I thought the same thing as Billy Dennis when I first read the HOI News report of Regional Superintendent of Schools Dr. Gerald Brookhart’s take on District 150’s latest plan to shorten Wednesdays for most primary schools: “Brookhart approves of a plan he hasn’t seen yet.”
The Regional Superintendent of Schools says this plan does follow state code because the total number of hours the kids will be in school each week meets state requirements.
That’s at the beginning of the HOI story. And then the same story concludes:
The regional superintendent says they have not received an official plan from District 150 to shorten the school day, so until they have that nothing can happen.
So, when he says the plan “does follow state code,” he’s basing that on what, exactly? Normally, regulators withhold comment until they have an official request or plan in hand so they can give a definitive answer, rather than one based on speculation or preliminary plans that are subject to change.
Remember the old saying, “Ignorance is Bliss?”
The State code says the minimal instructional hours for one class day is 5 hours, excluding lunch, breaks and passing time. The state code does not say…. or it can be less than 5 if the length of the other days is “xx”….
The fact is that the Peoria District 150 Administration is bastardizing the school code to deliver sub-standard education to YOUR children. Is that acceptable, and if not, what will Peorians do about it? It shall be an interesting year.
Diane-
I applaud you for your efforts- unfortunately, the majority of Peorians are accustomed to being ignored; therefore, they do not bother to get involved.
Additionally, there are some well healed Peorians who think they are above the fray. I have news for them- soon we will be a city no one is proud to call home- it will cease to be a city that “rocks” as you mention on your blog or could rock as the case may be.
When our elected officials can get away with making inane decisions it tells me smart people are out of touch. If our citizens would only pay attention and see how decisions get made they would be outraged.
Recently, I had a conversation with an elected official who told me they know what is best and they are perfectly able to make decisions without input from the community. They basically said they do not need to communicate with the voters. Enough said?
This person truly believes they know what is best for the “lowly masses” and the public should just step aside. Was this statement evidence of arrogance or stupidity? My observation is some of both, but I consider them to be as ignorant as they come. Sad but true…anyone want to venture to guess the elected official?
Ken Hinton.
Pat Nichting.
Debbie Wolfmeyer.
All good guesses- but you are still cold.
I will tell you it is not Jim Ardis- but this would be a hint. .
(I consider Jim Ardis to be one of the most approachable- yet admittedly dense politicians)
Jim Stowell?
George Bush?
Hum George (toNJ): is your hint meaning the top of the perspective bureaucratic foodchains of COP, D150, PPD, PBC, or the Peoria County Board?
I’ll guess D150 — Dr. Gorentz.
Attended the Public Building Commission meeting this past Thursday, three taxpayers were present — talk about inhospitable. Neither the chairman nor secretary even bothered to acknowledge that the public was in attendance. Another validation of your first paragraph above. Let’s be excited that the PBC has yet another $14M available in bonding authority — above and beyond the $10M outstanding debt and the $72M committed to building new schools of the wrong configuration for D150.
Can anyone say … the next East St. Louis?
Diane is right!It is a violation of the public school code and the district could be fined at the end of the school year when they have to figure in the hours and days are shortened at the end of the year! Dr. Gerald Brookhart should be reading this document with sincere consideration before he signs anything or there will be a penalty for the district!
Kevin Lyons?
I have found Mayor Jim Ardis to be anything but “dense”.
Didn’t someone mention a female board member who admitting knowing nothing about education, and deferred to the administration for her information?
She said something to the effect, she doesn’t meet with the public because she doesn’t know anything and so relies on the district officials to tell her what to think…
The Illinois School Code says: “The board of education operates its schools so that each child receives a minimum of five (5) clock hours of school work per day under direct supervision of certified teachers. (This excludes recess, lunch periods and passing time.)”, and “A full-day of attendance for students in grades 2 through 12 must be a minimum of five clock hours (300 minutes) of instruction under the direct supervision of: (i) a certified teacher, or (ii) non-teaching/volunteer personnel when engaging in non-teaching duties and supervising those instances specified in Section 10-22.34(a) and Section 34-18.”
The last quotation refers to the definition of a full-day of attendance for the purpose of apportioning General State Aide. Anything less than the 5 clock hours cited results in the district receiving a one-half of their daily attendance reimbursement rate of General State Aid funds.
Sounds like someone from Wisconsin Avenue spoke with Brookhart about their “plan” and Brookhart based his opinion on verbal representations. That’s a pretty shaky basis upon which to base such an important decision. Who do you suppose did the talking for Hinton – Thom Simpson?