The Peoria Public Schools Board of Education voted tonight 4-3 to close Woodruff High School at the end of this school year. Voting in favor of closing Woodruff were Board President Debbie Wolfmeyer, Linda Butler, David Gorenz, and Laura Petelle. Voting against were Rachael Parker, Martha Ross, and Jim Stowell.
What started in 1903 as Averyville High School was later renamed Kingman High School, then E. N. Woodruff High School. Averyville was annexed into Peoria in 1928, and a new building was erected at 1800 NE Perry in 1937. That was the year it was named after Edward Nelson Woodruff, who served as Peoria’s mayor for eleven terms. (Sources: Reading, Writing, and Religion by Monica Vest Wheeler; Woodruff High School website; Wikipedia)
I would like to commend all the students who spoke at the meeting. They carried themselves and represented their respective schools very well under very trying circumstances.
I would like to know if Ken Hinton was at Woodruff this morning to give some of the students and faculty any words of wisdom? My guess is no he probably wasn’t there. Please Peoria, make no mistake, this is the first of many more to come. The problem is that PSD150 yearly experiences a decline in enrollment. HMMMMM! When there are no families left in this community attending PSD150, maybe then we can all unite and figure out what is best for the entire district. I am so sick and tired of the real problem not being addressed. The problem is that Peoria will never recover from the course of tragic events. Instead of mainstreaming the entire district, we just keep putting one more school on the chopping block, killing one neighborhood at a time. This is a problem district wide. Not a Kingman problem! Not a Woodruff problem. People of Peoria have got to demand that this stop now.
Savepeoria: I agree. District 150 has done nothing in the last 20 years to stop the exodus out of District 150 schools. I firmly believe that discipline problems and low academic standards have chased families away. 150 has made no attempt to solve those problems–in fact, the administration has constantly supported efforts to lower the standards of behavior and academic performance. A viable alternative school should have been established long ago. Of course, we now know that 150 doesn’t care about academic standards since the administration just decided that students in 150 should no longer get grades from 0-49–that 50 should be the lowest grade a student can get. The board can’t be blamed for that decision–they found out at the same time the teachers found out about the policy–maybe even later.
Now the next big battle begins…. as I was listening to the radio, some staff person at Dist 150 was going to get started redrawing the lines as to which neighborhoods go to which schools and that all 3 remaining schools will be affected. So some currently Central students could see themselves shifted to Manual in order to make more room for Woodruff students at Central.
Is there a digital version of the current school boundaries for District 150?
Thought I heard there was not enough money for vo/tech where 50% of the kids should be enrolled; at least part time. Just more talk about math, etc. where not enough “fires” have been lit to get kids really interested.
Closing Woodruff was a mistake but as long as the outdated system, you heard board members say they didn’t get paid of serving, is kept in place, more and more mistakes will continue.
While I don’t begrudge the kids and teachers new schools, it has been proven “new” only just doesn’t cut it.
To insult Jim Stowell’s dad is a terrible travesty. Joe, Sr. is one of the most respected seniors in Peoria. How did he get so much respect? He earned it.
Some Staff Person?
Jeanne Williamson, another retired ex-employee “consultant” making $350 a day. (I wish they’d pay me $350 a day to redraw the boundaries… I’d have the job done in a week)
What I don’t get is why they didn’t bring up the closing of Peoria Central up FIRST… Why Woodruff first? It certainly isn’t alphabetical, it isn’t FIFO, it seems it isn’t any other reason than they decided long ago to not close Peoria Central.
“So some currently Central students could see themselves shifted to Manual in order to make more room for Woodruff students at Central.”
GOD FORBID. They’ll send the Woodruff kids to Manual FIRST.
The original decision to close Woodruff was based solely on Hinton’s desire to use the building for his own purposes–his own desired legacy. When that idea was scrapped, the decision to close Woodruff should have been tabled to consider other plans. If the district believes they can pull off a change of boundaries to send students to Manual without any opposition, they will have a rude awakening. And it probably will be the Central kids who will be affected by the change in boundaries. Busing kids from Woodruff to Peoria High–great idea. This is the school who says, “Every student, every day, school.” I’d be willing to bet that attendance will be negatively affected by the closing of Woodruff.
Mahkno, the best I can do for you is this PDF file. It shows each high school’s current boundaries. The dots are households with a student(s) who attend that school. Richwoods’ boundary is the strangest, since it has to reach to the south side, presumably to ensure sufficient minority representation (thought it could be for other reasons; I just don’t know).
But from what I’ve heard, it’s more likely that they will shave the northern boundary, sending more kids from Woodruff and/or Central to Richwoods in order to fit everyone into Central’s building. I don’t believe there are plans to add any students to Manual.
“I don’t believe there are plans to add any students to Manual.”
How can that be any thing but racially motivated? Ignorant, I agree, but why shouldn’t more high school students be sent to the newest, best building in the district?
Is a capacity problem?
As a parent, that dilapidated building on North is the LAST place I would want to send my kid.
Of course, it hasn’t escaped anyone’s notice that despite much less enrollment recently at Richwoods, THEY ARE EXPANDING.
Can one buy stock in Bartonville, Dunlap, Morton and Peoria-Christian High School?
The board should not have closed any school with out plans as to what will happen to the students, what impact it will have onother schools, and what the savings would be. This administration has no idea what the savings are for closing the schools. The board did not do their home work.
Just wait. There will be real ramifications with their decision. I don’t know why they did not hold out until the new super is hired.
Hinton and the board have closed a lot of schools, but havethey told us how much money was saved in doing so, What about Blain Sumner. They remoded it, then closed it, and it is now being used. What are we paying for its use.
There were no real plans for the closing of Kingman, parents were not consulted as a result of the closing of any school.
We really need people in place that know what they are doing
kcdad, if I’m not mistaken, when Manual underwent Federally mandated restructuring it became a choice school. At that point, the district CANNOT place a student there unless he/she WANTS to attend there.
CJ, by looking at the PDF file, it is apparent that, logically, RHS would have the largest population since its boundaries seem to be the largest and it is the area that has seen the greatest growth in the city. It will be interesting to see if they move some of the RHS students to the PHS area and WHS students to RHS, in the drawing of new boundary lines. Like I told kcdad, I don’t think they can move students to MHS, due to the restructuring.
EHJack–You took the words right out of my mouth. In spite of many pleas, the District has yet to let us or the board members how much was saved by closing the other schools, so why should we expect to know about the savings from closing Woodruff. Yes, there will be many ramifications from this decision. First of all, two of the schools will have large enrollments. 150 has not allowed for any significant growth in enrollment, meaning they have no plans to try to lure people back into 150 high schools. The board has admitted total defeat and turned over education to the suburbs and private schools. I predict Manual will close within the next couple of years.
When does the process of closing the next high school start?
BAM, you may be correct, although I wager this restructuring of the district revokes all that.
BAM and Kcdad: I am not at all certain that Manual can be considered a choice school. Last year the 9th grade academy was labeled as choice–but only about 13 opted in and more opted out. Nothing has been said about 10th-12th grade academy being choice–the district didn’t take applications, etc. I can’t help but believe the district would welcome any student who would “choose” Manual. They haven’t been as quick to honor the requests of those who want out.
Clayton,
the students at PHS were told today that the students from WHS would be visiting in groups the rest of the year in order to become acclimated to the school and its environment (Mr. Simmons rules, I assume).
Sharon it became a school where you could chose to attend or not when it underwent federally mandated restructuring. It ultimately began when it had to allow students the option of transferring out because of scores.
BAM, I really don’t think that’s so in reality. Last year’s 9th graders were allowed to opt in or out, but the 10th-12th graders are mostly, if not entirely, students who are in the Manual attendance area. I know that quite a few have asked for waivers out of Manual this year–but not sure if all were granted waivers or what schools they chose to attend. I’m not even sure that the terms of restructuring demands that it be a choice school–I think that was a 150 idea to draw more students to Manual.
PHS students were told today that they would be able to continue/finish their educations at PHS even if their home was re-boundaried. They could also choose to attend their “new” high school. This is similar to what happened in Peoria in the late ’60s-early ’70s when the high school boundaries were reconfigured. (Sorry don’t remember the exact year.) My husband was a freshman at PHS and his home was put into the MHS district. He could choose to transfer to Manual or not. Also, his younger brother and sister could choose to go to PHS or MHS as they had a sibling currently at PHS. They chose to attend MHS.
I would assume that students from PHS and MHS would be given the same options. If current RHS students are put into a PHS attendance district, they would not have to go to PHS unless they chose to. I don’t know about siblings.
The only students who will be forced to go to the high school that serves wherever their homes are are the WHS students, since they will no longer have a current home high school. One student asked about his case as he had opted out of MHS and was told he could continue at PHS.
But who knows? This is D150 after all.
So any true moving of PHS, PHS or MHS students would not occur for at least 3 years after WHS closes. Sigh.
Hotinthecity: I remember when your brother-in-law arrived at Manual–we were glad he chose Manual–and I haven’t seen him since school started to ask how he is enjoying his return to Manual. I’m really going to be curious to see these new boundaries and how many students go happily to Manual. Maybe the parents of some of those destined to go to Manual will complain loudly about the difference in course offerings at Manual–especially, the English, math, social studies, and science courses that have become semester courses instead of year long courses–undoubtedly a bit waterned down, especially for college prep students
To all —
Some of those PHS’s in my post should have been RHS’s. Sorry for the confusion! I need new glasses really badly. If anyone needs clarification let me know.
BTW — PHS had assemblies for students today to talk about the transition. They were reminded that they should show compassion and understanding for WHS students and that this was not a “we win, they lose” situation but one that will require a great deal of work for all students and staff. They will be welcoming and supportive to all WHS students and staff who will be spending time over the next months. (If they aren’t they WILL be held accountable!) Students and staff have a lot of questions and concerns that we hope will be answered in a timely manner.
Many of the PHS students have the same concerns about safety and numbers that WHS students have. I believe the majority at both schools will try very hard to work this out. They have been handed a crappy situation and are being asked to pay the price for years of financial mismanagement and bad decisions. It’s too bad that only 2 of the 4 high schools are bearing the burden for the whole.
bamcdaniel wrote:
Looks can be deceiving. You have to remember that population density is much higher in the older neighborhoods of central and south Peoria where homes are close together, and much lower in the northern parts where homes are more spread out. So you could have the same population in each of the high school boundaries even though Richwoods’ boundary is twice as large as Central’s.
Interestingly, the Journal Star is now reporting:
… and …
I thought the District hired Williamson to do this job. Why isn’t she mentioned anywhere in this article?
Williamson was hired to re-draw the school boundaries, I believe. Can you imagine the revolt that will happen if they start sending students to MHS?!!!!
Because she is a consultant. Consultants don’t DO anything. They … er… consult. Ultimately, Hinton is responsible (I suppose) for the redrawing of the boundaries and (I suppose) PJStar was just pointing that out.
I can’t believe how friggin’ stewpud these people are. They are going to pay some old goat $350 a day to draw lines on a map. They can do the same thing with ONE announcement: You may attend ANY school you can get to by the morning bell. If you want to go to Manual for a few weeks and then go to Richwoods for a few weeks… go right ahead. Just be sure you inside some classroom everyday so we can collect money from the state.
(This open enrollment system would play heck with the State’s AYP evaluations too…..)
If students are sent to Manual, I hope parents demand that their teen-agers get the same courses that are offered at RHS and PHS–because right now that is not the case. MHS students get only one semester (instead of a year) of English, math, social studies, and science. I hope no one believes that having classes of 90 minutes instead of 55 minutes allows teachers to teach double the material or students to do double the homework. Of course, the other problem related to NCLB and retention, in general, is that students go a semester and a summer without English, math, science, and social studies. Also, the Johns Hopkins courses are replacing the electives offered at the other schools.
C.J. and BAM, regarding C.J.’s “So you could have the same population in each of the high school boundaries even though Richwoods’ boundary is twice as large as Central’s.” However, is it possible that a significant number of students in the PHS, MHS, and WHY attendance areas go to private schools, not 150 schools. My guess–only a guess–is that the majority of students who reside in the RHS area actually go to Richwoods. Or are two of the attendance areas (MHS, WHS, or PHS) equal to the geographic area included in the Richwoods attendance area? I ask that because the enrollment at the other three high schools is considerably lower than that at Richwoods. Well, I made that confusing enough!
First off, Manual cannot fill 10 teaching positions right now. (check the districts jobs) What makes anyone think that ANY teacher from Woodruff would WANT to work there? First thing they need to do is to get rid of at least half of the 8 administrators up there, then fill it with administrators that don’t have “pie in the sky” dreams, while lining their pocketbooks with cash. THEN, get down to the real business of educating kids, not skewing test scores to APPEAR that Manual is getting better…..
noway: I am currently doing analysis of the number of staff and administration at Manual with the three other schools. Manual has added many new positions this year. Manual (9th-12th only) now has 7 English teachers while Woodruff and Peoria High have 8. I would say that Manual’s enrollment is a good 200-300 less than the other two–so why so many Manual teachers? Manual has added at least 10 teachers in the core subjects since last year. Of course, Manual is way top-heavy with administrators. I am talking added teachers, not replacement (and there were many replacements, also. Plus they have hired several teachers to teach the Johns Hopkins courses. Speaking of Manual, I hear they have been having problems with fire crackers in the last couple of days.
Nothing like starting the day with an ENERGIZER!!! oh, wait, snap, crackle, pop,,,that’s Rice Krispies, NOT EXPLOSIVES………
Some things never change, do they?
noway: Ok–yes, I remember a few of those episodes when I was teaching. Also, I heard that if students fight at Manual they get only a 2-day suspension even though I believe district policy may say three days. I believe that 2-days is the Johns Hopkins plan–it seems that Johns Hopkins provides its own discipline policy for Manual to follow.
Woohoo. Let’s go to Manual!
I guess I should add that Manual probably has outside funding sources to pay the salaries of some teachers.
Another administrative position is posted for Wisconsin Avenue: Instructional Advisor for Restructuring. Let’s see Sandra Burke was in charge of restructuring Manual, but when that job was done, they created a new administrative position for her. Now they need another someone to restructure ?? what I don’t know.
Sharon-
That positiion has been posted since August 2008.
Anyone else see the story on salaries and benefits for 150 in the PJS this a.m.?
Some interesting things jump out. For instance Steve P (a frequent contributor to this blog) is the only principal who has the district paying into his pension. Also after figuring in benefits, Dr. Hannah as the Associate Superintendent makes just $5,000 more than T. Jenkins does as an Assistant Principal.
Very interesting!
Keith… most educators have a SURS or TRS that automatically witholds retirement contributions. To have it included in one’s contract is not a big deal. It is just a pretax retirement fund.
Joshua fit da battle of Jericho…
Joshua commanded the people to shout and the walls came a tumblin’ down.
Maybe it is time to bring down the walls of Wisconsin Ave.
kcdad-
I understand where you are coming from. My main concern is that Steve P is compensated 120,340 (base salary and TRS) with only 5-6 years experience as a principal. Compare that number to others in the district and you will find that he is paid much, much more than are others with similiar experience. He is also compensated $3157 more than Dr. Hannah who is the Asst. Sup and has many more years of admin experience
I personally do not have a problem with Steve. In fact, I appreciate that he takes the time to share his thoughts on this blog. My issue is with the district and how they determine salaries for their administrators.
Keith, sounds like they based it on abilities and results rather than just experience and educational degrees on that one.
Keith: Did you notice that Kherat at Manual makes $130,000 base and that she has an assistant principal and 3 academy leaders to help with the 9th – 12th grades. Of course, she does have only one dean (disguised as a Climate Control Coach). Also, at Manual, Val Piece makes $110,000 (same as Ptecek) as the academy leader of Manual’s 7th and 8th grade (which has only from 70 to 140 students).
Mr. Simmons at Peoria High earns every penny of his salary. Drive down North St. any day after school; rain, snow, sleet or shine and you will see him outside on the corner, making sure everything is in order, that the students and buses leave the area safely with no problems. I have never seen another principal do this. You heard the students at the meeting, well, the parents feel the same way about him. He is in charge and does a fabulous job, one that most of us would not have the courage to do.
Michael Illuzzi was the “King of the Crosswalk” for over fifteen years at Irving School. He was at the crosswalk every morning, available to the parents, students, and staff. Tons of school business was conducted at the crosswalk and the tradition continues with Mike Barber. This is ultimate accessibility and it pays off. More principals should follow Illuzzi, Simmons, and Barber!
Mary and Patrice: You did pick the two best principals in 150. Next year Randy will certainly earn his paycheck when the PHS student body will probably double. Yes, many principals sit behind their desks most of the day.
I will attest that Steve earns his paycheck at Richwoods as well. He is very visible and has set the tone at Richwoods quite effectively. Our scores should continue to rise this year. I agree that admins should be held to a standard and if they meet it, then they should be paid more. If not, then they should be fired.
RHSteacher, do you think teachers should be held to a standard and if they meet it, then they should be paid more. If not, then they should be fired?
RHSteacher: Jon is trying to catch you in his “anti-tenure/union” web. 🙂 I don’t exactly know how principal’s salaries are figured. Do they get “principal’s pay” added to the pay for the number of years they taught in 150? For instance, Kherat’s salary of $130,000 – how much of that amount is for “years served” and how much “as an administrator?” I believe Randy Simmons’ salary is less than Kherat’s (but not much). I’m guessing but I think it’s quite possible that Randy has been in 150 (as a teacher, then as principal at Calvin Coolidge, and then at PHS) longer than Kherat has–I’m not sure.
“earns his paycheck”
Come on… stop with that nonsense. Do you really believe he does 3 times what a starting teacher does? Or are you willing to concede that teachers are unpaid?
That’s like those multi million dollar CEOs who say they “earned” their bonuses.
I have no doubt Steve is a great principal, but to say someone “earns” $120,000 a year ( $10,000 a month, $2500 a week, $500 a day) being a principal is a stretch. Remember, those “earnings” are after benefits, including health care, retirement and vacation. AND… he has a staff to do most of the real work.
Keith,
I appreciate your comment and I understand your concern. Maybe I should stay quiet on this issue, but I want to address the concerns that this community might have with my salary. The community has every right to have those concerns answered. I am going to be very open here…. more so than maybe I should. But with the state of the teacher contract, the economy, and the school closure I think that at this time openness is needed. I am an employee of the community. I hope that this does not come across as defensive.
I do not know how the other administrator salaries have been determined. I do know that I was contacted by the agency hired to find Principals and asked to interview with PSD. At the time I had a great job at Centralia and the school board wanted me to stay. Even with the good job, I did decide to interview and during the process became excited with the opportunity to make a difference in a larger system.
I gave the district the economic requirements necessary for me to move my family. I asked for a large amount. I would have to leave a job I enjoyed and so would my wife. (She LOVED her job). Furthermore, we would be taking our two young kids away from grandparents and we would be leaving our friends. I also knew that I would lose a ton of money in the bad economy with the sale of my Belleville home. (I lost almost $10,000 on the home and the move/establishing a new home cost thousands more.) Centralia did offer an extension and a hefty increase in pay, but the complete offer from PSD (money and opportunity) was more attractive.
But there is more:
In Illinois, a teacher that has tenure in a district and becomes an administrator in that district with one year contracts retains his or her tenured status as a teacher. The administrators in PSD 150 that have been here for years as both teachers and as one-year contract administrators have job security. When I left Cahokia High School as a VP and took the job as the Principal of Centralia High School I gave up that security. I do not have any tenure rights to a teaching position that many other PSD 150 administrators do.
I have pursued the path of higher risk and higher reward.
I openly stated in the interview that if at the end of my four year contract the district does not think that I am worth the money then they shouldn’t renew my contract. Both the district and I took a gamble that this would be a positive fit. I must perform or my family’s security is in jeopardy.
So far it is working out for me and I hope that it is working out for the community.
One last thing…. I am concerned with the figures. There was a pdf file posted on this blog earlier that listed admin salaries and I wasn’t near the top. Other district level admins that you mention were much higher on that pdf. Does anyone have the link?
I won’t be able to see responses until Monday. I am traveling this weekend and I am leaving after school tomorrow. I hope that everyone understands why I have written this even if they disagree with my salary.
Now… I will hit submit and wait until Monday to see what hornet’s nest I have stirred up….lol
Thank you to everyone on here for the kind comments.
One more thing….
kcdad , I think you know that I do not take offense to your comments. (Not that you would care 😛 ) I understand that you think that administrators as a group are overpaid and your argument has merit.
However, if an admin does perform do you think that they are a “bad person” if they accept the money that is offered? I had to soul search in deciding to leave Centralia.
Steve: Here are the links you wanted:
PDF File
Post: “D150 reports 123 administrators and four consultants”