Sometimes it seems so easy to criticize and so difficult to acknowledge the positive, especially when many of us are frustrated by the weather lately (will spring EVER arrive?) Our School Board deserves a sincere thanks for their hard work over the past few months, going above and beyond their regular duties as they try to find the best superintendent for our district. We appreciate your dedication!
I appreciate the School Board's decision to rescind the expulsion of the 9-year-old boy who inadvertently brought a gun to school in his backpack. As a parent, I believe it was the right decision!
ReplyDelete
ReplyDeleteDrew Meiner and Peggy Hicks owe Kirsten Strand and Mary Lou Peryea a public apology for making false accusations at the Monday night Board Meeting. They were proven wrong by the attorney of East Aurora 131. Disgraceful that they would do this so convincingly.
Peryea and Strand owe everyone else a apology they are in conflict because money they receive pays their household bills. Why not just abstain?
ReplyDeleteIt shows why the last three governors went to jail Illinois has no ethics laws
They are not just voting for one person on the contracts it is for the every employee so their is no conflict. If people would take the time to read the ethics law they would know that. what money are you talking about that they receive you don't get paid for being on the board.
ReplyDeleteYou are more concerned about 2 school board members than the problems in the high school and middle schools. That is just sad.
ReplyDelete49% of the seniors are failing at least 1 class.
There are students are being passed at the middle school that should not be getting passed and coming to the high school reading at a 3rd grade level and sometimes below.
You are wanting an apology when there are bigger issues out there. Wow just wow.
beaconnews.suntimes.com/26032767-417/next-east-superintendent-will-probably-not-be-bilingual.html
ReplyDelete
ReplyDeletePlease, can anyone tell me how much it would have cost the District to construct a brand new kindergarten center? Seven MILLION to rehabilitate an old building? Was there any discussion about these costs or just rubber stamp votes by the board? My God, do you know what you could build for that amount of money??? Please tell me Cordigan and Clark provided sound advice
A presentation was made to the community regarding the building. You can always look at the board minutes to see the presentations. You should educate yourself before you complain. It makes you sound foolish.
ReplyDeleteI did listen to the presentation and it is a lot of money for a kindergarten when we have so many schools overcrowded. It might free up some space but not all that much.
ReplyDeleteI am a taxpayer, also. I try to educate myself, too. I am not a builder or a school district manager, but I am having trouble understanding how a building on the far north side is going to be advantageous to the majority of our eastside families, especially at that cost! I think Taxpayer has asked a sincere question.
ReplyDeletehttp://beaconnews.suntimes.com/26075422-417/east-aurora-to-announce-new-superintendent-monday.html
ReplyDeleteWill you stop asking questions to this stupid blog? You post here like it matters.
ReplyDeleteThe board picked Michael Popp from Naperville 204. No surprise Johnson gets her way. How offen did we hear about 204 from her. Oh so superior. The district now has a Superintendent that will not look or understands the Community.
ReplyDeleteHull and Strand are all talk for going along with this after they promised the Community someone who would be a role model to the students as well as parents.
Rumor is Gonzalez broke ranks and went along with this after her Island mate Rodriquez could not pass the basic skills test.
Hats off to David Negron for telling the Board to so long. They lacked the manners to even interview him.
beaconnews.suntimes.com/26029682-417/east-aurora-board-shows-common-sense-determination-amid-criticism.html
ReplyDeletehttp://files.sj-r.com/media/news/12072013poppresume.pdf
ReplyDeleteIs this our new supt.?
Umm, 7:10 p.m...aren't YOU posting here, too?
ReplyDelete;)
In the article linked above-
ReplyDelete“We are,” a defiant Stella Gonzales stated, “here for our students.”
A few on the D131 Board may truly be there on behalf of our families and students, but in my opinion, Gonzales is the least likely.
He was evidently in the running for the Superintendent position in Woodstock:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.nwherald.com/2014/01/20/district-200-reveals-superintendent-finalists-gears-up-for-public-forums/av2kre0/
He was also in the running for a Springfield superintendent position.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.sj-r.com/article/20131210/News/131219915
Lies
ReplyDeletePopp was in the running for 5 other superintendents positions and did not get one including his own district.
ReplyDeleteHe never achieved higher than a Director position. He has no other experience than curriculum in a wealthy district for 20 years. Popp belongs with white wealthy and middle class students because of social economic background come to school prepared.
Community members demanded input and the board just went ahead with no regard. I supported Ms Strand and had a meeting with her and she always promised to be transparent now this. I hope she makes a statement but we will not count on it. If she supports him she has no creditability in our book.
They are burning the mid night oil trying to sell him as a culturally diverse man. Really? Also read the civil lawsuit that he is still part of.
Other district news is Johnson and Roberts are play fighting not sure why ? Central Office is not buying it. Why now after years of the partnership.
It is no longer a new day in EA but a sad day.
Thank you with the six sheep that follow AJ.
ReplyDelete49% of the seniors are failing at least 1 class. We need a Supe who can handle this crime. Sorry but Popp is not the right fit. He won't know what to do. Our Board needs to rethink this decision. Do your homework!!!there is a reason why seven different places did not hire him plus 209 had an opportunity but they knew better. Sad news for our kids and staff.
Interesting............ www.abisoft.org/opinions/2009/1_07-cv-01586_20090324.pdf Mar 24, 2009 - of Indian Prairie School. District #204, MICHAEL POPP, in his official capacity as. Principal of Neuqua Valley High. School, and BRYAN WELLS
ReplyDeleteI read the civil lawsuit and I have to agree with Michael Popp's decision that lead to the suit.
ReplyDeleteThere were students at Nequa Valley High School wearing shirts that promoted hate against another group within the school. The "Be happy, not gay" t-shirts were an obvious attack by one group of students against another, albeit based on their religious beliefs.
The first amendment allows for free speech but the first amendment is not absolute. The first amendment does not allow you to go into a crowded theater and yell "Fire". There needs to be some common sense. In a school, that speech can not interupt the educational processes of the school.
As the principal of a school, Michael Popp is entrusted to protect all his students and the educational process. He could no more allow shirts that state "Be happy, not gay" than he could the wearing of a shirt that said "Be white not brown" or "Let's put them back in chains" on a confederate flag.
That's all these religious hate mongers see is their own beliefs and they want to force their hate onto others. Michael Popp was definately correct to protect all the students at Nequa Valley from bullying of any form, even if it did lead to a lawsuit.
Why does nobody question the costs involved in building new school buildings? The district is expecting upwards of 9 million dollars to renovate and expand the kindergarten center. A building that, when done, will be about 36,000 square feet large.
ReplyDeleteI have built large custom homes. We are talking about high end homes with custom cherry cabinetry and solid wood mill work, granite countertops, $10,000 chandeliers, beautiful masonry fireplaces, etc. Most of these homes cost about $200 a square foot to build.
The new kidergarten center will simply be cheap concrete blocks, vinyl tile floors, recycled paper drop ceilings. I mean the cheapest way possible to build. Yet, if you figure out 9 million dollars divided by 36,000 square feet, you quickly realize that it is costing the the taxpayers of this district $250 per square foot to build the new kindergarten center (a bargain compared to the high school, where they spent millions of dollars and ended up with not one more square foot).
This is not just a District 131 problem, this is nationwide. Contractors automatically charge at least 25% more to their bill if the work is for a school district. This is everybody's money. We need to stand up and demand accountability.
If a company artificially inflates a bill, they should be blacklisted from any public works projects. If there was such a list, contractors would quickly get the message and wasteful spending would just as quickly come to an end.
5:39am-yes, your post is interesting, but has no personal connection about the man being suggested may be supt of 131. He was just part of a lawsuit against the district....which included the Board and everyone else in the rank and file that were part of the policy making, policy enforcing body, at the school where the plaintiffs attended. What is the point you were trying to make with this post. I didn't get it.
ReplyDeleteLeadership skills are leadership skills. He helped lead a very successful district. We should have optimism and support the new leader in our schools.
ReplyDeleteThe most important skill that he could have is returning the BOE it's intended role. The board should not be the central figure that it is.
Taxpayer 23
ReplyDeleteBeacon News wrote today
"East board took a lot of hits this week. And at the end of a very long board meeting, members addressed some of the criticism leveled at them. That included correctly pointing out surveys, public forums and meetings were offered to the public to get everyone involved in the superintendent search"
If this is true then why has the Board already selected a superintendent if they promised the public would be involved in the selection process? PLEASE EXPLAIN
Look at all of these "thank you's" and "compliments"
ReplyDeleteSaw today's paper Gonzalez actually talking to a student. First time I did not she her eating or drinking on the schools expense.
ReplyDeleteAlso saw they hired a superintendent and if what you are saying Popp is not the right choice.
My contacts tell me he has been involved in a civil rights lawsuit since 2009. He has moved to the district office shortly and had remained there. Only a director that's the best we can get.
I can imagine the racist Johnson, Leonard and Turza would back him but what about the others.
Shame on all of you . Ms Strand said she would make it her number one job. If you do not speak out Strand then double shame on you RESIGN
Here's a THANK YOU:
ReplyDeleteThanks to Mr. Mills and the rest of the Band Boosters for their hard work in rescheduling the Pancake Breakfast:
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10203137559141436&set=gm.808155959211955&type=1
Rescheduling a Pancake Breakfast? How hard is that.....
DeleteMayor Weisner, you must intervene and stop the board from making a mistake. The community wants to help and collaborate. We want an open forum with the final candidates for Superintendent. Call Strand and Peryea today!
ReplyDelete3:31 PM Duh! The Mayor does not have a say in the hiring of the supt. of 131.
ReplyDeleteInsider you should know, if you are in fact an insider, a majority of the Board are 'sheep.' It then doesn't matter what the rest think, they all must follow the majority ruling. Boards are trained to show a united front. When anything is discussed in closed session many times Boards will all vote inline with the back room majority when in a public forum, even though some may not agree. To disagree or vote against goes down in public record but does nothing to change the outcome of the vote. All that is seen is the division of the Board of the item on the table.
It is my POV, Pereya & Strand try to keep the piece while changing direction. Hull tries to change direction but his vocal opposition causes some board members to dig in their heels deeper, just for the sake of opposing him.
Wishing the best for our children. It is going to be hard to find anyone that wants to come to our district, especially when they see the work ahead and one conversation with the Board president would make most turn and run. Thank God for our teachers! They will keep doing the best job they are able with the limited resources and support they are given....as they have been for a number of years now.
From what I've been able to gather about the new superintendent Michael Popp, the board seems to have screwed up in reverse. People who know the man (and these are people of different races) say he will be an incredible leader for District 131.
ReplyDeleteOf course the board screwed up the process (it's what they do best) and now the community will have doubts making his first days harder than they should be but from what I hear he could be the best superintendent the district has ever had.
The BOE stated they would listen to the community now.
ReplyDeleteWhat happened with we will find a new Superintenent that can show turn around school improvement. What happened with he will be bilingual. What happened with the focus groups input at the end of the process.
We have seven board members who all had a choice to include us. They lied.
I am most disappointed in Strand she promised we would be included. I thought more of her and do believe now she only joined the board to increase her household income.
If Popp was sooooo good why did 7 districts including his own not hire as superintendent.
ReplyDeleteWhy did he only achieve a position of director? not even asst superintendent.
Rumor is he was Johnson's choice all the way and Gonzalez caved after her PR prince could not pass the basic skills.
Beyond belief, you are beyond belief! You want to blame Strand for what? The District gave the community the opportunity to submit their opinion via anonymous surveys.You could have given your opinion as to what you would like to see in the next superintendent. Asking citizens who we want hired as a supt. is like asking people who they want as the next chief of police. We have no clue what is truly necessary to do the job and who is the best candidate.
ReplyDeleteThis side of town has re-elected a number of Board members over the years. Do you REALLY think these voters should be allowed to be included in deciding our supt.? I voted for Strand and realize she just got on the board a year ago. What can she do? She would be outvoted by 4 others from the NE side every time. Increase her household income? GET REAL! With her education she could go get an easier paying job vs D131 School Board.
Why would anyone want to serve or work at d131 with this stupid blog. It has ruined the careers and reputations. just Google their names.
ReplyDeleteThe BOE has not even named Pope and already his reputation. How about Rodriguez, someone quotes he does not have the scores. How do they know.
The blog has played out the drama of individuals lives day after day. Look at our band directors? Not as much was said about the unfortunate band situation at West Aurora.
Why would anyone want to volunteer for this district or even work here ? The social media records follow your lives.
The problems of this district start with the blog.
Wow, such power for a little blog!
ReplyDeleteActually social media works for good, in that it would be extremely unlikely we would end up with another serial bully superintendent. Back when our School Board hired Radakovich, the internet was much less developed and his record of pushing out well-liked teachers in other districts was able to be hidden. Now things are more out in the open and discussed. And if something is mentioned on a blog that is controversial, other posters jump in to challenge it and/or provide proof from newspapers or websites.
And you brought up the band directors...why should the West High situation have been discussed on an East Aurora blogspot? (Although as I recall someone did bring up that Marin Gonzalez had wanted Steve Orland to come to East to replace Kaisershot...did we dodge a bullet there or what?)
beaconnews.suntimes.com/news/26033149-418/nonprofit-will-probe-west-and-east-finances.html
ReplyDeleteMixed bag. I would love to read the blog you are speaking about. That sounds productive. I know you don't mean this blog because all that is posted here are lies, conjecture, and name calling.
ReplyDeletePlease provide the Web address to your blog.
"lies, conjecture, and name calling"
ReplyDelete...Specifically WHAT on this thread is a lie? And if you can give an example of an actual lie, there's probably at least 2 or 3 rebuttals from people posting links to articles or websites that support their point of view.
And "all that is posted here are lies..." Congratulations on being a prime example; if even ONE post is factual, then your statement is...
...a LIE.
;)
Tickets are now on sale for the 46th annual Pancake Breakfast, on April 5th at East High.
ReplyDeleteSupport our students!
Here is a lie -
ReplyDelete"The board picked Michael Popp from Naperville 204"
The board has not "Picked" anybody.
LIES LIES LIES - I know you like your little blog Rayanne but it is FILLED with lies
:)
"the board picked Michael Popp"
ReplyDeleteThat statement may or may not be accurate; the community will find out tonight at the board meeting who was selected.
Meanwhile, most of us know to take anything we read on a blog with a grain of salt. I personally appreciate this blog because I've found out things I wouldn't have known otherwise in a timely manner. The most recent example of this was when the pancake breakfast was cancelled. Since I'm not on Facebook and don't have a child in band (I'm an alum and live near EAHS, have gone to every breakfast for the past 10 years or so) I read about it on this blog.
So I'd like to say thank you to those who put information on here about our district. I have a pretty good bs detector, and can filter out the nonsense.
Does anyone know how to contact this watch group I can't fine a number for them.
ReplyDeleteTomcat 5, you can go to this website:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.familytaxpayers.org
Click on "Contact Us", and all their contact info is there: mailing address, phone, fax, and email.
Guess what "oldtimer" - You are not the one I am concerned about. I'm concerned about the other people, maybe those who are thinking about moving, or getting a job, who just do a casual search of East Aurora School District 131 and this stupid, lie filled blog pops up on their search engine.
ReplyDeleteThose people don't know that most of this is BS and stupid. They read it and have no ability to filter the bs from the truth.
So as much as you like it "oldtimer" it is a disease and an embarrassment.
You claim to be so concerned about other people...then why don't you dispute and/or correct the "lies" you see here? What's stopping you from posting your own perspective? Maybe some of what pops up on people's searches is verifiable truth. You have the same opportunity to post your opinions as anyone else.
ReplyDeleteBut I understand that it's probably just easier to complain about the big, bad blog.
Well I have tried to dispute the lies. But the liars seem to always have bigger mouths and eventually I give up because arguing with ignorant people is futile.
ReplyDelete(See, I'm going to be right because you will post something else, probably stating what you have already stated but you will say it again just so you can have the last word)
ReplyDeleteMarch 10, 2014 at 1:49 PM
First - as you probably know by now Michael Popp has been picked by the board. So that is not a lie.
Second - he is from Indian Prairie 204, not Naperville. Indian Prairie is an Aurora school district that serves part of Naperville along with Plainfield and Bolingbrook.
The only lies I've seen have been posted by you.
Not bigger mouths, just more evidence (newspaper articles, websites, etc.) to back up their statements.
ReplyDeleteAnd YOU'RE the ignorant one, if you can't refute claims on a blog...or maybe you're just too lazy to find support for your side, so you just generalize and say everyone's lying.
Which, of course, makes YOU a liar...as well as a hypocrite.
See, I told you that's what you would do.
ReplyDelete:)
(You'll now post again even though I did not contribute to the conversation at all. You will restate your (dumb) opinion.)
What makes a blog any different than people talking to each other and spreading their thoughts or how a rumor mill gets started in their work place. Most of the stuff on this blog is what people talk about in the district. You know word of mouth is sometimes worse than a blog in a close tight community as school district.
ReplyDeleteHmmmm, how is it different. Well around the office I can SEE YOU. I know who you are. You can't be anonymous to everybody.
ReplyDeleteHmmmmm, vocal inflection. The written word (by armatures) is not nearly as effective in communicating the whole thought. Vocal inflection and body language has a lot to do with.
Hmmmmm, YOU CAN'T BE AN ANONYMOUS LIAR (did I mention that already).
So That's how it is different.
It's official:
ReplyDeleteDr. Michael Popp is our new superintendent.
http://www.d131.org/
beaconnews.suntimes.com/26119580-417/east-aurora-names-new-superintendent.html
ReplyDeleteIt is time for the entire board to step down what a difference in student demographics and turned down by three districts this year. We always get the scraps.
ReplyDeleteSHAME on the board
YES now it is official. Let the anonymous name-calling, second-guessing, and bad-mouthing BEGIN!!!
ReplyDeleteIn am sorry BOE is this the best you could get? Popp was turned down by 3 other district this year that looked more like 204. It was time for a change but qualified administrators did not get the respect and given a interview by this board. Please do us a favor and resign Board.
ReplyDeleteI see a lot of positive in our School Board's choice of Dr. Popp. Specifically:
ReplyDelete--His experience is VERY broad! Dr. Popp has been a classroom teacher, coach, dean, principal, and central office administrator. He has worked in both private (Catholic) and public schools.
--He has experience with diverse student populations. I live in D204, and my kids went to Waubonsie Valley H.S. where there are many students from places like India, Lithuania, Asia, and the Middle East. Many of my kids' friends spoke another language at home (as do many D131 students).
--He is fully qualified and certified to be superintendent. There is no question about his readiness to step into the position in a few weeks' time.
As for being passed over by other districts, the reality in this economic environment is that most candidates for an administrative job will apply to dozens (if not hundreds) of positions. The fact that Dr. Popp made it to the short list in several other districts is a GOOD thing...it means those other districts considered him a qualified candidate. We're the lucky district that got him; let's give him a chance!
I agree and welcome Dr. Popp. See him speak here :http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LpaU0K_pPTw&feature=youtu.be
ReplyDeleteI think it is great he knows all the baggage that comes with the district, he lives close enough to have heard and read all the Beacon has reported about decisions that have been made by our present supt, and board president.....and he still wants to come here! I am grateful they found someone willing to try and clean up all their messes. He comes from a working class background, also. Does not seem to have to superiority attitude of our NE board members.
I say give Popp a chance. Maybe the other districts where looking for qualities that weren't his best points. He is aware of our district which is a good thing. He stood up for students rights with the T-shirts and that shows he cares for all the students.
ReplyDelete
ReplyDeleteI don't care that he is White or comes from a rich district. Does he care about our children? Will he push this district to excellence? Will he stand up to Annette and create a NEW atmosphere? Mr. Popp, Welcome!!
Heard him & Taxpayer 3-if this were Facebook I would 'like' your posts. I have the same thoughts and I am hoping so does the majority of those in the district.
ReplyDeleteMike has long wanted to become a Sup and applied for many jobs. He is using 131 to achieve that goal because they are the only ones dumb enough to hire him.
ReplyDeleteKnown as a phony he beats his chest about understanding the minority experience. Sure, raised in a white catholic neighborhood he has no idea about minority students.
After his interview he told staff members he was happy they passed him up and the district was looking for someone bilingual. Now they gave him the job.
He may have been happy we were getting a bilingual superintendent because he wanted what was in students' best interests. Listening to him speak, I noticed he described himself as "a learner"...sounds like he's a humble man, willing to listen to others and consider our point of view. And he may be Caucasian, but he definitely did NOT come from a privileged background; his parents were blue-collar workers who lived paycheck to paycheck like most of the parents in this district.
ReplyDeleteMike Popp was on his way out truth is Karen Sullivan was bring a new Curriculum Director and it was not Mike. He was interviewing for 12 other districts. He had a contract for Asst Sup of Teaching and Learning in Lyons. That the best 131 could get.
ReplyDeleteReporting the facts. EA will always be last in the State.
Many administrators in 204 can't believe it. Birkett protected him.
beaconnews.suntimes.com/26166960-417/new-east-aurora-superintendent-wanted-to-work-for-a-much-more-diverse-district.html
ReplyDeleteWhere are the minutes for Feb 18th
ReplyDeleteWho is responsible for posting them? Can someone help answer that.
The Simmons Band and Choir Concert is today at 4:30 p.m. Come and hear some excellent music performed by our middle-school students!
ReplyDeleteWhy was Tursa in the paper petting the new superintendent in the face. That is sexual harassment and it looked very bad.
ReplyDeleteMy aunt pats people on the face like that...she's Italian, and it's usually when she says something like "bless you" or "good luck". It's a cultural thing, maybe not very professional or business-like but hardly sexual harassment.
ReplyDeleteTurso was a Retired HR person she should know better
ReplyDeleteBoard watcher
ReplyDeletewho is Tursa
WS said
who is Turso
please explain
What is going on, I agree that the Feb. 18th School Board minutes should have been posted by now. Maybe you could e-mail or call Lisa Morales's office to ask about it.
ReplyDeleteMeanwhile, here's a link to 30 pages of recent articles from local papers about things happening in our district:
https://v3.boardbook.org/Public/PublicItemDownload.aspx?ik=35056311
Read the article in The Beacon on our new Superintendent and I think our district did pretty good in getting him. I liked how he addressed the board about how they have been running the district and that if they picked him he would have to be the CEO for the district and that is what the IL School Code says. It shows he has strong leadership and knows the role of a Superintendent. He also commented about not having a Strategic Plan and how all the administrators do their own thing. He has looked into what he is up against and should have a strong start. Having a consultant come in to help the board learn it's roles is helpful but really if they had read the material they had been given when they became a board member they would know that already.
ReplyDeleteGood Luck Superintendent Popp.
Ditto what Taxpayer 3 said. New Board members go thru training and Board Presidents go to training periodically. I was glad to see Popp mentioned the roles of the Board and supt.
ReplyDeleteHe is our superintendent and I look forward to him being with us a long while. Best wishes, Dr. Popp
That would be Maryanne Truza and the reason nobody can spell her name is because she is a nobody. Her total time on the board has been spent on vacations, school trips and dinners.
ReplyDeleteThe women is a racist who is on the board to defend her Ward 1 taxes.
She has no clue about the proverty 131 students face.
In fact her picture in the paper was insulting and she should have not been touching her new employee.
"nobody can spell her name because she is a nobody"...
ReplyDeleteEa knows, YOU must be a "nobody", too! Her name is Mary Anne Turza.
She is a highly qualified and experienced member of our School Board. From the d131 website:
"In 2003, Mary Anne Turza retired after a 22-year career as an executive at the Northern Trust Company in Chicago. For the last half of her tenure at the Northern Trust, Turza served as Vice President and Senior Human Resources Manager where she provided consultant services to business leaders in Risk Management, Legal, Public Relations, Human Resources, Auditing, Compliance, and Corporate Services. Prior to that, Turza’s career at the Northern Trust included positions as a Recruiting Consultant, Senior Recruiting Consultant, Human Resources Consultant and Quality Officer, and Corporate and College Recruiter.
In addition, she served for five years as the Chairperson of the Business Advisory Team for the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago where she worked with business leaders in Chicago to promote the hiring of people with disabilities. She is also a Lifetime member of the Illinois PTA and Past President of the Burnham School PTA. Turza earned a Bachelor’s Degree from DePaul University and has completed Real Estate and Real Estate Appraisal courses"
Hardly a "nobody"!
Central Office news is the board of Ed is about to write Roberts a big check. Watch and listen rumor is it is over $100,000
ReplyDeleteHow many supervisors is 131 going to hire to do Marty Feltes job. reading the agenda they are approving another one. Really? Annette Johnson talks about transparentcy
ReplyDeletehttp://www.d131.org/newsDetail.asp?id=2759&guid=
ReplyDeleteLet me get this straight: The district is going to WALK a bunch of our students from East Aurora to Soldier Field? Judging by the distance quoted, it fairly evident that whoever is in charge essentially drew a straight line between these two points as their route.
ReplyDeleteHas anybody actually travelled this route to see what neighborhoods in Chicago they are exposing our students to? From what I can tell, our predominantly Mexican students will be travelling through the West Side of Chicago. These are predominantly African American neighborhoods where crime and shootings (Gang related and otherwise) occur with far too much regularity. Just watch the news on any given evening and you will hear the stories of young people being killed on the West and South Sides of Chicago, many are innocent bystanders.
Who has approved this, or in other words, who should be held accountable when the situation heads south? Who loses their job and just as importantly, who's paying the millions of dollars for the lawsuit when some kid is seriously injured or killed? Who is going to go before the judge and try to defend this decision?
Somebody, please think about what you are getting our children into. This is not a school bus ride on the expressway to the kids destination. You will be marching a bunch of East Aurora students through one gang territory after another. You are likely to march our students past gang members, drug dealers, prostitutes, homeless individuals, etc. Are you prepared to deal with the consequences of these actions? Are our students?
Somebody really needs to reevaluate this event. I'm sure the intentions were good but this is the worst idea I've ever heard out of East Aurora (and that's saying alot in Dist. 131). The risks and dangers are far too great. There is no way to guarantee our childrens safety. Somebody with common sense needs to interceed.
Maybe you should contact a HUMAN with your concerns. You know, contact the principal or somebody like that.
ReplyDeleteAgain you post here looking for answers that can't possibly come from here. Therfore your intentions are not concerns for student safety but rather continued defamation of the district.
To Beyond Belief.....
ReplyDeleteSo the neighborhoods you are describing are just what the kids are leaving here in Aurora. They should be used to it.
EEEEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!
I think the murder rate in Chicago is a tad bit hire than the East Side of Aurora. Look at the stats moron. The gangs are pretty much done thanks to our fine Police Department.
DeleteCommon sense is not the BOE they return kids with guns to our schools and are prepared to send kids who are jailed wearing ankle tags back into the general population. many of these kids are known gang members that had been housed at Quad County. Next school year these convicted felons will be back in your schools.
ReplyDeleteI am sure walking the neighborhoods of Chicago is not safe but walking the halls of EA is not safe as well.
I am not a fan of Quad but it has it's place.
Tom cat, how do you know Beyond Belief hasn't spoken to or e-mailed someone about their concerns? Many of us use several different methods of expressing our opinions or asking a question: letters to the editor, phone calls, Facebook, blogs,etc. It's not either/or, it's both/and.
ReplyDeleteAs far as "continued defamation of the district", I see plenty of positive, supportive comments on this thread.
Anybody go the School Board meeting last night? I was there, and heard Ralph Padron speak. He called for Annette Johnson's resignation, and wished Dr. Popp success in leading our district.
ReplyDeletebeaconnews.suntimes.com/26288976-417/retiring-east-aurora-superintendent-to-get-78000-for-unused-sick-days.html
ReplyDeleteThe rate we're paying for his sick days is $847.12 PER DAY??
ReplyDeleteSome of us have to work 2 weeks to get $847...and get paid absolutely nothing if we're sick.
beaconnews.suntimes.com/26294309-417/east-aurora-school-board-president-to-step-down-when-superintendent-leaves.html
ReplyDeleteInteresting comments from Peryea many always thought the two dated.
ReplyDeleteIt's about time that the board president step down! YAY! Good luck Dr. Popp. Your first order of business should be to do what West Aurora has done. Wipe the whole central office administration clean and make them apply, interview and compete for their jobs with external candidates. There are some seriously bad apples in the central office. Don't start your tenure with them. If you do, your tenure will certainly be cut short. They can not be trusted.
ReplyDeleteThe decision to pay Jerome Roberts $78,358.60 is going to cost the district and the tax payers of East Aurora much more than $78,358.60. This money is going to seriously pad Jerome Roberts pension for years to come.
ReplyDeletePublic pensions are determined by the average of your last few years of salary. The board just essentially boosted Jerome Roberts salary by $78,358.60.
The law also states that if a district boosts an employees salary by more than 6% in a year, the district has to compensate the TRS system to cover the extra pension costs. That means the tax payers of East Aurora will be paying this money to the TRS system.
Any other employee has to collect unpaid sick days in due time (92 sick days take 92 school days to collect) to avoid this very scenario. It is clear that this violates board policy as was stated in the Beacon article. Somebody needs to investigate whether this violates Illinois Law. In either case, it is certainly unethical.
Considering that Annette Johnson has continually claimed that she puts the tax payers of East Aurora first, she has certainly thrown every tax payer under the bus with this one.
AJ and Doc have been play fighting all week and nobody believes it. But Central office is appalled that the other board members jumped in and went along with this. They never did nothing, but vote yes and when they all had a chance to be leaders they did not step up.
ReplyDeleteAlso rumor is they are still paying Ernest Clark
They need to all resign
You are correct Beyond Belief. Someone should tip off the state and Dr. Popp to this because this isn't the first time in the past 3 years that they have secretly increased his salary over the 6% maximum. FOIA it. You would be floored.
ReplyDeleteI voted and worked for Ms Strand and had hopes and dreams that she cared for the community. How can she justify paying him more than most people make in a week.
ReplyDeleteThe rest if the board are losers and need to follow Johnson along and do the right thing and resign.
Several of them are up for election next year we will not forget.
There are several people at Central Office and other places in the district that Dr. Popp really should sweep out of East Aurora.
ReplyDeleteIf I were Dr. Popp, I would start by bringing in a new administrative assistant. Lisa Morales and her child abusing husband, Wilson Morales from Simmons, would be gone. Nestor Garcia, you're worthless, adios. Rehman Ali with his history of illegal survelliance, you're out of here. Marty Feltes, sorry but we need somebody with real credentials leading our district, being friends with a board member does not qualify you to run the Building and Grounds Department. Joan Glotzbach, you've hidden in the shadows fairly well but the employees of this district know you were right there with Dr. Roberts making many of the worst decisions for this district. Beatrice Reyes Childress, you're outta here. There are a few principals and assistant principals that would also be gone.
That would be day one.
Day two: everyone else at Central Office would have to reapply and show that they are the very best person possible to be running District 131. Maybe then we can begin to move forward as a district.
The article only says Johnson is stepping down as president, not resigning from the board. I have a feeling she will get a puppet to fill that seat and she will still be up to her antics.
ReplyDeleteRoberts sick pay is well worth getting him gone. If Johnson had her way, he would have been around for another contract. With bad decisions for our students and financial mismanagement that could have gone on another 3-6 years. 80K is a good payoff to be done with him.
Anonymous 1 you nailed it. Let's hope Mr. Popp is both listening and aware. From what I have heard I think he is. Let the positive changes begin.
ReplyDeleteThere are 6 other board members that voted to pay Roberts and are all puppets of Johnson. If Peryea witnessed a inappropriate relationship she should have reported it.
ReplyDeleteNot only is it time for new administrators but a new board as well. They are not transparent and this payoff was done behind closed doors. So much for Strand telling us she answers to us.
As for Johnson someone close to her knows she will be spending time in Florida. Roberts is moving to Florida you do the math.
Central Office knows she pulled this payoff. Roberts needed to furnish his new half a million dollar home.
I think Peryea was referring to the fact Johnson was not having a proper employee/ supervisor relationship.
ReplyDeleteI think Roberts got what he wanted from D131 and the Board. I think he will be gone and not looking back.
sorry board
ReplyDeletewould you be able to speak at a board meeting and bring the evidence to support your claims. I will be very interested
Dr Roberts PLEASE refuse the $ 78,000.00 for those sick days. if that is not possible then DONATE IT back to the district. You have a very generous pension and know this would be the HONORABLE thing to do. PLEASE DO THE RIGHT THING !!!!
ReplyDeleteHe earned the money , idiot. Get a college degree and work hard and maybe you will get somewhere in life.
DeletePopp needs to clean house starting with Feltes. He is best friends with Leonard and it is a conflict of interest.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.d131.org/newsDetail.asp?id=2766&guid=
ReplyDeleteHeard a expensive party is going at Two Brothers this evening with better than 200 people for Jerome Roberts. I guess anyone will sign up for a free meal. It seems with the better than 88,000 he could pay for his own.
ReplyDeleteSo who are you saying is paying for the party?
ReplyDeleteRemember all of this if they ask for a referendum.
Joan Glotzbach should be the first to go. Her employment practices are not just questionable. Many of them are illegal. She won't be able to hide with a new sheriff in town. Dr. Popp, if you want a better culture and climate in the district, start by walking her out the door on April 1st when you take the helm. It will save the district a lot of money and lawsuits.
ReplyDeleteRemove her Director, Nancy Bradish, while you are at it. She is clueless. She has no experience in HR and never returns emails or phone calls. Hiring her was a joke. In fact, why does HR need three administrators anyway? Claudia Ruiz is the rudest HR person I've ever come across. Where did they find her? Wasn't she fired from her last job? You have to wonder how Joan was allowed to hire these two for administrative positions and better yet. Joan is the worse personnel administrator in the history of the district.
The district paid bar bills and fine dining bills last night. The board was there to watch the spending and did nothing. The bill was over $5800.00 last night alone after they paid him $88,000
ReplyDeleteReally lets start with a New Superintendent and new board April 1st.
Rumor has it one of the middle school interventionists refuse to do interventions for students. Then they make students placed in the room for the day leave because of their prep and lunch. Aren't teachers allowed duty free as opposed to room free? What ever happened to the best interests of the students? It's like an ER Doctor only operating on emergencies when they choose to.
ReplyDeleteThe the Inventionist is related to Jerome Roberts but was given tenure. Her last name is Spagg
ReplyDeleteThis blog is perpetrating slander with the last two posts. You should be ashamed!
ReplyDeleteHow can you allow people to print career-altering gossip about aomeone in an anonymous fashion. If these people want to publish trash, let the sign their name!!!!
ReplyDeleteDon't give them the forum to hide behind their words and not have any accountability for what they say!
Glotzbach is actually very good
ReplyDeleteI totally agree with you
this blog has been very informative in so many ways and there is a difference between opinions and slanderous statements.
Its only Slander if its not true.
DeleteHer mistakes are endless and have cost the district millions.
ReplyDeleteShe never got her facts straight with Bob Green and there is a rumor that she never checked fingerprints on the current business manager.
Nancy Bradiish is a glorified secretary and so is Joan.
Joan makes over $150,000 a year way tooooo much for her many mistakes.
"Career altering"....how so? If it is just gossip, then there should be no concern.
ReplyDeleteThe minutes from the February 18th School Board meeting have not been published, more than a month after the meeting.
ReplyDeleteIt is long past time for our district to join the 21st century and broadcast meetings live, as many other districts have been doing for some time. Here are three specific examples:
http://www.anoka.k12.mn.us/education/components/scrapbook/default.php?sectiondetailid=278022
http://www.loudoun.k12.va.us/page/62
http://www.brevardschools.org/fp-includes/events/archive.html
Dr. Popp, this would be a grEAt way to support transparency and good will in our community. And since we already put events such as football games and "Razzle Dazzle" online, it wouldn't be that difficult or costly to do the same with meetings.
You can contact the States Attorney Office about the minutes. Per the Open Meetings Act minutes from meetings if approved by law and the district has a website they are to be posted ten business days after being approved.
ReplyDeleteWho is the Secretary of the Board they need to get the bills and minutes posted.
ReplyDeletebeaconnews.suntimes.com/lifestyles/26352573-423/east-aurora-students-learn-more-about-schools-namesake.html
ReplyDeleteDoes anyone know what the grounds crew at ea is doing? There is garbage all over the grounds, along the fence lines, and it has been there for weeks. What do the two grounds crew members due each day? Inside the school it is filthy/ The bathroom floors are sticky and haven't been cleaned in weeks. The stairwells are filled with clumps of hair and dirt. Not dust, dirt. The school is a disaster and filthy.
ReplyDeletebeaconnews.suntimes.com/news/26363877-418/east-aurora-board-approves-15-million-summer-school-plan.html
ReplyDeleteThere is no "grounds crew" anymore. They were all let go because they aren't in the union.
ReplyDeleteFeltes long time life time buddy of Leonards should be fired. If the new superintendent had any guts he would show the public transparentcy and fire him. The buildings are filthy however Feltes is over budget because he needs a supervisor to do his job. The poor grounds guys had to get let go to make way.
ReplyDeleteThe new Superintenent will never get rid of Feltes he know Leonard controls him. he is not going to make waves.
ReplyDeleteTo clarify: our grounds crew is based at the high school. When we need something done at our schools, they need to load all the equipment on to a trailer and then cut our grass or paint our lines. When do they have time to clean if they are going to all the grounds through out the district? This district is a joke. It over staffs in some areas and then short staffs others.
ReplyDeleteThe only place the district over-staffs is Service Center Administrators. Everywhere else we are short-staffed: Teachers, Custodians, Maintenance, teacher assistants, hallway monitors are all under staffed.
ReplyDeletebeaconnews.suntimes.com/26420251-417/president-will-decide-if-she-leaves-east-board-in-next-2-weeks.html
ReplyDeleteThere are two grounds crew members who are at East High who sit in the garage all day and do nothing. Marty Feltes knows and has done nothing. Anyone that looks at the grounds at EA knows there is garbage all around the building. They have picked up zero garbage since the snow started melting.
ReplyDeleteAnnette Johnson had an affair with Jerome Roberts. Domestic Disturbance call at 3:00am at Annette Johnsons house. Anyone can get the Freedom of Information Act at the Police Station and find out Annette Johnson was arrested and Roberts was there at 3:00am. Not sure why this blog is censoring the truth yet allow many lies to be published.
ReplyDeleteUgh. I feel sorry for you that you think so much about these people's lives.
DeleteAnnette sez she has "tons of people" telling her not to leave. ppfft!
ReplyDeleteThat amounts to 6 overweight friends! ROFL
Simplicity, have YOU ever tried to schedule a fund-raising event? There are a LOT of details to plan, from finding a date and time that will work at the high school to printing and distributing tickets to purchasing supplies to coordinating parent volunteers...the list goes on and on.
ReplyDeleteMr. Mills was gracious enough to step up and explain to us what was going on with the boosters and why the breakfast didn't happen in February as originally scheduled. Perhaps because of this blog several new band parents showed up to the last couple of meetings. Now it's the community's turn to support our kids--buy tickets and enjoy the 46th Annual Band Boosters Pancake Breakfast.
And once again, THANK YOU Mr. Mills, Mr. Liska, band students, and parent volunteers!
Im surr Mr. Mills did great while stuffing his mouth with cheesburgers.
DeleteWho cares if Annette Johnson and Jerome Roberts are/were dating? They are both (mature!) adults and both single. It's not like years ago with "Peyton Place" Postlewaite, when a married EAHS principal had an affair with a married English teacher he was supposedly boss of.
ReplyDeleteI can't say I'm sorry to see Jerome Roberts and Annette Johnson leave our district (it's time for fresh ideas & leadership), but I wish them both health and happiness in their personal lives.
What's your point, Lightweight? Cheeseburgers are delicious and part of a nutritious diet (I load mine with tomato, onion, and lettuce and hold the mayo, on a toasted whole wheat bun...add diet cranberry/cherry juice and you've got all 4 food groups covered!)
ReplyDeleteLet's all plan to stuff our mouths with PANCAKES on Saturday morning, April 4th.
Support our kids!!
Thats a funny way of saying your eating healthy when you're not. I'm sure you drink diet coke to right. Whole wheat sucks, if you would have said whole grain then that may have shown intelligence on your part. Have fun squuezing into that bikini this summer. Better though make it a one piece.
DeleteI checked with the Aurora Police and Annette Johnson and Dr Roberts should sue the owner of this blog. No complaints or calls have been made to her address or Dr Roberts.
ReplyDeleteWhile I may not be a fan of either Roberts or Johnson Slander is wrong.
I am sorry that people will go to such ends to destroy a person.
Genius. You think calling the police, and talking to the random desk worker who is a cop is going to give you information. Please tell me you are not that stupid. It would be illegal for that cop just to give you information. Next time try the Batphone. You might get better luck there.
DeleteThe last 10 posts or so is why this blog is stupid. Talking about cheeseburgers and diet coke and all that. What are you talking about.
ReplyDeleteAnd then all the talk about a relationship and the police called. More reasons why this blog is STUPID and all of you who think this blog matters are STUPID.
"The last 10 posts or so is why this blog is stupid"
ReplyDelete~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Looking over the last 10 posts, I see the following comments:
"I can't say I'm sorry to see Jerome Roberts and Annette Johnson leave our district (it's time for fresh ideas & leadership), but I wish them both health and happiness in their personal lives"
"Let's all plan to stuff our mouths with PANCAKES on Saturday morning, April 4th.
Support our kids!!"
"Perhaps because of this blog several new band parents showed up to the last couple of meetings. Now it's the community's turn to support our kids--buy tickets and enjoy the 46th Annual Band Boosters Pancake Breakfast.
And once again, THANK YOU Mr. Mills, Mr. Liska, band students, and parent volunteers!"
Those of us who are intelligent enough to do so, are able to filter out the nonsense from what we read on a blog. Too bad you're too STUPID.
Thank you "blog administrator" for posting. Your post came up so quickly after mine, you must be the one censoring everybody.
ReplyDeleteYou are also so quick to defend the blog at every turn. Rayanne, give it up.
Here are other things in the last 10 posts. STUPID blog administrator RAYANNE CARLSON
ReplyDelete"Thats a funny way of saying your eating healthy when you're not. I'm sure you drink diet coke to right. Whole wheat sucks, if you would have said whole grain then that may have shown intelligence on your part. Have fun squuezing into that bikini this summer. Better though make it a one piece."
"Im surr Mr. Mills did great while stuffing his mouth with cheesburgers"
"That amounts to 6 overweight friends! ROFL"
So, there you go. Shut up and stop defending this stupid garbage Rayanne.
I'm not Rayanne, or a blog administrator...just someone who's retired and has lived in Aurora for 30 years or so.
ReplyDeleteAnd for someone who calls the blog stupid you sure spend a lot of time reading & commenting on it :P
Actually, someone who doesn't know how to use "your" and "you're" correctly is the dumb one.
ReplyDeleteAnd no one is disputing that some comments on this blog are nonsense, negative, or b.s.
As always, you can question or dispute anything you read here and provide supporting information to back up your viewpoint.
Or is it just easier to call everything & everybody "stupid"?
You are the blog administrator - Rayanne Carlson - because this blog refuses to identify the person censoring and since we all know that Rayanne started this stupid thing, she is the one responsible and the one that I will attribute every comment to.
ReplyDeleteShe deserves to have her name attached to all the negative comments here because she allows the stupidity to continue.
Nutrition expert (hah!)--
ReplyDeleteI am in excellent health for my age (66). My weight is appropriate for my height and my blood pressure is normal. I do eat cheeseburgers, as well as pancakes (both in moderation). I also drink Diet Coke.
You are absolutely correct that I would have trouble squeezing into a bikini...but then, at my age I wouldn't particularly want to show that much of my body on the beach (or anywhere else, for that matter).
Then she also deserves to take credit for all the positive comments here.
ReplyDeletePeople like you have been yelling "shut your mouth" and calling others morons here for years. It hasn't sabotaged the blog yet, but nice try.
I like "retired band parent"'s attitude!
ReplyDeleteAnd about that beach, will it EVER get warm enough to wear swimsuits?
Sure Rayanne, you can have all the credit for all the comments positive and negative if that is what you want.
ReplyDeleteTo the moron calling, mouth shutting person who is worried about my "getting a life." Thank you for your concern. You must have missed the post where I have shared the news, I do in fact have a life and just got online and see I am being credited with much more activity than deserved. I don't mind if you feel the need to remind people who started this blog. I have never denied that. I have, also explained a few times, since my retiring in 2011, I handed off the administrator duties, as I do not have time to monitor it as needed.
ReplyDeleteYou may continue to attribute as much as you wish to me. If you feel inclined to attaching my name because you think I am deserving or responsible...please do not flatter me. The ONLY thing I have done is opened a forum, a medium by which other people can express themselves about things pertaining to the 131 School District.
You are able to attach me, blame me, claim me to be responsible because you know who I am. I will take credit when it is due. I have expressed how I feel about many things for many years...publicly. Are you ready to do likewise? I will gladly discuss your blog frustration with you. Just call or email me.
I'm sorry, what did you say your name was, again?
Talk about Domestic Violance someone should ask Velma and Ruthy that. I will not use their last names because the are former wives of a school board member that got beat by him all the time. Just check with the police
ReplyDeleteWhile Jerome Roberts packs up to goto sunny Florida with all the districts money our kids our continuing with a dangerous walk today. Not only is it cold but many of the neighborhoods are dangerous .
ReplyDeleteThe school board should resign and Dr Roberts should be.charged with child endangerment if anything happens.
Dear discussed (sic)
ReplyDeleteCheck out this link and you will see students who have read and 'discussed' the story of another young mans journey, have chosen to take this trek of inspiration and community service to bring this author to EAHS. http://www.d131.org/newsDetail.asp?id=2759&guid
Don't be discussed-be a contributor to this worthy undertaking. Go Tomcats!!
Mike Popp starts Tuesday not one day early because he is not getting paid. His contract calls for April 1st and that is when he shows up.
ReplyDeleteIt shows again the poor choice our board has made sources in Indian 204 say he was never considered for the teaching and learning asst superintendent job that just hot filled.
So not only is he another Jerome by showing up just when he is told but he was not even thought highly enough in his own district to get the third in job.
We always get the losers
Of course Dr. Popp will show up to work next Tuesday (instead of earlier)...that's when his contract says the job starts. If he showed up before then it would be a waste of his time and awkward (why would we need two superintendents?)
ReplyDeleteAnd about his not getting a job in 204, maybe he wanted to work in a different district after being in 204 for years. Maybe he wanted the challenge of leading a district like ours. Maybe we are LUCKY enough to have Dr. Popp's expertise and energy, after other districts chose someone who better suited their needs.
Dr. Popp, if you're reading this ignore the haters. You're a breath of fresh air for our district, and most of us welcome your leadership!
Why would ANYONE show up to work when you are not expected or being paid?
ReplyDeleteWhy would any employer want someone hanging around prior to their start date?
They give you a contract or a date to start because that is when they will be ready for you, needing your service and have a place in which you will sit, work, put your belongings. I guess all working people are losers and all employers make poor choices according to 8:47 am.
I don't care it you are a donut maker, factory worker, office manager or president of the USA. Who in the heck shows up to work before their assigned day and time? Answer back please 8:47.
Of course this blog is a reflection of a eight hour mind. I would have hoped Mr Popp would have been ready to go his first day and not watch the clock.
ReplyDeleteA superintendent is more than a 8 hour job. Many in the community had that complaint about Roberts
Saw this on our district website this morning:
ReplyDeleteFamilies interested in learning more about the John C. Dunham STEM Partnership School are invited to attend one of three informational meetings that will be held in Aurora.
East Aurora High School, 500 Tomcat Lane, will host a STEM Partnership School meeting from 6 to 7 p.m. Thursday, April 3 in the Hawks Auditorium.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
As a parent, I have some questions about this (transportation/carpooling, fine arts class availability, whether the calendar is similar to D131). This meeting will be an excellent chance to find out the details of the STEM school before seriously considering it as an option for my child.
Dr. Popp will be ready to go his first day. His first day is April 1st. How stupid are you Rayanne.
ReplyDeleteEvidently you're the moron, not able to comprehend Rayanne's clear statement that she hasn't been directly involved with this blog for some time.
ReplyDeleteYou are correct, though, that Dr. Popp's first day as superintendent will be April 1st...
...No fooling!
;)
Meanwhile on the West side they're having to pay double:
ReplyDeletebeaconnews.suntimes.com/26419941-417/west-aurora-will-pay-two-superintendents-on-some-days.html
Does anyone know that Marty Feltes got in Ross Wheelers face, and was yelling at him because he thought Ross told everyone about the asbestos in the basement. You are a class act Marty.
ReplyDeletebeaconnews.suntimes.com/26458090-417/east-aurora-high-students-walk-to-chicago-to-raise-money-for-child-soldiers-trip.html
ReplyDeleteFeltes is Leonard's friend employees at Krug got told to throw out old asbestos tiles by Feltes. Some questioned him and he told them you will not have a job for long.
ReplyDeleteThis goes on daily with Feltes when all the board members voted for his promotion the gave him a open door.
Strand and Hull promised they would fight for our rights last year for votes. When they got contacted lately they told us to kiss off.
It has been reported to the Enviromental Protection Agency who did a air test but said we fall under normal levels. Tiles are not suppose to be handled when wet unless you have protective clothes and abatement is followed. Not at EA.
Ross Wheeler knows he has has no support. Sad
Asbestos? Call the department of public health, OSHA and the Illinois EPA. You can do that anonymously. They will be out the same day and shut the building down to protect the workers and students.
ReplyDeleteAnother day with Marty
ReplyDeleteYoungners had 4 trucks out at Simmons for two days the questioned was asked if the job got bid out and the answer was NO don't ask questions.
This heating project was over $17,000 and was done in two parts so to avoid public bid.
That is the same thing others last year got the ax for.
Also the new Superintend already ordered a weekend crew paid double time to remodel his office all new fixtures, lights, cabinets and new furniture.
Sure seems he is worried about saving money.
New leadership same story
Since the new Superintendent is not on the rolls yet he can't tell anyone to work overtime and he would know that needs board approval.
ReplyDeleteAs far as Asbestos many old buildings have that and as long as you do no remodeling most places are safe. You would be a fool not to think these old buildings do not have asbestos the problem is when you start remodeling and you are no better than those that ignore if you don't say something
The board does not approve overtime Feltes does. Feltes is long time buddy with Leonard and works everyday with no schedule. Popp is on to him and he will not last the year. As soon as Johnson is gone all her cronies will be as well.
ReplyDeleteThe office remodeling and new furniture for Popp is over $20,000.
ReplyDeleteIt really shows fiscal responsibility.
Rumor is Kristen Strand is going around trying to get support Ray Hull to be President after johnson leaves.
ReplyDeleteReally Kristen? Many supported you because you claimed to bring leadership and calm the District.
Now I can see it's just about yourself.
Ms Strand you backing a person who called every white teacher in this district unqualified because they did not have color to teach the children of East Aurora.
Talk about unstable, at least Johnson can point to many accomplishments while Hull sits and rants and raves at every meeting.
Talking with him one minute you can clearly see the angry black man come out of him.
http://beaconnews.suntimes.com/news/schools/26439056-418/east-aurora-votes-down-investment-firm-switch-again.html
ReplyDeleteQuestions-what exactly were your questions? What are your fact based inquiries? You start with saying your comment is rumors and end with making judgements as if what you say is undeniably so. I think Ray has made valid points for consideration and discussion. He has spoke well and is knowledgeable about our community, when I have seen him speak at meetings.
ReplyDeleteJohnson "points to accomplishments" made by others and claims credit. Mrs. Strand is nowhere near being about herself.
Get the facts correct, then come back with your "questions."
Questions
ReplyDeleteBashing Mr Hull & Mrs Strand, sounds like you are a staunch Johnson backer. Lots of accusations, blame, and nothing to support your statements. Reference your remark about "Unstable" I do agree that Annette is very much so and has been a long time.
Hull is still from the old guard and looked away from the miss spending in the credit cards. In fact I believe he was at the dinner in Chicago when they gave Wells a good bye dinner and bought liquor with the district credit card which was illegal. The comment about the teachers and not being able to think like black students is way off base it works in other districts with non black teachers why not here. He has never spoken up really about how miss manged the board was and he also vote for Roberts contact that gave him way to much money for what he did.
ReplyDeleteTo-Hoping for more @ 3/26 9:52. If you had a true hope for more, you surely abandon those hopes quickly. No matter what day, time, I still have high hopes for Popp. It will not take too much to improve over Roberts who allowed the Board president to act, speak on behalf of the district. Popp has already made it clear he wants the Board to allow him to run the district - as he was hired to do whether he starts the 31st or 1st. Popp has been more visible outside the office during his hiring and intro to the district than Roberts in his last year or 2 in the district. I am already a fan of the man.
ReplyDelete"For the record" has got your number, "Questions!" hahaha!
ReplyDeleteFor the record I have not seen any of the board members do anything and they all voted to pay Roberts. Blame Johnson all you want but they always vote with her.
ReplyDeleteI also read the article about investments and the one time they don't vote with her they sound like a pack of fools.
Credit should be given to Leonard on the Credit cards he seems like the most reasonable.
Also why did the board pay for a big retirement party for Roberts. Did the man not steal enough.
I will give Popp a chance he has a big road ahead of him. Leonard did something about the credit cards are you kidding me after the article in the Beacon where it showed questionable purchases did they look into it? I don't think so there where purchases that some didn't not have receipts for a district isn't suppose to pay for anything if there are no receipts for. As far as the investments and board members not voting for it good for them they should always have all the fact before going forward with the districts money.
ReplyDeleteI stated in the paper they had a 58 page investment document to read. Thats the problem the board members can't read.
ReplyDeleteMy comment was the board can't read. Old Second as a bank lost large sums of money for their investments. my aunt, elderly uncle and parents lost Monet with this bank. The taxpayers gave them Tarp money that they did not pay back and voted themselves big raises.
ReplyDeleteBill Skoland recently was paid a $250,000 bonus for bankrupting the bank.
Shame on the board for not dealing with a more reputable bank.
As far as the board not one has a brain between them.
"lost Monet"
ReplyDeleteMissing a painting?
(I know, autocorrect...)
;)
Has anybody actually gone to see where the new kindergaten center is going to be? I don't think you could have picked a worse spot if you tried.
ReplyDeleteYou have a major street in the front, a strip mall on the right. high voltage power lines right behind the school and a high voltage transforming station on the left.
It's a cancer hot spot. If the kids don't get killed by the traffic, they are going to have serious health issues.
I wouldn't work there no matter how much you paid me. It's no wonder no business (not even a church) has been successful there.
Once again EA leadership putting dollars before children.
It's ok the kids will suffer but everyone worked overtime this weekend putting in a brand new private bathroom for the new superintendent.
ReplyDeleteHe is also getting new furniture. The cost is over $20,000
Many of the buildings bathrooms are falling apart . Who is this guy.
It's time for the State to take the board over.
http://www.d131.org/newsDetail.asp?id=2775&guid=
ReplyDeleteThe last day of school will be June 5th:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.d131.org/newsDetail.asp?id=2776&guid=
Truth is the work had to be completed on a Sunday. I has hopeful when Popp took over but staff is starting to talk.
ReplyDeleteThe bathroom was unneeded. If that was his first concern I can see we are in for along three years.
beaconnews.suntimes.com/news/26555818-418/retiring-east-aurora-superintendents-goodbye-party-totals-2000.html
ReplyDeleteGiving Him a retirement party why do people think when they get on a board it is their money to spent. I will FOIA the district to find out who attended this party. people in this district struggle. The attendees should have paid their own way. I bet not one person would have wished him farewell.
ReplyDeleteThat party is a slap in the face of the taxpayers and this board needs to go.
ReplyDeleteIf they paid for anyone not working in the district it is against IL School code shame on you board.
ReplyDeletebeaconnews.suntimes.com/news/26560171-418/east-aurora-magnet-academy-accepting-applications.html
ReplyDeleteFinally a Superintendent that realizes communication with the community is good.
ReplyDeletehttp://beaconnews.suntimes.com/26559804-417/new-east-aurora-superintendent-to-host-pair-of-open-houses.html
This is a step in the right direction for our district.
I remember when Jerome Roberts started he had the same meetings. The truth will be in a year. I will hold my judgement. It is troubling that his number one move was a big remodel job to his office. That was the first move of Michael Radocovich.
ReplyDeleteI am also disappointed in the board allowing a big retirement party for Roberts. Have they not had enough with the credit cards.