Our district's band students are spending this week at Band Camp at LaSalle Manor. This is an OUTSTANDING yearly program that builds skills and teamwork in our young musicians.
Speaking of listening, I can't wait to hear (and see) them at Aurora's 4th of July parade!
Why is no one commenting on the fact that there is no union leadership and they have bent over and took it from the administration with this new evaluation system? There simply is no where to turn if you get screwed --and don't say if you're a good teacher you have no worries-- I have been considered an excellent teacher for 20 years and with my degrees and background could have taught at any school but CHOSE d131 to make a difference. I have seen other excellent teachers targeted and careers destroyed over petty reasons. Now they include some teachers in the evaluation committee to say see you teachers were a part of bringing Danielson in!
We need to build a new football field at East High. The field is in poor shape. Most high schools have gone to a field turf surface. The stands are a mess. Peeling paint and dirt everywhere. The washrooms are rusted out. When I coached football at East High from 1996-1999 I was told there was a special fund for the field.
I agree but the money was allocated for the bleachers and track this year. I was posted on the projects list.Then Feltes did not know how to manage his budget because he was bring in his friends to fix stuff not us. He was paying district workers but us stupid and then assigning the work to outside repair people without a bid many are old friends of his. Then he and Leonard who is always in the basement of EA built a $425,000 closet because it was plumbing work again going to a old pal of his. Marty is seen mornings sitting in plumbing contractors trucks drinking coffee and eating donuts now the money for the track got put in his friends pockets.
Millions should be spent but not in Feltes pocket. He was bragging he is helping his daughter buy a house. I wonder with whos money
Which Feltes daughter? They all have houses already...maybe the middle daughter who drinks every night and has been telling everyone she is leaving her husband...nice. With district money...
This year Popp is going to have all kinds of demands for the Union. The teachers are screwed because Gloztzbach is going to get her way. All of the issues she never got her way on will unfold. Joany looks at the little details and makes everyone miserable while missing the big picture.
She has been allowed to bring in consultants that are showing the Principals how to write iron clad evaluations.
This while she costs the district hundreds of thousands in lawsuits and settlements. The spineless board will never fire her.
Nobody is listening the Board does their own thing and disrespects the community.
The Ann Benevides naming is the last in a long line of blunders in the last months. The board not only disrespects the community but they have disrespected the teachers and staff as well.
While the tool is not mandated, teachers performance evaluations are law. The Performance Evaluation Reform Act, commonly known as PERA, requires districts to design and implement performance evaluation systems that assess teachers’ and principals’ professional skills, as well as incorporate measures of student growth. The law, which passed nearly unanimously in both the state House and Senate in 2009, requires that various test results be used for at least 25 percent of a teacher’s rating in the first two years, growing to 30 percent over time.
Not only is teacher evaluation mandated by the state, the Danielson method is one of the best and fairest. Don't believe me? Here are a few links about one of the WORST methods, the "Value-Added" teacher evaluation system (implemented in several states; New York, Ohio, and Texas are just a few)
Annette Johnson did fix the business office by hiring the current consultants. Maybe if Peryea and Hull would have gotten out of her it would have been fixed sooner. The responsibility of the business office and checks details was Clark's. But oh I forgot Glozabach did check any referances on him or Ellington. But oh I forgot Peryea and Hull promised Clark a big check if he did nothing.
I am supporter of Annette's and feel she has always done the right thing by the district. The Insurance was addressed and cleaned up by her. Why not anyone else for years, oh because their friends got a free ride.
Danielson is great if you have a Curriculum that does not change like musical chairs and fair evaluators. Administrators have become so obsessed with saving themselves they will throw anyone under the bus. The new superintendent is so afraid of making himself look good he is flexing his muscles and listening to Glozbach.
The new board is no better they are worst. They are pro administration and anti worker. The maintenance workers are being bullied and teachers can see that. They feel Roberts administration made changes with administration but never got down to staff. He let the building handle it. Today the buildings are being told evaluate out teachers, secretaries and janitors. Popp is very pro administration and can see no wrong. He only gets his information from Feltes, Glotzbach, and Childress. We are being scapegoated.
No one board member can hire anyone the whole board had to approve it. There was talk for awhile about how things where going in the financial office but Johnson waited until she wanted to fix it. How many mistakes have come out since she took over Roberts job so no she did not do a good job. I believe most of the board has heard of misuse of money and they didn't care they had their own agendas to take care of. Maybe with this the State will finally realize how they board and administration doesn't follow the law.
The issue is not Danielson or any other evaluation model. The issue is the lack of trust the teachers, staff and community have in the district's board and administration.
As long as the administrators continue vindictive vedetta's against any employee who doesn't kiss their A$$ and as long as underlings are thrown under the bus to protect those in power and as long as the board allows this continue, there will be no faith in Danielson or any other evaluation system.
At least Annette Johnson did something last year we did not get a insurance increase that was unheard of. He r fault was turning it over to incompetent administrators who had there own interest at heart. If you think about why would Augustine and Roberts want to change the health insurance when they both had plans to retire. Meanwhile the majority teachers paid for it. I know administrators hated her and turned when they got forced to pay for insurance just like us.
The others on the board had no business paying Clark or the porn guy. They are also looking the other way for all of Gloztbachs mistakes while she continues to discriminate and abuse staff. The board is so spineless it will show we are screwed.
I also thank her for being the only one with reason in voting against Benevides.
I had a experience that I can not share in detail with working with Dr. Popp he would know its me It was regarding the future of a child. With the new evaluation model I can not risk my job. He is so rigid along with Glozbach that the compassion we share as educators is missing.
He puts on a good face in public but he is petty, and small minded. What a poor choice for the children of Aurora. He is more concerned about his resume not children.
Shopping at Menards today I ran into three d131 employees walking around aimlessly. Maybe his buddy Leonard should get Feltes fired like he did to everyone else. Oh I forgot he is to busy cashing in.
My daughter attends the Magnet school and Will be attending East next year. I went to the HS over two weeks ago trying to get her into a educational program. They said they would get back to me. Today I went again. Only the secretaries are available. No teachers or administrators. They told sorry she does not qualify she meets and exceeds.
The other major issue was all year long kids were forced to share computers because the school has no books. Computers got broken but there was no one to fix them. No replacement available, no books. my daughter had a horrible experience there. the administration could care less. I have my house up for sale a hopefully by fall it will sell. I could give you a list a mile long of people I complained to.
Don't suggest I go to the board, I have Ms Strand knows very well of the problems but seems more interested in making excuses. She told us of a leadership vacuum. She is no better!
There is more interest in kids who have broken the law. Thats all we read about is Alternative School. Than kids who need a good education.
Strand is a rubber stamp of administration. If they allow her to promote her non profit and recruit families and teachers for for Community Christain she will say yes to anything. She got what she wanted a free hand to move her cause along that she gets paid for. How else can she attend so many functions during the day unless her non for profit is not making money off the backs of the students and teachers.
Nobody on the board is holding anyone accountable. The computers not working have been going on all year long.
Central office news is the district is covering up another check scandal. Recently the Beacon reported over $202,000 in un cashed checks and that's the ones they told the Beacon about. It is more like $500,000. This was pointed out to Roberts and now Popp yet the board asks no questions. Does anyone believe that many companies would not cash checks.
Strand is a liar she promised Nicole Gonzalez that she was supporting her in the naming of the building. at hen she turned on her a voted for Benevides. Benevides only had petitions from the Latin American club. A bar when J ay bird had over 1200 names on written petitions and Facebook. We were told by Strand she would talk to the other Board members. She could not even call and tell us.
Popp is a return to the serial bully days. He has stated to cabinet what is discussed in cabinet stays in cabinet. He constantly reminds us not to talk to board members or the press, he is perinoid. Teachers wanted to speak for Jaybird and Hanley was told to contact them and tell them not to speak. His confidant is Gloztbach and she adds to his perinoid behavior. He was not ready for the chair.
Why not print Strand is a liar she promised the mother the building would be named after Jaybird and she promised she would talk to other board members. the petitions for Benevides did come from a Bar that's what the Latin American club is. Jaybird had 1200 names that's a fact FOIA the district. Again the board did not listen to the public. they think they own 131 not the taxpayers
The board is no better than Glotzbach they never did site visits or observed Popp touring our schools. They were in a big hurry to hire him because the other guy could not pass a test. Now we are stuck with someone who does not understand the community or the challenges our teachers face.
I remember when Strand and Peryea said it was their most important responsibility. If you look back the board picked are new Sup in three evening and charged the taxpayer for several big meals.
Strand, Hull and Montroy talked with several us during election about how the district would be a kinder and more happier place to work. hull then was quoted in the newspaper about this topic. Now they got what they wanted and Feltes told us several times we would be replaced by a maintenance service just like Indian Prairie. when Glozabach was comforted she stated that what the board wanted and Dr Popp comes from a district that had a successful program. Feltes tells us the board is supports this.
In the last two weeks several workers who are loved at their building have been written up. some with only a year to go to retirement.
The teacher better take warning the same thing will now happen to you.
We all know Dr Roberts was stopping this and he must of had enough control over the board to not allow this. What a bunch of liars The same thing is going on in With the Tech Department.
Yeah, it is sure a happier place to work. Dr Popp oly cares about his job.
The teachers are screwed with the new evaluation model. they will be scapegoated as more of our schools go the Oak Park way. Oak Park after years of neglect most caused by Benevides is now under State over site.
To the Magnet parent the computers are broke because Ali does not have a clue. He plays musical chairs every year with his staff. Ralph should look at his application he was fired also from his last District.
B&G has never been worst, no bid contracts and employee intimidation are a every day happening.
The business office still does not know what they have in the bank and the last article proves they don't have a clue. BTW many don't know but Tyler has been in our district since February.
THe HR department is totally out of control. Glotzbach was allowed to stay and is now second in command after costing the district hundreds of thousand in lawsuits. Just wait until Bob Green is settled. That on top of no background checks.
The Curriculum department does not know how is on first. The common core units change like the wind and nobody knows who is in charge. Reyes Childress is just hanging on.
The board could have not picked a worst President. Hull does not think white teachers are capable of teaching. They rushed a poor choice for Superintendent, paid out money in lawsuits that nobody can believe, gave Roberts a$78,000 going away present and party with taxpayer dollars, gave jobs to freinds, and named a building against the publics wishes. Now we find out Benevides petitions came from a bar.
Today I spoke with State Rep Linda Chapa LaVia whom is very aware of the situations at EA. She suggested that a Citizen's Advisory Board be established to help out in resolving multiple issues. Linda has volunteered to be on that Board to help find solutions to the countless problems. Linda also requested that she and State Senator Linda Holmes be copied on all correspondence I have with EA 131.
I have made her aware of many an issue and today I briefed her on the Human Resources background check of Melody Ellington.
State Representative Chapa LaVia is truly concerned and wants to be a part of the solution to the problems at 131.
You can bet I will continue to address many an issue (B & G) that needs to be investigated.
You go Ralph. The community, and teachers have had it with Joan and Popp. The community needs to take back the board from hell. They lied and never listen to the community. The petitions were reviewed and it turns out the board over looked Jaybird and Anna Sanford for petitions from a bar. We can not believe it if was not so sad. From a bar. Popp and the morons better known as our board paid off Stella Gonzalez.
The bathrooms at Johnson school stink of urine there is garbage laying around and the grass gets cut only half at time then they leave. it took at week for someone to have graffiti removed from the playground. the building have never been so filthy. I know moral is low and everyone hates working him. The teachers also know he makes $132,000 per year and can't spell his name or use a computer. That is right you go Ralph maybe the State will take over 131.
You should look into the background check on Feltes. there was none done. Feltes handles millions in Purchase orders and the plumbing industry knew he was filing for bankruptcy and was behind on union dues. Now he is rolling in money.. Last year another supervisor tried to expose his no bid work and called Youngrens for documentation on work preformed at Eat High. . Hull was also involved and copied in on what was going on. He was suppose to bring it forward and did not. Roberts made a visit to the Hill first time ever chewed out the supervisor for checking on no bid work and the following week told him his contract was not being renewed. The guy was a certified architect. Feltes then got a promotion in the middle of the year. Something that was not done before.
Now no bid jobs fly out the door all of us afraid to say anything.
When Feltes was hired Leonard , Glozabach and Roberts served on the committee. We in B&G knew the take was in. Roberts never interviewed anyone. Leonard is his best friend. When they advertised for a Director they only posted internally. Director jobs never happen in the middle of the year. We did get the Beacon to do a story. The qualifications got changed to make the job fit for him. He also started at the highest salary possible. Other hires never got that treatment.
The person referances in the other post was Dave Finley and he ran department with few problems. his salary was lower than Feltes. He was a Certified Architect. He was told by Hull to get the no bid information. It is true, Feltes found out from Youngrens who gets all kinds of no bid work now and Roberts quickly terminated him. Hull never said a word in public like he promised. Hull also promised he would help us now we are getting told we will all lose our jobs to a maintenance service when are contract is up. Feltes says we will get notice no chance to negotiate.
Daily employees are harassed many who have their lives in 131. Jan Cinto is in tears almost daily. We can not say anything many of us say two years of work is better than none. Feltes also got the foreman fired at our Architect firm because he disagreed. Hull knows this also but sold us out.
To Ralph- Linda Chapa La Via is not behind the teachers she voted to take our pensions- why don't you investigate why our union allowed in this evaluation system that will not allow you to grieve if you get an unfair evaluation? We were told at a meeting it doesn't matter if you have 20 years of excellent evaluations under Danielson no one is excellent. I'm sorry, if I work at my craft for 20 years and work my butt off taking courses to try to keep improving, then yes , I am excellent! What utter and complete crap all of this is-- but no one will stand up all the admins are licking their chops and sharpening their knives. Linda Holmes, however, does vote with teachers, so go that route.
The maintenance union and teachers union need to come together our rights are being violated. If you speak up you will get fired or if your not well liked. Much worst is all the maintenance workers will go to making minium wage. The board has given administration all the power and they are going crazy with it.
State Representative Chapa LaVia has been aware of what has been going on in this district for a long time and is she is so concerned why did she endorse Johnson to run for the board again and I believe she wrote a letter to the editor during the election of the board last time and Johnson put that letter in material she sent out for re election.
If the board doesn't acknowledge in put for the Superintendent or for the naming of a School what makes you think a Citizen's Advisory Board is going to do?
What are they going to do with the board from Hell. Over 1200 people sign a petition and the board ignores them for a few drunks from the Latin American Club.
Chapa endorsed Johnson because Annette was not afraid to change the district and fire many many bad administrators. At least she voted with the community.. Lately, she is the only voice of reason.
It was State Rep Linda Chapa LaVia who forwarded my complaint to Lisa Madigan's office. I have spoken with her in great length about 131 and am convinced she wants to help. If you think otherwise, post your name on here like I do and lets discuss. NOT GOING TO HAPPEN IS IT
Again the problem is one board member doesn't not make the decisions and Johnson crossed the ling by bypassing Roberts it's against The Illinois School code. So a few bad administrators got let go but most on this blog had something against them and others thought they where good.
Ralph you have a anger issue and we will see where this goes and how long it will take.
It is against Illinois School Code to have paid taxpayer dollars for Clark. He did not have a background check and yet the board continues to keep Gloztbach.
Getting rid of bad administrators is the Boards job hiring their friends is not. Feltes is the next one that needs to go but will not because is best freinds with Leonard. the board still runs the district different players no results. The current board is viewed in the community as corupt.
If your comments are valid, why aren't you doing anything about it. Lots of analysis from the sidelines but no action to hold those who have violated laws/policies accountable.
And I would more than be happy to discuss this with you personally. Or do you want to hide behind this blog? Won't hold my breath.
The photo on this post says it all! D131 does NOT listen. They hear enough to make excuses.
I had always supported Chapa-LaVia, until she supported Annette on the sly. Her and her husband spoke in small groups against AJ, then she sends out letters supporting her. AJ has bragged that Linda owes her because she has supported Linda's campaigns ($$). No amount of money would have bought my support for AJ to continue on our school board. All the claims of her accomplishments are just like Roberts.....other peoples accomplishments and work which they have taken credit.
Ralph we know you attempted to shake down the district because your wife was getting free insurance. You have already cost us hundreds of thousands of dollars in legal expenses and lost wages while employees are preparing answers to your endless FOIA requests. Ralph was also paid $7,500 for a consulting job he did not do. Ralph lives in Naperville and the district should file a complaint to Lisa Madigan against you, Ralph.
Your latest attempt to defame five employees is sick. Ms Ellington may have made some mistakes but you have no right stalking her. Get a life ln Naperville.
I do not know Ralph personally, but I do know he was hired by 131 in hopes that he would shut up and go away. Instead he found 10's of 1000's of $$ being wasted and overpaid and no one doing anything about it. Including Board president and accountant Ms. Johnson.
Those who do not like what he is doing are likely the ones dealing with the FOIA's and coincidently are a big part of the problem -HR.
Annette Johnson was not afraid to make the changes EA needed. If everyone had the accomplishments you claim they did then why did they allow the district to crumble.
Linda Chapa is a do noting who speaks out of both sides of her mouth. She attend s Strands church and plays both ends against the middle. He husband has been given over a million dollars to develop building in Aurora that has yet to open for 5 years.
Everyone should have Annette's ethics she took a lot heat for no pay.
The district 131 team with the help of Johnson identified major areas of concern, insurance was one of them. Some of Retirees got free insurance including Ralph and his wife. Glozabach was responsible for giving the bad news. Since then Ralph stalked Johnson and Glozabach. Their big mistake was paying him. The utilities he brags of were discovered by Progressive Energy. He currently has eighteen open FOIA requests in some of which he has not paid for because he demanded 50 or more pages. People like Linda should not give him the time of day.
Johnson went along with tricky Dick Leonard on hiring Feltes and bending the rules. She forced Roberts to give him a promotion. hull promised he would expose them in public but voted right along. Strand and Peryea received financial support from maintenance employees and also went along when asked to speak out in public.
They are all no good and need to go but Leonard is the worst we ruined the manes of many good people.
I am a retiree who knows Ralph and his wife personally. We asked him to update us on what he is doing at EA and it is mind-boggling what he has uncovered in many an area.
The documents he shared with us will make any current and former employee at EA shutter with disbelief. Unbelievable waste of money and the violations are endless.
We have now offered to help him continue his audit of the Building and Grounds fiasco that is ongoing. Wouldn't help if we weren't convinced he couldn't produce the documents. WOW this is huge and disgusting what was and still is happening there.
Reference "Free Insurance to retiree's" Whomever is making those comments has just made us very upset therefore that is one of the big reasons we are offering our services to Ralph's team.
Johnson knew about the insurance because someone told her and she took awhile to do anything. Again a school district by law is not ran by a board president they have no power to do anything on their own this is an example of how dysfunctional this district is. The misuse of money has been going on for a long time and that is why things don't get taken care of.
I do agree if these retirees knew that the money for the health care wasn't being taken out they are also at fault but it looks like this has been going on for a long time. Johnson only fought her own battles that she wanted taken care of.
The insurance problems were brought up to Roberts and the Board 2 years before Johnson was even on the Board. They 'claimed' to have fixed them. Most people did not even realize they were getting "free" insurance until their new insurance or medicare refused to pay due to them having "other coverage." Thats when people started and continued to find their district paid insurance had NOT been cancelled. They didn't use it, cuz they didn't know they had it until it caused major problems with their healthcare claims.
So what are you going to do with this evidence go to the board with it and think they will fix it they haven't done anything with the information that has been brought out so far. If you are doing all this you need to find out where to go with it outside the board. For misused money or even contract misuse that is criminal and you need to go to the Police and show them if you want it stopped.
What ever happened to the other group that was going to look into it from D100 I believe. They have been successful it getting things straight in there district.
Tomcat 8 is correct what are you going to do? I have reported d131 to the ROE on misuse of money after trying to call the State and nothing happened. the Beacon has been reporting on it and nothing happened. Look at the last few months they are thumbing their noses at us with votes of 6 to 1. I have read the board minutes and they vote 6 to 1 with no discussion. Sometimes Johnson will say why she is voting No but the rest don't say a thing. Some other things just show poor judgement.
Look at the record
State investigation on Special E d.
Voted to pay Roberts $78,000
Paid Clark $120,000
No background checks and Glozbach still works their.
Paid the pen guy $18,000
Promoted Feltes in the middle of the year
Gave Roberts a $2,000 party
Voted not to invest the districts money.
Voted to name the center after Benevides.
Voted to hire Popp with Jo community involvement.
The latest what is up with the $202,000 in lost checks nobody asking?
Don't know hoe much money is in the business office.
I am sure there is more but these recent stories in the Beacon. Padron will get fed up and stop fighting it just like the rest of us been there done that.
The best thing is to make sure at the next election Hull Peryea, Truza and Gonzalez are not elected.
In have seen what is going on with the $425,000 closet what a waste of money. I believe everything I am reading about Feltes. I have also been out on the track what a embarrassment. The bleachers are full of peeling paint and rust. The color red is sun faded. The Track has ruts and the kids can only walk on it. While I like the new uniforms something else could have been done. What's up with the garbage laying all over the place. I was told Feltes was a additional supervisor.
My friend who knows him also says he calls the students wetbacks.
If you goggle Districts that have been taken over by the State you will find most have been from someone going down and filing a complaint against the district for misuse of money mainly credit cards. Using district credit cards for personal use is fraud and can be punished by law. There has been proof there was misuse of credit cards.
St. Saint Louis was taken over because of the above things and their local news station helped with it. Go out and goggle it maybe you can get some pointers of where to go with all your information.
All of Feltes supervisors do his job and are more qualified. The man is illiterate. Feltes can't even log into the district system . He spends his day making deals with contractors having coffee and lunch while everyone does his job. You can give him ten supervisors and he will create chaos were ever he goes. You should hear what his supervisors say about him. Yes, it's true he targets the Mexican American employees. The union is on to that but Popp and the board want to hire a cleaning service with the next contract. They can do that. Hull, Strand and Peteay sold us out. We are screwed unless other step up and get them out.
So the latest in Central Office is that Benevides is insisting that the school be called and referred to as THe Anne Garcia Benevides Kindergarden Center. Not just for example Cowherd. We are not forced to call it Henry Cowherd School.
This shows the womens attitude and the staff is just shaking their heads. Way to go board you created a monster.
Everyone was interested in why Tom Flanigan, left his $134,548. In Hoffman Estates as a Principal to become Director at $120,000. Like are new Director of Secondary both are former band teaches with no degree in core subject matters. It turns out both had not been having contracts renewed because their schools showed no growth. EA also ends up with everyone's scraps.
We (the public) are not "forced" to call it anything. The new library is officially "The Richard and Gina Santori Library", but most people I know will continue to call it "Aurora Public Library" or just "The Library".
As far as I'm concerned, my grandson will be attending the District 131 Kindergarten Center. If we ever build another kindergarten building I'll call it the Benavides Kindergarten Center.
Call the building whatever you want. Like Shakespeare said, "what's in a name?"
From the Facebook site supporting Aries "JayBird" Gonzalez:
"After a examination of petitions it was learned that the Benevides family obtained signatures at a bar named the Latin American Club. The community petitions wanted Anna Sanford and Jaybird. I hope everyone remembers. Shame on the school board."
The Aurora 4th of July parade starts at 10:00. Come see & hear our district's band students...they spent last week at the annual Band Camp and will march in today's parade.
Band Camp is a wonderful program that was started back when G. Edward Nelson directed the EAHS band, and continues today some 30+ years later. Ms. Amy Huggins has directed Band Camp the past several years and does an outstanding job.
I agree with Grandma. I still call the building in Chicago the Sears tower, though its name has been changed. I would have preferred the 131 bldg named after either of the other 2 people. Maybe those of us with other preference can just refer to it as the Anna Sanford Kindergarten. Let's see what the future brings. If it doesn't work out as planned. We can be sure to call it the failed Anne Garcia Benavidez kindergarten.
I can not believe she wants the Center to go by that long name, buts it's true. the district is doing that. That is Anne she always thought she was better than anyone else. That is why she had few supporters. I suppose that is why they had to goto the Latin American Club for signatures. What did they know about her accomplishments?
The board is the joke of the community. To think we believed you Ms Strand and Peryea that you would listen. Are you deaf, blind and stupid.
Outnumbered really what rock have you been under. Strand promised Nicole. Gonzalez mother of Jaybird I will get the support. Currently Strand is Vice President of the board, she believed her. We stopped campaigning on her word and did not follow the advice of Clayton Muhammed. He told us to write every board member. We went to the meeting and Hull and Gonzalez said they are friends of hers. Strand and Peryea voted with the group it was 6 to 1. the only board member who voted her choice was.
Strand, Hull and P eyrea have a history of promising anything just to get what they want. They through us under the bus with Feltes and now they are throwing the teachers under the bus. Just wait. If you take something away from a child like Jaybird what does that say about you.
What has been done to a child Jaybird should not be tolerated. Now we learn the Board is allowing it to be.named the Ann Garcia Benevides Center. That is not what they voted on. They are ridilous. To the person who said Peryea and Strand are outvoted who are the kidding.? They are in the majority.. They got what they wanted and now they are lining their pockets.
Reading over the comment From the Magnet program shows the worthless administrators we have. The Curiculum is weaker than the other middle school programs. They have, no sports program and the electives are weak. Now we learn about the the computers. Rowley was a pet of Roberts and got the job since she has had one problem after another now the board gave her a AP to do her job. All the other buildings need 500 students. Several students dropped out last year, they have no Sped, and class size is limited. So why the problem.. It's another EA ok program.
a something needs to be done with Feltes he spent over $100,000 in one month in repairs with Youngrens all no bid. Youngrens is the company that got David. Finley fired when he questioned Feltes and is no bid work now nobody is watching and we are up to $100,000 in one month. the work was done at a variety of buildings .
Feltes is bid altering. He gives out work in small parcels to not go over the $25,000 limit. Some honest school districts use $10,000 for out to bid. Not ours we pay this bumbling idiot $120,000 plus benefits and then he runs a scam to the side. His former partner has had to put on three labors because Youngrens is sending him so much work. Youngrens works at the schools and he gets all their piping work.
Now their is nobody watching the store . Popps hands are tied because of Leonard . There is no solution to EA the good get fired and the corrupt stay.
I have read Ralph Padrons attempt to investigate the district. My response is good luck coruption runs so deep one can not begin to know how to start. I heard one year after all country club retreats were stopped the district started up again at Arrowwood. Also, meals and entertainment are running again. In the past you could look at credit cards now they are paying cash and getting reimbursed, using Sodexo, and spending out of building cash. To date there is no over site. The board is allowing the same old sh**.
Central Office news is that Ray Hull needed to save face in the Afro American Community today and the District will be picking up the entire mortgage for Quad Country as well as any expenses associated with the Building. Quad will still be allowed to use office space free of charge.
We talked with the new Director of Elementary Ed today and can not believe he has hired. Flanigans has never worked with a Bilingual program. What are they thinking!
Negron was a intelligent forward thinking individual who lead the PLC work in our district. What a loss. Thbaks to our school board. We just took a big step backwards.
The new Sup is allowing East High to pay for staff parties and it has become a slush fund of $250,000 in fun money. the BOE does not approve these expenses. There have been tickets to baseball games, restaurants, food, and golf outings. Someone needs to look into it.
the BOE is aware of it and so is Popp nothing is being done.
Central Office news is a big temporary move is taking place. It is temporary because the district is out shopping for a new administrative center. Millions will be spent while the schools will overcrowded to 30 plus per classroom.
Have you seen the admin center? Some staff are working in a trailer! They deserve a better quality working conditions with good air quality and appropriate ventilation. B
Have you seen where our children spend their day? They also deserve working spaces that are not overcrowded and have good air quality and proper ventilation. They also deserve computers that don’t still have floppy drives and a real curriculum. The ceilings shouldn’t be leaking on their heads every time it rains and they shouldn’t be breathing the mold all that leaking produces. They shouldn’t be eating lunch at 9:45 in the morning or 1:30 in the afternoon. They deserve athletic facilities that allow them to compete and are safe. The HS track is falling apart and the stands are covered in lead based paint. Waldo doesn’t have a full field and can’t host any outside sports. Cowherd’s field is a bowl that becomes a swamp every time it rains hard. The Magnet has nothing. Simmons is the only school with nice fields but they are owned by the Fox valley Park District. District 131 provides nothing. Our children deserve much better that our current board and administration have provided.
Neighboring districts spend relatively the same amount of money per student that District 131 does but somehow, they are able to provide so much more for their students. They have much newer, much more modern and safer buildings and equipment that are on spaces that children can grow. They have the books they need, the curriculum they need, quality food, smaller class sizes. They transport their students to and from school and pay their teachers a much more competitive salary.
When you see what neighboring districts provide their students with the same money per pupil that District 131 does, it really makes the community wonder where the District 131 tax dollars are really going. Take a trip to Indian Prairie or Oswego schools and you will see the incredible difference. According to the Illinois report card for the 2011-2012 the district received almost $162 Million Dollars. Does anybody believe we are really spending $162 Million on the children??? As Jerry Maguire, years ago stated “Show Me the Money”. Somebody with better accounting skills than I have needs to find out where all this money is being spent because it is not on the buildings or for the children.
Two Directors with music degrees have been hired recently. I have nothing against the fine arts but really? They could hire someone with expertise to lead our teachers that at the very least hold a degree in a core subject matter. Secondary Ed and Elementary Ed need major improvement and this is the best we can get?
I also reviewed their endorsements and also noticed they did not hold a anything but their 75. Teachers are bring required to update reading endorsements and hold ELS certificates per Glotzbach but we do not hold the same standard for our administrators.
They have no experience in Bilingual . Dr Popp new hires have been horrible. What is the school board thinking. They have stated they will not question him. Maybe they need to start.
The person who is Beyond belief has nailed the facts about our district. They have cried poor for years while receiving more free money (ie grants, etc) than any district around us. "our children are non English speakers, our children are low income" That doesn't mean they deserve any less of an education than the communities around EA. I would love to see the accounting pages that show all the grants and gifts from local stores, clubs and organizations D131 has received on top of the money it receives for the students mentioned above. I believe it was Marin who played the card for extra $$ to educate our non-English speaking students. I suspect those accounting numbers included many with Spanish surnames that didn't even speak Spanish. She was given $$ to hire people who were doing a disservice to our ELL students, while her and friends took trips to Spain to find teachers. We had EA grads trying to get in the door as teachers or students from nearby colleges with the same certification the teachers from Spain had. Our local teachers would not have gotten home sick and returned to Spain. In addition they would have spoken the language as they do in countries these students were raised. Just another point to add to the ones Beyond Belief has made. No one seems to truly be working towards making a difference for the education of our students. The teachers try and find many road blocks. Parents complain and their children move on 2-3 grades and get no answers. These are NOT new problems, but old ones that have snow balled. I believe we need outside intervention and we need it 5 years ago.
After checking with friends in U46, Tom was told he had one more year to improve. A messy out of court settlement involving a EEOC complaint and falling test scores would have sent him back to the classroom. He has 31 years in the TRS system and his pension would have taken a financial hit. If I can find this info out why not Joan!
We have already had to send him to training and he will be missing valuable time to get Principal eval training something every administrator should have. He should have never been hired without. He also has had no background in PLC training or Bilingual. It makes you wonder why he was hired. Gossip is he is a friend of Popp. He was scored the lowest in the interview process.
Last year was filled with hope this year everyone feels hopeless. Someone on the board other than Johnson needs to ask questions. We thought you cared Kristen please step up.
Congrads to Jalitza Martinez and David Rojas two of EA finest for their appointments at West Aurora. They have a who understands cultural diversity.
Unlike Mike Popp who looks at only a white world. Strand and Hull are responsible liars that what we think of you. You claim to want diversity but when it comes to backing it you do nothing.
Congrads to Jalitza Martinez and David Rojas two of EA finest for their appointments at West Aurora. They have a Superintendent who understands cultural diversity.
Unlike Mike Popp who looks at only a white world. Strand and Hull are responsible liars that what we think of you. You claim to want diversity but when it comes to backing it you do nothing.
Both Thuckenbrod and Flanigan got hired with elevated salaries. They started with salaries over $130,000 when everyone else was started in the same job at $120,000.
Teachers, secretaries and support staff demand your cut everyone else is getting theirs.
Speaking of Throwback Thursday, the district golf outing is today.
What does that have to do with Throwback Thursday? 4 of the 8 AEEF board members were involved in the corrupt Radakovich administration:
Daniel Barreiro Clayton Muhammed Lisa Morales Larry Malaker
And Mr. Malaker, the current chairman of the AEEF board, was president of the "School Board From Hell" that disregarded hundreds of students, parents, and community members back in 2005.
Mr. Muhammed said "For us, the whole issue is over"...
Well I wouldn't be surprised if "Serial Bully" Radakovich, "Peyton Place" Postlewaite, John Struck, Jay Augustine, and others from that era show up today to reminisce about the good ol' days when they ignored us and said "screw you" to the community.
After all, they all gathered for the Serial Bully's third wedding last fall.
D131 has returned to the days of old. Feltes is in bed with Cordigan and Clark. I am sure they will all be attending together.
As a FYI to Ralph FOIA all of Cordigans bills. They are now charging for day to day projects that in the past got handled by Scott Swiegert or Dave Finley. Cordigan was only suppose to handle large construction projects. This too had been shared with Popp and Hull.
Scott and Finley both got targeted by Leonard and were fired. Now nobody watches out for the district. Leonard and Feltes are lining their pockets.
Speaking of the out of date, dangerous and horrendous East High Track….go out there on a Tuesday evening. Tom Boatright is using the track to train track athletes. None of these students go to East High AND Mr. Boatright pays $0.00 to do this all summer. And guess who approved this…none other than Nestor Garcia. The same person who hasn't allowed our high school track team to host a meet in the past 6 years because he doesn't want to approve a new track or stadium. And every time we host events, you see little kids crawling on chipping, lead based paint in the bleachers. Yet he can have the B&G people over to refinish his basement when he was in charge of B&G. Pathetic!!
I was going to speak at the July 7th Board meeting and requested additional 3 minutes from Ray Hull. He would not allow me that courtesy so I am now on Plan B. The Ellington/Human Resources Scandal was the topic. I guess transparency has been redefined.
Ralph, too bad you're not a golfer...you could be talking to Ray Hull right now at Phillips Park.
I have Facebook friends in common with John Struck, and one of them said Ray and John both planned to be at the golf event. I am a golfer (not a very good one, just for fun), but took a pass today because of not wanting to deal with seeing certain people from our district's unfortunate past.
The valedictorian of EAHS Class of 2014 is in need of financial assistance to help him attend the University of Illinois this fall. Read his story here, and make a donation if you are able:
Hull is a good old boy and the district returned to those days. He stuck it to every maintenance guy who trusted him. So much for transparency!
The track had money approved $500,000 this year but Feltes a told it from the students so his plumbing pals could work on the $500,000 closet. Feltes calls the students wetbacks he thinks we don't hear.
I heard Mike Popp cancelled the student board member scholarship and the foundation would not pick it up . Why are they having a golf outing they keep the money and do nothing for the students.
Teachers beware Popp has told members of cabinet he intends to cap teachers wages. He is mirroring a program in 204. Mr Popp we are not 204. If you cap then you should cap the number of students. We will not except this we will go on strike
Why is Joan Glotzbach not held accountable for all the mishaps which have wasted valuable manhours and taxpayer money all these years?
Can someone give me some good reasons why she is immune from disciplinary action for all this time.
I have been checking with the surrounding districts getting their input on several issues. The Ellington Clark Cover Up has many wondering why she gets away with those costly mistakes.
Padron has no indentions of speaking at the Board meeting. He played the minutes game before with his wife, why not now. Thanks to your group which includes Hull, Peryea and Strand no questions are being asked.
You continue to file FOIA requests and cost the taxpayers thousands of dollars in wasted money while employees pull information. To what point?
Some of us know your real plan just leave us alone.
I am a retired teacher and have been in contact with Ralph and his wife for several years.
The difference between Ralph and his critics is that he can prove everything he brings out. His critics fabricate shreds of truth in an attempt to have him "back off"
I can honestly say He is committed to reveal the corruption at 131. His support group is growing as his investigation expands more and more.
Padron has every right to FIOA anything he wants to. If this district was more open he wouldn't have too. Some districts after someone FIOA things that have a place where they post those results and what they where submitted for. I believe he also gave his results to the BOE and they didn't nothing about his findings. As for the free insurance I believe the district made them pay the money back.
You should look at some of the other districts where parents care about their children's education they FIOA a lot of things.
I wonder why the keep Glozabach also with as many mistakes she makes and he taking her husband on trips with her. Not doing background checks on any employee of the district is against the IL School Code and that goes for finger printing. Popp is off to a bad start by not getting rid of her.
I have been around 131 for a long time. Working in Central Office I can tell the District is back to the days of Michael Radocvich. The School Boards hand off approach is why the District had many problems with Radocvich. Staff moral is at a all time low, and he has hired two friends that do not have clue in working with a diverse culture. He also is bring in consultants that again do not have a clue. The evaluation models they are attempting to install may work in 204 but not here.
If you look at the IL School Code you will see that it isn't the boards responsibility to run the district. The most important thing about their job is to hire a good Superintendent to run the district and to follow policy they put in place and to follow the IL School Code.
The problem with this board is they don't get educated in the code and believe they don't have to follow it. They do go to that conference every year in Nov. but it isn't to learn who who to be a good board member it is to get free food and other free stuff. Has the two new members gone to any training it doesn't look like it with the way they are doing things.
Superintendents and Administrators have to go to training to be these things and have to learn the School Code and laws. It seems the ones we do have the certificates but choose not to follow the law since they have gotten away with mismanagement.
To protect Hulls reputation in the Afro American Community he cooked up a deal. The District will now pay their mortgage and all expenses for five years. In five years we will pay more than the building is worth. Urban League will also get to keep much needed office space rent free. This while our administration will be given a small closet and copy room on the second floor. The social workers don't even have space to work with high needs kids. The district is so corrupt the State needs to take over but they will not.
Heres another waste of taxpayer money. Central office is in chaos because Popp wants all administrators in one building. No problem with that except that he wants them all at the Service Center. Once everyone is moved around which costs hugh amounts of money for unscheduled work for maintenance and technology not to mention the cost of wages paid to office personnel for not being able to perform their job responsibilities during the move this is all going to be repeated again in 6 or 8 months when all personnel will be moved into a "new" building. If Popp truely cared about this district he would have left the status quo alone and made one move at one cost to the district. But Popp wants what he wants when he wants it and screw everyone and everything at the district. His lapdogs Reyes-Childress and Glotzbach do his bidding and make sure that they get exactly what they want right off the top. There is a lot of talk on this blog about the Serial Bully regime. Let me clue you in its going to be far worse than anything Radakovich ever thought of!!
It is the responsibility of the board to spend wisely and yes hire a good Superintendent. They did not do that. Over 30 got moved it has created confusion and it was not needed while we prepare for the new school year. It is true he is looking at buildings and rumor is it off the tollway somewhere with a big price tag. If he cared he would understand our kids are in overcrowded poorly maintained buildings. He would never put himself first. the board could have stopped him. It really speaks to his character.
New hires Out of the 10 administrators he hired not one has a Bilingual background. His two friends got hired in $10,000 more than the districts starting salaries. the Urban League is a fiasco. The teachers have not been hired and we are paying all of the expenses. he has and is in the process of giving consulting contracts to retired friends. Yes it is far worst than the serial bully years.
Jerome Roberts is sourly missed I you can believe that.
The Golf outing was the old cronies responsible for stealing the district blind and now we have Mike. He started by demanding a bathroom remodel on a Sunday before he became Sup. Guess he could not have a bathroom that Roberts had. HMMMM! His hires are the white boys club, we thought Raymond Hull said teachers who are white can't teach. Then does that not hold true for administrators. Amazing not one of the 10 are Bilingual. Amazing how the Sup in 129 recognizes diversity. We lost two great future role models this week in Martinez and Rojas. At least The serial bully waited a year to steal us blind but Mike Popp knows he can.
How dare you tell the whistleblowers in the Central office to find another job-- so the graft and corruption can continue unchecked? So teachers can be evaluated out for no good reason? I notice lately no letters from teachers are being published-- we are not important-- only the main conduits to our precious students.
In just the past couple of days, $400 has been donated for this deserving young man. Whatever money is donated will be sent directly to the university (in this case, University of Illinois) to be applied to Angel's college expenses.
Many people complain and gripe on this blog...now here's an opportunity to do something POSITIVE.
A building off the tollway? In the same neighborhood with 4 of the Board members? I am so disappointed in our Board. I will not point fingers at individuals. I had such high hopes for the new structure giving some new opportunities for change. The Board may be led by someone different, but the decisions being made still do not appear to be the best interest of educating the students.
Update: Will now begin pursuing the B&G issues. One application I reviewed did catch my attention thus I will be pursuing several of the answered questions on there application.
I know many of you are working in fear and being intimidated by several of the Administrators and that is an issue I will be pursuing intensely.
Don't give up hope !!! And most of all keep your posts going on here as it gives me info to pursue the corruption and intimidation at 131.
The Ellington issue is now finalized and been forwarded in its entirety to ISBE.
B&G may very well be the issue that will be covered up in ways we can't imagine.
I believe 5 of the members live by the toll way. They do not reflect the community. They made a lot of promises and have all stated they will turn the district over to the Superintendent. I support that but I am disappointed in who they hired. The fact he is more concerned with a office than the schools is disappointing. Why are the board members allowing him to waste time and money on this., Most offices today are mobile.
I am also disappointed about the credit cards and settlements they have made. it seems they had it cleaned up but the abusing them againi. Feltes is also a bad hire. Leonard should have not been allowed to interview and hire his friend. None of them stopped that as well and I believe all voted to promote Feltes twice. True corruption Then the naming of the building after Gonzalez and Hulls friend and taking it away from the child. I was never a fan of Johnson's mostly because she supported Roberts but at least she is voting no and did clean some things up. We need a new Board
It is very hard working at 131 Popp has told employees that loyality and secrets is what he expects. He is extremely afraid of Annette Johnson finding out anything. The application you are speaking of is Marty Feltes. They changed job requirements for him and allowed Leonard to be on the interview committee to hire his friend . He was hired for $80,000 plus benefits
Many of us became alarmed and went to Montroy, Hull, and Peryea who agreed to meet with us. They wanted dirt on Johnson. Hull promised he would take care of it once they were in power. many of us worked putting signs and donating cash. They stated they wanted cash so we would be protected and not have to name names. Hull was given information on Youngrens and several other issues. He let Feltes know and David Finley got fired even thought he was only one of the group. Youngrens called Feltes and told him somebody was checking on work given to Feltes former partner. Then Feltes got another promotion in November something that is not done. when. Dr Roberts was asked he said the entire board supported it and his hands were tied. He went on to say he was glad he was getting out. He told us he was forced to post a one week internal job and it was not his idea. We contacted Hull, Strand and Peryea. They then stopped returning our calls. We also shared many accounting violations with them before the vote. hoping they would be honest. Still no returned calls. They still promoted him. Peryea, Hull and Strand all said yes. now he was making $120,000 plus benefits.
In February a employee who was retiring took the accounting violations to Roberts and Johnson. She showed them over 600 invoices that violated district procedures many of them showed no bid issues. Again Youngrens was highlighted. It stopped and things got better until Hull and Popp got put in charge. Now Youngrens is getting all the work there are invoices for over $100,000. Repair can be made by district maintenance people but Feltes says we are not qualified. We are qualified and kept the buildings going for years. They recently had to give him more money that's why. Feltes has now started targeting us with bad performance reviews and has said Mike Popp and the board is going to replace us with repair people from the outside and a temp service. We are just trying to hang on. we are hoping for a miracle. Many people got fired or demoted for the same things Feltes is doing. The district is worst than the serial bully days and far worst than Roberts.
Ralph although we back your efforts you still need to come to the BOE meeting and speak. It needs to go in the offical minutes. We have been in touch with the.Beacon about some of these violations but she does not print it. The rumor is because of the relationship Hanley had with the Beacon and his mentor is Denise Crosby who is killing the stories.
We exposed some hiring practices and Feltes invoice issues have they have never been printed.
Follow the money trial with Popp it is interesting.
The payoff to the Urban League is another. the District is paying her mortgage payment and allowing her to stay in the building.
The District is screwed. The entire school board needs to resign. They should have hired a leader to run the District but they hired the repeat of Mike Radavich. In some cases worst because Radavch recognized diversity and this guy is a racist.
Let us not forget their first choice Jessie Rodriguez who could not pass the basic skills test. My understanding is Popp did not have a Referance check or site visit. The board was so lazy they could not travel two miles to d204.
The most important responsibility is hiring a Superintendent they failed
I am sure everyone will jump on board and start attacking her but Annette was scapegoated by many for cleaning issues up. The Insurance was Augustine's and before him Tony Trasinos they both did nothing. They all had credit card abuse and the board knew it. In fact Wells and. Farnum took their family members to. SanDiego. , Orlando, and Washington DC. It took sometime but Johnson did fix them.
Other scandals also got cleaned up. Nestor Garcia needed to be replaced and was. I did not support Johnson's choice of Feltes but I know she held people accountable. I do know employees went to her about Feltes and she dealt with it. Padron attacked her meeting after meeting that was unfair. Now we have Popp and we are back to the days of old. History does repeat itself but I am glad she stayed with the board at least there is some accountability.
The unfair attacks on her have showed employees not to come forward because the majority will destroy them. The silent majority knows what is going on. Popp does hate her he talks behind her back all the time and it is very unprofessional.
Johnson had no authority to handle anything with the administrators or employees if she did they should contact the ISBE. No baord member can handle things on their own this is why this district is the worst in the State they chose not to follow the law.
Anyone has a right to be a whistleblower and I am glad Johnson handled this she saved the taxpayers millions.
As for the States Attoney issues have been sent over to him and he did nothing. This District is horrible because of people like you. Asking the Superintendent or Business manager to police themselves is like asking the fox to watch the hen house. Augustine knew people did not pay for insurance including his own secretary who he had a close relationship with. He was told by a payroll clerk five years ago and she was harassed until she quit. Roberts also took a blind eye so to everyone singing his praises he was no better. Johnson protected him and finally did clean issues up. It would have not been if it was not for her. Employees work in fear at 131 and they are living in fear again.
Johnson also was to slow in fixing issues she did some things very well like ridding us of Marin Gonzalez but her relationship with Roberts does leave a question mark. The other Board members are corrupt do nothing's only interested in themselves. On a scale of 1 to 10 she is about a 5 and the rest of them are zeros. at hey have taken no action
How would everyone like to read the letter I wrote Dr Popp and Ray Hull?
I copied the entire Board of Ed and others. Why is this important? Because they have officially been notified and the truth must be made public.
Many other prominent, influential individuals have been notified of Part 3 of my investigation of 131.
131 now has the reputation of being non responsive when confronted with facts and truths. Can't help but use the words COVER UP in multiple levels at EA.
Johnson as a board member can't really do anything and The States Attorney only handles fraud and things against the IL School Code. Did she turn herself in when back some years ago when the where in Chicago and bought liquor on the districts dime which is against the law. It was not her job as a board member to clean up issues it was the whole boards responsibility not hers. As far as Marin Gonzalez she did what the board wanted at the time and I'm not defending her.
So Ralph what are you going to do about NOTHING. In the past you came yo board meetings and attacked Annette Johnson and Dr Roberts unmercifully. They actually made the effort to clean things up. They also had transparentcy.
I attended the last meeting and Hull actually told the public it was the boards meeting and the public is just a guest invited to their meeting.
Hull and Popp have managed in three months to return the district to the serial bully days.
By the way things look, things have not improved at all in D131. This is such a shame because such actions and behaviors make good teachers and administrators leave to better districts where they will feel supported and not persecuted. In the end, the ones that suffer the most are the students of D131.
Popp changed the rules on the Student Board members and denied him his scholarship as students had in the past.
Popp is handing out big salaries to friends but mistreated the students. I just like administrators talking about a new building for themselves and not worrying about the overcrowded schools.
As the week progresses we have wasted more time pulling papers for Ralph Padron. Our lawyer also needs to review his requests which costs the children of our district lost revenue. When we are spending time with him it takes us away from our jobs. Ralph had told members of administration he will not stop until he gets another consulting contract. He also told Dr Popp he would not stop also. He is insane.
Melody Ellington is a victim of his attacks she has never harmed him. Just another example of who he is.
Why don't they have the papers together for what he needs. If he is looking for bids then they should be all in a file cabinet of on a computer so they can just print them. It looks like this district doesn't know have to keep things in order. It is time that someone looked into how records are kept since we know how they handled the credit cards no one was looking when employees used them for their own expenses.
If Melody Ellington lied on her application then she committed fraud and should be dealt with. If it was a teacher would they get away with it.
my next post is a summary of what was discovered on my FOIA requests concerning the HR / Ellington Background check. You tell me whether there was a very questionable hiring or not
On several occasions I have corresponded with Dr Popp concerning the hiring of Melody Ellington.
May 6th Presented Superintendent multiple documents and was promised a response May 17th Forwarded documents from Dist 67 Morton Grove which verified my findings June 30th Sent request for follow up per my previous inquiries. ISBE recommended I do this.
As of this date July 14th 2014, I have not received a response to any of the above. It is very evident that the Superintendent is ignoring my requests for unknown reasons.
The facts are as follows pertaining to Ms Ellington’s application and background
Morton Grove Dist 67 Dec 8 2008 – June 30 2009 contracted with Dist 67 May 15th 2009 Superintendent contacted Melody he was recommending her for termination. May 18th 2009 Resigned (effective June 30 2009) in lieu of termination.
Between July 2009 – June 30 2011 there was no employment listed on her application.
Matteson District 159 July 1 2011- June 30 2013 began contract ($ 94,500.00 annually) June 28 2012 Resigned immediately (no reason given) with 1 year left on her contract. August 1 2012 Lawsuit filed vs Defendants Business Manager Melody Ellington and Superintendent Barbara Suggs Mason December 2012 Settlement with plaintiff – lawsuit dropped
East Aurora Dist 131 July 2013- June 2014 (1) year contract $ 88,000.00 annual June 30 2014 Position eliminated
1 Why has Dr Popp intentionally avoided answering my inquiries
2 Why was Melody not retained in some capacity in the Business Office at 131
3 How thorough was the background check done by Human Resources? I was able to obtain this information utilizing FOIA several school districts.
4 Would Ellington’s answer on her application” referencing resigning to avoid termination” be classified as lying? If so, is this reason for not being hired? If not please explain.
5 Should a person handling large sums of taxpayer dollars be held to higher level of accountability
6 Why did she suddenly resign from Dist 159 with 1 year remaining on a $94,500 contract She listed no employers afterwards for 2 years.
7 Why did she answer the question on her application Reason for Leaving (Dist 67 & 159) “Sought better Opportunities”
8 Application for 131 reads employed at Dist 159 July 2010 – June 2012 Incorrect answer as her contract began July 1 2011 – June 30 2013 She resigned June 28 2012.
9 How could Human Resources miss the above info and not question her background.
A It is about Human Resources Background/Reference not discovering the above B Why has Dr Popp not responded to my multiple inquiries while Melody was employed at 131 C Does East Aurora D 131 hold accountable those who created and ignored this problem D Although Ms Ellington is no longer an employee, does this issue go away
The Taxpayers, Community, and Citizens of Illinois are entitled to an explanation on what happened and why was it not addressed when I brought it to the attention of the Superintendent and Board President? Is Human Resources immune from any disciplinary action as a result of multiple mistakes on this and the Ernest Clark not being-fingerprinted to say the least ?
I am requesting an investigation (outside of District 131) to look into this and other matters I will be presenting in the near future.
The progress of the business office has been stopped by Hull and Peryea. They had private meetings with Clark and Ellington and encouraged them to sue. Ellington lied and is now collecting unemployment. the district could have stopped her claim. Clark was paid $122,000 and stopped working in December. The district also never explored a charge from many long time employees that they had been verbally abused by Clark and Ellington. In fact Hull sent us a email and told us to be good Christians and get along. Turn the other cheek.
The Board is at fault for paying the settlements and not doing something about Gloztbach. this was not her first offense with the business office she allowed Jay to take his sick days and collect vacation dollars. He Eft in September and has paid through November and never taken off insurance until January. Mcclusky his replacement lied that she had a CPA she did not. Again Joan. the Business office employees are sick of being scapegoated because of poor administration.
Wait till the Bob Green settlement gets made public it's coming. Again poor documentation with Joan.
Read today's Beacon maintenance workers at 204 are begging the school board to help. they discussed a 16 year employee who only makes $10.00 per hour. That is what Popp and Feltes are doing to us. In are next contract they are going the 204 way. We will become private employees. We have been sold out by Hull, Peryea and Strand.,They are supporting Feltes. Ralph please release your findings and read the article. please we have families.
While Feltes gets a big raise from the scum bags and liars on the board our wages will be reduced to $9.50 per hour. Maybe your lazy a** husband should work for that Ms Strand. I remember when Montroy and Hull prayed with us and said You and Peryea would not let that happen. You took our money and now you allow Feltes to state we will be outsourced as employees of Amemark. Leonard you wonder why you have cancer you are cancer. From $80,000 to $120,000 why dont you expose that Ralph.
Feltes and Leonard had a bad repution in their trades unions of breaking the rules. Before Feltes became a disrict employee he was reported by Monoco Mechanical for not paying union wage. Since that time Feltes and Leonard got even and used the District lawyer to sue Monoco contending poor workmanship on another job. This has cost the taxpayers ten of thousands of dollars for a personal situation. Now the employees are getting screwed. Feltes is taunting us everyday.
If Hull and Peryea had a private meeting with those two then they broke the law a board member should not be talking directly to an employee per the IL School Code. The same with Hull and Strand talking or emailing custodians. Feltes and Leonards closeness is a problem also and Leonards is a problem Leonard should not be in the schools telling people what to do. You workers might be scared but their is a Whistle Blowing law you could use and if enough complain the State should look into it.
Pardon keep up with your work you have every right to do so. Just make sure you find out where to go with the information because going to the BOE won't do a thing.
As of 7:23 p.m. our community has raised $1,240.00 to help Angel with his college expenses.
A lot of the credit goes to THIS BLOG, for informing readers about the website. Blog readers may often be cynical and petty, but they can also be incredibly generous.
During election Hull came to us and asked for help. He promised we would never get a cleaning service in. if he could get rid of Johnson. He blamed her for hiring Feltes. Montroy told us if we donated cash to his election he would not have to disclose it. The secretaries union did the same. In the last negotiations we lost a paid holiday and some sick days. We were told if we gave in and got the same as teachers we would not lose our jobs. That was true but many of us felt it was unfair since the teachers had a 9 month contract and we had a 12 month contract
After election Peryea, Strand and Hull turned their backs and gave Feltes the promotion they also named names he has targeted many of us with write ups. Now Feltes tells us Hull and the board will do what 204 did and Popp agrees. Feltes is lining his pockets and abusing his power with Leonard they are together all the time during work hours.
Hull, Peryea and Strand sold us out. We brought issues to them and Hull got Finley fired with the Youngrens bids. They turned around and voted Feltes a big raise in the middle of the school year. When Roberts left he said he was forced to promote Feltes and he apologized to us.
Mike Popp came in and backed up all the performance reviews . Feltes has stated Popp supports not having maintenance workers and using Amemark.
Only if in your tiny brain information qualifies as cancer!
I am one of those who saw the Angeldorm info posted here, went to the link, and donated. And I recognized the names of a couple of my D131 neighbors on the list of donors. One of them told me that yes, she had found out about it on the blog.
Instead of telling people to shut up, why don't you organize a donation link yourself when this one is finished? Maybe another deserving organization in our community can use your help, like...
I remember when Zach Montroy (he & his wife are buddies with Marin Gonzalez) was running for the School Board and referred to the blog as "cancer". What a grEAt (not!) community member HE was, moving out of the district when he didn't get elected.
The real cancer in our community is corruption. Those who expose it (like Mr. Padron) are part of the cure. And those who support our students are part of the cure, as well.
The blog is a forum for exposing the corrupt environment we call 131.
Feltes is out of control with the workers, he feels he can do anything because of Leonard.
Leonard had no business being on the interview committee that selected him. I supported Ms Strand but now I can tell she was for herself. She only voted for him get power and control. We need a new school board they have been their to long.
I guess Hull , Peryea and Strand forgot their Oath of Office when they got on the board. Employees of the district quit talking to them they have no authority on their own to change things.
(105 ILCS 5/10-16.5) Sec. 10-16.5. Oath of office. Each school board member, before taking his or her seat on the board, shall take an oath of office, administered as determined by the board, in substantially the following form: I, (name of member or successful candidate), do
solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will faithfully discharge the duties of the office of member of the Board of Education (or Board of School Directors, as the case may be) of (name of school district), in accordance with the Constitution of the United States, the Constitution of the State of Illinois, and the laws of the State of Illinois, to the best of my ability. I further swear (or affirm) that: I shall respect taxpayer interests by serving as a
faithful protector of the school district's assets; I shall encourage and respect the free expression of
opinion by my fellow board members and others who seek a hearing before the board, while respecting the privacy of students and employees; I shall recognize that a board member has no legal
authority as an individual and that decisions can be made only by a majority vote at a public board meeting; and I shall abide by majority decisions of the board,
while retaining the right to seek changes in such decisions through ethical and constructive channels. (Source: P.A. 96-998, eff. 7-2-10.)
Have Strand and Peryea completed the hours of training they are suppose to have?
We are lucky Montroy did not get elected Marin Gonzalez would have become Superintendent. However we are stuck with Peryea and Strand they used the maintenance people and secretaries. However their choices are showing a history of repeating itself. Wasteful spending and CORUPTION are still prevalent.
This blog literally spreads lies, rumor, speculation and can be harmful to the people who are slandered. I beg people who are reading some of this garbage to consider that even the trashiest of gossip columns have an author that is listed.
Ralph is the only one signing his name to anything on this blog, and he is crazy.
Truth is Popp is Superintendent and a 16 year employee at 204 is only making $10.00. Please ask Feltes his plans he will be more than happy to share them.
The fact is they hired him at $80,000 and he is now getting $122,000
They all voted yes. Read the board minutes you moron.
Many are upset because they thought things would be better. Three months into it things seem hopeless.. Popp does not have the pulse of the community and he listens to the wrong people. Feltes and Glozabach have his ear. He hired friends who have no clue about the community and just want Director behind their name. We lost the best administrator David Negron who became fed up with East Aurora and quit. Two of EA finest bilingual role models had no consideration and moved to admin jobs with. West Aurora. Joan and Feltes are out of control with bullying people. Jobs are on the line maintenance saw the article this week and many are worried about their jobs.
Wait until the public gets ahold of the Urban League fiasco. Paying their mortgage and expenses while they keep office space.
Then move of over 30 employees has created unneeded disorganization and expense just to get moved again in six months. The cost will be as much as the new Kindergarten.
The Board is the laughing stock. They have also voted on or looked the other way on many things that prove to respect for the staff or residents.
I reviewed the July 2nd statement to Building and Grounds Committee from Marty Feltes:
“The below vehicles are being requested due to the current condition of the District trucks. Four trucks are 2003 and are in need of repairs and have high mileage. These vehicles are used for plowing and grounds.”
I have several questions concerning this statement which is lacking valuable information justifying this purchase.
Each vehicle should have been listed separately with the following information.
1 The mileage not listed 2 The condition of each vehicle 3 The specific repairs are needed 4 How much will those repairs cost 5 Photos attachments to support request
A cost analysis to support the purchase of new vehicles to include:
1 5 year record of maintenance costs for each existing vehicle 2 Depreciation and other indirect costs of existing vehicles 3 Proposed maintenance costs of new vehicles
I am NOT saying that the purchase is not necessary however does Mr Feltes request be taken without a responsible analysis and supporting documentation?
Did this request follow State mandated law for purchasing criteria? It did pass thru the Building & Grounds July 2nd 2014 meeting. Mr Raymond Hull was not present Ms Mary Anne Turza did comment that an explanation would be beneficial for future proposals. . I find this very disturbing that a written request with no supporting documentation totaling $ 178,331.26 was forwarded to the Finance committee. This issue is for discussion on the July 21 2014 Board Meeting under the Finance Committee
What is the purpose of the board if not to put education first?!
said...
As this posts comment reflects, is anyone listening? Ralph is pointing out the flaws in the way our district and the board does/ allows business to continue. Yet no one seems to be truly hearing, they just respond in defense but not in answer to. Come on District 131 School Board. Please! Your job is to be good stewards of the $$ spent for the purpose of educating EA children. Every purchase made, every program implemented, every person hired -your question should be.....is this going to improve or be beneficial to the quality of our education system in 131?
Ralph brings up some good points a good board should see the maintenance cost, pictures of the vehicles and the other things he stated. This is business as usual for this board not asking question and not really getting all the information for spending the taxpayers money.
When are we going to hear anything about how the district is going to get test scores up or improving our schools so the classrooms are not so crowded?
They approved the truck purchase with no oversite. Hull, and Peryea stated in public they are there to carry out what the Superintendent wants. Ralph brings up some great points but our school board is worthless.
Staff can not believe Mike Popps first role is to buy a expensive piece of real estate and build himself a administrative center. He told our cabinet retreat, again held at country club (Arrowhead) that it will be purchased by the end of summer. The entire board knows this. The board never told him stop. The location will separate the service center from the public and staff. It will show our teachers we don't care if you work in overcrowded buildings.
Thank You Ralph the Board should ask these questions but if they are not capable we are glad you are.
At the last meeting there was a another insurance scandals brought up by Johnson regarding a relative of Mardy Feltes. The fund was being investigated by the State. It was on Workers Comp and Building Insurance.
It seemed Popp renewed it and is hiring another consultant for 204. Hull tried to stop her from speaking. I could nit follow the whole discussion.
Why keep minutes our board just votes yes anyways. they never ask questions Turza, Hull, Preyea and Leonard are on these committees and can not ask the questions Ralph did. Everyone voted for Feltes and Leonard is his best friend so how can we believe that they will look after the taxpayer dollars over a friend. the board is totally corrupt and needs to be replaced or the State needs to come in.
They have redefined the Board from hell statement.
There is cancer in this district, but it's not the blog. The real cancer is corruption; like cancer in someone's body, it spreads throughout the district and affects the way the whole "body" functions.
This blog is like medicine. Some medicine is bitter, some is ineffective, some is prescribed for one ailment and taken for another. And sometimes the medicine has unpleasant side effects. Getting rid of the disease (cancer) of corruption and secrecy isn't easy or quick...but will hopefully happen eventually!
Feltes did not answer any questions we lack the ability to answer any questions nor does he use a computer. aNother supervisor was hired to do his job. The man is a joke. All the money he claims to save us our mistakes Cortigan and Clark catches. That is their job they are paid to be construction managers.
They are also being paid to do daily consulting somebody should pull their bills. Very interesting!
So Ralph why not come to board meeting liked you did in the past? You had no problems attacking Dr Roberts or Annette Johnson. Could it be that you are afraid? Or better yet why not just go away.
Ralph please FOIA paperwork on the Magnet playground. Ray Hull and Marty Feltes's friend Danny Stokes got the contract for redoing the Magnet playground. They parceled it off so as not to go out to bid. The work required a bid. Stokes does sewer work not landscaping or cement work. What does his business have to do with a playground. Oh I forgot they are freinds of Marty and Hulls.
Hull is retiring and must need to pad his income and Feltes well enought said
From the minutes of the July 14th Finance Committee meeting:
“ Building and Grounds Vehicles—State Purchasing. Ms. Turza spoke regarding a State of Illinois bid for purchasing District vehicles at a discounted price. The committee agreed that any monies needed for purchase of vehicles should be incorporated into the fiscal year 14-15 budget.”
Evidently the Finance committee does not see anything wrong with the proposal from Mr Feltes regarding the issues I presented on my previous letter dated July 17th 2014.
I find this extremely disturbing that a written request with no supporting documentation totaling $ 178,331.26 was forwarded from the Finance committee for discussion at the July 21 2014 Board Meeting.
I request my concerns and questions be addressed and any future request for purchases meet State Requirements.
Under no circumstances should a verbal generic statement be considered unless documentation is presented to support a request of this substantial amount of money. . Respectfully
Do we really think they are qualified to ask any questions or worry about wasteful spending. Lets remember the past three months or Peryea, Hull, and Truza.
204 comments:
1 – 200 of 204 Newer› Newest»Our district's band students are spending this week at Band Camp at LaSalle Manor. This is an OUTSTANDING yearly program that builds skills and teamwork in our young musicians.
Speaking of listening, I can't wait to hear (and see) them at Aurora's 4th of July parade!
That statement describes this blog perfectly.
Why is no one commenting on the fact that there is no union leadership and they have bent over and took it from the administration with this new evaluation system? There simply is no where to turn if you get screwed --and don't say if you're a good teacher you have no worries-- I have been considered an excellent teacher for 20 years and with my degrees and background could have taught at any school but CHOSE d131 to make a difference. I have seen other excellent teachers targeted and careers destroyed over petty reasons. Now they include some teachers in the evaluation committee to say see you teachers were a part of bringing Danielson in!
Update:
Finally finishing a major audit I was doing and now can return to EA 131 issues.
Need to review several areas before I continue with the B&G audit/investigation. This will be an eye-opener in many an area.
Am back full time on Monday.
We need to build a new football field at East High. The field is in poor shape. Most high schools have gone to a field turf surface. The stands are a mess. Peeling paint and dirt everywhere. The washrooms are rusted out. When I coached football at East High from 1996-1999 I was told there was a special fund for the field.
There is a lot of work that every building needs. Millions upon millions could be spent just trying to pull these buildings into the 21st century.
I agree but the money was allocated for the bleachers and track this year. I was posted on the projects list.Then Feltes did not know how to manage his budget because he was bring in his friends to fix stuff not us. He was paying district workers but us stupid and then assigning the work to outside repair people without a bid many are old friends of his. Then he and Leonard who is always in the basement of EA built a $425,000 closet because it was plumbing work again going to a old pal of his. Marty is seen mornings sitting in plumbing contractors trucks drinking coffee and eating donuts now the money for the track got put in his friends pockets.
Millions should be spent but not in Feltes pocket. He was bragging he is helping his daughter buy a house. I wonder with whos money
Which Feltes daughter? They all have houses already...maybe the middle daughter who drinks every night and has been telling everyone she is leaving her husband...nice. With district money...
This year Popp is going to have all kinds of demands for the Union. The teachers are screwed because Gloztzbach is going to get her way. All of the issues she never got her way on will unfold. Joany looks at the little details and makes everyone miserable while missing the big picture.
She has been allowed to bring in consultants that are showing the Principals how to write iron clad evaluations.
This while she costs the district hundreds of thousands in lawsuits and settlements. The spineless board will never fire her.
This is STATE mandated. Every other district in Illinois has to incorporate this system. Why should your EXCELLENT teaching skills be exempt?
Nobody is listening the Board does their own thing and disrespects the community.
The Ann Benevides naming is the last in a long line of blunders in the last months. The board not only disrespects the community but they have disrespected the teachers and staff as well.
After reading the article Beacon News
"as-a-precaution-east-aurora-reapproves-every-check-issued-this-year"
This could have been avoided if EA 131 had a "Certified Public Accountant" as Board President the past several years.
Sorry I forgot, Annette Johnson was a CPA.
While the tool is not mandated, teachers performance evaluations are law. The Performance Evaluation Reform Act, commonly known as PERA, requires districts to design and implement performance evaluation systems that assess teachers’ and principals’ professional skills, as well as incorporate measures of student growth. The law, which passed nearly unanimously in both the state House and Senate in 2009, requires that various test results be used for at least 25 percent of a teacher’s rating in the first two years, growing to 30 percent over time.
Not only is teacher evaluation mandated by the state, the Danielson method is one of the best and fairest. Don't believe me? Here are a few links about one of the WORST methods, the "Value-Added" teacher evaluation system (implemented in several states; New York, Ohio, and Texas are just a few)
https://edpolicy.stanford.edu/blog/entry/577
http://www.nydailynews.com/opinion/new-teacher-evaluation-system-flaws-article-1.1024648
http://www.edweek.org/ew/articles/2012/03/05/24darlinghammond_ep.h31.html
Our district could do a LOT worse than Danielson!
Annette Johnson did fix the business office by hiring the current consultants. Maybe if Peryea and Hull would have gotten out of her it would have been fixed sooner. The responsibility of the business office and checks details was Clark's. But oh I forgot Glozabach did check any referances on him or Ellington. But oh I forgot Peryea and Hull promised Clark a big check if he did nothing.
I am supporter of Annette's and feel she has always done the right thing by the district. The Insurance was addressed and cleaned up by her. Why not anyone else for years, oh because their friends got a free ride.
Danielson is great if you have a Curriculum that does not change like musical chairs and fair evaluators. Administrators have become so obsessed with saving themselves they will throw anyone under the bus. The new superintendent is so afraid of making himself look good he is flexing his muscles and listening to Glozbach.
The new board is no better they are worst. They are pro administration and anti worker. The maintenance workers are being bullied and teachers can see that. They feel Roberts administration made changes with administration but never got down to staff. He let the building handle it. Today the buildings are being told evaluate out teachers, secretaries and janitors. Popp is very pro administration and can see no wrong. He only gets his information from Feltes, Glotzbach, and Childress. We are being scapegoated.
If you are a teacher, your grammar and spelling alone make you subject to problems in your evaluation. Good grief!
I don't see a single spelling mistake, apart from the spelling of a name (Glotzbach). There are a few grammatical errors.
Maybe 1:08 p.m. dictated their comment into their phone, which caught any misspellings but would not correct grammar.
Such is technology in 2014...
No one board member can hire anyone the whole board had to approve it. There was talk for awhile about how things where going in the financial office but Johnson waited until she wanted to fix it. How many mistakes have come out since she took over Roberts job so no she did not do a good job. I believe most of the board has heard of misuse of money and they didn't care they had their own agendas to take care of. Maybe with this the State will finally realize how they board and administration doesn't follow the law.
The issue is not Danielson or any other evaluation model. The issue is the lack of trust the teachers, staff and community have in the district's board and administration.
As long as the administrators continue vindictive vedetta's against any employee who doesn't kiss their A$$ and as long as underlings are thrown under the bus to protect those in power and as long as the board allows this continue, there will be no faith in Danielson or any other evaluation system.
At least Annette Johnson did something last year we did not get a insurance increase that was unheard of. He r fault was turning it over to incompetent administrators who had there own interest at heart. If you think about why would Augustine and Roberts want to change the health insurance when they both had plans to retire. Meanwhile the majority teachers paid for it. I know administrators hated her and turned when they got forced to pay for insurance just like us.
The others on the board had no business paying Clark or the porn guy. They are also looking the other way for all of Gloztbachs mistakes while she continues to discriminate and abuse staff. The board is so spineless it will show we are screwed.
I also thank her for being the only one with reason in voting against Benevides.
I had a experience that I can not share in detail with working with Dr. Popp he would know its me It was regarding the future of a child. With the new evaluation model I can not risk my job. He is so rigid along with Glozbach that the compassion we share as educators is missing.
He puts on a good face in public but he is petty, and small minded. What a poor choice for the children of Aurora. He is more concerned about his resume not children.
Shopping at Menards today I ran into three d131 employees walking around aimlessly. Maybe his buddy Leonard should get Feltes fired like he did to everyone else. Oh I forgot he is to busy cashing in.
My daughter attends the Magnet school and Will be attending East next year. I went to the HS over two weeks ago trying to get her into a educational program. They said they would get back to me. Today I went again. Only the secretaries are available. No teachers or administrators. They told sorry she does not qualify she meets and exceeds.
The other major issue was all year long kids were forced to share computers because the school has no books. Computers got broken but there was no one to fix them. No replacement available, no books. my daughter had a horrible experience there. the administration could care less. I have my house up for sale a hopefully by fall it will sell. I could give you a list a mile long of people I complained to.
Don't suggest I go to the board, I have Ms Strand knows very well of the problems but seems more interested in making excuses. She told us of a leadership vacuum. She is no better!
There is more interest in kids who have broken the law. Thats all we read about is Alternative School. Than kids who need a good education.
I hate this district.
Strand is a rubber stamp of administration. If they allow her to promote her non profit and recruit families and teachers for for Community Christain she will say yes to anything. She got what she wanted a free hand to move her cause along that she gets paid for. How else can she attend so many functions during the day unless her non for profit is not making money off the backs of the students and teachers.
Nobody on the board is holding anyone accountable. The computers not working have been going on all year long.
UPDATE June 28
The Ellington/Human Resources Background check cover up is FAR FROM OVER.
1 Facts are in place and cannot be disputed
2 Questions on the Cover Up of this cannot go on any further.
3 What did Joan Glotzbach know about this entire situation and what is her reaction.
4 Dr Popp must be held accountable for not taking action once I brought this to his attention.
There are countless additional questions to be asked still and I will bring those out soon.
I expect "CONFIDENTIALITY" will be the response from the District.
I would like to ask Christi Tyler this question:
With the seriousness of Melody Ellington's suspicious performance in the past 2 school districts.
Wouldn't you have reservations of hiring her?
Central office news is the district is covering up another check scandal. Recently the Beacon reported over $202,000 in un cashed checks and that's the ones they told the Beacon about. It is more like $500,000. This was pointed out to Roberts and now Popp yet the board asks no questions. Does anyone believe that many companies would not cash checks.
Strand is a liar she promised Nicole Gonzalez that she was supporting her in the naming of the building. at hen she turned on her a voted for Benevides. Benevides only had petitions from the Latin American club. A bar when J ay bird had over 1200 names on written petitions and Facebook. We were told by Strand she would talk to the other Board members. She could not even call and tell us.
Popp is a return to the serial bully days. He has stated to cabinet what is discussed in cabinet stays in cabinet. He constantly reminds us not to talk to board members or the press, he is perinoid. Teachers wanted to speak for Jaybird and Hanley was told to contact them and tell them not to speak. His confidant is Gloztbach and she adds to his perinoid behavior. He was not ready for the chair.
Why not print Strand is a liar she promised the mother the building would be named after Jaybird and she promised she would talk to other board members. the petitions for Benevides did come from a Bar that's what the Latin American club is. Jaybird had 1200 names that's a fact FOIA the district. Again the board did not listen to the public. they think they own 131 not the taxpayers
The board is no better than Glotzbach they never did site visits or observed Popp touring our schools. They were in a big hurry to hire him because the other guy could not pass a test. Now we are stuck with someone who does not understand the community or the challenges our teachers face.
I remember when Strand and Peryea said it was their most important responsibility. If you look back the board picked are new Sup in three evening and charged the taxpayer for several big meals.
Strand, Hull and Montroy talked with several us during election about how the district would be a kinder and more happier place to work. hull then was quoted in the newspaper about this topic. Now they got what they wanted and Feltes told us several times we would be replaced by a maintenance service just like Indian Prairie. when Glozabach was comforted she stated that what the board wanted and Dr Popp comes from a district that had a successful program. Feltes tells us the board is supports this.
In the last two weeks several workers who are loved at their building have been written up. some with only a year to go to retirement.
The teacher better take warning the same thing will now happen to you.
We all know Dr Roberts was stopping this and he must of had enough control over the board to not allow this. What a bunch of liars The same thing is going on in With the Tech Department.
Yeah, it is sure a happier place to work. Dr Popp oly cares about his job.
The teachers are screwed with the new evaluation model. they will be scapegoated as more of our schools go the Oak Park way. Oak Park after years of neglect most caused by Benevides is now under State over site.
To the Magnet parent the computers are broke because Ali does not have a clue. He plays musical chairs every year with his staff. Ralph should look at his application he was fired also from his last District.
B&G has never been worst, no bid contracts and employee intimidation are a every day happening.
The business office still does not know what they have in the bank and the last article proves they don't have a clue. BTW many don't know but Tyler has been in our district since February.
THe HR department is totally out of control. Glotzbach was allowed to stay and is now second in command after costing the district hundreds of thousand in lawsuits. Just wait until Bob Green is settled. That on top of no background checks.
The Curriculum department does not know how is on first. The common core units change like the wind and nobody knows who is in charge. Reyes Childress is just hanging on.
The board could have not picked a worst President. Hull does not think white teachers are capable of teaching. They rushed a poor choice for Superintendent, paid out money in lawsuits that nobody can believe, gave Roberts a$78,000 going away present and party with taxpayer dollars, gave jobs to freinds, and named a building against the publics wishes. Now we find out Benevides petitions came from a bar.
D131 is hopeless.
Update June 30th 2014
Today I spoke with State Rep Linda Chapa LaVia whom is very aware of the situations at EA. She suggested that a Citizen's Advisory Board be established to help out in resolving multiple issues. Linda has volunteered to be on that Board to help find solutions to the countless problems.
Linda also requested that she and State Senator Linda Holmes be copied on all correspondence I have with EA 131.
I have made her aware of many an issue and today I briefed her on the Human Resources background check of Melody Ellington.
State Representative Chapa LaVia is truly concerned and wants to be a part of the solution to the problems at 131.
You can bet I will continue to address many an issue (B & G) that needs to be investigated.
MAJOR EVENT to be announced soon.
You go Ralph. The community, and teachers have had it with Joan and Popp. The community needs to take back the board from hell. They lied and never listen to the community. The petitions were reviewed and it turns out the board over looked Jaybird and Anna Sanford for petitions from a bar. We can not believe it if was not so sad. From a bar.
Popp and the morons better known as our board paid off Stella Gonzalez.
update June 30 2014
I FOIA today applications, salary history, benefit packages for
Joan Glotzbach
Marty Feltes
Rehman Ali
Beartice Reyes Childress
Suzanne Bement-Withrow
Let's see what shows up.
will keep all updated
The bathrooms at Johnson school stink of urine there is garbage laying around and the grass gets cut only half at time then they leave. it took at week for someone to have graffiti removed from the playground. the building have never been so filthy. I know moral is low and everyone hates working him. The teachers also know he makes $132,000 per year and can't spell his name or use a computer. That is right you go Ralph maybe the State will take over 131.
You should look into the background check on Feltes. there was none done. Feltes handles millions in Purchase orders and the plumbing industry knew he was filing for bankruptcy and was behind on union dues. Now he is rolling in money.. Last year another supervisor tried to expose his no bid work and called Youngrens for documentation on work preformed at Eat High. . Hull was also involved and copied in on what was going on. He was suppose to bring it forward and did not. Roberts made a visit to the Hill first time ever chewed out the supervisor for checking on no bid work and the following week told him his contract was not being renewed. The guy was a certified architect. Feltes then got a promotion in the middle of the year. Something that was not done before.
Now no bid jobs fly out the door all of us afraid to say anything.
When Feltes was hired Leonard , Glozabach and Roberts served on the committee. We in B&G knew the take was in. Roberts never interviewed anyone. Leonard is his best friend. When they advertised for a Director they only posted internally. Director jobs never happen in the middle of the year. We did get the Beacon to do a story. The qualifications got changed to make the job fit for him. He also started at the highest salary possible. Other hires never got that treatment.
The person referances in the other post was Dave Finley and he ran department with few problems. his salary was lower than Feltes. He was a Certified Architect. He was told by Hull to get the no bid information. It is true, Feltes found out from Youngrens who gets all kinds of no bid work now and Roberts quickly terminated him. Hull never said a word in public like he promised. Hull also promised he would help us now we are getting told we will all lose our jobs to a maintenance service when are contract is up. Feltes says we will get notice no chance to negotiate.
Daily employees are harassed many who have their lives in 131. Jan Cinto is in tears almost daily. We can not say anything many of us say two years of work is better than none. Feltes also got the foreman fired at our Architect firm because he disagreed. Hull knows this also but sold us out.
To Ralph- Linda Chapa La Via is not behind the teachers she voted to take our pensions- why don't you investigate why our union allowed in this evaluation system that will not allow you to grieve if you get an unfair evaluation? We were told at a meeting it doesn't matter if you have 20 years of excellent evaluations under Danielson no one is excellent. I'm sorry, if I work at my craft for 20 years and work my butt off taking courses to try to keep improving, then yes , I am excellent! What utter and complete crap all of this is-- but no one will stand up all the admins are licking their chops and sharpening their knives. Linda Holmes, however, does vote with teachers, so go that route.
beaconnews.suntimes.com/news/28416390-418/aurora-schools-to-create-new-course-catalogs.html
The maintenance union and teachers union need to come together our rights are being violated. If you speak up you will get fired or if your not well liked. Much worst is all the maintenance workers will go to making minium wage. The board has given administration all the power and they are going crazy with it.
State Representative Chapa LaVia has been aware of what has been going on in this district for a long time and is she is so concerned why did she endorse Johnson to run for the board again and I believe she wrote a letter to the editor during the election of the board last time and Johnson put that letter in material she sent out for re election.
If the board doesn't acknowledge in put for the Superintendent or for the naming of a School what makes you think a Citizen's Advisory Board is going to do?
What are they going to do with the board from Hell. Over 1200 people sign a petition and the board ignores them for a few drunks from the Latin American Club.
Chapa endorsed Johnson because Annette was not afraid to change the district and fire many many bad administrators. At least she voted with the community.. Lately, she is the only voice of reason.
It was State Rep Linda Chapa LaVia who forwarded my complaint to Lisa Madigan's office. I have spoken with her in great length about 131 and am convinced she wants to help. If you think otherwise, post your name on here like I do and lets discuss. NOT GOING TO HAPPEN IS IT
Again the problem is one board member doesn't not make the decisions and Johnson crossed the ling by bypassing Roberts it's against The Illinois School code. So a few bad administrators got let go but most on this blog had something against them and others thought they where good.
Ralph you have a anger issue and we will see where this goes and how long it will take.
It is against Illinois School Code to have paid taxpayer dollars for Clark. He did not have a background check and yet the board continues to keep Gloztbach.
Getting rid of bad administrators is the Boards job hiring their friends is not. Feltes is the next one that needs to go but will not because is best freinds with Leonard. the board still runs the district different players no results. The current board is viewed in the community as corupt.
Taxpayer 3
If your comments are valid, why aren't you doing anything about it. Lots of analysis from the sidelines but no action to hold those who have violated laws/policies accountable.
And I would more than be happy to discuss this with you personally. Or do you want to hide behind this blog? Won't hold my breath.
The photo on this post says it all! D131 does NOT listen. They hear enough to make excuses.
I had always supported Chapa-LaVia, until she supported Annette on the sly. Her and her husband spoke in small groups against AJ, then she sends out letters supporting her. AJ has bragged that Linda owes her because she has supported Linda's campaigns ($$). No amount of money would have bought my support for AJ to continue on our school board. All the claims of her accomplishments are just like Roberts.....other peoples accomplishments and work which they have taken credit.
Ralph we know you attempted to shake down the district because your wife was getting free insurance. You have already cost us hundreds of thousands of dollars in legal expenses and lost wages while employees are preparing answers to your endless FOIA requests. Ralph was also paid $7,500 for a consulting job he did not do. Ralph lives in Naperville and the district should file a complaint to Lisa Madigan against you, Ralph.
Your latest attempt to defame five employees is sick. Ms Ellington may have made some mistakes but you have no right stalking her. Get a life ln Naperville.
I do not know Ralph personally, but I do know he was hired by 131 in hopes that he would shut up and go away. Instead he found 10's of 1000's of $$ being wasted and overpaid and no one doing anything about it. Including Board president and accountant Ms. Johnson.
Those who do not like what he is doing are likely the ones dealing with the FOIA's and coincidently are a big part of the problem -HR.
Annette Johnson was not afraid to make the changes EA needed. If everyone had the accomplishments you claim they did then why did they allow the district to crumble.
Linda Chapa is a do noting who speaks out of both sides of her mouth. She attend s Strands church and plays both ends against the middle. He husband has been given over a million dollars to develop building in Aurora that has yet to open for 5 years.
Everyone should have Annette's ethics she took a lot heat for no pay.
The district 131 team with the help of Johnson identified major areas of concern, insurance was one of them. Some of Retirees got free insurance including Ralph and his wife. Glozabach was responsible for giving the bad news. Since then Ralph stalked Johnson and Glozabach. Their big mistake was paying him. The utilities he brags of were discovered by Progressive Energy. He currently has eighteen open FOIA requests in some of which he has not paid for because he demanded 50 or more pages. People like Linda should not give him the time of day.
Johnson went along with tricky Dick Leonard on hiring Feltes and bending the rules. She forced Roberts to give him a promotion. hull promised he would expose them in public but voted right along. Strand and Peryea received financial support from maintenance employees and also went along when asked to speak out in public.
They are all no good and need to go but Leonard is the worst we ruined the manes of many good people.
I am a retiree who knows Ralph and his wife personally. We asked him to update us on what he is doing at EA and it is mind-boggling what he has uncovered in many an area.
The documents he shared with us will make any current and former employee at EA shutter with disbelief. Unbelievable waste of money and the violations are endless.
We have now offered to help him continue his audit of the Building and Grounds fiasco that is ongoing. Wouldn't help if we weren't convinced he couldn't produce the documents. WOW this is huge and disgusting what was and still is happening there.
Reference "Free Insurance to retiree's" Whomever is making those comments has just made us very upset therefore that is one of the big reasons we are offering our services to Ralph's team.
Johnson knew about the insurance because someone told her and she took awhile to do anything. Again a school district by law is not ran by a board president they have no power to do anything on their own this is an example of how dysfunctional this district is. The misuse of money has been going on for a long time and that is why things don't get taken care of.
I do agree if these retirees knew that the money for the health care wasn't being taken out they are also at fault but it looks like this has been going on for a long time. Johnson only fought her own battles that she wanted taken care of.
The insurance problems were brought up to Roberts and the Board 2 years before Johnson was even on the Board. They 'claimed' to have fixed them. Most people did not even realize they were getting "free" insurance until their new insurance or medicare refused to pay due to them having "other coverage." Thats when people started and continued to find their district paid insurance had NOT been cancelled. They didn't use it, cuz they didn't know they had it until it caused major problems with their healthcare claims.
beaconnews.suntimes.com/28443527-417/east-aurora-students-learn-fire-safety-through-summer-camp-partnership.html
So what are you going to do with this evidence go to the board with it and think they will fix it they haven't done anything with the information that has been brought out so far. If you are doing all this you need to find out where to go with it outside the board. For misused money or even contract misuse that is criminal and you need to go to the Police and show them if you want it stopped.
What ever happened to the other group that was going to look into it from D100 I believe. They have been successful it getting things straight in there district.
Tomcat 8 is correct what are you going to do? I have reported d131 to the ROE on misuse of money after trying to call the State and nothing happened. the Beacon has been reporting on it and nothing happened. Look at the last few months they are thumbing their noses at us with votes of 6 to 1. I have read the board minutes and they vote 6 to 1 with no discussion. Sometimes Johnson will say why she is voting No but the rest don't say a thing.
Some other things just show poor judgement.
Look at the record
State investigation on Special E d.
Voted to pay Roberts $78,000
Paid Clark $120,000
No background checks and Glozbach still works their.
Paid the pen guy $18,000
Promoted Feltes in the middle of the year
Gave Roberts a $2,000 party
Voted not to invest the districts money.
Voted to name the center after Benevides.
Voted to hire Popp with Jo community involvement.
The latest what is up with the $202,000 in lost checks nobody asking?
Don't know hoe much money is in the business office.
I am sure there is more but these recent stories in the Beacon. Padron will get fed up and stop fighting it just like the rest of us been there done that.
The best thing is to make sure at the next election Hull Peryea, Truza and Gonzalez are not elected.
In have seen what is going on with the $425,000 closet what a waste of money. I believe everything I am reading about Feltes. I have also been out on the track what a embarrassment. The bleachers are full of peeling paint and rust. The color red is sun faded. The Track has ruts and the kids can only walk on it. While I like the new uniforms something else could have been done. What's up with the garbage laying all over the place. I was told Feltes was a additional supervisor.
My friend who knows him also says he calls the students wetbacks.
If you goggle Districts that have been taken over by the State you will find most have been from someone going down and filing a complaint against the district for misuse of money mainly credit cards. Using district credit cards for personal use is fraud and can be punished by law. There has been proof there was misuse of credit cards.
St. Saint Louis was taken over because of the above things and their local news station helped with it. Go out and goggle it maybe you can get some pointers of where to go with all your information.
All of Feltes supervisors do his job and are more qualified. The man is illiterate. Feltes can't even log into the district system . He spends his day making deals with contractors having coffee and lunch while everyone does his job. You can give him ten supervisors and he will create chaos were ever he goes. You should hear what his supervisors say about him. Yes, it's true he targets the Mexican American employees. The union is on to that but Popp and the board want to hire a cleaning service with the next contract. They can do that. Hull, Strand and Peteay sold us out. We are screwed unless other step up and get them out.
So the latest in Central Office is that Benevides is insisting that the school be called and referred to as THe Anne Garcia Benevides Kindergarden Center. Not just for example Cowherd. We are not forced to call it Henry Cowherd School.
This shows the womens attitude and the staff is just shaking their heads. Way to go board you created a monster.
Everyone was interested in why Tom Flanigan, left his $134,548. In Hoffman Estates as a Principal to become Director at $120,000. Like are new Director of Secondary both are former band teaches with no degree in core subject matters. It turns out both had not been having contracts renewed because their schools showed no growth. EA also ends up with everyone's scraps.
About naming the kindergarten center:
We (the public) are not "forced" to call it anything. The new library is officially "The Richard and Gina Santori Library", but most people I know will continue to call it "Aurora Public Library" or just "The Library".
As far as I'm concerned, my grandson will be attending the District 131 Kindergarten Center. If we ever build another kindergarten building I'll call it the Benavides Kindergarten Center.
Call the building whatever you want. Like Shakespeare said, "what's in a name?"
From the Facebook site supporting Aries "JayBird" Gonzalez:
"After a examination of petitions it was learned that the Benevides family obtained signatures at a bar named the Latin American Club. The community petitions wanted Anna Sanford and Jaybird. I hope everyone remembers. Shame on the school board."
The Aurora 4th of July parade starts at 10:00. Come see & hear our district's band students...they spent last week at the annual Band Camp and will march in today's parade.
Band Camp is a wonderful program that was started back when G. Edward Nelson directed the EAHS band, and continues today some 30+ years later. Ms. Amy Huggins has directed Band Camp the past several years and does an outstanding job.
Support our hard-working, talented students!
I agree with Grandma. I still call the building in Chicago the Sears tower, though its name has been changed. I would have preferred the 131 bldg named after either of the other 2 people. Maybe those of us with other preference can just refer to it as the Anna Sanford Kindergarten. Let's see what the future brings. If it doesn't work out as planned. We can be sure to call it the failed Anne Garcia Benavidez kindergarten.
I can not believe she wants the Center to go by that long name, buts it's true. the district is doing that. That is Anne she always thought she was better than anyone else. That is why she had few supporters. I suppose that is why they had to goto the Latin American Club for signatures. What did they know about her accomplishments?
The board is the joke of the community. To think we believed you Ms Strand and Peryea that you would listen. Are you deaf, blind and stupid.
"Final straw", I don't think Ms. Strand and Ms. Peryea are the least bit blind, dumb, or stupid.
The word that describes them best (at least in this instance) is OUTNUMBERED.
Outnumbered really what rock have you been under. Strand promised Nicole. Gonzalez mother of Jaybird I will get the support. Currently Strand is Vice President of the board, she believed her. We stopped campaigning on her word and did not follow the advice of Clayton Muhammed. He told us to write every board member. We went to the meeting and Hull and Gonzalez said they are friends of hers. Strand and Peryea voted with the group it was 6 to 1. the only board member who voted her choice was.
Shame on them taking away that from a child.
Strand, Hull and P eyrea have a history of promising anything just to get what they want. They through us under the bus with Feltes and now they are throwing the teachers under the bus. Just wait. If you take something away from a child like Jaybird what does that say about you.
What has been done to a child Jaybird should not be tolerated. Now we learn the Board is allowing it to be.named the Ann Garcia Benevides Center. That is not what they voted on. They are ridilous. To the person who said Peryea and Strand are outvoted who are the kidding.? They are in the majority.. They got what they wanted and now they are lining their pockets.
Reading over the comment From the Magnet program shows the worthless administrators we have. The Curiculum is weaker than the other middle school programs. They have, no sports program and the electives are weak. Now we learn about the the computers. Rowley was a pet of Roberts and got the job since she has had one problem after another now the board gave her a AP to do her job. All the other buildings need 500 students. Several students dropped out last year, they have no Sped, and class size is limited. So why the problem.. It's another EA ok program.
a something needs to be done with Feltes he spent over $100,000 in one month in repairs with Youngrens all no bid. Youngrens is the company that got David. Finley fired when he questioned Feltes and is no bid work now nobody is watching and we are up to $100,000 in one month. the work was done at a variety of buildings .
Here's a link to the school supply lists for kindergarten through 8th grade in our district.
Hard to believe we're only a few short weeks away from a new school year!
http://www.d131.org/PDF/2014-2015SchoolSupplies.pdf
Feltes is bid altering. He gives out work in small parcels to not go over the $25,000 limit. Some honest school districts use $10,000 for out to bid. Not ours we pay this bumbling idiot $120,000 plus benefits and then he runs a scam to the side. His former partner has had to put on three labors because Youngrens is sending him so much work. Youngrens works at the schools and he gets all their piping work.
Now their is nobody watching the store . Popps hands are tied because of Leonard . There is no solution to EA the good get fired and the corrupt stay.
I have read Ralph Padrons attempt to investigate the district. My response is good luck coruption runs so deep one can not begin to know how to start. I heard one year after all country club retreats were stopped the district started up again at Arrowwood. Also, meals and entertainment are running again. In the past you could look at credit cards now they are paying cash and getting reimbursed, using Sodexo, and spending out of building cash. To date there is no over site. The board is allowing the same old sh**.
The board will rubber stamp anything Popp says . He is another Mike Radocvich in personality and character. Which means he has none
Central Office news is that Ray Hull needed to save face in the Afro American Community today and the District will be picking up the entire mortgage for Quad Country as well as any expenses associated with the Building. Quad will still be allowed to use office space free of charge.
We talked with the new Director of Elementary Ed today and can not believe he has hired. Flanigans has never worked with a Bilingual program. What are they thinking!
Negron was a intelligent forward thinking individual who lead the PLC work in our district. What a loss. Thbaks to our school board. We just took a big step backwards.
The new Sup is allowing East High to pay for staff parties and it has become a slush fund of $250,000 in fun money. the BOE does not approve these expenses. There have been tickets to baseball games, restaurants, food, and golf outings. Someone needs to look into it.
the BOE is aware of it and so is Popp nothing is being done.
Central Office news is a big temporary move is taking place. It is temporary because the district is out shopping for a new administrative center. Millions will be spent while the schools will overcrowded to 30 plus per classroom.
You can see what the priorities are.
Have you seen the admin center? Some staff are working in a trailer! They deserve a better quality working conditions with good air quality and appropriate ventilation. B
Have you seen where our children spend their day? They also deserve working spaces that are not overcrowded and have good air quality and proper ventilation. They also deserve computers that don’t still have floppy drives and a real curriculum. The ceilings shouldn’t be leaking on their heads every time it rains and they shouldn’t be breathing the mold all that leaking produces. They shouldn’t be eating lunch at 9:45 in the morning or 1:30 in the afternoon. They deserve athletic facilities that allow them to compete and are safe. The HS track is falling apart and the stands are covered in lead based paint. Waldo doesn’t have a full field and can’t host any outside sports. Cowherd’s field is a bowl that becomes a swamp every time it rains hard. The Magnet has nothing. Simmons is the only school with nice fields but they are owned by the Fox valley Park District. District 131 provides nothing. Our children deserve much better that our current board and administration have provided.
Neighboring districts spend relatively the same amount of money per student that District 131 does but somehow, they are able to provide so much more for their students. They have much newer, much more modern and safer buildings and equipment that are on spaces that children can grow. They have the books they need, the curriculum they need, quality food, smaller class sizes. They transport their students to and from school and pay their teachers a much more competitive salary.
When you see what neighboring districts provide their students with the same money per pupil that District 131 does, it really makes the community wonder where the District 131 tax dollars are really going. Take a trip to Indian Prairie or Oswego schools and you will see the incredible difference. According to the Illinois report card for the 2011-2012 the district received almost $162 Million Dollars. Does anybody believe we are really spending $162 Million on the children??? As Jerry Maguire, years ago stated “Show Me the Money”. Somebody with better accounting skills than I have needs to find out where all this money is being spent because it is not on the buildings or for the children.
Have you seen the crowded classrooms and the conditions of them why isn't the administration and BOE doing something about that.
Two Directors with music degrees have been hired recently. I have nothing against the fine arts but really?
They could hire someone with expertise to lead our teachers that at the very least hold a degree in a core subject matter. Secondary Ed and Elementary Ed need major improvement and this is the best we can get?
I also reviewed their endorsements and also noticed they did not hold a anything but their 75. Teachers are bring required to update reading endorsements and hold ELS certificates per Glotzbach but we do not hold the same standard for our administrators.
They have no experience in Bilingual . Dr Popp new hires have been horrible. What is the school board thinking. They have stated they will not question him. Maybe they need to start.
The person who is Beyond belief has nailed the facts about our district. They have cried poor for years while receiving more free money (ie grants, etc) than any district around us. "our children are non English speakers, our children are low income" That doesn't mean they deserve any less of an education than the communities around EA. I would love to see the accounting pages that show all the grants and gifts from local stores, clubs and organizations D131 has received on top of the money it receives for the students mentioned above.
I believe it was Marin who played the card for extra $$ to educate our non-English speaking students. I suspect those accounting numbers included many with Spanish surnames that didn't even speak Spanish. She was given $$ to hire people who were doing a disservice to our ELL students, while her and friends took trips to Spain to find teachers. We had EA grads trying to get in the door as teachers or students from nearby colleges with the same certification the teachers from Spain had. Our local teachers would not have gotten home sick and returned to Spain. In addition they would have spoken the language as they do in countries these students were raised.
Just another point to add to the ones Beyond Belief has made. No one seems to truly be working towards making a difference for the education of our students. The teachers try and find many road blocks. Parents complain and their children move on 2-3 grades and get no answers. These are NOT new problems, but old ones that have snow balled.
I believe we need outside intervention and we need it 5 years ago.
Tom Flanigan
After checking with friends in U46, Tom was told he had one more year to improve. A messy out of court settlement involving a EEOC complaint and falling test scores would have sent him back to the classroom. He has 31 years in the TRS system and his pension would have taken a financial hit. If I can find this info out why not Joan!
We have already had to send him to training and he will be missing valuable time to get Principal eval training something every administrator should have. He should have never been hired without.
He also has had no background in PLC training or Bilingual. It makes you wonder why he was hired.
Gossip is he is a friend of Popp. He was scored the lowest in the interview process.
Last year was filled with hope this year everyone feels hopeless. Someone on the board other than Johnson needs to ask questions. We thought you cared Kristen please step up.
Congrads to Jalitza Martinez and David Rojas two of EA finest for their appointments at West Aurora.
They have a who understands cultural diversity.
Unlike Mike Popp who looks at only a white world. Strand and Hull are responsible liars that what we think of you. You claim to want diversity but when it comes to backing it you do nothing.
Sorry fat fingers
Congrads to Jalitza Martinez and David Rojas two of EA finest for their appointments at West Aurora.
They have a Superintendent who understands cultural diversity.
Unlike Mike Popp who looks at only a white world. Strand and Hull are responsible liars that what we think of you. You claim to want diversity but when it comes to backing it you do nothing.
July 9, 2014 at 2:02 PM
Both Thuckenbrod and Flanigan got hired with elevated salaries. They started with salaries over $130,000 when everyone else was started in the same job at $120,000.
Teachers, secretaries and support staff demand your cut everyone else is getting theirs.
openline.blogspot.com/2012/12/east-aurora-school-district-131-drama.html
Cronyism is back, alive, and profitable under the Popp era !!!
And then there is the Marty Feltes shenanigans is pulling on a daily basis.
Speaking of Throwback Thursday, the district golf outing is today.
What does that have to do with Throwback Thursday? 4 of the 8 AEEF board members were involved in the corrupt Radakovich administration:
Daniel Barreiro
Clayton Muhammed
Lisa Morales
Larry Malaker
And Mr. Malaker, the current chairman of the AEEF board, was president of the "School Board From Hell" that disregarded hundreds of students, parents, and community members back in 2005.
Mr. Muhammed said "For us, the whole issue is over"...
Many in our community would say otherwise.
Well I wouldn't be surprised if "Serial Bully" Radakovich, "Peyton Place" Postlewaite, John Struck, Jay Augustine, and others from that era show up today to reminisce about the good ol' days when they ignored us and said "screw you" to the community.
After all, they all gathered for the Serial Bully's third wedding last fall.
“Holding onto anger is like drinking poison and expecting the other person to die.”
"Those who do not learn from history are doomed to repeat it"
I don't know much about crossing streams, but I can say I don't plan to cross any GREENS at Phillips Park today!
Popp should fit in well then they can all talk about who to screw the District.
I remember when the Serial Bully hired all his friends and paid them accordingly.
Talking with Hull a couple months ago he stated he was going to leave the board and his mentor Mike Radocvich encouraged him to stay.
So history has repeated itself look who is back in charge!
My disappointment is Strand I believed she had a good heart. Now I believe she is only in it for the money and using the poor to make it.
D131 has returned to the days of old. Feltes is in bed with Cordigan and Clark. I am sure they will all be attending together.
As a FYI to Ralph FOIA all of Cordigans bills. They are now charging for day to day projects that in the past got handled by Scott Swiegert or Dave Finley. Cordigan was only suppose to handle large construction projects. This too had been shared with Popp and Hull.
Scott and Finley both got targeted by Leonard and were fired. Now nobody watches out for the district. Leonard and Feltes are lining their pockets.
Speaking of the out of date, dangerous and horrendous East High Track….go out there on a Tuesday evening. Tom Boatright is using the track to train track athletes. None of these students go to East High AND Mr. Boatright pays $0.00 to do this all summer. And guess who approved this…none other than Nestor Garcia. The same person who hasn't allowed our high school track team to host a meet in the past 6 years because he doesn't want to approve a new track or stadium. And every time we host events, you see little kids crawling on chipping, lead based paint in the bleachers. Yet he can have the B&G people over to refinish his basement when he was in charge of B&G. Pathetic!!
Update
I was going to speak at the July 7th Board meeting and requested additional 3 minutes from Ray Hull. He would not allow me that courtesy so I am now on Plan B. The Ellington/Human Resources Scandal was the topic. I guess transparency has been redefined.
Ralph, too bad you're not a golfer...you could be talking to Ray Hull right now at Phillips Park.
I have Facebook friends in common with John Struck, and one of them said Ray and John both planned to be at the golf event. I am a golfer (not a very good one, just for fun), but took a pass today because of not wanting to deal with seeing certain people from our district's unfortunate past.
The valedictorian of EAHS Class of 2014 is in need of financial assistance to help him attend the University of Illinois this fall. Read his story here, and make a donation if you are able:
https://www.angeldorm.com/Angel-1042
Hull is a good old boy and the district returned to those days. He stuck it to every maintenance guy who trusted him. So much for transparency!
The track had money approved $500,000 this year but Feltes a told it from the students so his plumbing pals could work on the $500,000 closet. Feltes calls the students wetbacks he thinks we don't hear.
I heard Mike Popp cancelled the student board member scholarship and the foundation would not pick it up . Why are they having a golf outing they keep the money and do nothing for the students.
beaconnews.suntimes.com/2014/07/10/despite-challenges-east-aurora-kindergarten-center-slated-open-time/
openline.blogspot.com/2007/05/east-aurora-school-district-131.html
Teachers beware Popp has told members of cabinet he intends to cap teachers wages. He is mirroring a program in 204. Mr Popp we are not 204. If you cap then you should cap the number of students. We will not except this we will go on strike
Ralph we would love to hear your findings why not bring your wife and have her read the other 3 minutes.
Why is Joan Glotzbach not held accountable for all the mishaps which have wasted valuable manhours and taxpayer money all these years?
Can someone give me some good reasons why she is immune from disciplinary action for all this time.
I have been checking with the surrounding districts getting their input on several issues. The Ellington Clark Cover Up has many wondering why she gets away with those costly mistakes.
Why was Glozabach allowed to stay on after not checking Clark's fingerprints or his bankruptcy. All the teachers have to have fingerprint checks.
That is the double standards of 131 and the BOE paid off for her mistakes.. Now she got a promotion from Popp and she is second in charge.
Padron has no indentions of speaking at the Board meeting. He played the minutes game before with his wife, why not now. Thanks to your group which includes Hull, Peryea and Strand no questions are being asked.
You continue to file FOIA requests and cost the taxpayers thousands of dollars in wasted money while employees pull information. To what point?
Some of us know your real plan just leave us alone.
Yep. As a taxpayer, he sure wastes a lot of his own money and brings down property values with his rants.
Ralph was paid $7500.00 on a consulting contract that he did nothing for. His wife received free insurance for years. sounds like he paid for nothing.
I am a retired teacher and have been in contact with Ralph and his wife for several years.
The difference between Ralph and his critics is that he can prove everything he brings out. His critics fabricate shreds of truth in an attempt to have him "back off"
I can honestly say He is committed to reveal the corruption at 131.
His support group is growing as his investigation expands more and more.
Thank you Ralph
Padron has every right to FIOA anything he wants to. If this district was more open he wouldn't have too. Some districts after someone FIOA things that have a place where they post those results and what they where submitted for. I believe he also gave his results to the BOE and they didn't nothing about his findings. As for the free insurance I believe the district made them pay the money back.
You should look at some of the other districts where parents care about their children's education they FIOA a lot of things.
I wonder why the keep Glozabach also with as many mistakes she makes and he taking her husband on trips with her. Not doing background checks on any employee of the district is against the IL School Code and that goes for finger printing. Popp is off to a bad start by not getting rid of her.
I have been around 131 for a long time. Working in Central Office I can tell the District is back to the days of Michael Radocvich. The School Boards hand off approach is why the District had many problems with Radocvich. Staff moral is at a all time low, and he has hired two friends that do not have clue in working with a diverse culture. He also is bring in consultants that again do not have a clue. The evaluation models they are attempting to install may work in 204 but not here.
We can not afford to repeat history.
If you look at the IL School Code you will see that it isn't the boards responsibility to run the district. The most important thing about their job is to hire a good Superintendent to run the district and to follow policy they put in place and to follow the IL School Code.
The problem with this board is they don't get educated in the code and believe they don't have to follow it. They do go to that conference every year in Nov. but it isn't to learn who who to be a good board member it is to get free food and other free stuff. Has the two new members gone to any training it doesn't look like it with the way they are doing things.
Superintendents and Administrators have to go to training to be these things and have to learn the School Code and laws. It seems the ones we do have the certificates but choose not to follow the law since they have gotten away with mismanagement.
If you work in the central office, i hope they find out who you are and fire your disloyal, negative butt.
You have no idea what you are talking about.
To protect Hulls reputation in the Afro American Community he cooked up a deal. The District will now pay their mortgage and all expenses for five years. In five years we will pay more than the building is worth. Urban League will also get to keep much needed office space rent free. This while our administration will be given a small closet and copy room on the second floor. The social workers don't even have space to work with high needs kids. The district is so corrupt the State needs to take over but they will not.
Heres another waste of taxpayer money. Central office is in chaos because Popp wants all administrators in one building. No problem with that except that he wants them all at the Service Center. Once everyone is moved around which costs hugh amounts of money for unscheduled work for maintenance and technology not to mention the cost of wages paid to office personnel for not being able to perform their job responsibilities during the move this is all going to be repeated again in 6 or 8 months when all personnel will be moved into a "new" building. If Popp truely cared about this district he would have left the status quo alone and made one move at one cost to the district. But Popp wants what he wants when he wants it and screw everyone and everything at the district. His lapdogs Reyes-Childress and Glotzbach do his bidding and make sure that they get exactly what they want right off the top. There is a lot of talk on this blog about the Serial Bully regime. Let me clue you in its going to be far worse than anything Radakovich ever thought of!!
It is the responsibility of the board to spend wisely and yes hire a good Superintendent. They did not do that. Over 30 got moved it has created confusion and it was not needed while we prepare for the new school year. It is true he is looking at buildings and rumor is it off the tollway somewhere with a big price tag. If he cared he would understand our kids are in overcrowded poorly maintained buildings. He would never put himself first. the board could have stopped him. It really speaks to his character.
New hires
Out of the 10 administrators he hired not one has a Bilingual background. His two friends got hired in $10,000 more than the districts starting salaries. the Urban League is a fiasco. The teachers have not been hired and we are paying all of the expenses. he has and is in the process of giving consulting contracts to retired friends. Yes it is far worst than the serial bully years.
Jerome Roberts is sourly missed I you can believe that.
The Golf outing was the old cronies responsible for stealing the district blind and now we have Mike. He started by demanding a bathroom remodel on a Sunday before he became Sup. Guess he could not have a bathroom that Roberts had. HMMMM!
His hires are the white boys club, we thought Raymond Hull said teachers who are white can't teach. Then does that not hold true for administrators. Amazing not one of the 10 are Bilingual. Amazing how the Sup in 129 recognizes diversity. We lost two great future role models this week in Martinez and Rojas.
At least The serial bully waited a year to steal us blind but Mike Popp knows he can.
How dare you tell the whistleblowers in the Central office to find another job-- so the graft and corruption can continue unchecked? So teachers can be evaluated out for no good reason? I notice lately no letters from teachers are being published-- we are not important-- only the main conduits to our precious students.
https://www.angeldorm.com/Angel-1042
In just the past couple of days, $400 has been donated for this deserving young man. Whatever money is donated will be sent directly to the university (in this case, University of Illinois) to be applied to Angel's college expenses.
Many people complain and gripe on this blog...now here's an opportunity to do something POSITIVE.
A building off the tollway? In the same neighborhood with 4 of the Board members?
I am so disappointed in our Board. I will not point fingers at individuals. I had such high hopes for the new structure giving some new opportunities for change. The Board may be led by someone different, but the decisions being made still do not appear to be the best interest of educating the students.
Update:
Will now begin pursuing the B&G issues. One application I reviewed did catch my attention thus I will be pursuing several of the answered questions on there application.
I know many of you are working in fear and being intimidated by several of the Administrators and that is an issue I will be pursuing intensely.
Don't give up hope !!! And most of all keep your posts going on here as it gives me info to pursue the corruption and intimidation at 131.
The Ellington issue is now finalized and been forwarded in its entirety to ISBE.
B&G may very well be the issue that will be covered up in ways we can't imagine.
Let's expose the corruption together
I believe 5 of the members live by the toll way. They do not reflect the community. They made a lot of promises and have all stated they will turn the district over to the Superintendent. I support that but I am disappointed in who they hired. The fact he is more concerned with a office than the schools is disappointing. Why are the board members allowing him to waste time and money on this., Most offices today are mobile.
I am also disappointed about the credit cards and settlements they have made. it seems they had it cleaned up but the abusing them againi. Feltes is also a bad hire. Leonard should have not been allowed to interview and hire his friend. None of them stopped that as well and I believe all voted to promote Feltes twice. True corruption
Then the naming of the building after Gonzalez and Hulls friend and taking it away from the child.
I was never a fan of Johnson's mostly because she supported Roberts but at least she is voting no and did clean some things up. We need a new Board
It is very hard working at 131 Popp has told employees that loyality and secrets is what he expects. He is extremely afraid of Annette Johnson finding out anything. The application you are speaking of is Marty Feltes. They changed job requirements for him and allowed Leonard to be on the interview committee to hire his friend . He was hired for $80,000 plus benefits
Many of us became alarmed and went to Montroy, Hull, and Peryea who agreed to meet with us. They wanted dirt on Johnson. Hull promised he would take care of it once they were in power. many of us worked putting signs and donating cash. They stated they wanted cash so we would be protected and not have to name names.
Hull was given information on Youngrens and several other issues. He let Feltes know and David Finley got fired even thought he was only one of the group. Youngrens called Feltes and told him somebody was checking on work given to Feltes former partner. Then Feltes got another promotion in November something that is not done. when. Dr Roberts was asked he said the entire board supported it and his hands were tied. He went on to say he was glad he was getting out. He told us he was forced to post a one week internal job and it was not his idea. We contacted Hull, Strand and Peryea. They then stopped returning our calls. We also shared many accounting violations with them before the vote. hoping they would be honest. Still no returned calls. They still promoted him. Peryea, Hull and Strand all said yes. now he was making $120,000 plus benefits.
In February a employee who was retiring took the accounting violations to Roberts and Johnson. She showed them over 600 invoices that violated district procedures many of them showed no bid issues. Again Youngrens was highlighted. It stopped and things got better until Hull and Popp got put in charge. Now Youngrens is getting all the work there are invoices for over $100,000. Repair can be made by district maintenance people but Feltes says we are not qualified. We are qualified and kept the buildings going for years. They recently had to give him more money that's why.
Feltes has now started targeting us with bad performance reviews and has said Mike Popp and the board is going to replace us with repair people from the outside and a temp service. We are just trying to hang on. we are hoping for a miracle.
Many people got fired or demoted for the same things Feltes is doing. The district is worst than the serial bully days and far worst than Roberts.
Ralph although we back your efforts you still need to come to the BOE meeting and speak. It needs to go in the offical minutes. We have been in touch with the.Beacon about some of these violations but she does not print it. The rumor is because of the relationship Hanley had with the Beacon and his mentor is Denise Crosby who is killing the stories.
We exposed some hiring practices and Feltes invoice issues have they have never been printed.
Follow the money trial with Popp it is interesting.
The payoff to the Urban League is another. the District is paying her mortgage payment and allowing her to stay in the building.
The District is screwed. The entire school board needs to resign. They should have hired a leader to run the District but they hired the repeat of Mike Radavich. In some cases worst because Radavch recognized diversity and this guy is a racist.
Let us not forget their first choice Jessie Rodriguez who could not pass the basic skills test. My understanding is Popp did not have a Referance check or site visit. The board was so lazy they could not travel two miles to d204.
The most important responsibility is hiring a Superintendent they failed
I am sure everyone will jump on board and start attacking her but Annette was scapegoated by many for cleaning issues up. The Insurance was Augustine's and before him Tony Trasinos they both did nothing. They all had credit card abuse and the board knew it. In fact Wells and. Farnum took their family members to. SanDiego. , Orlando, and Washington DC. It took sometime but Johnson did fix them.
Other scandals also got cleaned up. Nestor Garcia needed to be replaced and was. I did not support Johnson's choice of Feltes but I know she held people accountable. I do know employees went to her about Feltes and she dealt with it.
Padron attacked her meeting after meeting that was unfair. Now we have Popp and we are back to the days of old. History does repeat itself but I am glad she stayed with the board at least there is some accountability.
The unfair attacks on her have showed employees not to come forward because the majority will destroy them. The silent majority knows what is going on. Popp does hate her he talks behind her back all the time and it is very unprofessional.
The word is WORSE, not WORST. I am tired of reading "The district is worst off" and the like.
Weiler is related to Marty Feltes.
Johnson had no authority to handle anything with the administrators or employees if she did they should contact the ISBE. No baord member can handle things on their own this is why this district is the worst in the State they chose not to follow the law.
Anyone has a right to be a whistleblower and I am glad Johnson handled this she saved the taxpayers millions.
As for the States Attoney issues have been sent over to him and he did nothing. This District is horrible because of people like you. Asking the Superintendent or Business manager to police themselves is like asking the fox to watch the hen house. Augustine knew people did not pay for insurance including his own secretary who he had a close relationship with. He was told by a payroll clerk five years ago and she was harassed until she quit. Roberts also took a blind eye so to everyone singing his praises he was no better. Johnson protected him and finally did clean issues up. It would have not been if it was not for her.
Employees work in fear at 131 and they are living in fear again.
Johnson also was to slow in fixing issues she did some things very well like ridding us of Marin Gonzalez but her relationship with Roberts does leave a question mark. The other Board members are corrupt do nothing's only interested in themselves. On a scale of 1 to 10 she is about a 5 and the rest of them are zeros. at hey have taken no action
States Attorney
thank you for your input !!!
How would everyone like to read the letter I wrote Dr Popp and Ray Hull?
I copied the entire Board of Ed and others. Why is this important? Because they have officially been notified and the truth must be made public.
Many other prominent, influential individuals have been notified of Part 3 of my investigation of 131.
131 now has the reputation of being non responsive when confronted with facts and truths. Can't help but use the words COVER UP in multiple levels at EA.
Johnson as a board member can't really do anything and The States Attorney only handles fraud and things against the IL School Code. Did she turn herself in when back some years ago when the where in Chicago and bought liquor on the districts dime which is against the law. It was not her job as a board member to clean up issues it was the whole boards responsibility not hers. As far as Marin Gonzalez she did what the board wanted at the time and I'm not defending her.
So Ralph what are you going to do about NOTHING. In the past you came yo board meetings and attacked Annette Johnson and Dr Roberts unmercifully. They actually made the effort to clean things up. They also had transparentcy.
I attended the last meeting and Hull actually told the public it was the boards meeting and the public is just a guest invited to their meeting.
Hull and Popp have managed in three months to return the district to the serial bully days.
It's time to let it go the district is hopeless.
By the way things look, things have not improved at all in D131. This is such a shame because such actions and behaviors make good teachers and administrators leave to better districts where they will feel supported and not persecuted. In the end, the ones that suffer the most are the students of D131.
Popp changed the rules on the Student Board members and denied him his scholarship as students had in the past.
Popp is handing out big salaries to friends but mistreated the students. I just like administrators talking about a new building for themselves and not worrying about the overcrowded schools.
It shows he has no respect for our community.
Where is the 165 Hope money Annette?
As the week progresses we have wasted more time pulling papers for Ralph Padron. Our lawyer also needs to review his requests which costs the children of our district lost revenue. When we are spending time with him it takes us away from our jobs. Ralph had told members of administration he will not stop until he gets another consulting contract. He also told Dr Popp he would not stop also. He is insane.
Melody Ellington is a victim of his attacks she has never harmed him. Just another example of who he is.
beaconnews.suntimes.com/2014/07/15/east-aurora-offers-non-athletic-summer-camps-for-first-time/
Why don't they have the papers together for what he needs. If he is looking for bids then they should be all in a file cabinet of on a computer so they can just print them. It looks like this district doesn't know have to keep things in order. It is time that someone looked into how records are kept since we know how they handled the credit cards no one was looking when employees used them for their own expenses.
If Melody Ellington lied on her application then she committed fraud and should be dealt with. If it was a teacher would they get away with it.
my next post is a summary of what was discovered on my FOIA requests concerning the HR / Ellington Background check. You tell me whether there was a very questionable hiring or not
Part 1 The Facts
On several occasions I have corresponded with Dr Popp concerning the hiring of Melody Ellington.
May 6th Presented Superintendent multiple documents and was promised a response
May 17th Forwarded documents from Dist 67 Morton Grove which verified my findings
June 30th Sent request for follow up per my previous inquiries. ISBE recommended I do this.
As of this date July 14th 2014, I have not received a response to any of the above. It is very evident that the Superintendent is ignoring my requests for unknown reasons.
The facts are as follows pertaining to Ms Ellington’s application and background
Morton Grove Dist 67
Dec 8 2008 – June 30 2009 contracted with Dist 67
May 15th 2009 Superintendent contacted Melody he was recommending her for termination.
May 18th 2009 Resigned (effective June 30 2009) in lieu of termination.
Between July 2009 – June 30 2011 there was no employment listed on her application.
Matteson District 159
July 1 2011- June 30 2013 began contract ($ 94,500.00 annually)
June 28 2012 Resigned immediately (no reason given) with 1 year left on her contract.
August 1 2012 Lawsuit filed vs Defendants Business Manager Melody Ellington and Superintendent Barbara Suggs Mason
December 2012 Settlement with plaintiff – lawsuit dropped
East Aurora Dist 131
July 2013- June 2014 (1) year contract $ 88,000.00 annual
June 30 2014 Position eliminated
Part 2 THE QUESTIONS
Questions
1 Why has Dr Popp intentionally avoided answering my inquiries
2 Why was Melody not retained in some capacity in the Business Office at 131
3 How thorough was the background check done by Human Resources? I was able to obtain this information utilizing FOIA several school districts.
4 Would Ellington’s answer on her application” referencing resigning to avoid termination” be classified as lying? If so, is this reason for not being hired? If not please explain.
5 Should a person handling large sums of taxpayer dollars be held to higher level of accountability
6 Why did she suddenly resign from Dist 159 with 1 year remaining on a $94,500 contract
She listed no employers afterwards for 2 years.
7 Why did she answer the question on her application
Reason for Leaving (Dist 67 & 159) “Sought better Opportunities”
8 Application for 131 reads employed at Dist 159 July 2010 – June 2012
Incorrect answer as her contract began July 1 2011 – June 30 2013
She resigned June 28 2012.
9 How could Human Resources miss the above info and not question her background.
Part 3 THE TRUE ISSUES
THIS IS NOT ABOUT MELODY ELLINGTON
A It is about Human Resources Background/Reference not discovering the above
B Why has Dr Popp not responded to my multiple inquiries while Melody was employed at 131
C Does East Aurora D 131 hold accountable those who created and ignored this problem
D Although Ms Ellington is no longer an employee, does this issue go away
The Taxpayers, Community, and Citizens of Illinois are entitled to an explanation on what happened and why was it not addressed when I brought it to the attention of the Superintendent and Board President? Is Human Resources immune from any disciplinary action as a result of multiple mistakes on this and the Ernest Clark not being-fingerprinted to say the least ?
I am requesting an investigation (outside of District 131) to look into this and other matters I will be presenting in the near future.
The progress of the business office has been stopped by Hull and Peryea. They had private meetings with Clark and Ellington and encouraged them to sue. Ellington lied and is now collecting unemployment. the district could have stopped her claim. Clark was paid $122,000 and stopped working in December. The district also never explored a charge from many long time employees that they had been verbally abused by Clark and Ellington. In fact Hull sent us a email and told us to be good Christians and get along. Turn the other cheek.
The Board is at fault for paying the settlements and not doing something about Gloztbach. this was not her first offense with the business office she allowed Jay to take his sick days and collect vacation dollars. He
Eft in September and has paid through November and never taken off insurance until January. Mcclusky his replacement lied that she had a CPA she did not. Again Joan. the Business office employees are sick of being scapegoated because of poor administration.
Wait till the Bob Green settlement gets made public it's coming. Again poor documentation with Joan.
You go Ralph.
Read today's Beacon maintenance workers at 204 are begging the school board to help. they discussed a 16 year employee who only makes $10.00 per hour. That is what Popp and Feltes are doing to us. In are next contract
they are going the 204 way. We will become private employees. We have been sold out by Hull, Peryea and Strand.,They are supporting Feltes. Ralph please release your findings and read the article. please we have families.
Ralph,
This information cannot be shared with you! It is confidential and could land the district in all kinds of trouble by sharing info. With you.
You are barking up the wrong tree. And causing the district to spend money to address your stupid requests. C
Stop already. Get a life
Are you the spokesperson for EA?
If so explain and justify your reasoning.
Why won't you identify yourself
FYI The best is yet to appear in the next investigation !!!
While Feltes gets a big raise from the scum bags and liars on the board our wages will be reduced to $9.50 per hour. Maybe your lazy a** husband should work for that Ms Strand. I remember when Montroy and Hull prayed with us and said You and Peryea would not let that happen. You took our money and now you allow Feltes to state we will be outsourced as employees of Amemark.
Leonard you wonder why you have cancer you are cancer. From $80,000 to $120,000 why dont you expose that Ralph.
Feltes and Leonard had a bad repution in their trades unions of breaking the rules. Before Feltes became a disrict employee he was reported by Monoco Mechanical for not paying union wage. Since that time Feltes and Leonard got even and used the District lawyer to sue Monoco contending poor workmanship on another job. This has cost the taxpayers ten of thousands of dollars for a personal situation. Now the employees are getting screwed. Feltes is taunting us everyday.
EA Workers please tone it down, I am on top of all the irregularities at B & G.
Everything starts with the application which I have noticed some interesting observations. HR will be questioned on this.
also can you please explain the comment
"Montroy and Hull prayed with us and said You and Peryea would not let that happen. You took our money"
Zach and Ray prayed about what and what is the money taken all about
If Hull and Peryea had a private meeting with those two then they broke the law a board member should not be talking directly to an employee per the IL School Code. The same with Hull and Strand talking or emailing custodians. Feltes and Leonards closeness is a problem also and Leonards is a problem Leonard should not be in the schools telling people what to do. You workers might be scared but their is a Whistle Blowing law you could use and if enough complain the State should look into it.
Pardon keep up with your work you have every right to do so. Just make sure you find out where to go with the information because going to the BOE won't do a thing.
As of 7:23 p.m. our community has raised $1,240.00 to help Angel with his college expenses.
A lot of the credit goes to THIS BLOG, for informing readers about the website. Blog readers may often be cynical and petty, but they can also be incredibly generous.
Keep it up, East Aurora blog community!
www.angeldorm.com/Angel-1042
No Credit goes to this blog. This blog is a cancer. Cancer is never good until it goes away.
During election Hull came to us and asked for help. He promised we would never get a cleaning service in. if he could get rid of Johnson. He blamed her for hiring Feltes. Montroy told us if we donated cash to his election he would not have to disclose it. The secretaries union did the same. In the last negotiations we lost a paid holiday and some sick days. We were told if we gave in and got the same as teachers we would not lose our jobs. That was true but many of us felt it was unfair since the teachers had a 9 month contract and we had a 12 month contract
After election Peryea, Strand and Hull turned their backs and gave Feltes the promotion they also named names he has targeted many of us with write ups. Now Feltes tells us Hull and the board will do what 204 did and Popp agrees. Feltes is lining his pockets and abusing his power with Leonard they are together all the time during work hours.
Hull, Peryea and Strand sold us out. We brought issues to them and Hull got Finley fired with the Youngrens bids. They turned around and voted Feltes a big raise in the middle of the school year. When Roberts left he said he was forced to promote Feltes and he apologized to us.
Mike Popp came in and backed up all the performance reviews . Feltes has stated Popp supports not having maintenance workers and using Amemark.
"This blog is a cancer"
Only if in your tiny brain information qualifies as cancer!
I am one of those who saw the Angeldorm info posted here, went to the link, and donated. And I recognized the names of a couple of my D131 neighbors on the list of donors. One of them told me that yes, she had found out about it on the blog.
Instead of telling people to shut up, why don't you organize a donation link yourself when this one is finished? Maybe another deserving organization in our community can use your help, like...
...the American Cancer Society.
;)
I told you this blog was like a cancer. A lot of people saw that post here and a lot of people have cancer.
Cancer is a bad thing.
Supporting a student is a good thing.
7:36 a.m. is a moron.
openline.blogspot.com/2007/04/election-2007-east-aurora-school.html
The cancer was not the student support. The cancer is the blog. Man you're stupid.
I remember when Zach Montroy (he & his wife are buddies with Marin Gonzalez) was running for the School Board and referred to the blog as "cancer". What a grEAt (not!) community member HE was, moving out of the district when he didn't get elected.
The real cancer in our community is corruption. Those who expose it (like Mr. Padron) are part of the cure. And those who support our students are part of the cure, as well.
The blog is a forum for exposing the corrupt environment we call 131.
Feltes is out of control with the workers, he feels he can do anything because of Leonard.
Leonard had no business being on the interview committee that selected him. I supported Ms Strand but now I can tell she was for herself. She only voted for him get power and control. We need a new school board they have been their to long.
I guess Hull , Peryea and Strand forgot their Oath of Office when they got on the board. Employees of the district quit talking to them they have no authority on their own to change things.
(105 ILCS 5/10-16.5)
Sec. 10-16.5. Oath of office. Each school board member, before taking his or her seat on the board, shall take an oath of office, administered as determined by the board, in substantially the following form:
I, (name of member or successful candidate), do
solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will faithfully discharge the duties of the office of member of the Board of Education (or Board of School Directors, as the case may be) of (name of school district), in accordance with the Constitution of the United States, the Constitution of the State of Illinois, and the laws of the State of Illinois, to the best of my ability.
I further swear (or affirm) that:
I shall respect taxpayer interests by serving as a
faithful protector of the school district's assets;
I shall encourage and respect the free expression of
opinion by my fellow board members and others who seek a hearing before the board, while respecting the privacy of students and employees;
I shall recognize that a board member has no legal
authority as an individual and that decisions can be made only by a majority vote at a public board meeting; and
I shall abide by majority decisions of the board,
while retaining the right to seek changes in such decisions through ethical and constructive channels.
(Source: P.A. 96-998, eff. 7-2-10.)
Have Strand and Peryea completed the hours of training they are suppose to have?
They have been "their" what too long.
We are lucky Montroy did not get elected Marin Gonzalez would have become Superintendent. However we are stuck with Peryea and Strand they used the maintenance people and secretaries. However their choices are showing a history of repeating itself. Wasteful spending and CORUPTION are still prevalent.
This blog literally spreads lies, rumor, speculation and can be harmful to the people who are slandered. I beg people who are reading some of this garbage to consider that even the trashiest of gossip columns have an author that is listed.
Ralph is the only one signing his name to anything on this blog, and he is crazy.
Share positive news, truth, and change the tides.
"This blog literally spreads"...
Truth that otherwise might remain swept under the rug.
Oh, and opportunities to support our students.
Truth is Popp is Superintendent and a 16 year employee at 204 is only making $10.00. Please ask Feltes his plans he will be more than happy to share them.
The fact is they hired him at $80,000 and he is now getting $122,000
They all voted yes. Read the board minutes you moron.
They are sure protecting the districts assets look at the record.
Paid Clark 120,0000 with no fingerprints
Paid the porn guy $18,000
Paid Roberts $78,000 plus a $2000 retirement party.
Allowed Ellington to resign after she lied.
Hired a superintendent that could not pass basic skills.
Hired Feltes for $80,000 gave him a promotion for $120,000 middle of the year. Leonard is his best friend
Credit card abuse still going on
$200,000 of missing checks
All documented in the Beacon News. So the blog spreads lies. All had been approved by the BOE by 7 to 0 votes or 6 to 1.
Continued.
They also named the building against the community's wishes after a friend and took it away from a child with 1200 names on his families petition.
Oh yes Benevides did get her names in a bar and her qualifications was being friends with Gonzalez and Hull.
What a statement. "Marin Gonzalez would have become Superintendent."
How definitive of you. Thanks fire proving the point that this blog is a cancer.
Here's the agenda packet for Monday's School Board meeting:
https://v3.boardbook.org/Public/PublicAgenda.aspx?ak=1000306&mk=50124206
Many are upset because they thought things would be better. Three months into it things seem hopeless.. Popp does not have the pulse of the community and he listens to the wrong people. Feltes and Glozabach have his ear. He hired friends who have no clue about the community and just want Director behind their name. We lost the best administrator David Negron who became fed up with East Aurora and quit. Two of EA finest bilingual role models had no consideration and moved to admin jobs with. West Aurora. Joan and Feltes are out of control with bullying people. Jobs are on the line maintenance saw the article this week and many are worried about their jobs.
Wait until the public gets ahold of the Urban League fiasco. Paying their mortgage and expenses while they keep office space.
Then move of over 30 employees has created unneeded disorganization and expense just to get moved again in six months. The cost will be as much as the new Kindergarten.
The Board is the laughing stock. They have also voted on or looked the other way on many things that prove to respect for the staff or residents.
the blog provides a release.
July 17th, 2014
To: Board of Education Dist 131
East Aurora Il
Subject: Vehicle Purchase Proposal
I reviewed the July 2nd statement to Building and Grounds Committee from Marty Feltes:
“The below vehicles are being requested due to the current condition of the District trucks. Four trucks are 2003 and are in need of repairs and have high mileage. These vehicles are used for plowing and grounds.”
I have several questions concerning this statement which is lacking valuable information justifying this purchase.
Each vehicle should have been listed separately with the following information.
1 The mileage not listed
2 The condition of each vehicle
3 The specific repairs are needed
4 How much will those repairs cost
5 Photos attachments to support request
A cost analysis to support the purchase of new vehicles to include:
1 5 year record of maintenance costs for each existing vehicle
2 Depreciation and other indirect costs of existing vehicles
3 Proposed maintenance costs of new vehicles
I am NOT saying that the purchase is not necessary however does Mr Feltes request be taken without a responsible analysis and supporting documentation?
Did this request follow State mandated law for purchasing criteria? It did pass thru the Building & Grounds July 2nd 2014 meeting.
Mr Raymond Hull was not present
Ms Mary Anne Turza did comment that an explanation would be beneficial for future proposals.
.
I find this very disturbing that a written request with no supporting documentation totaling $ 178,331.26 was forwarded to the Finance committee. This issue is for discussion on the July 21 2014 Board Meeting under the Finance Committee
Respectfully
Ralph Padron.
As this posts comment reflects, is anyone listening? Ralph is pointing out the flaws in the way our district and the board does/ allows business to continue. Yet no one seems to be truly hearing, they just respond in defense but not in answer to.
Come on District 131 School Board. Please! Your job is to be good stewards of the $$ spent for the purpose of educating EA children. Every purchase made, every program implemented, every person hired -your question should be.....is this going to improve or be beneficial to the quality of our education system in 131?
Ralph brings up some good points a good board should see the maintenance cost, pictures of the vehicles and the other things he stated. This is business as usual for this board not asking question and not really getting all the information for spending the taxpayers money.
When are we going to hear anything about how the district is going to get test scores up or improving our schools so the classrooms are not so crowded?
They approved the truck purchase with no oversite. Hull, and Peryea stated in public they are there to carry out what the Superintendent wants. Ralph brings up some great points but our school board is worthless.
Staff can not believe Mike Popps first role is to buy a expensive piece of real estate and build himself a administrative center. He told our cabinet retreat, again held at country club (Arrowhead) that it will be purchased by the end of summer. The entire board knows this. The board never told him stop.
The location will separate the service center from the public and staff. It will show our teachers we don't care if you work in overcrowded buildings.
Yet the board stays silent.
Where are the minutes from the June 16th School Board meeting?
This includes looking for more inexpensive ways to keep our buildings clean, right?
Thank You Ralph the Board should ask these questions but if they are not capable we are glad you are.
At the last meeting there was a another insurance scandals brought up by Johnson regarding a relative of Mardy Feltes. The fund was being investigated by the State. It was on Workers Comp and Building Insurance.
It seemed Popp renewed it and is hiring another consultant for 204. Hull tried to stop her from speaking. I could nit follow the whole discussion.
How does Ralph know that these pieces of information were not provided? Was he in the room during this meeting? He makes crap up!
Why keep minutes our board just votes yes anyways. they never ask questions Turza, Hull, Preyea and Leonard are on these committees and can not ask the questions Ralph did. Everyone voted for Feltes and Leonard is his best friend so how can we believe that they will look after the taxpayer dollars over a friend. the board is totally corrupt and needs to be replaced or the State needs to come in.
They have redefined the Board from hell statement.
There is cancer in this district, but it's not the blog. The real cancer is corruption; like cancer in someone's body, it spreads throughout the district and affects the way the whole "body" functions.
This blog is like medicine. Some medicine is bitter, some is ineffective, some is prescribed for one ailment and taken for another. And sometimes the medicine has unpleasant side effects. Getting rid of the disease (cancer) of corruption and secrecy isn't easy or quick...but will hopefully happen eventually!
Feltes did not answer any questions we lack the ability to answer any questions nor does he use a computer. aNother supervisor was hired to do his job. The man is a joke. All the money he claims to save us our mistakes Cortigan and Clark catches. That is their job they are paid to be construction managers.
They are also being paid to do daily consulting somebody should pull their bills. Very interesting!
Good analogy-July 18, 2014 at 6:08 PM
Good try, Good Stewards all around. Inexpensive is not always the answer to quality, efficiency or being effective.
Yeah, if the medicine is a stool softener....because it is full of crap.
So Ralph why not come to board meeting liked you did in the past? You had no problems attacking Dr Roberts or Annette Johnson. Could it be that you are afraid? Or better yet why not just go away.
Ralph please FOIA paperwork on the Magnet playground. Ray Hull and Marty Feltes's friend Danny Stokes got the contract for redoing the Magnet playground. They parceled it off so as not to go out to bid. The work required a bid. Stokes does sewer work not landscaping or cement work. What does his business have to do with a playground. Oh I forgot they are freinds of Marty and Hulls.
Hull is retiring and must need to pad his income and Feltes well enought said
Everyone on this blog complains about the cleanilness and disrepair of the district.....
Now, how is that effective and efficient?
July 19th, 2014
To: Board of Education Dist 131
East Aurora Il
Subject: Vehicle Purchase Proposal
From the minutes of the July 14th Finance Committee meeting:
“ Building and Grounds Vehicles—State Purchasing.
Ms. Turza spoke regarding a State of Illinois bid for purchasing District vehicles at a discounted price. The committee agreed that any monies needed for purchase of vehicles should be incorporated into the fiscal year 14-15 budget.”
Evidently the Finance committee does not see anything wrong with the proposal from Mr Feltes regarding the issues I presented on my previous letter dated July 17th 2014.
I find this extremely disturbing that a written request with no supporting documentation totaling $ 178,331.26 was forwarded from the Finance committee for discussion at the July 21 2014 Board Meeting.
I request my concerns and questions be addressed and any future request for purchases
meet State Requirements.
Under no circumstances should a verbal generic statement be considered unless documentation is presented to support a request of this substantial amount of money.
.
Respectfully
Ralph Padron.
Finance Committee
Do we really think they are qualified to ask any questions or worry about wasteful spending. Lets remember the past three months or Peryea, Hull, and Truza.
$78,000 to Roberts plus a $2,000 party.
122,000 to Clark with no fingerprints.
18,000 on a teacher guilty of porn
Promoted Feltes and gave him a big raise.
And many other poor choices.
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