District 150 Director of Technology and Library Media Services Mary Ward has been put on paid administrative leave as the district performs an internal investigation. If past is prelude, taxpayers may be paying her to do nothing for a long time. The last administrator to be put on paid administrative leave, Mary Davis, has been getting paid for nothing since September 2009 — a full six months and counting. Granted, if she’s found guilty, she’ll have to pay it all back. I wonder if that will include interest.
Despite how slowly the process is going, I’m happy to see District 150 doing all these investigations. It’s about time.
nontimendum: So go ahead and define in common terms what “better himself” means if not make more money?
Taller? Nicer? Better looking?
And ANON, Twice now you posted such eloquent responses… yes, I am sure you have much to say…
I was making the presumption that you must not have understood that I meant better himself as opposed to being complacent or worsening himself. No reasonable person would fault a person for that…Okay, that’s where I went wrong.
I don’t fault Ptacek for his ambitions and/or goal to become a superintendent. I do object to the thought that one can better himself/herself only by seeking to climb one more rung of a ladder or to a higher paying job. I believe a person can “better” himself by being better and better at whatever he/she has chosen to do with his/her life. So if a person is a teacher for his/her entire career, does that mean that the person has no hope of bettering himself/herself.
nontimendum:
And yet three time now you have failed to say what you meant by “better”… apparently you think that getting a higher paying job is somehow bettering someone. Is that how you determine someone’s worth? I suppose that means that someone earning minimum wage is less of a person than someone making millions. To quote George Bush, “How uniquely American.”
Sharon… if a person never leaves teaching to become an administrator, they are not bettering themselves, according to nontimendum. After all, it is true that the cream rises to the top. Survival of the fittest. You get what you deserve.
Charlie, most reasonable people would agree that improving your standard of living for you and your family is, indeed, bettering yourself.
Are you kcdad? I ask because I sense you’re a hair’s breadth away from spewing pseudo-intellectual psychobabble socioeconomic sputum celebrating soviet doctrine. If so, what’s restraining you? I hate seeing a man work with a handicap.
“most reasonable people would agree that improving your standard of living for you and your family is, indeed, bettering yourself”
and apparently your idea of improving one’s standard of living is measured in dollars… most reasonable people would disagree with you.
You have unfortunately bought into the consumerist myth of the 1950s that spending money and having things makes life worth while… too bad your pool of ideas is so shallow.
(How long did it take you to try and word that statement to not make it sound greedy?)
BTW Russia outlawed gambling and specifically Poker Rooms… see, they are smarter than we are.
Charlie – you make no sense. According to your logic, anyone in a higher paying position of responsibility is immoral. Seriously, give it a rest.
That is according to your logic. I never suggested such a thing.
“higher paying position of responsibility”
Way to throw that into a double barreled statement!
What I implied was that someone who looked to “better themselves” through a change in occupation and/or income was evaluating themselves in a purely monetary way. Money neither makes you better nor worse, although it does reveal your character.
Yes, I’m sure that Steve Ptacek’s rationale for getting his superintendent’s certificate is purely monetary. Of course, there can be no other reasonable argument for doing such a thing. And I’m sure he’ll regret that decision since he lost any cred with Charlie. Poor Steve and others with their close-minded thinking.
Jon… we aren’t talking about Ptacek. We are talking about a disease that has infested our society. We equate worth with money; accountability with money; good with money; value with money.
Those other two numbskulls, anon and nontimendum, are trying to justify it with a lot of nonsense. And now you join in… what is the point you want to make? Administrators are more important than teachers to the future of our children? Executives do more work than the laborers? CEOs deserve millions and billions while their employees go bankrupt, hungry and die from lack of health care? Insurance executives should be allowed to determine who gets health care and who doesn’t (because God knows, we let the government make those decisions… our government of the people)? Where exactly did you want to go with this?
Or did you just want to try and defend Steve from an attack that isn’t coming? Brave soldier.
Steve is an excellent principal with a lot of good ideas. He would make a great superintendent if he thinks he can get his ideas implemented. The statement was IF he was doing this to “better himself”… IF he was seeking self promotion for self promotion… THEN he loses creds.
Oh, I guess when I read this statement (about Ptacek)from you:
“I like what I know about Steve, but if he really is going for his Superintendent certificate, he just lost ALL of his creds with me.”
I didn’t see the qualifier “to better himself” – anywhere in the post.
And this:
“What I implied was that someone who looked to “better themselves” through a change in occupation and/or income was evaluating themselves in a purely monetary way.”
I guess I somehow interpreted “purely” to be the ONLY WAY (emphasis mine) “better(ing) themselves through a change in occupation and/OR income” as “monetary”.
If you want to talk about the “disease” just come out and say it – why make assumptions about people no one is making? (Such as “what is the point you want to make? Administrators are more important than teachers to the future of our children?”)
No, I don’t see a rational reason for why you make those assumptions about what I am saying, or Anon or Nontimendum – However, maybe it’s just me, but when I look at what you SPECIFICALLY WROTE (again, somehow didn’t see that “to better himself” qualifier anywhere), it’s very different from your last comment, and in particular, your last paragraph.
Thanks for clarifying. 🙂
its all in context, Jon… unlike others, some of us follow the conversation from the beginning…
There was this comment:
RHS parent
March 26th, 2010 at 10:51 am
I think Ptacek (sp?)is doing a good job. Ruffling feathers comes with the turf. I have spent time with him and like the direction he is going. Whats the beef dp2? I wish we had more principals who actually worked towards becoming a supt. than just plopping somebody in the position because they were local and it seemed like the politically right thing to do (Hinton was brought in by our congressman, wasn’t he?).
I responded that many principals should concentrate on their jobs they aren’t doing now…
charlie
March 26th, 2010 at 12:48 pm
“I wish we had more principals who actually worked towards becoming a supt.”
I wish we had more principals who actually worked towards being a better principal.
I like what I know about Steve, but if he really is going for his Superintendent certificate, he just lost ALL of his creds with me.
He has a contract to be a Principal, getting one’s Superintendent Certificate takes one away from their responsibilities and obligations… if he, instead is seeking another job while supposedly doing this one… there is a problem.
Oh, I’ve been reading since the beginning. Where is that “to better himself” qualifier from you again? Oh, that’s right, it was in response to what nontimendum said – after your statement.
Yep, all about the context.
nontimendum
March 27th, 2010 at 7:11 am
“I like what I know about Steve, but if he really is going for his Superintendent certificate, he just lost ALL of his creds with me.”
Trying to better himself is certainly deplorable. We should all aspire to the status quo.
THAT was the first mention of bettering himself. I wrote “being a better principal.”
If you don’t see the difference… what a surprise!
Yes, Charlie, keep changing your argument (or the timing of your argument) and maybe no one will notice or care (I have no idea why I do).
Today, March 29th, 2010 at 2:06 pm, from Charlie:
“The statement was IF he was doing this to “better himself”… IF he was seeking self promotion for self promotion… THEN he loses creds.”
No, that wasn’t the argument – it never was until then.
I suppose if my perspective were that of an adjunct (inferior, unnecessary) professor making $18,000/year I, too, would resent the success of others and rationalize my utter failure with inane socioeconomic theory.
Might I suggest one of Stuart Smalley’s self-affirmation exercises? Look in the mirror and say, “I deserve good things, I am entitled to my share of happiness. I refuse to beat myself up. I am an attractive person. I am fun to be with.”
The new superintendent is in town. Who is she meeting and greeting with this evening? Anyone know?
I know she has “picked” out her new office on Wisconsin Ave. Dr. O’Brien’s office…..
Ha ha, it has is own bathroom. Bye bye Mary! I heard she was meeting some folks tonight, I was wondering who gets to pick who she meets and doesn’t meet.
I heard from one teacher who met her and was impressed. Also, I heard that she was going to spend 20 minutes with all primary (I think) principals.
I heard there was a meet and greet this evening. Not necessarily with district folks. Just curious who got an invite?
Peaceman: you know who got the invites……
She did spend quite a bit of time at Trewyn today.
I just hope Hinton wasn’t involved in any way. Please keep him far far away from our new leader!
I wonder how much money the district has to spend to check the air quality and remodel Dr. O’Brian’s office by May 1st for the new super?
What is going on with the “investigation”? Did I miss something? It’s been over two weeks and no new information. I hear from an IT guru that it takes about 24 hours to determine if a user has visited “inappropriate” websites. He also says it’s pretty tough to track merchandise being sold on the internet. This sounds like a false alarm (no pun intended).
ITK–Good to hear from you again! But I don’t get the inside joke(s).
nontimendum writes that adjuncts professors are “(inferior, unnecessary)” making $18,000 a year
What adjunct makes $18,000 a year?!?!?! Where?
You still think it is about money… how pathetic.
You must be a tenured parasite… I mean… faculty member.
Why, Charlie, that information is straight from your alter ego. Don’t tell me you’ve forgotten.
And no, other than my casual and likely futile effort here with you, I’m in no way involved in education.
Here is an update from this evening’s news on PJStar.com regarding the missing computers, porn watching and pot smoking.
http://www.pjstar.com/news/x905414961/District-150-No-basis-for-theft-claims-against-technology-director
Charlie (kcdad)…
Its not for the money. I would love to have lunch sometime and discuss this with you. As I have offered on these forums before, give me a call. (I offer this to anyone). I think I understand your concern.
This forum can be a great place for us (public servants)to connect with the community, but those with concerns should take us up when we offer our time to help build our partnership.
I have left the boards because this too often becomes a place for the anonymous to simply complain. That does not build our partnership.
Maybe we should schedule a PC “meet and greet” some night 🙂 . If anyone has met with me they know that I have no problem discussing issues and answering questions.
My RHS number 693-4414
Edit: When is the next blogger bash?
Awesome answer, Steve!!
Thanks Diane 🙂
Steve good answer. However an invitation was offered to board members and administrators to come to Woodruff and see what we do and 1 board member came and spent time only with Dept. heads and another only visited 1 classroom for a short time.. That is note a true exposure of how a school operates. This demonstrates some people do not offer the olive branch you do to build partnerships. i am glad you do!!!!
Perception is reality.
I think Steve has great intentions and genuinely cares about the direction of the school (and I believe that it would carry over to him in a higher postion). Listening to him speak reveals his passion.
Obviously people will bump heads/have different views (I certainly have). If you try to make everyone happy, you won’t succeed. I think Steve knows his goals, pursues them ardently despite others’ doubt(s), and has the faith that they will be accomplished.
I believe THAT ^^^ will take him/the school/(the district??) further than anything.
Time will tell.
Sources have confirmed that Mary Ward has officially resigned her position with District 150.
Hmmmm. could this have anything to do with the shananagins at roy ricketts?
Last I heard the police were still investigating the “shananagins” at roy ricketts. May or may not be related, but certainly is interesting!
Well, they demoted her to a librarian, did they not? So, are you saying she has resigned from Dist 150, or resigned her position over at Ricketts?
Word is she will be working for the new Charter School. 😉
Another District 150 surprise: Pam Schau was the one who was fired tonight. The breaking news is on Channel 31’s website.
http://peoriachronicle.com/2010/02/02/schau-made-6-5-million-accounting-error-in-previous-job/
6 months… what ever she did, she was able to do it in just 6 months…
“weeks after Superintendent Joel Morris and Assistant Superintendent for Business Pamela Schau retired – that a projected deficit of $3.8 million for the 2008-09 fiscal year was actually $10.3 million.”
When is the news gonna come out here?
And I gotta ask again… what does “retire” mean?
“Schau, who retired as assistant superintendent of business at Maine Township High School District 207, said her two-year contract with District 150 was extended another year – through June 2012 – in February.”
Her contract was through 2012… CONTRACT? I thought she was an “at will” employee? Are we gonna be paying her for two more years?
I smell another lawsuit……pjstar says she was fired “without cause”, yet the subtitle says her leadership skills weren’t what they should be(isn’t that cause?)…..which is it D150? I always wonder how a person can be fired “without cause”…I mean, you just don’t go to work and out of the blue your boss says, you’re fired! That’s madness
Can Dimke be far behind??????
…and the beat goes on
I thought Demke & Schau made sure they had 3 yr contracts before Hinton left. Now I read Schau was an “at will” employee.” Maybe “at will” means she can hand out raises to secretaries, then take them away at will. Seriously, we need a reality show. We could get big money for this stuff. No one would be able to make it all up.