I received an e-mail yesterday that said: “The attached is a press release from concerned parents of PHS students. This is a response to negative and comments that have been publicly made. We send this in hopes that it will posted on your information websites.” It was signed by “Concerned Parents of PHS Students,” but only one member of that group was named — Rev. Raymond E. Watson, Jr., who is listed as the “contact person.” Here’s the letter:

Once again the parents of Peoria High School students feel the need to stand up and speak out against false accusations by the District 150 Administration, School Board and certain individuals/groups in the public that have made it their personal agenda to attack Peoria High School and thus, our children.

We have repeatedly asked for Board Members to come meet with us to discuss our issues and no response. We have contacted Dr. Lathan as far back as May, and had no response. If The Chamber of Commerce or any other organization deemed important by the B.O.E. or Superintendent requested their presence, they would attend. We, as parents, are tired of groups/members of the public that have no children at PHS spreading false rumors and accusations against our children and school staff. We felt the closure of a high school was a mistake but we have to make the best out of the situation. Those in the public that are spreading rumors, we ask you to stop because it does nothing but harm all the students of PHS. There is much truth to the adage if you can’t say something positive, say nothing at all. You are there to represent all the students of District #150 and set an example.  How do you think our students feel after hearing these unwarranted accusations? Remember, the Board voted to close Woodruff and now it is a Peoria High problem?  It might behoove you in the future to have solutions before decisions are made.

We have asked for a reason behind the PHS staff being the only high school that has its administration on a year-to-year contract. There have been numerous administrators that have received multi-year contracts before they proved themselves capable. Some have not even lived in the District and yet they are given multi-year contracts. This is a double standard and we feel there are ulterior motives behind the lack of continuity from the Board and Administration on Wisconsin Ave. We have been told that the Superintendent wanted to evaluate things before making a decision. So, what is the reason for individual administrators unfamiliar with our District and yet having been relocated to District #150; how do they justify receiving contracts without proven results?
 
If you want results, here are some results.

The facts are as follows:

PHS ACHIEVED SAFE HARBOR

AVERAGE DAILY ATTENDANCE IS 93%

ACT SCORES ARE UP AND NOT JUST FOR ONE YEAR

	2008	2009	2010
Average	16.28	17.08	17.7

The fact that discipline in school is being handled by our undermanned staff (add 500 students and only 2 additional campus police officers for a total of four) is a testament to the PHS Administrators who have made the best out of a difficult situation thrust upon them by a School Board and community leadership that failed to plan. Where are all the civic leaders that endorsed closing a school? Where are the business leaders that profess wanting the best for all the children of District 150? Talk is cheap!!!

The students are in a safe environment and learning in spite of the district’s failure to provide children with schoolbooks. It was not until e-mails were sent out that books were finally delivered 2 weeks into the school year and PHS staff requested the books August 1st.

Another issue is the transportation system that is the fault of District Administrators who were unprepared due to a failure to plan. This is unacceptable and continues as buses fail to show for extra-curricular activities, or do not have heat or are mechanically unsound putting our children in danger.

In addition, why has it taken 5 months to get work orders regarding plumbing issues addressed? Why is it that basic maintenance issues that should have been addressed years prior as part of routine upkeep of the building were presented to the public as ‘major updates’?

It is not the responsibility of school staff to follow students home. The responsibility to ensure your child gets to school and home safely is the responsibility of the parent, student, District #150 Board and District #150Administrators. It is unrealistic to think that school staff can follow every child home. There are numerous after-school activities and teachers are available for students that need extra help with their studies. The responsibility lies mostly with the District #150 Board and Administrators, not PHS staff. We realize that buses are provided for students who live a certain distance from their respective school and for students who have to cross hazard-deemed streets. However, again, this all comes back to a failure to plan, to obtain correct information; and it certainly points to the fact that the knowledge was not present when the Board or District Administration decided to close a high school. The due diligence was not done to plan for such possible events since the District has encountered similar issues with the other high schools. The onus is on the Board and Administration who failed to work cooperatively with the proper entities with whom they should have a good-working relationship to see how potential issues could or would be addressed. It is always best to plan for unforeseen happenings

We also are offended by the fact that nothing was done by the Administrative staff to prevent these stories from exacerbating on Channel 25 and in the Peoria Journal Star. Stories like this could likely be ran about every school in America, but the Board and Administration reacted to the stories by recommending staggering dismissal times, etc., in essence, blaming PHS. Again, more assumptions about our Peoria High students. We understand that there will happenings, but it is not exclusive to Peoria High. These incidents occur across every school, across every city, across the nation.

In summary, we feel we are receiving disparate treatment as issues are ongoing at the other schools, yet they do not receive the unwarranted attention that has been thrust upon the Peoria High School community. The Board of Education and the Superintendent have failed to address and plan regarding the issues mentioned above. We do not appreciate the inaccurate perception that is being portrayed to the general public about our school and we are extremely disappointed and frustrated with the lack of information and support that we have received. Randy Simmons and his staff are the best of the best and we expect to be treated as such, which provides for a domino effect to the education and fulfillment for the PHS students. Our children deserve no less.

We have asked for School Board involvement and been ignored. We have asked for District150 Administration involvement and been ignored. We will no longer be silent about the injustice being perpetrated against PHS and our children. Let all who read this know if you want your child to be taught by the best and cared for by the best then PHS is the right place for your child!