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89 comments:
Ralph Padron
said...
Subject: PT 2 Dismissal of Claudia Ruiz Greetings BOE
1 Upon further research and interviews I ask you to investigate and require Jennifer Norrell to answer the following: 2 Norrell is excellent at "HEAR SAY" and EXCUSES. 3 I challenge this BOE TO require documents to support Norrell answers justifying Ms Ruiz dismissal.
4 Was there anything in Claudia Ruiz personnel file warranting a non-renewal of her contract Definitely Not Can Jennifer Norrell provide valid reasons/documents Definitely Not
5 Antonio Jamison supervisor Bldg & Grounds had his contract renewed. This had to be a mistake and more. If anyone deserved to have a non renewal it was this convicted felon who was mistakenly hired 1 year ago. Shoplifting, Loss of Drivers License, Suspected theft at EA and more importantly you BOE members were confronted by Erika Salgado and Merle Herren at the last Board Meeting regarding Antonio Jamison harrassment and threats of job loss of B&G Staff
3 Remember B&G Director Alberto Tijerina whom time and time again was proven to be totally incompetent, questionable hirings (remember Jorge Villagomez) and corruption costing East Aurora hundreds of thousands of dollars. Norrell could never get herself to FIRE him.
Jennifer Norrell's WATCH is tainted Many are afraid to speak up due to FEAR AND RETALIATION Sad but True.
FOIA REQUEST Date: August 22 2019 Subject: Current Instructional Coaches
1 Names 2 Job Description 3 Yrs of experience as a teacher 4 Class or Subject Matter Taught 5 Date of Interview for Instructional coach 6 who was present on the interview 7 Lorrie Campbell's Involvment with interviews
Re: Kelly Gilbert 8 resignation letter 9 application 10 contract
Ask yourself WHY is Maria Rodriquez is leaving as VP of Secretaries and getting paid $50,000 a year to become Campbell's admin assistant? The last person to have this position was paid as a Sec II $15.00 hourly. We know Gerry and Maria know that this is a hourly job but because she is getting it they are paying her like a teacher. What is even more disturbing is that the job was posted and now it has been taken down. What are they hiding? Gerry is covering up for Maria to get a promotion. When they attempted to buy Alba off she did not take the bait and switch.
This along with the instuctional coaches in a prior post shows that Norrell is taking care of our union leaders. Ie. Jeff Mlesko.
Judy, Gerry and Rodriquez also attended training with George Allen this summer out of Illinois. What pay did they receive? They allowed Norrell, Allen and HR to attend our last 604 meeting. When has that ever happened? We could not conduct start of the year 604 business.
Why does Gerry not teach?
What are we paying dues for? All rank and file can see is they are helping themselves to high paying jobs with little work.
When Mestek ran he berated the old guard and told everyone he would run 604 with transparency. A few years later and what we are witnessing can best be descriped as scandalous. Our dues have doubled and yes we have a new contract that is fair not because of Mestek. The reality is teachers across the county have received the same. It is sad to hear about these promotions. We need new leadership and maybe it is best to have term limits to prevent this from happening.
As a attendee of the meeting for union reps, simply put we need our meeting back. While educational equity is important it is odd that they did not form a committee like everything else in this district,, and send employees of multi level diverse backgrounds for training. It is questionable why only union officers went.
The new schedule for elementary is brutal. The day is way too long and the kids are done by mid afternoon. They took away all our prep time before school. They knew people would still show up early because We have to to be prepared for the day. There is not five minutes of free time in the entire week!
Anonymous 1.....and you are posting on the blog before school dismisses today? Guess you had some time on your hands after all! I’m in full support of teachers but really, on the blog at school?
Lets ask the question? Why is Pam Bennett a Sec II only making $15.75 and hour and Maria Rodriquez Union 604 VP just hired making $50,000. Pam is required to pay union dues while Maria the VP is now administration. Answer Gerry Mestek is a sell out. Why are we paying dues when 604 represents only themselves. Maria is the only one with a administrative contract. How many secretaries does Campbell have? Answer the position was created for her and Pam Bennett will do her job.
Look at our leadership
Mlesko was given a position he was not qualified for and he does not teach.
Mestek does not teach and wonders around all day long not returning phone calls or emails.
Durham's sister (Jackie Gibson) who Durham lives with was hired without an interview at Cowherd. Every other position for AP and Principal was interviewed but not Jackie.
Ask ourselves WHY pay dues? Anonymous 1 why did they not tell us the day was longer when they settled the contract that was conveniently missed. Yes, pay was better for some but we received more hours while the union officers stopped working and gave themselves promotions.
Just heard something very disturbing. I called you at work the other day in good faith to discuss with you the situation with the dismissal of Claudia Ruiz and the Antonio Jamison renewed contract. You were upset that I called you at work yet when you called back and expressed your "Frustration" I called. You were quoted as saying I was harrassing you at work. Furthest thing from the truth.
You are a new Board of Ed Member and have no clue on many an issue under Jennifer Norrell's "WATCH" specifically with the numerous Personnel Changes. I expressed to you that many a D131 staff member contacts me to give me guidance on the FOIA's to be submitted. Can you honestly say that you understand the Budget Deficit, Spending by Norrell for out of state conferences and her Retreats?
One issue very upsetting to many is the hiring of Scott Savage as AP at Allen Elementary. He is not bi-lingual, from Bloom HS (Norrell's former Dist) and is the hightest paid AP for elementary and most Middle School AP's. I gave you the question to ask " Claudia Ruiz had no written documentation against her yet Antonio Jamison (convicted felon shoplifter etc) had every reason to NOT have his contract renewed. Jamison and Savage are African American and very controversial. Let the facts speak for itself. East Aurora is 80% + Hispanic. See a pattern here.
It will be said that Board Members should not speak to me, let me tell you something Norrell refuses to respond to my reports thus her excuses and outright lies is her response. Sorry to say this but I have no further intention of contacting you privately.
Ask Board Member Avis Miller why she received $ 600.00 in Emergency Assistance (Welfare Fund) from Aurora Township. Are you aware of her 2 daughters working in D131
Credability I have more than you will ever think and I don't have to prove it to you or anyone else. The fact that I have exposed much corruption and wasteful spending under Norrell is no coincidence. Without the help of those withing D131 staff members speaks volume as they work in fear and retaliation.
By the way Why won't you and my other critics post your real name. Cowards is the reason
There was a huge fight at East High yesterday. Police cane and arrested approximately 12 students Teachers have contacted me and are very concerned for their safety
Local 604 is a joke. They up our dues and their support is almost nonexistent when it gets to be crunch time on contracts. Darlene Mercer was hired on there as office manager, the wife of field director Dan Mercer. Can you say “nepotism”?
Yes Ralph, you are correct there was a big fight at EAHS yesterday. We have been told by SSC staff Norrell was meeting with our union leaders almost all day. Much laughter and socializing was happening. The SSC and ASC both have thin walls and we can see the manipulation going on.
Maria Rodriquez and Jeff Mlesko received promotions.
Jennifer Gentile is allowed to leave Fred Rodgers when she pleases.
Gerry Mestek does not teach (probably a good thing).
Judy Durham is considered the authority on black students yet Judy did not tell Norrell a big fight had been brewing with rival housing projects since school started. Her sister Jackie Gibson did not interview like other principals for Cowherd. The union told Norrell don't worry we have your back on that one.
Maria already delivered up information on secretaries that have been told their behavior towards students is unbecoming of the expectations of Norrell.
This all goes on while students are pushing and hitting teachers everyday. I guess it payed to be in union leadership with 604.
Interesting about Dan Mercer he is just like Adam Harding whos wife Christy Harding is a reading facilitator. Does anyone know what she does? Hardings wife makes well over $100,000 for not returning emails on needed materials we have been out since last school year. She is paid stipends to facilitate meeting she never attends.
Another example of 604 taking care of themselves and raising our dues so we can support their families
Eight students were charged after a fight broke out at East Aurora High School Thursday morning, officials said.
The school resource officer was called shortly after 8:15 a.m. Thursday on a report of a fight between students at East Aurora High School, Aurora Police Department Media Relations Coordinator Paris Lewbel said Friday.
Eight juveniles were arrested, the police spokesman said. Six were charged with disorderly conduct and one was charged with disorderly conduct and mob action. One other juvenile was charged with disorderly conduct, mob action and battery.
All of the charges were referred to the Kane County Juvenile Justice system, he said. East Aurora School District Public Relations Officer Tom Jackson confirmed it was a “physical altercation between students” at the high school but did not elaborate on what prompted the incident other than to say it is being investigated by police in addition to school officials. “School administrators worked cooperatively with the school resource officer and the Aurora Police Department took the students into custody,” Jackson said.
School officials will investigate the matter as well, he added. “Safety and security is our top priority. Fighting, or violence of any kind, will not be tolerated in our schools. We will do everything in our power to provide students and staff with a safe and supportive learning environment,” Jackson said.
Mr. Padron, I will not reveal my identity because I am an employee at Allen, and I don't want to be attacked by you or anyone else for my comments. You made comments about Mr. Savage, which appeared to be one-sided and racist. When we learned of Mr. Savage coming to Allen, some of us (including me) were skeptical. After meeting him, learning about him, and listening to his philosophy about education, we are very pleased that he is at Allen. There are rumors that he was mistreated at a nearby high school because of race and many of the minority administrators are no longer in that district. I attended a party several years ago where people were making racist comments about that local high school having a black principal. Maybe you should look into that district for discrimination. We have some challenges at Allen, but Mr. Savage is not one of them. In fact, he has been a great addition to our school along with our principal and other ap Mr. Heath (who is white and also isn't bilingual). I believe your statement about Mr. Savage being African American and not bilingual is very biased and unfair. I do not speak Spanish, yet I have a great rapport with my students and families. Should I be bilingual too? Do you know that we have African American and Asian students? Should I not be able to teach them because I am white? From my understanding, he has a ton of experience and is a member of the aurora community. Everyone saw Mr. savage personally moving boxes and helping teachers and custodians move things in and out of classrooms and hallways. One evening I was driving by the school after 7 pm, and Mr. Savage (and the administrators) were still there working. Why don't you speak about that? Oh wait, you don't know anything about that, and you are more about attacking instead of learning about how things really are. You should visit our school one day and see Mr. savage and our staff in action. From what I have observed, the children love him. He has been seen walking our kinder students to class and to the bus line. I personally watched him sit on the floor with a first grader who was crying because his mother left him and Mr. savage got him to calm down and remain in school all day. He is always in the halls and classrooms, helping students and teachers. For the first time ever, I got feedback about my class within the first week of school, and that came from Mr. Savage. I heard from other teachers that he helped a teacher who was having a difficult time with several students. That teacher was crying and eventually was able to recover and have a better day. The pe teacher said he has been in her room twice to participate with the students. He organized our fire drill, and it was flawless. He is always outside helping our families and greeting our children with a high-five. Do you know anything about our Allen school community? What does being African American or white have anything to do with how we help our children to be successful? I am white, and so is most of our staff so why aren't you saying anything about that? You are not a community member, and, sadly, you attack people only out of spite. You should meet our principal, and Mr. savage see him action. I never comment on this site, but I felt compelled because to talk about someone's ethnicity and state that he is controversial comes across as racist. Again, as a white staff member, why do I get a pass for not speaking Spanish, but he doesn't? I am sure Mr. Savage isn't perfect but everyone has a past (even most of our teachers) but no one should be held to an unreasonable and unfair standard.
I left d131 after over a decade, the discipline issues are out of control and it no longer felt like a safe place to work. The students use their cellphones constantly and there was no recourse when they refused to turn them off. Seeing students watching porn and refusing to stop even when escorted out by deans made it impossible to teach. Let's not even start talking about students never going to class and dealing drugs in the hallways. The district can keep the revolving door of and in going but it will always be a problem until serious discipline is put in place. Gang fights today, shootings tomorrow.
Mr Padron why attack only East Aurora? Other school districts even in white communities have issues. Have you taken the time to investagate 204? I have many friends who work in 204 and it is not any better.
I believe it has now been more than 5 years that you have filed daily FOIA requests. That takes many resources to pull reports and the administration can get nothing done. You send us almost daily reports and it's always somebody different you are attacking. Most of us delete yo8ur garbage. Life is short, do you nothing better to do with your time?
Dr Norrell may not be perfect but she is working hard to change 131. It is time to move on . The numerous people you attack can not all be what you make up about them. Please sit and think about your life and the time you are wasting for yourself and others.
Teacher response to: Please can we not focus on the students said....
Agreed. I often wonder how much the school district has spent on all the FOIA requests. It seems Mr. Padron believes many in "power" in the school district have ulterior motives and are corrupt. There always seems to be "conspiracy" that Mr. Padron is planning to undercover. Seriously, how many employees of District 131 have spent time and resources fulfilling the FOIA requests while they could have been working at their jobs completing other work? Maybe that is the "conspiracy that should be examined.
...and I might add the thing that prompted me to write into the blog is this....Mr. Padron wrote that "Teachers have contacted me and are concerned for their safely". How many teachers? There are over 265 teachers at the high school. I am a long time teacher in the district and have never even heard Mr. Padron's name mentioned at the high school. I'm sure most teachers, unless they read the blog or attend a board meeting have never even heard of Mr. Padron. Most of the teachers at the high school love and support our students. There are over four thousand students at the high school and yes, unfortunately there are going to be fights. Most of the kids are well-behaved. There seems to be administrative help this year in disciplining students who need it and it is very much appreciated. There are students that come from dysfunctional lives and we support them the best we can with the resources we have. I enjoy going to work because of the students and I am not worried about my safety.
I have not posted in a long time but I think it's important to understand what it is to work at the SSC.
In the last 5 or so years, Mr Padron has filed over 700 FOIA requests and that is the ones we have counted since the Popp administration started a spreadsheet. It takes up everyone's time to pull the records. Amanda Sanderson must then compile and redact private information. Sometimes the attorney's spend time answering charges when Mr Pardon turns us in to the Attoney General because he thinks the records are being hidden. IT spends valuable time pulling these records when they could be repairing a child's computer. Dr MAC would spent hours talking to him trying to get him stop. He would come late to meeting because he spent doing this so we could get our work done. DR MAC Could have used his ye at s of wisdom to work on district problems
The FIOA process then results in someone getting attacked and their reputions ruined while he emails other school districts. Mr Pardon and his wife have been able to retire with a reputation in tact. Why not allow others to have their career? Then he posts false or painted truths to the blog. We live in a age of internet searches and we personally know of administrators who have lost opportunities in other districts because of him. Again, ask yourself do they not have a right to move on?
Hours wasted, reputions ruined and money spent for what. It is time Mr Padron needs to stop.
AP Annual Meeting Orlando Fl July 18 19 2019 Hyatt Regency Grand Cyprus Hotel 2 nights Registration Airfare Transportation Meals Other Brinkman Jennifer 487.41 375.00 402.96 Brown Jeremy 487.41 375.00 402.96 Kleimola Melanie 487.41 375.00 402.96 McCarron Susan 487.41 375.00 402.96 Pedroni Guillermo 487.41 375.00 402.96 Simpson Jonathin 487.41 375.00 402.96 Kincaid Heather 487.41 375.00 402.96 Nenia Marcus 487.41 375.00 402.96 Vasa Thomas 487.41 375.00 382.96 4,386.65 3,375.00 3,606.64 $11,368.29
Greetings Board of Education 1 Recent FOIA response brings up many questions 2 Point is could this money been spent more productively 3 What was the criteria to be selected for this and other Conferences 4 Notice $ 487.41 charge for 2 Nights per person 5 Other expenses still need to be accounted for: Transportation, Meals,and other misc 6 Am still auditing the Los Angeles, Houston, San Antonio, Dallas, Cleveland conferences. 7 What other conferences were there under Norrell's Watch ? 8 Were these "Out of State" travel expenses necessary? 9 How much did previous Superintendents spend for out of state seminars, conferences
These questions require Follow-Up FOIA's to get the facts
East Aurora received a grant to pay for training for teachers to teach Pre AP classes, so yes travel was necessary. Sick of the falsehoods but now your children can receive 2 years college credit if they follow the course alignments.
Really interesting exchange between Mestek and Norrell. Like Gerry gives a da**. Norrell claims Gerry was suppose to give her a procedure on the distribution of $200 in classroom supplies and Gerry claims Norrell was suppose to give him something. Who can believe the two fighting a small reimbursement. Just pay us or better yet have 604 not collect union dues. They only work for themselves anyways. OH THATS RIGHT We have to pay Dan Mercers wife or Adam Harding to sit home and babysit while his wife collects $100,000 plus in salary she is not capable of.
Staff at Beaupre watched Maria Rodriguez walk out and get a BIG admin position/raise to join SSC. Who is more important serving our families, or Campbell who now has Secretary and a admin assistant? Yes folks that right Maria left a new Principal with no notice. Campbell now has more staff than the sup.
Instructional coaches are also a joke. Many do not have tenure and when asked to help with assessments they said not our job.
Back on to Gerry- we are not fooled by your attempts to create a situation that shows you are working for us. We know better.
The morale in the district is the lowest I have seen in my 13 years. They have added to our work day and dont give us an 5 extra minutes to breathe but didnt increase our salaries to reflect this. How did our union allow this to happen after the contract was settled? Teachers are already stressed out and overwhelmed. There are many classes district wide that are overloaded and against the contract. The administration wont do anything until Oct. 1st if at all. They stress it is all about the students and claim to do whats best for them but are not leading by example. Everyone knows lower class sizes are a major factor in improving student performance. We have 85+ plus administrators district wide who make more than $10 million annually but they refuse to hire a few teachers making 40k to alleviate the problem......EEEEAAAAAA!!!!
Mestak and his group spent the afternoon at the SSC. Mestek does not teach and yet he will not return calls or emails. While they meet much laughter can be heard. Hanging out with Norrell is common and yet we lose more rights. The union never mentioned they added time to the instructional day and they serve on the joint committees. It was interesting that MS teachers receive a team meeting and teach the least amount of classes during the day but now also get late start. Looks like Mestek, Holt and Gentile who is now a MS teacher took care of themselves.
It seems it is true in that all of the leadership received promotions, perks, and travel on the districts dime. The Maria Rodriquez and Jeff Mlesko promotions show they are meeting about their issues and not ours. Our union dues are the highest for all school districts around and btw the other union presidents teach. Mlesko has the least amount of teaching experience in his group yet he is a instructional coach. Rodriquez is now a administrator as a secretary and Durham's sister who she lives with never was interviewed and just promoted at Cowherd.
They also served on the start time committee. Look at that fiasco! Elementary children are already burned out. Norrell could care less does she even visit a school other than the HS. The truth is our Union should represent us but they represent Norrell.
Does it do anything to make our students' lives better?
It seems to me like it's just a place for people to anonymously complain and to make others feel bad.
People talk about how individuals need to stop constantly FOIAing or starting trouble, but it seems to me like the real problem is the fact that this board exists at all. It does nothing for our community other than to tear it apart.
Is something preventing YOU from correcting any erroneous or negative information on this blog, EA131 Teacher? I am retired from the district but still live here and am very concerned about how my tax dollars are spent. I appreciate Ralph Padron’s exposing and questioning expenses like recent out-of-state travel. I also like how people will challenge negative comments by giving specific examples of positive experiences they’ve had with employees like Mr. Savage at Allen. Don’t like something you read here? By all means, speak your piece!!
The only thing tearing the district and community apart is the blog and disgruntled employees who go to Padron. In a prior post it was explained the College Board gave EA a grant to pay for training and travel to give our students more opportunities so the can graduate with credits for college .
Also, Dr Norrell is the best thing to come along and is giving out students an education that can compete with like other area programs one example is Indian Prairie. They are also a member of College Board why has Padron not looked into what they spend. Oh yeah they don't have disgruntled administration that call him.
Our union has labored hard all year for themselves. Some like Mestek are upset because he claims he worked hard on our contract. WRONG.. Illinois funded schools and we became recipient's of that. We also paid higher dues for a attorney who gave away language like longer instructional days, confusion on classroom supply stipends and a joke of a policy on class size that has more holes in it than swiss cheese.
Our emails and questions for Mestek go unanswered.
PERKS.. Mlesko becomes a instructional coach with little teaching experience. Maria Rodriquez gets paid $50,000 for the same job other LABOR over making $15.75 and she bumps another 604 member who pays dues. Maria pays ZERO dues now. Gerry is still allowed to roam all day. Some example for the students who face disciplinary measures for the same action, Judy Durham who's sister is now Cowherd principal was given the job like Mleczko without a interview. HUMMMM is that why Norrell pays $500 a HR to mentor her. We have other first year principals that DO NOT receive this benefit.
Novel idea for Norrell.. stop giving jobs to union leadership or their relatives without interviews.
Hardings wife is also a joke and why has Matt Harding received the same justice for mandated reporter as others. More on that later!
MATT Harding has not received the same justice. They covered up mandated reporting on the counselor who committed suicide. Matt knew this was going from students for better than a year. There have been recent terminations for less of recent. Why the special treatment. OH YEAH because he is Adams brother.
More to come just waiting for one more show to fall.
Dr Norrell take the money and run as fast and as far as possible from this ungodly school district. I knew from the beginning you would be a one contract hire because no one will ever be allowed to make hard changes especially a female of color. If you care more about the students than the staff that’s a problem in EA. . Read the post over the years at how Patterson at Simons have been crucified by her staff and Gibson’s going to get it too. Ms Gibson is an Aurora East product that actually cares about the students; go girl. You’d think females would support one another but instead what’s most important these days is what you look like. You should Only hire whites and Hispanics. Don’t hire or promote any Blacks because it a Hispanic district. The always Trumpers are fine. They vote republican while sucking up union benefits along with EA taxpayer funded pension. Padron is fly and you know where flies come from.
I have an idea... How about we let teachers do their job and teach students instead of completing endless data...data...data. Dr. Norrell, what happened to the idea of less is more?
What are the complaints against Patterson? Seems like the staff likes her and she’s still there, so... I think you’re making more of race than it is. As in, no one cares. EA would not be the district that some racists would flock to.
Last time I checked Mlescko and Mestek are white. Mlesko was not interviewed and look at the the poor quality we have in a instructional coach. Christy Harding is worthless and Matt Harding should get fired for his involvement in child abuse at Cowherd.
Rodriquez is a patronage hire who happens to be Latino
Durham has used her position to promote her sister that she lives with. Gibson was also not the first choice for AP at Simmons but used her so called community position to get promoted by Popp who was white. Now her mother is on the BOE and Norrell is doing the same.
Dan Mercer who is white used his position to get his wife a job at 604
Race is not in question, qualifications are. If they are the best they should have been interviewed by a group of peers just like everyone else.
Norrell from what we see in the popcorn gallery is getting everything she wants. Not one member of the BOE will say a word when she bullies and berates anyone who comes to the podium. The District is a directorship but unfortunately her minions choose to play the race card because they have nothing else.
I would be careful with whom you accuse of child abuse. Serious legal ramifications there. Matt is a good man and a hell of a teacher-don’t go dragging him down because of rumors you have heard about some other situation that didn’t involve him at Cowherd, as well as your disdain for Christy.
Questions to be asked if anyone dares to request an answer or The Great Cover-up Part 1
Good Morning BOE Can you compare the following with previous years 1 ADMINIISTRATION INCREASE YES OR NO Administrative Staff Organizational Charts should be helpful 2 Total of Salaries to include ALL benefits and pensions 3 Teacher Vacancies
HUMAN RESOURCES 4 HR Years experience of Kim Onteveros with previous HR Asst Supt , Megazzini, Glotzbach etc 5 Correct me if I am wrong Ontiveros hired April 2019 and was HR in Lyons only 9 months 6 Who interviewed and conducted background checks for Ontiveros 7 Verify if Norrell handled this hiring PERSONALLY if so WHY 8 Why would she hire a person who allowed an alleged murderer (Andres Rodriguez) as a teacher in Lyons 9 All you had to do was Google Dist 103 Lyons to find this out 6 Since I will not be getting a requested reply as usual, I believe a FOIA request is in order 7 Does any BOE member have the courage to ask Norrell the above?
Matt Knew about the students in question and said nothing for a entire school year. That is a fact. He still has job others have been released for the same offense.
Christy Harding has received payment and was part of a select chosen few who joined a special cohort to receive her administrative certification. She then was given a stipends boosting her pay to plus $100,000.
Adam Harding became union president and quickly jumped to 131 community relations a administrative job only to get paid more from local 604.
Our current union leaders are receiving the same perks and are following in the footsteps of the Hardings. THAT IS THE POINT.
Prove us otherwise, step down Mestek and go back to teaching if you are the minister you claim.
Search the name Simmons Sucks and you’ll see how for years Patterson’s has been the target of staff at Simmons . John Young wanted Patterson’s job. He knew it would never happen so he left. BTW Patterson keeps her job because Simmons students out perform Cowherd and Waldo put together.; results do matter.Judy had nothing to do with her sister becoming principal. She met all requirements to teach and now administrate. The clown that was at east high for a quick minute actually turned down the Simmons AP position that Ms Gibson got.Timing is everything. Friends and connections can certainly get you a position but only talent can keep you there.
Patterson should have been fired years ago but sometimes it is who you know. Look at Wilson Morales need we say more.
If Gibson had talent she should have interviewed like all the other principal and A/P positions. She was appointed! Why not an interview? That speaks for itself. Do we really think the BOE will do the right thing and ask questions. NO! Her mother is on the BOE and now votes on her contract.
FYI union members more back room deals are coming they had another afternoon of getting paid, laughing, talking and eating with Norrell. This happens on a almost weekly basis {3 hours} of what? Mestak will not even return an emails or calls. What has been solved ask yourself?
Maybe your jealous of Jackie Gibson and her family. Avis Miller, Jackie Gibson,and Judy Durham are first class human beings who could have left Aurora and made twice as much money in another school district. They have stayed on the East side, and are dedicated to helping our students,school, and community be a better place. Maybe you should shut up and try and do the same. Do you know Avis? Do you know Jackie? Do you know Judy? I doubt you do. Focus on something else rather than talk about good people when you have no evidence to support your arguement.
If Jackie Gibson is first class as her family/supporter claims she would have interviewed like everyone else. She would have not called in a favor and used privilege. No not jealous just calling it like we see it.
Did she call you? Btw if nepotism was a crime you’d empty out every fire and police department across the country.. Judy does not have the pull to get herself promoted so how the hell can she get one for Ms Gibson . Maybe your friends that didn’t get the job lacked the credentials or experience . Maybe it’s you that didn’t get the job. I learned something today Black Privilege, is that like reverse discrimination. Build a bridge and get over it,stop crying, stop being a victim and stop spreading lies.Bottom line those of us who know the family know they are decent standup people who REALLY care about the students and they live in the community . They give back and lead modest lives. Please remember this the BOE and the board President make all final decisions
Who did she call in a favor to? Who is the specific person she spoke with who said she did not have to interview? Do you know? Let's hear it. What privilege did she use? What are you referring to when you use the term "privilege?" Again, do you know Jackie?
Scandalous our Union Leadership eats and laughs this is unheard of..LOL You have been posting the same lies since the beginning of August and no-one has jumped on your bandwagon it must be hard for you to accept! Thus the continuous posts of lies! Mestek - has done an awesome job leading our union out of our dysfunctional past. Why doesn't he teach because our contract allows for full release and was fought hard for by our past members! Are you proposing giving that up? Insane. Contract raise were just given to us?? LOL more insanity you must have forgotten the 2nd year clause that the union fought with wearing blue to red and black. Then clause was then removed but I guess that doesn't fit your narrative. Mleczko - has been a godsend to our union he was called upon to cost our contract multiple times because the district had no-one able to do it and in the process caught multiple errors. You call his new job as an instructional coach a promotion are you clueless?
You do meet with Norrell for hours almost weekly that is a fact! We have eyes and ears at the SSC.
Don't pat yourself on the back with raises EVERY school district in the area is giving big raises because of the State.
The union leaders of the past started getting us decent raises for the last several years and that was when the State had not paid the district. Do not take credit for the work of Sara and company.
SARA AND the last group never benefited by positions of favor you are now getting.
Gerry begged administration for full release because he has made it clear he does not want to teach. The money saved from him not being paid could go to teachers.
Jeff Mlesko is not qualified to be an instructional coach.
Praises of the Miller/Durham/Gibson family are written by the family. Teachers in 131 know Jackie has been given favors. Gibsons group will never answer WHY she did not have the same interview process as all the other buildings. They had plenty of time.
The teachers are also working longer hours WHY did the union not tell us!
Maria Rodriguez received a BIG raise and no longer pays dues.
Ralph Padron can FOIA all of this it is a fact.
We have many supporters and you know it. The buildings know we are paying dues to benefit leadership
Again, what favors has Gibson received. If you know something, bring it up at the next Board Meeting. Even if her family is writing about her, they are still a great family regardless of what you have to say. Prove everyone wrong. You sound like a disgruntled teacher. Here's a simple answer for your troubles, go get a job somewhere else.
How do you know Jacquie didn’t interview?? She is doing amazing things over there at Cowherd....many other serious things to check out, like how the principal of Beaupre got her promotion!
Y’all are crazy! Get a new hobby! Great things are happening all over the district. Posting lies on a blog is crazy...some of these things that are being said are not even possible.
Subject: Principal at Cowherd Jackie Gibson; Scandal or Coincidence
1 500.00 per hr to mentor Jackie Gibson 2 note 15 minutes charges - what can you accomplish in 15 min 3 Why is it necessary to mentor the Principal at Cowherd 4 Jackie Gibson is Avis Miller, BOE member's daughter 5 What is Lori Campbell's involvment in this mentor hiring 6 Gibson was NEVER INTERVIEWED but appointed as Principal 7 My sources at Cowherd are very upset and confused why they were not given the opportunity to have an interview comittee. 8 Can someone answer this question
Here are the individuals involved and their connection 1 Jackie Gibson Principal of Cowherd 2 Avis Miller BOE member and mother of Jackie Gibson 3 Lori Campbell Associate Superintendent Teaching & Learning 4 Cheryl Quinn - Mentor $500.00 per hour
5 Did Supt Jennifer Norrell allow this as a favor to Avis Miller BOE member
I ask BOE members read the documents and ask Norrell to explain Tiimeline: July 11 Job Posting "Executive Director of Numeracy, ESSA, Grants & Reporting" July 11 Drafted Personnel Report distributed (specifying Darek Naglak) being hired July 15 BOE approves Personnel report minus Darek Naglak - no explanation of removal
July 15 BOE Mtg Ralph Padron spoke and stated 1 ITEM N shows position filled by Darek Naglak (Lyons Dist 103) same Dist new HR asst Supt Kim Ontiveros came from 2 Is it legal to advertise a position and hire someone sane day. 3 Supt Norrell answered "We didn't hire anyone from Lyons D 103" 4 Why was Darek Naglak on the Draft and offered position same day of posting 5 Why did Darek withdraw his name and is there a record of it 6 Who interviewed Darek and were there other candidates
What the hell is going on in the athletic department? What is the athletic director doing? The answer is nothing! This guy is so lazy he can't even check the type to post the scores of the football games from Friday nights on the IHSA website. After talking to several of the coaches at the school, it is very clear that no one, I mean no one has anything good to say about this guy. He’s lazy, I’m interested in the students, and basically stealing money by sitting his ass in a chair. It is absolutely disgusting to know that this guy was promoted by changing the Job description of the position, because she wasn’t qualified as it was written originally. This guy has already fired a long time coach because he didn’t like him, stabbed his boss in the back in 2015, and now is just doing nothing. Torres either needs to get his butt to work and support the student athlete program, and I mean all of the programs, or he needs to be removed and replaced.
Yea, he is a joke. Only reason they CHANGED THE JOB DESCRIPTION was because he is school board president's buddy. He IS lazy. He IS useless. All he's done is stab MULTIPLE AD's in the back to weasel his way into the job. Marina was scared of him because of his buddy. And that's the ONLY thing keeping him there. All he's done is remove responsibility from the athletic department, and put it all on the coaches. Every time you turn around he is telling coaches another thing the athletic department WON'T be doing anymore. They don't do banquets anymore, they don't take the responsibility of senior night for all seniors. He throws coaches under the bus, and has taken personal feelings into his job. He talks about teachers/coaches behind their back. One current PE teacher whose wife passed a few years ago, he called her a "drunk alcoholic" behind the guys back. He has a little group of flunkies that he hands the extra jobs off to (which is using tens of housands of dollars in duties, just handed out to those that kiss his rear end). He isn't invested, he isn't a Tomcat. He's a guy working (as little as possible) at the district that he used his personal relationship with school board president to keep a job. Not to mention he was the informant in the 2015 contract negotiations telling her everything that was discussed in PRIVATE negotiating team discussions. So yeah, guess she feels a little responsible for keeping him employed. Lord knows he hasn't earned it.
Why does East High have as many AP's as it does Deans?? That place is STILL up for grabs, its a zoo. No discipline at all. Extreme tardiness is tolerated all day, every day. Teachers blame the admin...admin blames the teachers for not doing the process. But its a train wreck either way. 5 years ago the school had 6 deans. Now it has 4. It was supposed to have 5, but Adam Kordolewski has been dismissed mysteriously (not sure if he is still getting paid or what), and everyone is tight-lipped because it had to do w DCFS. And the district doesn't want another DCFS situation getting out. Either way, why do they have more AP's looking at data, data, data- than they have deans doing the actual work with students. They need 1 dean who does nothing but pull attendance and deals with tardy students. 4 deans for over 4,000 kids?? It was 6, now 4. Id be curious to FOIA if Adam Korolewski is still being paid, or why he was dismissed. He definitely is not working in 131. And they definitely have not posted a position for a dean.
Yeah, its all a bunch of people that knew each other before getting hired in this district to have jobs making 6 figures, and not moving this district forward. Its Illinois...and these people are democrats. What did you expect??
Hey Judy Durham we all know you have had a heart on for the AD for years because he reported your friend the basketball coach. The District should have fired the basketball coach after you begged for his position and told Norrell he would retire in a year. Funny thing is folks even thought Judy works with sped kids she covered up for the basketball coach after staff caught him swearing and talking smack to a sped student. More to come.
Here is an idea, maybe our worthless building reps should demand a time study from our Union leadership. Let's start with Mestak and make him reveal to the entire membership what he spends his time on.
It is very insulting that we fill out the latest Norrell busywork document.
It SHOWS Mestek and company are so far up Norrell's a▪▪ it is not funny anymore. It is NOW further proof of the payoff of Mlesko, Durham and Rodriquez. Mlesko was also given a PM educator stipends recently but is never to be found assisting students. CAMERAS IN THE BUILDING WILL PROVE THIS.
Mestak the peacher needs to go and one thing his time document will prove is he is a waste of time.
East High has not progressed sonce last year. The teachers and staff were all-in. We were optimistic and ready to be in a school with structure, order, & discipline. It's almost November, and this was a white elephant, just a dog with no teeth. Students come to my class tardy. Students are in the halls as they please, they dont listen to us, they dont listen to deans, they dont listen to deans assistants- and its for 1 simple reason: They know they don't have to. There are STILL no consequences or discipline. We all tried our best, did what was expected, but now that we see that nobody is willing to back up the work & vision we had and were promised. So the word is "uninvested". Same game, different players. Whether its special ed getting involved to disrupt discipline, the district office not wanting certain "trouble making groups" disciplined, or just a general lack of anybody willing to step up and say, "some of these kids need some discipline & consequences, and here is the line in the sand"- its still the same. We were sold a false bill of goods, and we say, "ok then, back to just surviving the day in our own little bubble and not worrying about making a difference in our building". And its because we can't. The majority of EA students are grEAT!! But the ones that are not, are allowed to carry on their behavior to the same degree. And their are going to be students with behavior issues, but when we fail to act, and correct the behavior, then the joke is on us. Its too bad, we had a chance. But if everybody is too busy looking out for themselves and taking care of #1, lining their pockets, and glad-handing the Superintendent- then there is no change. Its just a job, and we will give you our 7:45-3:15, no more, no less.
I work and EAHS and there is a change. What building are you working in? They have made multiple announcement that if you fight you are out. The fighting way down and the hallways have had a vast improvement. If you don't like your working conditions please quit and move on to another school. Norrell and Simpson are visable. What more can we ask for.
Why exactly was an East High dean reassigned to Waldo? Are all middle schools getting a dean? If not, why Waldo? If this person was not able to stay at East, why is he able to be reassigned to a school that doesn’t even have the position he was hired in? Hopefully it will work out but it definitely seems like something is off about this situation.
Fights are not the issue. And "what building are you in"?? Because if you think the hallways are better, you are out of your mind-- no conseqences=no discipline=kids not in class=low test scores, Consequences=discipline=kids in class= a school with order & test scores/education goes up.
But the district keeps hiring data analysts, 6 figure number crunchers, and on and on- when all you need to do is keep these kids in the damn classrooms, and make them be on time. They will learn by default. And the only way to do that in this district, is consequences. And there are none. And it will get worse. These are kids, they will do what they are allowed to get away with. And right now, they can get away with pretty much anything.
Without saying anything about anyone, just wanted to put out the random information that a staff member may not be allowed to be in a certain building because of a DCFS incident. Not saying anything about anyone, but thats just some random info. A certain extra dean at a certain school is a real jerk, and like anthony crespo, they have to pay him anyway, so they'll keep him busy until his contract is up. Another waste of $ by 131.
So there it is, once you've lost the intellectual debate, and clearly have no more excuses to justify this nonsense- you turn to the old "well go somewhere else". So instead of fixing what is broken and IS fixable, you say to a teacher that obviously cares, "well go somewhere else", which translates to: we are ok with disfunction at our school, we're ok with lowering the bar year after year. -- Ill go out on a limb and say you are definitely another left wing nut job. Once you lose the intellectual debate, you just attack and do the mental gymnastics to make yourself think the wrong is right. Bless your uneducated heart.
DR Norrell is fixing a system that has been broken for years. WHY are you so negative. Simpson has been on the job 3 months and already the fights have basically stopped. We have two SROs which will drive displine. The hallways are not prefect but they are getting better. Study hall is still the main reason hallways have issues but they are working on it. The situation with the Dean is had to happen but getting assigned to Waldo is certainly not a waste of money. Waldo needs the help more than our other Middle Schools everyone has known that for years. She still needs to clean house we have another Dean that is a waste of space.
We have a great facility and the pay is suitable The reality is EA is improving but perhaps you can not wait so leave. DATA driven research does not lie.
Yes. Simpson is good. Not the argument at all. How much are his hands tied above? And how much does he know what is NOT being done below as far as discipline, that much I do not know. Simpson is a great principal. We agree there.
If you are good enough to teach at another school that will have less problems to deal with, is that not a smart thing to do. So intellectually you are dumb because you are teaching at a place that you complain about, instead of getting a job that you would enjoy more. Who is the stupid one?
To those who think dissatisfied employees should just pick up and go elsewhere, you must be a registered nurse or computer programmer/technician (the only jobs I can think of that are in demand anywhere at the drop of a hat). Very few school districts are hiring teachers or parapros in October. Staying in a position and doing what you can to make it work for the students (and speaking out against corruption when you see it) isn’t easy but is in students’ best interests. Also, many staff have families who are participating, contributing members of the community and the staff member’s leaving for “greener pastures” would deprive the community of more than just that one person.
We need INS agents at every governmental agency, DMV, post-office, welfare office, schools, and school districts. When these people come to get services, etc with their mexico ID, they need to be immediately checked, and if no valid citizenship, the they are deported. Do we still know what the word ILLEGAL means??? This district could save MILLIONS by doing away with these "bi-lingual" or "esl" classes. They are a drain on the taxpayers of this community, and many others. These classes are BS. The teachers are supposed to teach the kids in a way that they can learn English, BECAUSE THIS IS AN ENGLISH SPEAKING NATION, yet all the teachers do is teach these kids in espanol. Its inappropiate and ridiculous. The teachers are not even supposed to speak spanish...and some don't. These classes are designed for ANY person. Polish, French, Swahili, German, etc---- but most of these bums just teach their classes in spanish. THAT IS WRONG!
FYI, we do not have a legal official language. English is the primary language of the US, and may be considered our de facto official language. But that’s not the same as legislation! And last I heard, Puerto Rico is part of the United States. What language is spoken there??
Puerto Rico is a territory, like Guam, etc--- not even close, but nice try. The POINT is that this program is designed to TRANSITION ANY PERSON WHO DOES NOT HAVE ENGLISH AS THEIR FIRST LANGUAGE, NOT TEACH KIDS IN SPANISH. Go to another country and try telling them to teach you in another language... see how that goes. They will tell you to go learn the language at a special school, and come back to regular school when you are ready. And as a tax-payer, Im outraged that is not done in our country. Either run the program as its supposed to be, which is done by the non-spanish speaking teachers in that department, and teach HOW TO LEARN IN ENGLISH, WHICH IS WHAT IT IS FUNDED TO DO. Or get rid of it. Teaching the kids in spanish is a disgrace, and it is NOT supposed to be done that way. We have a polish student in there, no spanish, TRANSITION TO ENGLISH.
Territories ARE “part of the United States”, like it or not! And most of our Spanish-speaking students are fully bilingual by the time they are teenagers. Over and over it’s been proven that kids who speak two languages do better in school than their monolingual peers. I don’t care whether ESL students are taught in English or Spanish, as long as they learn the subject material!
So you like globalism. Ok, well I've been debating a socialist fool. That explains it all. Go check out how Venezuela is doing. The USSR bread lines were pretty awesome in the 70's and 80's too. ""Just open the borders man... it's like, just one world, man"". There is a reason we are an INDEPENDENT NATION FOUNDED ON THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE AND CHRISTIAN MORALS. Its called the Declaration of INDEPENDENCE! Not the Declaration of no borders and come one, come all & don't worry about assimilating to thus nation's culture and values.
Sad to hear today that a teacher who engaged the community on a discussion about chronic absenteeism is having his freedom of speech suppressed. Simpson and Norrell are literally sending him to the principals office. Mostlikelly, a result of some comments on Facebook about the lack of class selection. Many current and past students commented on the lack of student interest in the subject matter being taught at EA, mainly Norrell' forced reading classes.
A teacher engages the community but Norrell's administration is made up of the following. Look at the administration in charge of the current attendance program. You have Master Chief who spends his days color coordinating his wardrobe on district time. He is clueless! Pena who never comes to a meeting on time and talks four hours straight about herself without a thought of the students. Jackson who recently got involved as the spinster to shine the light on Norrell's program that sounds good but is not working. Look deep folks and BOE all smoke and mirrors with a totally demoralized staff of rank and file who attempts to make a difference but is silenced because you can not wrap a bow around it and make it look good.
From: R Padron Sent: Tuesday, November 26, 2019 9:36 AM
Subject: I am alive and have a clean bill of health
Am writing this to dispell the totally false rumor that I am in grave and declining health. The person responsible for this rumor needs to know I am onto him/her and will bring out factual information (in due time) speak for itself.
I have distanced myself from D131 for quite some time and hear nothing but great and productive results which has been long overdue. I wish the best to everyone and keep the support going for those who's leadership is vital in moving forward.
There is no discipline whatsoever at East High. Simpson is a great guy. So either the district directives are absurd and they only care about the money, or the deans have been programmed to not set any behavioral expectations WITH consequences, or they just dont have a clue. My guess is all 3, with rule #1 being the almighty dollar. And that translates into keep kids in the building, keep putting labels like "special ed" on them, and not having anything that resembles a normal high school.
89 comments:
Subject: PT 2 Dismissal of Claudia Ruiz
Greetings BOE
1 Upon further research and interviews I ask you to investigate and require Jennifer Norrell to answer the following:
2 Norrell is excellent at "HEAR SAY" and EXCUSES.
3 I challenge this BOE TO require documents to support Norrell answers justifying Ms Ruiz dismissal.
4 Was there anything in Claudia Ruiz personnel file warranting a non-renewal of her contract Definitely Not
Can Jennifer Norrell provide valid reasons/documents Definitely Not
5 Antonio Jamison supervisor Bldg & Grounds had his contract renewed. This had to be a mistake and more.
If anyone deserved to have a non renewal it was this convicted felon who was mistakenly hired 1 year ago. Shoplifting, Loss of Drivers License, Suspected theft at EA and more importantly you BOE members were confronted by Erika Salgado and Merle Herren at the last Board Meeting regarding Antonio Jamison harrassment and threats of job loss of B&G Staff
3 Remember B&G Director Alberto Tijerina whom time and time again was proven to be totally incompetent, questionable hirings (remember Jorge Villagomez) and corruption costing East Aurora hundreds of thousands of dollars.
Norrell could never get herself to FIRE him.
Jennifer Norrell's WATCH is tainted
Many are afraid to speak up due to FEAR AND RETALIATION Sad but True.
Please investigate
https://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/aurora-beacon-news/ct-abn-gates-school-update-st-0813-20190812-i5y6tp34bfa45poprl77vx2jfy-story.html
FOIA REQUEST
Date: August 22 2019
Subject: Current Instructional Coaches
1 Names
2 Job Description
3 Yrs of experience as a teacher
4 Class or Subject Matter Taught
5 Date of Interview for Instructional coach
6 who was present on the interview
7 Lorrie Campbell's Involvment with interviews
Re: Kelly Gilbert
8 resignation letter
9 application
10 contract
I would also want to know the qualifications of each instructional coach.
Ask yourself WHY is Maria Rodriquez is leaving as VP of Secretaries and getting paid $50,000 a year to become Campbell's admin assistant? The last person to have this position was paid as a Sec II $15.00 hourly. We know Gerry and Maria know that this is a hourly job but because she is getting it they are paying her like a teacher. What is even more disturbing is that the job was posted and now it has been taken down. What are they hiding? Gerry is covering up for Maria to get a promotion. When they attempted to buy Alba off she did not take the bait and switch.
This along with the instuctional coaches in a prior post shows that Norrell is taking care of our union leaders. Ie. Jeff Mlesko.
Judy, Gerry and Rodriquez also attended training with George Allen this summer out of Illinois. What pay did they receive? They allowed Norrell, Allen and HR to attend our last 604 meeting. When has that ever happened? We could not conduct start of the year 604 business.
Why does Gerry not teach?
What are we paying dues for? All rank and file can see is they are helping themselves to high paying jobs with little work.
When Mestek ran he berated the old guard and told everyone he would run 604 with transparency. A few years later and what we are witnessing can best be descriped as scandalous. Our dues have doubled and yes we have a new contract that is fair not because of Mestek. The reality is teachers across the county have received the same. It is sad to hear about these promotions. We need new leadership and maybe it is best to have term limits to prevent this from happening.
As a attendee of the meeting for union reps, simply put we need our meeting back. While educational equity is important it is odd that they did not form a committee like everything else in this district,, and send employees of multi level diverse backgrounds for training. It is questionable why only union officers went.
The new schedule for elementary is brutal. The day is way too long and the kids are done by mid afternoon. They took away all our prep time before school. They knew people would still show up early because We have to to be prepared for the day. There is not five minutes of free time in the entire week!
Anonymous 1.....and you are posting on the blog before school dismisses today? Guess you had some time on your hands after all! I’m in full support of teachers but really, on the blog at school?
Lets ask the question? Why is Pam Bennett a Sec II only making $15.75 and hour and Maria Rodriquez Union 604 VP just hired making $50,000. Pam is required to pay union dues while Maria the VP is now administration. Answer Gerry Mestek is a sell out. Why are we paying dues when 604 represents only themselves. Maria is the only one with a administrative contract. How many secretaries does Campbell have? Answer the position was created for her and Pam Bennett will do her job.
Look at our leadership
Mlesko was given a position he was not qualified for and he does not teach.
Mestek does not teach and wonders around all day long not returning phone calls or emails.
Durham's sister (Jackie Gibson) who Durham lives with was hired without an interview at Cowherd. Every other position for AP and Principal was interviewed but not Jackie.
Ask ourselves WHY pay dues? Anonymous 1 why did they not tell us the day was longer when they settled the contract that was conveniently missed. Yes, pay was better for some but we received more hours while the union officers stopped working and gave themselves promotions.
Juan
Just heard something very disturbing. I called you at work the other day in good faith to discuss with you the situation with the dismissal of Claudia Ruiz and the Antonio Jamison renewed contract. You were upset that I called you at work yet when you called back and expressed your "Frustration" I called. You were quoted as saying I was harrassing you at work. Furthest thing from the truth.
You are a new Board of Ed Member and have no clue on many an issue under Jennifer Norrell's "WATCH" specifically with the numerous Personnel Changes. I expressed to you that many a D131 staff member contacts me to give me guidance on the FOIA's to be submitted. Can you honestly say that you understand the Budget Deficit, Spending by Norrell
for out of state conferences and her Retreats?
One issue very upsetting to many is the hiring of Scott Savage as AP at Allen Elementary.
He is not bi-lingual, from Bloom HS (Norrell's former Dist) and is the hightest paid AP for elementary and most Middle School AP's.
I gave you the question to ask " Claudia Ruiz had no written documentation against her yet Antonio Jamison (convicted felon shoplifter etc) had every reason to NOT have his contract renewed. Jamison and Savage are African American and very controversial. Let the facts speak for itself.
East Aurora is 80% + Hispanic. See a pattern here.
It will be said that Board Members should not speak to me, let me tell you something Norrell refuses to respond to my reports thus her excuses and outright lies is her response. Sorry to say this but I have no further intention of contacting you privately.
Ask Board Member Avis Miller why she received $ 600.00 in Emergency Assistance (Welfare Fund) from Aurora Township.
Are you aware of her 2 daughters working in D131
Mr Padron, Norrell does not have to respond you do not live in 131.
Your attack on JUAN hits a new low. Really, calling him at work to discuss cases you really have zero knowledge of?
Why is he responsible for Avis Miller?
These kinds of letters define why Padron has Zero creditability with the expectation of disgruntled former employees.
To: Anonymous Padron needs to go away said.
Credability I have more than you will ever think and I don't have to prove it to you or anyone else. The fact that I have exposed much corruption and wasteful spending under Norrell is no
coincidence. Without the help of those withing D131 staff members speaks volume as they work in fear and retaliation.
By the way Why won't you and my other critics post your real name. Cowards is the reason
Big News
There was a huge fight at East High yesterday.
Police cane and arrested approximately 12 students
Teachers have contacted me and are very concerned for their safety
Local 604 is a joke. They up our dues and their support is almost nonexistent when it gets to be crunch time on contracts. Darlene Mercer was hired on there as office manager, the wife of field director Dan Mercer. Can you say “nepotism”?
Yes Ralph, you are correct there was a big fight at EAHS yesterday. We have been told by SSC staff Norrell was meeting with our union leaders almost all day. Much laughter and socializing was happening. The SSC and ASC both have thin walls and we can see the manipulation going on.
Maria Rodriquez and Jeff Mlesko received promotions.
Jennifer Gentile is allowed to leave Fred Rodgers when she pleases.
Gerry Mestek does not teach (probably a good thing).
Judy Durham is considered the authority on black students yet Judy did not tell Norrell a big fight had been brewing with rival housing projects since school started. Her sister Jackie Gibson did not interview like other principals for Cowherd. The union told Norrell don't worry we have your back on that one.
Maria already delivered up information on secretaries that have been told their behavior towards students is unbecoming of the expectations of Norrell.
This all goes on while students are pushing and hitting teachers everyday. I guess it payed to be in union leadership with 604.
Interesting about Dan Mercer he is just like Adam Harding whos wife Christy Harding is a reading facilitator. Does anyone know what she does? Hardings wife makes well over $100,000 for not returning emails on needed materials we have been out since last school year. She is paid stipends to facilitate meeting she never attends.
Another example of 604 taking care of themselves and raising our dues so we can support their families
By LINDA GIRARDI
AURORA BEACON-NEWS AUG 23, 2019
Eight students were charged after a fight broke out at East Aurora High School Thursday morning, officials said.
The school resource officer was called shortly after 8:15 a.m. Thursday on a report of a fight between students at East Aurora High School, Aurora Police Department Media Relations Coordinator Paris Lewbel said Friday.
Eight juveniles were arrested, the police spokesman said. Six were charged with disorderly conduct and one was charged with disorderly conduct and mob action. One other juvenile was charged with disorderly conduct, mob action and battery.
All of the charges were referred to the Kane County Juvenile Justice system, he said.
East Aurora School District Public Relations Officer Tom Jackson confirmed it was a “physical altercation between students” at the high school but did not elaborate on what prompted the incident other than to say it is being investigated by police in addition to school officials. “School administrators worked cooperatively with the school resource officer and the Aurora Police Department took the students into custody,” Jackson said.
School officials will investigate the matter as well, he added.
“Safety and security is our top priority. Fighting, or violence of any kind, will not be tolerated in our schools. We will do everything in our power to provide students and staff with a safe and supportive learning environment,” Jackson said.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/aurora-beacon-news/ct-abn-east-aurora-school-resource-officers-st-0825-20190823-bwe4xkso7jhm7gmhtgjsdlx36m-story.html
Mr. Padron, I will not reveal my identity because I am an employee at Allen, and I don't want to be attacked by you or anyone else for my comments. You made comments about Mr. Savage, which appeared to be one-sided and racist. When we learned of Mr. Savage coming to Allen, some of us (including me) were skeptical. After meeting him, learning about him, and listening to his philosophy about education, we are very pleased that he is at Allen.
There are rumors that he was mistreated at a nearby high school because of race and many of the minority administrators are no longer in that district. I attended a party several years ago where people were making racist comments about that local high school having a black principal. Maybe you should look into that district for discrimination. We have some challenges at Allen, but Mr. Savage is not one of them. In fact, he has been a great addition to our school along with our principal and other ap Mr. Heath (who is white and also isn't bilingual). I believe your statement about Mr. Savage being African American and not bilingual is very biased and unfair. I do not speak Spanish, yet I have a great rapport with my students and families. Should I be bilingual too? Do you know that we have African American and Asian students? Should I not be able to teach them because I am white? From my understanding, he has a ton of experience and is a member of the aurora community. Everyone saw Mr. savage personally moving boxes and helping teachers and custodians move things in and out of classrooms and hallways. One evening I was driving by the school after 7 pm, and Mr. Savage (and the administrators) were still there working. Why don't you speak about that? Oh wait, you don't know anything about that, and you are more about attacking instead of learning about how things really are. You should visit our school one day and see Mr. savage and our staff in action. From what I have observed, the children love him. He has been seen walking our kinder students to class and to the bus line. I personally watched him sit on the floor with a first grader who was crying because his mother left him and Mr. savage got him to calm down and remain in school all day. He is always in the halls and classrooms, helping students and teachers. For the first time ever, I got feedback about my class within the first week of school, and that came from Mr. Savage. I heard from other teachers that he helped a teacher who was having a difficult time with several students. That teacher was crying and eventually was able to recover and have a better day. The pe teacher said he has been in her room twice to participate with the students. He organized our fire drill, and it was flawless.
He is always outside helping our families and greeting our children with a high-five. Do you know anything about our Allen school community? What does being African American or white have anything to do with how we help our children to be successful? I am white, and so is most of our staff so why aren't you saying anything about that? You are not a community member, and, sadly, you attack people only out of spite. You should meet our principal, and Mr. savage see him action. I never comment on this site, but I felt compelled because to talk about someone's ethnicity and state that he is controversial comes across as racist. Again, as a white staff member, why do I get a pass for not speaking Spanish, but he doesn't? I am sure Mr. Savage isn't perfect but everyone has a past (even most of our teachers) but no one should be held to an unreasonable and unfair standard.
I left d131 after over a decade, the discipline issues are out of control and it no longer felt like a safe place to work. The students use their cellphones constantly and there was no recourse when they refused to turn them off. Seeing students watching porn and refusing to stop even when escorted out by deans made it impossible to teach. Let's not even start talking about students never going to class and dealing drugs in the hallways. The district can keep the revolving door of and in going but it will always be a problem until serious discipline is put in place. Gang fights today, shootings tomorrow.
Mr Padron why attack only East Aurora? Other school districts even in white communities have issues. Have you taken the time to investagate 204? I have many friends who work in 204 and it is not any better.
I believe it has now been more than 5 years that you have filed daily FOIA requests. That takes many resources to pull reports and the administration can get nothing done. You send us almost daily reports and it's always somebody different you are attacking. Most of us delete yo8ur garbage. Life is short, do you nothing better to do with your time?
Dr Norrell may not be perfect but she is working hard to change 131. It is time to move on . The numerous people you attack can not all be what you make up about them. Please sit and think about your life and the time you are wasting for yourself and others.
Teacher response to: Please can we not focus on the students said....
Agreed. I often wonder how much the school district has spent on all the FOIA requests. It seems Mr. Padron believes many in "power" in the school district have ulterior motives and are corrupt. There always seems to be "conspiracy" that Mr. Padron is planning to undercover. Seriously, how many employees of District 131 have spent time and resources fulfilling the FOIA requests while they could have been working at their jobs completing other work? Maybe that is the "conspiracy that should be examined.
...and I might add the thing that prompted me to write into the blog is this....Mr. Padron wrote that "Teachers have contacted me and are concerned for their safely". How many teachers? There are over 265 teachers at the high school. I am a long time teacher in the district and have never even heard Mr. Padron's name mentioned at the high school. I'm sure most teachers, unless they read the blog or attend a board meeting have never even heard of Mr. Padron. Most of the teachers at the high school love and support our students. There are over four thousand students at the high school and yes, unfortunately there are going to be fights. Most of the kids are well-behaved. There seems to be administrative help this year in disciplining students who need it and it is very much appreciated. There are students that come from dysfunctional lives and we support them the best we can with the resources we have. I enjoy going to work because of the students and I am not worried about my safety.
I have not posted in a long time but I think it's important to understand what it is to work at the SSC.
In the last 5 or so years, Mr Padron has filed over 700 FOIA requests and that is the ones we have counted since the Popp administration started a spreadsheet. It takes up everyone's time to pull the records. Amanda Sanderson must then compile and redact private information. Sometimes the attorney's spend time answering charges when Mr Pardon turns us in to the Attoney General because he thinks the records are being hidden. IT spends valuable time pulling these records when they could be repairing a child's computer. Dr MAC would spent hours talking to him trying to get him stop. He would come late to meeting because he spent doing this so we could get our work done. DR MAC Could have used his ye at s of wisdom to work on district problems
The FIOA process then results in someone getting attacked and their reputions ruined while he emails other school districts. Mr Pardon and his wife have been able to retire with a reputation in tact. Why not allow others to have their career? Then he posts false or painted truths to the blog. We live in a age of internet searches and we personally know of administrators who have lost opportunities in other districts because of him. Again, ask yourself do they not have a right to move on?
Hours wasted, reputions ruined and money spent for what. It is time Mr Padron needs to stop.
AP Annual Meeting Orlando Fl July 18 19 2019
Hyatt Regency Grand Cyprus
Hotel
2 nights Registration Airfare Transportation Meals Other
Brinkman Jennifer 487.41 375.00 402.96
Brown Jeremy 487.41 375.00 402.96
Kleimola Melanie 487.41 375.00 402.96
McCarron Susan 487.41 375.00 402.96
Pedroni Guillermo 487.41 375.00 402.96
Simpson Jonathin 487.41 375.00 402.96
Kincaid Heather 487.41 375.00 402.96
Nenia Marcus 487.41 375.00 402.96
Vasa Thomas 487.41 375.00 382.96
4,386.65 3,375.00 3,606.64
$11,368.29
Greetings Board of Education
1 Recent FOIA response brings up many questions
2 Point is could this money been spent more productively
3 What was the criteria to be selected for this and other Conferences
4 Notice $ 487.41 charge for 2 Nights per person
5 Other expenses still need to be accounted for: Transportation, Meals,and other misc
6 Am still auditing the Los Angeles, Houston, San Antonio, Dallas, Cleveland conferences.
7 What other conferences were there under Norrell's Watch ?
8 Were these "Out of State" travel expenses necessary?
9 How much did previous Superintendents spend for out of state seminars, conferences
These questions require Follow-Up FOIA's to get the facts
Mr Padron does it again
East Aurora received a grant to pay for training for teachers to teach Pre AP classes, so yes travel was necessary. Sick of the falsehoods but now your children can receive 2 years college credit if they follow the course alignments.
Really interesting exchange between Mestek and Norrell. Like Gerry gives a da**. Norrell claims Gerry was suppose to give her a procedure on the distribution of $200 in classroom supplies and Gerry claims Norrell was suppose to give him something. Who can believe the two fighting a small reimbursement. Just pay us or better yet have 604 not collect union dues. They only work for themselves anyways. OH THATS RIGHT We have to pay Dan Mercers wife or Adam Harding to sit home and babysit while his wife collects $100,000 plus in salary she is not capable of.
Staff at Beaupre watched Maria Rodriguez walk out and get a BIG admin position/raise to join SSC. Who is more important serving our families, or Campbell who now has Secretary and a admin assistant? Yes folks that right Maria left a new Principal with no notice. Campbell now has more staff than the sup.
Instructional coaches are also a joke. Many do not have tenure and when asked to help with assessments they said not our job.
Back on to Gerry- we are not fooled by your attempts to create a situation that shows you are working for us. We know better.
The morale in the district is the lowest I have seen in my 13 years. They have added to our work day and dont give us an 5 extra minutes to breathe but didnt increase our salaries to reflect this. How did our union allow this to happen after the contract was settled? Teachers are already stressed out and overwhelmed. There are many classes district wide that are overloaded and against the contract. The administration wont do anything until Oct. 1st if at all. They stress it is all about the students and claim to do whats best for them but are not leading by example. Everyone knows lower class sizes are a major factor in improving student performance. We have 85+ plus administrators district wide who make more than $10 million annually but they refuse to hire a few teachers making 40k to alleviate the problem......EEEEAAAAAA!!!!
Low Morale
Mestak and his group spent the afternoon at the SSC. Mestek does not teach and yet he will not return calls or emails. While they meet much laughter can be heard. Hanging out with Norrell is common and yet we lose more rights. The union never mentioned they added time to the instructional day and they serve on the joint committees. It was interesting that MS teachers receive a team meeting and teach the least amount of classes during the day but now also get late start. Looks like Mestek, Holt and Gentile who is now a MS teacher took care of themselves.
It seems it is true in that all of the leadership received promotions, perks, and travel on the districts dime. The Maria Rodriquez and Jeff Mlesko promotions show they are meeting about their issues and not ours. Our union dues are the highest for all school districts around and btw the other union presidents teach. Mlesko has the least amount of teaching experience in his group yet he is a instructional coach. Rodriquez is now a administrator as a secretary and Durham's sister who she lives with never was interviewed and just promoted at Cowherd.
They also served on the start time committee. Look at that fiasco! Elementary children are already burned out. Norrell could care less does she even visit a school other than the HS. The truth is our Union should represent us but they represent Norrell.
Why does this website exist?
Does it do anything to make our students' lives better?
It seems to me like it's just a place for people to anonymously complain and to make others feel bad.
People talk about how individuals need to stop constantly FOIAing or starting trouble, but it seems to me like the real problem is the fact that this board exists at all. It does nothing for our community other than to tear it apart.
Let's shut it down.
Is something preventing YOU from correcting any erroneous or negative information on this blog, EA131 Teacher? I am retired from the district but still live here and am very concerned about how my tax dollars are spent. I appreciate Ralph Padron’s exposing and questioning expenses like recent out-of-state travel. I also like how people will challenge negative comments by giving specific examples of positive experiences they’ve had with employees like Mr. Savage at Allen. Don’t like something you read here? By all means, speak your piece!!
The only thing tearing the district and community apart is the blog and disgruntled employees who go to Padron. In a prior post it was explained the College Board gave EA a grant to pay for training and travel to give our students more opportunities so the can graduate with credits for college .
Also, Dr Norrell is the best thing to come along and is giving out students an education that can compete with like other area programs one example is Indian Prairie. They are also a member of College Board why has Padron not looked into what they spend. Oh yeah they don't have disgruntled administration that call him.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/elgin-courier-news/ct-ecn-isbe-spain-teachers-exchange-st-0901-20190901-7kbpymtoqvadbemapfdpjicupu-story.html
Labor Day update
Our union has labored hard all year for themselves. Some like Mestek are upset because he claims he worked hard on our contract. WRONG.. Illinois funded schools and we became recipient's of that. We also paid higher dues for a attorney who gave away language like longer instructional days, confusion on classroom supply stipends and a joke of a policy on class size that has more holes in it than swiss cheese.
Our emails and questions for Mestek go unanswered.
PERKS.. Mlesko becomes a instructional coach with little teaching experience. Maria Rodriquez gets paid $50,000 for the same job other LABOR over making $15.75 and she bumps another 604 member who pays dues. Maria pays ZERO dues now. Gerry is still allowed to roam all day. Some example for the students who face disciplinary measures for the same action, Judy Durham who's sister is now Cowherd principal was given the job like Mleczko without a interview. HUMMMM is that why Norrell pays $500 a HR to mentor her. We have other first year principals that DO NOT receive this benefit.
Novel idea for Norrell.. stop giving jobs to union leadership or their relatives without interviews.
Hardings wife is also a joke and why has Matt Harding received the same justice for mandated reporter as others. More on that later!
Signed someone who labors
Correction
MATT Harding has not received the same justice. They covered up mandated reporting on the counselor who committed suicide. Matt knew this was going from students for better than a year. There have been recent terminations for less of recent. Why the special treatment. OH YEAH because he is Adams brother.
More to come just waiting for one more show to fall.
Regarding Cowherd Principal "Mentor"
Submitted FOIA for
1 Resume
2 Contract
3 All Payments
Is she being paid $ 500.00 per hour
Why would they hire a mentor
Dr Norrell take the money and run as fast and as far as possible from this ungodly school district. I knew from the beginning you would be a one contract hire because no one will ever be allowed to make hard changes especially a female of color. If you care more about the students than the staff that’s a problem in EA. . Read the post over the years at how Patterson at Simons have been crucified by her staff and Gibson’s going to get it too. Ms Gibson is an Aurora East product that actually cares about the students; go girl. You’d think females would support one another but instead what’s most important these days is what you look like. You should Only hire whites and Hispanics. Don’t hire or promote any Blacks because it a Hispanic district. The always Trumpers are fine. They vote republican while sucking up union benefits along with EA taxpayer funded pension. Padron is fly and you know where flies come from.
I have an idea... How about we let teachers do their job and teach students instead of completing endless data...data...data. Dr. Norrell, what happened to the idea of less is more?
What are the complaints against Patterson? Seems like the staff likes her and she’s still there, so...
I think you’re making more of race than it is. As in, no one cares. EA would not be the district that some racists would flock to.
Race Card
Last time I checked Mlescko and Mestek are white. Mlesko was not interviewed and look at the the poor quality we have in a instructional coach. Christy Harding is worthless and Matt Harding should get fired for his involvement in child abuse at Cowherd.
Rodriquez is a patronage hire who happens to be Latino
Durham has used her position to promote her sister that she lives with. Gibson was also not the first choice for AP at Simmons but used her so called community position to get promoted by Popp who was white. Now her mother is on the BOE and Norrell is doing the same.
Dan Mercer who is white used his position to get his wife a job at 604
Race is not in question, qualifications are. If they are the best they should have been interviewed by a group of peers just like everyone else.
Norrell from what we see in the popcorn gallery is getting everything she wants. Not one member of the BOE will say a word when she bullies and berates anyone who comes to the podium. The District is a directorship but unfortunately her minions choose to play the race card because they have nothing else.
I would be careful with whom you accuse of child abuse. Serious legal ramifications there. Matt is a good man and a hell of a teacher-don’t go dragging him down because of rumors you have heard about some other situation that didn’t involve him at Cowherd, as well as your disdain for Christy.
Questions to be asked if anyone dares to request an answer or The Great Cover-up Part 1
Good Morning BOE
Can you compare the following with previous years
1 ADMINIISTRATION INCREASE YES OR NO
Administrative Staff Organizational Charts should be helpful
2 Total of Salaries to include ALL benefits and pensions
3 Teacher Vacancies
HUMAN RESOURCES
4 HR Years experience of Kim Onteveros with previous HR Asst Supt , Megazzini, Glotzbach etc
5 Correct me if I am wrong Ontiveros hired April 2019 and was HR in Lyons only 9 months
6 Who interviewed and conducted background checks for Ontiveros
7 Verify if Norrell handled this hiring PERSONALLY if so WHY
8 Why would she hire a person who allowed an alleged murderer (Andres Rodriguez) as a teacher in Lyons
9 All you had to do was Google Dist 103 Lyons to find this out
6 Since I will not be getting a requested reply as usual, I believe a FOIA request is in order
7 Does any BOE member have the courage to ask Norrell the above?
FOIA TO FOLLOW
WHOA
I am sure you are part of the Harding clan.
Facts are Facts
Matt Knew about the students in question and said nothing for a entire school year. That is a fact. He still has job others have been released for the same offense.
Christy Harding has received payment and was part of a select chosen few who joined a special cohort to receive her administrative certification. She then was given a stipends boosting her pay to plus $100,000.
Adam Harding became union president and quickly jumped to 131 community relations a administrative job only to get paid more from local 604.
Our current union leaders are receiving the same perks and are following in the footsteps of the Hardings. THAT IS THE POINT.
Prove us otherwise, step down Mestek and go back to teaching if you are the minister you claim.
Search the name Simmons Sucks and you’ll see how for years Patterson’s has been the target of staff at Simmons . John Young wanted Patterson’s job. He knew it would never happen so he left. BTW Patterson keeps her job because Simmons students out perform Cowherd and Waldo put together.; results do matter.Judy had nothing to do with her sister becoming principal. She met all requirements to teach and now administrate. The clown that was at east high for a quick minute actually turned down the Simmons AP position that Ms Gibson got.Timing is everything. Friends and connections can certainly get you a position but only talent can keep you there.
Patterson should have been fired years ago but sometimes it is who you know. Look at Wilson Morales need we say more.
If Gibson had talent she should have interviewed like all the other principal and A/P positions. She was appointed! Why not an interview? That speaks for itself. Do we really think the BOE will do the right thing and ask questions. NO! Her mother is on the BOE and now votes on her contract.
FYI union members more back room deals are coming they had another afternoon of getting paid, laughing, talking and eating with Norrell. This happens on a almost weekly basis {3 hours} of what? Mestak will not even return an emails or calls. What has been solved ask yourself?
Maybe your jealous of Jackie Gibson and her family. Avis Miller, Jackie Gibson,and Judy Durham are first class human beings who could have left Aurora and made twice as much money in another school district. They have stayed on the East side, and are dedicated to helping our students,school, and community be a better place. Maybe you should shut up and try and do the same. Do you know Avis? Do you know Jackie? Do you know Judy? I doubt you do. Focus on something else rather than talk about good people when you have no evidence to support your arguement.
Yeah, discipline needs to be tougher. And the penalty for misbehavior needs to be swift. Its still not where it needs to be.
If Jackie Gibson is first class as her family/supporter claims she would have interviewed like everyone else. She would have not called in a favor and used privilege. No not jealous just calling it like we see it.
Did she call you? Btw if nepotism was a crime you’d empty out every fire and police department across the country.. Judy does not have the pull to get herself promoted so how the hell can she get one for Ms Gibson . Maybe your friends that didn’t get the job lacked the credentials or experience . Maybe it’s you that didn’t get the job. I learned something today Black Privilege, is that like reverse discrimination. Build a bridge and get over it,stop crying, stop being a victim and stop spreading lies.Bottom line those of us who know the family know they are decent standup people who REALLY care about the students and they live in the community . They give back and lead modest lives. Please remember this the BOE and the board President make all final decisions
Who did she call in a favor to? Who is the specific person she spoke with who said she did not have to interview? Do you know? Let's hear it. What privilege did she use? What are you referring to when you use the term "privilege?" Again, do you know Jackie?
Scandalous our Union Leadership eats and laughs this is unheard of..LOL You have been posting the same lies since the beginning of August and no-one has jumped on your bandwagon it must be hard for you to accept! Thus the continuous posts of lies! Mestek - has done an awesome job leading our union out of our dysfunctional past. Why doesn't he teach because our contract allows for full release and was fought hard for by our past members! Are you proposing giving that up? Insane. Contract raise were just given to us?? LOL more insanity you must have forgotten the 2nd year clause that the union fought with wearing blue to red and black. Then clause was then removed but I guess that doesn't fit your narrative. Mleczko - has been a godsend to our union he was called upon to cost our contract multiple times because the district had no-one able to do it and in the process caught multiple errors. You call his new job as an instructional coach a promotion are you clueless?
You do meet with Norrell for hours almost weekly that is a fact! We have eyes and ears at the SSC.
Don't pat yourself on the back with raises EVERY school district in the area is giving big raises because of the State.
The union leaders of the past started getting us decent raises for the last several years and that was when the State had not paid the district. Do not take credit for the work of Sara and company.
SARA AND the last group never benefited by positions of favor you are now getting.
Gerry begged administration for full release because he has made it clear he does not want to teach. The money saved from him not being paid could go to teachers.
Jeff Mlesko is not qualified to be an instructional coach.
Praises of the Miller/Durham/Gibson family are written by the family. Teachers in 131 know Jackie has been given favors. Gibsons group will never answer WHY she did not have the same interview process as all the other buildings. They had plenty of time.
The teachers are also working longer hours WHY did the union not tell us!
Maria Rodriguez received a BIG raise and no longer pays dues.
Ralph Padron can FOIA all of this it is a fact.
We have many supporters and you know it. The buildings know we are paying dues to benefit leadership
Again, what favors has Gibson received. If you know something, bring it up at the next Board Meeting. Even if her family is writing about her, they are still a great family regardless of what you have to say. Prove everyone wrong. You sound like a disgruntled teacher. Here's a simple answer for your troubles, go get a job somewhere else.
How do you know Jacquie didn’t interview?? She is doing amazing things over there at Cowherd....many other serious things to check out, like how the principal of Beaupre got her promotion!
Gibson received the favor of no interview and since she is unable to interview she is unable to get a job somewhere else.
Y’all are crazy! Get a new hobby! Great things are happening all over the district. Posting lies on a blog is crazy...some of these things that are being said are not even possible.
Subject: Principal at Cowherd Jackie Gibson; Scandal or Coincidence
1 500.00 per hr to mentor Jackie Gibson
2 note 15 minutes charges - what can you accomplish in 15 min
3 Why is it necessary to mentor the Principal at Cowherd
4 Jackie Gibson is Avis Miller, BOE member's daughter
5 What is Lori Campbell's involvment in this mentor hiring
6 Gibson was NEVER INTERVIEWED but appointed as Principal
7 My sources at Cowherd are very upset and confused why they were not given the opportunity to have an interview comittee.
8 Can someone answer this question
Here are the individuals involved and their connection
1 Jackie Gibson Principal of Cowherd
2 Avis Miller BOE member and mother of Jackie Gibson
3 Lori Campbell Associate Superintendent Teaching & Learning
4 Cheryl Quinn - Mentor $500.00 per hour
5 Did Supt Jennifer Norrell allow this as a favor to Avis Miller BOE member
Judge for yourself
https://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/aurora-beacon-news/ct-abn-aurora-car-show-homeless-st-1001-20190930-s23nwrbvwffghgfesul2hfxjua-story.html
Whistleblower provides key document exposing attempted HR Hiring Scandal
I ask BOE members read the documents and ask Norrell to explain
Tiimeline:
July 11 Job Posting "Executive Director of Numeracy, ESSA, Grants & Reporting"
July 11 Drafted Personnel Report distributed (specifying Darek Naglak) being hired
July 15 BOE approves Personnel report minus Darek Naglak - no explanation of removal
July 15 BOE Mtg Ralph Padron spoke and stated
1 ITEM N shows position filled by Darek Naglak (Lyons Dist 103) same Dist new HR asst Supt Kim Ontiveros came from
2 Is it legal to advertise a position and hire someone sane day.
3 Supt Norrell answered "We didn't hire anyone from Lyons D 103"
4 Why was Darek Naglak on the Draft and offered position same day of posting
5 Why did Darek withdraw his name and is there a record of it
6 Who interviewed Darek and were there other candidates
What the hell is going on in the athletic department? What is the athletic director doing? The answer is nothing! This guy is so lazy he can't even check the type to post the scores of the football games from Friday nights on the IHSA website. After talking to several of the coaches at the school, it is very clear that no one, I mean no one has anything good to say about this guy. He’s lazy, I’m interested in the students, and basically stealing money by sitting his ass in a chair. It is absolutely disgusting to know that this guy was promoted by changing the Job description of the position, because she wasn’t qualified as it was written originally. This guy has already fired a long time coach because he didn’t like him, stabbed his boss in the back in 2015, and now is just doing nothing. Torres either needs to get his butt to work and support the student athlete program, and I mean all of the programs, or he needs to be removed and replaced.
Yea, he is a joke. Only reason they CHANGED THE JOB DESCRIPTION was because he is school board president's buddy. He IS lazy. He IS useless. All he's done is stab MULTIPLE AD's in the back to weasel his way into the job. Marina was scared of him because of his buddy. And that's the ONLY thing keeping him there. All he's done is remove responsibility from the athletic department, and put it all on the coaches. Every time you turn around he is telling coaches another thing the athletic department WON'T be doing anymore. They don't do banquets anymore, they don't take the responsibility of senior night for all seniors. He throws coaches under the bus, and has taken personal feelings into his job. He talks about teachers/coaches behind their back. One current PE teacher whose wife passed a few years ago, he called her a "drunk alcoholic" behind the guys back. He has a little group of flunkies that he hands the extra jobs off to (which is using tens of housands of dollars in duties, just handed out to those that kiss his rear end). He isn't invested, he isn't a Tomcat. He's a guy working (as little as possible) at the district that he used his personal relationship with school board president to keep a job. Not to mention he was the informant in the 2015 contract negotiations telling her everything that was discussed in PRIVATE negotiating team discussions. So yeah, guess she feels a little responsible for keeping him employed. Lord knows he hasn't earned it.
Why does East High have as many AP's as it does Deans?? That place is STILL up for grabs, its a zoo. No discipline at all. Extreme tardiness is tolerated all day, every day. Teachers blame the admin...admin blames the teachers for not doing the process. But its a train wreck either way. 5 years ago the school had 6 deans. Now it has 4. It was supposed to have 5, but Adam Kordolewski has been dismissed mysteriously (not sure if he is still getting paid or what), and everyone is tight-lipped because it had to do w DCFS. And the district doesn't want another DCFS situation getting out. Either way, why do they have more AP's looking at data, data, data- than they have deans doing the actual work with students. They need 1 dean who does nothing but pull attendance and deals with tardy students. 4 deans for over 4,000 kids?? It was 6, now 4. Id be curious to FOIA if Adam Korolewski is still being paid, or why he was dismissed. He definitely is not working in 131. And they definitely have not posted a position for a dean.
Yeah, its all a bunch of people that knew each other before getting hired in this district to have jobs making 6 figures, and not moving this district forward. Its Illinois...and these people are democrats. What did you expect??
Specifically like what?? Other than talk. What has ACTUALLY happened??
Hey Judy Durham we all know you have had a heart on for the AD for years because he reported your friend the basketball coach. The District should have fired the basketball coach after you begged for his position and told Norrell he would retire in a year. Funny thing is folks even thought Judy works with sped kids she covered up for the basketball coach after staff caught him swearing and talking smack to a sped student. More to come.
"Talking smack"...yeah, how old are you???
Here is an idea, maybe our worthless building reps should demand a time study from our Union leadership. Let's start with Mestak and make him reveal to the entire membership what he spends his time on.
It is very insulting that we fill out the latest Norrell busywork document.
It SHOWS Mestek and company are so far up Norrell's a▪▪ it is not funny anymore. It is NOW further proof of the payoff of Mlesko, Durham and Rodriquez. Mlesko was also given a PM educator stipends recently but is never to be found assisting students. CAMERAS IN THE BUILDING WILL PROVE THIS.
Mestak the peacher needs to go and one thing his time document will prove is he is a waste of time.
East High has not progressed sonce last year. The teachers and staff were all-in. We were optimistic and ready to be in a school with structure, order, & discipline. It's almost November, and this was a white elephant, just a dog with no teeth. Students come to my class tardy. Students are in the halls as they please, they dont listen to us, they dont listen to deans, they dont listen to deans assistants- and its for 1 simple reason: They know they don't have to. There are STILL no consequences or discipline. We all tried our best, did what was expected, but now that we see that nobody is willing to back up the work & vision we had and were promised. So the word is "uninvested". Same game, different players. Whether its special ed getting involved to disrupt discipline, the district office not wanting certain "trouble making groups" disciplined, or just a general lack of anybody willing to step up and say, "some of these kids need some discipline & consequences, and here is the line in the sand"- its still the same. We were sold a false bill of goods, and we say, "ok then, back to just surviving the day in our own little bubble and not worrying about making a difference in our building".
And its because we can't. The majority of EA students are grEAT!! But the ones that are not, are allowed to carry on their behavior to the same degree. And their are going to be students with behavior issues, but when we fail to act, and correct the behavior, then the joke is on us. Its too bad, we had a chance. But if everybody is too busy looking out for themselves and taking care of #1, lining their pockets, and glad-handing the Superintendent- then there is no change. Its just a job, and we will give you our 7:45-3:15, no more, no less.
I work and EAHS and there is a change. What building are you working in? They have made multiple announcement that if you fight you are out. The fighting way down and the hallways have had a vast improvement. If you don't like your working conditions please quit and move on to another school. Norrell and Simpson are visable. What more can we ask for.
Why exactly was an East High dean reassigned to Waldo? Are all middle schools getting a dean? If not, why Waldo? If this person was not able to stay at East, why is he able to be reassigned to a school that doesn’t even have the position he was hired in? Hopefully it will work out but it definitely seems like something is off about this situation.
Fights are not the issue. And "what building are you in"?? Because if you think the hallways are better, you are out of your mind-- no conseqences=no discipline=kids not in class=low test scores, Consequences=discipline=kids in class= a school with order & test scores/education goes up.
But the district keeps hiring data analysts, 6 figure number crunchers, and on and on- when all you need to do is keep these kids in the damn classrooms, and make them be on time. They will learn by default. And the only way to do that in this district, is consequences. And there are none. And it will get worse. These are kids, they will do what they are allowed to get away with. And right now, they can get away with pretty much anything.
Without saying anything about anyone, just wanted to put out the random information that a staff member may not be allowed to be in a certain building because of a DCFS incident. Not saying anything about anyone, but thats just some random info. A certain extra dean at a certain school is a real jerk, and like anthony crespo, they have to pay him anyway, so they'll keep him busy until his contract is up. Another waste of $ by 131.
Then get a job somewhere else. we dont need you. Are you a good enough educator to land a job somewhere else?
So there it is, once you've lost the intellectual debate, and clearly have no more excuses to justify this nonsense- you turn to the old "well go somewhere else". So instead of fixing what is broken and IS fixable, you say to a teacher that obviously cares, "well go somewhere else", which translates to: we are ok with disfunction at our school, we're ok with lowering the bar year after year. -- Ill go out on a limb and say you are definitely another left wing nut job. Once you lose the intellectual debate, you just attack and do the mental gymnastics to make yourself think the wrong is right. Bless your uneducated heart.
Not uneducated just realistic.
DR Norrell is fixing a system that has been broken for years. WHY are you so negative. Simpson has been on the job 3 months and already the fights have basically stopped. We have two SROs which will drive displine. The hallways are not prefect but they are getting better. Study hall is still the main reason hallways have issues but they are working on it. The situation with the Dean is had to happen but getting assigned to Waldo is certainly not a waste of money. Waldo needs the help more than our other Middle Schools everyone has known that for years. She still needs to clean house we have another Dean that is a waste of space.
We have a great facility and the pay is suitable The reality is EA is improving but perhaps you can not wait so leave. DATA driven research does not lie.
Yes. Simpson is good. Not the argument at all. How much are his hands tied above? And how much does he know what is NOT being done below as far as discipline, that much I do not know. Simpson is a great principal. We agree there.
If you are good enough to teach at another school that will have less problems to deal with, is that not a smart thing to do. So intellectually you are dumb because you are teaching at a place that you complain about, instead of getting a job that you would enjoy more. Who is the stupid one?
To those who think dissatisfied employees should just pick up and go elsewhere, you must be a registered nurse or computer programmer/technician (the only jobs I can think of that are in demand anywhere at the drop of a hat). Very few school districts are hiring teachers or parapros in October. Staying in a position and doing what you can to make it work for the students (and speaking out against corruption when you see it) isn’t easy but is in students’ best interests. Also, many staff have families who are participating, contributing members of the community and the staff member’s leaving for “greener pastures” would deprive the community of more than just that one person.
We need INS agents at every governmental agency, DMV, post-office, welfare office, schools, and school districts. When these people come to get services, etc with their mexico ID, they need to be immediately checked, and if no valid citizenship, the they are deported. Do we still know what the word ILLEGAL means??? This district could save MILLIONS by doing away with these "bi-lingual" or "esl" classes. They are a drain on the taxpayers of this community, and many others. These classes are BS. The teachers are supposed to teach the kids in a way that they can learn English, BECAUSE THIS IS AN ENGLISH SPEAKING NATION, yet all the teachers do is teach these kids in espanol. Its inappropiate and ridiculous. The teachers are not even supposed to speak spanish...and some don't. These classes are designed for ANY person. Polish, French, Swahili, German, etc---- but most of these bums just teach their classes in spanish. THAT IS WRONG!
FYI, we do not have a legal official language. English is the primary language of the US, and may be considered our de facto official language. But that’s not the same as legislation! And last I heard, Puerto Rico is part of the United States. What language is spoken there??
Puerto Rico is a territory, like Guam, etc--- not even close, but nice try. The POINT is that this program is designed to TRANSITION ANY PERSON WHO DOES NOT HAVE ENGLISH AS THEIR FIRST LANGUAGE, NOT TEACH KIDS IN SPANISH. Go to another country and try telling them to teach you in another language... see how that goes. They will tell you to go learn the language at a special school, and come back to regular school when you are ready. And as a tax-payer, Im outraged that is not done in our country. Either run the program as its supposed to be, which is done by the non-spanish speaking teachers in that department, and teach HOW TO LEARN IN ENGLISH, WHICH IS WHAT IT IS FUNDED TO DO. Or get rid of it. Teaching the kids in spanish is a disgrace, and it is NOT supposed to be done that way. We have a polish student in there, no spanish, TRANSITION TO ENGLISH.
Territories ARE “part of the United States”, like it or not! And most of our Spanish-speaking students are fully bilingual by the time they are teenagers. Over and over it’s been proven that kids who speak two languages do better in school than their monolingual peers. I don’t care whether ESL students are taught in English or Spanish, as long as they learn the subject material!
So you like globalism. Ok, well I've been debating a socialist fool. That explains it all. Go check out how Venezuela is doing. The USSR bread lines were pretty awesome in the 70's and 80's too. ""Just open the borders man... it's like, just one world, man"". There is a reason we are an INDEPENDENT NATION FOUNDED ON THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE AND CHRISTIAN MORALS. Its called the Declaration of INDEPENDENCE! Not the Declaration of no borders and come one, come all & don't worry about assimilating to thus nation's culture and values.
“Christian morals”?
How’s our current President representing us on that??
Sad to hear today that a teacher who engaged the community on a discussion about chronic absenteeism is having his freedom of speech suppressed. Simpson and Norrell are literally sending him to the principals office.
Mostlikelly, a result of some comments on Facebook about the lack of class selection. Many current and past students commented on the lack of student interest in the subject matter being taught at EA, mainly Norrell' forced reading classes.
A teacher engages the community but Norrell's administration is made up of the following. Look at the administration in charge of the current attendance program. You have Master Chief who spends his days color coordinating his wardrobe on district time. He is clueless! Pena who never comes to a meeting on time and talks four hours straight about herself without a thought of the students. Jackson who recently got involved as the spinster to shine the light on Norrell's program that sounds good but is not working. Look deep folks and BOE all smoke and mirrors with a totally demoralized staff of rank and file who attempts to make a difference but is silenced because you can not wrap a bow around it and make it look good.
If the district wants tEAcher involvement
From: R Padron
Sent: Tuesday, November 26, 2019 9:36 AM
Subject: I am alive and have a clean bill of health
Am writing this to dispell the totally false rumor that I am in grave and declining health. The person responsible for this rumor needs to know I am onto him/her and will bring out factual information (in due time) speak for itself.
I have distanced myself from D131 for quite some time and hear nothing but great and productive results which has been long
overdue. I wish the best to everyone and keep the support going for those who's leadership is vital in moving forward.
Happy Thanksgiving to all
There is no discipline whatsoever at East High. Simpson is a great guy. So either the district directives are absurd and they only care about the money, or the deans have been programmed to not set any behavioral expectations WITH consequences, or they just dont have a clue. My guess is all 3, with rule #1 being the almighty dollar. And that translates into keep kids in the building, keep putting labels like "special ed" on them, and not having anything that resembles a normal high school.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/aurora-beacon-news/ct-abn-matt-willigman-bench-trial-st-1211-20191210-kv6c4itb7zh33cth5izksqqm7q-story.html
If the expectation of the BOE AND SUPERINTENDENT is having staff act properly and set examples then they need to self police themselves.
A inebriated Ken Darby approached staff at a recent City of Lights tournament and basically told staff we are a piece of you know what.
Harassment should not be allowed by any upper level administrator or BOE member.
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