The standing ovation should go to Johnson, Arroyo, Hatchett and Leonard for making the changes possible. We had curriculum and plans in hand across all building today. It shows the district has turned the corner. Dr's Hoyta and McDonald deserve much of the credit but at least some BOE members made it possible
Come on, really?! Let credit go where it is truly deserved. The employees at the high school have continued to do their job for YEARS, Inspite of the dysfunctional school board. Now one of the board is posting that their little alliance should get some credit, when they are the ones who caused the problems in the first place! What a joke!! Someone is already trying to build on their campaign for the next board election. What is being heard through the community is there is definitely some light shining in the district. The interim superintendents are giving hope. Now if the board doesn't screw it up again and put the wrong people in place, the teachers and building admin can get back to doing what they do best, educating our students. The EA community gives them a standing O for hanging in there. Thank you EA Staff!
The new board is doing a good job but they did not hire Crespo. The board from hell did as well as hiring Popp. Give the new board members a break Hactett and Arroyo needed to sit through meeting getting called names by organized campaigns from Strand and her children. Actually she has been at the root of problems for years. Laesch doe not come to meeting so he is totally ineffective. I think I have only seen him twice. Darby has been a major disappointment many of us told him about problems with Crespo only to find our manes with Popp. Try being a PPA in the halls with Crespo undermining our every move. The teachers think they are the only ones who count. It takes a villiage to run East.
I will give Johnson a standing O she helped us and many of us had been told stories to hate her by the real cancer of East Jackie Montroy. Nobody is buying your garbage anymore along with Devo.
Just remember, teachers. You screw it up again this year as you have in the past 40 years and you will not have anyone else to blame but yourselves. You have run out of scapegoats. It would be nice that you freely admit that you are a part of the problem so that you can start the process of getting better. Everyone who has passed thru the halls of any university know that education classes are the easiest classes to get A's in. Have never known why teaching certificates went from a 2 year degree into having to have a bachelor degree. Additional formal education has never made a "better" teacher. Let alone the bogus masters degree in order to steal more money from the taxpayers. Ever looked at those 8th grade tests from 1920 and give them to a senior in high school??? Wonder if they would pass.....Remember, you cannot avoid the spotlight this year. Maybe you will even post the proper grades into the grade books this years, simpletons!!!!
Okay...Why did we purchase ReadyGen and Biliteracy? Why is the Bilingual Department doing units for the Biliteracy? What happened to the idea of everyone following one unified curriculum? Why spend the money if they are not using it with fidelity!!!
Here's the first sentence of that article, published TODAY:
"As East Aurora students head back to school Tuesday, Superintendent Michael Popp said he planned this year for the district to look at space needs and work to limit the number of ineffective assessments"
Oh, and there's a PICTURE of "Superintendent Michael Popp" alongside the article.
Ready Freddie Matt quit blogging here!!! we saw "your" PLC video today, a video done by your company that you contract work out to and put your name on . Shame on you. Boriiingggg. Yawn... You keep talking about how easy it is to get a degree in education. Wake up dufus. Taking advanced statistics isn't easy- or reading Socrates and Aristotle or the myriad projects on differentiated instruction for all of the various modalities of disability that one might encounter in the classroom. You sir, are a ninny. We are well rid of you. Fluff off.
Snags in school lunches prompt switch to new deliverer http://www.sfchronicle.com/education/article/Snags-in-school-lunches-prompt-switch-to-new-6488510.php?cmpid=email-premium
Johnson has tried for 3 contracts to get Preferred Meals into the district. She has a relationship with the owner. If she sells products to Preferred would that be a conflict of interest? They were kicked out of San Fran school district last year because of inability to provide lunches to the school on time
Johnson makes high end specialty products I buy them at Marinos and they are a large company out of Newyork. I doubt she knows the owner or they could use her products in a school lunch program.
I was glad to not her sexual overtones today from the BOE President just inspiration. Get a life BOE from Hell.
On another note Crespo pulled kids out of class and violated school code to pump them full of answers for ACT and the scores went down. Some leadership we had.
Nice to see McDonald give a professional speech today instead of Popp talking in circles
I agree with "like to be informed" it has been obvious Johnson has tried to get other vendors in for D131 food service. She is connected and you have to wonder if it isn't a "I scratch your back, you scratch mine." She has definitely had some agendas that keep resurfacing and in my non-legal opinion, just ethically, I would think this is a conflict of interest. She has been vocal to those close to her how she thinks it is wrong for another board member to bring social services to the district through her church. These things are free to our families with no financial rewards. How can doing business with a friends company through the district and with tax payer resources be ok?
Another lie started about Johnson. They won the bid and it was publically bid. The HS has construction have you had to park in the mud pit let alone get trucks in to fed the entire district breakfast and lunch. All of the gas and water come into the building do you want the kids to blow up. MIke Popp get a job and stop writing on the blog.
Yes, the year has begun. Everything sucks again!!!!!!!!!! Food service sucks!!!!!!!!! The board sucks!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! But here is something that does not suck. District 204 ACT scores went up!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Back to things that suck .....District 131 ACT scores suck!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It is nice to know some things you can just rely on year after year after year and those things include the disgusting attitude of the people who work at district 131. You can count on them being negative about everything and talking out of their asses without knowing what is going on. Hopefully the new interim supers can cull the herd of incompetents before we get a new super.
The food service does not suck. Teachers had a chance to taste food yesterday which was nice that we did not have to run out. The food was well prepared and tasty.
Today they provided two selections. Sodexo had not and forced students to eat burrito pizza three times a week. The kids liked the food and the chicken nuggets had different types of sauce. The food was served hot for every class. Sodexo never could keep food warm for all classes . The way the meals were served had students in their seats eating much faster than Sodexo. With the new meals it is grab and go. The kids enjoyed a few extra minutes on the play ground. A good day.
If Johnson did get the new company we should thank her. We have heard it was construction. Sorry nothing sucked
Stop worrying about the Elementary schools and worry about the cold slop Sodexo is feeding students at the HS. Food is coming in cold the lines are long and they are not making enought.
Dear Matt Hanley: Just because there are 300 teachers at the high school does not make us a "herd". I would like to see either one of you with a class of 33 Freshmen- you would not cut it. I am so glad that you naysayers, you little boys who felt so superior to all things Aurora/ all things teachers, had the rugs pulled out from beneath you!
Nice to see the article about the East High band, but why no mention of the excellent 5th through 8th grade band programs in our district that feed into the high school? Those 300 kids in the EAHS bands didn't just appear out of thin air. They all had parents who supported them through several years of learning their instrument, and directors who nurtured their talents and interests. The Beacon article SHOULD have given some credit to our elementary and middle school band teachers (past and present) for those big numbers. Big disappointment!!
The Board discussed multiple options and candidates, including an interim superintendent,” said Board President Annette Johnson. “We all felt that the best course of action was to hire Dr. Popp, an extremely qualified person who met all of the public’s criteria, as soon as possible.” To select the superintendent, the Board used criteria gathered from surveys; in-person interviews with parents, community leaders and members of the public; as well as two forums that were open to any member of the public.
Annette Johnson read a prepared statement and it is documented she never voted for Popp. She has stated many times the board worked in unity and in the hiring of the superintendent they would speak with one voice. The vote was Trusa, Hull and Leonard for Popp. Preyee, Strand Gonzalez for Rodriquez Johnson wanted to look again.
Working with Johnson during our last contract we learned many stories have been fabricated about Johnson. We did meet yesterday as promised by Johnson and the current board. Hoyda was a true professional. If we had questions or concerns she took notes and stated she would work to resolve them. Open communication was shared by all and for the first time we felt our voices have been heard. Every admin and every building rep received training. This was a first.
Who is responsible must be a bitter former board member.
Our district's band families are extremely fortunate that Popp and Truckenbrod are no longer working in D131. Many of us parents were very worried that they would try to eliminate our elementary band program, as happened in D204. I know some D204 parents who lobbied to keep fifth-grade band but the superintendent and administration pretended to listen to their concerns and made a unilateral decision to get rid of it. Our band program (5th grade through high school) is a real strength in our district and our children NEED and DESERVE to have the best possible experience in band!
Can You Say Megalomaniac..... I Knew You Could
said...
It's a real shame that Liska can't give credit where credit is due. If you read the Beacon article, the entire program is Liska's creation and Liska's alone. Liska is an island unto himself. He can't acknowledge the programs and directors that build the high school program. No high school band is created only at the high school level or by one person.
The high school band program begins at the elementary level with the directors who face the biggest challenge of starting students from the very beginning. They recruit hundreds of students because the only way to have 300+ students at the high school after attrition is to start much larger numbers of students. They have tons of patience running around to 5-10 buildings and working with kids with absolutely no instrument background.
The high school program can only survive if the middle school directors also do an amazing job. They develop these incredible kids through the toughest time of life. Middle school kids are going through enormous changes and are just beginning to figure out their potential.
Liska also forgets all the kids, their families and the community that supports the band program through their attendance, participation, fundraising and taxes. Just this year a large grant was given to the program from Kane County. And how about the administrators and school board who support the program with the funds necessary for the program to be successful. They are literally spending millions to build three new band rooms and a new stadium to perform in. And what about all the support personnel who come in early and stay late setting up and breaking down for concerts. Then there are the stage techs who run sound, lights etc.
All of the elementary and middle school directors are working alone, unlike Liska. To be clear, there are three directors at the high school not including the extra directors that are hired during marching band season. Liska didn't mention anyone but himself in the article. Anyone in a high school band director position who acknowledges noone but himself has absolutely no class whatsoever. Liska definately needs a reality check.
The district was going to end 5th grade band . Truckenbrod told parents it was a gift that the district provided this. He went on to tell us we should pay for private lessons. Glad to see the 204 blow heart gone.
Rumor at the SSC is that they are upset Liska never told anyone about the 100 years or the article. He called the reporter and self promoted himself with involving anyone.
The way I see it, Brian Liska was a victim of the Radakovich/Malaker/Gonzalez etc. administration along with Kevin Kaisershot, although in different ways. After at least half a dozen qualified candidates turned down the job, the administration was desperate to fill the position (and admitting a mistake & returning Kevin to the high school was out of the question). Brian was hired just a few weeks before school began; he was basically promised the moon by administrators who glossed over and/or lied about the reasons for Kevin's removal. I think that Brian figured out after awhile that he had been a desperation hire and that his every tiny mistake was being blown out of proportion by community members still bitter about the way Kevin had been treated. Here's a quote from Brian, taken from a music education website in 2011 discussing the "transition year" between one director and another:
"The only thing I would add is figure out why there is an opening. Did the teacher retire on their own terms? Was the teacher removed/reassigned against their will? The removal is particularly difficult if they were liked by the students and community. Read the local newspapers from this spring and summer. If there was some sort of controversy you might find it there. You can also ask why there is an opening in your interview although most administration will sugar coat something negative. — Brian G. Liska"
To Brian's credit he has stayed at East High and seems to have matured into an effective teacher, well-liked by students and colleagues. I wouldn't be surprised if he's tried to find a job elsewhere but with a growing family to support maybe he chooses to continue in D131 for their benefit. I know that Kevin tried to find a job within driving distance of Aurora in 2005, but there were none comparable in salary & benefits and his wife and teenaged kids did not want to leave Aurora. Both men are good citizens, husbands and fathers (a fact that is sure to be noted by the interim superintendent, coming as he does from West Aurora where the previous Director of Bands is serving time in prison).
People on this blog and elsewhere are currently criticizing Brian Liska for failing to acknowledge the elementary and middle schools' contribution to the high school program. But it was the Beacon-News reporter that wrote the article, not Brian! The Beacon-News SHOULD have mentioned the success of the feeder school programs, and maybe interviewed some band members and alumni from way back when. I think that the Beacon-News has been influenced and controlled (directly or indirectly) by the corrupt administration in our district, going back to the Radakovich years. For example in the early 2000s when Kevin Kaisershot composed and published a march, an article and his picture were featured on the front page of the Beacon. In 2009 Kevin won a NATIONAL competition to compose "The Music Teachers March"; several weeks later a tiny article (no picture) was buried in the back pages of the paper. I blame the Beacon-News and D131 administration (not Brian Liska) for avoiding mention of the many great band directors from fifth through eighth grade in our district (after all, the Beacon said absolutely nothing about this year's summer band camp!)
Now the Beacon-News wants to commemorate the 100th year of the EAHS band. I hope they're prepared to hear plenty of criticism about their biased coverage of our district along with reminiscences about the "good old days"!
Not to give this issue more time than it needs, but I want to say good job to "my perspective" for a well-written, intelligent, and un-biased response to the post by "can you say megalomaniac...". I'd also like to point out a few flaws in the logic of that very biased post.
Dear "can you say..." I am disappointed in the flawed reasoning of your post, and I'd like to address some concerns without resorting to name-calling or insults.
First, have you ever been interviewed by a news publication of any kind? If so, do you remember how the article was written? I believe that if you ask anyone who has ever been interviewed (including me) you will find that the subsequent article is not a word-for-word translation of said interview. Usually writers will ask far more questions and collect far more information that they will ever publish. This way they can pick and choose what information they want to use. And sadly, some quotes are inevitably taken out of context, which can lead a reader to draw incorrect conclusions. But even if that is not the case, it is 100% guaranteed that not everything that Mr. Liska said was included in the article.
Which brings me to my second concern. I do not feel that you, unless you were there as Mr. Liska was being interviewed, are qualified to comment on what he did or did not say. As mentioned in my first point, there is no way that everything he said was included, so how can you claim that he didn't mention any of the other aspects of the band program? It is clear that he is very proud of this program, and it is just as likely that he gave credit where credit is due. But for some reason, you seem to have a personal vendetta against him, which causes you to immediately jump to the conclusion that he must be a "megalomaniac". I'm wondering if he did something to you personally that causes you to label him so harshly.
Finally, when I first read that article in the Beacon, my first thought was "Who the heck wrote this?". It's really very poorly written - there is no flow and she jumps from topic to topic without ever making a concrete point. The perfect example is the two random paragraphs in the middle of the article about the ISHA. I have re-read those paragraphs several times and I still can't figure out her point? Does it have anything to do with the fact that EAHS band is celebrating 100 years? If so, I can't find the connection. Her sentence structure is also immature and weak. She starts too many sentences with the words "He" or "Liska", which is probably why you read it and see it as a reflection of Liska's conceit, but please re-read my first two points to see why this is illogical. All in all, I think this author did an awful job of covering this momentous occasion. But you can't really fault Liska for that, can you? Well, maybe you can, but I can only imagine that he must have done something truly terrible to you to deserve such contempt.
Either way, I would like to say congratulations to the EAHS band program for 100 years of education. And congratulations to everyone involved in the district, on all levels, of the band program. Because one thing I do agree with "Can you say..." - it takes all levels to build such a great program at the high school. But maybe we can just say that, instead of twisting this celebration into a way to beat down on one man who you clearly don't like.
Great job D131 band - keep working together to make this program amazing!!
Rush-Copley is offering a Family Fit program. It offers sessions with a personal trainer, a six week healthplex membership among other things. Also, custom nutritional guides and tools developed by Sodex dietitians. The food service that is not good enough for our children is being used by a hospital health program.
The band is better because the board throws money at the programs. When K lead the band the instruments were old and broken and the serial bully made him the scape goat. Sometimes there were not enough to go around. They have music theory classes, additional stipends, and extra staff helping Liska. The elementary programs are supported and so are the middle schools. The credit to rebuilding all the extra programs and we have many now goes to the board.
Let's face it Liska has had the support unlike no other.
Insider (Annette) the slight of hand trick only works on lap dogs who don't listen and can t count. The vote you quoted at the meeting was before Popp was selected, lol. 3 for Popp - 3 for Rodriguez and you wanted to look elsewhere . Mr Rodriguez was selected so you had to be the tie breaker if it was 3-3. Are you saying the newspaper didn't quote you correctly when interviewed about Popp.
Insider is not Johnson it is the staff you sh** all over by making us come in and risk life and limb because we cared about the district. Yes, folks the employees of SSC had to come in when the other employees had a day off from school because roads had been to dangerous to drive and the temperature was negative 10.
The team filled out paper ballots the scoring was 14 to 1 against Popp. He stated from the get go " I am a quick study and if somebody translates I can read it" That first comment was shared with the board. He showed his lack of leadership. Feltes was the one vote. As for the vote it was 3 to 3. Johnson voted for Rodriquez because the staff that had to come in picked him as the lessor of two evils. Dr Roberts then told us he was not able to get certified. Dr Roberts had a talk with Dr Negron about taking over with the help of Dr Hoyda. Sadly, Johnson lost control of the board because of the Feltes investigation. Who's to blame Hull who was so blinded by power he destroyed our district. That is behind us and many moved on because of him. We are happy for our colleagues that today work with true professionals who are changing the landscape of EA.
BTW, Johnson read a prepared press release and for anyone who attended the meeting one could see she found them hard to read.
Insider (Annette) - you forget that all votes are documented via minutes. for eternity. Read the March 10th minutes - it was clearly a 7-0 vote for Popp. Why, I'm sure you even voted to approve the March 10th minutes!! Maybe your long and short-term memory issues are flaring up again. You can't re-write history to suit you.
The board agreed to support Popp whether they all approved of him or not. She was the President at the time and read a statement. When it did not work out they got rid of him. The district is better off today MOVE ON
I've been listening to this band crap for years. People have been making excuses for Liska's screwups forever now. It was Radakovich's fault, it was Marin Gonzalez's fault, it was Clayton Muhammad's fault, it was the board from hell's fault, it was the principal's fault, it was Mr. Kaisershot's fault, it was the communities fault. NOW it's the reporters fault. Excuse me but Mr. liska has been teaching for more than a decade now, when exactly does it begin to be his fault? When does Liska put on his big girl panties and begin to take the responsibility for his own actions?
The Board from hell existed twice what' did both boards have in common they both hired the superintendents from hell. The serial bully and Popp goes the weasel. Who was on both boards Raymond Hull. Glad they are all gone.
Want some cheese with that whine Pass The Buck? In case you missed it the band program is at its highest numbers ever and it continues to grow year after year after year. And yeah, Liska's not doing it alone and the rest of the program needs to be acknowledged and congratulated and yeah, the program is getting more money and support which definitely makes it better. But none of that means Liska is screwing up and needs to take responsibility.
You should take your own advice Look at the Truth, and look at the fact that this district (especially elementary and middle school) still have crap instruments and not enough to go around. But instead of bitching and moaning, something K was amazing at, the current band leadership made stuff happen so they got some new instruments and new uniforms - which Liska had to work for YEARS to get. So yeah, he should take responsibility - for helping make the EAHS Band program back into something the students, district, and community can be proud of!
Haters gonna hate is hating too, it sounds. I had children in the band program and have been a supporter through attending concerts and school athletic games, to buying fruit and such over many years. My children and neighbors and I have ALWAYS been proud of our Band program. We may not have had the prettiest instruments and uniforms, but we sounded good. Our district sometimes has to make due with things such as text books, supplies and yes....band uniforms because there is a district budget and when they prioritize what is "needed" instructional costs for core curriculum will and should come first.
For many years, I recall each student had to purchase or rent their own instrument. The district did not supply instruments, the director and others looked for ways to have instruments donated and repaired. We have students that didn't always continue in band after receiving an instrument and then left....with the donated instruments. Much work was put into the program, other than just directing, but also acquiring instruments and funds for such through any means possible. As has been shown over and over in the history of our district, the arts have not been supported and have always been the first on the chopping block...along with sports. So directors had to be creative in their funding of things and had to rely on their boosters.
It is a wonderful thing that tide has changed, to give the current band director credit for all that has been put into the program over the years for the few things that have now been put into practice is disrespectful of all the boosters and directors that have worked to keep the program going. I don't know the current director(s). Which is something new. Our district has only had one high school director for as long as i can recall. He may be a fine teacher and person. I am just going by what I have read, and he does not seem to be a humble person. If he works well with his students and they continue to build on the musical foundation the elementary and middle school directors have laid, then I guess arrogance aside he is a good teacher. The 100 year history of the program and its boosters should not be summed up in the few years of one director. He is but a minuscule piece of those years.
I am thankful for ALL of those who have continued to fight for and help fund our districts band program. It may not be considered a necessary course but I believe it and all the arts and sports are essential for producing students with a well rounded start to life after high school.
"bitching and moaning, something K was amazing at"...
I don't remember Mr. K ever bitching or moaning! There WAS plenty of bitching and moaning going on by administration back in 2005, however:
--Gordon "Peyton Place" Postlewaite (interim director of secondary education), who made it his personal mission to make Kevin's life miserable by accusing him of insubordination because he had the guts to speak up for parents' and students' best interests
--Marin Gonzalez (EAHS principal), who was heard to whine "oh no...what are we going to DO?" when the original director hired to replace K backed out
--Rick Johnson (EAHS athletic director), who constantly bitched and moaned to his Minooka buddy "Serial Bully" Radakovich that a mere band director would not bow to HIS every whim
--Juanita Wells (School Board From Hell member) who griped that the mangled version of the National Anthem played by the band in September 2005 was actually sabotage by Mr. K's supporters
Plenty of examples of bitching & moaning back then, but not by Mr. Kaisershot!
And about those new uniforms...take a look at the ones Mr. K designed back in the 1980's and compare them with the new ones. VERY similar in design! But if any acknowledgement of that fact was ever given by the new band leadership, I missed it. Just one more example of certain people wanting to take credit for shared success!
It is easy to build a band program when the board buys $300,000 in instruments, pay big $$$$ stipends, buys new uniforms and hires new employees at all levels of grades to help Liska. The prior band directors spent time finding instruments , teaching students with little experience and fundraising. Give credit to the many that really contribute.
I am absolutely hating too and I will totally own it. My issue is blaming someone for other people's opinions and attacking Liska for an article HE DIDN'T WRITE! I will admit to my anger and frustration. And you know what? I'll even admit that that anger and frustrating is probably misdirected at Kaishershot because he hasn't had anything to do with the high school program since 2005. I'm a big enough person to admit my prejudice. Are you? Because that's exactly what's going on here. Prejudice and misplaced frustration and Liska's reputation and freakin' personality is being massively judged and dragged through the mud by people who don't know him and have never had an actual conversation with him about ANY OF THIS SH!#. And I will also admit that in the conversations I've had with him, his manner of speaking includes sarcasism and can sometimes come across as rude. But if you actually have a REAL conversation with him instead of judging him on someone else's opinion, you'll see that he cares about these kids just as much as Kaishershot did, and he works just as hard to make this program continue to grow and be great. And he DOES deserve some acknowledgement, even though that article sucked and didn't give enough credit to anyone else. But Liska DID NOT WRITE IT so the fact that you are blaming him and calling him names is middle-school level, ridiculously childish bullying, plain and simple.
So if you're going to spread this unfounded hate and prejudice, at least be a big enough person to admit that. Because until you admit your unfounded, prejudicial, and just plain spiteful hate, I'm going to keep bringing mine.
So a teacher who spends hundreds of hours a week working his butt off for his students doesn't deserve any credit? Who exactly do you think lobbied the board for that money? Why is it Liska's fault that the board finally started caring? It seems like he should get a tiny bit of credit for helping (because he didn't do it on his own but it sure as heck didn't happen without him) make this program worthy of the support it's finally getting and has deserved for so long.
Good for Liska for getting, keeping, and using that money and support in the best way possible to make the EAHS Band program the best it can be. Keep up the great work sir!!
I'm so confused about your point about the uniforms. Kaishershot might have designed great uniforms back in the 80s but what does that have to do with Liska finally getting the board to buy his much-deserving students new ones? The old ones were over 30 years old! Should Liska have let his students wear moldy uniforms that were falling apart just because Kaishershot designed them? Don't you think K would have been pushing for new ones if he had still been at the high school? I'm just really confused why you're blaming Liska for this.
Liska is paid for all those hundreds of hours. Look at the facts not only did the board add uniforms, instruments and now a new band wing look at the stipends and extra help he is getting.
My point about the uniforms was that Mr. Kaisershot deserved to have been given some credit for designing them, but to my knowledge his contribution was never publicly acknowledged by the current leadership. I did NOT say anything negative or critical about Mr. Liska in my comment, nor did I even mention his name ("band leadership" could also mean Boosters president, for that matter!) And I also said that it could have been the case that credit was publicly given but I was personally unaware of it.
Both Mr. Liska and Mr. Kaisershot deserve credit for our kids' new uniforms. Both men worked hard for our band students to succeed. I just don't see when or where Mr. Kaisershot's contribution (designing the uniforms) was acknowledged. THAT is my point...are you still confused??
"Haters gonna hate" said that Mr. K "hasn't had anything to do with the high school program since 2005". Here's a reminder from 2015:
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ About a month ago, Mr. Liska had auditions for next year's advanced bands (Wind Ensemble and Wind Symphony). When the results were posted, I noticed something interesting:
In the Wind Symphony, 25 out of 48 students attended Simmons Middle School. That's about 52%.
In the Wind Ensemble, 25 out of 45 attended Simmons. That works out to 55%.
Students come into East High from 5 possible sources:
--Waldo Middle School --Cowherd Middle School --Simmons Middle School --Magnet Academy --Somewhere else (private school such as OLGC, transfer from another district, homeschooled, etc.)
It would seem that about 20% of top performing EAHS band students would come from each source...
...yet more than HALF of these young musicians attended Simmons Middle School, under the direction of Mr. Kevin Kaisershot.
Our district should THANK Mr. Kaisershot for his hard work and dedication over the past ten years! Despite being deprived of his previous position by a corrupt administration (over the protests of the community), Mr. K has continued to do an outstanding job teaching our middle-school band students and preparing them for success in high school!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Preparing more than half of EAHS' top band students is DEFINITELY having something to do with the high school program!
Seriously "Pass the Buck"? Are you sure you're talking about the right people? Because it sounds a lot like this other guy 11 years ago - it was never his fault. It was the serial bully's fault, then the principal's fault, then the board's fault. He never had to take any responsibility for anything. But at least he always had his big girl panties on, right?
Sorry, but if you're saying "new band leadership" on this feed, we are all assuming you are talking about Liska, just like everyone else. If you don't want confusion or misconceptions, you'll have to be more specific.
But since we're on the topic, as this blog all too often is, why are we talking about Kaisershot at all...still? I'm sorry, but it's just ridiculous how you "people" bring him up Every. Single. Time. the band is mentioned. It wouldn't actually be that bad, because he did do some great things, but the unbelievably sad part is how you use him to bash Liska. Does this poor man (K) even hate Liska as much as you do? Why the personal vendetta?
Since we're making corrections, I find it interesting that the elementary schools send several hundred band students to each middle school every year and yet each middle school sends less than 50 to EAHS. Waldo sent around 20 one year. And yet not a single one of you mentions that. But I guarantee if Liska's program had that kind of loss, you'd be hiring a pilot to write it in the sky. Unfortunately you can't do that because the high school consistently retains more than 80% of it's band students. Liska must be doing something right that his kids want to stay in his program for all four years. Plus there are kids in multiple bands every year. They take summer school to get ahead and use their extra periods to spend more time playing in the band. Sounds like a pretty good program to me. But god forbid someone mention that because then Liska is just being arrogant, even though he never points this stuff out.
The 9:00 am post was right - this hypocrisy is really sad.
"Since we're making corrections, I find it interesting that the elementary schools send several hundred band students to each middle school every year and yet each middle school sends less than 50 to EAHS" This Is worded wrong or just outright incorrect. There are several hundred students in the elementary program but probably/ most likely fewer than 60 actually wind up "enrolled" in the middle school band at the 6th grade level owing to a number of things. As a rule a lot of the bilingual kids aren't allowed to enroll or are discovered to have been and then pulled out. Some kids who are behind in certain areas are pulled for "extra help" and except for the Magnet school many students are in double block math, science and language arts classes coupled with the previous mentioned deficiencies and are kept out until they recover. By then they have lost interest or are well behind the others and out of frustration they quit. Some do it anyway as a means to try some of what the rotation classes have to offer. So if the HS is still getting 50 from each middle school each year? That's probably a gift.
HELP!! Can someone PLEASE tell me why the principal from Simmons(Mechelle Patterson) is never to be found?? Her assistants Gibson & Young always seem to cover her absence or is there something written in her signed contract that she is untouchable?? I suggest that Hoyda or McDonald look into this matter it is getting really bad. SSC administration should really take time to look into this there are things that are not reported to SSC just to make it seem that Simmons is running smooth. Please take time before it's too late and you lose good staff.
What a embrassment King Crespo had parents with the same written message five times over tell everyone he increased graduation and was there for the Hispanic community. The parents had been made to feel only the King would meet with them. Only the King was capable of educating their kids. Anyone attending tonight's meeting could tell he took advantage of them. When are they going to fire him. He is not good for the parents or students. Maybe the parents need to know he was to much of a failure to get a teaching degree.
There are a number of EAHS students that do achieve above and beyond and they should be applauded. Unfortunately the percentages are deplorably low given the student population. EAHS celebrates each senior class with what they call the Top 10 %. Now on the surface with a graduating class of let's say 600, you get to "celebrate" 60 students with a cut off point that may only be in the meets category. By comparison, D204 used to (maybe still does) have what they call the Top 30 which when you consider how many of them were in the exceed category, it usually represented only the top 2 % of the graduating class.
A majority of these students (from both districts) go on to higher education at upper echelon schools, but sometimes in a rather discriminatory way the students from EAHS are allowed entrance because these same schools have a "quota" to fill in terms of students who are "minority-graduating from an underachieving school-low income-left handed-born during a full moon on a Thursday in an odd numbered year" profile.
A bit far-fetched in the description but not far from the truth as it does make these schools "look better" in that they are "reaching out". It also tends to keep from getting in those students from other walks of life who had a better ACT / SAT score and came from a higher performing district but don't fit the profile because that schools quota of those types of students has already been filled.
Explaining the numbers had some reasonable observations concerning band member numbers as they matriculate from level to level, but perhaps there is an undertow that few have considered and/or want to admit and I'm not just talking about band students here,...
The state report cards on schools were recently published and there is good ol' EAHS at the good ol' bottom of the list, not even cracking the 30% mark at meets/exceeds. This is evidence of a trend that has been going on for decades.
Most of the parents (who really care about education in EA) seem to feel that their students are getting good services and education at the K-5 level. (an aside is necessary here pertaining to the band conversation - 5th grade is when students have been started on instruments for decades)
It is upon completion of 5th grade (outside of the Magnet school conversation) that the same set of parents appear to rethink their options as to where they want their students to attend middle school. Many decide at that time to move elsewhere. Couple that with the already high mobility rate in EA and that would account for certain amount of students. This mobility rate / move out continues throughout the middle school years and so the 6th grade class coming in may not have the same numbers going out in 8th grade. Granted there will also be move ins but again reference the state report card info and parents who care (this is the term I am using in this conversation) are less likely to choose EA.
The bigger drop off is between middle school and high school where the options (even if you still live in EA) are greater for those parents. If their student has "survived" the EA experience through middle school, the parents now have a number of options outside of EAHS where their student might get a better experience (i.e. ACCHS, ACHS, Marmion, Rosary, Homeschool) along with the ever present "we are going to move".
I think it naive of anyone to suggest that each years freshmen class at EAHS will be the same size as that same class in 4 years as seniors. With a school of 3800+ students, shouldn't the graduating class of 2016 have been larger than 600 and change. There are a number of factors I'm sure that over the years have determined that, and some of them have already been mentioned here.
I would reason that might apply to the middle school-high school band numbers in that whatever the number of freshmen coming in that do enroll in band, do not necessarily stay in the program ALL four years owing to many of the things that again have been mentioned. I think I heard someone mention (perhaps elsewhere) that some of these students play in multiple bands? Good for them! If they have the time, why not? But the overall band numbers might be suspiciously skewed as high if you just add up the numbers in every group without eliminating those that are already accounted for elsewhere. An example would be the extracurricular groups such as Jazz Ensemble, Latin Jazz, Percussion Ensemble etc. - if these students are already playing in one of the other groups (i.e. concert groups or marching band etc) you shouldn't count them again.
Crespo is telling parents we was getting bad teachers out of East and that is why the moved him. Really,, he does not have a teaching degree? He also took credit for Spencer Byrds increased graduation. STOP USING THE POOR AND UNDER EDUCATED
You are 100% correct and this is something that has occurred for over 50 years. I am sure that you heard of the lawsuit a while back with the University of Michigan. At this "prestigious" institution of higher learning, if your were black, you received more points for admission than someone getting a perfect score on the SAT. This has been exposed for years now and is supposedly done for "diversity" purposed. I think we all believe in giving some individuals a helping hand but that is not a helping hand, it is insanity. Just more of the participation trophy syndrome. Also, the "diversity" enrollees at colleges do not equate into graduates. here's another fact to consider.....Only 25% of females who graduate with MD's stay in the practice of medicine as it is to "hard". And we wonder why we have a shortage of doctors. We have quite a few of said gender who quit!!!!! Diversity my ass. How stupid have we become????? Do results count for anything, anymore??? Can we stop promoting ignorance???
Did anyone else find it HYSTERICAL in that article that they presented a petition with 400 signatures?? Good job! There are around 3900 students this year......neat.
I bet we can get the other 3500 to say "stay out."
Talk about discrimination the meeting Crespo had were conducted in Spanish only. Lets hope that gets changed. They may be 85% of the district but everyone else deserves a equal chance. The board needs to look into this and stop discrimination. The fools that he played need to know Crespo lives in Wheaton and does not allow his kids to associate with Mexicans. He is Puerto Rican and proud of it
Yes, WOW, I did have doubts pass through my thoughts when reading that article. I thought to myself if those 400 people voted in the school board election that could make a big impact on things to come. I suspect it was many people just supporting the Hispanic principal, not really signing because they felt he was an outstanding and affective admin. I have been to meetings where the interim principal has been in charge when she was an assistant. I think she communicates with everyone very well and is very approachable. I hope she gets the job permanently.
Kelso writes on Facebook her fellow teachers are bad and Crespo is great. Really? Kelso is at the extension campus and has a caseload of 30 students. Yeah I would think Crespo is great as well considering caseloads at the EAHS are over 430 kids and the extension campus has 2 counselors 1.5 social worker and the school only houses 60 students of which half don't come to school.
400 signatures......from who?!? Minors?!? Strands churchgoers?!? They probably passed around and told them to sign at church. How many of them are even registered voters?!? I'd bet it's under 50! Relax over there. Crespo is a joke, the best he could do is have 4 parents read the same exact speech over and over again?!?
Just leave already! Resign! Laesch the puppeteer is back at it again working with Crespo and the evil bible thumper strand to take advantage of poor uneducated parents. I wish the parents woke up and realized they are pawns in their game! Crespo is Puerto Rican!!!!! NOT MEXICAN!!!! He knows nothing of the plight of the school. CRESPO HAS NO TEACHING DEGREE. He has a bachelors degree in INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS, NOT EDUCATION OR TEACHING!!!!! Laesch and strand support him, believe nothing they say in board comments thanking teachers and other nonsense! Slap laesch in the face if he talks to you or emails you with his BS Union brothers and sisters talk. He could give a crap about us and our union. Laesch is such a weeny he loves to start crap but won't show his face and own his idiocy. He likes to start the fire, but runs and hides while it burns. The audacity of a man to work with Crespo and strand and then not show up until executive session. He is an absolute joke. Notice how the parents only could say general statements?! No specifics!!!! He's good, blah blah blah blah. Check the names. Check the voter registration records. Bet they don't add up! Word is strand is not running for re-election.......that will be a great day in EA WHEN THE WHITE (wo)MAN LEAVES US THE HELL ALONE AND STOPS RAPING AND PILLAGING OUR DISTRICT, ITS PEOPLE, AND OUR RESOURCES FOR HER AND HER FAMILY'S OWN PERSONAL GAIN. Laesch and strand need to resign. They don't care about our students, our staff or our district. They can take Crespo with him.
Date: September 9, 2016 To: Superintendent Mark McDonald From: Ralph Padron Subject: Attempted Hiring of Asst Business Mgr James Schiffer
Dear Mark:
Tuesday Sept 6 2016 I was researching James Schiffer and came across a very disturbing article which summarized the findings of an Auditing Company hired by School Dist 103 Lyons Brookfield. Schiffer was scheduled to be officially hired that night at the Sept 6 Board Mtg.
Due to the seriousness of the findings of the Auditing Co, I immediately contacted Board President Annette Johnson to make her aware of this in an effort to stop this hiring that night.
I forwarded her the attached article and she assured me that the Superintendents would be made aware of this ASAP. Fortunately the hiring was stopped thus averting having someone with a signed contract then act upon the controversy discovered.
Questions arise immediately
What role did Asst Supt Michael Prombo have in this near hiring How come nobody caught this Was Prombo aware Position was advertised for 87K Did Prombo offer more
Interestingly enough was that Schiffer was already working at 131 for 3 days yet was not officially hired and without a contract. How can this be allowed
I have been denied Mr Schiffer’s application and have appealed this decision. I believe valuable info MAY be found. More on this later . Mark, I have attempted to keep my distance to allow the new administration get off the ground however due to this and 2 other issues surfacing, I will FOIA additional documents concerning Bldg & Grounds for major violations. I find it interesting that Mike Prombo was Alex DiMare’s supervisor at N Chicago.
We will let the FOIA documents be the measuring stick on these subjects
Crespo has been busy calling anyone who will listen that he was moved to the extension campus because the superintendents wanted to make the union happy. Thus the union would tell the board to give them a two year contract. He also told parents, ministers and students we are white racist teachers who do not care about students. Crespo also stated we are bad teachers who hide behind our union.
Kelso who is a bad counselor posted on Facebook the same story but because of pressure took it down. Kelso is a bad counselor with a case load of about 25 students. We are sure she would not want to lose that assignment.
Meanwhile Eric Strand who received favors and often took pictures of custodians on break to make it appear they are lazy is still working up students. Eric did you not go away! It is funny how this "white boy" was so willing to take a education and a slot away at the coveted Fred Rodgers Magnet school. It is a fact Both Eric and his brother another malcontent never attended the real EA experience. See Waldo was not good enough for the Strand boys.
We ask the board this why did the petition not include addresses? We will tell you why a few like the Strand boys wrote names down changed their writing style and made it appear there are many. It's the same as the chants at a game one starts and everyone joins in .
Please Ms Strand take your worthless husband and go back to Naperville.
I agree with most of what "Unity" says, except their criticism of the Strand family. Our magnet school has recently been identified as one of the best in Illinois by Chicago Magazine. Taking advantage of every available opportunity for one's child is called GOOD PARENTING. Mr. and Mrs. Strand are to be commended for raising their sons to be high-achieving, successful young men...and good examples of what is possible in our district!
They are not good parents the preach saving and helping the poor but they take a Magnet spot. I have never been a fan of the Magnet program it separates students and takes the good parents and schools out of the schools. Strand children had every advantage that many of our students do not. They had two parents certainly capable of buying a computer. Do you not think all the children would not do better if they all had computers to take home. The Magnet school has always provided opportunies good parents could give at home. I was always curious at best that both sons won the lottery out of about three hundred students. Could see have used her influence or her husbands one will never know. She avoided the general school population but if you hear her speak she is preaching a different message. It is a true example of separate schools like they had in the south. All children deserve a good education and same in the public schools.
Public Education, have you raised children? I have, and throughout their school years their father and I tried to choose between the various options available to us. That included public schools, private schools, and homeschooling. Our son thrived at Dieterich grade school but we didn't feel Waldo would be the best choice for middle school since he was one of the youngest in his class and small for his age, yet scored in the 98th percentile on achievement tests. So we moved to a different district that had an all-day gifted classroom in their middle schools, and it was the best decision we could have made for our son's intellectual and social development! I commend Mr. and Mrs. Strand for knowing their sons' needs and abilities and choosing the option best for them.
Something is really wrong with a few bloggers. As a parent if I have a chance to give my child the best available he will get it. Hey genius the kids in Naperville get computers as well. Waldo is still the absolutely worse MS in the district. By some logic the teachers should all live in the district and put their kids in school since they're so great. If the shoe fits wear it. If it has web feet and quacks it probably a duck. The strands were nuts for moving to East Autora with the worst schools in the state and they are suppose to feel bad for sending their sons to the one decent school. I'll have to remember that, rich students cannot go to Northern , EIU, WIU or iUOI. All students with upper middle class parents must go to UOC and Northwestern with no financial aid and no scholarship , accepting aid is taking away from students who need it.
Are we REALLY attacking students - children - on this site? Say what you want about parents, admin, etc (with evidence, I hope), but kids?? I am an East High Educator, and I have found the Strand brothers to be kind, committed to learning, and fully invested in being Tomcats.
But, EVEN IF THEY WERE NOT, you are attacking and dragging YOUNG PEOPLE through the mud. What is wrong with you?
They moved from Naperville and took a spot in the Magnet school so she could set up her non profit . His job was downsized and he became a teacher in 131 because it was easy to get hired. She made choices for herself because anyone would agree staying in Npaerville would have been the best decision. Her son's should not be involved in Strands position on the board and she has done nothing for us. Standing for Crespo is not standing for teachers but then again that is how Scott Strand became a teacher.
Unhinged why was Family Focus given $600,000 a year with zero accountability? Strand made sure to take care of them with Dr Popp. No other non profit gets that from 131 why them. Follow the money and you will find out who is getting petitions signed for Crespo.
The one is a graduate and the other a senior. When they involve themselves in organizing a public protest they become the subject of criticism either pro or con. They should not be involved in their mothers school board issues.
Family focus has been working in east Aurora before the strands came to Illinois. Gonzalo Arroyo was a member of the BOE while serving as director of family focus. Poof , so much for conspiracy
The band was horrible today in the parade. Three band directors and the band students did not march in a straight line. They also did wear their uniforms? The students had red shirts on that they did not tuck in. Very sloppy.
A grant was signed by Dr Popp with no oversite over Family Focus. In the past the district had oversite over any grant. Stop commenting on something you have no knowledge of.
Damn those Christian people for trying to help EA.
said...
Thanks Family Focus for setting the record straight. I volunteered with family focus before the Strand children were born. Credit or blame either way, some commenters like to give more than is deserved sometimes. I just think it is getting close to time for Board candidates to start their petitions if they are going to run for the school Board next year. So along with the campaigning comes the negative campaigns against others....just in case they should decide to run again. I suspect when K. Strand is gone she will be blamed for things for a long while to come as long as there is a dysfunctional board sitting for District 131. Encourage friends and neighbors on the east side to get out and vote. Even though local elections don't seem like a big deal, they affect our families more directly.
Here's a link to the band Facebook page, with a video of them in yesterdays parade:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/eahsband/
To my eyes & ears, they looked and sounded EA-OK. Music was memorized, instruments held up with good posture, only a couple kids out of step. Sound wasn't all that great (tuning issues), and polo shirts looked sloppy compared to uniforms (I understand the reason for the shirts is because there are not enough uniforms to fit the increased number of students in band this year).
On that Facebook page I saw this, from Mr. Kulick (one of the band directors):
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Some attendance stats for you: Football Game 1: 204/274 74% August 29: 219/274 79% August 31: 190/274 70% (BOO!) Football Game 2: 197/274 71% September 7: 220/274 80%
Average of 74.8% Attendance...
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It doesn't matter how many band directors and adult assistants there are--if more than one out of every four students is missing from rehearsals and performances our marching band is NOT going to look and sound grEAt! It is probably time for D131 to join the majority of districts in our area (Batavia, Oswego, District 204) and make marching band a VOLUNTARY activity for band students. That way, only the students who choose to participate will be there and morale will improve. The uniform shortage will no longer be an issue. The 100th anniversary of the EAHS band program would be the perfect time to make a positive change!
This is the old civilization mentality. The problem is the Christians at strands command aren't doing it for the good of the people. They're doing it to recruit, brainwash and gain more members into their cult, sorry, church. They bribe them with food and services and then entice them to come to church for more. Ulterior motives much?!? Until you come to help without any motive or reasoning other than to help, stay away. This isn't a colony filled with savages that need religion.
If someone wants to help me or my children I will be grateful and accept that help. How do you know what motivates someone to help another person, and why should it matter?
There are 274 kids in band? I thought Liska went to the board asking for a third band director because there were going to be at least 350 kids in band. Where did the other 76 band members go? How could Liska have lost that many by the first week of school? Do we need a third band director if the numbers are that low? That's 274 kids divided by thirteen class sections taught by the three directors. That's an average of 21 kids in a band section. Without the third director, it would still be only 27 kids per class. Now if you figure that only 75% of students enrolled are showing up, you see an even bigger issue (16 students average). Who is overseeing all of this?
Mega box churches like the one Strand belongs to are growing because they are recruiting membership away from other religions. They had a show on the other day that stated big box churches have grown by 13% and other churches in the Chicagoland are down 11%. its all about the collection basket.
I know Baptists who used to be Catholic, Catholics who used to be Baptist, Unitarians who grew up Methodist. People switch denominations all the time; in this country we have the freedom to do so. And yes, churches do pass a collection plate and ask members to donate time and talent. But when I give money or time to my church it is totally voluntary and I know that it helps support not only the church staff & building but local programs to feed the hungry, etc. Money well spent!
Criticizing a church for recruiting members of another denomination is like saying the Jaycees are taking members away from the Rotary Club; people should go to whichever church (or club) best fits their beliefs, preference, and schedule. Oh, and "Nothing is free"...I can guarantee you that if you show up at my church next Sunday you'll receive a warm welcome, inspiring message, and refreshments absolutely FREE!
Point well stated. Amen! To "Churches" I go where I feel comfortable and welcome. Often times it has been those "big box churches" that have relayed in their welcome that I don't have to feel obligated to contribute. And Yes, along with the welcome I have received great messages and refreshments..... FREE! :) Be damned those people who are trying to lead community members into a church. Our community is poor. If the goal is all about recruiting people for their tithes, wouldn't it have made more sense to go to another community. That seems like a lot of work Mrs. Strand is doing, and she has done it for many years, to build a church to get offerings from families whose children attend EA. The same families that get free lunches and breakfast. That is a real stretch of the imagination, or one of those crazy board members going off their rocker, again.
No not a crazy board but a staff member sick of the Strand family and her use of the school district. Her sons are out of line using their mothers position on the board. lets set the record straight churches have no business in the public schools
"user" you make it sound like there is deep hatred for a family called Strand, not the church. (remember we have freedom of religion, not freedom from religion in this country. Big, big difference) Sounds like you hate the Strand boys because they are smart. Are you saying the rest of the students in district are stupid compared to the Strand boys and district students cannot compete for awards or something??? If we have 3000 kids in high school how can 2 boys skew the results of that large of a population.??? To actually have people think that 2 boys pose such a threat to the lives of 3000 other students is just totally insane. Please, don't get stuck on stupid.
I agree with the statement made that the marching band at EAHS should be voluntary. I mean really, where are the options for the student that wants to play in band but doesn't want to be shackled with the extra hours (after school) that the marching band requires? This also includes weekends. Some of these kids have a lot of other responsibilities (i.e. family, work, homework, church, scouts, etc.)
The other districts mentioned (I think they left out West Aurora which is also volunteer) offer options for the would-be band student. I think they all have indoor concert groups running concurrent with those kids who opt for marching band as well. These same groups in turn give fall concerts in October and/or November.
I realize that making the marching band volunteer means that there is no credit given and that the students would then have to take a PE class but choices will need to be made. It is obvious (according to the numbers) that the marching band part of the fall curriculum is not a popular activity given the number of students (%) that "don't show up to rehearsals and performances," but I also think it is unfair to hold "hostage" all those students who want to play their instrument, but would rather not (by choice) have to be in the marching band.
I would think that with that many numbers of students in the program, a couple of classes could be just indoor concert groups that work toward giving a fall concert. You might lose a few in the marching band, but that might also solve the lack of sufficient uniforms problem. This would also mean that those who stay in the marching band are there because they choose to be.
Unreal nobody hates the Strand boys they hate us. After giving them a great education they write that we suck on their Twitter page because we did not support Crespo. Mother Strand has used her position on the board to support her non profit. They got more out of East Aurora than they gave.
I am getting tired of the new procedures changing over night for our "curriculum" for ELA and MathGo! Can we just stick to the original plan and we all follow the same procedures!!!!
Except for Ralph being his usual turd sandwich, some band people living in the past and some people hating up on 2 boys sounds like the school year is off to a relatively positive start. Let's keep it going!!!!!
Thank you for hiring a Special Ed division chair who is so unqualified he makes you look like a Mensa member! This guy is about to be slapped with many grievances from teachers that he has screamed on, bullied and has been totally inappropriate with. He sits in the teacher's office for about an hour each morning, making everyone feel uncomfortable. He totally gloms on one new teacher, and wastes precious time that teachers need to get their work done. He makes pronouncements about changes in paperwork that he is unfamiliar about, which have to be rescinded. He never answers any of his emails. He claimed he wanted to get to know us, but so far this has translated into screaming at the sped teachers. A real doosie. He has a basic lack of knowledge of special ed law and practices that is appalling. He has traumatized new teachers, bringing them to tears and feeling totally demoralized. Thanks Anthony!!
All of the changes are probably the director of technology justifying her position. Star 360, Mastery Manager, changes in IC, , changes that have people spending all of their time on paperwork instead of spending time teaching students, what a waste!!!!Morale at an all time low, new teachers unable to cope, no keys still at the high school, come one, hire a locksmith or a part time person to process key requests!!!!!!!@!Teachers just don't matter, and by extension if teachers don't matter, students will suffer as well. Oh well, we are all just cogs in the wheel of upper level management advancement.
You are pawns in Crespo's, strand's and Laesch's game. They are worse than Donald trump when it comes to lies and misinformation. Crespo was removed because he was a tyrant, a dictator, and a bully!!! He spent 35k on one assembly! He spent another 30k plus on signs and branding, but claimed to have zero money for basic supplies such as paper for copiers!!! Principal meetings with the union would turn into "who said that" and then harassment for the person who went to the union instead of a solution to the problem! He walked the building taking pictures of students and staff illegally! He contacted students inappropriately via social media! He violated board policy with political posts about trump! He violated an administrators medical note by writing him up for following doctors orders! He screamed, yelled and treated secretaries and women in general like second rate citizens! Puerto Rican machismo was strong in him. Parents, he did not get removed from the high school because there were a lot of bad teachers he was trying to move, he got removed because he was a bully and an incompetent one at that! HE DOES NOT HAVE A BACHELORS DEGREE IN EDUCATION!!!!! He has an international business degree! He's an international businessman with a master's in administration! Wake up. Search him on ELIS on the state isbe site, he does not have a teaching degree. He is not qualified to teach children in the state of Illinois but he wants you to believe he's qualified to run a high school?!? You poor misinformed sheep are being led to slaughter by strand and Crespo. Wake up! Crespo isolated parents by only having one parent group which met in the cloak of darkness and was spoken only in Spanish! What about our white and black families?!! How can their parents be involved? Oh that's right he doesn't care about them! He never once reached out to the African American community. He played favorites with strands kids and gave them power over anyone and anything at the school. Of course they're mad he's gone. And for those bible thumpers out there....ever hear of separation of church and state?!! This is a public school! Stop trying to convert the "savages" this is not colonial America. Strand has unlimited control over grants and funds given to her by Popp for her group. Wake up!
I have to agree with the above on a few things. My rant is more generalized. I am not Finger pointing one board member, but the admin who set the guidelines for the buildings. I feel the district has bent over backwards and has made cost no object to accommodate our Spanish speaking families. Every building has parent liaisons. In some cases these liaisons are NOT there for all parents, but only for parents who communicate in Spanish? I've heard of parents from different elementary schools who are not able to have effective communications with the school because they are required to go thru a liaison whose main function is working with the non English speaking parents. So where does that leave the rest?Which is mostly the Black and White families, or Hispanic families who do not speak Spanish or prefer to communicate in English.
Don't get me wrong, I am happy they have people to help with translation. Especially when it relieves children from being the translator for adults. But when communication is limited to others (non Spanish speakers) to accommodate the Spanish speakers, this is not right!
The commentor above talks about "savages" and a group meeting in the cloak of darkness speaking in Spanish only. I think this where a bigger problem lies. They are not trying to convert anyone, but rather use the language barrier to their advantage to accomplish certain goals. In this case it is Crespos position at EAHS. For people who have limited involvement in the schools, which most EA parents do, relaying news to them in their native language to serve a purpose or goal is what is happening. We are a working parent district with many blue collar families. If someone from the district reached out to me and told me- I know you are a busy hard working parent, I know You care about your children and their education. Did you know your child's education is being affected by the removal of the Spanish speaking male principal in their school? You can help by speaking out, we know this is difficult, but this is all you have to say and do, to make a difference. Now this parent feels they can be a part of helping and being involved in an important way. In actuality, they are being manipulated by the same people who have been hired because of their ability to improve the communication between the families and the schools. Instead, they are segregating them more with misinformation.
This is not just a Crespo issue, it has happened in within our administrative offices. Those whose responsibility it is to create an atmosphere of inclusion with families is failing miserably and instead creating a "them and us" attitude in the schools. What message is being relayed now to White and Black children whose parents are not the majority of those in the district? A parent told me of a dance held at the school. The DJ announced in Spanish. Another said events are targeted at Spanish speaking parents. Is it assumed all other parents don't need or want information on helping their students? Some parent meetings require parents to sit through translations. Frustrating both sides of the crowd having to hear one sentence in your native tongue and again in a language you don't understand. It leaves a person a bit confused trying to stay focused with this back and forth spiel. I don't think the parents need to wake up. Admin needs to take a step up to the reality of the atmosphere they are creating in our schools. You can't get parents involved when you are segregating children and families from being part of the total school family. This includes not allowing individual members of the school staff, parent groups or school board to focus, target, accommodate only specific people. Is it too much to ask for equal services, education, done without bias and respectfully.
On to Duel Language I went to a parent meeting last year and was told the district was implementing the program. I said great until I was told the program was designed to accommodate Spanish speakers. My child (white) would receive instruction in 90 % Spanish and 10% English I was outraged. I know, Ms Strand and she told me it accommodates the community. What community is there no place for white or black children in East Aurora. Now I see the write up in the paper and Ms Hatchett I am hoping you are not allowing them to put a program in only for Spanish
As often is the case in 131...lots of talk, no action, on the part of admin. They throw out a few promises and people sit waiting while nothing happens and plans get put on the back burner or forgotten. Ten years ago the dual language was discussed at a board meeting. I recall a lady named Avis made comment. Here we are a decade and how many hundreds of students later and it is still in discussion. While our neighbors in Naperville have put it into practice for 8 years now. http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2013-01-11/news/ct-tl-naperville-d203-dual-language-review-20130111_1_dual-language-program-national-foreign-language-center-english-in-two-years A Naperville friend of mine had a child in this program. An English speaking family. The parents took Spanish in high school and college,so the child had help at home and thrived in this program. Not that EA doesn't have college educated parents, but with parent involvement being an issue, I don't think offering dual language is a fix to better educating our districts students. A feather in the hat of those admin trying to make it happen is the only benefit I see. We, in 131, need to focus on building educational instruction that works and shows our children meeting and exceeding, before trying to put new teaching practices in the mix. In the link above, you will see a comment on total immersion. Over 20 years, I have run across articles on this plan of action being more successful than all other programs. Has 131 ever tried it?
Dual language has worked effectively in other districts, and I wish they'd had it when my kids were still in school. BUT to me Spanish with a little English, or English with a little Spanish, defeats the purpose. 50/50 would be appropriate and valuable. 90/10 or any split that puts the emphasis on one or the other smacks of "separate but equal". Are we going to revisit Brown v. Board of Education?
To be clear for you, Diana Argueta is the administrator who is pushing for the change to bilingual. The plan is for 100% of education in Preschool through 3rd grade to be in Spanish. Yes, that means if you enter school speaking English you will receive NO classes in English, only Spanish. When you enter 4th grade, you will only then begin to learn anything in English.
Considering the state tests that they begin taking in third grade are in English, what are they thinking. Also what do they plan to do with hundreds of teachers that we currently have teaching Pre-3rd who don't speak Spanish? Are they planning on firing them and going to Spain to replace hundreds of teachers? Not to mention that they pay the bilingual teachers far more than local teachers and give them moving bonuses. It's going to cost the district a fortune.
This is a perfect example of what's wrong in education. A bunch of people who are not in the class rooms and are under political pressure to do something. So they go off on half baked schemes that screw things up and then they move onto their next high paying job until they retire and collect huge pensions.
Any expert in linguistics will tell you that the only way to learn a second language or any language is through complete immersion. As young children learn new languages quickly, they would grasp English far more quickly if they were speaking and reading it all day long holding these kids back academically and jeopardizing their futures. Argueta is just making sure she has a job for life.
Reyes Childress and Argueta are at odds. Argueta must be dumb as a stump is she can't figure out Popp and Wadell are gone. This was a stupid plan and Childress is not on board. At least that is what she told teachers. The sheltered model worked and that is what we need. Do not forget our eval's are at risk. Childress needs to stop Argueta and just tell her NO. Put your friendships aside and do what is right. Go back to Sheltered. .
Since you brought up the names and it is what you
said...
I will say, I am a parent who tried to work with Argueta when she attempted to get parent involvement. You are right about her just trying to keep herself working. Her only goal in the parent involvement meetings was to get people to come so she could parade us all in front of the board and tell them we were meeting. No real agendas other than planning more meetings. I have been happy with Childress. She is approachable and has gotten answers when questions have been asked. Argueta is out of touch. I don't care if she is Hispanic, she hasn't a clue of what our kids and parents want and need.
Correct me if I am wrong, but isn't Illinois in the USA??? Isn't the language of the USA English??? Then why aren't ALL students being taught English in English from the start and those who don't have a grasp of English taught English before they are advanced to any grade. Only after that, start the dual language classes.
I don't care why Democratic politicians want this diversity crap and it surely has to stop. But this country is a melting pot, not some third world country where your neighbors cannot communicate with each other in the language of the USA.
Wake up people, before all resources are sucked up in allowing certain people not to assimilate into the fabric of this country.
Also, we should not be getting more students who just speak Spanish as there is no immigration from south of the boarder, correct????!!!
Kids taking the Access test when Reyes Childress ran the program had been placed in Sheltered classes if they missed a few questions. Today Argueta puts those same students into Bilingual classes. It is not fair to the Spanish children who just need a little support to get sent to Bilingual classes. White and Black children are not tested and they would most likely miss the same question. This is discrimination based on their last names. Argueta should be fired, she wants to run a Duel language program with instruction 90% in Spanish. The model she is proposing discriminates against white and black students going into duel language.
Waddell and Popp cooked this up and she was a willing participant that is not willing to change. She needs to tell us how she is going to find staff? Currently we have 11 openings. Someone should look into the costs of teachers from Spain. She is out of touch.
Crespo, Laesch and Strand are still gathering parents to speak on Anthony Crespo to the board. They love beating a dead horse apparently. No principal in the history of EA received a standing ovation the first teacher workday until Marina did so this year. Crespo is not missed by the adults in the high school. Has he been organizing these parents and calling them during school hours?!? Is he on the clock while he tries to make the district look bad and save his job? Too bad we don't have his twitter account still up and running so we can watch gaffe after gaffe. Parents, we'd love you to be involved and speak your minds, we don't love you being told what to say and having Crespo and his incompetent deplorables writing makeshift on the spot speeches which makes you look dumb. Crespo is gone due to his job performance, not his race. Just google search Anthony Crespo proviso east and read what comes up! Illegally firing a cheer coach, taking pictures of cheerleaders in their sports bras and spandex during practice......this guy is a slime ball!! Stop sipping the kool aid and start thinking for yourselves!!!!!
The coach was rehired and Crespo was sent packing to proviso west after this debacle!!! He was also going to be fired from proviso west prior to his hiring at EA! This guy is not qualified to teach in the state of Illinois yet parents are believing and listening to him?! Gotta love the blind leading the blind! Stop being sheep and be wolves!!!!
Diane Argueta . . . and possibly Beatrice . . . cooked up the dual language program - well before Popp and certainly before Waddell entered the picture. They certainly put Hispanic students first. Beatrice may be approachable but she's so far up Johnson's and Hoyda's rear that she can't make a decision by herself. Not a leader . . . but a great follower!
Thanks, Another Staff member. For your honest feedback. I am only in the community and cannot know how many of these people are to actually have to work with. I have read similar sentiments about Reyes in the past, but thought it possibly Johnson spewing comments when she couldn't get her way. I thought the mentality of over accomodating for the Hispanics left with Marin.
Too bad they don't realize, even many of the Hispanic families I have spoke with do not like the mold they try to create for educating and advancing them. I thought Reyes was changing that. If more students were encouraged with programs that suit their level of education as much as the programs for Spanish speakers, I believe more students would be achieving at higher levels. I thought their was a state mandate to that all children were to be taught and challenged at the level they required. Which included gifted students and students of ALL race and nationalities.
The king brought his merry band of nitwits to the board meeting last night. While he sat in Wheaton his groups of nitwits complained about him. What a sad group uneducated and undocumented. If that the best he can find for support.
Go to a board meeting complete with superheroes and nitwits.
Let's set the record straight! We would have been on strike without the contract that we had both financially and working condition wise if Annette Johnson would have not showed leadership. SHE LISTENED When nobody else did. We know we will hear all the attacks that is was not her place but SHE LISTENED and made the board follow her to make changes. I am an oldtimer that also saw changes with Marin and all the others that abused staff. Fifteen years and this is the best school year yet.
Anyone else tired of Sarah Freishtat and her constant negativity with headlines and stories? Her headline in the article about last night's board meeting is so dramatic. Her reporting of what teachers said leaves a lot to be desired. She cherry picks quotes to make the story she wants. How about you do some real reporting Sarah, and ask the parents who spoke, who directed them to show up and who wrote their speeches? Why not write an entire article about the adults who spoke on behalf of how the high school is off to the best start in years?? Are you friends with Matt Hanley? How about you report both sides of a story and not just one? Have some integrity Sarah. Why don't you investigate what Crespo did at Proviso East? How about investigating how Crespo was given over 11k more than the job posting stated? How about investigating how the job description and posting said "5 years of successful high school teaching experiene REQUIRED." And Crespo cannot legally teach in the state of Illinois and HAS NEVER TAUGHT AT A HIGH SCHOOL IN HIS LIFE! Or you could investigate how Crespo spent over 30k on a veteran's day assembly? Where did the funds come from? Or you could write an article about illegal purchasing practices by Crespo for the TVs he purchased, or the signs for his brainwashing marketing campaign throughout the school with zero quotes or bids? He is an international businessman after all, would make sense he knows how to advertise, market and brainwash young adults. How about investigating Crespo's education and credentials? A simple search on ELIS will show you that he does not have a bachelor's degree in education. C'mon Sarah, REPORT THE REAL NEWS AND FACTS. Stop giving Laesch, Strand and Crespo's clueless sheep air time. DO SOME REAL INVESTIGATIVE REPORTING SARAH, EARN YOUR TITLE AS REPORTER FOR ONCE IN YOUR LIFE.
There goes John Laesch again half cocked. I watched John at the board meeting he walked around waiting for someone to pay attendtion to him? Then he ran to the Beacon. John does not worry about students only himself.
your agreement gets lost when you talk about Crespo not having a teaching degree. let's face it, at 131, that requirement is meaningless. The graduation rate is abysmal, so maybe a different "look" at things would be refreshing. If your argument to fire him is based on something substantial like allowing teachers to screw around and not teach class. Or if he were allowing teachers to interject liberal bias in classes, then you would win over all the district community by having him fired. Kids should learn about veterans and what they have done for this country and spending a couple bucks for that is fine. Keep in mind that the district pays for incompetent teachers all the time so how can one argue the money issues. Look at what the district paid out in insurance premiums over the years for Ralph's wife and others........So, even though Crespo doesn't have a teaching degree, doesn't mean he should be fired, You have to come up with the things that make him out to be the real dick that he is.
He posted on twitter about Donald trump.....for all students and world to see. He persuaded kids to register to vote and vote for Bernie which is why Laesch is defending him to this day. That good enough for you teacher basher?!?
Advice to advice. "Look what the district paid out in Insurance premiums" is another example of a time when admin was not doing their job. Problems with the insurance had been reported long before Ralph was ever in the picture. So I dont know why you continue to imply a few people are the poster children for this financial circus created when Roberts was in charge.
to real news: Matt quit teacher bashing and go back to your exciting job in your new district.. yada yada yada ea teachers suck... find a new mantra loserboy.
Advice Said - I agree about the expense for the veteran's assembly. Kids should learn about the sacrifice that proud AMERICAN veterans - and their families - make for this country. How much does the district spend for Hispanic events throughout the year?
EA OK - 'the king brought his merry band of nitwits'. For reals? Is there no greater nitwit than a high school teacher addressing the board in a full (yes, including tights) Captain America costume? I hope Captain America retires before my child gets to East High. I will make sure she is not subjected to that lunatic.
Real News Said - just so I get this straight, Crespo doesn't have a teaching degree so therefore he doesn't have the skill set to run a high school - even though he does have experience in the education field at the high school level. BUT Ralph Padron has no degree, no educational experience at ANY level, but does have the skill set to publicly evaluate administrators and employees across all departments! Please explain how, when and where Ralph obtained the credentials to become such an expert on every facet of running a large unit school district. Even worse, the board consults with him instead of the educated and experienced professionals they hire? I know I won't forget this when I cast my vote in April. Why would I put my trust in a board that listens to a nitwit instead of experienced and trained administrators? Does the board see no value in a college education? Do I really want Ralph deciding what's best for my child's education?
Our district has NO BUSINESS celebrating the 100th anniversary of the East High School Band in 2016! Here is proof:
The following early history is excerpted from the Doctoral Dissertation by Dr. John R. McMullen. This dissertation can be found in the reference section of the Aurora, Illinois Public Library. It includes information from McMullen's interviews (during the 1950's) with the actual people involved.
"After the first World War (1918), a band was organized at East Aurora High School by Louis H. Conde.
Mr. Conde had been teaching a grade school boys' band in the district prior to organizing the high school band in the fall of 1918. He left the district in December of 1918 for similar work in Chicago.
Albert L. Huen was hired in early 1919 to replace him and adjustment to the new director was slow.
Mr. Huen remained the director through the spring semester of 1921"
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Also, the 1918-19 edition of the Speculum (East High yearbook) shows a picture of the band. No band is pictured or mentioned in previous years.
My question would be, who was the "genius" who declared that 2016 was the centennial year for the EAHS band? How embarrassing for our district!
Real sad, My school put on a Veterans Day event complete with flags, speakers,cookies and music for $200.00. Yes we did not limo the Chicago Blackhawks singer out but it was nice. No we did not hook up videos and rent big screen TV's but it honored our Veterans.
You are welcome to come celebrate this year at Simmons. We just had a Nascar event and did not pay a dime. We respect the districts money.
BTW we interviewed Crespo, he was willing to work for $90,000 and we did not hire him. The reason was NO EXPERIENCE
Lovely way to gloss over crespos inexperience and lack of a college bachelors degree in education and distract and leap over to comparing it to Ralph. You must be a republican with your moronic comparisons and distractions from the truth and real story. Why don't you do a google search of principals in the area and see their experience, then compare that to Crespo. Crespo is already behind in what you claim to prize a college education IN EDUCATION. Let's see you Wessel your way out of this one and find a way to bring up Ralph and the say all teachers are bad. You lost! Get over it! Move on. Crespo is not coming back. They got rid of Crespo because the new superintendents weren't as dumb as Popp and truckenbrod to merely only look for a brown Spanish speaking person to be principal and not care about their qualifications.
About the band anniversary: I have contacted the Beacon-News and told them where to find the correct information. Let's see if they do the right thing and fix their mistake!
So Brian Liska bypassed board policy and contacted the Beacon News on his own. Then attempted to take all credit for the district band program, giving none to the countless people who create and maintain the program. Now it turns out that the information the he made public was in error. It's obvious that he will never take responsibility for his own actions, when will somebody with authority hold him accountable? That is one of the major issues in this district. Some people get away with damn near anything but piss off an administrator and they will go after you mercilessly over nothing.
I did contact the Beacon-News today and told them about Dr. McMullen's dissertation and that according to his research the East High band was started in 1918, not 1916. The Beacon said that they based their article on the information in this link:
http://www.d131music.org/100-years-of-band.html
Here's the part about the band (from the 1916-17 yearbook):
"Last but not least is the boys' brass wind section, commonly called the boys' band, which meets in the high school. This band was organized last winter of boys from the grade schools who met once a week with their instructor, Mr. Condy. Remarkable progress has been shown and the Board of Education has just recently voted to pay the instructor. Next year a high school boys' band is to be organized and some of the instruments are to be purchased for them by the school board."
These were GRADE SCHOOL band students who happened to rehearse in the high school building, NOT a high school band! And the first picture of the band (from the 1917-18 yearbook) includes an entire front row of very young (probably grade-school-aged) boys.
So the DISTRICT band program may have started in 1916. The EAST HIGH SCHOOL band, however, did NOT start until a couple of years later. The Beacon article, however, definitely (and falsely) said multiple times that the EAST HIGH SCHOOL band is celebrating its 100th anniversary this year. And worse still, no other schools, programs, or directors in our district were mentioned in that Beacon article.
"Band history update", thanks for the link. It showed a page from a 1916-17 yearbook talking about various musical activities (chorus, orchestra, glee club, operetta, and brass wind instruments). There were also several pictures of district bands from the late teens through the 1930s. I'm assuming the pictures were assembled by one of the current EAHS band directors; they did an excellent job!
I also noticed that nowhere on that webpage was there a claim that the EAST HIGH band was celebrating their 100th anniversary in 2016. Instead I saw this:
"Celebrating 100 Years of Band"
"The first mention of the District 131 Band program happens in the 1916-17 yearbook"
So our DISTRICT'S band program is celebrating 100 years in 2016 (and the EAHS band started a couple of years later, in 1918). Whoever put together the information on the webpage (Mr. Liska?) was accurate. The Beacon-News, however, dropped the ball bigtime. Their article made the incorrect claim (in the headline, no less!) that the East High band is celebrating their 100th anniversary this year. And to make matters worse the Beacon article made no mention whatsoever of any other band program in our district! I don't know Mr. Liska (whose name was mentioned at least 7 or 8 times in the article), but I'm choosing to believe that he probably gave some credit to feeder schools and/or previous directors and the inept Beacon reporter left it out of the article.
So how to make it right? I have a few suggestions:
--Make the 100th anniversary band celebration a district-wide event. Invite all band students from fifth through twelfth grades to participate in playing a piece from the band's early days at the Fine Arts Festival.
--Have a banner made that says, "Celebrating 100 Years of the District 131 Band Program". The banner can be used by the high school band in parades as well as by our wonderful district-wide band camp students on July 4th.
--A piece has been commissioned for the high school bands, to commemorate the 100th anniversary of (hopefully!) the district's band program. If the piece is inaccurately intended to commemorate the 100th EAHS band anniversary, its performance could either be delayed until 2018 or the piece re-dedicated to the 100th anniversary of our district's band program (and performed this spring).
--T-shirts could be designed to commemorate 100 years of District 131 bands, and worn by students in all bands in our district. If this is too expensive, the 100 year anniversary could be mentioned on the shirts our band camp kids receive in June. Then the community would see them in the 4th of July parade, and celebrate with us!
I am hoping that some effort will be made to correct the mistaken information in the Beacon's article. Our community, students, and district deserve the truth!
"The East Aurora High School band is inviting alumni to perform with current members to help celebrate "100 years of band in District 131," according to the district"
This is an accurate statement.
However, the caption on the picture above the article says:
"The East Aurora High School band is celebrating its 100th birthday this year with its own commissioned piece of music and events for students and band alumni"
That is NOT an accurate statement! The East Aurora HIGH SCHOOL band is celebrating its 98th birthday this year.
My parents celebrated the 50th anniversary of their first date last month. They would LOVE to celebrate their golden wedding anniversary now, but since they got married in 1968 they're doing the right thing and planning a big party and cruise in 2018. Anniversaries are momentous occasions that should be celebrated when appropriate, and the appropriate year to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the EAHS band is NOT this year, but 2018!!
DiMare placed on leave http://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/aurora-beacon-news/news/ct-abn-east-aurora-buildings-grounds-st-0925-20160923-story.html#nt=oft12aH-1li3
DImare had his freinds in Roselle and Wooddale do floor tile work and got caught. Stupid is as stupid does he got caught. Why would he think the BOE would let him get by. Tyler and Cleaver watched because the BOE had strong policies. It showed as soon as nobody was watching DImare called friends. Just another Marty Feltes.
For anyone who is wondering why Dr. McMullen's dissertation is significant to the history of our district's band programs, here's a link to the Fox Valley Music Foundation's presentation about his work. He was respected as an authority on the history of music in Aurora from our city's beginning until the mid-1950s:
Funny things happening at D131. Board Member Dick Leonard was seen walking Marty Feltes around the district buildings for the last three weeks talking about out-sourcing building and grounds jobs, and Marty getting his old job back. Check the security cameras: they were there, and now Dimare is not...hmmmmmmmmm.
Time for all of us to update our resumes. East Moline has jobs posted.
Why is the band fundraising to have a piece of music written? Is Liska not qualified to do this? Funny how they could demote Mr K and claim he was not qualified. What is wrong with Ken Draby for promoting this and thinking it is a great idea? Wondering minds want to know.
Marty Feltes was hired by a district contractor at West 129 after Leonard forced Cordagan and Clark to help find a job for him. rumor is he wants to now work at East on the new construction. The sups should not allow him to work for the district or company doing business for the district period
I agree wholeheartedly with stop the return. Things in EA seem to be improving. Do not allow a step backward to spoil the new trend. School board this is up to you.
Leonard is fed news by Larry Wilson. The admins and maintenance workers need to address him. He never works and now rides around with his grandson who was given a job by Dimare. It is a payoff because Larry would spy for Feltes and now Dimare. Why is Larry still working. He collects retirement and is paid by the district. Wilson is also given overtime. He is not capable of working, standing and lifting. He is way over 65 and stopping others from doing a job.
If you are so concerned with Mr Liska's qualifications, why not ask him about it yourself? And what does this have to do with Mr K? He left East High 12 years ago, when these seniors were in 1st grade.
Writing a professional-level piece of music takes upwards of 100 hours and, while I'm sure Mr Liska could write a fine piece of music, it would definitely be better when done by someone who writes music for a living.
Most band directors are not composers, nor are they expected to be. Our district was very fortunate to have a director who was also a nationally-recognized, published composer and arranger. Unfortunately the administration 12 years ago was more concerned about rubber-stamping a serial bully superintendent's agenda than doing what was best for students. There's nothing we can do about that now, except make sure nobody else is ever treated that way!
Commissioning a piece of music for a special occasion like an anniversary is a common practice. Mr. Liska is to be commended for putting the wheels in motion, but my concern is that the anniversary we're celebrating this year should be the 100th birthday of our DISTRICT'S band program, not the high school band! If a piece is commissioned it should be dedicated to the entire district's band program. For too long our grade school and middle school bands have been treated like the stereotypical "red-haired stepchild", being ignored while the high school program gets all the publicity and most of the financial support. One example is the Beacon article that mentioned ONLY the high school, and gave no credit to the many feeder schools and their directors for the success of the program. Another example is the fact that it has taken until THIS YEAR for air conditioning to finally be installed in the Simmons band room when the high school band room has had A/C for more than 10 years.
Those of us who have been involved in the D131 band program for many years are watching carefully to see whether current administration and local news media will do the right thing and commemorate our DISTRICT band program's 100th anniversary this year. Our students and community deserve no less!
Liska is the highest paid teacher at EA if you add in all his stipends. Answer this ; Why do we have to compose music. Mr K was able to pick the correct music and compose yet Marin Gonzalez and company called him not qualified. Defend Liska all you what, he is not qualified.
Here, Mr. Liska is making $62,356. Click on his name and you will see that he had a Bachelors with 7 years. The salary schedule from 2012 that I found on the D131 website says that Bachelors with 7 years pays $43,658, so the first number must include stipends.
Here is that salary schedule: http://www.d131.org/employment/documents/2012CBASalarySchedulefor2012-13.pdf
You can see from the first link that he was FAR from the highest paid teacher, and the stipends our band directors receive are for hundreds of additional hours on top of the contract time. This information is from 2012, but I really doubt that he has jumped up $50,000+ to become the highest paid teacher in the district since then.
Why the personal vendetta with Mr Liska? Mr K was a fine teacher in our district and did amazing things for our students at the middle and high school levels, but what does he have to do with Mr Liska? I understand you are upset about the way that he was removed from the high school position 12 years ago and you don't feel that it was justified, but what did Mr Liska have to do with that? By tearing down our current teachers, you are tearing down our current programs and thus our current students. Positivity is the key to growth.
Here's the real question for you. Why is Liska receiving $20,000 in stipends each year when every other director is only getting about $2,000? Liska is receiving far more in stipends than any other teacher or coach. I'm not saying it's not deserved but it's far out of line when you see what everyone is making.
You know, it has been refreshing to see that almost no one is taking pot shots at the board or the interim superintendents. Kinda nice to see that. Is it the calm before a storm or is everyone just actually doing their jobs for once this century???
Could be catching, this making sure the kids become proficient in English, math and basic civics of the United States. Teaching them to become future leaders just like the JROTC has since it started in the district. maybe there is hope!!!
The new public relations person person Tom Jackson has some interesting videos on Facebook. What an improvement over Hanley! He actually came to our building.
"Approval of Settlement Agreement Between the District and Robert Green, and Authorization for Execution of the Same by Interim Superintendent Mark McDonald"
I thought I remembered the high school band celebrating their 50th anniversary in the late 1960s, so I got out my yearbooks to jog my memory. This is what I saw on the band page in the 1966 Speculum:
"Increased interest and more positive attitudes promoted a better balanced and more productive band this year as the organization boosted its largest membership since its origination in 1919".
So according to the yearbook the East High band started not in 1916 but 1919! Maybe it was the spring of 1919, which would technically have been the 1918-19 school year. But the high school band was definitely NOT "established 1916", as the current band logo says.
I am proud to have been a part of our district's band program almost 50 years ago, and I would appreciate an accurate representation of exactly what we should be celebrating: the 100th anniversary of the band PROGRAM in District 131.
Larry Wilson the other part for corpution in the maintenance department needs to be fired. Larry friend of DImare and Feltes was allowed to ride around in the district truck all day spying on his fellow workers. Larry would lie just to keep his job at 70 weighing over 300 lbs with a knee and hip problem he has no place in buildings & grounds. NOW Larry has his grandson doing the same thing. He in working in temp custodial group. This group works evening and is part time. Larrys grandson is full time has car no insurance (read his police records) and is allowed to drive the district truck all day. He too gets special treatment for spying on us. Goast payroll must stop. Here is hoping EA cleans the corruption up.
Alex don't call us we will testify against you and here is hoping they turn you over to the States Attorney.
Every time any worker complains about Larry Wilson he claims we call him a lazy (N). Why is he not forced to do a job that makes him walk all day? kajuan Davis who is Larrys grandson was allowed to call students Nig...etc etc... He is also supervised by his grandfather. We are told we can't do that. He works during the day and is the only one who is allowed to have special hours. There should not be anyone to protect him Feltes and DImare both corrupt are now fired. Glonoka is another taker getting kick backs who defends Wilson. CLean house board that the only way to stop this. We clean, heat and repair your buildings everyday without seeing any of these clowns.
What is Larry Wilson's grandson's name? Is anyone keeping track of his "work performed" daily or is Alex DiMare protecting him and Wilson. Can anyone report this scam?
It's terrible about the racist and hateful remarks being said about Kajuan Davis. A d131 alumnus that is also going to night school. I found him to be a hard working and very polite young man this past summer. He worked as a summer worker all summer at Oak Park elementary and did a great job. As a matter of fact, building administration with input from staff members requested that he be hired full time and assigned to oak park.
The staff at Oak park would like to thank Alex Dimare and Alex Arroyo for getting so many things done at our school this summer.
It is nice that the elementary schools were not forgotten this summer. So stop your hateful and unproductive rhetoric, because Oak Park Elementary supports B&G.
The racist is Larry Wilson he always uses the race card and turns fellow workers in by making false charges. I have personally witnessed Larry making false claims. Larrys grandson has been given patronage assignments. He could be ok but because of Larry he is not going to be given a fair chance. Larry should have retired ten years ago.
Interesting Dr. Hoyda and Dr. Mcdonald do what they want! Dr. Hoyda brings her friend Mike Stapleton from Phoeniz AZ to do consulting work. Paying airfare, lodging, and meals, without full board approval.
Annette Johnson approves this without board consent paying Stapleton $20,000. Dr. McDonald allows this person, Mike Stapleton to work without full board approval and without background check being complete.
This is how the interims work taking care of their pals.
The Phoenix AZ company, Server Management Assist, is who Mike Stapleton works for. How come we can not find a Chi-town company? Instead we pay extra for friends of the interims.
It is never patronage to hire our own alumni, especially when they are positive role models and working toward higher education. The rumored sins of the grandfather should not be visited on the grandson. Hold each to the light of their own actions, but never blame the children or grandchildren for the actions they did not do.
Thank you Kajuan Davis for finishing high school and working while attending post secondary education. Your actions only serve to improve our statistics for graduation rate, and students seeking post secondary education. These measurements along with ACT scores are the way to improve our property values.
Jane , please I have worked at the SSC and long assumed without proof you have been the Blog leak. Jane tell the truth, Superintendents have the right to hire consultants in all school districts without board approval for many years. We finally have had professionals helping us with address problems lthat have existed for years. You have made $90,000 plus without an teaching or CSBO certification for years. The new business manager (Prombo) does not let you charge the district with run away overtime. The $20,000 plus in saving from your overtime will pay for Stapleton alone. What the truth is, is that Hoyda had to clear up mass coruption in her old district and Mr Stapleton helped with that. It is good for someone to come in and do a complete study ,our district has needed that for years. Our building and children have suffered. My suggestion clean house with all the vipers at SSC.
I have sat by letting Jane poison and cause extra work with FIOA requests for years because she is Ralph's leak.
Now the district is really getting somewhere. Guess the people in charge are getting wise to Ralph and his merry band of nitwits and all the crybullies in the district. Actually hiring someone way outside the real of control of the useful idiots to get to the bottom of things.
If true, people like Jane are probably doing more than just reporting things to Ralph, They are probably actively messing things up and intentionally ignoring procedures to actually make things worse, thus giving the blowhard Ralph ginned up information to base his tantrums.
Everyone does suffer with the likes of Ralph and his merry band of nitwits. Long overdue is the cleaning up and dismissal of these people.
I talked with Annette Johnnson and she stated the district had hired a consultant. She did not know what the contract stated but she cited that the every superintendent hires consultants. The board does not approve consultant contacts that falls under the super. She stated the board was well aware that this is the direction the interim's would use. She went on to say the district is well under budget this year with administration and that Dr Hoyda had used this person to fix her other district. She went on to say that they fixed the business office and developed procedures when they used a consultant.
As a parent the building are in bad condition and when I have called her in the past she has given me reasonable answers. I think this is a well vetted plan. I have also attended some parent meeting and the level of professionalism has improved. It is unfortunate that district employees do not want to preform at high levels and there is a need for a consultant. Judging from the conditions in the schools I think this is a good plan.
You are 100% correct. With the distractions out or the way, now the real problems can be addressed......Some people coasting in Building and maintenance - gone, some teachers not teaching - gone, and some staff just marking time - gone. These are the issues that have been masked by the Ralphs and other malcontents around the district. This district can be properly run without excessive overtime. It can graduate students who actually can communicate in English both in written and oral form expertly. This district can have students excel on ACT tests and show future potential. No need to increase taxes. People just need to actually do their jobs.
Your leak is Diane Thomas she was complaining on Tuesday after the meeting that the district is paying another consultant to fix B&G. Thomas always has board information and thinks she runs the district because of Darby significant other. Diane is one of the most hated employees at the CSC. Her hours need to get checked they have grown since his time on the BOE. Suzanne is treated as her number two, not good for other employees in our department
Wow. When the former administration hired consultants Ralph - and Annette - opposed it. In case you forgot, go back to blog posts from July 2015. You can't have it both ways. Either you agree with the use of consultants to provide valuable expertise or you don't. The district either benefits from a consultant or not. Back then the argument was, "Why do you need consultants if you have high-priced administrators who are supposed to be capable in their roles?" Also, this is a consultant that Hoyda used in her former district. I thought it was a huge no-no to use vendors/employees/consultants that you had a former professional relationship with. Did she get multiple quotes as the board requires? When did the rules change? I'm sure Hoyda's former district was great, but not many Illinois school districts receive the accolades that the dreaded Indian Prairie gets. Why in the world would we want to emulate a successful district? I hope Ralph FOIAs this purchase order so he can expose this latest purchasing scandal.
The reason the district is 'well under budget this year for administration' is because you are down two assistant superintendents. The savings won't last long as now they are hiring two administrators to do Tyler's job. That along with a consultant who has 'fixed the business office and developed procedures'. How many experts does one department need. Didn't Annette credit Tyler with doing that already? Didn't Annette 'fix' the department before - why not just do it again? (please NOOOOOOOO).
And I highly doubt Diane Thomas is Ralph's source given Ralph's rants about Ken Darby. Ralph is a little boy who kicks and screams when he doesn't get his way - and when that doesn't work he drops unfounded accusations and lets them fester until he actually believes his lies.
As for Larry Wilson's grandson getting a job. Let's be real, we are talking about a custodial job not the superintendent's gig. You mention patronage, I have one word about that: Medina. How many of them are on our payroll? And how many of their jobs has Jesse saved because of his position in the union. Talk about lazy . . .
This is the first time in eight years someone came to my building and asked what do we need to be successful in our building. The new consultant quickly identified what the building needs are. If it cost $20,000 or whatever it is worth it. In one year I have not seen Mike Houston or DImare. Feltes was there twice to meet with cronies from Arlip. No cleaning supplies, soap, towels toilet paper broken lunch tables kids cuts from and yes Mr Padron should come in and see.
Two cents worth <(please )> the Indian Prairie system eliminates low performers and that is what Popp was a low performer. Popps idea of a consultant was a lifes skill coach who brought in cronies like the retiree who ran the athletic office in the ground. The list goes on. Johnson had every right to question these questionable hires when staff was so frustrated by the Popp cronies. That was his idea of consultant. The business office was not fixed by Tyler it was fixed by Crystal Financial a consultant hired after many poor employees wasted millions. Again, Annette Johnson may get blamed when she throws the crooks out but at least she listens and the board takes action.
The read the post on Thomas were does it say Thomas is Ralph's source. I believe it says Darby is Thomas's source take some reading lessons. FYI, he have contacted Darby with concerns at the HS and he does nothing. Thomas comes to every meeting what is her game? She acts like she is a board member.
Kejuan Davis did work at the HS, and was involved in a fight with a PE teacher. Why was he allowed to work here after that? The HS was told transfer him to the Hill he is Marty's friend.
You say-"Annette may get blamed when she throws out the crooks." Who do you think started that influx of "crooks?" Annette has had her hands in all the stuff that has gotten broken in 131. By time a couple of years have passed, new board members are elected, employees resign and Anette takes credit for being on the team that is now fixing problems. WTH?? You break it, you grind it into the ground, you pick it up brush it off and claim to be the savior. That makes you a good listener and a board member who takes action? Johnson is Aurora's Trump. If you think she is the answer for EA, EA and its students are doomed.
You must be a teacher as you possess absolutely no common sense or the ability to comprehend events. Annette was on the board when the insurance issue came up. It was Ralph's wife and others like her who were receiving unjust benefits. Annette pushed for the Magnet school. She initiated the changes necessary for the business department to correct 40 years of the accounting not being up to snuff. She actually tried to get the students at District 131 to become something more that just barely literate. For the moment that has failed as Popp was trying to institute changes to elevate the standards but 131 is just not there yet as a whole to expect all students to attain a standard that is much more that barely literate. She has tried to keep taxes in check as the district is not Naperville but yet the taxes for some are insanely high and we don't have the caliber of student that Naperville has. - Ralph can help here by petitioning Naperville leaders to build their fair share of low income housing and have some of 131's students move to Naperville.- She actually dressed down employees who are clueless and do not perform their jobs. Annette has accomplished a lot and that is probably what bothers you. You want to remain in the past and keep people barely educated. Along with being a teacher, you have got to be a Democrat, as you want as many people as possible held back and down.
Tom Katt you are no Tomcat! And I am not a teacher. I do know that the insurance stuff came up long before Annette was on the board. You can rant about Ralph but if you were truly in the know, you would know the insurance "issue" caused problems for many of those people who were on the books as having insurance but we're not aware of it.
More proof you are not a Tomcat or even a long time resident of the district, you think our students are "barely literate." The "caliber of the students" is not to be measured by how "insanely high" we allow the taxes to go. Which tells me again, you must be one of those whiny NE siders, who wants to pretend they live in Naperville and think they should get lower tax rates in Aurora. You probably bought your house less than 10 years ago. You don't know anything about 131 business except what Annette tells you because you didn't start paying attention until your taxes went up. You know nothing about the quality of our teachers or the exceptional students we have in EA.
You must be a Republican who thinks they should get a bigger tax break than those barely educated eastsiders, you THINK are being held back and down. The only thing being held back is the money allocated for their education. That accounting and spending you spoke of, those accounting books had been approved by the Board for all of the years Ms. Johnson has been in office. So she was/ is part of the problem. It is not her job to "dress down" employees. She has ONE employee, the superintendent, who she should have called on the carpet years ago for all that happened under his watch. That was her beloved Dr. Roberts. She gave him Carte Blanche on his contract, hiring and many of those years of "accounting not being up to snuff." That is "what bothers me" and yes I am a Democrat, a Tomcat and a proud "paying my fair share" tax paying citizen of Aurora, IL.
Rayanne please stop the hate for Annette and all the people who now pay for your granddaughters education. Your blog stops the truly top administrators from coming to 131. The best they can get today is retirees who don't have to worry about their reputations or someone like Popp. What did you do when insurance problems got brought to your attention? You are so insane or filled with hate everyone in the district runs from you. If you cared about the district you would end the blog.
It also goes for board members many will not run for the board because of their reputation.
Good point, Tomcat she did something about the insurance when nobody else did. When I have called her to complain about issue in my kids school or questions she always gets me an answer.
I have called the administrative center and never get answers or I am lucky is anyone even picks up the phone.
What is up with the board calendar? It is so full of garbage listings from around the district and has little of the business that should be on the calendar. There should be seperate calendars. One calendar for people who want to know what's happening at every building in the district and one that shows the board commitees.
This is what the board calendar should include: Every School Board Meeting (Including Special Meetings) Every Curriculum & Programs Committee Meeting Every Building and Grounds Committee Meeting Every Finance/Personnel and Policy Committee Meeting Any other meeting that board members are required to attend.
The way the calendar is shown now makes it look like the board is trying to hide what they are doing. Somebody needs to correct this.
You do know that Tyler worked for Crystal Financial . . . and she was hired by 131 because of her work with them? I agree that it's difficult to attract and retain good administrators and board members because they value their reputations. Sometimes losing an administrator is a good thing - like Feltes. Can you tell me why he is even allowed to walk around with Leonard 'inspecting' the construction projects? Didn't Tricky Dicky get him another job already? Is Dicky trying to bring him back now that DiMare has been terminated? I think we can all agree that this would be a HORRIBLE move. Annette and Dicky have probably formed an alliance. Annette will support Feltes's return if Dicky votes her way. Be afraid custodians - be very afraid. Feltes will be back and Hoyda's consultant will 'determine' that it will be cheaper and more efficient to outsource you. Why else do you think Annette and Dicky support THIS consultant? The interims are powerless as Annette continues to run - excuse me, - to manipulate the district from her pulpit.
P.S. I don't know Rayanne, but I do know that she's not the only one in Aurora who is not drinking Annette's kool-aid. Annette's got a lot of traction on the 'I fixed the insurance problem' - give me something more recent!
I think the calender is great it reflects activities in the school. The committee meetings are posted on every board agenda. Keep it like it is! I also like the videos on the district website it showcases our students.
Give me a break "Two cents" we have listened to your garbage long enough about Annette Johnson. Your side lead by Hull came and told us all kinds of stories and we believed them. After all they claimed to be ministers and at the time Johnson supported Feltes.Feltes was telling us that we would be outsourced by next election. Well next election came and Johnson with the other members gave us a good contract. Never once did outsourcing come up. Like Johnson we made a mistake listening to the Ministers and Johnson made a mistake listening to Tricky Dick.
Many of us knew from employees working at SSC Johnson attempted to stop Feltes but the fix was in. The same ministers made a deal with Feltes and tricky Dick to destroy Johnson. We then watched and board meeting after meeting Johnson voted against the board to stop Feltes. We then helped her gather more information and Feltes got fired. We also know Feltes would call Johnson names no man should call a women. Johnson bring Feltes back we do not think so. It is just the same group out telling lies again.
Another fact is we will have a FOUR YEAR contract in days and the board has agreed. So again another LIE that the consultant is outsourcing us. We also know Hoyda and McDonald both came from district that employed SEIU. We also have talked with the consultant and he is getting input from ALL of us and he has made comments we DO NOT have enough people to properly keep the building up. He also stated the district should pay for us to have additional training programs with marketable skills such as HVAC. SO AGAIN MORE LIES. We will not drink your kool aid any longer. GET THE HE** out and let us do our job.
I agree , Two Cents is a liar or jealous former board member or terminated admin from hell. We see Hoyda or McDonald all the time and they call the shots. Dr McDonald and Hotda are no wall flowers. They meet with us all the time not just out of touch administration. They value our opinions. Johnson is not running them, they are running the district. We also heard the Koolaid story at the HS from the haters once we got to know Johnson she was responsible and care for the students. Same old BS with small minded people that do not want our district to move ahead. Now if Harmond, Jefferies, Montroy and the Gillesepes would just retire EA would be a better place to work. They are scammers collecting stipends that they do not deserve because they kissed the prior admins behinds.
What are you smoking you overaged hippie? It's your opinion that it's acceptable that on the school board calendar I can find information about the Cooking Club at Waldo but I can't find out when the next Personnel & Policy Committee Meeting will be? What's the point of having a school board calendar that doesn't give information about the school board? You really are a moronic imbecile. Go smoke a little more and leave district matters to the educated members of the community.
Our building has visits from administration, and board members Darby Strand and Johnson.We have a AP and a principal. We have even seen Hoyda twice. All of them with the expection of Johnson just came around visit. I only know what I had heard and I drank the Koolaid. We all know Koolaid can easily be poisoned. We believe what some moronic individual writes.
So the story goes all these fine administrators and board members pass down our halls. All have great personalities. Johnson who is quite looks around does not glad hand or hug but asks questions and told us she would follow up. Not expecting much a few days go by and our students had their soccer net up, smart boards fixed, a complaint handled on food service, bathrooms cleaned and insurance question answered. The biggest news was our potholes are being repaired and that has not happened for five years. Weeds that had not been attended to since last year cut and a painting plan shared
It should be everyone in authorities job to see and ask. They had the same opportunity as Johnson to fix problems but they looked the other way to busy getting high fives. So, no more Koolaid for me and other teachers should invite her for reading day. a lot happens when she is around. It may not be the boards job as you claim but again everyone is born with a mouth to speak, ears to hear, and eyes to see. That what I tell my classroom. If Johnson uses hers and the others do not who's fault is it?
If you actually looked at the board committee pages, you would find that there is no listing of upcoming meetings. It only shows past meetings. Now who is the dumba**? Some people are just hard to understand with their head so far up their a$$.
Posted for the Curriculum Meeting. It shows you are so stupid you don't know how to read. Every Committee has a list the same way. It shows your ignorance!
The next scheduled meeting is:
5:00 p.m. October 17, 2016 at the McKnight Service Center, 417 Fifth St.
Interesting Dr. Hoyda and Dr. Mcdonald do what they want! Dr. Hoyda brings her friend Mike Stapleton from Phoeniz AZ to do consulting work. Paying airfare, lodging, and meals, without full board approval.
Annette Johnson approves this without board consent paying Stapleton $20,000. Dr. McDonald allows this person, Mike Stapleton to work without full board approval and without background check being complete.
This is how the interims work taking care of their pals.
The Phoenix AZ company, Server Management Assist, is who Mike Stapleton works for. How come we can not find a Chi-town company? Instead we pay extra for friends of the interims.
Once again if you actually pressed the buttons you are referring to, you would find that they lead to last years calendars or blank screens. I should also find this information in one spot, not click a dozen buttons to get the royal runaround.
None of this changes the fact that all this information should be on the board calendar. I don't need to know about the cooking club at Waldo, I do need to know when all the board meetings are going to be this year. The board calendar is where this information should be AND it should be up to date. I don't need to know the dates from last year, I do need the dates for this year.
You should be supporting transparency not helping district corruption.
200 comments:
A great standing ovation to our new Principal and celebrations by all today. Great day at the HS
The standing ovation should go to Johnson, Arroyo, Hatchett and Leonard for making the changes possible. We had curriculum and plans in hand across all building today. It shows the district has turned the corner. Dr's Hoyta and McDonald deserve much of the credit but at least some BOE members made it possible
Hoping that this is a positive year in EA and we can look forward to some stability!
Come on, really?! Let credit go where it is truly deserved. The employees at the high school have continued to do their job for YEARS, Inspite of the dysfunctional school board. Now one of the board is posting that their little alliance should get some credit, when they are the ones who caused the problems in the first place! What a joke!!
Someone is already trying to build on their campaign for the next board election.
What is being heard through the community is there is definitely some light shining in the district. The interim superintendents are giving hope. Now if the board doesn't screw it up again and put the wrong people in place, the teachers and building admin can get back to doing what they do best, educating our students.
The EA community gives them a standing O for hanging in there. Thank you EA Staff!
The new board is doing a good job but they did not hire Crespo. The board from hell did as well as hiring Popp. Give the new board members a break Hactett and Arroyo needed to sit through meeting getting called names by organized campaigns from Strand and her children. Actually she has been at the root of problems for years. Laesch doe not come to meeting so he is totally ineffective. I think I have only seen him twice. Darby has been a major disappointment many of us told him about problems with Crespo only to find our manes with Popp. Try being a PPA in the halls with Crespo undermining our every move. The teachers think they are the only ones who count. It takes a villiage to run East.
I will give Johnson a standing O she helped us and many of us had been told stories to hate her by the real cancer of East Jackie Montroy. Nobody is buying your garbage anymore along with Devo.
Just remember, teachers. You screw it up again this year as you have in the past 40 years and you will not have anyone else to blame but yourselves. You have run out of scapegoats. It would be nice that you freely admit that you are a part of the problem so that you can start the process of getting better. Everyone who has passed thru the halls of any university know that education classes are the easiest classes to get A's in. Have never known why teaching certificates went from a 2 year degree into having to have a bachelor degree. Additional formal education has never made a "better" teacher. Let alone the bogus masters degree in order to steal more money from the taxpayers. Ever looked at those 8th grade tests from 1920 and give them to a senior in high school??? Wonder if they would pass.....Remember, you cannot avoid the spotlight this year. Maybe you will even post the proper grades into the grade books this years, simpletons!!!!
It agree, the excuses are over. Hotya and McDonald are very experienced and the curriculum is now the best money can buy. NO one else to blame.
Okay...Why did we purchase ReadyGen and Biliteracy? Why is the Bilingual Department doing units for the Biliteracy? What happened to the idea of everyone following one unified curriculum? Why spend the money if they are not using it with fidelity!!!
Here's the first sentence of that article, published TODAY:
"As East Aurora students head back to school Tuesday, Superintendent Michael Popp said he planned this year for the district to look at space needs and work to limit the number of ineffective assessments"
Oh, and there's a PICTURE of "Superintendent Michael Popp" alongside the article.
Wow.
Incompetence on display.
:(
http://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/aurora-beacon-news/news/ct-abn-east-aurora-back-to-school-st-0825-20160824-story.html
No board meeting minutes have been posted since June 6. It is almost September!!!!!!!
Ready Freddie
Matt quit blogging here!!! we saw "your" PLC video today, a video done by your company that you contract work out to and put your name on . Shame on you. Boriiingggg. Yawn... You keep talking about how easy it is to get a degree in education. Wake up dufus. Taking advanced statistics isn't easy- or reading Socrates and Aristotle or the myriad projects on differentiated instruction for all of the various modalities of disability that one might encounter in the classroom. You sir, are a ninny. We are well rid of you. Fluff off.
Snags in school lunches prompt switch to new deliverer
http://www.sfchronicle.com/education/article/Snags-in-school-lunches-prompt-switch-to-new-6488510.php?cmpid=email-premium
Johnson has tried for 3 contracts to get Preferred Meals into the district. She has a relationship with the owner. If she sells products to Preferred would that be a conflict of interest? They were kicked out of San Fran school district last year because of inability to provide lunches to the school on time
http://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/aurora-beacon-news/news/ct-abn-east-aurora-act-scores-st-0825-20160824-story.html
Johnson makes high end specialty products I buy them at Marinos and they are a large company out of Newyork. I doubt she knows the owner or they could use her products in a school lunch program.
I was glad to not her sexual overtones today from the BOE President just inspiration. Get a life BOE from Hell.
On another note Crespo pulled kids out of class and violated school code to pump them full of answers for ACT and the scores went down. Some leadership we had.
Nice to see McDonald give a professional speech today instead of Popp talking in circles
I agree with "like to be informed" it has been obvious Johnson has tried to get other vendors in for D131 food service. She is connected and you have to wonder if it isn't a "I scratch your back, you scratch mine." She has definitely had some agendas that keep resurfacing and in my non-legal opinion, just ethically, I would think this is a conflict of interest. She has been vocal to those close to her how she thinks it is wrong for another board member to bring social services to the district through her church. These things are free to our families with no financial rewards. How can doing business with a friends company through the district and with tax payer resources be ok?
Another lie started about Johnson. They won the bid and it was publically bid. The HS has construction have you had to park in the mud pit let alone get trucks in to fed the entire district breakfast and lunch. All of the gas and water come into the building do you want the kids to blow up. MIke Popp get a job and stop writing on the blog.
Yes, the year has begun. Everything sucks again!!!!!!!!!! Food service sucks!!!!!!!!! The board sucks!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! But here is something that does not suck. District 204 ACT scores went up!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Back to things that suck .....District 131 ACT scores suck!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It is nice to know some things you can just rely on year after year after year and those things include the disgusting attitude of the people who work at district 131. You can count on them being negative about everything and talking out of their asses without knowing what is going on. Hopefully the new interim supers can cull the herd of incompetents before we get a new super.
http://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/aurora-beacon-news/news/ct-abn-fred-rodgers-magnet-academy-ranking-st-0826-20160825-story.html
The food service does not suck. Teachers had a chance to taste food yesterday which was nice that we did not have to run out. The food was well prepared and tasty.
Today they provided two selections. Sodexo had not and forced students to eat burrito pizza three times a week. The kids liked the food and the chicken nuggets had different types of sauce. The food was served hot for every class. Sodexo never could keep food warm for all classes . The way the meals were served had students in their seats eating much faster than Sodexo. With the new meals it is grab and go. The kids enjoyed a few extra minutes on the play ground. A good day.
If Johnson did get the new company we should thank her. We have heard it was construction. Sorry nothing sucked
Johnson's company is in Chicago Heights not New York. You are confusing her company with the NY company that sued her over the name. Google it.
Stop worrying about the Elementary schools and worry about the cold slop Sodexo is feeding students at the HS. Food is coming in cold the lines are long and they are not making enought.
Dear Matt Hanley: Just because there are 300 teachers at the high school does not make us a "herd". I would like to see either one of you with a class of 33 Freshmen- you would not cut it. I am so glad that you naysayers, you little boys who felt so superior to all things Aurora/ all things teachers, had the rugs pulled out from beneath you!
http://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/aurora-beacon-news/news/ct-abn-east-aurora-band-100-st-0831-20160831-story.html
Here's a link to 17 pages of recent articles about our district:
https://v3.boardbook.org/Public/PublicItemDownload.aspx?ik=39294838
Nice to see the article about the East High band, but why no mention of the excellent 5th through 8th grade band programs in our district that feed into the high school? Those 300 kids in the EAHS bands didn't just appear out of thin air. They all had parents who supported them through several years of learning their instrument, and directors who nurtured their talents and interests. The Beacon article SHOULD have given some credit to our elementary and middle school band teachers (past and present) for those big numbers. Big disappointment!!
The article mentions music theory classes, that's nothing new.
I took music theory at East in 1999. Mr. K taught theory every other year until 2005, then it disappeared.
Agree that the numbers at the high school are great, though.
The Board discussed multiple options and candidates, including an interim superintendent,” said Board President Annette Johnson. “We all felt that the best course of action was to hire Dr. Popp, an extremely qualified person who met all of the public’s criteria, as soon as possible.”
To select the superintendent, the Board used criteria gathered from surveys; in-person interviews with parents, community leaders and members of the public; as well as two forums that were open to any member of the public.
Annette Johnson read a prepared statement and it is documented she never voted for Popp. She has stated many times the board worked in unity and in the hiring of the superintendent they would speak with one voice. The vote was Trusa, Hull and Leonard for Popp. Preyee, Strand Gonzalez for Rodriquez Johnson wanted to look again.
Working with Johnson during our last contract we learned many stories have been fabricated about Johnson. We did meet yesterday as promised by Johnson and the current board. Hoyda was a true professional. If we had questions or concerns she took notes and stated she would work to resolve them. Open communication was shared by all and for the first time we felt our voices have been heard. Every admin and every building rep received training. This was a first.
Who is responsible must be a bitter former board member.
Something Oswego is doing that we should be doing also:
http://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/aurora-beacon-news/news/ct-abn-district-308-seal-of-biliteracy-st-0904-20160901-story.html
Speaking of Dr. Popp and also the band program:
Our district's band families are extremely fortunate that Popp and Truckenbrod are no longer working in D131. Many of us parents were very worried that they would try to eliminate our elementary band program, as happened in D204. I know some D204 parents who lobbied to keep fifth-grade band but the superintendent and administration pretended to listen to their concerns and made a unilateral decision to get rid of it. Our band program (5th grade through high school) is a real strength in our district and our children NEED and DESERVE to have the best possible experience in band!
How sad that this chapter will always be part of the 100-year history of the East High band program:
http://openline.blogspot.com/2005/04/east-aurora-students-make-noise-for.html
East has had a Seal of Biliteracy for some time students have to take a test. It is one of those secrets East does not promote.
It's a real shame that Liska can't give credit where credit is due. If you read the Beacon article, the entire program is Liska's creation and Liska's alone. Liska is an island unto himself. He can't acknowledge the programs and directors that build the high school program. No high school band is created only at the high school level or by one person.
The high school band program begins at the elementary level with the directors who face the biggest challenge of starting students from the very beginning. They recruit hundreds of students because the only way to have 300+ students at the high school after attrition is to start much larger numbers of students. They have tons of patience running around to 5-10 buildings and working with kids with absolutely no instrument background.
The high school program can only survive if the middle school directors also do an amazing job. They develop these incredible kids through the toughest time of life. Middle school kids are going through enormous changes and are just beginning to figure out their potential.
Liska also forgets all the kids, their families and the community that supports the band program through their attendance, participation, fundraising and taxes. Just this year a large grant was given to the program from Kane County. And how about the administrators and school board who support the program with the funds necessary for the program to be successful. They are literally spending millions to build three new band rooms and a new stadium to perform in. And what about all the support personnel who come in early and stay late setting up and breaking down for concerts. Then there are the stage techs who run sound, lights etc.
All of the elementary and middle school directors are working alone, unlike Liska. To be clear, there are three directors at the high school not including the extra directors that are hired during marching band season. Liska didn't mention anyone but himself in the article. Anyone in a high school band director position who acknowledges noone but himself has absolutely no class whatsoever. Liska definately needs a reality check.
The district was going to end 5th grade band . Truckenbrod told parents it was a gift that the district provided this. He went on to tell us we should pay for private lessons. Glad to see the 204 blow heart gone.
Rumor at the SSC is that they are upset Liska never told anyone about the 100 years or the article. He called the reporter and self promoted himself with involving anyone.
Students can sign up for free Microsoft office with the district license. More good news in EA.
We also graduated 50 students with the Certificate of Biliteracy.
The way I see it, Brian Liska was a victim of the Radakovich/Malaker/Gonzalez etc. administration along with Kevin Kaisershot, although in different ways. After at least half a dozen qualified candidates turned down the job, the administration was desperate to fill the position (and admitting a mistake & returning Kevin to the high school was out of the question). Brian was hired just a few weeks before school began; he was basically promised the moon by administrators who glossed over and/or lied about the reasons for Kevin's removal. I think that Brian figured out after awhile that he had been a desperation hire and that his every tiny mistake was being blown out of proportion by community members still bitter about the way Kevin had been treated. Here's a quote from Brian, taken from a music education website in 2011 discussing the "transition year" between one director and another:
"The only thing I would add is figure out why there is an opening. Did the teacher retire on their own terms? Was the teacher removed/reassigned against their will? The removal is particularly difficult if they were liked by the students and community. Read the local newspapers from this spring and summer. If there was some sort of controversy you might find it there. You can also ask why there is an opening in your interview although most administration will sugar coat something negative.
— Brian G. Liska"
To Brian's credit he has stayed at East High and seems to have matured into an effective teacher, well-liked by students and colleagues. I wouldn't be surprised if he's tried to find a job elsewhere but with a growing family to support maybe he chooses to continue in D131 for their benefit. I know that Kevin tried to find a job within driving distance of Aurora in 2005, but there were none comparable in salary & benefits and his wife and teenaged kids did not want to leave Aurora. Both men are good citizens, husbands and fathers (a fact that is sure to be noted by the interim superintendent, coming as he does from West Aurora where the previous Director of Bands is serving time in prison).
People on this blog and elsewhere are currently criticizing Brian Liska for failing to acknowledge the elementary and middle schools' contribution to the high school program. But it was the Beacon-News reporter that wrote the article, not Brian! The Beacon-News SHOULD have mentioned the success of the feeder school programs, and maybe interviewed some band members and alumni from way back when. I think that the Beacon-News has been influenced and controlled (directly or indirectly) by the corrupt administration in our district, going back to the Radakovich years. For example in the early 2000s when Kevin Kaisershot composed and published a march, an article and his picture were featured on the front page of the Beacon. In 2009 Kevin won a NATIONAL competition to compose "The Music Teachers March"; several weeks later a tiny article (no picture) was buried in the back pages of the paper. I blame the Beacon-News and D131 administration (not Brian Liska) for avoiding mention of the many great band directors from fifth through eighth grade in our district (after all, the Beacon said absolutely nothing about this year's summer band camp!)
Now the Beacon-News wants to commemorate the 100th year of the EAHS band. I hope they're prepared to hear plenty of criticism about their biased coverage of our district along with reminiscences about the "good old days"!
Not to give this issue more time than it needs, but I want to say good job to "my perspective" for a well-written, intelligent, and un-biased response to the post by "can you say megalomaniac...". I'd also like to point out a few flaws in the logic of that very biased post.
Dear "can you say..."
I am disappointed in the flawed reasoning of your post, and I'd like to address some concerns without resorting to name-calling or insults.
First, have you ever been interviewed by a news publication of any kind? If so, do you remember how the article was written? I believe that if you ask anyone who has ever been interviewed (including me) you will find that the subsequent article is not a word-for-word translation of said interview. Usually writers will ask far more questions and collect far more information that they will ever publish. This way they can pick and choose what information they want to use. And sadly, some quotes are inevitably taken out of context, which can lead a reader to draw incorrect conclusions. But even if that is not the case, it is 100% guaranteed that not everything that Mr. Liska said was included in the article.
Which brings me to my second concern. I do not feel that you, unless you were there as Mr. Liska was being interviewed, are qualified to comment on what he did or did not say. As mentioned in my first point, there is no way that everything he said was included, so how can you claim that he didn't mention any of the other aspects of the band program? It is clear that he is very proud of this program, and it is just as likely that he gave credit where credit is due. But for some reason, you seem to have a personal vendetta against him, which causes you to immediately jump to the conclusion that he must be a "megalomaniac". I'm wondering if he did something to you personally that causes you to label him so harshly.
Finally, when I first read that article in the Beacon, my first thought was "Who the heck wrote this?". It's really very poorly written - there is no flow and she jumps from topic to topic without ever making a concrete point. The perfect example is the two random paragraphs in the middle of the article about the ISHA. I have re-read those paragraphs several times and I still can't figure out her point? Does it have anything to do with the fact that EAHS band is celebrating 100 years? If so, I can't find the connection. Her sentence structure is also immature and weak. She starts too many sentences with the words "He" or "Liska", which is probably why you read it and see it as a reflection of Liska's conceit, but please re-read my first two points to see why this is illogical. All in all, I think this author did an awful job of covering this momentous occasion. But you can't really fault Liska for that, can you? Well, maybe you can, but I can only imagine that he must have done something truly terrible to you to deserve such contempt.
Either way, I would like to say congratulations to the EAHS band program for 100 years of education. And congratulations to everyone involved in the district, on all levels, of the band program. Because one thing I do agree with "Can you say..." - it takes all levels to build such a great program at the high school. But maybe we can just say that, instead of twisting this celebration into a way to beat down on one man who you clearly don't like.
Great job D131 band - keep working together to make this program amazing!!
Rush-Copley is offering a Family Fit program. It offers sessions with a personal trainer, a six week healthplex membership among other things. Also, custom nutritional guides and tools developed by Sodex dietitians. The food service that is not good enough for our children is being used by a hospital health program.
The band is better because the board throws money at the programs. When K lead the band the instruments were old and broken and the serial bully made him the scape goat. Sometimes there were not enough to go around. They have music theory classes, additional stipends, and extra staff helping Liska. The elementary programs are supported and so are the middle schools. The credit to rebuilding all the extra programs and we have many now goes to the board.
Let's face it Liska has had the support unlike no other.
Insider (Annette) the slight of hand trick only works on lap dogs who don't listen and can t count. The vote you quoted at the meeting was before Popp was selected, lol. 3 for Popp - 3 for Rodriguez and you wanted to look elsewhere . Mr Rodriguez was selected so you had to be the tie breaker if it was 3-3.
Are you saying the newspaper didn't quote you correctly when interviewed about Popp.
Insider is not Johnson it is the staff you sh** all over by making us come in and risk life and limb because we cared about the district. Yes, folks the employees of SSC had to come in when the other employees had a day off from school because roads had been to dangerous to drive and the temperature was negative 10.
The team filled out paper ballots the scoring was 14 to 1 against Popp. He stated from the get go " I am a quick study and if somebody translates I can read it" That first comment was shared with the board. He showed his lack of leadership. Feltes was the one vote.
As for the vote it was 3 to 3. Johnson voted for Rodriquez because the staff that had to come in picked him as the lessor of two evils.
Dr Roberts then told us he was not able to get certified. Dr Roberts had a talk with Dr Negron about taking over with the help of Dr Hoyda. Sadly, Johnson lost control of the board because of the Feltes investigation.
Who's to blame Hull who was so blinded by power he destroyed our district. That is behind us and many moved on because of him. We are happy for our colleagues that today work with true professionals who are changing the landscape of EA.
BTW, Johnson read a prepared press release and for anyone who attended the meeting one could see she found them hard to read.
Insider (Annette) - you forget that all votes are documented via minutes. for eternity. Read the March 10th minutes - it was clearly a 7-0 vote for Popp. Why, I'm sure you even voted to approve the March 10th minutes!! Maybe your long and short-term memory issues are flaring up again. You can't re-write history to suit you.
The board agreed to support Popp whether they all approved of him or not. She was the President at the time and read a statement. When it did not work out they got rid of him. The district is better off today MOVE ON
I've been listening to this band crap for years. People have been making excuses for Liska's screwups forever now. It was Radakovich's fault, it was Marin Gonzalez's fault, it was Clayton Muhammad's fault, it was the board from hell's fault, it was the principal's fault, it was Mr. Kaisershot's fault, it was the communities fault. NOW it's the reporters fault. Excuse me but Mr. liska has been teaching for more than a decade now, when exactly does it begin to be his fault? When does Liska put on his big girl panties and begin to take the responsibility for his own actions?
The Board from hell existed twice what' did both boards have in common they both hired the superintendents from hell. The serial bully and Popp goes the weasel. Who was on both boards Raymond Hull. Glad they are all gone.
Want some cheese with that whine Pass The Buck? In case you missed it the band program is at its highest numbers ever and it continues to grow year after year after year. And yeah, Liska's not doing it alone and the rest of the program needs to be acknowledged and congratulated and yeah, the program is getting more money and support which definitely makes it better. But none of that means Liska is screwing up and needs to take responsibility.
You should take your own advice Look at the Truth, and look at the fact that this district (especially elementary and middle school) still have crap instruments and not enough to go around. But instead of bitching and moaning, something K was amazing at, the current band leadership made stuff happen so they got some new instruments and new uniforms - which Liska had to work for YEARS to get. So yeah, he should take responsibility - for helping make the EAHS Band program back into something the students, district, and community can be proud of!
Haters gonna hate is hating too, it sounds. I had children in the band program and have been a supporter through attending concerts and school athletic games, to buying fruit and such over many years. My children and neighbors and I have ALWAYS been proud of our Band program. We may not have had the prettiest instruments and uniforms, but we sounded good. Our district sometimes has to make due with things such as text books, supplies and yes....band uniforms because there is a district budget and when they prioritize what is "needed" instructional costs for core curriculum will and should come first.
For many years, I recall each student had to purchase or rent their own instrument. The district did not supply instruments, the director and others looked for ways to have instruments donated and repaired. We have students that didn't always continue in band after receiving an instrument and then left....with the donated instruments. Much work was put into the program, other than just directing, but also acquiring instruments and funds for such through any means possible. As has been shown over and over in the history of our district, the arts have not been supported and have always been the first on the chopping block...along with sports. So directors had to be creative in their funding of things and had to rely on their boosters.
It is a wonderful thing that tide has changed, to give the current band director credit for all that has been put into the program over the years for the few things that have now been put into practice is disrespectful of all the boosters and directors that have worked to keep the program going. I don't know the current director(s). Which is something new. Our district has only had one high school director for as long as i can recall. He may be a fine teacher and person. I am just going by what I have read, and he does not seem to be a humble person. If he works well with his students and they continue to build on the musical foundation the elementary and middle school directors have laid, then I guess arrogance aside he is a good teacher. The 100 year history of the program and its boosters should not be summed up in the few years of one director. He is but a minuscule piece of those years.
I am thankful for ALL of those who have continued to fight for and help fund our districts band program. It may not be considered a necessary course but I believe it and all the arts and sports are essential for producing students with a well rounded start to life after high school.
"bitching and moaning, something K was amazing at"...
I don't remember Mr. K ever bitching or moaning! There WAS plenty of bitching and moaning going on by administration back in 2005, however:
--Gordon "Peyton Place" Postlewaite (interim director of secondary education), who made it his personal mission to make Kevin's life miserable by accusing him of insubordination because he had the guts to speak up for parents' and students' best interests
--Marin Gonzalez (EAHS principal), who was heard to whine "oh no...what are we going to DO?" when the original director hired to replace K backed out
--Rick Johnson (EAHS athletic director), who constantly bitched and moaned to his Minooka buddy "Serial Bully" Radakovich that a mere band director would not bow to HIS every whim
--Juanita Wells (School Board From Hell member) who griped that the mangled version of the National Anthem played by the band in September 2005 was actually sabotage by Mr. K's supporters
Plenty of examples of bitching & moaning back then, but not by Mr. Kaisershot!
And about those new uniforms...take a look at the ones Mr. K designed back in the 1980's and compare them with the new ones. VERY similar in design! But if any acknowledgement of that fact was ever given by the new band leadership, I missed it. Just one more example of certain people wanting to take credit for shared success!
It is easy to build a band program when the board buys $300,000 in instruments, pay big $$$$ stipends, buys new uniforms and hires new employees at all levels of grades to help Liska. The prior band directors spent time finding instruments , teaching students with little experience and fundraising. Give credit to the many that really contribute.
I am absolutely hating too and I will totally own it. My issue is blaming someone for other people's opinions and attacking Liska for an article HE DIDN'T WRITE! I will admit to my anger and frustration. And you know what? I'll even admit that that anger and frustrating is probably misdirected at Kaishershot because he hasn't had anything to do with the high school program since 2005. I'm a big enough person to admit my prejudice. Are you? Because that's exactly what's going on here. Prejudice and misplaced frustration and Liska's reputation and freakin' personality is being massively judged and dragged through the mud by people who don't know him and have never had an actual conversation with him about ANY OF THIS SH!#. And I will also admit that in the conversations I've had with him, his manner of speaking includes sarcasism and can sometimes come across as rude. But if you actually have a REAL conversation with him instead of judging him on someone else's opinion, you'll see that he cares about these kids just as much as Kaishershot did, and he works just as hard to make this program continue to grow and be great. And he DOES deserve some acknowledgement, even though that article sucked and didn't give enough credit to anyone else. But Liska DID NOT WRITE IT so the fact that you are blaming him and calling him names is middle-school level, ridiculously childish bullying, plain and simple.
So if you're going to spread this unfounded hate and prejudice, at least be a big enough person to admit that. Because until you admit your unfounded, prejudicial, and just plain spiteful hate, I'm going to keep bringing mine.
Credit goes to who...
So a teacher who spends hundreds of hours a week working his butt off for his students doesn't deserve any credit? Who exactly do you think lobbied the board for that money? Why is it Liska's fault that the board finally started caring? It seems like he should get a tiny bit of credit for helping (because he didn't do it on his own but it sure as heck didn't happen without him) make this program worthy of the support it's finally getting and has deserved for so long.
Good for Liska for getting, keeping, and using that money and support in the best way possible to make the EAHS Band program the best it can be. Keep up the great work sir!!
Dear...And liars gonna lie
I'm so confused about your point about the uniforms. Kaishershot might have designed great uniforms back in the 80s but what does that have to do with Liska finally getting the board to buy his much-deserving students new ones? The old ones were over 30 years old! Should Liska have let his students wear moldy uniforms that were falling apart just because Kaishershot designed them? Don't you think K would have been pushing for new ones if he had still been at the high school? I'm just really confused why you're blaming Liska for this.
Liska is paid for all those hundreds of hours. Look at the facts not only did the board add uniforms, instruments and now a new band wing look at the stipends and extra help he is getting.
My point about the uniforms was that Mr. Kaisershot deserved to have been given some credit for designing them, but to my knowledge his contribution was never publicly acknowledged by the current leadership. I did NOT say anything negative or critical about Mr. Liska in my comment, nor did I even mention his name ("band leadership" could also mean Boosters president, for that matter!) And I also said that it could have been the case that credit was publicly given but I was personally unaware of it.
Both Mr. Liska and Mr. Kaisershot deserve credit for our kids' new uniforms. Both men worked hard for our band students to succeed. I just don't see when or where Mr. Kaisershot's contribution (designing the uniforms) was acknowledged. THAT is my point...are you still confused??
"Haters gonna hate" said that Mr. K "hasn't had anything to do with the high school program since 2005". Here's a reminder from 2015:
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
About a month ago, Mr. Liska had auditions for next year's advanced bands (Wind Ensemble and Wind Symphony). When the results were posted, I noticed something interesting:
In the Wind Symphony, 25 out of 48 students attended Simmons Middle School. That's about 52%.
In the Wind Ensemble, 25 out of 45 attended Simmons. That works out to 55%.
Students come into East High from 5 possible sources:
--Waldo Middle School
--Cowherd Middle School
--Simmons Middle School
--Magnet Academy
--Somewhere else (private school such as OLGC, transfer from another district, homeschooled, etc.)
It would seem that about 20% of top performing EAHS band students would come from each source...
...yet more than HALF of these young musicians attended Simmons Middle School, under the direction of Mr. Kevin Kaisershot.
Our district should THANK Mr. Kaisershot for his hard work and dedication over the past ten years! Despite being deprived of his previous position by a corrupt administration (over the protests of the community), Mr. K has continued to do an outstanding job teaching our middle-school band students and preparing them for success in high school!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Preparing more than half of EAHS' top band students is DEFINITELY having something to do with the high school program!
Seriously "Pass the Buck"? Are you sure you're talking about the right people? Because it sounds a lot like this other guy 11 years ago - it was never his fault. It was the serial bully's fault, then the principal's fault, then the board's fault. He never had to take any responsibility for anything. But at least he always had his big girl panties on, right?
God I love hypocrites.
So Kaisershot was never paid in all the years he taught? He never got any stipends?
Do you get paid for whatever work you do? If so, does it negate that work or how you do it? Not a great argument here.
Sorry, but if you're saying "new band leadership" on this feed, we are all assuming you are talking about Liska, just like everyone else. If you don't want confusion or misconceptions, you'll have to be more specific.
But since we're on the topic, as this blog all too often is, why are we talking about Kaisershot at all...still? I'm sorry, but it's just ridiculous how you "people" bring him up Every. Single. Time. the band is mentioned. It wouldn't actually be that bad, because he did do some great things, but the unbelievably sad part is how you use him to bash Liska. Does this poor man (K) even hate Liska as much as you do? Why the personal vendetta?
Since we're making corrections, I find it interesting that the elementary schools send several hundred band students to each middle school every year and yet each middle school sends less than 50 to EAHS. Waldo sent around 20 one year. And yet not a single one of you mentions that. But I guarantee if Liska's program had that kind of loss, you'd be hiring a pilot to write it in the sky. Unfortunately you can't do that because the high school consistently retains more than 80% of it's band students. Liska must be doing something right that his kids want to stay in his program for all four years. Plus there are kids in multiple bands every year. They take summer school to get ahead and use their extra periods to spend more time playing in the band. Sounds like a pretty good program to me. But god forbid someone mention that because then Liska is just being arrogant, even though he never points this stuff out.
The 9:00 am post was right - this hypocrisy is really sad.
So Mr. Liska DID publicly acknowledge Mr. Kaisershot's role in designing the new uniforms? When? Where??
"Since we're making corrections, I find it interesting that the elementary schools send several hundred band students to each middle school every year and yet each middle school sends less than 50 to EAHS"
This Is worded wrong or just outright incorrect. There are several hundred students in the elementary program but probably/ most likely fewer than 60 actually wind up "enrolled" in the middle school band at the 6th grade level owing to a number of things. As a rule a lot of the bilingual kids aren't allowed to enroll or are discovered to have been and then pulled out. Some kids who are behind in certain areas are pulled for "extra help" and except for the Magnet school many students are in double block math, science and language arts classes coupled with the previous mentioned deficiencies and are kept out until they recover. By then they have lost interest or are well behind the others and out of frustration they quit. Some do it anyway as a means to try some of what the rotation classes have to offer. So if the HS is still getting 50 from each middle school each year? That's probably a gift.
HELP!! Can someone PLEASE tell me why the principal from Simmons(Mechelle Patterson) is never to be found?? Her assistants Gibson & Young always seem to cover her absence or is there something written in her signed contract that she is untouchable?? I suggest that Hoyda or McDonald look into this matter it is getting really bad. SSC administration should really take time to look into this there are things that are not reported to SSC just to make it seem that Simmons is running smooth. Please take time before it's too late and you lose good staff.
What a embrassment King Crespo had parents with the same written message five times over tell everyone he increased graduation and was there for the Hispanic community. The parents had been made to feel only the King would meet with them. Only the King was capable of educating their kids. Anyone attending tonight's meeting could tell he took advantage of them. When are they going to fire him. He is not good for the parents or students. Maybe the parents need to know he was to much of a failure to get a teaching degree.
http://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/aurora-beacon-news/news/ct-abn-east-aurora-principal-st-0908-20160907-story.html
http://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/aurora-beacon-news/news/ct-abn-east-aurora-superintendent-extension-st-0908-20160907-story.html
http://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/aurora-beacon-news/news/ct-abn-east-aurora-pr-officer-st-0908-20160907-story.html
There are a number of EAHS students that do achieve above and beyond and they should be applauded. Unfortunately the percentages are deplorably low given the student population. EAHS celebrates each senior class with what they call the Top 10 %. Now on the surface with a graduating class of let's say 600, you get to "celebrate" 60 students with a cut off point that may only be in the meets category. By comparison, D204 used to (maybe still does) have what they call the Top 30 which when you consider how many of them were in the exceed category, it usually represented only the top 2 % of the graduating class.
A majority of these students (from both districts) go on to higher education at upper echelon schools, but sometimes in a rather discriminatory way the students from EAHS are allowed entrance because these same schools have a "quota" to fill in terms of students who are "minority-graduating from an underachieving school-low income-left handed-born during a full moon on a Thursday in an odd numbered year" profile.
A bit far-fetched in the description but not far from the truth as it does make these schools "look better" in that they are "reaching out". It also tends to keep from getting in those students from other walks of life who had a better ACT / SAT score and came from a higher performing district but don't fit the profile because that schools quota of those types of students has already been filled.
Explaining the numbers had some reasonable observations concerning band member numbers as they matriculate from level to level, but perhaps there is an undertow that few have considered and/or want to admit and I'm not just talking about band students here,...
The state report cards on schools were recently published and there is good ol' EAHS at the good ol' bottom of the list, not even cracking the 30% mark at meets/exceeds. This is evidence of a trend that has been going on for decades.
Most of the parents (who really care about education in EA) seem to feel that their students are getting good services and education at the K-5 level. (an aside is necessary here pertaining to the band conversation - 5th grade is when students have been started on instruments for decades)
It is upon completion of 5th grade (outside of the Magnet school conversation) that the same set of parents appear to rethink their options as to where they want their students to attend middle school. Many decide at that time to move elsewhere. Couple that with the already high mobility rate in EA and that would account for certain amount of students. This mobility rate / move out continues throughout the middle school years and so the 6th grade class coming in may not have the same numbers going out in 8th grade. Granted there will also be move ins but again reference the state report card info and parents who care (this is the term I am using in this conversation) are less likely to choose EA.
The bigger drop off is between middle school and high school where the options (even if you still live in EA) are greater for those parents. If their student has "survived" the EA experience through middle school, the parents now have a number of options outside of EAHS where their student might get a better experience (i.e. ACCHS, ACHS, Marmion, Rosary, Homeschool) along with the ever present "we are going to move".
I think it naive of anyone to suggest that each years freshmen class at EAHS will be the same size as that same class in 4 years as seniors. With a school of 3800+ students, shouldn't the graduating class of 2016 have been larger than 600 and change. There are a number of factors I'm sure that over the years have determined that, and some of them have already been mentioned here.
I would reason that might apply to the middle school-high school band numbers in that whatever the number of freshmen coming in that do enroll in band, do not necessarily stay in the program ALL four years owing to many of the things that again have been mentioned. I think I heard someone mention (perhaps elsewhere) that some of these students play in multiple bands? Good for them! If they have the time, why not? But the overall band numbers might be suspiciously skewed as high if you just add up the numbers in every group without eliminating those that are already accounted for elsewhere. An example would be the extracurricular groups such as Jazz Ensemble, Latin Jazz, Percussion Ensemble etc. - if these students are already playing in one of the other groups (i.e. concert groups or marching band etc) you shouldn't count them again.
Crespo is telling parents we was getting bad teachers out of East and that is why the moved him. Really,, he does not have a teaching degree? He also took credit for Spencer Byrds increased graduation. STOP USING THE POOR AND UNDER EDUCATED
To; Should be acknowledged
You are 100% correct and this is something that has occurred for over 50 years. I am sure that you heard of the lawsuit a while back with the University of Michigan. At this "prestigious" institution of higher learning, if your were black, you received more points for admission than someone getting a perfect score on the SAT. This has been exposed for years now and is supposedly done for "diversity" purposed. I think we all believe in giving some individuals a helping hand but that is not a helping hand, it is insanity. Just more of the participation trophy syndrome. Also, the "diversity" enrollees at colleges do not equate into graduates. here's another fact to consider.....Only 25% of females who graduate with MD's stay in the practice of medicine as it is to "hard". And we wonder why we have a shortage of doctors. We have quite a few of said gender who quit!!!!! Diversity my ass. How stupid have we become????? Do results count for anything, anymore??? Can we stop promoting ignorance???
Did anyone else find it HYSTERICAL in that article that they presented a petition with 400 signatures?? Good job! There are around 3900 students this year......neat.
I bet we can get the other 3500 to say "stay out."
And, Marina speaks Spanish, soooooooooo....
Talk about discrimination the meeting Crespo had were conducted in Spanish only. Lets hope that gets changed. They may be 85% of the district but everyone else deserves a equal chance. The board needs to look into this and stop discrimination. The fools that he played need to know Crespo lives in Wheaton and does not allow his kids to associate with Mexicans. He is Puerto Rican and proud of it
Yes, WOW, I did have doubts pass through my thoughts when reading that article. I thought to myself if those 400 people voted in the school board election that could make a big impact on things to come. I suspect it was many people just supporting the Hispanic principal, not really signing because they felt he was an outstanding and affective admin.
I have been to meetings where the interim principal has been in charge when she was an assistant. I think she communicates with everyone very well and is very approachable. I hope she gets the job permanently.
Kelso writes on Facebook her fellow teachers are bad and Crespo is great. Really? Kelso is at the extension campus and has a caseload of 30 students. Yeah I would think Crespo is great as well considering caseloads at the EAHS are over 430 kids and the extension campus has 2 counselors 1.5 social worker and the school only houses 60 students of which half don't come to school.
400 signatures......from who?!? Minors?!? Strands churchgoers?!? They probably passed around and told them to sign at church. How many of them are even registered voters?!? I'd bet it's under 50! Relax over there. Crespo is a joke, the best he could do is have 4 parents read the same exact speech over and over again?!?
Just leave already! Resign! Laesch the puppeteer is back at it again working with Crespo and the evil bible thumper strand to take advantage of poor uneducated parents. I wish the parents woke up and realized they are pawns in their game! Crespo is Puerto Rican!!!!! NOT MEXICAN!!!! He knows nothing of the plight of the school. CRESPO HAS NO TEACHING DEGREE. He has a bachelors degree in INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS, NOT EDUCATION OR TEACHING!!!!! Laesch and strand support him, believe nothing they say in board comments thanking teachers and other nonsense! Slap laesch in the face if he talks to you or emails you with his BS Union brothers and sisters talk. He could give a crap about us and our union. Laesch is such a weeny he loves to start crap but won't show his face and own his idiocy. He likes to start the fire, but runs and hides while it burns. The audacity of a man to work with Crespo and strand and then not show up until executive session. He is an absolute joke. Notice how the parents only could say general statements?! No specifics!!!! He's good, blah blah blah blah. Check the names. Check the voter registration records. Bet they don't add up! Word is strand is not running for re-election.......that will be a great day in EA WHEN THE WHITE (wo)MAN LEAVES US THE HELL ALONE AND STOPS RAPING AND PILLAGING OUR DISTRICT, ITS PEOPLE, AND OUR RESOURCES FOR HER AND HER FAMILY'S OWN PERSONAL GAIN. Laesch and strand need to resign. They don't care about our students, our staff or our district. They can take Crespo with him.
Date: September 9, 2016
To: Superintendent Mark McDonald
From: Ralph Padron
Subject: Attempted Hiring of Asst Business Mgr James Schiffer
Dear Mark:
Tuesday Sept 6 2016 I was researching James Schiffer and came across a very disturbing article which summarized the findings of an Auditing Company hired by School Dist 103 Lyons Brookfield. Schiffer was scheduled to be officially hired that night at the Sept 6 Board Mtg.
Due to the seriousness of the findings of the Auditing Co, I immediately contacted Board President Annette Johnson to make her aware of this in an effort to stop this hiring that night.
I forwarded her the attached article and she assured me that the Superintendents would be made aware of this ASAP. Fortunately the hiring was stopped thus averting having someone with a signed contract then act upon the controversy discovered.
Questions arise immediately
What role did Asst Supt Michael Prombo have in this near hiring
How come nobody caught this Was Prombo aware
Position was advertised for 87K
Did Prombo offer more
Interestingly enough was that Schiffer was already working at 131 for 3 days yet
was not officially hired and without a contract. How can this be allowed
I have been denied Mr Schiffer’s application and have appealed this decision. I believe valuable info MAY be found. More on this later
.
Mark, I have attempted to keep my distance to allow the new administration get off the ground however due to this and 2 other issues surfacing, I will FOIA additional documents concerning Bldg & Grounds for major violations.
I find it interesting that Mike Prombo was Alex DiMare’s supervisor at N Chicago.
We will let the FOIA documents be the measuring stick on these subjects
Respectfully
Ralph
Crespo has been busy calling anyone who will listen that he was moved to the extension campus because the superintendents wanted to make the union happy. Thus the union would tell the board to give them a two year contract. He also told parents, ministers and students we are white racist teachers who do not care about students. Crespo also stated we are bad teachers who hide behind our union.
Kelso who is a bad counselor posted on Facebook the same story but because of pressure took it down. Kelso is a bad counselor with a case load of about 25 students. We are sure she would not want to lose that assignment.
Meanwhile Eric Strand who received favors and often took pictures of custodians on break to make it appear they are lazy is still working up students. Eric did you not go away! It is funny how this "white boy" was so willing to take a education and a slot away at the coveted Fred Rodgers Magnet school. It is a fact Both Eric and his brother another malcontent never attended the real EA experience. See Waldo was not good enough for the Strand boys.
We ask the board this why did the petition not include addresses? We will tell you why a few like the Strand boys wrote names down changed their writing style and made it appear there are many. It's the same as the chants at a game one starts and everyone joins in .
Please Ms Strand take your worthless husband and go back to Naperville.
I agree with most of what "Unity" says, except their criticism of the Strand family. Our magnet school has recently been identified as one of the best in Illinois by Chicago Magazine. Taking advantage of every available opportunity for one's child is called GOOD PARENTING. Mr. and Mrs. Strand are to be commended for raising their sons to be high-achieving, successful young men...and good examples of what is possible in our district!
They are not good parents the preach saving and helping the poor but they take a Magnet spot. I have never been a fan of the Magnet program it separates students and takes the good parents and schools out of the schools. Strand children had every advantage that many of our students do not. They had two parents certainly capable of buying a computer. Do you not think all the children would not do better if they all had computers to take home. The Magnet school has always provided opportunies good parents could give at home. I was always curious at best that both sons won the lottery out of about three hundred students. Could see have used her influence or her husbands one will never know. She avoided the general school population but if you hear her speak she is preaching a different message. It is a true example of separate schools like they had in the south. All children deserve a good education and same in the public schools.
Brian Strand is posting he hates his teachers and Eric Strand is posting East Aurora sucks so I am not sure they agree East has been good to them.
Public Education, have you raised children? I have, and throughout their school years their father and I tried to choose between the various options available to us. That included public schools, private schools, and homeschooling. Our son thrived at Dieterich grade school but we didn't feel Waldo would be the best choice for middle school since he was one of the youngest in his class and small for his age, yet scored in the 98th percentile on achievement tests. So we moved to a different district that had an all-day gifted classroom in their middle schools, and it was the best decision we could have made for our son's intellectual and social development! I commend Mr. and Mrs. Strand for knowing their sons' needs and abilities and choosing the option best for them.
Something is really wrong with a few bloggers. As a parent if I have a chance to give my child the best available he will get it. Hey genius the kids in Naperville get computers as well. Waldo is still the absolutely worse MS in the district. By some logic the teachers should all live in the district and put their kids in school since they're so great. If the shoe fits wear it. If it has web feet and quacks it probably a duck. The strands were nuts for moving to East Autora with the worst schools in the state and they are suppose to feel bad for sending their sons to the one decent school. I'll have to remember that, rich students cannot go to Northern , EIU, WIU or iUOI. All students with upper middle class parents must go to UOC and Northwestern with no financial aid and no scholarship , accepting aid is taking away from students who need it.
to Unity....
Are we REALLY attacking students - children - on this site? Say what you want about parents, admin, etc (with evidence, I hope), but kids?? I am an East High Educator, and I have found the Strand brothers to be kind, committed to learning, and fully invested in being Tomcats.
But, EVEN IF THEY WERE NOT, you are attacking and dragging YOUNG PEOPLE through the mud. What is wrong with you?
They moved from Naperville and took a spot in the Magnet school so she could set up her non profit . His job was downsized and he became a teacher in 131 because it was easy to get hired. She made choices for herself because anyone would agree staying in Npaerville would have been the best decision. Her son's should not be involved in Strands position on the board and she has done nothing for us. Standing for Crespo is not standing for teachers but then again that is how Scott Strand became a teacher.
Unhinged why was Family Focus given $600,000 a year with zero accountability? Strand made sure to take care of them with Dr Popp. No other non profit gets that from 131 why them. Follow the money and you will find out who is getting petitions signed for Crespo.
Let's remember
The one is a graduate and the other a senior. When they involve themselves in organizing a public protest they become the subject of criticism either pro or con. They should not be involved in their mothers school board issues.
Family focus has been working in east Aurora before the strands came to Illinois. Gonzalo Arroyo was a member of the BOE while serving as director of family focus. Poof , so much for conspiracy
The band was horrible today in the parade. Three band directors and the band students did not march in a straight line. They also did wear their uniforms? The students had red shirts on that they did not tuck in. Very sloppy.
A grant was signed by Dr Popp with no oversite over Family Focus. In the past the district had oversite over any grant. Stop commenting on something you have no knowledge of.
Thanks Family Focus for setting the record straight. I volunteered with family focus before the Strand children were born. Credit or blame either way, some commenters like to give more than is deserved sometimes. I just think it is getting close to time for Board candidates to start their petitions if they are going to run for the school Board next year. So along with the campaigning comes the negative campaigns against others....just in case they should decide to run again. I suspect when K. Strand is gone she will be blamed for things for a long while to come as long as there is a dysfunctional board sitting for District 131.
Encourage friends and neighbors on the east side to get out and vote. Even though local elections don't seem like a big deal, they affect our families more directly.
Here's a link to the band Facebook page, with a video of them in yesterdays parade:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/eahsband/
To my eyes & ears, they looked and sounded EA-OK. Music was memorized, instruments held up with good posture, only a couple kids out of step. Sound wasn't all that great (tuning issues), and polo shirts looked sloppy compared to uniforms (I understand the reason for the shirts is because there are not enough uniforms to fit the increased number of students in band this year).
On that Facebook page I saw this, from Mr. Kulick (one of the band directors):
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Some attendance stats for you:
Football Game 1: 204/274 74%
August 29: 219/274 79%
August 31: 190/274 70% (BOO!)
Football Game 2: 197/274 71%
September 7: 220/274 80%
Average of 74.8% Attendance...
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
It doesn't matter how many band directors and adult assistants there are--if more than one out of every four students is missing from rehearsals and performances our marching band is NOT going to look and sound grEAt! It is probably time for D131 to join the majority of districts in our area (Batavia, Oswego, District 204) and make marching band a VOLUNTARY activity for band students. That way, only the students who choose to participate will be there and morale will improve. The uniform shortage will no longer be an issue. The 100th anniversary of the EAHS band program would be the perfect time to make a positive change!
This is the old civilization mentality. The problem is the Christians at strands command aren't doing it for the good of the people. They're doing it to recruit, brainwash and gain more members into their cult, sorry, church. They bribe them with food and services and then entice them to come to church for more. Ulterior motives much?!? Until you come to help without any motive or reasoning other than to help, stay away. This isn't a colony filled with savages that need religion.
If someone wants to help me or my children I will be grateful and accept that help. How do you know what motivates someone to help another person, and why should it matter?
To: Marching Band
There are 274 kids in band? I thought Liska went to the board asking for a third band director because there were going to be at least 350 kids in band. Where did the other 76 band members go? How could Liska have lost that many by the first week of school? Do we need a third band director if the numbers are that low? That's 274 kids divided by thirteen class sections taught by the three directors. That's an average of 21 kids in a band section. Without the third director, it would still be only 27 kids per class. Now if you figure that only 75% of students enrolled are showing up, you see an even bigger issue (16 students average). Who is overseeing all of this?
Mega box churches like the one Strand belongs to are growing because they are recruiting membership away from other religions. They had a show on the other day that stated big box churches have grown by 13% and other churches in the Chicagoland are down 11%. its all about the collection basket.
I know Baptists who used to be Catholic, Catholics who used to be Baptist, Unitarians who grew up Methodist. People switch denominations all the time; in this country we have the freedom to do so. And yes, churches do pass a collection plate and ask members to donate time and talent. But when I give money or time to my church it is totally voluntary and I know that it helps support not only the church staff & building but local programs to feed the hungry, etc. Money well spent!
Criticizing a church for recruiting members of another denomination is like saying the Jaycees are taking members away from the Rotary Club; people should go to whichever church (or club) best fits their beliefs, preference, and schedule. Oh, and "Nothing is free"...I can guarantee you that if you show up at my church next Sunday you'll receive a warm welcome, inspiring message, and refreshments absolutely FREE!
Point well stated. Amen! To "Churches" I go where I feel comfortable and welcome. Often times it has been those "big box churches" that have relayed in their welcome that I don't have to feel obligated to contribute. And Yes, along with the welcome I have received great messages and refreshments..... FREE! :)
Be damned those people who are trying to lead community members into a church. Our community is poor. If the goal is all about recruiting people for their tithes, wouldn't it have made more sense to go to another community. That seems like a lot of work Mrs. Strand is doing, and she has done it for many years, to build a church to get offerings from families whose children attend EA. The same families that get free lunches and breakfast. That is a real stretch of the imagination, or one of those crazy board members going off their rocker, again.
No not a crazy board but a staff member sick of the Strand family and her use of the school district. Her sons are out of line using their mothers position on the board. lets set the record straight churches have no business in the public schools
"user" you make it sound like there is deep hatred for a family called Strand, not the church. (remember we have freedom of religion, not freedom from religion in this country. Big, big difference) Sounds like you hate the Strand boys because they are smart. Are you saying the rest of the students in district are stupid compared to the Strand boys and district students cannot compete for awards or something??? If we have 3000 kids in high school how can 2 boys skew the results of that large of a population.??? To actually have people think that 2 boys pose such a threat to the lives of 3000 other students is just totally insane. Please, don't get stuck on stupid.
I agree with the statement made that the marching band at EAHS should be voluntary. I mean really, where are the options for the student that wants to play in band but doesn't want to be shackled with the extra hours (after school) that the marching band requires?
This also includes weekends. Some of these kids have a lot of other responsibilities (i.e. family, work, homework, church, scouts, etc.)
The other districts mentioned (I think they left out West Aurora which is also volunteer) offer options for the would-be band student. I think they all have indoor concert groups running concurrent with those kids who opt for marching band as well. These same groups in turn give fall concerts in October and/or November.
I realize that making the marching band volunteer means that there is no credit given and that the students would then have to take a PE class but choices will need to be made. It is obvious (according to the numbers) that the marching band part of the fall curriculum is not a popular activity given the number of students (%) that "don't show up to rehearsals and performances," but I also think it is unfair to hold "hostage" all those students who want to play their instrument, but would rather not (by choice) have to be in the marching band.
I would think that with that many numbers of students in the program, a couple of classes could be just indoor concert groups that work toward giving a fall concert. You might lose a few in the marching band, but that might also solve the lack of sufficient uniforms problem. This would also mean that those who stay in the marching band are there because they choose to be.
Unreal nobody hates the Strand boys they hate us. After giving them a great education they write that we suck on their Twitter page because we did not support Crespo. Mother Strand has used her position on the board to support her non profit. They got more out of East Aurora than they gave.
I am getting tired of the new procedures changing over night for our "curriculum" for ELA and MathGo! Can we just stick to the original plan and we all follow the same procedures!!!!
Except for Ralph being his usual turd sandwich, some band people living in the past and some people hating up on 2 boys sounds like the school year is off to a relatively positive start. Let's keep it going!!!!!
Actually the band people are concerned about the future. Specifically:
--continuing our 5th-grade band program, which was in jeopardy when District 204-influenced administrators were in the central office
--making our high school marching band a VOLUNTARY activity, as is the case with surrounding districts (including West Aurora).
Anthony Crespo:
Thank you for hiring a Special Ed division chair who is so unqualified he makes you look like a Mensa member! This guy is about to be slapped with many grievances from teachers that he has screamed on, bullied and has been totally inappropriate with. He sits in the teacher's office for about an hour each morning, making everyone feel uncomfortable. He totally gloms on one new teacher, and wastes precious time that teachers need to get their work done. He makes pronouncements about changes in paperwork that he is unfamiliar about, which have to be rescinded. He never answers any of his emails. He claimed he wanted to get to know us, but so far this has translated into screaming at the sped teachers. A real doosie. He has a basic lack of knowledge of special ed law and practices that is appalling. He has traumatized new teachers, bringing them to tears and feeling totally demoralized. Thanks Anthony!!
All of the changes are probably the director of technology justifying her position. Star 360, Mastery Manager, changes in IC, , changes that have people spending all of their time on paperwork instead of spending time teaching students, what a waste!!!!Morale at an all time low, new teachers unable to cope, no keys still at the high school, come one, hire a locksmith or a part time person to process key requests!!!!!!!@!Teachers just don't matter, and by extension if teachers don't matter, students will suffer as well. Oh well, we are all just cogs in the wheel of upper level management advancement.
You are pawns in Crespo's, strand's and Laesch's game. They are worse than Donald trump when it comes to lies and misinformation. Crespo was removed because he was a tyrant, a dictator, and a bully!!! He spent 35k on one assembly! He spent another 30k plus on signs and branding, but claimed to have zero money for basic supplies such as paper for copiers!!! Principal meetings with the union would turn into "who said that" and then harassment for the person who went to the union instead of a solution to the problem! He walked the building taking pictures of students and staff illegally! He contacted students inappropriately via social media! He violated board policy with political posts about trump! He violated an administrators medical note by writing him up for following doctors orders! He screamed, yelled and treated secretaries and women in general like second rate citizens! Puerto Rican machismo was strong in him. Parents, he did not get removed from the high school because there were a lot of bad teachers he was trying to move, he got removed because he was a bully and an incompetent one at that! HE DOES NOT HAVE A BACHELORS DEGREE IN EDUCATION!!!!! He has an international business degree! He's an international businessman with a master's in administration! Wake up. Search him on ELIS on the state isbe site, he does not have a teaching degree. He is not qualified to teach children in the state of Illinois but he wants you to believe he's qualified to run a high school?!? You poor misinformed sheep are being led to slaughter by strand and Crespo. Wake up! Crespo isolated parents by only having one parent group which met in the cloak of darkness and was spoken only in Spanish! What about our white and black families?!! How can their parents be involved? Oh that's right he doesn't care about them! He never once reached out to the African American community. He played favorites with strands kids and gave them power over anyone and anything at the school. Of course they're mad he's gone. And for those bible thumpers out there....ever hear of separation of church and state?!! This is a public school! Stop trying to convert the "savages" this is not colonial America. Strand has unlimited control over grants and funds given to her by Popp for her group. Wake up!
I have to agree with the above on a few things. My rant is more generalized. I am not Finger pointing one board member, but the admin who set the guidelines for the buildings.
I feel the district has bent over backwards and has made cost no object to accommodate our Spanish speaking families. Every building has parent liaisons. In some cases these liaisons are NOT there for all parents, but only for parents who communicate in Spanish? I've heard of parents from different elementary schools who are not able to have effective communications with the school because they are required to go thru a liaison whose main function is working with the non English speaking parents. So where does that leave the rest?Which is mostly the Black and White families, or Hispanic families who do not speak Spanish or prefer to communicate in English.
Don't get me wrong, I am happy they have people to help with translation. Especially when it relieves children from being the translator for adults. But when communication is limited to others (non Spanish speakers) to accommodate the Spanish speakers, this is not right!
The commentor above talks about "savages" and a group meeting in the cloak of darkness speaking in Spanish only. I think this where a bigger problem lies. They are not trying to convert anyone, but rather use the language barrier to their advantage to accomplish certain goals. In this case it is Crespos position at EAHS. For people who have limited involvement in the schools, which most EA parents do, relaying news to them in their native language to serve a purpose or goal is what is happening. We are a working parent district with many blue collar families. If someone from the district reached out to me and told me- I know you are a busy hard working parent, I know You care about your children and their education. Did you know your child's education is being affected by the removal of the Spanish speaking male principal in their school? You can help by speaking out, we know this is difficult, but this is all you have to say and do, to make a difference. Now this parent feels they can be a part of helping and being involved in an important way. In actuality, they are being manipulated by the same people who have been hired because of their ability to improve the communication between the families and the schools. Instead, they are segregating them more with misinformation.
This is not just a Crespo issue, it has happened in within our administrative offices. Those whose responsibility it is to create an atmosphere of inclusion with families is failing miserably and instead creating a "them and us" attitude in the schools. What message is being relayed now to White and Black children whose parents are not the majority of those in the district? A parent told me of a dance held at the school. The DJ announced in Spanish. Another said events are targeted at Spanish speaking parents. Is it assumed all other parents don't need or want information on helping their students? Some parent meetings require parents to sit through translations. Frustrating both sides of the crowd having to hear one sentence in your native tongue and again in a language you don't understand. It leaves a person a bit confused trying to stay focused with this back and forth spiel.
I don't think the parents need to wake up. Admin needs to take a step up to the reality of the atmosphere they are creating in our schools. You can't get parents involved when you are segregating children and families from being part of the total school family. This includes not allowing individual members of the school staff, parent groups or school board to focus, target, accommodate only specific people. Is it too much to ask for equal services, education, done without bias and respectfully.
On to Duel Language I went to a parent meeting last year and was told the district was implementing the program. I said great until I was told the program was designed to accommodate Spanish speakers. My child (white) would receive instruction in 90 % Spanish and 10% English I was outraged. I know, Ms Strand and she told me it accommodates the community. What community is there no place for white or black children in East Aurora. Now I see the write up in the paper and Ms Hatchett I am hoping you are not allowing them to put a program in only for Spanish
As often is the case in 131...lots of talk, no action, on the part of admin. They throw out a few promises and people sit waiting while nothing happens and plans get put on the back burner or forgotten. Ten years ago the dual language was discussed at a board meeting. I recall a lady named Avis made comment. Here we are a decade and how many hundreds of students later and it is still in discussion. While our neighbors in Naperville have put it into practice for 8 years now.
http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2013-01-11/news/ct-tl-naperville-d203-dual-language-review-20130111_1_dual-language-program-national-foreign-language-center-english-in-two-years
A Naperville friend of mine had a child in this program. An English speaking family. The parents took Spanish in high school and college,so the child had help at home and thrived in this program. Not that EA doesn't have college educated parents, but with parent involvement being an issue, I don't think offering dual language is a fix to better educating our districts students. A feather in the hat of those admin trying to make it happen is the only benefit I see.
We, in 131, need to focus on building educational instruction that works and shows our children meeting and exceeding, before trying to put new teaching practices in the mix. In the link above, you will see a comment on total immersion. Over 20 years, I have run across articles on this plan of action being more successful than all other programs. Has 131 ever tried it?
Dual language has worked effectively in other districts, and I wish they'd had it when my kids were still in school. BUT to me Spanish with a little English, or English with a little Spanish, defeats the purpose. 50/50 would be appropriate and valuable. 90/10 or any split that puts the emphasis on one or the other smacks of "separate but equal". Are we going to revisit Brown v. Board of Education?
To D131 parent:
To be clear for you, Diana Argueta is the administrator who is pushing for the change to bilingual. The plan is for 100% of education in Preschool through 3rd grade to be in Spanish. Yes, that means if you enter school speaking English you will receive NO classes in English, only Spanish. When you enter 4th grade, you will only then begin to learn anything in English.
Considering the state tests that they begin taking in third grade are in English, what are they thinking. Also what do they plan to do with hundreds of teachers that we currently have teaching Pre-3rd who don't speak Spanish? Are they planning on firing them and going to Spain to replace hundreds of teachers? Not to mention that they pay the bilingual teachers far more than local teachers and give them moving bonuses. It's going to cost the district a fortune.
This is a perfect example of what's wrong in education. A bunch of people who are not in the class rooms and are under political pressure to do something. So they go off on half baked schemes that screw things up and then they move onto their next high paying job until they retire and collect huge pensions.
Re what he!!:
Any expert in linguistics will tell you that the only way to learn a second language or any language is through complete immersion. As young children learn new languages quickly, they would grasp English far more quickly if they were speaking and reading it all day long holding these kids back academically and jeopardizing their futures. Argueta is just making sure she has a job for life.
Reyes Childress and Argueta are at odds. Argueta must be dumb as a stump is she can't figure out Popp and Wadell are gone. This was a stupid plan and Childress is not on board. At least that is what she told teachers. The sheltered model worked and that is what we need. Do not forget our eval's are at risk. Childress needs to stop Argueta and just tell her NO. Put your friendships aside and do what is right. Go back to Sheltered.
.
I will say, I am a parent who tried to work with Argueta when she attempted to get parent involvement. You are right about her just trying to keep herself working. Her only goal in the parent involvement meetings was to get people to come so she could parade us all in front of the board and tell them we were meeting. No real agendas other than planning more meetings.
I have been happy with Childress. She is approachable and has gotten answers when questions have been asked.
Argueta is out of touch. I don't care if she is Hispanic, she hasn't a clue of what our kids and parents want and need.
Thinking out loud
Correct me if I am wrong, but isn't Illinois in the USA??? Isn't the language of the USA English??? Then why aren't ALL students being taught English in English from the start and those who don't have a grasp of English taught English before they are advanced to any grade. Only after that, start the dual language classes.
I don't care why Democratic politicians want this diversity crap and it surely has to stop. But this country is a melting pot, not some third world country where your neighbors cannot communicate with each other in the language of the USA.
Wake up people, before all resources are sucked up in allowing certain people not to assimilate into the fabric of this country.
Also, we should not be getting more students who just speak Spanish as there is no immigration from south of the boarder, correct????!!!
Kids taking the Access test when Reyes Childress ran the program had been placed in Sheltered classes if they missed a few questions. Today Argueta puts those same students into Bilingual classes. It is not fair to the Spanish children who just need a little support to get sent to Bilingual classes. White and Black children are not tested and they would most likely miss the same question. This is discrimination based on their last names. Argueta should be fired, she wants to run a Duel language program with instruction 90% in Spanish. The model she is proposing discriminates against white and black students going into duel language.
Waddell and Popp cooked this up and she was a willing participant that is not willing to change. She needs to tell us how she is going to find staff? Currently we have 11 openings. Someone should look into the costs of teachers from Spain. She is out of touch.
Crespo, Laesch and Strand are still gathering parents to speak on Anthony Crespo to the board. They love beating a dead horse apparently. No principal in the history of EA received a standing ovation the first teacher workday until Marina did so this year. Crespo is not missed by the adults in the high school. Has he been organizing these parents and calling them during school hours?!? Is he on the clock while he tries to make the district look bad and save his job? Too bad we don't have his twitter account still up and running so we can watch gaffe after gaffe. Parents, we'd love you to be involved and speak your minds, we don't love you being told what to say and having Crespo and his incompetent deplorables writing makeshift on the spot speeches which makes you look dumb. Crespo is gone due to his job performance, not his race. Just google search Anthony Crespo proviso east and read what comes up! Illegally firing a cheer coach, taking pictures of cheerleaders in their sports bras and spandex during practice......this guy is a slime ball!! Stop sipping the kool aid and start thinking for yourselves!!!!!
http://mobile.forestparkreview.com/News/Articles/2-13-2014/Beloved-Proviso-East-cheerleading-coach-firing-prompts-outrage,-cries-of-unfairness-/
The coach was rehired and Crespo was sent packing to proviso west after this debacle!!! He was also going to be fired from proviso west prior to his hiring at EA! This guy is not qualified to teach in the state of Illinois yet parents are believing and listening to him?! Gotta love the blind leading the blind! Stop being sheep and be wolves!!!!
Diane Argueta . . . and possibly Beatrice . . . cooked up the dual language program - well before Popp and certainly before Waddell entered the picture. They certainly put Hispanic students first. Beatrice may be approachable but she's so far up Johnson's and Hoyda's rear that she can't make a decision by herself. Not a leader . . . but a great follower!
Thanks, Another Staff member. For your honest feedback. I am only in the community and cannot know how many of these people are to actually have to work with. I have read similar sentiments about Reyes in the past, but thought it possibly Johnson spewing comments when she couldn't get her way. I thought the mentality of over accomodating for the Hispanics left with Marin.
Too bad they don't realize, even many of the Hispanic families I have spoke with do not like the mold they try to create for educating and advancing them. I thought Reyes was changing that. If more students were encouraged with programs that suit their level of education as much as the programs for Spanish speakers, I believe more students would be achieving at higher levels. I thought their was a state mandate to that all children were to be taught and challenged at the level they required. Which included gifted students and students of ALL race and nationalities.
The king brought his merry band of nitwits to the board meeting last night. While he sat in Wheaton his groups of nitwits complained about him. What a sad group uneducated and undocumented. If that the best he can find for support.
Go to a board meeting complete with superheroes and nitwits.
Let's set the record straight! We would have been on strike without the contract that we had both financially and working condition wise if Annette Johnson would have not showed leadership. SHE LISTENED When nobody else did. We know we will hear all the attacks that is was not her place but SHE LISTENED and made the board follow her to make changes. I am an oldtimer that also saw changes with Marin and all the others that abused staff. Fifteen years and this is the best school year yet.
http://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/aurora-beacon-news/news/ct-abn-east-aurora-crespo-move-st-0921-20160920-story.html
http://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/aurora-beacon-news/news/ct-abn-east-aurora-stadium-construction-st-0921-20160920-story.html
Anyone else tired of Sarah Freishtat and her constant negativity with headlines and stories? Her headline in the article about last night's board meeting is so dramatic. Her reporting of what teachers said leaves a lot to be desired. She cherry picks quotes to make the story she wants. How about you do some real reporting Sarah, and ask the parents who spoke, who directed them to show up and who wrote their speeches? Why not write an entire article about the adults who spoke on behalf of how the high school is off to the best start in years?? Are you friends with Matt Hanley? How about you report both sides of a story and not just one? Have some integrity Sarah. Why don't you investigate what Crespo did at Proviso East? How about investigating how Crespo was given over 11k more than the job posting stated? How about investigating how the job description and posting said "5 years of successful high school teaching experiene REQUIRED." And Crespo cannot legally teach in the state of Illinois and HAS NEVER TAUGHT AT A HIGH SCHOOL IN HIS LIFE! Or you could investigate how Crespo spent over 30k on a veteran's day assembly? Where did the funds come from? Or you could write an article about illegal purchasing practices by Crespo for the TVs he purchased, or the signs for his brainwashing marketing campaign throughout the school with zero quotes or bids? He is an international businessman after all, would make sense he knows how to advertise, market and brainwash young adults. How about investigating Crespo's education and credentials? A simple search on ELIS will show you that he does not have a bachelor's degree in education. C'mon Sarah, REPORT THE REAL NEWS AND FACTS. Stop giving Laesch, Strand and Crespo's clueless sheep air time. DO SOME REAL INVESTIGATIVE REPORTING SARAH, EARN YOUR TITLE AS REPORTER FOR ONCE IN YOUR LIFE.
There goes John Laesch again half cocked. I watched John at the board meeting he walked around waiting for someone to pay attendtion to him? Then he ran to the Beacon. John does not worry about students only himself.
To real news:
your agreement gets lost when you talk about Crespo not having a teaching degree. let's face it, at 131, that requirement is meaningless. The graduation rate is abysmal, so maybe a different "look" at things would be refreshing. If your argument to fire him is based on something substantial like allowing teachers to screw around and not teach class. Or if he were allowing teachers to interject liberal bias in classes, then you would win over all the district community by having him fired. Kids should learn about veterans and what they have done for this country and spending a couple bucks for that is fine. Keep in mind that the district pays for incompetent teachers all the time so how can one argue the money issues. Look at what the district paid out in insurance premiums over the years for Ralph's wife and others........So, even though Crespo doesn't have a teaching degree, doesn't mean he should be fired, You have to come up with the things that make him out to be the real dick that he is.
He posted on twitter about Donald trump.....for all students and world to see. He persuaded kids to register to vote and vote for Bernie which is why Laesch is defending him to this day. That good enough for you teacher basher?!?
Advice to advice. "Look what the district paid out in Insurance premiums" is another example of a time when admin was not doing their job. Problems with the insurance had been reported long before Ralph was ever in the picture. So I dont know why you continue to imply a few people are the poster children for this financial circus created when Roberts was in charge.
to real news: Matt quit teacher bashing and go back to your exciting job in your new district.. yada yada yada ea teachers suck... find a new mantra loserboy.
At least the board got smart and fired Popp and did not keep him around like Roberts.
Advice Said - I agree about the expense for the veteran's assembly. Kids should learn about the sacrifice that proud AMERICAN veterans - and their families - make for this country. How much does the district spend for Hispanic events throughout the year?
EA OK - 'the king brought his merry band of nitwits'. For reals? Is there no greater nitwit than a high school teacher addressing the board in a full (yes, including tights) Captain America costume? I hope Captain America retires before my child gets to East High. I will make sure she is not subjected to that lunatic.
Real News Said - just so I get this straight, Crespo doesn't have a teaching degree so therefore he doesn't have the skill set to run a high school - even though he does have experience in the education field at the high school level. BUT Ralph Padron has no degree, no educational experience at ANY level, but does have the skill set to publicly evaluate administrators and employees across all departments! Please explain how, when and where Ralph obtained the credentials to become such an expert on every facet of running a large unit school district. Even worse, the board consults with him instead of the educated and experienced professionals they hire? I know I won't forget this when I cast my vote in April. Why would I put my trust in a board that listens to a nitwit instead of experienced and trained administrators? Does the board see no value in a college education? Do I really want Ralph deciding what's best for my child's education?
Our district has NO BUSINESS celebrating the 100th anniversary of the East High School Band in 2016! Here is proof:
The following early history is excerpted from the Doctoral Dissertation by
Dr. John R. McMullen.
This dissertation can be found in the reference section of the Aurora, Illinois Public Library.
It includes information from McMullen's interviews
(during the 1950's) with the actual people involved.
"After the first World War (1918), a band was organized at East Aurora High School by Louis H. Conde.
Mr. Conde had been teaching a grade school boys' band in the district prior to organizing the high school band in the fall of 1918. He left the district in December of 1918 for similar work in Chicago.
Albert L. Huen was hired in early 1919 to replace him and adjustment to the new director was slow.
Mr. Huen remained the director through the spring semester of 1921"
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Also, the 1918-19 edition of the Speculum (East High yearbook) shows a picture of the band. No band is pictured or mentioned in previous years.
My question would be, who was the "genius" who declared that 2016 was the centennial year for the EAHS band? How embarrassing for our district!
Real sad, My school put on a Veterans Day event complete with flags, speakers,cookies and music for $200.00. Yes we did not limo the Chicago Blackhawks singer out but it was nice. No we did not hook up videos and rent big screen TV's but it honored our Veterans.
You are welcome to come celebrate this year at Simmons. We just had a Nascar event and did not pay a dime. We respect the districts money.
BTW we interviewed Crespo, he was willing to work for $90,000 and we did not hire him. The reason was NO EXPERIENCE
Lovely way to gloss over crespos inexperience and lack of a college bachelors degree in education and distract and leap over to comparing it to Ralph. You must be a republican with your moronic comparisons and distractions from the truth and real story. Why don't you do a google search of principals in the area and see their experience, then compare that to Crespo. Crespo is already behind in what you claim to prize a college education IN EDUCATION. Let's see you Wessel your way out of this one and find a way to bring up Ralph and the say all teachers are bad. You lost! Get over it! Move on. Crespo is not coming back. They got rid of Crespo because the new superintendents weren't as dumb as Popp and truckenbrod to merely only look for a brown Spanish speaking person to be principal and not care about their qualifications.
About the band anniversary: I have contacted the Beacon-News and told them where to find the correct information. Let's see if they do the right thing and fix their mistake!
So Brian Liska bypassed board policy and contacted the Beacon News on his own. Then attempted to take all credit for the district band program, giving none to the countless people who create and maintain the program. Now it turns out that the information the he made public was in error. It's obvious that he will never take responsibility for his own actions, when will somebody with authority hold him accountable? That is one of the major issues in this district. Some people get away with damn near anything but piss off an administrator and they will go after you mercilessly over nothing.
I did contact the Beacon-News today and told them about Dr. McMullen's dissertation and that according to his research the East High band was started in 1918, not 1916. The Beacon said that they based their article on the information in this link:
http://www.d131music.org/100-years-of-band.html
Here's the part about the band (from the 1916-17 yearbook):
"Last but not least is the boys' brass wind section, commonly called the boys' band, which meets in the high school. This band was organized last winter of boys from the grade schools who met once a week with their instructor, Mr. Condy. Remarkable progress has been shown and the Board of Education has just recently voted to pay the instructor. Next year a high school boys' band is to be organized and some of the instruments are to be purchased for them by the school board."
These were GRADE SCHOOL band students who happened to rehearse in the high school building, NOT a high school band! And the first picture of the band (from the 1917-18 yearbook) includes an entire front row of very young (probably grade-school-aged) boys.
So the DISTRICT band program may have started in 1916. The EAST HIGH SCHOOL band, however, did NOT start until a couple of years later. The Beacon article, however, definitely (and falsely) said multiple times that the EAST HIGH SCHOOL band is celebrating its 100th anniversary this year. And worse still, no other schools, programs, or directors in our district were mentioned in that Beacon article.
Happy 98th anniversary to the East High School Band!!
http://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/aurora-beacon-news/news/ct-abn-east-aurora-weisner-homecoming-parade-st-0925-20160922-story.html
"Band history update", thanks for the link. It showed a page from a 1916-17 yearbook talking about various musical activities (chorus, orchestra, glee club, operetta, and brass wind instruments). There were also several pictures of district bands from the late teens through the 1930s. I'm assuming the pictures were assembled by one of the current EAHS band directors; they did an excellent job!
I also noticed that nowhere on that webpage was there a claim that the EAST HIGH band was celebrating their 100th anniversary in 2016. Instead I saw this:
"Celebrating 100 Years of Band"
"The first mention of the District 131 Band program happens in the 1916-17 yearbook"
So our DISTRICT'S band program is celebrating 100 years in 2016 (and the EAHS band started a couple of years later, in 1918). Whoever put together the information on the webpage (Mr. Liska?) was accurate. The Beacon-News, however, dropped the ball bigtime. Their article made the incorrect claim (in the headline, no less!) that the East High band is celebrating their 100th anniversary this year. And to make matters worse the Beacon article made no mention whatsoever of any other band program in our district! I don't know Mr. Liska (whose name was mentioned at least 7 or 8 times in the article), but I'm choosing to believe that he probably gave some credit to feeder schools and/or previous directors and the inept Beacon reporter left it out of the article.
So how to make it right? I have a few suggestions:
--Make the 100th anniversary band celebration a district-wide event. Invite all band students from fifth through twelfth grades to participate in playing a piece from the band's early days at the Fine Arts Festival.
--Have a banner made that says, "Celebrating 100 Years of the District 131 Band Program". The banner can be used by the high school band in parades as well as by our wonderful district-wide band camp students on July 4th.
--A piece has been commissioned for the high school bands, to commemorate the 100th anniversary of (hopefully!) the district's band program. If the piece is inaccurately intended to commemorate the 100th EAHS band anniversary, its performance could either be delayed until 2018 or the piece re-dedicated to the 100th anniversary of our district's band program (and performed this spring).
--T-shirts could be designed to commemorate 100 years of District 131 bands, and worn by students in all bands in our district. If this is too expensive, the 100 year anniversary could be mentioned on the shirts our band camp kids receive in June. Then the community would see them in the 4th of July parade, and celebrate with us!
I am hoping that some effort will be made to correct the mistaken information in the Beacon's article. Our community, students, and district deserve the truth!
http://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/aurora-beacon-news/news/ct-abn-east-aurora-band-st-0923-20160923-story.html
The first sentence of that article says:
"The East Aurora High School band is inviting alumni to perform with current members to help celebrate "100 years of band in District 131," according to the district"
This is an accurate statement.
However, the caption on the picture above the article says:
"The East Aurora High School band is celebrating its 100th birthday this year with its own commissioned piece of music and events for students and band alumni"
That is NOT an accurate statement! The East Aurora HIGH SCHOOL band is celebrating its 98th birthday this year.
My parents celebrated the 50th anniversary of their first date last month. They would LOVE to celebrate their golden wedding anniversary now, but since they got married in 1968 they're doing the right thing and planning a big party and cruise in 2018. Anniversaries are momentous occasions that should be celebrated when appropriate, and the appropriate year to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the EAHS band is NOT this year, but 2018!!
DiMare placed on leave http://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/aurora-beacon-news/news/ct-abn-east-aurora-buildings-grounds-st-0925-20160923-story.html#nt=oft12aH-1li3
DImare had his freinds in Roselle and Wooddale do floor tile work and got caught. Stupid is as stupid does he got caught. Why would he think the BOE would let him get by. Tyler and Cleaver watched because the BOE had strong policies. It showed as soon as nobody was watching DImare called friends. Just another Marty Feltes.
For anyone who is wondering why Dr. McMullen's dissertation is significant to the history of our district's band programs, here's a link to the Fox Valley Music Foundation's presentation about his work. He was respected as an authority on the history of music in Aurora from our city's beginning until the mid-1950s:
http://foxvalleymusicfoundation.com/music-history-project/dr-john-teaches-us-about-music/
Funny things happening at D131. Board Member Dick Leonard was seen walking Marty Feltes around the district buildings for the last three weeks talking about out-sourcing building and grounds jobs, and Marty getting his old job back. Check the security cameras: they were there, and now Dimare is not...hmmmmmmmmm.
Time for all of us to update our resumes. East Moline has jobs posted.
Why is the band fundraising to have a piece of music written? Is Liska not qualified to do this? Funny how they could demote Mr K and claim he was not qualified. What is wrong with Ken Draby for promoting this and thinking it is a great idea? Wondering minds want to know.
Marty Feltes was hired by a district contractor at West 129 after Leonard forced Cordagan and Clark to help find a job for him. rumor is he wants to now work at East on the new construction. The sups should not allow him to work for the district or company doing business for the district period
I agree wholeheartedly with stop the return. Things in EA seem to be improving. Do not allow a step backward to spoil the new trend. School board this is up to you.
http://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/aurora-beacon-news/lifestyles/ct-abn-east-aurora-garden-st-0927-20160925-story.html
Leonard is fed news by Larry Wilson. The admins and maintenance workers need to address him. He never works and now rides around with his grandson who was given a job by Dimare. It is a payoff because Larry would spy for Feltes and now Dimare. Why is Larry still working. He collects retirement and is paid by the district. Wilson is also given overtime. He is not capable of working, standing and lifting. He is way over 65 and stopping others from doing a job.
If you are so concerned with Mr Liska's qualifications, why not ask him about it yourself? And what does this have to do with Mr K? He left East High 12 years ago, when these seniors were in 1st grade.
Writing a professional-level piece of music takes upwards of 100 hours and, while I'm sure Mr Liska could write a fine piece of music, it would definitely be better when done by someone who writes music for a living.
Most band directors are not composers, nor are they expected to be. Our district was very fortunate to have a director who was also a nationally-recognized, published composer and arranger. Unfortunately the administration 12 years ago was more concerned about rubber-stamping a serial bully superintendent's agenda than doing what was best for students. There's nothing we can do about that now, except make sure nobody else is ever treated that way!
Commissioning a piece of music for a special occasion like an anniversary is a common practice. Mr. Liska is to be commended for putting the wheels in motion, but my concern is that the anniversary we're celebrating this year should be the 100th birthday of our DISTRICT'S band program, not the high school band! If a piece is commissioned it should be dedicated to the entire district's band program. For too long our grade school and middle school bands have been treated like the stereotypical "red-haired stepchild", being ignored while the high school program gets all the publicity and most of the financial support. One example is the Beacon article that mentioned ONLY the high school, and gave no credit to the many feeder schools and their directors for the success of the program. Another example is the fact that it has taken until THIS YEAR for air conditioning to finally be installed in the Simmons band room when the high school band room has had A/C for more than 10 years.
Those of us who have been involved in the D131 band program for many years are watching carefully to see whether current administration and local news media will do the right thing and commemorate our DISTRICT band program's 100th anniversary this year. Our students and community deserve no less!
Liska is the highest paid teacher at EA if you add in all his stipends. Answer this ; Why do we have to compose music. Mr K was able to pick the correct music and compose yet Marin Gonzalez and company called him not qualified. Defend Liska all you what, he is not qualified.
What you said about Mr Liska's salary is incorrect. Here are the salaries of all 131 employees in 2012, this is the most recent database I could find:
http://www.familytaxpayers.org/ftf/ftf_district.php?did=13963&year=2012
Here, Mr. Liska is making $62,356. Click on his name and you will see that he had a Bachelors with 7 years. The salary schedule from 2012 that I found on the D131 website says that Bachelors with 7 years pays $43,658, so the first number must include stipends.
Here is that salary schedule: http://www.d131.org/employment/documents/2012CBASalarySchedulefor2012-13.pdf
You can see from the first link that he was FAR from the highest paid teacher, and the stipends our band directors receive are for hundreds of additional hours on top of the contract time. This information is from 2012, but I really doubt that he has jumped up $50,000+ to become the highest paid teacher in the district since then.
Why the personal vendetta with Mr Liska? Mr K was a fine teacher in our district and did amazing things for our students at the middle and high school levels, but what does he have to do with Mr Liska? I understand you are upset about the way that he was removed from the high school position 12 years ago and you don't feel that it was justified, but what did Mr Liska have to do with that? By tearing down our current teachers, you are tearing down our current programs and thus our current students. Positivity is the key to growth.
To Fact Checker:
Here's the real question for you. Why is Liska receiving $20,000 in stipends each year when every other director is only getting about $2,000? Liska is receiving far more in stipends than any other teacher or coach. I'm not saying it's not deserved but it's far out of line when you see what everyone is making.
You know, it has been refreshing to see that almost no one is taking pot shots at the board or the interim superintendents. Kinda nice to see that. Is it the calm before a storm or is everyone just actually doing their jobs for once this century???
Could be catching, this making sure the kids become proficient in English, math and basic civics of the United States. Teaching them to become future leaders just like the JROTC has since it started in the district. maybe there is hope!!!
The new public relations person person Tom Jackson has some interesting videos on Facebook. What an improvement over Hanley! He actually came to our building.
Here's a link to 24 pages of recent articles about our district:
https://v3.boardbook.org/Public/PublicItemDownload.aspx?ik=39440076
Saw this item on the consent agenda:
"Approval of Settlement Agreement Between the District and Robert Green, and Authorization for Execution of the Same by Interim Superintendent Mark McDonald"
I thought I remembered the high school band celebrating their 50th anniversary in the late 1960s, so I got out my yearbooks to jog my memory. This is what I saw on the band page in the 1966 Speculum:
"Increased interest and more positive attitudes promoted a better balanced and more productive band this year as the organization boosted its largest membership since its origination in 1919".
So according to the yearbook the East High band started not in 1916 but 1919! Maybe it was the spring of 1919, which would technically have been the 1918-19 school year. But the high school band was definitely NOT "established 1916", as the current band logo says.
I am proud to have been a part of our district's band program almost 50 years ago, and I would appreciate an accurate representation of exactly what we should be celebrating: the 100th anniversary of the band PROGRAM in District 131.
Larry Wilson the other part for corpution in the maintenance department needs to be fired. Larry friend of DImare and Feltes was allowed to ride around in the district truck all day spying on his fellow workers. Larry would lie just to keep his job at 70 weighing over 300 lbs with a knee and hip problem he has no place in buildings & grounds. NOW Larry has his grandson doing the same thing. He in working in temp custodial group. This group works evening and is part time. Larrys grandson is full time has car no insurance (read his police records) and is allowed to drive the district truck all day. He too gets special treatment for spying on us. Goast payroll must stop. Here is hoping EA cleans the corruption up.
Alex don't call us we will testify against you and here is hoping they turn you over to the States Attorney.
Every time any worker complains about Larry Wilson he claims we call him a lazy (N). Why is he not forced to do a job that makes him walk all day? kajuan Davis who is Larrys grandson was allowed to call students Nig...etc etc... He is also supervised by his grandfather. We are told we can't do that. He works during the day and is the only one who is allowed to have special hours. There should not be anyone to protect him Feltes and DImare both corrupt are now fired. Glonoka is another taker getting kick backs who defends Wilson. CLean house board that the only way to stop this. We clean, heat and repair your buildings everyday without seeing any of these clowns.
What is Larry Wilson's grandson's name?
Is anyone keeping track of his "work performed" daily or is
Alex DiMare protecting him and Wilson.
Can anyone report this scam?
Oak Park teacher...
It's terrible about the racist and hateful remarks being said about Kajuan Davis.
A d131 alumnus that is also going to night school.
I found him to be a hard working and very polite young man this past summer.
He worked as a summer worker all summer at Oak Park elementary and did a great job.
As a matter of fact, building administration with input from staff members
requested that he be hired full time and assigned to oak park.
The staff at Oak park would like to thank Alex Dimare and Alex Arroyo for getting
so many things done at our school this summer.
It is nice that the elementary schools were not forgotten this summer.
So stop your hateful and unproductive rhetoric, because Oak Park Elementary supports B&G.
The racist is Larry Wilson he always uses the race card and turns fellow workers in by making false charges. I have personally witnessed Larry making false claims. Larrys grandson has been given patronage assignments. He could be ok but because of Larry he is not going to be given a fair chance. Larry should have retired ten years ago.
Interesting Dr. Hoyda and Dr. Mcdonald do what they want! Dr. Hoyda brings her friend Mike
Stapleton from Phoeniz AZ to do consulting work. Paying airfare, lodging, and meals,
without full board approval.
Annette Johnson approves this without board consent paying Stapleton $20,000.
Dr. McDonald allows this person, Mike Stapleton to work without full board approval
and without background check being complete.
This is how the interims work taking care of their pals.
The Phoenix AZ company, Server Management Assist, is who Mike Stapleton works for.
How come we can not find a Chi-town company? Instead we pay extra for friends of
the interims.
Ralph you need to look into this!!
It is never patronage to hire our own alumni, especially when they are positive role models and working toward higher education. The rumored sins of the grandfather should not be visited on the grandson. Hold each to the light of their own actions, but never blame the children or grandchildren for the actions they did not do.
Thank you Kajuan Davis for finishing high school and working while attending post secondary education. Your actions only serve to improve our statistics for graduation rate, and students seeking post secondary education. These measurements along with ACT scores are the way to improve our property values.
Jane , please I have worked at the SSC and long assumed without proof you have been the Blog leak. Jane tell the truth, Superintendents have the right to hire consultants in all school districts without board approval for many years. We finally have had professionals helping us with address problems lthat have existed for years. You have made $90,000 plus without an teaching or CSBO certification for years. The new business manager (Prombo) does not let you charge the district with run away overtime. The $20,000 plus in saving from your overtime will pay for Stapleton alone. What the truth is, is that Hoyda had to clear up mass coruption in her old district and Mr Stapleton helped with that. It is good for someone to come in and do a complete study ,our district has needed that for years. Our building and children have suffered. My suggestion clean house with all the vipers at SSC.
I have sat by letting Jane poison and cause extra work with FIOA requests for years because she is Ralph's leak.
Now the district is really getting somewhere. Guess the people in charge are getting wise to Ralph and his merry band of nitwits and all the crybullies in the district. Actually hiring someone way outside the real of control of the useful idiots to get to the bottom of things.
If true, people like Jane are probably doing more than just reporting things to Ralph, They are probably actively messing things up and intentionally ignoring procedures to actually make things worse, thus giving the blowhard Ralph ginned up information to base his tantrums.
Everyone does suffer with the likes of Ralph and his merry band of nitwits. Long overdue is the cleaning up and dismissal of these people.
I talked with Annette Johnnson and she stated the district had hired a consultant. She did not know what the contract stated but she cited that the every superintendent hires consultants. The board does not approve consultant contacts that falls under the super. She stated the board was well aware that this is the direction the interim's would use. She went on to say the district is well under budget this year with administration and that Dr Hoyda had used this person to fix her other district. She went on to say that they fixed the business office and developed procedures when they used a consultant.
As a parent the building are in bad condition and when I have called her in the past she has given me reasonable answers. I think this is a well vetted plan. I have also attended some parent meeting and the level of professionalism has improved. It is unfortunate that district employees do not want to preform at high levels and there is a need for a consultant. Judging from the conditions in the schools I think this is a good plan.
To: A parent said
You are 100% correct. With the distractions out or the way, now the real problems can be addressed......Some people coasting in Building and maintenance - gone, some teachers not teaching - gone, and some staff just marking time - gone. These are the issues that have been masked by the Ralphs and other malcontents around the district. This district can be properly run without excessive overtime. It can graduate students who actually can communicate in English both in written and oral form expertly. This district can have students excel on ACT tests and show future potential. No need to increase taxes. People just need to actually do their jobs.
Your leak is Diane Thomas she was complaining on Tuesday after the meeting that the district is paying another consultant to fix B&G. Thomas always has board information and thinks she runs the district because of Darby significant other. Diane is one of the most hated employees at the CSC. Her hours need to get checked they have grown since his time on the BOE. Suzanne is treated as her number two, not good for other employees in our department
Wow. When the former administration hired consultants Ralph - and Annette - opposed it. In case you forgot, go back to blog posts from July 2015. You can't have it both ways. Either you agree with the use of consultants to provide valuable expertise or you don't. The district either benefits from a consultant or not. Back then the argument was, "Why do you need consultants if you have high-priced administrators who are supposed to be capable in their roles?" Also, this is a consultant that Hoyda used in her former district. I thought it was a huge no-no to use vendors/employees/consultants that you had a former professional relationship with. Did she get multiple quotes as the board requires? When did the rules change? I'm sure Hoyda's former district was great, but not many Illinois school districts receive the accolades that the dreaded Indian Prairie gets. Why in the world would we want to emulate a successful district? I hope Ralph FOIAs this purchase order so he can expose this latest purchasing scandal.
The reason the district is 'well under budget this year for administration' is because you are down two assistant superintendents. The savings won't last long as now they are hiring two administrators to do Tyler's job. That along with a consultant who has 'fixed the business office and developed procedures'. How many experts does one department need. Didn't Annette credit Tyler with doing that already? Didn't Annette 'fix' the department before - why not just do it again? (please NOOOOOOOO).
And I highly doubt Diane Thomas is Ralph's source given Ralph's rants about Ken Darby. Ralph is a little boy who kicks and screams when he doesn't get his way - and when that doesn't work he drops unfounded accusations and lets them fester until he actually believes his lies.
As for Larry Wilson's grandson getting a job. Let's be real, we are talking about a custodial job not the superintendent's gig. You mention patronage, I have one word about that: Medina. How many of them are on our payroll? And how many of their jobs has Jesse saved because of his position in the union. Talk about lazy . . .
This is the first time in eight years someone came to my building and asked what do we need to be successful in our building. The new consultant quickly identified what the building needs are. If it cost $20,000 or whatever it is worth it. In one year I have not seen Mike Houston or DImare. Feltes was there twice to meet with cronies from Arlip. No cleaning supplies, soap, towels toilet paper broken lunch tables kids cuts from and yes Mr Padron should come in and see.
Two cents worth <(please )> the Indian Prairie system eliminates low performers and that is what Popp was a low performer. Popps idea of a consultant was a lifes skill coach who brought in cronies like the retiree who ran the athletic office in the ground. The list goes on. Johnson had every right to question these questionable hires when staff was so frustrated by the Popp cronies. That was his idea of consultant. The business office was not fixed by Tyler it was fixed by Crystal Financial a consultant hired after many poor employees wasted millions. Again, Annette Johnson may get blamed when she throws the crooks out but at least she listens and the board takes action.
The read the post on Thomas were does it say Thomas is Ralph's source. I believe it says Darby is Thomas's source take some reading lessons. FYI, he have contacted Darby with concerns at the HS and he does nothing. Thomas comes to every meeting what is her game? She acts like she is a board member.
Kejuan Davis did work at the HS, and was involved in a fight with a PE teacher. Why was he allowed to work here after that? The HS was told transfer him to the Hill he is Marty's friend.
http://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/aurora-beacon-news/news/ct-abn-east-aurora-buildings-and-grounds-st-1006-20161005-story.html
You say-"Annette may get blamed when she throws out the crooks."
Who do you think started that influx of "crooks?"
Annette has had her hands in all the stuff that has gotten broken in 131.
By time a couple of years have passed, new board members are elected, employees resign and Anette takes credit for being on the team that is now fixing problems. WTH??
You break it, you grind it into the ground, you pick it up brush it off and claim to be the savior. That makes you a good listener and a board member who takes action? Johnson is Aurora's Trump. If you think she is the answer for EA, EA and its students are doomed.
to: Another two cents:
You must be a teacher as you possess absolutely no common sense or the ability to comprehend events. Annette was on the board when the insurance issue came up. It was Ralph's wife and others like her who were receiving unjust benefits. Annette pushed for the Magnet school. She initiated the changes necessary for the business department to correct 40 years of the accounting not being up to snuff. She actually tried to get the students at District 131 to become something more that just barely literate. For the moment that has failed as Popp was trying to institute changes to elevate the standards but 131 is just not there yet as a whole to expect all students to attain a standard that is much more that barely literate. She has tried to keep taxes in check as the district is not Naperville but yet the taxes for some are insanely high and we don't have the caliber of student that Naperville has. - Ralph can help here by petitioning Naperville leaders to build their fair share of low income housing and have some of 131's students move to Naperville.- She actually dressed down employees who are clueless and do not perform their jobs. Annette has accomplished a lot and that is probably what bothers you. You want to remain in the past and keep people barely educated. Along with being a teacher, you have got to be a Democrat, as you want as many people as possible held back and down.
Tom Katt you are no Tomcat! And I am not a teacher. I do know that the insurance stuff came up long before Annette was on the board. You can rant about Ralph but if you were truly in the know, you would know the insurance "issue" caused problems for many of those people who were on the books as having insurance but we're not aware of it.
More proof you are not a Tomcat or even a long time resident of the district, you think our students are "barely literate." The "caliber of the students" is not to be measured by how "insanely high" we allow the taxes to go. Which tells me again, you must be one of those whiny NE siders, who wants to pretend they live in Naperville and think they should get lower tax rates in Aurora. You probably bought your house less than 10 years ago. You don't know anything about 131 business except what Annette tells you because you didn't start paying attention until your taxes went up. You know nothing about the quality of our teachers or the exceptional students we have in EA.
You must be a Republican who thinks they should get a bigger tax break than those barely educated eastsiders, you THINK are being held back and down. The only thing being held back is the money allocated for their education. That accounting and spending you spoke of, those accounting books had been approved by the Board for all of the years Ms. Johnson has been in office. So she was/ is part of the problem. It is not her job to "dress down" employees. She has ONE employee, the superintendent, who she should have called on the carpet years ago for all that happened under his watch. That was her beloved Dr. Roberts. She gave him Carte Blanche on his contract, hiring and many of those years of "accounting not being up to snuff."
That is "what bothers me" and yes I am a Democrat, a Tomcat and a proud "paying my fair share" tax paying citizen of Aurora, IL.
Rayanne please stop the hate for Annette and all the people who now pay for your granddaughters education. Your blog stops the truly top administrators from coming to 131. The best they can get today is retirees who don't have to worry about their reputations or someone like Popp. What did you do when insurance problems got brought to your attention? You are so insane or filled with hate everyone in the district runs from you. If you cared about the district you would end the blog.
It also goes for board members many will not run for the board because of their reputation.
Good point, Tomcat she did something about the insurance when nobody else did. When I have called her to complain about issue in my kids school or questions she always gets me an answer.
I have called the administrative center and never get answers or I am lucky is anyone even picks up the phone.
What is up with the board calendar? It is so full of garbage listings from around the district and has little of the business that should be on the calendar. There should be seperate calendars. One calendar for people who want to know what's happening at every building in the district and one that shows the board commitees.
This is what the board calendar should include:
Every School Board Meeting (Including Special Meetings)
Every Curriculum & Programs Committee Meeting
Every Building and Grounds Committee Meeting
Every Finance/Personnel and Policy Committee Meeting
Any other meeting that board members are required to attend.
The way the calendar is shown now makes it look like the board is trying to hide what they are doing. Somebody needs to correct this.
To: EA Staff Who Knows the History . . .
You do know that Tyler worked for Crystal Financial . . . and she was hired by 131 because of her work with them? I agree that it's difficult to attract and retain good administrators and board members because they value their reputations. Sometimes losing an administrator is a good thing - like Feltes. Can you tell me why he is even allowed to walk around with Leonard 'inspecting' the construction projects? Didn't Tricky Dicky get him another job already? Is Dicky trying to bring him back now that DiMare has been terminated? I think we can all agree that this would be a HORRIBLE move. Annette and Dicky have probably formed an alliance. Annette will support Feltes's return if Dicky votes her way. Be afraid custodians - be very afraid. Feltes will be back and Hoyda's consultant will 'determine' that it will be cheaper and more efficient to outsource you. Why else do you think Annette and Dicky support THIS consultant? The interims are powerless as Annette continues to run - excuse me, - to manipulate the district from her pulpit.
P.S. I don't know Rayanne, but I do know that she's not the only one in Aurora who is not drinking Annette's kool-aid. Annette's got a lot of traction on the 'I fixed the insurance problem' - give me something more recent!
I think the calender is great it reflects activities in the school. The committee meetings are posted on every board agenda. Keep it like it is!
I also like the videos on the district website it showcases our students.
Give me a break "Two cents" we have listened to your garbage long enough about Annette Johnson. Your side lead by Hull came and told us all kinds of stories and we believed them. After all they claimed to be ministers and at the time Johnson supported Feltes.Feltes was telling us that we would be outsourced by next election. Well next election came and Johnson with the other members gave us a good contract. Never once did outsourcing come up. Like Johnson we made a mistake listening to the Ministers and Johnson made a mistake listening to Tricky Dick.
Many of us knew from employees working at SSC Johnson attempted to stop Feltes but the fix was in. The same ministers made a deal with Feltes and tricky Dick to destroy Johnson. We then watched and board meeting after meeting Johnson voted against the board to stop Feltes. We then helped her gather more information and Feltes got fired. We also know Feltes would call Johnson names no man should call a women. Johnson bring Feltes back we do not think so. It is just the same group out telling lies again.
Another fact is we will have a FOUR YEAR contract in days and the board has agreed. So again another LIE that the consultant is outsourcing us. We also know Hoyda and McDonald both came from district that employed SEIU. We also have talked with the consultant and he is getting input from ALL of us and he has made comments we DO NOT have enough people to properly keep the building up. He also stated the district should pay for us to have additional training programs with marketable skills such as HVAC. SO AGAIN MORE LIES. We will not drink your kool aid any longer. GET THE HE** out and let us do our job.
I agree , Two Cents is a liar or jealous former board member or terminated admin from hell. We see Hoyda or McDonald all the time and they call the shots. Dr McDonald and Hotda are no wall flowers. They meet with us all the time not just out of touch administration. They value our opinions. Johnson is not running them, they are running the district. We also heard the Koolaid story at the HS from the haters once we got to know Johnson she was responsible and care for the students. Same old BS with small minded people that do not want our district to move ahead. Now if Harmond, Jefferies, Montroy and the Gillesepes would just retire EA would be a better place to work. They are scammers collecting stipends that they do not deserve because they kissed the prior admins behinds.
http://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/aurora-beacon-news/news/ct-abn-aurora-eastschools-st-1009-20161007-story.html
http://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/aurora-beacon-news/news/ct-abn-east-aurora-bardwell-playground-st-1009-20161007-story.html
To Old Timer:
What are you smoking you overaged hippie? It's your opinion that it's acceptable that on the school board calendar I can find information about the Cooking Club at Waldo but I can't find out when the next Personnel & Policy Committee Meeting will be? What's the point of having a school board calendar that doesn't give information about the school board? You really are a moronic imbecile. Go smoke a little more and leave district matters to the educated members of the community.
I would like to put in my two cents worth.
Our building has visits from administration, and board members Darby Strand and Johnson.We have a AP and a principal. We have even seen Hoyda twice. All of them with the expection of Johnson just came around visit. I only know what I had heard and I drank the Koolaid. We all know Koolaid can easily be poisoned. We believe what some moronic individual writes.
So the story goes all these fine administrators and board members pass down our halls. All have great personalities. Johnson who is quite looks around does not glad hand or hug but asks questions and told us she would follow up. Not expecting much a few days go by and our students had their soccer net up, smart boards fixed, a complaint handled on food service, bathrooms cleaned and insurance question answered. The biggest news was our potholes are being repaired and that has not happened for five years. Weeds that had not been attended to since last year cut and a painting plan shared
It should be everyone in authorities job to see and ask. They had the same opportunity as Johnson to fix problems but they looked the other way to busy getting high fives. So, no more Koolaid for me and other teachers should invite her for reading day. a lot happens when she is around. It may not be the boards job as you claim but again everyone is born with a mouth to speak, ears to hear, and eyes to see. That what I tell my classroom. If Johnson uses hers and the others do not who's fault is it?
Maintenace contract passed another lie that we are being outsourced. Four more years so Two Cents get your facts straight and stop spreading lies.
I checked out the calender. It's on the board page so just click on board committees dumba**. Some people will just complain about anything.
To: Stupid is
If you actually looked at the board committee pages, you would find that there is no listing of upcoming meetings. It only shows past meetings.
Now who is the dumba**?
Some people are just hard to understand with their head so far up their a$$.
To Dumba**
Posted for the Curriculum Meeting. It shows you are so stupid you don't know how to read. Every Committee has a list the same way. It shows your ignorance!
The next scheduled meeting is:
5:00 p.m. October 17, 2016
at the McKnight Service Center, 417 Fifth St.
For a complete list of meeting dates, click here.
Interesting Dr. Hoyda and Dr. Mcdonald do what they want! Dr. Hoyda brings her friend Mike
Stapleton from Phoeniz AZ to do consulting work. Paying airfare, lodging, and meals,
without full board approval.
Annette Johnson approves this without board consent paying Stapleton $20,000.
Dr. McDonald allows this person, Mike Stapleton to work without full board approval
and without background check being complete.
This is how the interims work taking care of their pals.
The Phoenix AZ company, Server Management Assist, is who Mike Stapleton works for.
How come we can not find a Chi-town company? Instead we pay extra for friends of
the interims.
Ralph you need to look into this!!
To: Hey dumba***
Once again if you actually pressed the buttons you are referring to, you would find that they lead to last years calendars or blank screens. I should also find this information in one spot, not click a dozen buttons to get the royal runaround.
None of this changes the fact that all this information should be on the board calendar. I don't need to know about the cooking club at Waldo, I do need to know when all the board meetings are going to be this year. The board calendar is where this information should be AND it should be up to date. I don't need to know the dates from last year, I do need the dates for this year.
You should be supporting transparency not helping district corruption.
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