to one of the districts computer network techs complaining about how Jerome made him going to Joliet to work on his personal home computers. There were also the stories about all the work done at Radakovich's house by district maintenance guys years ago.
Has anybody ever checked to see where all the District PO's have been delivered? How many supplies have been delivered to administrator home addresses?
You are full of it. The union refused to represent Bob Green and have been in legal battles since that refusal.
The Illinois Labor Relations Board has already ruled against the union and ordered the union to 1)come to a settlement (compensate his legal fees) with Bob Green for their refusal to represent him at his first termination and 2) communicate this refusal to represent to the union membership.
The union leadership has thus far refused to follow the Illinois Labor Relations Board ruling and so Bob Green has been in the courts attempting to force a settlement.
Our union is completely worthless. They take our money yet are in bed with the district leadership. If Adam Harding's move into administration isn't evidence of this, nothing is. As long as the AFT represents the teachers of District 131, nothing will improve.
What are you talking about. Bob Green was begging for the union to have their attorney represent him. While he was on administrative leave the union claimed that they would bring in the attorney IF AND WHEN he was terminated. After he was terminated, the union claimed that Bob was no longer a teacher in District 131 and thus had no obligation to represent him. So sorry, no lawyer for Bob.
Bob Green was railroaded from beginning to end and the union worked with the administration to do it. The teachers need to get their heads out of their A$$es.
Strand and Montroy are taking money from Alarm Detection everybody knows they have crooked ties to the mayor wow then the maintenanace mess Johnson is a prick but is exactly what Tge district needs too bad she did not cean it up sooner. I thought Strand and Montroy were the answer but I am changing my vote to many big signs and fancy mailings. Know hey a don't have the personnel resources to pay for that. Guess Johnson and the start of lean up is better than them
who do I vote for The current board is out of touch with the need's of the student's not to mention the rest of d-131. The people that want to replace them could be just as bad who really know's what a mess
We need new leadership NOW at the superintendent level. Corruption and cronyism regarding finances are bad. But the the lack of clarity and support for instructional outcomes is even worse. Our students and teachers are suffering tremendously and the buck stops with Dr. Roberts.
The entire curriculum and the way money, time, and staff are being utilized need to be reviewed. The problems with toilet paper and insurance pales in comparison to the mismanagement of educational resources and funds allocated for student instruction. Whatever happened to the curriculum consultants that D131 was supposed to hire?
I'm concerned by the damage that Dr. Roberts has done this past year with unplanned and unresearched curriculum "initiatives" and I'm terrified of the damage he will do in his remaining throw away year if he is allowed to continue on this haphazard course. The new board needs to buy him out and/or limit his ability to make curriculum decisions that will negatively impact our district for years.
In so far as Dr. Roberts apparently has Johnson's support, vote against her. VOTE FOR CHANGE!
What part of a board president isn't suppose to run the district the superintendent is doesn't someone understand. Also no one board member and that includes the president is suppose to take credit for something that is done.
Alarm Detection has donated money to the district and I believe they gave them some TV's for prizes to win the referendum. I am not a big fan of the Mayor but if he can influence anyone to vote against Johnson I say good for him.
True, the challengers are in some ways an unknown quantity. But I watched both forums (the first online & attended the second), and I was very impressed with the way Ms. Peryea, Mr. Montroy, and Ms. Strand articulated their concerns and suggestions for our district.
The Better Givernment will put a end to CORUPTION in 131 Strand and Montroy supporters are in it deep. they have spent $15,000 on a non paid job to get elected. if they are about Intregrity they will turn over all the names of people who donated to them.
Someone who went their cheese and wine party recently saw Nestor, Rick Sanitago and Jesse Vargas all there and they donated nice try Zack involved in another lie.
Who are you referring to when you say Better Government. Please define Better Government and explain how they will put an end to corruption. Then when you're done doing that, learn how to spell.
Even if Nestor, Rick Sanitago and Jesse Vargas went to their party there is nothing wrong with that it was on their own time. Maybe they see the train wreck that is going to happen in this district and want to try and stop it. Will the ones not on the board bring change time will tell with that but it seems they are on track with wanting to get a Superintendent that will do the job they are suppose to do. Being a board member isn't a job and the average time a board member spends on looking at the board package on a average is 10 hours according the ISBA when they have hired a superintendent to do their job.
It is funny the ones that are on the board go after the maintenance department when they stated a employee didn't pay for their insurance and administrators that misused credit cards. But them again still this district doesn't have a policy about using credit cards or pro cards.
@9:04pm, 9:47pm, 9:58pm, and 1:27am. You are all wrong. He felt the union wasn't going to do a good enough job, aka more money, so he chose to pick his own lawyer. I know this because I'm a union rep. who has spoken with other union officials from the union office. He turned us down. Fact.
The moment of truth for District 131 has come. In the past 4 years, we have seen more corruption and more scandals than in the history of District 131. We have had a board president who has done everything in her power to marginalize the administration and staff of this district and run everything from her own financially warped sense of how a district should be. Annette has covered up one administrative blunder after another and has only taken any action after the story hits the fan in the local papers.
We have seen credit card scams where hundreds of thousands of dollars have gone unaccounted for and where it was shown a central office administrator was taking out cash in Atlantic City (when she was being paid to be at a curriculum convention in Pennsylvania) yet Denean Adams is still employed by District 131. All this was known to have been going on for years yet Annette and the board only took action when the Beacon FOIA’d the credit card statements and made the results public.
Then there was the insurance and accounting scandals where the only one fired was the secretary who had been neglecting to pay her own insurance for years. What happened to Jay Augustine, the administrator in charge? You must retire one month early and start collecting your huge pension.
Annette has known about the scandals at buildings/grounds and the maintenance workers being on the take for at least a year as evidenced by her own e-mails but again did nothing until it became public in the Beacon. Instead, she and the board created a whole new position at the cost of $130,000 a year to protect Nestor Garcia.
Perhaps the worst (at least to me) was the case last year of the special education student from Simmons who had been bullied and sexually assaulted by other students. The young boy, his mother and aunt begged for help. First they went to the building administrators at Simmons, next they went to Jerome Roberts and finally went several times before the board begging for help, just to be ignored over and over again. Or the alternative school student who was beaten up by Wilson Morales (assistant principal at Simmons), just to have Joan Glotzbach, Clayton Muhammad and Lisa Morales threaten the child and his family to cover up the assault and battery by Wilson Morales. How can any current board member claim with a straight face that they are here for the children?
Come Tuesday I am voting for positive change:
Zach Montroy Kirsten Strand Marcella McIntyre-Duermit Mary Louise Peryea Richard Leonard (unfortunate but necessary)
Annette Johnson and the current board have made consistent accusations, promises they , can't keep, and have by far been the most unprofessional out of any board EA has had. Annette has always blogged that there would be charges by the states attorney. Where are these charges? The fact is that the only wrongdoing has been on the boards behalf. Jerome and Glotzbach days are numbered yet they still sell out people who have been model employees for many years. Jerome and Joan are next, and if they don't think so, then they are sadly mistaken.
How is Jerome putting his job on line by firing employees that you told him to fire Annette? He's riding out his contract because he doesn't want to her fired.
Another day, another negative article about our district in the Beacon.
From this morning's article:
"Johnson said Saturday that she’d received reports that maintenance personnel were tearing down her re-election campaign signs and that a maintenance supervisor had threatened his staff, instructing them to cast ballots that would vote out the current school board.
“People are really afraid to come forward,” she said of the threatened employees.
The election threats are being investigated, said Johnson, who also accused maintenance staff of donating money to support her challengers, Zach Montroy and Kirsten Strand. There is no rule against district personnel donating money to a school board election campaign, Johnson said, but it’s “never been done in the past.”
Reached by phone Saturday, Montroy said “no maintenance worker in East Aurora has contributed to our campaign financially.”
“We have done our best to run a very clean campaign,” he added. “We’ve never attacked anyone that is our opponent.”
I've seen the determination from the Illinois Labor Relations Board showing the union refused to represent Bob Green. I've also seen and listened to the Illinois Appellate Court transcripts of the case between Bob Green and the union. I listened to the arguments by the union lawyer stating that the union believed they had a right to represent who they chose.
If the union leadership is telling you that Bob Green did not want their representation, they are lying to you. They are also violating the order of the Illinois Labor Relations Board. That order stated that the union must inform the membership of their refusal to represent Bob Green.
About the proposed bell schedule...wait until after tomorrow's election, then there will be plenty of discussion/concern about it. Right now we have bigger fish to fry!
Annette is on here claiming that maintenance workers are supporting the Montroy/Strand campaigns. Her innuendos are that somehow this is improper and should be investigated.
The fact is: teachers and staff are allowed to have political affiliations and a school district is barred from interferring with this fundamental right. As long as they are not being political while on the district clock, they are well within their rights to support any political candidate they choose.
Unfortunately. tyrants don't like any dissent whatsoever, which is probably why the maintenance workers are supporting Montroy and Strand in the first place. Annette treats people like crap and then can't understand why she doesn't have their support.
Just one more day of the tyrant:
Vote: Zach Montroy Kirsten Strand Marcella McIntyre-Duermit Mary Louise Peryea Richard Leonard
Excuse me 8:15 pm but way back on the first firing of Bob I saw first hand the document sent by the union which stated his situation was not a union matter. I was even told by a union rep Bob could not be helped when I questioned why the union was not representing him. We also have some union reps who like to talk to others about confidential matters which have been spoken in privacy to them about other employees. This is a fact. Who knows you might one of those reps who cannot stand Bob Green.
6:08 I predicted several days ago that we'd be seeing a negative story in the Beacon every day thru tomorrow (election day). Then it'll stop. All these stories are coming out right now specifically to affect the election results. You can clearly see the attitude, as conveyed by 8:30. For both sides, never mind issues involved w/ educating the kids, first priority are political factions getting what they want.
I listened to that audio and I am not at all upset with the Board Presidents comments it is board member Ray Hull's comments that are totally out of line. Calling Ms. Johnsons mother a looser and all the other comments. Clearly he is racist against those with mental illness by his off the cuff remarks. He should be called out on that WOW. Ray, from one man to another...you need to suck it up and take it on the check and don't be such a woose. Is this how you talk to a women? Someone in authority? People should be calling for your resignation. This guy is also employed by the City of Aurora? Who is his boss? Maybe they should take a listen to this.
If Annete and Ray were students instead of board members, they would have both been suspended. Their behavior was completely unacceptable. If they had any ethics, they would both resign but I am not holding my breath.
I can only imagine what it would be like to have to deal with Johnson. We have heard she has belittled other people and made them cry. She has overstep her responsibilities of a board president. As for the video they both acted poorly but at times when people talk about family members it makes people act differently. At least Ray has stepped up and is saying what is really happening with the board.
As the Mayor said in his robo call it is your right to go out and vote. Nothing can change unless we the people vote for change.
Thank God I am retired from D#131! I feel so sorry for my colleagues who are still staving away in this bottomless cesspool of never ending corruption! Isn't there one honorable person left in the Administration or on this School Board? You have no idea how demoralizing theses daily scandals are for the entire staff. Nobody trusts anyone, and rightfully so! It will take years to rebuild what once existed between staff and administrators, and that will take an entirely new set of people at the helm to accomplish! I hope tomorrow's election will send some of the "Bozos" back to the circus where they belong!
SHAME ON ALAM DETECTI0NS, MAYOR WEISNER, AND LINDA CHAPA-LAVA FOR YOUR SUPPORT OF STRAND-MONTROY YOU'VE LOST MY VOTE AND SUPPORT!!! JUST RECIEVED A RECORDED MESSAGE URGING MY SUPPORT OF STRAND AND MONTROY. WHAT'S THAT ABOUT!!! THIS IS AN UNPAID JOB. WHAT'S IN IT FOR THEM SHAME ON YOU DENISE CROSRBY--AS A REPORTER YOU SHOULD BE UNBIASED IN YOUR REPORTING OF THE LOCAL NEWS. I REALLY USED TO LIKE YOU AND YOUR ARTICLES. NOT SO SURE NOW AS YOU ARE DEFINITELY TRYING TO SWAY THE VOTE
Here's something on the "lighthearted" side. Just a little chuckle and sad shake of the head. Everyone who gets The Enligtener-take a look at page 5. Notice anything strange or a little off? The people listed below the picture are not the people in the picture! The picture is actually one from last year. I know who the Shamblin's are and they are definitely not in the picture. Guess who's responsible for the publication.....Adam Harding!! And everyone on this blog wonders why the district is in this shape it's in!!!!!
This will be hard election since the current board has brought things out they say that is corruption while they let the administration misuse the credit cards and if it is true the health insurance. Then you have the low test scores and a board president running the district instead of the one person they hired to do that job. The ones that really suffer are the students and the teachers. In the long run and this is the last resort is to combine this district to make it whole again. If bids where did wrong and someone believes the maintenance department did wrong then those that did should be accountable for it. If they did not their names should be cleared. If it is believe that Jay did something wrong then he should be held accountable or his name be cleared. If Penny didn't pay for insurance then she should pay the district back that is taxpayers money and money from the students. We do need to have a board that hires the one person they are suppose to that runs the district then that should be done. Getting test scores is important and having a district that parents want to have their children go to is a must but getting rid of corruption that has gone on in this district is a must too.
Always keep in mind the most important reason that everyone involved in education needs to be focused on when casting your vote...our students. If toilet paper is more important then making sure all students can read and raising our graduation rate, then you know who to vote for. On the other hand if you want to take the focus back to where it should be, vote for the candidates that can lead us in the right direction.
Stay tuned for more breaking news of corruption in dist 131. More should surface this week concerning Annette Johson's abuse of authority. Roberts should be ashamed of himself of doing nothing and collecting that big salary.
Here is the deal. Weisner supports the nonincumbants. He wants Johnson out. He cannot control her. All the other polititians do too as they in some way are either directly benefiting or their connections are by the corruption. Johnson is cleaning up the corruption...there is much bigger things yet to be discovered. The staff and administration are now fearful of having to be held accountable. Crosby is a second rate reporter at best. She is unable to put her ego aside when covering the stories about East. Hallmark of a washedup reporter. There are stories to be covered but a toilet paper contract?
WRONG - Actually the good staff would like EVERYBODY to be held accountable for their role. The good staff would like the money to be spent on the education of kids and not just perks for the administrators. The good staff want to be able to control what they teach without being micromanaged.
If Johnson is cleaning up the corruption then she needs to turn herself in to the cops. As for Denise Crosby, she has reported everything right on and we are grateful for her courage in exposing the corruption, scandals at East Aurora. thank you Denise for your honesty in covering the "Circus" at 131.
You are dillusional. The fact is, most everyone who knows Annette wants her out. The only cleaning up Annette has done is right after the corruption comes out in the paper and even then it's done in a halfa$$ manner that leaves the district wide open to lawsuits.
The only measuring stick that matters is that after four years of Annette's bullying and intimidation of everyone,the students are in classrooms with many more students (30-40 students has become normal) and fewer resources. Test scores have not improved and in many areas have gone down. The only improvements the district can show have come from manipulating the data, not from any real improvements.
The decision is simple: If you have had enough of increasing class sizes, falling test scores, dysfunctional board meetings, bullying boardmembers, corrupt administrators and one scandal after another, you must vote for:
Zach Montroy Kirsten Strand Marcella McIntyre-Duermit Mary Louise Peryea Richard Leonard
If you honestly believe that the district is showing educational improvements, vote for the incumbents. Either way, get off your half moons, get informed and vote your conscience.
Why are the classrooms overcrowded? Just ask the mayor. He has done zero to curb the overcrowding on the east side. Give him a call and let him explain how he orchestrated all the Jericho folks to move into the east side when he had a chance to get the problem ones out of Aurora.
Over $20.000 on school board race I am calling from honest campaign disclosure. Please name all your contributors Strand and Montry because you will look CORUPTION. Robo calls really there is something really wrong with the three Strand Montry and Peryea have something to gain.
I think your wrong about Linda Chapa Liva because in the mailer I got for Johnson and her pets there was a letter to the editor from Linda supporting Johnson. I have nothing of the Mayor supporting and board member in fact he stated that in the paper.
We should be focusing on education but the other things are are wrong also other districts seem to do it ours should be able to also with the right Superintendent.
Although the Beacon and Denise Crosby has reported on the district and the things that have gone wrong what have they done with that information to stop it. Just because some new members might be elected that doesn't mean the ones that broke the law will be held accountable. Reporting on these things and not doing anything about it means they are just like the board members that broke the law.
Can we just stop beating around the bush as to the real reason the test score are so poor in District 131. It is not a lack of support by the school board or a lack of funding for programs. Although I do not personally know any of the teachers working in the district-I am sure that they are caring, dedicated professionals who give their all on a daily basis to make a difference in the lives of each of their students. The problem with low test scores has to do with the lack of support and interest in education in the home. Teachers that I know tell me that the children who do well are those whose education is supported in the home. Too many parents feel that the entire burden of educating their child is only in the classroom. That is unfair-it takes a village to raise a child and unless parent take accountability for their part in educating and supporting their child's education--test score will never be raised. No amount of money or programs can replace a parent's support and encouragement in their child's scholastic accomplishments. PARENTS OF THE CHILDREN ATTENDING SCHOOL IN DISTRICT 131 IT'S TIME TO STEP UP TO THE PLATE AND DO YOUR PART IN SUPPORTING THE DEDICATED TEACHERS IN HELPING THEM ACCOMPLISH THE GOAL OF EDUCATING YOUR CHILD!!! Be accountable in this effort.
I agree with you in part. An involved parents and community would not tolerate our school board. They would demand better. They would demand that the board support educational programs. They would demand that teachers had the text books and supplies needed for education. They would demand smaller class sizes. They would demand higher teacher salaries so that we could retain quality teachers. They would demand that the board and administration support the teachers and educational programs. They would demand accountability for all the corruption.
So, YES, I do agree it starts with the parents but for far more than telling their children to do their schoolwork.
The mayors office may be a part of why there are more students on the East Side but that is not why class sizes are larger. Class sizes are larger because the board refuses to adjust for the increasing population and hire the necessary teachers to balance the equation. As is frequently the case the past four years, education comes last, far behind Annette's pocketbook.
7:25 you are mostly correct in my opinion. So where is the hispanic leadership in Aurora trying to change this? What about all the other so called leaders in this community.
The mayor may be, in part, why there are more students on the East Side but the mayors office is not why the classrooms are overcrowded. The classrooms are overcrowded because the board refuses to adjust for the increased numbers and hire the teachers necessary to maintain reasonable class sizes.
They have the money necessary to create six figure position to protect corrupt administrators but they don't have the money to ensure a quality education for every student?
They have the money to try and impress the mayor spending 3 million dollars for a city building (something never before done by a non-profit in Aurora) Of course, a brand new administration building with a beautiful new board room was part of that corrupt deal.
Simply put, Annette and the board find money for what they consider important. Unfortunately, they just don't consider the children important.
Hopefully by this evening, we will be starting down a more positive path.
Strand and Montroy took money from the crooks the district is trying to clean up. it one word thanking the board about getting rid of Nestor. Will see ho has the last laugh
7:25am Absolutely agree the parents need to step up HOWEVER many do not speak English, are afraid, working tirelessly, and don't understand what really is going on. Johnson exploits this with her "dramatic appearance of concern".
Strand and Montroy will bring their churches down alert printing was done at Ginger Creek a shown statement was given Ginger Creek will now become taxable and turned into the IRS Why did they spend so much money you have got to ask
The Better Government Association will investigate the money trail on Strand. Montroy they have been called they mixed church and teacher money in to effect the outcome of the election
7:45, you could change all the things you talk about but as 7:25 correctly points out without the parents it wouldn't make a difference. WITH the parents' involvement, we'd see improvement even without any of the things you call for.
I can't imagine what it must be like for Jerome Roberts knowing if the new board members win the board seats today, he will be out soon. Personally, since we have to pay him anyway, I would assign him to a classroom with 40 behavior disorder students and see how he likes the conditions that he has placed teachers in for the past several years. Of course, he can always resign and save the tax payers his exorbinate salary.
Wow, that's a lot of allegations against Strand and Montroy without even one shred of evidence. Annette's fingers must be getting tired after all that typing.
Notice how the Johnson supporters ALWAYS make unprovable allegations. Wonder why the avoid the proven allegations under the "Ayattolah Johnson". Get over it and accept the reign of terror is over. And the real beneficiaries are the taxpayers, teachers, students and staff.
They spent so much money to get the district back on track and hire a Superintendent like the IL School Code says to run the district not the board president.
Maybe it's time to considering changing the way we educate our children when many of the children in the district come from homes where English is not spoken. Yes, we all agree that education for our children is a right. But along with any right comes responsibilities. Perhaps the focus of education should be to first ensure that the parents of our students are taught to speak, read, and write English. By doing this they could be active participants in the education of their child. Many people have immigrated to this country to ensure better opportunities for their children but to make this happen there MUST be parental participation in the process. Non English speaking parents want to improve the lives of their children. to do so they must be willing and open to educational opportunities to learn the English language. Another responsibility that comes with a free public education is understanding that the children NEED to be in the classroom on a regular basis. As the parent of a elementary public school teacher, I know the frustration and the immense amount of time taken out of the regular days studies making up for subjects that some students missed by missing multiple days of school.Ourdedicated and hard working teachers deserve KUDOs for all they do under the circumstances that they face on a daily basis. Another responsibility associated with the right to a free public school education is RESPECT. Parents must teach their children to respect their teachers. Parents must also show respect to the teachers who work so hard preparing our children to go out into the world and be successful. Love for knowledge, responsibility, and respect begin at home. We parents must be role models to our children in learning and demonstrating these traits.
sure now they are putting in the effort to visit schools because of the election,. When our athletes are honored three times a year at East ask Mr. Roberts how many he has attend just to tell our students that they are doing a good job and all Annette does is talk about how poor this district is and talk about the economy an how if they lived somewhere else they'd be better off. Way to support our kids and teachers. I will tell you that Roberts has not attended one of them in 5 years. So the only reason they are putting in the effort now is because they both know their days are numbered. Finally well get someone in there who cares about our kids and faculty.
We need to get The East Side of Aurora back to a place that families want to buy a home or rent here where they know their children will get a good education.
let's hope that no matter what the outcome of todays elections are it will be in the best interest of the children and the taxpayers in the district. SUPPORT TO THE CURRENT BOARD!!! I HOPE YOU HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO CONTINUE YOUR MISSION ON BEHALF OF ALL OF THE RESIDENTS OF DISTRICT 131
Thank you 2:18! Teachers get blamed for EVERYTHING that goes wrong these days. The board and Administrators are the ones calling the shot. Teachers are getting more and more responsibilities that must be handled in a short school day. Students that disrespect teachers never receive a consequence that makes a difference. I can't wait until parents are suing other parents of student that continuously disrupt the classroom. These few students prevent the other students from their RIGHT to an education.
When we think more about taxpayers then educating our students then there is a gap in our responsibilities. We as taxpayers want our tax dollars to be used wisely but in saying that if we don't have a school district that gives a good education for out students then we let our community down. When we don't have families that want to move into our district because we have a good school district then we have families that move in because they don't care about their childrens education and it makes it hard for the ones that do.
Will their be change in the district with new members time will tell the one thing we know they will get a new Superintendent and that is a start but the administration needs to be changed also.
Yes let the current board and administration go to Ballydolls for retreats and to Golf Clubs and have working lunches for one. Let us give them the right to have a athletic club membership for themselves and pay their personal cell phone bills on the district dime.
4 more years of the tyrant? I don't think I can take it. It's time to look for another school district to teach in.
It should be interesting to see who the board picks for the next board president. They need to vote Annette out. Unfortunately, I'm not expecting them to be any more intelligent than the voters of the East Side.
It is clear though. Neither Annette Johnson nor Raymond Hull should even be on the board, let alone in the president's position.
Monday's PLC Podcast to elementary school staffs district-wide surprisingly included a presentation by Teacher's Union President Imthurn - who aided in the roll-out of D131's latest set of PLC mandates. I was struck by this and raise a conflict of interest concern on behalf of myself and elementary colleagues about the representational message this sends to rank and file members who bare the burden and anguish of a poorly negotiated contract crafted (ironically) in conjunction with an imploding central office administration. I sincerely hope you, President Imthurn, stand with those you represent - who smile with fractured faces each time they're asked to suck-up one more in a seemingly never ending string of new policies and administrative decrees. We're keenly aware of our non-negotiables. Did we need to be reminded? Shouldn't you have seperated yourself from this presentation and delivered your message through established building channels. We think so.
According to the Aurora Election Commission only 2537 East Aurora Residents bothered to come out and vote. Of that, only 1927 people bothered to vote for 4 year term board positions.
The last US Census report showed a population in 60505 to be 76,573 people. Of that, about 52,000 of residents are of legal voting age. That means only 3.7% of those of legal voting age voted for the school board election. 96.3% DID NOT VOTE.
If anybody is still wondering why the schools are failing, that is why. The vast majority of the East Aurora population doesn't give a damn about the education of the children on the East Side of Aurora.
Maybe they should have given out free food at the polls. I hear that brings in the crowds.
Well it looks like Annette Johnson will be President again. it shows you can not buy a election. Over $20,000 spent on a election by Strand and Montroy. ou came close to stopping the progress but you where stopped. Really Hull and Montroy out with signs against the current board shame on you. Congradulations President Johnson.
Johnson won't be president again - Hull, Strand, Peryea won't let it happen. They will probably convince Turza or Leonard to help them vote Hull president.
Isnt Ray Hull the one that said at a committee meeting to the Board President "your moma was a looser and your daddy was one too!" NICE. REAL NICE RAY. Then he actively campaigns against her at the urging of the Mayor(his boss). Huh, shows rays and the mayors true colors.
Ray Hull may have retaliated after Annette's comments about him and his mom, but that was probably Ray at one of his worst moments. We all have those moments, but not all are as public as his was. What we heard from Annette on the audio recorded argument, was just the tip of her iceberg. She has been much more crass and vindictive when speaking to people who do not agree with her and her ideas. Hopefully, those who have been in her corner in the past, see they have a better option. If Stella and Leonard want to truly show they are there for the students and community, they should not play follow the leader, but stand up for what they know to be right. There is a quiet majority out there willing to support you. After all, Annette was just .5 percent from being on the outside, showing she is NOT what the majority of the voting public wanted.
Listen to the tape of Ray at the committee meeting degrading the board president and her deceased mother and father then ask yourself if this is someone who should be in any responsible role at the District. Futhermore should not the board president hold a degree from a Univeristy? He also is beholden to the Wiz. I mean come on 7:57am. The board would be the laughing stock if they elected anyone but Johnson back to the position. She has the most qualifications and has the ability to stand up to anyone.
I did listen to the tape and it was Johnson that started it and she acted his mother.
Being a board President doesn't need a degree they need to have enough smarts and read The IL School Code and follow it by doing the most important job of a board and that is too hire a Superintendent to run the district. I hope these others stand up and follow the law.
It is downright amazing that Johnson won after all the slanted journalism spewing out of Denise Crosby at the Beacon News. Just goes to show that Johnson is able to persevere even over the attacks of those grasping at anything to continue the corruption in the district and not be held accountable.
Hull was on city time again at the district using city gas. It shows the guy has no ethics.
Annette will be the next President and prettty much announced she is. Turza, Leonard and Gonzalez are on her side. They all ran together. if Peryea and Strand had any sense they will run from Ray Hull.
If this board picks Johnson again for President it shows they lack respect for the employees and the community. Board members please take the time to learn the IL School Code.
The current board IS the laughing stock for having elected Johnson in the head position. She may have the ability to stand up to EVERYone. She is not able to stand along side and work together with anyone. A college degree means nothing if there is no compassion and common sense when working on behalf of the families and children in 131. Listen real well to the tape. Johnson spoke negatively about Hull and his mother. She looks down on people of lesser means and people of color. That means she is already against 90% of the families in this district! It was sad that she was elected but sadder if she is chosen by the Board to lead.
Want to talk about qualifications? Mary Louise has none. No college degree, worked as a grocery store clerk, then lost her house and was homeless. Got taken in by Mooseheart as a housemother. Yet she claims she is a teacher and coucelor. In my opinion she is a nut and a loser. At 64 years old, she does not own a house and therefore pays no taxes. Yet she thinks she is qualified to manage a multi-million $$ budget? Please! She cannot even manager her own life! But I guess the voters were swayed by her comment at the last forum "I'm a good listener and have a warm heart, so vote for me" Yikes! Bad voters!
The Strand-Montroy team spent thousands of $$ on thier campaign. Where did that come from? Certainly not from the low income residents in D131. My guess is from their church and Naperville supporteres. Personally, Idetest the fact that people outside D131 and even outside Aurora are controlling what we do here. But then isn't that the Stran-Montroy platform? You stupid EA residents aren't capable of taking care of yourselves, so we will mve into your community and run it for you. And when they are done messing things up, they'll just move back to Naperville or wherever they came from. All a bunch of losers.
I'm sorry to sound crass but the only way a staff member could be surprised that the union was working with the board and administration is if they have their head up their a$$.
The AFT gave up long ago representing the membership of District 131. There are no negotiations in this district. The board says this is the deal, take it or leave it and the union always says OK we'll take it. That is why there are no protections in the contract that aren't already provided by the school code and also why we are among the lowest paid teachers in the six county area.
I'm sorry to sound even more blunt but it's the majority female teachers in the elementary schools that allow it to happen. Every time a new contract is brought to the membership, the three middle schools and the high school vote it down but the elementary schools have the numbers to get it passed.
Now that our contract has been combined with support staff and secretaries, the board can go after one group at a time while using the numbers from the other two to help pass bad contracts.
The whole system has been set up to screw the teachers over and all it cost the board was a six figure income to Adam Harding. When are the teachers in District 131 going to pull their heads out from where the sun don't shine.
“I made some mistakes along the way,” Johnson said. “I think I am going to be much better at running the district and helping get the changes made for the kids.”
She is still one major mistake. She hasn't learned a thing! I, I I....wake up Annette, you are NOT the superintedent. You need to take school board training 101. EA is not that unique that it needs YOU to run the show from anywhere but the balcony. Get up there, shut up and listen once in a while. Maybe you can at least learn how to mention the children of the distict, like you truly care their education. D131 is in the business of educating children. It is a little more involved than financing a noodle making business.
Interesting mix of old & new board members elected yesterday. The good thing is, the community has spoken and these people have been voted in by US. It is now their job to get along with each other & put aside their differences for the good of our district.
You are right Johnson just doesn't get it she is not suppose to be running the district. It doesn't take a degree to do so it takes a qualified Superintendent and Administration to run a district.
With putting those three people on administrator leave can the Superintendent do that without the board voting on it? It doesn't look like their was a closed session about that.
"The people have spoken" does not apply to East Aurora. Less than 10% of the people bothering to be responsible and vote is not much of a voice. Looks like Annette was smart to keep harping on the magnet school. The parents of those kids probably believe her crap and put her over the top. Strand had the most votes so she should be board president. Yeah! Sounds good to me. Please board. do something for the kids. Get rid of dead weight, worthless positions and use the money for the sake of the kids. Get rid of Roberts. Riding out his contract by never coming to the schools and being controlled by Johnson is not acceptable. Help the teachers get some control back instead of limiting our ability. We still need change even though we're stuck with some of our old problems.
Sodexo's contract is up after this year,There are company's up for the bid and one is a company that can bring in boxed lunches for students as well as staff. We don't wnat boxed lunches unless they look like the ones that you see when you enter Copley hospital which are the upscale salads and sandwiches that you get at a Panera. Yes the food sucks in the cafe's in our district and no one is eating them, but please dont send us day old, refridgerated sandwiches and cheap salty lunch meat that doesn't even look like lunch meat, that you wouldn't buy at your house. I am so tired of spending 10 dollars going out. I'd rather spend that money on quality food in my own cafe. Dear School Board you dont have to eat this food daily, we do. so before you settle on the lunch program, make sure it is what you would eat on a daily basis in your own home and ask us. we should have a say on what we consume in our bodies. I am so sick of this!!! We are professionals and if we cant be paid on the salary levels of other school districts the least you could do is give us healthy food that looks like food and that we can eat. Give us a break, you spend more time choosing paper towels and soap and feed us crap!
sodexo is up for renewal for the lunch bid. Granted we who eat lunch in the district know that the food and quality of the food is awful. they raised prices only to find out that it wasn't to give us quality food but to try and make up for the 10 years at the teachers 2.20 cent price tag. They lost a lot of money, but my heart does not bleed for Sodexo who houses the food for hundreds of institutions in the U.S. Understand the other company's that are up for bids that I'm sure our current board will vote for will be worse. To the board; If you are not eating this crappy food everyday, the least you can do before you decide is ask us, what we want. I am so sick of this Districet telling us what we will do and then when it all backfires in their face they stand there looking stupid in the public eye.If you go with the lowest bid, which we know you will, at least consider pre-made box lunches that you would eat on a daily basis, think quality ie Panera, or at least hospital public quality.LOL! No more garbage, Thats the least that you could do for your teachers, being that we make the lowest salaries in the area. WE would like to have quality food in our cafeteria's. Why am I even hoping that this will happen, Nobody cares about our well being!!! Bring your lunches people it will get worse!!!! Yes this is important to me!
At my school they have as good as institutional food as I've ever seen. But I don't eat it, and I don't spend $10 a day. I bring my lunch. I can make a nutritional, tasty lunch at home for a lot less than $10. Just takes a few extra minutes in the morning. Give it a try.
Or keep paying for crappy food and whining about it.
Interesting that Kirsten Strand and Zach Montroy ran as a team yet Kirsten got considerably more votes than Zach (and she was elected; he wasn't).
I am one who voted for Kirsten and not for Zach. Here's why:
--Kirsten is a parent, like me. She has more invested in wanting our schools to excel than someone who has no children.
--I attended the second forum (at First Presbyterian), and was impressed with Kirsten's calm, rational responses to the questions. I didn't appreciate Zach's comparison of our current superintendent to being in a burning building.
--I remember the School Board & administration's actions 8 years ago against the band director, and I'm aware that Zach and his wife have close ties to one of those responsible, Marin Gonzalez. I don't trust them not to try to bring her back to our district.
It will be interesting to see who the board elects as their new president. I'm hoping that both old & new members can work together for the good of our children!
You have the right to vote for whoever you want to but holding this about the band director and what happened is old news. Just because Zack is friends with Marion has nothing to do with the election and he probably wasn't aware of it. Zach's comparison of our current superintendent to being in a burning building is right on target the man is a waste.
3:33 p.m. has every right to be concerned about the possibility of an administrator being brought back to our district as superintendent after leaving for awhile. That's exactly what happened with Jerome Roberts. As far as the band situation being old news, I agree that it should be left in the past UNLESS one of those responsible (like Marin Gonzalez) comes back to D131.
April 5th you are right about one thing no one else ever stood a chance at the coaches job except Becker. I was there just like you and I wanted him too.
About that proposed bell schedule...I think it would be mostly a GOOD thing. Yes, having one less class period per day might limit a student's ability to choose an elective but at the same time would allow more class time for each subject.
High school students are old enough to learn that they have to make tough choices. In my son's case, he went to Waubonsie Valley H.S. and took a lot of honors & AP classes. He could only choose one elective; his counselor tried to tell him he needed to take a foreign language for college admissions, but he picked band instead (and took band all 4 years). He didn't get into his first choice college (MIT), but neither did his friend who got 36 on his ACT. We don't know if not taking a foreign language affected his college admissions, but the bottom line is my son did go to his next-choice school and has never regretted his decision.
EAHS students who are passionate about something (band, drama, sports, choir, etc.) will find a way to fit it into their school day, just like they do at WVHS and other schools who have a similar bell schedule.
Sorry 8:16 - Waubonsie does not have a "similar" schedule to what is being proposed at East High. Waubonsie has an 8 period schedule - 8 periods at 47 minutes each.
East is going to a 7 period schedule all 56 minutes each. Below is a link to the Waubonsie bell schedule.
Sorry 8:16 - your kid would have had NO CHANCE to take all of those classes under the East High Proposed bell schedule.
Changing the bell schedule will not have kids "focus" more. What will have kids focus more is parents caring about education and a community supporting the district.
8:27 a.m., back in 2003 there were 7 class periods at WVHS. They may have changed that over the last couple of years. I remember my son took an AP chemistry class and the instructor told parents at open house that he appreciated the fact that there was ample time to complete experiments because of the classes lasting long enough (at his previous school the class periods had been shorter).
220 comments:
1 – 200 of 220 Newer› Newest»I noticed at last night's forum that all 6 candidates mentioned that their highest priority was the 15,000 students in our district. That being said, I didn't hear any discussion about how the new EAHS "bell schedule" (actually a sneaky way of removing students' options for taking an elective) is necessary, given that 500+ students signed a petition against it!
The forum was not a sham, we saw what we came for, candidates POV on topics.
Also, Roberts can be moved from his position to another, or removed if his contract was written to assure he did his job, he may not being living up to his part, therefore may be let go.
Retirees can be good board members as long as they keep involved and informed with D131. I agree, at least 3 members are far removed. They sit on the outskirts of the community without a clue what the majority of EA community members concerns are about. Before becoming board members how often were the 3 NE ladies in the schools or at events......never.
Observing from the balcony is exactly what the ISBA says is the management position school boards should take to monitor their employee, the superintendent.
The incumbent side has managed its priorities. Money, property, Ward one.
It was not untill the challengers, on the right, spoke passionately about the students did the left side comments start concerning students and education at a more ambitious degree. Even then Ms. Johnson wants to spend and put more computers in the hands of students, like technology is a fix all.
People please watch both forums. If you do not know any of the people running for the board, it is a good way to get a peak at how people reply to tough questions.
Here's a link to the minutes from the March 18th School Board meeting. Note the discussion of the proposed bell schedule, as well as Robert Green's comments:
https://v3.boardbook.org/Public/PublicItemDownload.aspx?mk=50076975&fn=minutes.pdf
How on earth do you get in touch with either Zach or Kirsten. No phone numbers listed anywhere. How do you ask a question?
Go to their website:
http://strandandmontroy.com
Then, click on "contact us".
You're welcome!
:)
Where is the video of the one on 4/2.
Went to the website and no phone numbers. I do not want them to call me. I want to call them. Oh well says a lot to me.
6:00pm how bout u leave your ph# and I will have them call u back
thanks
I went to http://strandandmontroy.com
I have to admit, it looks very impressive. They have a much clearer vision for district 131 than any board member has had in the past and it is clear that the children are first and foremost in their thoughts. The ability to have an updated web site on the East Side is outstanding enough.
Actually it will be a great improvement to just have a board that doesn't embarrass the community on a regular basis. Annette Johnson talks about all the drama surrounding the school board, what she failed to mention is that she has been the cause of a great deal of that drama.
Just 5 days until District 131 can move forward into a positive direction. April 9th, Voice your Choice.
I don't see where anyone running for an office has their phone number listed. Also by having a website to contact them they can keep track of communications between them and those that are asking questions in case someone whats to change what they said.
Good one 10:09! LOL
I went to the Strand & Montroy website and left an email message. I got a prompt response to my question (by email), and both of us have a record of what was said.
Works for me!
wonder why Annette isn't writing on here lately?
beaconnews.suntimes.com/news/19273757-418/east-aurora-board-members-split-on-election-endorsements.html
Someone is busy stuffing envelopes and the taking on the expense of mailing flyers and putting up new bigger signs with only the name Annette Johnson on them. What happen to the buddy system campaign?
And they're all throwing Cervantes under the bus.
How so? Hull and Turza are both publicly endorsing him.
Before you vote,keep in mind that "Tough Leader, Tough Decisions" Annette Johnson's verbal exchange with "Ray Hull" degrading his residence upbringing. "A REAL CLASS ACT"
More to follow
I just read the Robert Green minutes, some questions are in order. Why when the Aurora police and DCFS did an investigation and found Robert Green acted correctly and did nothing wrong was he terminated? Joan Glotzspoch fired him illegally back in 2010, and the board approved it, but Mr. Green was given his job back by a judge with all his pay. Second question, why does Joan Glotzbach and the board keep acting in an unjust manner? Is this bulling by our board and human resourses? Something needs to happen in this district, for Glotzbach and the board to keep bulling a teacher should be criminal! People who are voting need to take a look at the link provided. I read the link and am disgusted by our boards actions. This is clearly a personal grudge by Glotzback and the board against Robert Green. And, do we really need these people working in this district any longer?
I live on a quite street and Annette recycled her old signs. She and the others are not getting thousands of dollars like Strand and Montroy from Distrist crooks like Janco and Alarm Detection to run their campaigns along with the teachers. Integrity Montroy has none he will line his pockets from district cronies if elected because the current board cleaned up all the crooked contracts.
http://beaconnews.suntimes.com/news/crosby/index.html
Well the s*** is hitting the fan and Johnson is being exposed for the sleaze she is.
http://beaconnews.suntimes.com/opinions/19274503-474/toilet-paper-gate-keeps-controversy-rolling.html
http://beaconnews.suntimes.com/news/19280144-418/east-aurora-saga-rolls-on-as-accusations-fly-over-janitorial-bid.html
6:55pm can you prove your statements, if so please post the evidence so we can go after them
Of course 6:55 cant prove their statement. 6:55 is an idiot.
6:55 What proof do you have of your dangerously slanderous allegations? It's ok to have an opinion but making up facts is an act of defamation that is completely wrong. Back up your statements or f*** off.
This blog is as stupid as this districts administration.
A quote from Denise Crosby's editorial today:
"Johnson denies she’s had any hand in the janitorial bidding process, but email obtained by The Beacon-News show otherwise"
Looks like someone was caught in a lie...
http://beaconnews.suntimes.com/19280144-417/east-aurora-saga-rolls-on-as-accusations-fly-over-janitorial-bid.html
Annette should be ashamed over those emails. She's pretty illiterate. We told you that "Northwestern MBA" was a fake. How do you teach kids to value education when the Board President can't even put together a sentence? How dare we forget? She drives a Corvette and makes pasta and the kids will be able to grow up and work for her one day! That's what she tells them. VOTE HER OUT!
What it boils down to is this; for years, central office administrators (and a select few in the maintenance department) have controlled all the contracts and dealings in the district. Judging by the poor choices being made, there has been a lot of speculation about the kickbacks that these individuals must be receiving. At the very least, they were providing unusual benefits to their buddies. Now it appears that the board has taken over these sweetheart deals. Appointment of people like Leonard’s childhood buddy (in a less than open process) just serves to fuel the speculation about corruption. It also makes people wonder when tens of thousands of dollars are spent to replace relatively new dispensers. It is also very suspect when the district dumps a bus company they have used for decades and replaces it with a bus company that is charging an additional 1.7 million dollars for the same service. Who is receiving the kickbacks now?
Hiring has come into question and rightfully so. The fact is Raymond Hull and Nestor Garcia did, strongly influence the committee hiring Kurt Becker as our high school football coach. Procedures were put in place that gave certain candidates a distinct advantage over other candidates. Certain power players pushed certain individuals and eventually anybody on the committee who had an opinion of their own was quickly shot down by Hull. During the interview process (while every other coaching candidate was content with the stipend as provided in the teachers contract) Kurt Becker made it clear that the only way he would consider dedicating the amount of time necessary to make the team successful was if he received a six figure income. This made most members of the committee very uneasy but we were quickly instructed not to talk about this and not to worry about it. Hull stated that he was in direct consultation with Annette Johnson and this would be handled by the school board and Joan Glotzbach (HR). The only thing worse than the deal making that was happening behind closed doors was Annette Johnson then going against her own word and breaking the deal. Last I heard, many of the high school coaches had still not received their pay. Further, the team has not received resources promised that would help improve the program. If anybody did a real investigation of the hiring process for the football coach, I am sure charges would be forthcoming.
The fact is, the board has stepped into matters they had no business handling and they have been unethical in how they handle these affairs. The role of the board is to oversee the affairs of the district and ensure a transparent process that has little to no possibility for corruption. This school board has utterly failed in this mission.
Before anyone calls me an idiot I want to beat them to it. I must be an idiot because in all my year in East Aurora I never knew we had such a beautiful newsletter. just got it in the mail. I'll get to read it this weekend. "The Enlightener"! Sounds like a blockbuster movie. It's in Spanish and English! I'm sure glad it came before 4/9. Lots of things are happening right now. Visits from Annette and Jerome to all the school, free breakfast, top quality newsletter boasting the flagship magnet school on the cover! Wow! I'm impressed! Never see any of these people in the schools until the past two weeks! I've never seen these newsletters! I'm must be an idiot! I find it hard to believe that this board tries to take credit for cleaning up the district when they are responsible for most of the messes. How much does Roberts make? Please Dr. Roberts...if you're going to run the district at least show your face in a school once in a while. Annette, way to clean up that B&G fiasco! How did you punish Mr. Garcia? Oh yeah, you pay him $120G to do NOTHING!!! Hire some teachers for our kids for God's sake! Why didn't you give Becker a position that would have him promote sports in the schools. He would actually be in the schools meet the coaches, the kids, and use his contacts to make things happen. He would have been $50G cheaper than Mr. Garcia and you would have fulfilled the promise that was made to him when he was hired. Maybe you're hoping all these ghetto, welfare, free loading East Aurora folks like Mr. Hulls family will like your expensively glossy newsletter enough to vote you back in. Please understand something! You are not wanted! Cleaning house starts with Annette and Jerome. Than some of the other wasted tax money can be tossed out. Hey! I forgot! There is also a district fun fair this weekend! Everything is free! Yeah! I bet those face muscles will be strained again! Annette and Jerome will have those smiles on! Another perfectly timed event to spew lies to our parents.
Getting in the middle of it
Johnson insists that Janco “wasn’t pushed out the door.”
But district e-mails provided to the Beacon-News show that Johnson had her eyes set on changing the bidding process for janitorial supplies, partly because she thought Janco’s prices were too high. She also accused district maintenance personnel of having a “cozy relationship” with Janco.
In an e-mail to then-district personnel dated June 11, 2012, Johnson wrote that she believed three maintenance employees “were on the take.”
“I am very disappointed (with) the way (the department is) being run,” she wrote. “The day has 24 hours in it so I suggest we get moving or it will be everyone’s last year.”
In an e-mail dated June 10, 2012, Johnson wrote that the board would reject the current janitorial bid if no changes were made.
“I expect changes to the bid and I will approve those changes with our lawyer,” she wrote. “Everything Janco is private label and double the price that is a(n) unfair bid.”
In an August 2012 e-mail to former East Finance Director Jay Augustine and Superintendent Jerome Roberts, Johnson wrote that the bid was on hold until “we agree.”
“Again, I am in the middle with a supplier and the bid has not been awarded,” she said.
Johnson wrote that the objective of the new janitorial bid was to get away from brand name products, to “go green” and to use dispensers effectively.
“(This is) something Janco should have been doing but they are to(o) busy chumming around with the maintenance department,” she wrote.
In a phone interview Thursday, Johnson said she didn’t think her maintenance staff was taking bribes, but that she’d heard reports they had.
Then, she reconsidered: “Maybe they were. I don’t even know what to believe anymore.”
Subpar quality?
Since they were installed last year, the quality of the new janitorial products, especially the paper towel holders, has come into question, though Johnson says “the breakage on them is very low.”
According to district e-mails from March provided to The Beacon-News, maintenance employees at several schools have had issues with the new universal paper towel dispensers. In one e-mail, a Gates Elementary employee said that he fielded calls about jammed dispensers. Hermes and Brady experienced jams, too.
A Waldo Middle School employee said he was having issues keeping the soap dispensers on the wall.
“It doesn’t matter if they lock or not. If they want it off, it’s coming off,” the employee wrote of the students. Two other employees said they were experiencing the same issues.
Vendor treatment
For the first time in years, East Aurora changed the layout and wording of its janitorial bid, which goes out annually in the summer.
Johnson said removing specific brand names from the bid meant more companies could bid on products, making the process more competitive.
But there are questions about who wrote — or influenced — the final janitorial bid.
Johnson said that district maintenance personnel prepared the bid document, which vendors use to offer their prices on janitorial products. But Kramer alleges that a representative of one of the vendors helped write part of the new contract.
That vendor, Elk Grove Village-based Mayfair, won $184,000 in new contracts with the district for the 2012-13 school year, which is mostly for toilet paper, toilet paper dispensers and new green chemicals the company says it advised the district about. Mayfair won one-third of total janitorial contracts.
According to Blake Harber, a Mayfair customer service representative, an independent contractor named Jim Masterson called East Aurora a few months before the janitorial bid was slated to go out to potential vendors. Masterson talked to the district about “going green” with their chemicals, Harber said, something he had also done at Chicago Public Schools.
According to documents provided to The Beacon-News, the janitorial bid was changed at least five times last year. The second version had the words “Ask Jim if it is OK to use his language” scrawled at the top, and is filled with Ecologic brand products, which Mayfair and some other companies sell.
Masterson’s name and email address also appears on green cleaning informational documents provided to the district while it was revising its bid. The final bid document did not have the Ecologic brand name on it — since the district was trying to move away from specifying one brand — but the company won many of the contracts for green cleaning supplies.
School Board member Hull, who also supervises the city’s Water and Sewer Department, said it’s not “totally unusual” for a bidder to help write a bid.
“Is it ethical? You be the judge,” he said. “But I have a problem with someone who comes in and helps write the bid and then gets a significant portion of the bid.”
Mayfair’s Harber said it is “perfectly proper” for a salesman to show a potential client how it could save them money. A salesman will try to get a client to include a specific brand in a bid, which eliminates some competition, Harber said.
“That’s what you hope to do and this is what Mr. Masterson does well,” Harber said. “There’s nothing nefarious there. He came in and he tried to sell them on using safe chemicals. If it does the job, that’s being a salesman.”
Johnson said bid documents were prepared by maintenance staff and that Masterson did not help write the bid.
Johnson maintains she did what she had to do to save the district money.
“If Annette Johnson would have not gotten involved in that bid we would have paid $52,000 too much for toilet paper and $38,000 too much for paper towels,” she said. “I don’t think I did anything wrong
What has been done in the dark for far too long, is finally coming to light. Can't wait till the high beam comes on and the few culprits are made accountable and the bus can stop worrying about innocents being thrown under. Big thumbs up to the Beacon for finally digging in and reporting the facts.
According to the Beacon:
In an e-mail to then-district personnel dated June 11, 2012, Johnson wrote that she believed three maintenance employees “were on the take.”
“I am very disappointed (with) the way (the department is) being run,” she wrote. “The day has 24 hours in it so I suggest we get moving or it will be everyone’s last year.”
When questioned by the Beacon, Annette stated "Maybe they were".(taking bribes)
Somebody please explain this to me. Former board member Rayanne Carlson just spoke to district personelle (hardly more than hello). The union filed a complaint, the States Attorney was involved and shortly thereafter Rayanne resigned from the board.
Annette Johnson is in direct communication with district staff, not only speaking with them but also directing their day to day activities and making threats against them. Why is the union not filing complaints against her? Why is the States Attorney not involved? Why is this woman still on the school board?
Does everyone realize, now that these e-mails from Annette are being made public, our maintenance workers could easily file (and win) a harrassment suit against the district?
This woman has got to go before she does irreparable harm.
Big kudos to Denise Crosby and her fellow reporters/columnists at the Beacon! Now that John Russell is finally gone, the kid gloves are coming off and news from D131 is being reported and discussed instead of being sugar-coated. Ever since D131 gave Russell a sweetheart deal on the sale of his house back in 2005, unpleasant details about administration's dealings have been glossed over. Welcome to a NEW era in Aurora journalism!
:)
Is a board president even suppose to email personnel? This needs to stop and we need to clean house. I can' imagine how it must be to work for this district. Those employees that where said to be taking brides should stand up for themselves and find out if they can do anything. Just look how the board stated some maintenance workers where buying things for themselves.
Good for the Beacon bringing this out now if they would do like other papers and take the information to whoever can stop this I might buy the paper.
No wonder Annette Johnson dislikes the Beacon News, they expose her and Roberts for who they really are. Guess today's articles show how Annette CANNOT BE TRUSTED when explaining her involvment in many an issue. And lets not forget the Superintendent Jerome Roberts involvment either.
There has been some complaining about
Zach and Kirsten using out of the district money and then you have the board president using The Highlighter to promote herself and using district money. There is no reason to put that out right now when an election is going on.
The Better Government Association is now involved in d131 employee will be exposed for the crooks they are. They slandered Annette Johnson fine name to defend their own playoffs. Good that Annette exposed them more to come. Records are being shredded at the Hill Annette. Denise Crosby will be fired and exposed for the hack she is.
Only one way to restore INTEGRITY AND HONESTY back in 131 and that is to rid East Aurora of Johnson and Roberts once and for all. How can they face the District, students, and staff for their failures and disgrace they have brought upon 131.
I hope the Better Government does come out and see how this district is ran by a board president and not by the superintendent like the law states. It also states a board member should be doing administrations job which you can plainly see when Johnson gets involved in bids.
Denise Crosby has every right to look into things she thinks is wrong and she took what was given her and let us know that Johnson isn't everything she says.
10:15am PROVE IT
To:April 5, 2013 at 10:15 AM
Annette, your poor spelling and grammar always give you away. You are a perfect example that education was no better in District 131, 30+ years ago as it is today.
Interesting this all comes up right before the election. Obviously Denise Crosby and her colleagues have decided to affect the election. Something I'm puzzled by; the second article by Lulay and the other reporter says "Janco Supply inked a five-year contract with the district". Then at the beginning of the next paragraph it quotes the Janco guy as saying "It was a naïve handshake deal". Was there a written contract approved by the board or not? The article basically says yes and no at the same time.
As far as the dispensers, I work in another school district. In the past 20 years we've gone thru about 5 different soap, paper towel, and toilet paper dispensers because each supplier uses that as the hook to sell their product. "Oh, we'll install the dispensers for free!" Then when you go to buy supplies, the only place you can get the ones that fit the dispensers are from that company -- at a premium price. Going to dispensers that can take products from multiple suppliers makes sense. As far as dispensers getting broken -- hellooooo. School kids. NOTHING is indestructible. We've put up dispensers here that looked like Superman couldn't hurt them -- but some student managed to destroy it.
!!!!! JUST 4 DAYS UNTIL THE REIGN OF TERROR ENDS !!!!!
How many scandals? How many lawsuits? How many negative press stories? How many embarrassments. How many students failed? How many corrupt administrators covered up and retained? How many public battles between board members? How many negative comments about staff members made by our board? How many tax dollars spent trying to reelect Annette Johnson? How many corrupt committees? How many people screwed? How Many?????
The community has had enough. We see you for who you are Annette. Your time is at an end.
!!!!! VIVA APRIL 9TH !!!!!
Denise Crosby gets after Johnson because of Kurt Becker. Kurt is hated at EAS but brags he got Johnson.
To: April 4, 2013 at 10:44 PM
It's no wonder Mr. Green has filed and won so many lawsuits regarding the hiring of coaches in District 131. It appears as though the entire process is corrupt. Is it really that difficult to set up one procedure and follow it?
Why were Annette Johnson and Raymond Hull interjecting themslves into the process? Why are backroom deals being made? Why are we pissing off a professional level coach and his staff by breaking back room deals?
Why are we wasting taxpayer dollars on a hiring committee if the decision was made before they ever entered the room. When you figure that there were ten staff members on the hiring committee. The process took at least 30 hours and each person was making a minimum of $40 an hour, we wasted over $12,000 hiring the new football coach. Was all this waste just to give the appearance that the board wasn't pulling the strings?
The school board has never been clean in District 131 but compared to the current board, former boards look lily white.
I'm voting for change starting with removing Annette Johnson.
I'm shocked!!! Annette doesn't have any campaign events (oops, I mean staff meetings)scheduled for after April 9th???
The medical bills must have been adding up from all the arm twisting administrators were doing to staff members just to get them to attend.
Change is coming Tuesday. Annette, you better get your lawyer ready.
I will be demanding every campaign contribution Strand and Montroy received from staff if elected to the board they need to have Integrity so as to not be showing preferred treatment of people who donated.
If elected they will shortly be involved in the same problems. Strand and Montroy don't know what they got themselves into.
Johnson did not give any proof that they where taking bribes and if they where why didn't the district prosecute them. In all the uncovering this district or Johnson has said they uncovered not one person was made accountable to pay back the district.
Scott Swiegart and Jan got fired today. Roger Carlson got put on administrative leave.
Hill Avenue news is that three people in the maintenance department were fired today. Yesterday, Annette Johnson stated for the Beacon that she had no evidence of wrongdoing by anybody, today she is firing three people in the maintenance department. Apparently Annette is on the warpath once again. Annette is embarrassed publicly so she is taking it out anybody she can. Jerome just goes along hoping to keep his job another day.
The three people fired have worked for the district for many, many years. Scott Sweigart, Roger Carlson and Jan Cinto. If I were them, I would be going directly to my attorney and filing against Annette and the district.
I am sure we will have another embarrassing story in the Beacon before Tuesday.
Strand and Montroy have spent over $10,000 on their campaign for a non paying job. ne has to ask WHY? They are getting money from special interest groups who don't want the dirt to come out ? However the dirt is coming out
East Aurora needs a strong school board president – Annette Johnson!
As I watched the Daily Show this week, Facebook COO Sheryl Sandberg made a fascinating point about the lack of female leadership in Fortune 500 companies. She said that when mothers sit around the sandbox with their young children, while the boys are allowed to get a little crazy, if the girls get the least bit aggressive, their moms reflexively tell them to “stop being bossy.”
Then Ms. Sandberg took it a step further. She asked her own daughter what she would do if her coworkers started to dislike her because she was doing her job too well. The daughter responded that she’d try not to do so well.
Yikes!
And it’s this kind of archaic thinking that’s behind the insistent Beacon-News attacks on East Aurora School Board President Annette Johnson. To put it in simpler and more stereotypical Sinatra-esque terms, “No one likes a pushy broad” – least of all that insipid Denise Crosby.
The truth is, hiding behind her poison pen, Denise has never stood up to a soul in her sad life. If you confronted her face-to-face, she’d melt before your very eyes.
Of course disgruntled East Aurora staffers are going to run to the paper with their exaggerated “stories” whenever someone challenges their formerly unchallenged existence. That’s exactly what happens to strong female leaders because “no one like a pushy broad.”
But that’s what East Aurora needs – a pushy broad named Annette Johnson. Think about it! Considering the vast challenges facing the beleaguered, but generally improving school district, what would it mean if no one complained?
It would mean that nothing’s changing for the better!
So the fact that some staffers, who are used to having it their way at the expense of the children, are running to Crosby with every perceived slight is actually a good sign!
Can Annette Johnson be accused of micro-managing? You bet your sweet bippie! But that’s exactly what D131 needs right now – strong involved leadership. And the fact that Johnson is a strong woman should not be held against her.
God bless the ministers running against the board for their efforts. But the truth is, they want to run D131 from the pulpit – while East Aurora needs someone who’s willing to get in the trenches.
Dear readers! I’ve never lied to you and I’ve seen this before. A decade ago, facing similar challenges, the U-46 school district was on the ropes. But some strong and unpopular leadership came in, bucked the status quo, took the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune, and made a difference.
As a result, U-46 is coming back strong.
They say there are only two sure things in life – death and taxes – but I say there’s three. And the third one is voting for Annette Johnson for East Auroral School Board President on April 9.
You won’t be sorry.
Jeff Ward
Scott was fired after 30 years with 2mos to go. Jan, Roger and Nestor are on administrative leave until after the election. Annette never showed her face today or yesterday but we all know that Roberts decisions are not his own.
Scott Sweigart was FIRED? He was one of our district's best, and set to retire in a couple months.
Scott, if you're reading this please know that many of us think you've been royally screwed by a corrupt administration. You should SUE the district...ask Robert Green for advice, and maybe include Jan in a group lawsuit (share the legal expenses).
4:21pm Jeff Ward How bout commenting on the events the past year to begin with. Health Insurance monies being lost, Credit Cards, Late fees for utilities, Transgender fiasco, Bob Green's dismissal, Waldo school principal shootin power bow in the school, and now the Janitorial Fiasco and still more will be uncovered. Let's not bash Denise Crosby or anyone else but lets address the issues.
there is a fine line between a "Pushy Broad", a "Bully Broad" an "Egotistical Broad" and an "Emotional Unstable Broad" TAKE YOUR CHOICE in describing Annette Johnson.
Jeff Ward,
I know that you are bitter after being fired by the Beacon (I can't imagine how humiliating it must be to be extricated from such a prestigious publication) but do you really have no other options in life other than coming on a district blog and bashing the Beacon and Denise Crosby?
The question is not whether or not Annette Johnson is a pushy broad, she is. The question is, is she handling her role appropriately, she is not.
If Annette had been trained as a superintendent and was acting in that roll, she may be justified in being a pushy broad. The fact is, she has ventured far beyond her acceptable roll as a board member by interferring in the day to day activities of staff members.
As a board member she should be working cooperatively with the other board members to oversee the districts policies and procedures. She does not run the district.
If you could step back from your hatred of the Beacon for a moment, perhaps you could see the situation with proper perspective.
But Jeff it wasn't the board president that made the change. The whole board hired a Superintendent that changed the district.
When did the board go into closed session for these firings? The last one for closed session was for student discipline and the other for Bob Green so how can they fire someone without going into closed session? Did they have any knowledge that this was going to happen?
The Better Government Association is probably stepping in because elected folks on the d131 Board are not acting properly in the capacity for which they were elected.....or maybe it is just one crazy "broad."
Roger wasn't fired. But he was put on leave. Scott and Jan did get fired. Not sure about Nestor.
East places former maintenance director, employees on administrative leave
By Stephanie Lulay slulay@stmedianetwork.com April 5, 2013 7:20PM
AURORA — East Aurora has placed three maintenance employees on administrative leave, and one retired immediately Friday, a school board member confirmed.
Director of Student Athletics and Activities Nestor Garcia, who served as director of operations until April 2012, was placed on administrative leave, said East Aurora School Board member Ray Hull.
A maintenance supervisor and a maintenance department secretary also were placed on administrative leave. A second maintenance supervisor retired effective immediately, Hull said. Hull serves on the school board’s Buildings and Grounds Committee.
Hull said the Friday the leaves are a direct result of the district’s janitorial bid issues becoming public. On Friday, The Beacon-News published a story detailing a yearlong war over who would provide East Aurora with janitorial products. That dispute included accusations of tens of thousands of wasted taxpayer dollars, district personnel payoffs and preferential treatment for vendors.
“It’s retaliatory because of the story that hit the newspaper. Someone had to pay,” Hull said. “(East Aurora Superintendent Jerome) Roberts has nothing to lose; only the Board President Annette Johnson has something to lose because she’s been intricately involved in this contract.”
Johnson is up for re-election Tuesday. Eight candidates are competing for five school board spots.
Johnson could not be reached late Friday. East Aurora spokesman Adam Harding could not be reached Friday. A request for comment to Roberts was not returned.
Looks like Scott wasn't fired; he retired early.
And Ray Hull's looking like a hero in this. Maybe he should be the next School Board president.
According to the Beacon article yesterday, Annette Johnson was writing e-mails accusing individuals in the maintenance department of illegally taking bribes as far back as June 11, 2012. If Annette Johnson had proof of wrongdoing a year ago, why has nothing been done to these individuals until there is an embarrassing article in the Beacon (days before Annette is running for re-election). I think Raymond Hull nailed it perfectly, “It’s retaliatory”. Of course, that is a stupid statement to be made by a school board member unless he is sure that the rest of the school board is not going to support Annette on this witch hunt. It opens up the district to a lawsuit for retaliation.
By the way, Steven Glink has been a great attorney for Bob Green. He knows the corruption in District 131 and has been very successful making legal arguments against the district. Here is his contact information for anybody needing legal services today:
Steven E. Glink
3338 Commercial Avenue
Northbrook Il. 60062
847-480-7749
I hope this helps.
Can everyone say UNETHICAL? I knew you could.
Which thought is worse:
1) Annette Johnson, after an embarrassing newpaper article just ordered the puppet superintendent to begin termination proceedings against 4 long time District 131 employees because she is up for re-election next week.
2) Annette Johnson has known for years about illegal activity occurring in the district maintenance department but has covered it up until it became a public embarrassment (at election time).
Is there any version of this latest debacle that doesn't show the community just how out of control our current school board and Annette Johnson are?
Ray Hull is involved in no bid contracts at the City and I am not surprised he is defending this. This is the same man who had a private meeting with Jim Kramer on City of Aurora time and plotted two weeks before election to get Johnson fired off the Board. Johnson should FOIA the visitors log at the City. It is against the law to have political meetings at the City. Why was he meeting with Jim Kramer on City time anyway? I have first hand knowledge of Ray, he is hated in the sewer department and that is where he belongs in the sewer.
The only person who can remove a board member is the REO so talking to a lawyer doesn't mean that what he was talking about. How do you know this that he talked to him and it could of been City business which means he would talk to the lawyer on city time.
This district break the law everyday with letting the board president run the district that isn't her job. In fact she shouldn't even be talking to the employees on her own. It is a shame that the employees let her do it and that the don't even know the IL School Code.
Johnson could not be reached late Friday. East Aurora spokesman Adam Harding could not be reached Friday. A request for comment to Roberts was not returned.
Shrek, Donkey,and Baby Huey are an embarrassment! Adam aka Baby Huey, you have let all of us teachers down. You are one of them now!
April 5, 2013 at 2:48 PM You're exactly right. There will be at least one embarrassing article in the Beacon every day right up to the election. Then they'll stop -- unless it's new articles of the Beacon bragging how they altered the outcome of the election.
Jerome stays quiet because he knows Annette is in love with him and will let him slide until he retires. She's so naive and thinks that he loves her too. ANNETTE WAKE UP, JEROME DOES NOT WANT YOU! Look at you! ugh
I hope for the districts sake that they have proof about what these employees did according to the board president otherwise I can see a big lawsuit coming. The one that retired early just like Jay makes you wonder though.
3:13 PM is Annette too
First the Janco contract, then the ADS (Alarm Detection Service) contract. The District (Annette) went with an unproven, out of town vendor and saved a pittance as opposed to going with a proven provider that offered excellent service and knew the ins & outs of each building and system! Leadership & management are two different skills, Annette is lacking in both and exemplifies the adage, "penny wise, pound foolish!". She's a tyrant folks, who for months has cried that the sky is falling - remember her often repeated claims that the district has been a mess and disfuntional for 30 years?- and then claims in the Beacon News article from April 4 that, "this is not a district out of control likes everyone likes to portray it. We have got involved in way too much drama". Well, make up your mind Annette, is the District a mess or not? And, hey, you're the director and producer of this "drama"!!!
And what a slap in the face of all the administrators, teachers and staff who have dedicated their careers and lives to the CHILDREN of D131 who somehow appear to be forgotten here...
I have been watching the Robert Green second firing, where is the teacher's union on this? I am worried as a teacher in the district that our union has not support Mr. Green. Why does Robert Green have to hire an attorney to find justice? Where does our union money go? Can someone explain the the union's action or lack of action on this?
Why would Jerome Roberts put his job on the line and suspend employees for Annette Johnson's election. Also the district has lawyers who review these cases. Something major will come out of this and the board was not aware or the superintendent until a honest citizen took over the maintenanace department.
As for comments on this blog maybe Annette should sue.
My prediction the States Attoney will be involved before too long.
3:45am Please provide documentation to these allegations. If everyone is true, I will call the attorney general to get him arrested and prosecuted to the fullest. I am sure Roberts and Johnson are squeakly clean in all their business dealings especially the past year. PROVIDE THE PROOF !!!
3:45am Annette you shouldn't be slandering your fellow board member. Must be feeling the pressure of T R U T H and others challenging your pack of lies and EGO
http://beaconnews.suntimes.com/mobile/19319831-463/accusations-pile-up-as-east-aurora-school-board-election-nears.html
It looks now like Annette had district personnel working at her house on district time. Is there no end to it?
Unfortunately, this is not an isolated incident in District 131. District administrators and board members have had such "perks" for years. A while back, I was listening to one of the districts computer network techs complaining about how Jerome made him going to Joliet to work on his personal home computers. There were also the stories about all the work done at Radakovich's house by district maintenance guys years ago.
Has anybody ever checked to see where all the District PO's have been delivered? How many supplies have been delivered to administrator home addresses?
@11:14am He denied help from the union. He chose to hire his own attorney. This is a fact.
and u know this how 8:57?
April 6, 2013 at 8:57 PM
You are full of it. The union refused to represent Bob Green and have been in legal battles since that refusal.
The Illinois Labor Relations Board has already ruled against the union and ordered the union to 1)come to a settlement (compensate his legal fees) with Bob Green for their refusal to represent him at his first termination and 2) communicate this refusal to represent to the union membership.
The union leadership has thus far refused to follow the Illinois Labor Relations Board ruling and so Bob Green has been in the courts attempting to force a settlement.
Our union is completely worthless. They take our money yet are in bed with the district leadership. If Adam Harding's move into administration isn't evidence of this, nothing is. As long as the AFT represents the teachers of District 131, nothing will improve.
To April 6, 2013 at 8:57 PM
What are you talking about. Bob Green was begging for the union to have their attorney represent him. While he was on administrative leave the union claimed that they would bring in the attorney IF AND WHEN he was terminated. After he was terminated, the union claimed that Bob was no longer a teacher in District 131 and thus had no obligation to represent him. So sorry, no lawyer for Bob.
Bob Green was railroaded from beginning to end and the union worked with the administration to do it. The teachers need to get their heads out of their A$$es.
Strand and Montroy are taking money from Alarm Detection everybody knows they have crooked ties to the mayor wow then the maintenanace mess Johnson is a prick but is exactly what Tge district needs too bad she did not cean it up sooner. I thought Strand and Montroy were the answer but I am changing my vote to many big signs and fancy mailings. Know hey a don't have the personnel resources to pay for that. Guess Johnson and the start of lean up is better than them
In the past Bob Green has gone to the union only to be told they could not help him. The union has always picked and chosen who they want to help.
who do I vote for
The current board is out of touch with the need's of the student's not to mention the rest of d-131.
The people that want to replace them could be just as bad who really know's what a mess
10:30 Learn to spell Anita/Annette/Stella. You are obviously one of them.
We need new leadership NOW at the superintendent level. Corruption and cronyism regarding finances are bad. But the the lack of clarity and support for instructional outcomes is even worse. Our students and teachers are suffering tremendously and the buck stops with Dr. Roberts.
The entire curriculum and the way money, time, and staff are being utilized need to be reviewed. The problems with toilet paper and insurance pales in comparison to the mismanagement of educational resources and funds allocated for student instruction. Whatever happened to the curriculum consultants that D131 was supposed to hire?
I'm concerned by the damage that Dr. Roberts has done this past year with unplanned and unresearched curriculum "initiatives" and I'm terrified of the damage he will do in his remaining throw away year if he is allowed to continue on this haphazard course. The new board needs to buy him out and/or limit his ability to make curriculum decisions that will negatively impact our district for years.
In so far as Dr. Roberts apparently has Johnson's support, vote against her. VOTE FOR CHANGE!
What part of a board president isn't suppose to run the district the superintendent is doesn't someone understand. Also no one board member and that includes the president is suppose to take credit for something that is done.
Alarm Detection has donated money to the district and I believe they gave them some TV's for prizes to win the referendum. I am not a big fan of the Mayor but if he can influence anyone to vote against Johnson I say good for him.
9:14 a.m., vote for CHANGE.
True, the challengers are in some ways an unknown quantity. But I watched both forums (the first online & attended the second), and I was very impressed with the way Ms. Peryea, Mr. Montroy, and Ms. Strand articulated their concerns and suggestions for our district.
It's time to give some fresh faces a chance.
The Better Givernment will put a end to CORUPTION in 131 Strand and Montroy supporters are in it deep. they have spent $15,000 on a non paid job to get elected. if they are about Intregrity they will turn over all the names of people who donated to them.
Someone who went their cheese and wine party recently saw Nestor, Rick Sanitago and Jesse Vargas all there and they donated nice try Zack involved in another lie.
4:04PM (Annette) Can you provide documentation and photos to prove these allegations. THANK YOU
Who are you referring to when you say Better Government. Please define Better Government and explain how they will put an end to corruption. Then when you're done doing that, learn how to spell.
Just saw this on Openline Blog:
"The current D131 School Board president is a vindictive liar with serious anger-management issues.
Time for a CHANGE in District 131.
Vote for Strand, Montroy, and Peryea."
Anybody care about the new bell schedule issue?
Even if Nestor, Rick Sanitago and Jesse Vargas went to their party there is nothing wrong with that it was on their own time. Maybe they see the train wreck that is going to happen in this district and want to try and stop it. Will the ones not on the board bring change time will tell with that but it seems they are on track with wanting to get a Superintendent that will do the job they are suppose to do. Being a board member isn't a job and the average time a board member spends on looking at the board package on a average is 10 hours according the ISBA when they have hired a superintendent to do their job.
It is funny the ones that are on the board go after the maintenance department when they stated a employee didn't pay for their insurance and administrators that misused credit cards. But them again still this district doesn't have a policy about using credit cards or pro cards.
Remember Leonard and the 800 trips to Menards and what a serious offense it was. He didn't know how to do the math.
800 trips in 7 months.
18 firemen and engineers + 10 maintenance + 4 supervisors = 32 people going to Mendards to get parts to keep the old buildings operating.
That's about 4 times a month per person. Leonard probably goes to Menards more than 4 times a month.
Annette jumped on that one. Mandated only supervisors buy parts and go to Menards and all other parts stores. Everybody at B & G is bad! Punish them!
Now there are only 2 supervisors. Who's going to get parts? Who's going to manage the Maintenance department? Who's going to do secretarial work?
Put a stop to this stupidity. Change is Good. Vote them out. BRING IN NEW.
@9:04pm, 9:47pm, 9:58pm, and 1:27am. You are all wrong. He felt the union wasn't going to do a good enough job, aka more money, so he chose to pick his own lawyer. I know this because I'm a union rep. who has spoken with other union officials from the union office. He turned us down. Fact.
The wine and cheese fundraiser was after school, so seeing district employees there is a mute point.
The moment of truth for District 131 has come. In the past 4 years, we have seen more corruption and more scandals than in the history of District 131. We have had a board president who has done everything in her power to marginalize the administration and staff of this district and run everything from her own financially warped sense of how a district should be. Annette has covered up one administrative blunder after another and has only taken any action after the story hits the fan in the local papers.
We have seen credit card scams where hundreds of thousands of dollars have gone unaccounted for and where it was shown a central office administrator was taking out cash in Atlantic City (when she was being paid to be at a curriculum convention in Pennsylvania) yet Denean Adams is still employed by District 131. All this was known to have been going on for years yet Annette and the board only took action when the Beacon FOIA’d the credit card statements and made the results public.
Then there was the insurance and accounting scandals where the only one fired was the secretary who had been neglecting to pay her own insurance for years. What happened to Jay Augustine, the administrator in charge? You must retire one month early and start collecting your huge pension.
Annette has known about the scandals at buildings/grounds and the maintenance workers being on the take for at least a year as evidenced by her own e-mails but again did nothing until it became public in the Beacon. Instead, she and the board created a whole new position at the cost of $130,000 a year to protect Nestor Garcia.
Perhaps the worst (at least to me) was the case last year of the special education student from Simmons who had been bullied and sexually assaulted by other students. The young boy, his mother and aunt begged for help. First they went to the building administrators at Simmons, next they went to Jerome Roberts and finally went several times before the board begging for help, just to be ignored over and over again. Or the alternative school student who was beaten up by Wilson Morales (assistant principal at Simmons), just to have Joan Glotzbach, Clayton Muhammad and Lisa Morales threaten the child and his family to cover up the assault and battery by Wilson Morales. How can any current board member claim with a straight face that they are here for the children?
Come Tuesday I am voting for positive change:
Zach Montroy
Kirsten Strand
Marcella McIntyre-Duermit
Mary Louise Peryea
Richard Leonard (unfortunate but necessary)
Annette Johnson and the current board have made consistent accusations, promises they , can't keep, and have by far been the most unprofessional out of any board EA has had. Annette has always blogged that there would be charges by the states attorney. Where are these charges? The fact is that the only wrongdoing has been on the boards behalf. Jerome and Glotzbach days are numbered yet they still sell out people who have been model employees for many years. Jerome and Joan are next, and if they don't think so, then they are sadly mistaken.
How is Jerome putting his job on line by firing employees that you told him to fire Annette? He's riding out his contract because he doesn't want to her fired.
No backbone to make a comment or statement.
How about tapping into Annettes emails and finding all the harassing emails she sent to staff and vendors?
Marcella McIntyre-Duermit is a friend of Stella's a vote for her is a vote for Annette. Go with Nacho he seems be finding out the right way to go.
Another day, another negative article about our district in the Beacon.
From this morning's article:
"Johnson said Saturday that she’d received reports that maintenance personnel were tearing down her re-election campaign signs and that a maintenance supervisor had threatened his staff, instructing them to cast ballots that would vote out the current school board.
“People are really afraid to come forward,” she said of the threatened employees.
The election threats are being investigated, said Johnson, who also accused maintenance staff of donating money to support her challengers, Zach Montroy and Kirsten Strand. There is no rule against district personnel donating money to a school board election campaign, Johnson said, but it’s “never been done in the past.”
Reached by phone Saturday, Montroy said “no maintenance worker in East Aurora has contributed to our campaign financially.”
“We have done our best to run a very clean campaign,” he added. “We’ve never attacked anyone that is our opponent.”
To: April 7, 2013 at 8:15 PM
I've seen the determination from the Illinois Labor Relations Board showing the union refused to represent Bob Green. I've also seen and listened to the Illinois Appellate Court transcripts of the case between Bob Green and the union. I listened to the arguments by the union lawyer stating that the union believed they had a right to represent who they chose.
If the union leadership is telling you that Bob Green did not want their representation, they are lying to you. They are also violating the order of the Illinois Labor Relations Board. That order stated that the union must inform the membership of their refusal to represent Bob Green.
About the proposed bell schedule...wait until after tomorrow's election, then there will be plenty of discussion/concern about it. Right now we have bigger fish to fry!
I think the the custodians union does the same. They don't really fight for u.
Annette is on here claiming that maintenance workers are supporting the Montroy/Strand campaigns. Her innuendos are that somehow this is improper and should be investigated.
The fact is: teachers and staff are allowed to have political affiliations and a school district is barred from interferring with this fundamental right. As long as they are not being political while on the district clock, they are well within their rights to support any political candidate they choose.
Unfortunately. tyrants don't like any dissent whatsoever, which is probably why the maintenance workers are supporting Montroy and Strand in the first place. Annette treats people like crap and then can't understand why she doesn't have their support.
Just one more day of the tyrant:
Vote:
Zach Montroy
Kirsten Strand
Marcella McIntyre-Duermit
Mary Louise Peryea
Richard Leonard
Excuse me 8:15 pm but way back on the first firing of Bob I saw first hand the document sent by the union which stated his situation was not a union matter. I was even told by a union rep Bob could not be helped when I questioned why the union was not representing him. We also have some union reps who like to talk to others about confidential matters which have been spoken in privacy to them about other employees. This is a fact. Who knows you might one of those reps who cannot stand Bob Green.
6:08 I predicted several days ago that we'd be seeing a negative story in the Beacon every day thru tomorrow (election day). Then it'll stop. All these stories are coming out right now specifically to affect the election results. You can clearly see the attitude, as conveyed by 8:30. For both sides, never mind issues involved w/ educating the kids, first priority are political factions getting what they want.
GO ANNETTE!!!!!! VICTORY on Tuesday!
Before you vote, take a look at this video to refresh your memory about Annette Johnson:
http://landing.newsinc.com/shared/video.html?freewheel=58285&sitesection=aurorabeaconnews&VID=23983184#.UWMRUsBXCXA
I listened to that audio and I am not at all upset with the Board Presidents comments it is board member Ray Hull's comments that are totally out of line. Calling Ms. Johnsons mother a looser and all the other comments. Clearly he is racist against those with mental illness by his off the cuff remarks. He should be called out on that WOW. Ray, from one man to another...you need to suck it up and take it on the check and don't be such a woose. Is this how you talk to a women? Someone in authority? People should be calling for your resignation. This guy is also employed by the City of Aurora? Who is his boss? Maybe they should take a listen to this.
If Annete and Ray were students instead of board members, they would have both been suspended. Their behavior was completely unacceptable. If they had any ethics, they would both resign but I am not holding my breath.
I can only imagine what it would be like to have to deal with Johnson. We have heard she has belittled other people and made them cry. She has overstep her responsibilities of a board president. As for the video they both acted poorly but at times when people talk about family members it makes people act differently. At least Ray has stepped up and is saying what is really happening with the board.
As the Mayor said in his robo call it is your right to go out and vote. Nothing can change unless we the people vote for change.
Thank God I am retired from D#131!
I feel so sorry for my colleagues who are still staving away in this bottomless cesspool of never ending corruption!
Isn't there one honorable person left in the Administration or on this School Board? You have no idea how demoralizing theses daily scandals are for the entire staff. Nobody trusts anyone, and rightfully so! It will take years to rebuild what once existed between staff and administrators, and that will take an entirely new set of people at the helm to accomplish!
I hope tomorrow's election will send some of the "Bozos" back to the circus where they belong!
SHAME ON ALAM DETECTI0NS, MAYOR WEISNER, AND LINDA CHAPA-LAVA FOR YOUR SUPPORT OF STRAND-MONTROY
YOU'VE LOST MY VOTE AND SUPPORT!!!
JUST RECIEVED A RECORDED MESSAGE URGING MY SUPPORT OF STRAND AND MONTROY. WHAT'S THAT ABOUT!!!
THIS IS AN UNPAID JOB. WHAT'S IN IT FOR THEM
SHAME ON YOU DENISE CROSRBY--AS A REPORTER YOU SHOULD BE UNBIASED IN YOUR REPORTING OF THE LOCAL NEWS. I REALLY USED TO LIKE YOU AND YOUR ARTICLES. NOT SO SURE NOW AS YOU ARE DEFINITELY TRYING TO SWAY THE VOTE
Here's something on the "lighthearted" side. Just a little chuckle and sad shake of the head. Everyone who gets The Enligtener-take a look at page 5. Notice anything strange or a little off? The people listed below the picture are not the people in the picture! The picture is actually one from last year. I know who the Shamblin's are and they are definitely not in the picture. Guess who's responsible for the publication.....Adam Harding!! And everyone on this blog wonders why the district is in this shape it's in!!!!!
This will be hard election since the current board has brought things out they say that is corruption while they let the administration misuse the credit cards and if it is true the health insurance. Then you have the low test scores and a board president running the district instead of the one person they hired to do that job. The ones that really suffer are the students and the teachers. In the long run and this is the last resort is to combine this district to make it whole again. If bids where did wrong and someone believes the maintenance department did wrong then those that did should be accountable for it. If they did not their names should be cleared. If it is believe that Jay did something wrong then he should be held accountable or his name be cleared. If Penny didn't pay for insurance then she should pay the district back that is taxpayers money and money from the students. We do need to have a board that hires the one person they are suppose to that runs the district then that should be done. Getting test scores is important and having a district that parents want to have their children go to is a must but getting rid of corruption that has gone on in this district is a must too.
Amen...from your lips to Gods ears ;)
Always keep in mind the most important reason that everyone involved in education needs to be focused on when casting your vote...our students. If toilet paper is more important then making sure all students can read and raising our graduation rate, then you know who to vote for. On the other hand if you want to take the focus back to where it should be, vote for the candidates that can lead us in the right direction.
Stay tuned for more breaking news of corruption in dist 131. More should surface this week concerning Annette Johson's abuse of authority. Roberts should be ashamed of himself of doing nothing and collecting that big salary.
Here is the deal. Weisner supports the nonincumbants. He wants Johnson out. He cannot control her. All the other polititians do too as they in some way are either directly benefiting or their connections are by the corruption. Johnson is cleaning up the corruption...there is much bigger things yet to be discovered. The staff and administration are now fearful of having to be held accountable. Crosby is a second rate reporter at best. She is unable to put her ego aside when covering the stories about East. Hallmark of a washedup reporter. There are stories to be covered but a toilet paper contract?
WRONG - Actually the good staff would like EVERYBODY to be held accountable for their role. The good staff would like the money to be spent on the education of kids and not just perks for the administrators. The good staff want to be able to control what they teach without being micromanaged.
If Johnson is cleaning up the corruption then she needs to turn herself in to the cops. As for Denise Crosby, she has reported everything right on and we are grateful for her courage in exposing the corruption, scandals at East Aurora. thank you Denise for your honesty in covering the "Circus" at 131.
To: April 8, 2013 at 9:35 PM
You are dillusional. The fact is, most everyone who knows Annette wants her out. The only cleaning up Annette has done is right after the corruption comes out in the paper and even then it's done in a halfa$$ manner that leaves the district wide open to lawsuits.
The only measuring stick that matters is that after four years of Annette's bullying and intimidation of everyone,the students are in classrooms with many more students (30-40 students has become normal) and fewer resources. Test scores have not improved and in many areas have gone down. The only improvements the district can show have come from manipulating the data, not from any real improvements.
The decision is simple: If you have had enough of increasing class sizes, falling test scores, dysfunctional board meetings, bullying boardmembers, corrupt administrators and one scandal after another, you must vote for:
Zach Montroy
Kirsten Strand
Marcella McIntyre-Duermit
Mary Louise Peryea
Richard Leonard
If you honestly believe that the district is showing educational improvements, vote for the incumbents. Either way, get off your half moons, get informed and vote your conscience.
Why are the classrooms overcrowded? Just ask the mayor. He has done zero to curb the overcrowding on the east side. Give him a call and let him explain how he orchestrated all the Jericho folks to move into the east side when he had a chance to get the problem ones out of Aurora.
Blago, Ryan, Jackson Jr & his wife, and now Annette Johnson and Jerome Roberts. All high profile crooks and Egos to go along with it.
Over $20.000 on school board race I am calling from honest campaign disclosure. Please name all your contributors Strand and Montry because you will look CORUPTION. Robo calls really there is something really wrong with the three Strand Montry and Peryea have something to gain.
I think your wrong about Linda Chapa Liva because in the mailer I got for Johnson and her pets there was a letter to the editor from Linda supporting Johnson. I have nothing of the Mayor supporting and board member in fact he stated that in the paper.
We should be focusing on education but the other things are are wrong also other districts seem to do it ours should be able to also with the right Superintendent.
Although the Beacon and Denise Crosby has reported on the district and the things that have gone wrong what have they done with that information to stop it. Just because some new members might be elected that doesn't mean the ones that broke the law will be held accountable. Reporting on these things and not doing anything about it means they are just like the board members that broke the law.
Can we just stop beating around the bush as to the real reason the test score are so poor in District 131. It is not a lack of support by the school board or a lack of funding for programs. Although I do not personally know any of the teachers working in the district-I am sure that they are caring, dedicated professionals who give their all on a daily basis to make a difference in the lives of each of their students.
The problem with low test scores has to do with the lack of support and interest in education in the home. Teachers that I know tell me that the children who do well are those whose education is supported in the home. Too many parents feel that the entire burden of educating their child is only in the classroom. That is unfair-it takes a village to raise a child and unless parent take accountability for their part in educating and supporting their child's education--test score will never be raised. No amount of money or programs can replace a parent's support and encouragement in their child's scholastic accomplishments.
PARENTS OF THE CHILDREN ATTENDING SCHOOL IN DISTRICT 131 IT'S TIME TO STEP UP TO THE PLATE AND DO YOUR PART IN SUPPORTING THE DEDICATED TEACHERS IN HELPING THEM ACCOMPLISH THE GOAL OF EDUCATING YOUR CHILD!!!
Be accountable in this effort.
To: April 9, 2013 at 7:25 AM
I agree with you in part. An involved parents and community would not tolerate our school board. They would demand better. They would demand that the board support educational programs. They would demand that teachers had the text books and supplies needed for education. They would demand smaller class sizes. They would demand higher teacher salaries so that we could retain quality teachers. They would demand that the board and administration support the teachers and educational programs. They would demand accountability for all the corruption.
So, YES, I do agree it starts with the parents but for far more than telling their children to do their schoolwork.
The mayors office may be a part of why there are more students on the East Side but that is not why class sizes are larger. Class sizes are larger because the board refuses to adjust for the increasing population and hire the necessary teachers to balance the equation. As is frequently the case the past four years, education comes last, far behind Annette's pocketbook.
7:25 you are mostly correct in my opinion. So where is the hispanic leadership in Aurora trying to change this? What about all the other so called leaders in this community.
The mayor may be, in part, why there are more students on the East Side but the mayors office is not why the classrooms are overcrowded. The classrooms are overcrowded because the board refuses to adjust for the increased numbers and hire the teachers necessary to maintain reasonable class sizes.
They have the money necessary to create six figure position to protect corrupt administrators but they don't have the money to ensure a quality education for every student?
They have the money to try and impress the mayor spending 3 million dollars for a city building (something never before done by a non-profit in Aurora) Of course, a brand new administration building with a beautiful new board room was part of that corrupt deal.
Simply put, Annette and the board find money for what they consider important. Unfortunately, they just don't consider the children important.
Hopefully by this evening, we will be starting down a more positive path.
Strand and Montroy took money from the crooks the district is trying to clean up. it one word thanking the board about getting rid of Nestor. Will see ho has the last laugh
7:25am Absolutely agree the parents need to step up HOWEVER many do not speak English, are afraid, working tirelessly, and don't understand what really is going on. Johnson exploits this with her "dramatic appearance of concern".
the mayor of aurora has never helped the taxpayers of the east side of aurora.
No board member broke the law you nitwit. The board is trying to break up an entrenched bureaucracy and BEACON is no help.
Strand and Montroy will bring their churches down alert printing was done at Ginger Creek a shown statement was given Ginger Creek will now become taxable and turned into the IRS Why did they spend so much money you have got to ask
The Better Government Association will investigate the money trail on Strand. Montroy they have been called they mixed church and teacher money in to effect the outcome of the election
7:45, you could change all the things you talk about but as 7:25 correctly points out without the parents it wouldn't make a difference. WITH the parents' involvement, we'd see improvement even without any of the things you call for.
I can't imagine what it must be like for Jerome Roberts knowing if the new board members win the board seats today, he will be out soon. Personally, since we have to pay him anyway, I would assign him to a classroom with 40 behavior disorder students and see how he likes the conditions that he has placed teachers in for the past several years. Of course, he can always resign and save the tax payers his exorbinate salary.
Wow, that's a lot of allegations against Strand and Montroy without even one shred of evidence. Annette's fingers must be getting tired after all that typing.
Notice how the Johnson supporters ALWAYS make unprovable allegations. Wonder why the avoid the proven allegations under the "Ayattolah Johnson". Get over it and accept the reign of terror is over. And the real beneficiaries are the taxpayers, teachers, students and staff.
They spent so much money to get the district back on track and hire a Superintendent like the IL School Code says to run the district not the board president.
Maybe it's time to considering changing the way we educate our children when many of the children in the district come from homes where English is not spoken. Yes, we all agree that education for our children is a right. But along with any right comes responsibilities. Perhaps the focus of education should be to first ensure that the parents of our students are taught to speak, read, and write English. By doing this they could be active participants in the education of their child. Many people have immigrated to this country to ensure better opportunities for their children but to make this happen there MUST be parental participation in the process. Non English speaking parents want to improve the lives of their children. to do so they must be willing and open to educational opportunities to learn the English language.
Another responsibility that comes with a free public education is understanding that the children NEED to be in the classroom on a regular basis. As the parent of a elementary public school teacher, I know the frustration and the immense amount of time taken out of the regular days studies making up for subjects that some students missed by missing multiple days of school.Ourdedicated and hard working teachers deserve KUDOs for all they do under the circumstances that they face on a daily basis.
Another responsibility associated with the right to a free public school education is RESPECT. Parents must teach their children to respect their teachers. Parents must also show respect to the teachers who work so hard preparing our children to go out into the world and be successful. Love for knowledge, responsibility, and respect begin at home. We parents must be role models to our children in learning and demonstrating these traits.
sure now they are putting in the effort to visit schools because of the election,. When our athletes are honored three times a year at East ask Mr. Roberts how many he has attend just to tell our students that they are doing a good job and all Annette does is talk about how poor this district is and talk about the economy an how if they lived somewhere else they'd be better off. Way to support our kids and teachers. I will tell you that Roberts has not attended one of them in 5 years. So the only reason they are putting in the effort now is because they both know their days are numbered. Finally well get someone in there who cares about our kids and faculty.
We need to get The East Side of Aurora back to a place that families want to buy a home or rent here where they know their children will get a good education.
let's hope that no matter what the outcome of todays elections are it will be in the best interest of the children and the taxpayers in the district.
SUPPORT TO THE CURRENT BOARD!!! I HOPE YOU HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO CONTINUE YOUR MISSION ON BEHALF OF ALL OF THE RESIDENTS OF DISTRICT 131
Thank you 2:18! Teachers get blamed for EVERYTHING that goes wrong these days. The board and Administrators are the ones calling the shot. Teachers are getting more and more responsibilities that must be handled in a short school day. Students that disrespect teachers never receive a consequence that makes a difference. I can't wait until parents are suing other parents of student that continuously disrupt the classroom. These few students prevent the other students from their RIGHT to an education.
When we think more about taxpayers then educating our students then there is a gap in our responsibilities. We as taxpayers want our tax dollars to be used wisely but in saying that if we don't have a school district that gives a good education for out students then we let our community down. When we don't have families that want to move into our district because we have a good school district then we have families that move in because they don't care about their childrens education and it makes it hard for the ones that do.
Will their be change in the district with new members time will tell the one thing we know they will get a new Superintendent and that is a start but the administration needs to be changed also.
Yes let the current board and administration go to Ballydolls for retreats and to Golf Clubs and have working lunches for one. Let us give them the right to have a athletic club membership for themselves and pay their personal cell phone bills on the district dime.
The final results are:
4 year terms:
Kirsten Strand 28.5% Winner
Richard Leonard 24.7% Winner
Annette Johnson 23.6% Winner
Zach Montroy 23.1% Lost
2 Year Terms:
Mary Peryea 28.9% Winner
Stella Gonzalez 26.9% Winner
Marcella Duermit24.4% Lost
Nacho Cervantes 19.9% Lost
4 more years of the tyrant? I don't think I can take it. It's time to look for another school district to teach in.
It should be interesting to see who the board picks for the next board president. They need to vote Annette out. Unfortunately, I'm not expecting them to be any more intelligent than the voters of the East Side.
It is clear though. Neither Annette Johnson nor Raymond Hull should even be on the board, let alone in the president's position.
With 100% of precincts reporting:
4 Year Term
Kirsten Strand - 28.30%
Richard Leonard -25.45%
Annette Johnson - 23.45%
Zach Montroy - 22.80%
2 Year Term
Mary Lou Peryea - 28.91%
Stella Gonzalez - 26.82%
Marcella Duermet - 25.20%
Ignachio Cervantes - 19.06%
Monday's PLC Podcast to elementary school staffs district-wide surprisingly included a presentation by Teacher's Union President Imthurn - who aided in the roll-out of D131's latest set of PLC mandates. I was struck by this and raise a conflict of interest concern on behalf of myself and elementary colleagues about the representational message this sends to rank and file members who bare the burden and anguish of a poorly negotiated contract crafted (ironically) in conjunction with an imploding central office administration. I sincerely hope you, President Imthurn, stand with those you represent - who smile with fractured faces each time they're asked to suck-up one more in a seemingly never ending string of new policies and administrative decrees. We're keenly aware of our non-negotiables. Did we need to be reminded? Shouldn't you have seperated yourself from this presentation and delivered your message through established building channels. We think so.
According to the Aurora Election Commission only 2537 East Aurora Residents bothered to come out and vote. Of that, only 1927 people bothered to vote for 4 year term board positions.
The last US Census report showed a population in 60505 to be 76,573 people. Of that, about 52,000 of residents are of legal voting age. That means only 3.7% of those of legal voting age voted for the school board election. 96.3% DID NOT VOTE.
If anybody is still wondering why the schools are failing, that is why. The vast majority of the East Aurora population doesn't give a damn about the education of the children on the East Side of Aurora.
Maybe they should have given out free food at the polls. I hear that brings in the crowds.
Well it looks like Annette Johnson will be President again. it shows you can not buy a election. Over $20,000 spent on a election by Strand and Montroy. ou came close to stopping the progress but you where stopped. Really Hull and Montroy out with signs against the current board shame on you. Congradulations President Johnson.
Johnson won't be president again - Hull, Strand, Peryea won't let it happen. They will probably convince Turza or Leonard to help them vote Hull president.
Its the whole country not just the east side that does not come out to vote. That is why America is in trouble.
Isnt Ray Hull the one that said at a committee meeting to the Board President "your moma was a looser and your daddy was one too!" NICE. REAL NICE RAY. Then he actively campaigns against her at the urging of the Mayor(his boss). Huh, shows rays and the mayors true colors.
Ray Hull may have retaliated after Annette's comments about him and his mom, but that was probably Ray at one of his worst moments. We all have those moments, but not all are as public as his was. What we heard from Annette on the audio recorded argument, was just the tip of her iceberg. She has been much more crass and vindictive when speaking to people who do not agree with her and her ideas. Hopefully, those who have been in her corner in the past, see they have a better option. If Stella and Leonard want to truly show they are there for the students and community, they should not play follow the leader, but stand up for what they know to be right. There is a quiet majority out there willing to support you. After all, Annette was just .5 percent from being on the outside, showing she is NOT what the majority of the voting public wanted.
Well see how much people like her after the district get sued for slander by Nestor and the others.
Listen to the tape of Ray at the committee meeting degrading the board president and her deceased mother and father then ask yourself if this is someone who should be in any responsible role at the District. Futhermore should not the board president hold a degree from a Univeristy? He also is beholden to the Wiz. I mean come on 7:57am. The board would be the laughing stock if they elected anyone but Johnson back to the position. She has the most qualifications and has the ability to stand up to anyone.
8:06am Hull did not say that, Annette was giving her credentials on her qualifications
If Ray Hull was out with Montroy putting up signs, I sure hope he took a vacation day to do it and was not on MY tax dollar!!!
I did listen to the tape and it was Johnson that started it and she acted his mother.
Being a board President doesn't need a degree they need to have enough smarts and read The IL School Code and follow it by doing the most important job of a board and that is too hire a Superintendent to run the district. I hope these others stand up and follow the law.
It is downright amazing that Johnson won after all the slanted journalism spewing out of Denise Crosby at the Beacon News. Just goes to show that Johnson is able to persevere even over the attacks of those grasping at anything to continue the corruption in the district and not be held accountable.
Hull was on city time again at the district using city gas. It shows the guy has no ethics.
Annette will be the next President and prettty much announced she is. Turza, Leonard and Gonzalez are on her side. They all ran together. if Peryea and Strand had any sense they will run from Ray Hull.
If this board picks Johnson again for President it shows they lack respect for the employees and the community. Board members please take the time to learn the IL School Code.
The current board IS the laughing stock for having elected Johnson in the head position. She may have the ability to stand up to EVERYone. She is not able to stand along side and work together with anyone.
A college degree means nothing if there is no compassion and common sense when working on behalf of the families and children in 131.
Listen real well to the tape. Johnson spoke negatively about Hull and his mother. She looks down on people of lesser means and people of color. That means she is already against 90% of the families in this district! It was sad that she was elected but sadder if she is chosen by the Board to lead.
Want to talk about qualifications? Mary Louise has none. No college degree, worked as a grocery store clerk, then lost her house and was homeless. Got taken in by Mooseheart as a housemother. Yet she claims she is a teacher and coucelor. In my opinion she is a nut and a loser. At 64 years old, she does not own a house and therefore pays no taxes. Yet she thinks she is qualified to manage a multi-million $$ budget? Please! She cannot even manager her own life! But I guess the voters were swayed by her comment at the last forum "I'm a good listener and have a warm heart, so vote for me" Yikes! Bad voters!
The Strand-Montroy team spent thousands of $$ on thier campaign. Where did that come from? Certainly not from the low income residents in D131. My guess is from their church and Naperville supporteres. Personally, Idetest the fact that people outside D131 and even outside Aurora are controlling what we do here. But then isn't that the Stran-Montroy platform? You stupid EA residents aren't capable of taking care of yourselves, so we will mve into your community and run it for you. And when they are done messing things up, they'll just move back to Naperville or wherever they came from. All a bunch of losers.
To: April 9, 2013 at 11:02 PM
I'm sorry to sound crass but the only way a staff member could be surprised that the union was working with the board and administration is if they have their head up their a$$.
The AFT gave up long ago representing the membership of District 131. There are no negotiations in this district. The board says this is the deal, take it or leave it and the union always says OK we'll take it. That is why there are no protections in the contract that aren't already provided by the school code and also why we are among the lowest paid teachers in the six county area.
I'm sorry to sound even more blunt but it's the majority female teachers in the elementary schools that allow it to happen. Every time a new contract is brought to the membership, the three middle schools and the high school vote it down but the elementary schools have the numbers to get it passed.
Now that our contract has been combined with support staff and secretaries, the board can go after one group at a time while using the numbers from the other two to help pass bad contracts.
The whole system has been set up to screw the teachers over and all it cost the board was a six figure income to Adam Harding. When are the teachers in District 131 going to pull their heads out from where the sun don't shine.
“I made some mistakes along the way,” Johnson said. “I think I am going to be much better at running the district and helping get the changes made for the kids.”
She is still one major mistake. She hasn't learned a thing! I, I I....wake up Annette, you are NOT the superintedent. You need to take school board training 101. EA is not that unique that it needs YOU to run the show from anywhere but the balcony. Get up there, shut up and listen once in a while. Maybe you can at least learn how to mention the children of the distict, like you truly care their education. D131 is in the business of educating children. It is a little more involved than financing a noodle making business.
The board is a laughing stock because of Johnson and the uninformed voters that re-elected her
Interesting mix of old & new board members elected yesterday. The good thing is, the community has spoken and these people have been voted in by US. It is now their job to get along with each other & put aside their differences for the good of our district.
11:39 I am support staff in another district. We have NO contract at all. We're all non-union, at-will employees.
You are right Johnson just doesn't get it she is not suppose to be running the district. It doesn't take a degree to do so it takes a qualified Superintendent and Administration to run a district.
With putting those three people on administrator leave can the Superintendent do that without the board voting on it? It doesn't look like their was a closed session about that.
Annette and Jerome looked very happy today.
"The people have spoken" does not apply to East Aurora. Less than 10% of the people bothering to be responsible and vote is not much of a voice. Looks like Annette was smart to keep harping on the magnet school. The parents of those kids probably believe her crap and put her over the top. Strand had the most votes so she should be board president. Yeah! Sounds good to me. Please board. do something for the kids. Get rid of dead weight, worthless positions and use the money for the sake of the kids. Get rid of Roberts. Riding out his contract by never coming to the schools and being controlled by Johnson is not acceptable. Help the teachers get some control back instead of limiting our ability. We still need change even though we're stuck with some of our old problems.
Sodexo's contract is up after this year,There
are company's up for the bid and one is a company that can bring in boxed lunches for students as well as staff. We don't wnat boxed lunches unless they look like the ones that you see when you enter Copley hospital which are the upscale salads and sandwiches that you get at a Panera. Yes the food sucks in the cafe's in our district and no one is eating them, but please dont send us day old, refridgerated sandwiches and cheap salty lunch meat that doesn't even look like lunch meat, that you wouldn't buy at your house. I am so tired of spending 10 dollars going out. I'd rather spend that money on quality food in my own cafe. Dear School Board you dont have to eat this food daily, we do. so before you settle on the lunch program, make sure it is what you would eat on a daily basis in your own home and ask us. we should have a say on what we consume in our bodies. I am so sick of this!!! We are professionals and if we cant be paid on the salary levels of other school districts the least you could do is give us healthy food that looks like food and that we can eat. Give us a break, you spend more time choosing paper towels and soap and feed us crap!
Why is it always spend more money. Its not a money issue in d131 it is a culture issue...simple as that.
sodexo is up for renewal for the lunch bid. Granted we who eat lunch in the district know that the food and quality of the food is awful. they raised prices only to find out that it wasn't to give us quality food but to try and make up for the 10 years at the teachers 2.20 cent price tag. They lost a lot of money, but my heart does not bleed for Sodexo who houses the food for hundreds of institutions in the U.S. Understand the other company's that are up for bids that I'm sure our current board will vote for will be worse. To the board; If you are not eating this crappy food everyday, the least you can do before you decide is ask us, what we want. I am so sick of this Districet telling us what we will do and then when it all backfires in their face they stand there looking stupid in the public eye.If you go with the lowest bid, which we know you will, at least consider pre-made box lunches that you would eat on a daily basis, think quality ie Panera, or at least hospital public quality.LOL! No more garbage, Thats the least that you could do for your teachers, being that we make the lowest salaries in the area. WE would like to have quality food in our cafeteria's. Why am I even hoping that this will happen, Nobody cares about our well being!!! Bring your lunches people it will get worse!!!! Yes this is important to me!
At my school they have as good as institutional food as I've ever seen. But I don't eat it, and I don't spend $10 a day. I bring my lunch. I can make a nutritional, tasty lunch at home for a lot less than $10. Just takes a few extra minutes in the morning. Give it a try.
Or keep paying for crappy food and whining about it.
The new food bid will see gold plated lunches instead of silver plated lunches thank you Ms Johnson and Congrads the quite worker bees won one today.
Interesting that Kirsten Strand and Zach Montroy ran as a team yet Kirsten got considerably more votes than Zach (and she was elected; he wasn't).
I am one who voted for Kirsten and not for Zach. Here's why:
--Kirsten is a parent, like me. She has more invested in wanting our schools to excel than someone who has no children.
--I attended the second forum (at First Presbyterian), and was impressed with Kirsten's calm, rational responses to the questions. I didn't appreciate Zach's comparison of our current superintendent to being in a burning building.
--I remember the School Board & administration's actions 8 years ago against the band director, and I'm aware that Zach and his wife have close ties to one of those responsible, Marin Gonzalez. I don't trust them not to try to bring her back to our district.
It will be interesting to see who the board elects as their new president. I'm hoping that both old & new members can work together for the good of our children!
You have the right to vote for whoever you want to but holding this about the band director and what happened is old news. Just because Zack is friends with Marion has nothing to do with the election and he probably wasn't aware of it.
Zach's comparison of our current superintendent to being in a burning building is right on target the man is a waste.
3:33 p.m. has every right to be concerned about the possibility of an administrator being brought back to our district as superintendent after leaving for awhile. That's exactly what happened with Jerome Roberts. As far as the band situation being old news, I agree that it should be left in the past UNLESS one of those responsible (like Marin Gonzalez) comes back to D131.
In that case all bets are off.
April 5th you are right about one thing no one else ever stood a chance at the coaches job except Becker. I was there just like you and I wanted him too.
About that proposed bell schedule...I think it would be mostly a GOOD thing. Yes, having one less class period per day might limit a student's ability to choose an elective but at the same time would allow more class time for each subject.
High school students are old enough to learn that they have to make tough choices. In my son's case, he went to Waubonsie Valley H.S. and took a lot of honors & AP classes. He could only choose one elective; his counselor tried to tell him he needed to take a foreign language for college admissions, but he picked band instead (and took band all 4 years). He didn't get into his first choice college (MIT), but neither did his friend who got 36 on his ACT. We don't know if not taking a foreign language affected his college admissions, but the bottom line is my son did go to his next-choice school and has never regretted his decision.
EAHS students who are passionate about something (band, drama, sports, choir, etc.) will find a way to fit it into their school day, just like they do at WVHS and other schools who have a similar bell schedule.
Sorry 8:16 - Waubonsie does not have a "similar" schedule to what is being proposed at East High. Waubonsie has an 8 period schedule - 8 periods at 47 minutes each.
East is going to a 7 period schedule all 56 minutes each. Below is a link to the Waubonsie bell schedule.
Sorry 8:16 - your kid would have had NO CHANCE to take all of those classes under the East High Proposed bell schedule.
Changing the bell schedule will not have kids "focus" more. What will have kids focus more is parents caring about education and a community supporting the district.
http://wvhs.ipsd.org/uploads/About/Bells_WV_2010-11.pdf
8:27 a.m., back in 2003 there were 7 class periods at WVHS. They may have changed that over the last couple of years. I remember my son took an AP chemistry class and the instructor told parents at open house that he appreciated the fact that there was ample time to complete experiments because of the classes lasting long enough (at his previous school the class periods had been shorter).
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