...when we celebrate our district's best and brightest! As someone commented on the previous thread, it's "time to celebrate retirement and milestones of friends and colleagues". Congratulations to all our honorees, and thanks for all you do for our students!
223 comments:
1 – 200 of 223 Newer› Newest»About the ticket prices being raised for Together We Shine, the reality is that the costs have risen for both food and facility rental.
This is an optional event; no one is required to go and/or pay for a ticket. If people don't like the price they can stay home, and if enough seats are empty maybe that will send a message to administration to reconsider the event in the future.
On Tuesday, April 8th, 2003 Mr. Raymond Hull said the following, at an East Aurora school board meeting:
"Teachers are the key to stopping the promotion of children who are not prepared. Compensation for our teachers should be based on results and not tenure"
Can we really trust our new School Board president when he is willing to put the blame squarely on our hard-working teachers for students' failure?
It is not the cost of food or rental that is the problem it's the message. Spend $2000 on Roberts retirement party, pay him for sick days, pay for liquor being served but slap the hard working teachers in the face.
His party to administration and the board was free.
Just when I thought the district could not be worst then they elect Ray Hull.
The bigger concern is his racist views on teachers and females.
There was not liquor being served. This is why this blog is stupid. It turns from "rum being in the desert" or whatever it was into "liquor being served."
STOP TURNING THE TRUTH INTO WHATEVER YOU WANT IT TO BE.
Another example, now, according to a post in the previous thread, it is Dr. Popp who raised the prices for Together we Shine. I'm pretty sure he has NOTHING to do with that.
Does anybody think he Hull will apologize for his racist views, or at least try to clarify what he meant by those public statements?
Years ago I knew someone that went to alcohol rehap and they where able to go out on Sat and visit family. Him and his wife went out to lunch and she ordered a cherry jubilee which has alcohol in and he act some. When he went back to the rehab place he did tell them and he got kicked out for having alcohol. So if they had appetizers with liquor then the district paid for alcohol.
Yeah go ahead and give awards to those who don't do nothing...and those who really work hard not even a thank you. It's all about kissing a$$.
And they should have together we shine for free for those who are getting awards.
You don't see the difference between the phrases liquor was served and there was rum in the desert?
There are two different meanings there and to say one of them is extremely misleading. But that is what this blog is about, misleading the public.
Actually, a lot of things are challenged & corrected on blogs; this is a good example.
See something here that doesn't ring true? Go ahead, set us straight. Your comment is as believable as anyone else's.
Jerome Roberts took his money, party and retirement gifts and laughed all the way to the bank. Together we Shine should be free. Roberts party was free.
Popp approved the ticket price increase the board approved the retirement party. It is a sad day In EA
To the person who said Ray should say he is sorry it's more than that the community, board and mayor should ask for his resignation.
News at Simmons today is Wilson Morales pushed a teacher and she slapped him. Looks like there was more to it than meets the eye.
This is Dr Popps first real test will he now fire Wilson or look the other way because of Lisa Morales.
So far Staff is not impressed many broken promises but the jury is still out.
Hey,,,,,: the TWS EVENT IS FREE TO HONOREES! You people need to get a life! If you want to bring a family member to have appetizers, the coat is $7. Get over it!
Clearly people who are writing this crap are not being homored because they are soending too much of their time making up stuff to be mad about.
Annette again showed her defiant arrogance by changing again her position on leaving the Board. Tells everyone her schedule is busy and was only going to be on the board a few more months then has the audacity to question why Ray Hull did not appoint her in the Finance committee. Sounds like she just can't let go of her status on the board. THANK YOU RAY FOR STANDING YOUR GROUND !!!
Did family members of board members and administrators who went to Dr. Roberts' farewell party have to pay?
If not, then family members of TWS honorees should be free also.
Our district has no business setting up a double standard, two-tier system that treats teachers like second class citizens and allows administration to help themselves to tax dollars for expensive celebrations.
I'm no fan of Mr. Hull (I think he sometimes speaks before he thinks about the ramifications of what he's saying), but I believe he made the right call removing Ms. Johnson from that committee. It probably had nothing to do with personality clashes, but simply because she had said she wouldn't be staying on the Board much longer. Had he kept her on the committee he would have had to find a replacement soon, which wouldn't be in the best interests of the School Board or community!
In am glad Annette stayed and Hull could have appointed her to the committee until she quit.
What qualifications does he or Peryea have to run the committee.
Peryea is not even a taxpayer in this district.
The district should pay for the teachers and milestone award winners. Once a year is not asking to much. If Dr Roberts wanted to celebrate his retirement he should have done so with the entire staff today.
Dr Popp should have used this opportunity to embrace staff not charge them $2 more
The $2000 retirement party shows the lack of disrespect for the taxpayers and staff.
With recent events in the paper I can no longer support any of the current board. Between the sick days, cash settlements they need to resign or the community will vote you out of office.
Board members do you realize what a laughing stock you are?
Wilson is a complete idiot, but I don't think he's dumb enough to push a teacher. Also, I don't think a teacher is dumb enough to slap an administrator. I think this story is made-up. I call bullsh#@!
No family members were present at the retirement party. Get over yourself. Quit whining about nothing. You are two-tiers of crazy.
To the person who said-"Peryea is not even a taxpayer in this district."
This comment keeps regurgitating thru the blog. Though Ms. Peryea may not own a home in EA, she is still a resident of the community thru the rent she pays to another person who pays the taxes on the home she resides in. This commenter must be from Ward one, where they are still mad about their taxes. Along your lines of thinking, just because Annette has education in business or finance makes her more qualified. What qualifications does Annette have to be a decision maker when it comes to being a tax paying, family of the district. Her Mom paid the taxes on the property and she has never worked with children and has NO children. So if I were to go along with you about qualifications. Annette is lacking BIG time.
The residents of WARD 1 should be upset about their taxes they pay the majority to east aurora without sending any kids to the schools.
Johnson has lovely children they attend IMSA and have tutored children at the Magnet School
Went to Together we Shine the food was horrible and the program was more about Popp and his ego than the Retirees
Hull did not attend its shows his contempt for the teachers.
Ea7, there were other events happening this evening in our district besides "Together We Shine". Mr. Hull could have chosen to attend the choral concert at Cowherd or the trivia game night at East High. His absence at TWS says nothing about his regard for teachers, but your comment speaks volumes about your attitude toward someone who is trying to help & guide our district!
Dr. popp gave a short speech, addressing the TWS attendees, humble, and genuinely gracious! It was nothing about ego, and all about honoring the devoted and dedicated employees!
The food was good, and the company was great.
Staff and teachers rights are being violated across the district left and right under the new Superintendent.
Employees that worked for the district have been given observations and targeted without a State approved method in place.
These observations have now included support staff as well. Support staff has been expected all year long to provide instruction in small group settings without any training. A violation of State code.
Today with sit without any instruction materials or direction from the Curriculum department.
They have now started termination procedures on several district personal. Under Dr Roberts that was not the case because he realized that administration did not have these pieces in order.
Under Dr Popp he has started to move forward with terminating long term staff members because he lacks the facts. Glozabach and Reyes Childress are feeding him bad information. However he is at fault for not visiting buildings.
In the few buildings he has visited he makes racist uninformed comments. Quotes range from; Oh you have goals, or Wow you want to goto college.
He looks at the kids like they are so poor and stupid they have no goals in life only to be landscapers.
Glozabach herself should have been fired for allowing someone to work without a background check. Glozabach was also in charge of the evaluation model. Now the district is paying a high priced consultant, because she can't do her job. Childress only rolled out two sections of Curriculum. now she makes excuses she is working on FDK. They have another high priced consultant working on that.
Mr Popp lets start terminating failed administrators first. If you continue down this road we are willing and able to contact Steve Glink and file a class action against you.
Ray Hull has made comments against staff and "white females", now he does not show up at a event honoring staff. It speaks to his lack of concern for the staff.
I am not a supporter of Annette Johnson's but I would have hoped anyone but Ray or Annette be allowed to have been the face of EA.
The superintendent was there, and he is the most important administrator in our district. He is the "face of EA" more than the School Board president.
And if Mr. Hull had been at Together We Shine, some people would probably criticize him for not going to another event. With some, he can't win for losing. Give him some slack...do YOU go to every event your workplace holds after hours? I know I don't!
Heads will begin rolling soon
Will be interesting who is not going to be a part of EA soon.
all armchair quaterbacks who sit on the sidelines and critique please come forward at the board meetings and speak your opinion. All supporters of Annette Johnson can now come out of hiding and speak out. Let's see if you can have the courage to come out.
To: not a new day,
If things are as you say, and I believe that you were without curriculum plans from the day the core curr. came into play. I have heard many teachers say they have to research for creating their own lesson plans from web searches after work hours. Then I would not waste a minute contacting an atty or union official, and do not allow one teacher to be terminated without good cause. Stand together. It is called solidarity and it works, even if it is only as a united voice of the majority to let the new supt. know of the unfair work expectations.
Ray hull never disclosed to the board when he was appointed that he and Juanita Wells are relatives. No two board members should serve. That in and of itself shows he can not be trusted.
beaconnews.suntimes.com/news/27195513-418/new-hope-d-wall-school-principal-in-aurora-is-huge-teacher-advocate.html
Who cares if Ray Hull and Juanita Wells are related? There's no prohibition about cousins (or other relatives) serving on a School Board, and after all Ms. Wells has been gone from the Board for several years.
What does the serial bully and Mike Popp have in common. They both have the name Mike and have the same ego.
In his first month the listens to Glozabach and Reyes Childress and dismisses to little small fry positions of one on one aides who have served the district and Bilingual children for years.,
He acts like this is why the district is not progressing because of two one on one aides. Maybe he needs to start in Central Office with Joan, Wilson Morales and Reyes Childress.
The teachers already have his number it did not take long.
Popp is not forming his own opinions he is allowing Glozabach and Reyes Childress to run the show.
The teachers are upset and will not take it anymore. they gave the district a pass in the last bargaining agreement . If everyone remembers in bearly passed. this year we are working longer hours attempting to develop. Curriculum that should have been developed in Central Office.
We are then evaluated on lesson plans that change like the wind. Popp is now allowing Joan to write everyone up and ruin careers. This is the same women that created the transgenger mess that Dr Aird got demoted for. Dr Aird knew Curriculum and has been a big loss.
The lastest is not checking the background on Clark. Popp allowed her to skate. Since Roberts departure a very hostile work enviroment is developing in the district. At least Roberts had some control.
Popp is over his head it is very why Indian Praire did not promote him.
"History repeats" give me a break. Dr. Popp has only been here a month and you already want to bad mouth and bury the man. Anyone coming into a new position takes time to learn the current process and assess the current state of things before making changes. You would have complained too if he started making changes immediately because "he doesn't understand our district". So either way, Dr. Popp was doomed to criticism by you. He has entered the scene during the school year and needs to evaluate things before making a plan of action. Be patient. He comes from a functioning district into a very dysfunctional district. There are so many things that need to change and processes that need to be put into place. I bet his head is spinning trying to figure out where to start untangling this mess.
I'm excited we have someone with experience working in a functional, organized district.
Show us the way, Dr. Popp!
Dr Popp comes from a district that has no understanding of the struggles teachers face. So anonymous 2 if he is assessing the district why is he dismissing teachers and support staff. Glozabach has made major errors and a climate of harassing staff on evaluations that change by the day have started.
I was all for him until he started on the staff and not his own administration.
The ticket price increase also shows his lack of concern for staff.
He was getting dismissed himself at Indian Prairie because he did not get along with the new sup. He had already accepted a job in Lyons and was turned down by six districts before East.
Well said!
Did you ever think that the assistants were not qualified to hold their jobs? It is the step in the right direction to make positive changes in the district by relieving people of their jobs when they are not qualified to instruct our students.
First Ray Hull insults hard working white teachers and does not attend a event honoring them.
Now Cinco De Mayo, again he does not attend
if he does not have time to be the Board President then he should resign.
II guess it shows if he can't spent time away for his City job then he will not spend his personal time.
Central Office has his number he visits with his City car three to four times a week. That means taxpayers of all of Aurora he is wasting your tax dollars by wasting time and gas. Some ethics.
Here Here
When the district gets rid of the worthless administrators then I would agree that teachers and assistants should be reviewed but that would mean we would have a evaluation process. That would mean we had a aligned Curriculum but we don't.
Last. I checked that would be the job of the over paid administrators.
Popp needs to step back and review the entire district before any changes are made. He needs to start with Reyes Childress, Arguta , Feltes, Garcia, Bradish, and goose neck Glozabach first.
Wow, isn't it amazing how much bashing of Ray Hull and Dr. Popp there has been since Annette Johnson was tossed out of her positions as board president and the finance committee. I guess somebody has been scorned and has way too much time on her hands. Annette, you really need to get a life.
Wilson Morales got into a fight with a middle school kid and was beaten up last year, now he's getting B**** slapped by a female staff member he pissed off. I wonder if it was the secretary he was disappearing with for hours at a time during the school day a couple of years ago? Wilson is going to have to work extra hard to cover up this latest indiscretion quickly, he has his big speach coming up soon. The one he does every year. Within the next week or so he has to gather the hundreds of 8th grade students who have been doing nothing all year (and failing all their classes) and tell them they have one week to make up the previous 35 weeks of work. After all, it would be very embarrassing to the Simmons Administration if it was discovered just how poorly the Simmons Students were really doing. It looks much better if they are just passed along to the high school to deal with. I guess there are definite advantages to having your wife as the superintendents secretary.
Ea89, your comment about Ray Hull insulting "hardworking white teachers" was nonsense.
First of all, the teachers and staff honored at Together We Shine were of several different ethnicities. I saw Hispanics, African-Americans, and Caucasians there (probably a couple of Asians but didn't notice).
Also, how is being unable to attend an event "insulting" anyone? We do NOT know Mr. Hull's job, family, or health circumstances that day...or whether he chose to attend one of the other district events.
Get a life. Or at least let other people live theirs!
if you have not checked community and staff are calling for the entire boards resignation.
Lets look at the last couple of months and everyone should be the judge if this board does follows the ethical path and resigns.
Hired a Superintendent with no experience or community input.
Elected a board president who called EA a ghetto slum and insulted all the white teachers
Paid Roberts $78,000 plus a $2,000 retirement party while increasing the tickets to the retirement party.
Paid a teacher a settlement for Porn $18,000
Paid a business manager $124,000 with a background check.
I don't have to be Annette Johnson I just read the news. You need to get a life Mr Hull and stop competing with Johnson
No My Hull, we are not Annette Johnson may of us remember you from the past when you served on the board and made back room deals for your friends.
When Hull was on the board the advocated and got insurance for his friend Charles Ponquinette and family for life a bill we still pay to this day.
He also made the same types of comments about teachers back then. Mr Hull since you put yourself out in the spotlight I guess the heat is toooo much. As Harry Trueman stated if the kitchen is to hot get out.
For all the talk that Hull hates white folks he is not respected in the Afro Americans community either. if it does not fed his ego he does nothing for anyone.
That is why he and Annette hate each other they are both the same. He is the illerate version of Annette.
They are both worthless and a embarrassment
The whole board is a laugh a minute.
Where is it written that board members have to attend districts events? They have a Superintendent to go to those events that is part of his job. I'm not a fan of Hull's but he doesn't have to attend these things. I don't believe he hates whites and his statement about the teachers and needing more African American teachers was took out of context I think.
I notice that those that are bashing him and talking about Johnson has a hard time spelling in their comments which is strange since there is spell check on here and I have it come up to correct my mistakes.
Taxpayer 3 -
You talk about other's spelling yet your grammar is incorrect in your post. "Was took" is incorrect. It should be- was taken out of context.
But everything was spelled correctly.
Anonymous 2, you made a grammar mistake: the apostrophe in "other's" is incorrect (apostrophes are never used to indicate plurals).
I wouldn't have mentioned your mistake, but you were criticizing Taxpayer 3's grammar.
Those who live in glass houses shouldn't throw stones :P
Miss Gray was my English teacher-
It was not a plural, it was a possessive noun. The spelling belonged to the other person thus other's
It's called a singular possessive - look it up.
I was correct
No, you're not correct.
"Others" is a plural noun; to make it possessive you would put an apostrophe after the word.
Example: You talk about others' spelling
"Another" is a singular noun; to make it possessive you would add an apostrophe and s.
Example: You talk about another's spelling
Here's a link for further explanation:
http://www.grammarbook.com/punctuation/apostro.asp
This was taken off of Community Christian Church of Naperville 2013 Annual report. Why is the City taking property off the tax roles and donating it to a church in Naperville. Aurora has many fine churches and the Mayor should help them as well. Is this not the church Kristen Strand works for.
East Aurora’s All In campaign continues to move forward. One of two buildings has been donated, and the adjacent second building is under contract and will be purchased by the city of Aurora in January. Two phases of renovations will begin immediately after purchase. Phase one renovation will include installing an elevator and the renovation of the 3rd floor of one building; phase two will include renovations on the rest of the two buildings.
beaconnews.suntimes.com/news/schools/27191430-418/east-aurora-alum-thriving-in-new-york-city.html
Making Mrs.Gray proud - Other is not plural. It is singular. You cannot tell me my intent for plural or singular. I can reference web addresses too: http://en.allexperts.com/q/General-Writing-Grammar-680/2009/6/Grammar-other-others.htm And to your web reference look at Rule 2
Anonymous 2--
Both examples in the link you provided include a definite article before the word "other":
The other's
The others'
However, your comment had no definite article. Perhaps you meant to say, "you talk about another's spelling"?
Maybe it would be clearer if we used a different object and gerund in the sentence. Instead of "other" and "spelling", substitute "dog" and "barking", like this:
You talk about the dog's barking...
Notice the definite article. It would be incorrect to say:
You talk about dog's barking...
Amazing how one little word (in this case, "the") makes the difference between correct and incorrect grammar!
http://www.d131.org/newsDetail.asp?id=2835&guid=
beaconnews.suntimes.com/news/27278015-418/east-aurora-full-day-kindergarten-program-likely-to-run-at-deficit.html
Tonight's band concert at East High has been cancelled due to illness.
http://www.d131.org/newsDetail.asp?id=2836&guid=
By GreatSchools Staff
Signs of an Effective School Board Member
Here are signs of a school board member focused on moving the school district forward and educating all students to meet high standards:
Great school board members have a clear vision for the district. They set the vision and goals, and measure the success of the district and superintendent against the goals.
Great school board members communicate their actions to the community. Through public discourse and written reports, great school board members keep the public informed of the district's progress and challenges.
Great school board members work as a team. They collaborate well with others and are respectful of the other board members and superintendent.
Great school board members adopt a fiscally sound district budget. They pay attention to finances and regularly monitor the fiscal health of the district.
Great school board members focus on what is best for all students. They focus on student achievement and implementing policies that will ensure success for all students.
Great school board members advocate at the local, state and national level for public education. They take advantage of opportunities to communicate the needs of public schools to other levels of government and advocate for strong public schools.
Signs of an Ineffective School Board Member
If you notice any of the following signs, it's time to find some new candidates to run for your local board:
The school board member continually focuses on one issue or talks aimlessly at meetings.
The school board member doesn't conduct him or herself in a respectful, collaborative manner in public.
The school board member comes to meetings unprepared.
The school board member "rubber stamps" all the superintendent's proposals without asking hard questions.
The school board member micromanages rather than focusing attention on district-wide policies.
The school board member uses his position on the school board as an opportunity to put forth a political agenda with little relevance to student achievement.
Sounds like we need a new board
It also seems like they have moved into a new era of letting the Superintendent rubber stamp everything.
I am not in favor of allowing Quad County to educate the students but sending them to Waldo and claiming EA High School has 40 additional classrooms is all lies.
We do have some good School Board members. Last week I e-mailed Lou Peryea with a question about how long a staff member had been with the district (Ms. Peryea is the chair of the Finance and Personnel Committee).
Only a few hours later I had gotten e-mailed responses from both Ms. Peryea and Dr. Popp to my question. I was impressed and grateful.
Too often we are quick to criticize but slow to recognize the good things that happen!
Amen May 7, 2014 at 6:10 PM I hope our board looks at this and realizes that the bottom part of your post is what they are doing and start working for the good of this district. Although we have a new Superintendent that wants to do the right thing lets give him a chance since we haven't had a Superintendent that did a job he is suppose to do but let a board president run the district.
Thumbs up to "quick response" and to Dr. Popp and Lou P. I think we need to give the Board a chance to change direction with the new Supt. They have been busy running interference with the AJ & JR. Little time was left for being effective for moving forward. Dr. Popp has a big mess to mop up. Hopefully, along with a School Board with a new attitude, they can start making positive changes. I feel dropping the Urban League is a good start.
Great point!!!!!
Although I support getting away from Quad County where do they think they are moving these students. Where are these 40 classrooms. the new Superintendent should walk the schools there are zero empty classrooms. the children will not attend zero or 8th hour classes.
The Superintendent is relying on his administrators who are clueless.
The students are being put in harms way. Shame on the board and Superintendent for not checking.
Childress Reyes is a liar class sizes are out of control.. She is liar class sizes will increase more. Look and listen
Even if there a good ones as long as they don't speak up and say something about how this board id running then they are just as bad. A example was the party for Roberts on the taxpayers dime. What is their policy for retirement parties for the employee of the district.
By law, the latest administrator salaries are supposed to listed on the district web site. If you look at the D131 web site, the only salaries listed are 2 years old. And folks here think the board minutes are late? NO Transparency
Moving kids into Waldo is against the safety of every student and teacher in the district.
Finding 40 additional classrooms spaces at East Aurora after all year hearing that the school is overcrowded and the school had to get rid of the pool is inexcusable.
Popp claims 170 more students next year and still 40 more classrooms.
It is clear the administration does not have a clue.
Mr Popp is not transparent the Urban League presentation was a sham. They would not tell the parents at the meeting where their child was being placed. Johnson did push them and finally they heard Waldo.
However a lady in the back of the room was crying because of her special needs children. When asked the District had no response.
A good leader would have realized it was a mistake to move kids into overcrowded classrooms and schools.
If the schools are not overcrowded then why did they have to remove the pool. That is a good question?
Johnson was the only one who cared about class size and the teachers safety.
The Superintendents comments made no sense.
beaconnews.suntimes.com/27301894-417/east-aurora-will-need-new-space-for-alternative-education-in-future.html
openline.blogspot.com/2012/03/illinois-high-school-basketball.html
What happened by the High School today? On Fifth and the road by the grade school crossing guard is the street is blocked off and Police are looking on the road and the grassy area by there. Looks like one picked up a bullet.
Johnson was the President and Roberts Superintendent when the thing about The Urban League was passed and she at that time our schools where crowed so to say Johnson is the only one that cares is wrong.
Just saw this on the district's Facebook page:
The East Aurora High School Wind Ensemble and Alumni Band Concert scheduled for Friday, May 9, has been cancelled due to illness. The concert, which was scheduled to begin at 7 p.m., has not been rescheduled.
Signs will be posted at the high school notifying visitors that the concert has been cancelled.
The Board is forcing administration to end the contract with the Urban League. Not one administrator approves of this plan. There was a option to rent but Peryea, Strand, Leonard and Hull wanted to punish the Urban League because everyone knows it was Johnson pet project.
Johnson forced administration to sent kids to a Special Ed program that lacked basic approvals at State level. Johnson also looked the other way with Roberts when administration brought it to their attention that grades got mis reported.
Truth is:
The new board is worst. Hull, Strand and Peryea are telling Popp what to do all day long. Leonard rides around with Feltes most of the day. They are clueless and have weighed administration down with countless reports. Administration can't get anything done.
Then there is Johnson she knows more than anyone the inter workings of the district. Many of the admins have been forced to defend the Urban League decision and got trapped in excuses Johnson saw through. It is gotten to the point that everyone is looking for a job.
The entire Board is out of control and needs resign.
As for the 40 empty class periods they do not exist unless class sizes will be raised. many are worried about the safety.
Ever hear the old story don't tell a lie because you can't cover that's our administration now. Popp is the laughing stock for coming up with the 40 classroom number.
The quote by Machiavelli in the Prince that "absolute power corrupts absolutely" seems to be riding high at East High these days. The victims? As usual the teachers. One division chair had the brainiac idea that students should evaluate teachers. Teachers are such merde, that I guess anyone should evaluate them. By this logic teachers should also evaluate admins but I'm sorry they get to self-evaluate. When you read the division chair minutes the book they are reading is What Do Great Principals Do Differently?- the principal at East is sponsoring this book for all the admins, and if you look through the chapters it is all teacher bashing. How to Get rid of Bad Teachers, How to Kiss Good Teachers Asses, How to Celebrate Good Teachers Without Pissing Off Your Really Bad Teachers, ertc, The Problem in education is not the bad teachers. The problem in education is crappy administrators who never wanted to teach, who got their degree after being a gosh darn gym teacher
beaconnews.suntimes.com/news/27323950-418/east-aurora-approves-29-million-in-summer-maintenance-projects.html
Teachers of EA beware
The new Sup has brought in a consulant to evaluate teachers, secreataries and support staff out. They are in the process of training administrators. Tenure means nothing anymore.
Two band concerts cancelled this week??
That IS sad...hope they can be rescheduled!
In addition to hoping the band programs can be rescheduled, also hope the person who is ill has a speedy recovery.
From the EAHS band Facebook site, posted by a student Wednesday afternoon:
The concert for tonight is cancelled.
Everything is okay. Liska just felt some sharp pain 7th, and needed help. The concerts cancelled just to be safe.
I was told to post this to let you all know everything is okay, and it's just a bump, not a roadblock.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Evidently Mr. Liska's health concern was serious enough to make it necessary to cancel tonight's concert as well.
I have a suggestion for anyone reading this blog: PRAY for Mr. Liska's health and quick recovery. Many people who post here have been very critical of the EAHS band program over the past several years, and I have been one of them (although I've always tried to make it clear I blame administration, not Mr. Liska). Now we have a chance to do something POSITIVE...take a moment right now and say a prayer that Mr. Liska will feel better soon. It's in our students' AND district's best interests for him to recover quickly, and for these concerts to be rescheduled!
The student surveys come out of d204 as well as parent surveys. Ms Strand is visiting classrooms and observing that is not the boards responsibility. All week she has been in teachers lounges across the district not the Superintendent. She not only is VP of the board but administrative spy also.
Although I think it is important to input a survey needs to be fair. A parent or a student is not in the position to judge whether a class is overcrowded, kids don't have intervention support or we have no common core Curriculum to teach to. Strand can talk about not supporting State testing standards but that is the law.
Be careful teachers what you share it's will get used against you.
I give the new administration a F.
Most band programs with a program that large have a backup it shows EA ok.
Now they are going to survey students about their teachers like they have time for that foolishness.
Then the stories that we have 40 extra classrooms. What a joke kids get interventions in the cafeteria. The band room has been overcrowded for over 10 years. The new uniforms will be stored in a mold infested basement.
But the focus is to get students to survey teachers. Why not survey administration and if the teachers score them low they should be fired.
This is completely false. The district is behind every other district in Illinois in implementing a mandated framework for teacher evaluations.
This is finally being implemented, and it is a testament to the new blood that the district is utilizing a consultant to set the framework in motion. The consultant is not doing any evaluations, just getting the distict in line with best practice.
This is such a positive thing for EA. This will enable us to identify the great things that teachers are doing, compared on a scale of proficiency. Additionally, it would enable us to support our teachers' professional growth in their areas of need.
This is not a bad thing. It is a blessing to be able to identify what is working, and whet needs to change !!!!!!
We definitely need a survey for administration. Let the truth be known about how these principals treat the staff. Let's see if profanity is professional language to use with staff. Let's see if disrespect is professional. Telling staff to write their name down on plc meetings when they never show up. Bring on the survey!
beaconnews.suntimes.com/news/27357679-418/at-states-prompting-east-aurora-will-offer-new-mexican-history-course.html
why is the equation bad teachers= bad students? Most if not all of the teachers I know work their asses off. The hoops that we jump through are monumental. The new evaluation system- Charlotte Danielson- is nothing more than stripping teachers of their entire teaching history. So it doesn't matter if you tutor every day after school ( for free)It doesn't matter if you are heavily invested in the lifeblood off the school and help kids in every way imaginable. This is nothing but an additional inroad to stripping union power and another blow to the economic power of the middle class. An evaluator comes in, and in a single 55 minute period, decides your work future. He/She can't call into question a whole work history or previous evaluations. In what area of work, do we go in and stare at someone for an hour and this decides their future. Talk about subjective! Talk about punitive !! If you luck out and your evaluator is your best bud you will exit unscathed. Class action suits, Let's go@!!!!
Here is a great article that explains the charter school movement better than any I've seen. Everybody needs to read this and remember without crony capitalism, this would never be allowed.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/peter-greene/charter-schools-money_b_5287499.html
Unions will be stripped further in 131 with teachers and maintenance as well.
Feltes has been spouting off that Popp will outsource our jobs. He was quick to point out that Indian Prairie uses non union employees through a service and the same will happen to us.
Feltes is allowed to swear at us and give his buddies all the jobs without a quote.
Is the new administration better We think not.
You need to quit teaching if the response that you have to being evaluated is centered around union rights and class action law suits.
The Danielson Model is better than the current system, that has no rubric or objectivity.
Additionally, the framework doesn't end with an observation. There is a great deal of control given to the teacher on how they present evidence of proficiency in all realms of education.
Become educated about evaluations. Our students deserve the best teachers who are not afraid or threatened to have adminstrators conduct observations. Our students deserve teachers who are not worried about law suits and union greviences.
Do your job well, and you won't have anything to worry about.
You must have a lot to hide..... So scared about a process that EVERY other district has been doing already!
http://www.d131.org/newsDetail.asp?id=2843&guid=
Sorry I have seen many good and fine teachers hounded out of jobs-- especially with the previous principal. If you complained about anything you got remediation. Scared about evaluations?-- no Scared about unfair evils?- yes. Just because there is a rubric doesn't mean it's a panacea- just because other districts are doing it doesn't mean it's good- don't drink the koolaid
A evaluation model is only as good the Curriculum one is suppose to teach. D131 does not have a aligned Cirriculum. Common Core is now part of the State teaching standards which d131 only started to implement last year in January.
This year the District did make some progress on PLCs and teachers are being asked to do the job of administration and write Curriculum.
We currently work at Simmons and had been told by Wilson Morales questional husband of the Superintendents secretary that we will be evaluated out. This already happened to a support staff member recently who was just given a award at Together we Shine. Her sin was she knew about Wilson's questionable behavior to a student that resulted in another cover by Central Office in March.
The new Superintendent was made aware of the situation as well as Michelle Brown. Wilson was told and now targets us with constant visits to classrooms.
That is why evaluations do not work.
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/education/ct-school-ratings-overhaul-met-20140511,0,3734551.story
I'd like to hear EA educators perspective.
Popp has brought in a consultant to teach administrators how to write iron clad evaluations. He acts and speaks much like the serial bully. we have now moved back to the days of Mike Radacavich.
From the EAHS band Facebook site:
Two recent high school band concerts that had been postponed due to illness have been rescheduled for Wednesday, May 14.
The East Aurora High School Wind Ensemble, Concert Band and Symphonic Band will perform together at 7 p.m. in the Hawks Auditorium at the high school, 500 Tomcat Lane.
Admission to the combined concert will be $2.
The alumni concert, which was originally connected to the Wind Ensemble, has been cancelled this year.
So you are expected to teach when the kids don't come to school with basic needs. Tonight I stopped off at Walmart to buy shorts and summer clothing. Four of the students in my classroom still have winter clothes. it is impossible to find anyone in maintenance to deliver fans. Does anyone understand a day in the life of a 131 teacher.
Yet our school board paid Roberts $78,000. Our contract is up and we better get ours.
This is a example of discrimination what this is saying is Latinos and blacks have low expectations and will never learn as well as white students.
Even with he new standards Ea is still far behind.
In reading, for example, 85 percent of white third- through eighth-grade students statewide will be expected to pass state tests by 2019, compared with about 73 percent for Latinos and 70 percent for black students, an analysis of state and federal records shows.
NO! Many people, admin especially, do NOT know what many of our teachers do on a daily basis, throughout the year for their whole career, that goes above their job description, with money from their own pockets, without reimbursement.
As a parent and grandparent, I have seen it many times over and will continue to sing the praises of our teachers. They are scrutinized, criticized and that is by their superiors. They then have to be subjected to parental finger pointing for things the parents have failed to do.
I hope the teachers union stands strong this time around. The union leader has had a peak at what goes on at the administrative level, I hope he doesn't sell out the members. Our teachers accomplishments in the classroom are done with minimal parent involvement and despite lack of admin support.
Dr Popp is behind the students survey of teachers and parent surveys are also in the works. Dr Popp is not sitting back and learning the student body he has. Dr Popp seems to think he is working for Indian Prairie. Why the board ever hired him shows the horrible board we have. He may be a good man but his learning curve is daunting.
David Negron was a big loss he understood our students but the board never took time to interview him.
The student surveys are a way for him to get to know his students.....re-read your comment. You sound rediculous.
Student surveys and parent surveys are important for him to get information....you'd be criticizing him for not gathering information.
What is wrong with you?
Maybe Popp should start by visiting the schools and getting to know the teachers. another suggestion would be a evaluation on his admins before blaming all the problems on the teachers.
Also, rumor is his evaluations from Kathy Sullivan would not have been so good in fact he was being let go at d204. He had a job in Lyons for himself oh well another reject for EA ok.
* At Monday's faculty meeting Mr. Byrd said he was shocked at how little we've been trained in Danielson. Looked at the names on the committee and saw Beatrice Reyes-Childress. THAT is why we are so behind...what a waste. Any one else more useless in this district...other than Nestor Garcia?
* Has anyone tried to get answers from anybody above the level of a teacher? I'm guessing it did not go well. Division Chairs, Service Center Employees and Administrators all must take a class about how NOT to be a good communicator and how to ignore people when they are looking for help/assistance.
* I'm going into my second decade as a teacher. I've used students surveys/evaluations since year one. They are a useful way to gauge my progress.
As a teacher at the high school I would like to see a survey regarding administration. Administration is allowed to evaluate us why can't we evaluate them? The Five essential survey will not be published immediately; so a survey before the end of the school year would be an excellent way for Popp to see how staff feels about how they are treated. The new administration is awful and does a poor job of servicing our students. They hide in their office all day and they do not communicate with students or parents. The board wanted a clean slate. It didn't work. Many people are criticizing Popp because he's not coming from a diverse back ground but neither is the principal at the high school. The principal has been at the high school one year and he has actually made the atmosphere worse. He needs to go and his best friend the Athletic director and his two assistant principals.
Student Surveys are a way for the teacher to know how they have reached a student or what needs to improve. NOT a way for the division chair to build a case against a teacher.
We know the blame is going on with administration telling Popp the teachers are lousy. The division chairs are a complete waste of money. They earn $85,000 plus TRS and have not helped the teachers at all. They are here to build a case.
Adam Harding are you listening things are bad with the new administration Please help.
We have not seen the new Superintendent also there are no details about the return of alternative students. Why the big secret. Rumor is they will be allowed to join other students in PE and various electives that can be true.
The new administration is very tight lipped.
Surveys need to start with administration. Many teachers did not know Carla Johnson was in charge of the High School and who is Mechelle Brown?
Proof
The name of the person Popp knows from D203 and D204 is Shelley Taylor, Core Service Director for Teacher Effectiveness.
They are also hiring another administration position that will pay per the job position Salary starting at $104,000. Rigorous Training Partnership Coordinator. If you read the job post this position will also train building leaders and collect data on teachers.
There is also a posting for a Asst Principle of Magnet. Why? these are the highest preforming students.
It seems administration is loading up against the teacher and if the board has so much money to throw at lawsuits, parties and more administration they need to take care of the teachers.
Dr Popp this is not Indian Prairie.
The new administration thinks
I have to agree with east high insider ..... Spencer is doing an incredible job. I think the building atmosphere has changed for the better, teachers are much more willing to seek advice & assistance in the classroom - the feeling, at least for, is one of caring & support, not one where teachers are hunted & fired.
As for Renner, I don't know him well and I don't have direct experience with him, so I cannot comment.
They offered Black History back in the late 60's or early 70's. It is a good thing to offer so all EA children have a chance to learn about other history in more detail. I would like to see them offer likewise for other nationalities. Polish, Asian...South American.
D131 is moving in the right direction. We have directors that know how a district should function and now we have a superintendent that knows how a district should function. Things are looking up!
The people that do not like them are the incompetent ones. They're upset because they know they need to change or get out.
Free summer athletic & fine arts camps:
http://www.d131.org/newsDetail.asp?id=2849&guid=
http://www.d131.org/newsDetail.asp?id=2848&guid=
Well said!!! The panic is setting in because the status quo of mediocrity or poor performance are being threatened!
Anonymous 2 must be a administration the district is worst than ever.
As a long time district employee many of us feel Dr Popp is a nice man but he only gets input from Childress and Glozabach. He has not visited the building and had input from rank and file. When he tours the building admin is in toe and input is lost.
nobody has been given training or input on evaluations and curriculum is in shambles. Teachers have wasted more time this year out of the classroom trying to develop curriculum but they go round and round with administration.
The board is a joke and needs to be totally replaced. Teachers lost all respect for them by putting Hull in charge. He is a racist who made many remarks about teachers. Morel is very low.
Somebody needs to explain why every program (sports, art, drama etc.) in this district is being offered free of charge except band. Band camp is costing the children $70. Many children are not attending because they can't afford it.
It as though those in charge are deliberatly trying to destroy the band programs. The high school is going to have 200 kids next year and still just one director.
The magnet school band program is in a regular classroom with no equipment. no band chairs, no stands, no sheet music, nothing.
I'm guessing this has to be another program being run by Nestor Garcia.
Somebody needs to explain why the band programs are always being treated like the step children of the district.
I think the main reason kids have to pay $70 for band camp is because of the location. LaSalle Manor is a private facility with a large lodge and swimming pool. $70 is actually a bargain considering what some parents pay for a week of day camp. And some of our students are fund-raising for this (my neighbor at the magnet school is selling candy bars).
As far as having +200 kids in the high school band program, I'll believe it when I see it. Percentage-wise, the current band program is about the same size as it's been for 20 years or more. And adding a second director would make sense only if the number of classes taught were to increase, not the number of kids in each band. My son took music theory at East High in the 90s, which was taught by the band director at the time. Maybe adding a second music teacher at EAHS to teach theory, keyboard lab, music appreciation, world music, etc. would make more sense than another band director.
No the "incompetent ones aren't threatened--those are the admins at the top making all of these egregious mistakes. The amount aof hoops a teacher has to jump through to prove one's competency are staggering: for an untenured teacher 2 formal evals a year plus informals pre and post conferences, for everyone else 1 formal evaluation every other year with pre and post conference plus a summative evaluation where there is a point system that is at the whim of every evaluator. Along with this are 'snapshots" where a single evaluator comes into your room unannounced, and as many informal evals as they want. To survive all of this you must be very competent because you are being watched and judged for the majority of your time in the building. Add to this we must also be out in the hallway being the eyes and ears of the building possibly breaking up physical fights and getting injured; being around active gunfire in a dangerous neighborhood and not being notified when violence occurs. No we are not afraid of being judged incompetent; we know we are competent ; but in the exact words of an EA admin, 'I can make an eval go any way I want it to go, even if you are the greatest teacher I can always find something wrong, if we want you out you will be out" Now with the Danielson system we have 22 domains of a rubric so vague in its wording you need to take a seminar to wrap your mind around it. Oh and did I mention it's 57 pages long? Think there are a few loopholes in there to screw teachers?
The other day shoots had been fired into Roy E Davis field to announcement to staff. We learned about it because of all the police activity.
Last week in the PE/Wing alone eight fights that I know of broke out. The halls are so overcrowded kids run into one another and fights break out.
Now we hear we gained additional students next year 150 plus and additional students are coming back from Alternative School. The Alternative students will be allowed to take electives and PE with general ed students. Some of these students are on probation does that should safe.
Dr Popp thinks we have empty classrooms has he seen empty classrooms. He is being lead around by incompetent administrators and has no clue.
Many teachers over the summer will leave 131. They feel the pay is not good enough to put there lives on he line.
As for Spenser, he is a good Principal but has no support and often gets in trouble with admin because he speaks the truth
And by the way, admin, if you feel "the status quo of mediocrity is being threatened," you are right there in the midst of the mediocre soup......ya dope
I agree with Anonymous 1. If the district can find the money to support every other program in the district, they should be supporting the band program as well. They pump millions into sports which serves far fewer students.
There are roughly a thousand kids in all the districts band programs. You would think that a program that has that many students who are doing very positive things for the image of our district would be supported much better by the district.
These are kids who come before school, after school, weekends summers. They perform at concerts, pep rallies, sporting events, assemblies, district events, etc. Of all the districts students, these kids parents are the most involved.
It just doesn't make sense that the district administrators and board wouldn't support the program. The really need to start putting the money where their mouth is.
Not if I'm part of the solution.
Beyond Belief, the district DOES support the band program! The district pays for school-owned instruments, sheet music & supplies, NEW marching uniforms this year, bus transportation to events outside the district. I agree that the magnet school band facilities are inadequate but hopefully that will be addressed this summer.
About kids having to pay $70 for band camp...that's a bargain for what they get: transportation to & from LaSalle Manor 4 1/2 days (parents come on Friday to hear a final concert & pick up their student), use of the lodge, grounds, and pool, excellent instruction by Ms. Huggins & her volunteer staff, and a T-shirt they wear to proudly represent our district in the 4th of July parade.
I seriously doubt that any student doesn't go to band camp because of the $70. Families are told about band camp 9 months earlier, when school starts. There is plenty of time to figure out how to save or fund-raise (don't know about all schools but the Magnet school band kids sell candy bars).
If anything, it's the choir kids who are treated like stepchildren in our district. They do a lot of extra things too--like singing for assemblies, community events, nursing homes as well as concerts. But they don't get fancy uniforms or a summer camp experience like the band does.
http://www.d131.org/newsDetail.asp?id=2850&guid=
I agree about the band camp fee being a bargain. I was a single mom with 3 children and I paid for my children to go. There was NOT one day camp in town that offered as much as band camp for the length of time and experiences the children received. They have adult helpers not teens like day camps, and they finish in a week with a family night and the opportunity to participate in the biggest parade outside of Chicago!
When the board paid Roberts $78,000 plus a fancy retirement party and settlements on the porn teacher then I would say they should pay for the kids band being they have money to throw around.
To: Magnet School Mom If $70 is such a bargain that you believe everybody can afford then why is the district offering camps to everybody else for free? The fact is a great many of the band kids don't go to the camp because they can't afford it. Here's another fact for you. Many of the kids don't play at all in the summer because they have no instrument. As for the district supplying the band programs, perhaps you should find out what the band budgets are before you claim the district pays for eveything you say. There is a reason why the kids spend time selling candy bars instead of practicing or doing homework. They have to make up for what the district doesn't supply. You don't see the sports teams fundraising for equipment or uniforms. Why is every other district program properly funded except band? It is a valid question. All programs should be funded properly or none of them. When the administration and board pick and choose which programs they fund, they create a hostile environment.
None of you know what you are talking about. None of the programs in East Aurora are properly funded. Not sports, music, drama, visual art, not anything.
This is what is wrong with this blog. Ignorant people talking about things that they have no idea is true presented as fact. Your opinion of something being funded or not does not matter.
It is that truth that makes the retirement party so disgusting. It is the truth that my property taxes at supposed to pay for students education NOT so people who make 3 times or more as much as the citizens of east aurora can have dinner. That is the TRUTH. This blog is still blinded by their own stupidity and lies.
Anonymous2, the district does NOT pay for sports equipment for individual athletes, the parents do. My son plays baseball and he paid about $200 for his glove, cleats, mouthguard, and supporter.
And yes the summer camp is free for him but it's a no-frills camp, he walks there and there's no pool. I wouldn't complain about $70 for the band camp experience, I think it's a good deal.
About having to do fund-raising, you're wrong about sports teams not having to raise funds. We sports boosters are ALWAYS selling something at games. You must not go to any athletic events if you think we don't have to fundraise!
You complain about fund-raising but
Here's a list of equipment our EAHS baseball players purchase:
il.8to18.com/eahs/equipment/baseball/b/v/2013-2014
The Red & Blabk celebration was long, boring and poorly planned. This is the first time many got to hear Popp, and all we heard is he is happy to work here. I am sure at $225,000. Nothing new and if Hull thinks we is a stand up comic he better keep his day job. many did not know whether to believe his closing remarks or question them. Totally no class.
I would also like to comment on the.harassing emails to all teachers from their building Principals. Telling everyone like they are children not to have cell phones at Red & Black shows the dictatorship like attitude in the district today. Here is a suggestion if you had been more interesting Dr Popp maybe you would be sending out emails of intimidation
Equipment like band instruments and baseball gloves are extras, parents should pay for those not the district. About kids using school instruments not being able to practice, if kids were allowed to take them home over the summer a lot would disappear. Parents can rent an instrument for 2 months from a music store or some borrow from a family member or friend.
In 2001 when my son went to band camp it cost $70. So the cost has stayed the same even though gas is much more expensive.
And I also remember that the boosters had a scholarship program to help kids whose families had financial difficulties go to band camp. If I remember correctly there were several half-scholarships given that year. No kids that I knew about were unable to attend because of the money, although some were out of town or working (high schoolers) that week.
Anonymous2, I have a hard time believing you that "a great many of the band kids don't go to the camp because they can't afford it", when the boosters have a history of making it possible for every band student to go.
beaconnews.suntimes.com/lifestyles/27484091-423/first-grade-teacher-earns-top-educator-title.html
In 2001 the district claimed they were broke. This is 2014 and they have money to throw around lets us not forget.
$78,000 to Roberts
$2,000 Retirement party Roberts
$124,000. Settlement to someone who did not have a background check but was allowed to run the finances.
$18,000 to a teacher guilty of porn on district computers.
Any of these would have paid for instruments and fees our kids deserve more.
You are correct Band Supporter!!!
Well I am not in support of freebees the board has given plenty to worthless employees.
This is the fault of the school board they should all resign
I agree if the BOE can waste so much money on issues not related to children need to that stock of themselves and quit.
I am most disappointed in Peryea and Strand they made big promises to everyone and have so far went along with everything administration asked for.
The dinner for Roberts got me the most the BOE promised they cleaned up all wasteful spending on food. That could have sent 29 kids to camp.
I am also disappointed in the choice for Superintendent he is not a reflection on the community. Strand promised a bilingual Superintendent that has a reflection of the community.
Money has been wasted and continues. I won't argue that. But, I do NOT think we needed a bilingual supt. A large % of staff is bilingual. We have bilingual liaisons who are the direct contact with most parents at each school level. We have Beatrice, Lisa Morales and others at the school service center that communicate on behalf of the few non-English speaking people who may be seeking direct contact with the supt.
I am non Spanish speaking and have had problems on several occasions communicating at meetings and things that have been organized with the majority of the school population in mind. My children are the true minority, but I am not screaming for more employees to represent my race/ nationality. There are many countries represented in EA and have been for many years. That is what makes our town such a great place to live.
I have never heard as much complaining about hiring people of one group as much as I have for Hispanic people. The thing is, I think it may not even be Spanish speaking families who are doing the complaining, but rather others who use the bilingual issue as an excuse to complain about whatever it is they don't agree. Such as in the case of the Board or supt.
Until the next election, whether it be the president of the USA or the school board of D131, these people were elected by the majority of those people voting and are expected to serve their term. Until then, you can work on your own campaign or organize a campaign to oust who you don't like.
I heard Dr Popps speech Friday and read between the lines he is phony. He talks about this being his dream job but his interview history with other districts shows different. He wanted to become a Superintendent and he is making the best of it. So while he said all the right things he is not part of the EA community. I agree you do not have to be bilingual to run EA but 24 years of high preforming students verses the challenges we face is a learning curb. I am disappointed the BOE could not find someone with a proven record that was close to a EA type district.
beaconnews.suntimes.com/27491905-417/east-auroras-superintendent-says-he-wants-to-open-more-doors-for-graduates.html
10:06 p.m., it's amazing how two people can listen to the same speech and hear/remember totally different things. I heard Dr. Popp speak on Friday too, and I really appreciated the many supportive things he said about teachers in our district. Unlike the previous superintendent (remember Dr. Roberts telling teachers, "you're not allowed to have a bad day"?), Dr. Popp recognizes that D131 staff go above-and-beyond on a daily basis to help our kids.
To me, the glass is half full.
Dr. Roberts said something worse than you are not allowed to have a bad day. I don't remember exactly but it was along the lines that if a kid fails it's your (the teachers) fault.
It was only a couple of years ago for that one.
Mike Popp is another Mike Radadavich we and Central Office see a pattern developing that he is bring in many of friends to quote on district business or get lucurative consulting contracts.
Everyone needs to be aware.
Tonight it proved yell loud enough at the board and they will back down. After rolling out a new program last week to get out of the Urban league they reversed their descision and said they are coming up with a new plan. I hope they are not going back there but it looks like none of them no what they are doing.
Insider: Can you share some of your findings for us to know more about these things. Thanks
If Dr. Popp is bringing in/inviting friends & business associates to provide quotes on district projects that is a GOOD thing. Quotes are not the same thing as hiring; they are just statements of how much money a company would charge for its work. The more qualified companies our district can choose from, the better.
And so far the only similarity Dr. Popp has with "Serial Bully" Radakovich is the name Michael. Dr. Popp does not have a record of pushing good teachers out of their jobs over the objections of the community, as Radakovich did.
Why is it so difficult to get any answers or assistance from the Division Chairs at the HS? They don't seem to ever answer phone calls or emails. I have seen the meeting minutes they are in, they don't have that much to do. I was under the impression that they were supposed to be in assistance for us teachers, not a hindrance towards us?!?
Don't you get it? No one is here to help the teachers. They would like to get rid of us--that is why we have adopted the Danielson evaluation system. 57 pages long, composed of 22 domains and sub-domains of observable and non-observable teaching practices or requirements that are meant to determine not only the effectiveness but the development of a teacher along a spectrum that ranges from ineffective to highly effective. Teachers use rubrics all of time, however, this is such a comically huge rubric and it has no scientific research, focus group, control group or experimental backing- no evidence based of the sort teachers are mandated to employ themselves in classroom practice- thus no justification for its ubiquitous installation in national standards. It's all a money game-- the Danielson group the Common Core standards blitz all funded in part by the Gates Foundation Standards are so vaguely written that school run weeks long Professional Development and Inquiry time to 'unpack" and "decode" them so they can possibly tackled from a practical perspective. Funny because most of has higher degrees -so if it takes weeks to inspect the nouns and verbs of edicts- than something must be wrong in the wording. Danielson and CCS were made in committee hell- deadly for the future of our children. In the New York schools teachers report they spend all of their time collecting evidence and artifacts to keep their jobs and to justify their existence rather than preparing for their students and classrooms. This is the dehumanization of the Education system- why they even tell us "we will take the subjectivity out of evaluations"! What crap- as long as a human is doing it, there will always be subjectivity. And favoritism. And we know the cliques. This is attempt to make a science of teaching. And to these silly misguided folks-- teaching is not a science --it is an art.
Mike Popp and Mike Radakovich not only share the same first name they are the same.
Shelly Taylor is from 204 she has been given the charge to educate building administrators to evaluate out teachers. Administration feels Joan Glaozabach is behind this and Popp is her puppet.
He is also bring in friends without to control copy machines, lease computers, and many other things. His office is a who's who to line his pockets very little education is getting done.
I went to the BOE meeting last night and what a show.
Hull sat and told his community that I did not know a thing about the Urban League contract. Yeah right!!!
Johnson actually sounded like she cared about the kids but we know different Yeah right!!!
Leonard who is always clueless said oh yeah we voted on getting rid of the Urban League . Must have been missing his guy pal the $132,000 man Marty.
The others looked on clueless and always.
Then after all the drama the administrators who had a plan a week ago state we don't have a plan .
Popp has no control over of the BOE or meeting? I give him a year and he will be back to the high class folks .
Then there was the. $425,000 remodel job to store the band uniforms in the basement. BOE if we have 40 classrooms can you not spare a large closet.
The loser of the night was the incompetent Carla Johnson and Mechelle Brown and Reyes Childress who keep proclaiming we have 40 classrooms for reform school at the HS. Ladies if you ever visited the HS and you don't all of our space is in use.,
Better yet why not have the division chairs count on their toes that's about all the are good for.
I know it's the business office stupid.
Off the TRS system for penalties because EA paid more than 6% in raises to administrators. Most of this to Jerome Roberts This is fiscal year 2013.
just wait for next years penalty.
• Aurora East Unit School District 131: $86.851.73.
We teachers have to pay our own retirement and they give this for a district ranked last in the State. How many years have we pleaded with admin for a aligned Curriculum.
beaconnews.suntimes.com/27568690-417/west-aurora-finance-chief-heading-to-east-aurora.html
again another costly mistake with Joan Glozabach. when employees like many hard working teachers want to retire they meet with Joan. She tells them want they can and can not get and watches like a hawk to make sure we don't have one dollar more on stipends. Now we find out they paid $86,000 in penalties on administrators. When is the BOE or Popp going to fire this women. it is time our Union steps up and gets what is ours they are just throwing money away.
http://beaconnews.suntimes.com/news/27571123-418/state-investigates-claims-against-east-aurora-alternative-school-provider.html#.U3yss_ldU1M
Read the article about the Urban League and how someone said it was the last Superintendent and board president but all of the board voted on it they should of looked into it. This district has done many things that aren't right and it is time for the State to step in. Even the new ones just go along with things it is time for change.
Interesting...... "In a response to the state dated April 28, East Aurora agreed that the Urban League was not a state-approved special education facility, but said the decision to place students there was made by the former superintendent, former special education officials and a past school board president. “…All of these roles are now filled by other individuals who understand that this was in error and commit to ensuring that any non-public facility placement of a special education student will be determined in accordance” with required Individualized Education Plan meeting procedures and “only at State-approved non-public facilities,” the document said." The statements above can't be true. Suzanne, the current director of special ed was an assistant director last year. She had to know that this was going on. Not only that, she surely knew what was going on when she started the job, not just since March!
very interesting that the State is investigating the Quad County controversy and just heard that Lisa Madigan's office is investigating the Gas Contract scandal. What is next !!
A new Board and admin cannot possibly step into their positions and know everything about every contract, building and employee. All those in the assistant and director positions should be aware of all that has gone on over their years in position, though. These things have been scrutinized for years....many knew the truths.
Dr. Roberts has taken his gifts from the Board president and gotten out of town. We can only hope all these investigations encourage the ex-pres to finally go, also. There is no one left to throw under the bus.
The commitment to placing students at Quad County was made prior to Suzanne Bemet-Winthrow's appointment. This was an agregious error made by past administration, and current players are left to find solutions.
Sara Fisher is a friend of Kristen Strands she works for Community Christian Church. Kristen your on the board why not fix the program instead of wasting the district money in time defending useless cases.
Marty Feltes and his relationships with area contractors. Someone needs to look into all the no bid jobs.
The board is not new and have voted on many items that are questionable. I agree Johnson needs to go but all the others do as well. Lets talk about the entire boards voting record
Paid Roberts $78,000
Paid for a fancy retirement party $2,000
Paid a porn teacher $18,000
Paid and allowed a employee without a background check to work in our district.
Promoted a board member Dick Leonard's friend to a $120,000 position.
For those who work with Feltes it is a trip the man can't even send a email. If something needs to be attached his secretary has to do it. He takes off around 11 am and never shows until later in the afternoon.
More scandals will soon break
I have have dealing with Christy Tyler and.she was part of the coverup with the hundreds of thousands of dollars paid to quite the band teacher. She also refers all financial emails to a consulting group called Bloom advisors. It is clear she is unable to answer any accounting questions on her own.
Insiders at West Aurora will tell you Jim Rydland needed to promote a Board of Ed member Angie Smith for sticking by him and Tyler had so much dirt on Rydland she needed to be placed in a job. East was the only place to that would be stupid enough to hire her.
One thing for sure she is good in a coverup
Ray Hull Exposed
Ray is out making deals with his community to overpay rent at the Urban League and get his friends jobs. Ray has asked Joany to red flag a list of names. Talk is all over central office.
Watch and see.
The board is dishonest they all need to resign. But it should start with Johnson and Hull. They should be adults do what is right for the kids and be the first to go. They need to take Leonard with them
beaconnews.suntimes.com/news/27587612-418/first-east-aurora-high-grad-in-a-decade-heading-to-west-point.html
I agree about Feltes we have more Supervisors and help for him and the buildings have never been worst. The grass is uncut a, trash is not picked up and the rooms not cleaned. many of the bathrooms a have a strong ursine smell.
I have heard he is protected by the board and Popp can not touch him. Popp seems like he is ok but the board will never let him do his job.
The live webcast is not working it shows the district could care less about the families.
The graduation is not working live. Why is it that anything East does they screw it up. The Football field is a mess. the bleachers have not been maintained for years. The track is not in shape to run a race on and in fact our students have not been able to host a meet for two years.
I lay most of this at the foot of poor administration and bad board members. It is a embarrassment when visitors come to a game of a event.
What is up with the condition of Roy E Davis field. It was horrible. Rust all over the seats and garbage along the fence. The track had holes in it. It looks like we are in he ghetto.
The kids deserve better and I wish them well.
Feltes can't make money off of it so it is not his list. The building projects and no bid work center around plumbing contracts. The district since all the changes happened is not a better place. Maintenace Workers know they will soon have their jobs eliminated and private cleaning companies will be hired. Moral is so low they don't care to treat the buildings as their own .
Nestor Gracia always cleaned up the rust spots and patched the track. Under Feltes he has not touched the field. Not only do we not have home games but only one small section of the track can be used. The PE department only uses it for walking.
Another EA ok day
The comments of folks not watching at home shows the lack of respect our district has for families. My son attempted to login and was only able to get the live webcast half way through. By then nobody could hear the speeches.
The band student this year was Valedictorian and many band students wanted to hear him. He was a band mentor to many students that did not play in the band last evening. How sad our students need to hear positive role models.
The condition of the field is another story we have been told over and over that Mr Feltes is fighting all the time with the fine arts department. The word is he is protected by Leonard. Do what is right by the children I thought we had money this school district is a mess,
It takes MONEY and somebody with a brain in charge of these facilities. East Aurora has neither of these things.
The football field is the tip of the iceberg with regards to the facility issues in all of our districts buildings.
Wake up people. You get what you pay for, and since you pay practically nothing, that's what you get.
I work with Feltes and truth be told The Supervisors do all his work. Roger Carlson got taken away from the HS last year because Feltes could schedule the workers. Jesse Vargas does all his computer work because Feltes does use a computer. The architects do all specing of jobs Scott Swagert did.
He got a promotion and raise in the middle of the year. We had hoped with a new administration they would see this but with Richard Leonhard on the board that's impossible. His nickname is Marty the untouchable and he sends his days being taken out to lunch..
Before Dr Roberts left he called Scott and said he was sorry and shared he was shaken down by Richard. Ww made a good man retire 3 months before he had to. It cost him some money but he had peace of mind.
Also Marty gets his pension paid others before him never did.
Just heard another scandal is being exposed in the administration area. Someone was caught lying on their application. What if one of us teachers was caught doing that? We would be fired immediately !!! Shame Shame Shame on the district again.
http://beaconnews.suntimes.com/news/27638053-418/report-record-keeping-issues-lack-of-training-persist-in-east-aurora-business-office.html#.U4Iw-vldWMR
Where is the finance committee (ex)chair on this one? Good call Ray Hull. The past board president with the degree in finance was going to leave the school board and decided to stay because they needed her finance background to oversee things. Well she has been watching for 6 years....why hadn't she questioned these practices and her committee approved the financial statements????!!! Wassup, Annette? Did someone leave you, now, holding the bag? In all fairness, Popp is not going to point fingers or try to find fault, but rather he will take the high road and delegate thru the proper channels to have things put back on track.
The corporation I worked for, a few people over the years were fired when it was found they falsified their application and / or documents they filled out for employee records.
Hull and Peryea got in the way after Johnson discovered the new business manager was not doing his job. they encouraged him to file EEOC and paid him to discredit Johnson. Chystal Financial was hired when Johnson had to step in and fix the business office.
many wonder why Joan Glozbach has been allowed to stay. Clark never had a background check. This is the basics of what someone is hired with. Glozabach also did the referance checks on the other person in question. prior to that the other business manager lied on a application as well . The claim was that person had a CPA and did not. Again Glozabach.
it is not the boards job to check referances but it' is there job not to pay wasteful lawsuits. The board should resign. As for Johnson she should go as well for covering for Roberts . However when the chips were down she did get Chystal Financial but is was not her job to do so.
beaconnews.suntimes.com/27636650-417/east-aurora-tells-of-serious-concerns-about-alternative-education-programs.html
Severing ties with the QCUL should have happened years ago. Annette was on that band wagon and even questioned the fact Roberts was leasing property for personal use from Ms. Gillespie and it was a conflict of interest for him to negotiate with her.
There have been a number of concerns raised over the years about the quality of education and the results of the 'alternative' education to mainstream these students.
My vote is -the right decision was made, the plans for change were not well prepared, but are still do-able. For those students who have truancy or issues that are social problems better solved at home, let the parents find and pay for alternative education at a private school or Christian based school.
EA has taken on too many things that should be done at home or should be paid for by parents. In doing so, the families that abide by the rules, put their family and education as a priority, are being short changed.
Saw this on our city website:
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Aurora annually remembers and honors all the men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice in defense of our country while serving in the United States Armed Forces. Come and show your appreciation and support.
2014 Theme: "In Memory of Many... In Honor of All!"
Date & Time: May 26, 2014; 12pm to approximately 1:30pm
Route: The parade kicks-off at River St. & Benton St., goes east on Benton St., then north on Broadway St., turning west on Downer Place and ending at River Street. Best viewing is in front of the David L. Pierce Art & History Center at 20 East Downer Place.
Parking: Available at designated lots, however some may be closed due to the staging area of the parade. The Stolp Parking Deck will have limited access prior and directly after the parade.
Pre-Parade Program: Memorial Ceremony: at 11:15 a.m. in front of the David L. Pierce Art & History Center at 20 East Downer Place.
This latest scandal is yet another in a long line of complete mismanagment by the administration amd the board of ed. They are all incompetent and should be removed. Our children are the ones that loose out every time Glotsback screws up, Feltes gives away an overpriced no bid contract to his cronies, something breaks for lack of proper maintenance, we give a payoff to incompetent stadf or any of the hundreds of other financially irrepsonsible mistakes that get made every year. I challenge every tax payer and parent to start asking the hard questions of the board and not take thier endless excuses lying down. They keep getting away with this because no one really cares.
All the scandals would not have happened if the District would have had a strong, qualified, highly educated CPA for a president the past 5 years !!! OOPS, I forgot Annette Johnson was boasting that is who she is (yea right). She has the audacity to say she decided to stay on the board to watch the finances and they need her experience to correct. Need I say more
Johnson finally fixed the business office but had to fight the board to do it Also, Central office knows Glozabach screwed up the last three reference checks of business managers and has been allowed to stay. Why is the new superintendent not doing something. A new scandal will soon break and we will see his leadership or lack of.
I believe Johnson was the only board member who said no to paying Clark.
Another Glozabach mistake will be paid off Bob Green is in settlement talks and will get his wages for two years. Bob wanted to retire this year and loved children. Yes he was a displine type person but many students loved and respected him. Joan and Roberts distroyed his career with trumped up charges and the BOE was stupid enought to listen.
Teachers lets just hire Bob lawyer and sue maybe then admin will listen
Oldtimer, thanks for posting that info about the parade. I didn't see anything in the Beacon in today's or yesterday's paper, so I appreciated knowing what time and where the parade was happening.
I thought the new East High band uniforms looked very nice. To my eyes they were similar to the previous ones, with the flowing capes and stripe on the pants. It was great to see our band kids all in uniform again!
Johnson said No to Clark because SHE was the reason he was suing. To say yes would appear she was guilty of what he claimed.
The BOE can brag about all the money they have but the band room has been way to small for many years. Many times the room is over the limit for the fire inspector. God help us if anything happened. Instead of fixixing the problem they are remodeling the basement to store the uniforms. It is the most expensive closet in history at $425,000. The BOE needs to be replaced because they continue to waste money. I also have to question the Dr Popp on this one. Why not look at outside store age until a suitable arrangement can happen.
After reading the article there is no way Clark should have been paid a dime. Is he not the guy who would get a background check? Johnson these days appears to be the only responsible board member. Good for her!!!
I am sure you wanted to say not paid a dime.
Yes, I agree never these people think they can waste the taxpayers money. Yes Glozabach should be fired and what is wrong with Truza she brags about being a former VP of HR. I am sure she would have never fired someone without a background check at her bank that handled money. So why is that ok for the taxpayers.
We need a new board
Band Uniforms--
The only time(s) the band room is "crowded" would be just before exiting for a football performance or a basketball performance and that is only x amount of times per YEAR, not everyday.
The room itself is more than adequate for the number of students who are enrolled and being taught on a daily basis.
If the room is "so crowded" just before a football game performance (or whatever) perhaps they can congregate in the field house.
I believe that is what West Aurora does since their marching band doesn't fit in their band room either.
Look at all these "people" who know so much about everything.
Experts in everything, from personnel to duties of the school board to facility use and beyond.
It is so nice to have such smart, pragmatic people posting their opinions on such a useful blog.
I see a bright future with all of these ideas being brought to the forefront.
...and yours is as valuable as mine!
So glad we're in agreement about the usefulness of this blog and the bright future of our district!
:)
Latest news (not gossip) is that there are some very legitimate issues about to be brought out and will concern several administrators.
Wonder how Popp will handle them. His style is "let's go forward" and not accountable for their "Professional Screw Ups". Board of Ed, Let's see if you allow this to happen. Odds are you will !!
Last year, I asked Nestor and Marty about fixing up the stadium. Getting rid of the chipped lead-based paint, getting a usable track and widening the field. First of all, Nestor didn't even respond (shocking I know) and Marty's response was laughable. He told me that it would cost the district too much money on one tiny little section of the district. That goes to show you how clueless he is. For how much we COULD use it, we should make it top notch and something we are proud of. Instead, we are just fixing it with band-aids and hoping it lasts forever and nobody gets too hurt. Can't wait to see how much $$ that deplorable stadium will cost us in lawsuits.
Insider If that is his style these same professional screw ups will occur again.
Popp himself is already involved in a coverup now so you can except his style to be lets cover up
It looks like the board hired the wrong guy. This is very alarming.
I have worked with Popp also and that is true it is time to move on however he has weak people around him who are not advising him correctly.
Glozabach is his second in charge and goto person. She is responsible for huge mistakes and a big part of administrative failures many of the problems can be traced back to her
Reyes Childress has the Educational programs in a mess and spends her days on petty get even. Yet she is third in charge.
Feltes does not have a clue and staff has complained about him constantly. His inability to use a computer and work with the collective bargaining agreement have his department in disrepair. Leonard comes often to the service center to advocate for him.
Popp does not stand a chance.
Saw this on the district website:
http://www.d131.org/newsDetail.asp?id=2870&guid=
When I looked for more information on the Aurora East Education Foundation, I found a list of the current board members.
Two of them, Larry Malaker and Dan Barreiro, were members of the old "School Board from Hell" that rubber-stamped Serial Bully Radakovich back in the day. And former D131 spinmeister/spokesman Clayton Muhammad is also on the AEEF board.
It may be a new day in EA in some ways, but the old guard is still very much involved in our district.
Yeah. What underhanded deviants. Trying to raise money for student programs so teachers can do innovative projects in the classroom.
I trust those three (Malaker, Barreiro, and Muhammad) about as far as I could throw them.
News to hit soon about administrator who should have never been hired but got by under the radar. Could this be Glotzbach's responsibility to insure background checks were properly done. OOOps I forgot, according to Popp, we just find the problem, correct it and move forward. Criminals get a free pass according to our new superintendent.
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