There’s only one mainstream news source I could find that covered this, and it was WCBU News:
District 150’s Director of Human Resources resigned earlier this week. District spokeswoman Stacey Shangraw says Deb Dimke resigned for personal reasons.
Dimke started with the district in July 2009, replacing Thomas Broderick who had resigned. WCBU reports that her last day will be October 8.
Sharon asked: District 150 observer, on what problem would you like to focus?
Well, certainly not a bench. I doubt that is impeding any student in the learning process.
DIO–I’m sure your complaints about our focus isn’t going to make much difference. We didn’t create the problem–just commenting on this never-ending saga (for which there must be an end soon). District 150 didn’t handle this problem at its origin, so the reward is more problems.
swkeptical2- I agree with Sharon who are calling Homer Simpson? Secondly, I am not married. I just want union leadership that actually is representative of its constituency. Just because you were in the classroom does not mean you are still in touch with what teachers deal with on a daily basis. Hinton used to go into storytime about when he was in the classroom a board meetings but he had no idea what really happens in a typical school day. We need a bipartisan leadership not a bunch of Darling clones that are kissing up to the inept leadership at Wisconsin Avenue just so they do not to hear the phrase they have been constantly repeating, “Be thankful you have a job!” I am sure they would not want to have that spouted out to them.
Emerge- I do not constantly have an answer for you let alone myself at times. I just post opinions on hear based on my experience with the situation or people being blogged about don’t take anything personal. I was in rush in posting this so i apologize for any spelling or grammatical errors.
Ok and it is what the “bench” may or may not represent. It appears the whole subject of this blog changed. Dimke “resigning” after coming from another town and playing God for awhile with alot of people’s jobs. So now what is she going to go do? I am sure she “is just glad she has a job” SOMEWHERE ELSE.
http://www.pjstar.com/news/x1164157506/HR-director-resigning-from-District-150
Dimke story
Dimke was tied to Hinton. She was still carrying out his demands. Glad she will be gone.
I am passing along information Elaine Hopkins received from a FOIA—she is busy, so she asked me to pass it on. She requested information as to how much the district paid to move all the new hires to Peoria. The total was $52,885 for seven people, with Lathan the most expensive at $17,652. That move also included ‘cars’ at $4,612.
The invoices were all for Federal Warehouse. Whether or not Federal contracted with other companies is not indicated. Perhaps the district has a contract with Federal because the invoices show that the district received a hefty discount. Somebody named Shari Malcome was the sales coordinator. I am just passing on information in the interest of transparency.
No news there Sharon. In fact, less than $8,000 on average for seven people is in line with industry standards. The hefty discounts are available to most people through a variety of options – Professional Associations / Memberships that people belong to even without an established contract. No one pays “quoted rate” (or shouldn’t) on moves of this nature.
Honestly, that does not seem too bad for moving that many people. It would have been nice if local people could have been hired so that money could have been used on teacher hiring or supplies for children. I’d like to know how much money has been returned to the community. Did these people buy homes in Peoria or a surrounding area or are they renting?
Peoria Proud–see now, you are assuming that only bad news is news. Sometimes good news can be news, too. 🙂 True, it isn’t that much, considering how much moving (without a discount) would cost. I just want to point out that when the district claims to save money through closing a school, it quickly finds ways to spend the savings: moving hires from out of town, $15,897.80 for holding Civic Center events, etc., a $12,760 a year for a program to schedule substitutes. It won’t take long to spend the money saved from closing Woodruff.
Dimke is very smart. She’s getting out before Dr Lathan rips off her mask to reveal that she is really Dr Royster in disguise. Wake the hell up Peoria!
Dimke is smart like a snake.
it is funny when someone makes a “condesending”(sp) remark opposing D150 observer remarks he/she calls them out on it but it is ok for him/her to make those same type of remarks to others? Just an obseervation ……..
Neal said: it is funny when someone makes a “condesending”(sp) remark opposing D150 observer remarks he/she calls them out on it but it is ok for him/her to make those same type of remarks to others? Just an obseervation {sic} ……..
and please point those out Neal.
I stay away from personal attacks. I prefer to talk issues and respect those who disagree. Isn’t that a great way to have civil discussions?
Offhand I can’t think of any personal attacks made by you, District 150 Observer; however, Neal didn’t mention personal attacks–he/she referred to condescending remarks. 🙂
Why isn’t Waiting for Superman playing in Peoria???
OMG… like a really have to ask that question…
well, I think any “condescending remarks” comments by me were related more towards what we say about public officials and civic volunteers. Why is it everytime they disagree with us, they are sinister and evil? But we have covered that territory.
We certainly don’t have to be sugar sweet to everybody, but a little civility towards each other and civic volunteers would seem appropriate. A good example is Jim Stowell. I have never met or talked to Jim, and don’t always agree with him. But he donates a substantial portion of his time toward a volunteer position on the school board and pretty much gets nothing but grief for it. I think he ought to be applauded for his voluteer efforts and criticism out to be constructive and civil.
That said, I make every effort to be civil here and discuss issues. If something I said bothered somebody, please point it out and I will take a look and apologize if necessary. Please be specific.
Edit: I have reviewed my posts in this thread and don’t see anything out of line but I am open to “suggestions”. 🙂 Shrugs.
Charlie, it is a shame. I would love to see that movie. Hopefully, it makes it to Peoria soon.
District 150 observer, I think I was jokingly thinking only about your somewhat condescending attitude toward those of us that thought that the bench issue was worthy of some focus.
Ok, thanks Sharon.
That was exasperation, not condescension. 🙂
You might want to check out Race to Nowhere, now playing at the Peoria Theater.
http://www.racetonowhere.com/
Jon – Did you go see the movie? What did you think? There is an article and trailer about in the Washington Post.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/10/07/AR2010100702713.html?nav=mbot
Frustrated and Jon, I didn’t see the movie, but I just read the article. There has to be a happy medium. I have never taught students who were under the kind of pressure described in the article. I am sure they exist in the more elite schools in the nation. Parental support is great; parental pressure might not be so great. Also, I believe there is a difference between parents that share a love of learning with their children as opposed to parents that pressure their children with the goal of financial gain, good jobs, etc. Utilitarian education doesn’t necessarily lead to satisfied lives.
Sharon – Agreed. My children currently attend a HS with a demanding curriculum. Homework load is heavy and extreme effort is required to earn top grades. Week days involve at least 2 hours of homework and Sat. & Sun. usually 4 – 6 hours per day (in part to work ahead for the next week in order to survive). Not a very balanced life.
That said, I believe my children’s school load and accompanying pressure is light compared to that of students in such coutries as China, Japan, Korea, and India, places that outpace the U.S. in producing capable graduates able to assume jobs technically complex jobs.
Frustrated, my hope is that a liberal arts education is always an important part of the more demanding courses of study that lead to technically complex jobs. I have a fear of leaders who heed only their heads and not their hearts or consciences. During my college years, I was always taken aback by conversations with Bradley engineering students. Their schedules allowed for little time to study literature, music, the arts, etc. Engineering courses, etc., do not lead to consideration of human nature, etc.
Sharon – you are absolutely correct. I think more and more college curriculums are recognizing the value of having liberal arts make up a part of all students course work. We visited 4 universities this past summer so that my oldest could take a look at the engineering programs offered at the schools. All required students to take a diverse course load outside the school of engineer, many required pursuit of a 2nd language, and study abroad was strongly encouraged and supported. BUT . . . to get to this great unviersity learning student first have to do much of the hard work portrayed in the documentary.