Things are not looking good on Wisconsin Avenue:
Despite borrowing $30 million over the past three months using tax-anticipation warrants, the school district is again facing dire straits and according to the latest financial statements will not be able to meet payroll in May, much less a significant loan payment due in June. In order to remain solvent, district officials on Monday proposed restructuring its debt by seeking $35 million in working cash bonds, a loan structured to be paid back over several years.
Translation: property taxes for District 150 are going to go up, more teachers are going to get laid off, and more schools are going to close. District 150 needs to be reorganized from top to bottom.
$48,000 a year in retirement?
Now do you wonder why the vast majority of our country can’t figure out what is going on?
You make more in retirement than 75% of the working people in this country. WORKING PEOPLE!
$4000 a month may not buy me THE boat, but it would buy me a new garage, and rear deck on my house and new washer and dryer, a roof and basement that doesn’t leak, new breaks for my car…
I think the REAL problem with our country is rich people, especially those who don’t know they are rich, have no idea how to use money. Instead of 60 or 70k for a car… 500 for a purse or pair of shoes… OMG! I am gonna bust a blood vessel!
And yes… $48,000 a year (the top 25% of our income earners) is rich, by ANY standards.
$75,000 a year?…. how many years have they been working to get to that amount? How many years does it take to get to that amount?
I doubt teachers under 5 years of employment are pulling that.
You have a problem with a History Teacher making $75,000 a year?
or a Principal of a high school making $110,000 a year?
Just curious what people think these position should be paid. Don’t quote what other school system pay either because they may not be on target either.
If someone can earn $75,000 within 5 years… I might consider a career change.
“$48,000 a year (the top 25% of our income earners) is rich, by ANY standards.”
Bzzzt…. FAIL. Median income is around $44,000 which is in the 3rd quintile, solidly middle class. $48,000 a year is still 3rd quintile, solidly middle class. $48,000 puts you pretty close to right smack in the middle of the pack. 50% better off, 50% worse.
For those keeping score…
The upper fifth begins around $88,000 a year.
The upper 5% begins around $157,000 a year.
The federal poverty line (HHS defined) for a family of four is around $21,200 a year. This puts you in the 2nd lowest quintile.
Like to see your source… mine is population and income data from 2008 Commerce Department (Census Bureau).
I even have cool charts and graphs… you would like the pie chart
Nearly 20% of all income earners earn less than 2000 per year
1/2 earn less than 20,000
3/4 earn less than 40,000
90 % earn less than 100,000
99.5 % earn less than 250,000
Don’t give me those BS “middle class” identifications… ask 100 people on the street… 99 are “middle class”.
Your data reflects median income for households… NOT individuals. So just divide it in half and you are much closer to reality.
Mahkno… you are using household data…
I take it back… CJ delete these last two… Mahkno is correct.
Household data it more meaningful. There can be people in a home not working, like stay at home parents, who would skew the data.
Kcdad: Yes, I am rich compared to many people in this city–and I am poor compared to many people who live in this city. Certainly, compared to most in the world, I am rich. (Having just read Mahkno’s comments–all this has already been said). I do make enough so that I do not have to spend all my money on myself. Quite honestly, I don’t know how a family with two or more children can make ends meet on just one teacher’s salary (especially, at the lower end of the salary schedule). I would never buy a pair of shoes for $500. I’ve only owned four cars in my lifetime–all “bottom of the line” or used. That is all beside the point. Your quote of $75,000 for one history teacher–just as Mahkno stated that doesn’t fairly represent the salary of all teachers. The unfairness, of course, is that the salaries of teachers are public knowledge. Everyone else can know our salaries, but we do not know what people in comparable positions (the same education, years of experience) receive. I truly do not know how my salary or retirement compares to comparable jobs. I don’t even feel comfortable justifying my income. However, I do hope you all understand that a significant portion of a teacher’s retirement was funded with our own money. I don’t know all the history, but I believe that through much of my career retirement money was taken from our salaries each month. At some point–instead of a raise–the district paid a larger portion.
Up until recently the salaries and bonuses of those who work at places such as AIG would have been considered confidential information, but now that the government is in control, many of us are a bit astounded as to how much they “earn.”
Teachers’ pay will probably always be a bone of contention. For too long, American education was delivered by “old maid” school teachers who were content not to earn too much–therefore, the public continues to expect teachers to work at modest pay.
Frustrated: During my early years at Manual–when enrollment was at its height–I frequently taught classes over 30–sometimes closer to 40. I really didn’t complain–there were more papers to grade, etc., but I actually preferred larger classes (at least 25) because there seemed to be more participation–more ideas, opinions, etc. However, during my last 10 years of teaching, 30 students in a class was a struggle–too many discipline and learning problems. Those of us who will be protesting the closing of a high school probably aren’t convinced that all other possible cuts are being considered before making this more drastic decision. I believe you would argue that the Edison program shouldn’t be considered because parents like the program, etc. I think you will find that parents and teachers also like Woodruff. Therefore, why is the opinion of one group of parents or teachers more important than that of another group of parents or teachers?
Also, if a high school is to be closed, why isn’t the one with the lowest enrollment the one to be considered? Fewer students would be displaced, etc. Of course, if Manual were to be closed the south side would be without a high school. But if Woodruff is closed, the north side will be without a high school.
Does anyone know if Jim Stowell ever got the information about central admin that he asked for? I believe he was looking for info on each admin and consultant in D150, including salary and benefits, job title and job description. I too would like to know exactly what each of them does and how their salaries and benefits are paid (grant money, ed funds, other?) If Jim did get the numbers and hard info, is it posted anywhere? I’ve been kind of AWOL from the blogs lately and might have missed it.
My personal position–I would also like to get info on admin support staff, program “directors”, etc., who work under these admins. It sure seems from job titles like there is a lot of overlap. As staff in schools is asked to take on more and more responsibility due to decreased staff numbers, it is only right that central admin be asked to do the same. SO if some six-figure admin has to take on additional job duties, too bad so sad. Join the rest of us.
Sharon, you make excellent points about which high school should close, if indeed finances make such an action necessary. I would add that Peoria High was the only high school to increase state test scores last year and is positioned in the center of the city, closest to Bradley and the medical centers, which could be beneficial for future academy-type partnering. OTOH, Manual is on the far southwest end of the city and butts up against the Limestone District. It is farther from the geographic and demographic center of the city than either PHS or WHS.
WHS and PHS are both schools that are worth saving. So is MHS, but it has the weakest position in many ways. I feel strongly that if this is all about financial issues that the burden should be shared with all 4 high schools and there should be cuts/changes, etc., made at RCHS as well s the other high schools. They should NOT be immune from sharing the pain and right now they are not giving up anything and are instead benefitting at the expense of other high schools, particularly WHS.
Hot in the City: First of all, C.J. did get and post the information about salaries–it’s buried on this site somewhere.
We still do need to know about the staffs of each of these administrators.
I certainly agree about Richwoods–of course, its part of the pain might be to get students from Von Steuben. Ha!
My own plan would be to make Manual into the alternative school–still holding out for a viable alternative school.
My reason is that Manual is the one school that will not be drawing students from any other area no matter what new boundaries are drawn or what academies are offered. The alternative school would be primarily for kids who cannot conform to the regular high schools; therefore, their only choice would be the alternative school–so students will go to Manual.
Sharon: please don’t get me wrong… I think your retirement is fine and well deserved. My problem is: who doesn’t deserve that? If there weren’t teachers making 75,000 for 9 months work and principals making 110,000 with one year experience, plus getting other benefits, there might be more to go around for everyone…
Kcdad: I appreciate that kind thought. From my Christian point of view, I share your concern for those less fortunuate. More than my salary, I feel guilty for having the kind of health care that is denied so many of, especially, the working poor. I do hope that this country can find a way to see to it that those people can have insurance. Personally, I never felt guilty about the three (less than that actually) months that we had off. I used that time–a considerable amount of it–planning for the next year. High school teachers, especially, often have new assignments each year–new textbooks to read, lessons to prepare. I never had enough time to do all that during the school year when there were papers to grade, etc., so I used summers to prepare for the school year. Of course, I usually taught summer school–which admittedly meant some extra money. I know that all the administrators out there won’t appreciate my next comment, but I’m not at all certain that there should be such a hierarchy in educational personnel. Teachers have the same degrees, often more experience, etc., than do administrators. I do know of cases of teachers who taught a very short time–not long enough to go very high on the salary schedule or to get enough experience, who did get administrative jobs that doubled their salaries. I have a problem with that. I don’t object to principals making more more than teachers–but doubling a teacher’s salary might be too much.
Maybe educational institutions shouldn’t imitate the structure of big business.
Making Richwoods “feel the pain” does not serve the objective stated by the District of attracting more families to select District 150. Causing the performance of Richwoods to go down will only escalate the departure of families from Peoria and cause further deterioration of property values.
Sharon, your wrong about my position on Edison. I would advocate it be one of the last things to go but. . . given the dire condition of the District’s finances I think it must be considered for elimination as well. I am not necessarily an Edison fan, I never sent my children to this program. My only interest is that it seems to be keeping solid families and students in the District.
To me, one of the biggest benefits of Northmoor Edison is it allows families living in the Knolls, Knollcrest, and other charming areas in that vicinity to opt out of their neighborhood school for a better one, thus keeping these neighborhoods more vibrant and attractive for families with children.
I have been reading this forum since I started examining the Richwoods job last April. I have been a blog voyeur for a year and I feel that I know many of you. I have actually met a couple of you and I loved the discussions we’ve had. I am breaking a promise that I made not to post. I will not at all discuss any district matters. That is NOT my role as a Principal for the district. I broke this posting rule to address specific statements directed about myself and to welcome anyone with questions to call and setup a meeting.
Kcdad.. if you want to check out my resume, experience, and past performance or if you simply want to see the direction that the school is going please call me at 693-4414. I want anyone with questions to feel free to visit and discuss what is going on at Richwoods (and to clear up inaccurate statements such as we are not feeling the cuts).
I don’t have issue with your statements about the salary of educators. I understand that many think that industry standard is too high and I respect that opinion. What I am getting is industry standard for a school of 1400 and it is what I required to leave my enjoyable job and move my kids away from their grandparents.
But I do take a little issue with the statements of my lack of experience. How do you define experience? I can see how many could think that my years as an administrator (this is my 5th total) might qualify for limited, but would you prefer someone with 20 years experience without any proof of success? If you found someone with both the years and success you would need to pay a lot more than $110,000. That is the current nature of the beast.
I will try very hard to resist the temptation to post again. This is a political “hotspot” and I should not be involved. As a professional in an organization I should only address organizational issues within. But I can see the benefit in building community partnerships by introducing myself to this very “vocal” group and welcoming further contact.
If I do post I will try to limit the post to “If you have any questions, please call me at 693-4414.”
Steve,
Don’t you mind KCDAD. He’s kind of the local crackpot. He’ll only be happy when all of us make $5/hour and dress in gray.
Let us know how your shoe tastes, KCDad.
Frustrated: I appreciate your clarification about your position on Edison. Also, I believe Northmoor gives kids from other areas–not just the Knolls and Knollcrest–the opportunity to have a choice. That could still continue even if the Edison program were eliminated. My own comment about the need for Richwoods to feel some of the pain was a spur of the moment response. However, Richwoods does have to bear its share of cuts, etc.–if class size is going to increase at the other two or three high schools, it should increase at Richwoods, also. Steve, I’m glad that a 150 principal has joined us–even as a reader. I must have missed the post where Kcdad questioned your qualifications. I thought he had been speaking only in generalities–I’ll have to go back and reread our posts–tomorrow.
Sharon – Don’t you sleep? I didn’t mean just the Knolls, I just don’t know the names of the other neighborhoods. I just wanted to point out that those are affordable and stable neighborhoods for now. St. Phil’s is part of the reason for this and I believe Northmoor Edison is a factor as well. I used to live in that area and absolutely loved it, but . . . when my children became school age we wanted them to attend Kellar so we moved North. Schools are the driver of where parents decide to live.
Steve – I don’t recall any post discussing your qualifications either?? But I am glad to learn you are reading this blog. You know than that I have a strong interest in the academics offered at Richwoods and I will be taking you up on your offer and will be contacting you at a later date.
Steve,
The community needs more leaders within district 150 to be communicative with the residents, business community, and taxpayer/investor. This isn’t the military where an official policy of single voice is punishable if violated.
Time and time again we (the investors) are hit with how much we don’t understand what goes on in the classroom. When discussions do occur, they’re emotional and positional.
I think it’s time teachers and principles and administrators alike find a voice to explain how tough it is without using terms and framing matters that put the public on the defensive. We’re on your side, but we don’t want to be treated like an after thought.
District business is the community’s business. When you write “As a professional in an organization I should only address organizational issues within”, I disagree. You’re not a closed organization with private funding, but a public organization with public funding.
I hope you don’t regret posting, it’s the right thing to do. Right, measured in terms of ethics and the moral obligation of a public servant.
Shine the light on me, brother.
eb
Thanks for the welcome folks!
I want to drop a quick explanation before going to school about why I felt my qualifications were in question.
Twice he commented on my “limited experience” implying that I was not worth the money and using that statement to question the decisions of the district. I am more worried that this type of language can send the signal that there is an inexperienced Principal at RHS. One of the most crucial aspects common in improving schools is the confidence that the community has in the Principal of a building.
That is why I felt I needed to address the post and ask anyone with questions to come and visit.
Thanks once again…. gotta run so I can go do the best job possible!
Clarification… upon reading that it came out wrong…lol
I didn’t mean I do the best job possible…. I meant that being and educator is the best job possible…. I did several jobs before entering education and I know how fortunate I am to be a teacher
by “we’re on your side”, i mean the side of education. oh, and thanks for stepping up as principal. cool job, eh?! how’s the track team look this year?
Steve – Keep up the outstanding work you are doing at Richwoods High!
Mr Ptacek, being a Principal is NOT being an educator. You job has nothing to do with education. You are an administrator, a bean counter. You may have been a terrific educator at one time… I have no doubt of that. [Portion of comment removed by blog owner]
“What I am getting is industry standard for a school of 1400 and it is what I required to leave my enjoyable job and move my kids away from their grandparents.”
Richwoods used to be 2500 students… how much should a principal get paid for that? What if the school only has 1000 students next year… will you take a $30,000 pay cut?
[Portion of comment removed by blog owner]
Look, I don’t know you, and so don’t take anything I say personally. Your motives may have been as pure as the driven snow. Richwoods might be the beacon of light in an otherwise dismal black public education system.
Just don’t use that industry standard nonsense… I thought as educators we were supposed to IMPROVE the system, make the world a better place for the next generation entrusted to us, not sell out and play along.
“Education either functions as an instrument which is used to facilitate the integration of the younger generation into… the present system, or it becomes ‘the practice of freedom’, the means by which men and women… discover how to participate in the transformation of their world.”
…from Richard Schaull’s introduction to Pedagogy of the Oppressed, by Paulo Freire
This teacher stills believe in the transformational power of education… do you? [Portion of comment removed by blog owner]
What have we come to when a school administrator is afraid for his job for simply posting on a blog? Who are you afraid of? Our school board… bwahahaha… the self confessed know nothings about education. Hinton and the other lame ducks? [Portion of comment removed by blog owner] Ask someone who has left an administration position and gone back to teaching…
kcdad — I’m willing to give you plenty of latitude here to make your arguments, but your comments were over the line and could only be characterized as personal attacks, notwithstanding your request that he not take your comments personally. I had no choice but to edit them. Please make your argument without personally attacking anyone.
Thank you, CJ.
At the beginning of this post Eric Bush wrote, “You folks do know the high school closure discussion will begin in June, right.” And I know Eric didn’t make that up. Today’s paper says that Hinton’s recommendation to close Woodruff is scheduled for the May 4 Board of Education meeting. How are we to trust a district that puts out such conflicting information? Will there be a discussion (and, I believe, that was promised when the earlier decision was tabled) or will there just be a vote? I thought that the whole point of tabling the 2009-10 closing was to allow for time to make an unhurried decision. Even if a high school is to be closed, why isn’t there any discussion as to which high school? Why isn’t there any discussion (with data) to show what other cuts are made. Jim Stowell has already made it public that he has another plan.
I was just told today by a source I believe to be reputable, that the assistant principal at Sterling was told that the position would be eliminated for next year. I remain confused–does the board have to vote on these decisions or does the vote come “after the fact?” What other positions are being cut? I’m not saying that I disagree with the cuts. I would just like to see some figures as to what or who is being cut and how much will be saved. Furthermore, I would like to see those totals before the decision to close a high school is rushed through.
Then I would like to see some figures as to how much the school closings are going to save and how much the closings will cost (because there will be costs–transportation, building maintenance for unused buildings, etc.)
Shouldn’t all that be revealed before the final decision is made to close a high school?
“As a professional in an organization I should only address organizational issues within”
Sounds incestuous – not healthy.
sharon,
the district’s calendar is not inconsistent with what i wrote and the statement in the paper is letter for verse what the district has had on their website since it was originally posted:
“March / April – Continue discussions on closing a high school for the 2010-2011 school year. If a recommendation is brought forward, it must be made no later than the May 4 meeting and a decision must be made by the BOE no later than the May 18 meeting.
“June – If a recommendation is presented and if the BOE votes to close a high school, BOE must vote on which high schools will be reconfigured and consolidated no later than June 15, 2009.
“Mid-June 2009– If directed by the Board, Administration and the Board of Education will gather input and develop details for the closing and consolidation of schools. This 14-month process will include curriculum, transportation, facility, staffing and other needs.”
i did direct you to the source and as i implied, thought it was common knowledge. i am neither an apologist for, or critic against, but the district is being very straight forward with this whole thing. it’s all out in the open.
i thought that was one of the criticisms, that the district was being secretive, but they’re not with this. mr. hinton is sticking to what he’s said he would do.
once again, the budget information is being rolled out/presented at monday night’s meeting. it will all be there, assumptions, pictures, warts, and all for inspection. i will be there, and hope you will too. please come up and say hi.
Eric, My apologies for not reading the website first. This morning, I tried to click on the site from your post and I got one of the “site not available” messages. Anyway, I just tried again and read the message from the district.
I agree that there is no inconsistency with the May 4 and June deadlines, etc. However, I do disagree with what I still consider to be haste. The decision to close the high school (and which one appears) to come first. Then they will spend a year planning how many teachers to eliminate, what the enrollment and class size will be, how much the transportation is going to cost, how many rooms will be available at Peoria High for this merger, how much it will cost to add on to PHS (I assume that has to be done as per the original plan), what programs from each high school will be retained and which will be eliminated, and on and on.
What if the plan proves to be untenable? The decision will have already been made to close the high school.
Please don’t say that all of that can be worked out. For instance, that’s what they said about Manual and look at the mess that was the end result. When the Manual Restructuring plan was first made public, I personally pointed out to the board that it would be impossible to keep the 7th and 8th graders separate from the high school students–since there was only one cafeteria, one library, etc. Yet during the first week of school the new principal reported at a Board of Education meeting that keeping the students separate was proving to be difficult. Common sense should. also, have told them that the current MHS building would not provide enough classrooms if the 7th and 8th grades were added. Well, those problems persist. Because of poor planning, many students didn’t have textbooks for certain classes until well into the 1st semester. I personally made a FOIA request about the enrollment for the 9th grade academy at Manual and wrote a letter to the editor that appeared in the Community Word.
They set the cap at 150 students even though 210 or so students had registered for Manual’s ninth grade in the spring. Also, the freshmen enrollment for the previous five years had been closer to 200 than to 150. So when school started there was an overcrowded situation that made headlines. Twice at recent BOE meetings Hinton has stated that he was fed the wrong numbers for establishing the enrollment in the 9th Grade Academy. At least, fourteen students that showed up at Manual had to be sent to other high schools, and the Manual academy accepted 166 (more than they had planned for).
The district has a history of not planning ahead–they do not look at the negatives, only the positives. They put plans on paper and hope that they will work in reality.
One of the problems with the Manual plan is that no teachers were on the restructuring committee–teachers (because they work in the situation day after day) could have predicted all the problems that have occurred at Manual, but their input was completely unwelcome and unasked for. Parents on the restructuring committee have complained formally to the board that their warnings went unheeded.
Personally, since the “players” are all the same, I expect the same kind of results when a high school is closed–and, also, with the closing of the 2 or 3 grade schools.
Sharon,
I just have a few minutes but wanted to respond to your post.
Another issue to take into consideration when merging 2 high schools into a new one at the PHS campus is the percentage of Special Ed students at both WHS and PHS. The argument is often made that “back in the ’70s” there were 2,000 students at PHS so they surely can hold 1200 at that campus. My husband was at PHS during that time and students had to share lockers, they had an open campus for lunch and either 4 or 5 lunch periods, etc.
Looking at PHS as it is now, I cannot see how they can add multiple hundreds of students and serve them effectively. SpEd classes have lower class size restrictions due to state law. You cannot have 30-40 SpEd students in a classroom with one teacher. There is NOT enough room to house everyone in a new merged school at PHS campus unless regular division classes have 40+ students (and PHS English and Health classes are already that big in some instances. PE classes are huge every hour, as it is a state requirement and some students fail and have to take more than one hour of PE each day to make up the credit.)
Also, the student demographic in re: poverty and socioeconomic issues was significantly different then. D150 serves a much different student group now, many of whom have learning deficits and behavior deficits, as well as less parental/family support. As you stated, discipline and other issues take up more of a teacher’s time than they did in the past, and huge class sizes will mean less teaching/learning time for students.
I totally agree with you about the alternative school and agree that it would go a long way toward alleviating some of the discipline issues. And you make a good point about MHS as a site for that school. I also think Loucks would be a viable site as it is right on a bus line and is fairly central.
Gotta go!
Thanks to Hot in the City for giving the specifics of the problem that will occur with overcrowding at PHS. These are the details that 150–if they plan true to form–will ignore until the kids show up and there is no place to put them.
When people assume that the school can hold as many students as it did in the 1970s, they forget that new uses have been found for classrooms. At Peoria High extra space has probably been given to the fine arts program, etc. If this ill-conceived plan goes through, I am hoping that 150 has a plan for adding on to PHS before 2010-2011 so that we can lay to rest the terrible plan of having all 9th graders at Loucks–a school which by their own earlier admission is not fit for housing students.
Thanks Diane!
Kc… so I shouldn’t expect that call?
Emerge… it isn’t incestuous; it is how to get things done. Public input and discussion are crucial for success and that is why I welcome anyone. But if I (or anyone else at any business or school) air out issues on a public posting forum then the ability to create positive change is threatened. The public does not have the level of access that I do to discuss issues. I should use my access in the proper manner. I can confidentially state that the administation of PSD 150 have been very supportive and receptive to my new plans and ideas.
I am not, and have never been, the “company guy”. But I am a “chain of command guy”. They are not the same thing. My first obligation is to direct issues through the proper channels. Believe me, I have never had any problem being vocal about my concerns at any school that I have worked at. I am here, first and foremost, for the success of the school and the students at RHS. (But yes KC … I am also a father that wants a good life for my family also.)
There is a right place and time for discussions. I didn’t think that that one comment would have had the reaction that it did. I honestly was just trying to set the limits of what I will address on this forum while stating I want your input in a more personal setting.
Sharon, I enjoy your insight and I would love to meet someday. I completely respect your experience in the district and look forward to your posts.
oh… good Principals never stop being educators. I learned this from an outstanding Principal when I taught at Winter Springs High School in Florida. I miss the classroom and I spend as much time as possible with the kids but I know from my past experience (at WSHS, Cahokia, and Centralia) that an active, involved Principal can most easily create positive change in a school. Bad administrators (I am not talking about PSD 150… but about education across the country) stand in the way of good teachers but good Principals allow them to grow and keep the school chartered on the right course. If you examine the characteristics of improving schools, one common theme is that they have a building administrator that the shareholders have confidence in.
Good Principals do not place blame, but the accept responsibilty for issues. I hope to live up to those standards.
I need to step away, I am seriously reconsidering my decision to post…. ( I get verbose and I think I broke the seal…. lol )
But if I (or anyone else at any business or school) air out issues on a public posting forum then the ability to create positive change is threatened.
especially when over 90% of the commenters are anonymous.
Steve, thanks much for your responses. For your own sake, I would suggest that your posting is not a good idea although we enjoy hearing from you. Keep reading, however. In a perfect world, you should be able to share your concerns, etc. Erik and Emerge are dealing with the ideal when they suggest that principals (and teachers) should use these forums to communicate honestly with the public, etc. Unlike teachers, principals have no protection from retaliation. By the very nature of the system, your input on blogs would be sanctioned by 150 only if you completely follow the “party line”–if you can figure it out. There is a reason that you are the only administrator or board member (where’s Jim) writing on this blog–I do believe that many of them are readers, however. Although I was a bit outspoken as a teacher (I didn’t get that brave until I’d taught over 30 years), I certainly feel freer tospeak openly (using my own name) today when my job security isn’t at stake.
Sharon – I’m here. Reading but not replying is more efficient for now as I am taking in a lot of information and asking a lot of questions. I hope the community realizes how fortunate we are to have outside eyes offering insight and valuable input. Many thanks to Erik and all the volunteers on our various committees. Also, thank you to Mr. Ptacek for his many efforts. Just because former (current?) admin or staff hide behind anonymity doesn’t mean he should, nor should he feel threatened for posting his thoughts. Most who read regularly can easily discount opinions and the source. Challenges abound, but we are all committed to getting to the place that most benefits our students and community.
sharon,
you crack me up. of course i’m dealing with the ideal. with all due respect to steve, i see a difference between airing out issues and discussing things. and, with all due respect to cj, this is a blog, nothing more than an electronic talk over the neighbor’s fence. this is legitimate communication, but journalism, not so much.
i post on blogs because i don’t see it any different than having a conversation with a guy down the block. i don’t say anything here that i wouldn’t say anywhere else, and i refrain from saying anything here, that i should refrain from. i respect steve’s perspective on professionalism, and i can be professional and still engage.
i think there is a general discomfort with blogs. putting something in writing makes it different. i think it’s disingenuous to be two things, if you would say it, but not write it, should you say it? but i also recognize there’s a time and place for everything, as steve notes. there is a strategic balance to using the blog for public communication and it can be done.
about retaliation. i have to take your word on that. i would refuse to work in an environment where those i work for don’t trust me. and sharon, that’s not an ideal, its how i live. i take my cue from the the greatest teacher the world has known, one often known to speak in parables.
nothing more than an electronic talk over the neighbor’s fence.with about another 1000 neighbors listening. Lol!
Erik: I should be paying more attention to the 6-year-old that is visiting, but–I know I sound as though I have experience with retaliation, etc., and probably sound very negative–my personal experiences with 150 were not negative at all. In fact, I had a very satisfying career, probably because I truly loved working with my colleagues and with the young people who crossed my path daily–even many who could be considered to be severe discipline problems. Any complaints I had or have about 150 were never personal. I think–I hope–that it is not in my nature to defend myself, etc., but I’ve never really been in that position. However, I do know of others who did experience undeserved retaliation–and I did speak out in their defense. And I believe 150 has a habit of finding the wrong solutions to the real problems and of not being willing to listen to those outside of their little decision-making circle. Someone out there in cyberspace, please feel free to disagree with me if I’m wrong in assuming that 150 principals could not possibly feel safe or comfortable speaking out in any public forum–especially on a Monday night in front of the board–with their disagreements with central administration. I’m not even sure they would feel comfortable doing so in closed meetings. The same holds true for teachers, of course. Personally, I feel that until teachers and administrators feel free to point out the things that are going wrong in 150, the district will continue to ignore the problems. I imagine that the same is true of almost any workplace–the only difference is that this is a public school system and the public has a right to know and to judge for themselves if our schools are performing well. Also, I was just giving Steve fair warning and if he chooses to ignore it, that would be great.
About C.J.’s blog–I think if you will read C.J.’s original posts carefully you will find they are very “journalistic” in nature, perhaps leaning more toward what one might find on an editorial page. However, I believe he tries very hard to provide a “journalistic” balanced view on topics even when he has strong opinions on the issue. It is the rest of us that are not following the rules of objective journalism.
I do feel you are in any better position to have these discussions with us because you are an outsider who doesn’t have to worry about job security, etc. For myself, I appreciate your willingness to spend so much of your time dealing with the likes of me who has so many opinions to share.
Also, we evidently have something or someone in common as I take my cue from that same “teacher”– who, of course, is undoubtedly more than teacher to us–who said, “I am the truth.” Personally, I have never felt intimidated by any administrator in District 150. Of course, you need to look into the background from which the older among us came. There was a time–before the 1990s where there was a definite chain of command. Teachers were never allowed to speak directly to board members about any school-related issues, etc.
Jeff Adkins-Dutro, who visited with Kingman teachers this week, found out that of their over 300 students, only 75 of them ride the bus to school. Next year, when the school is slated to close, all 375+ will need to be bused. Also, according to the teachers, the parents who are involved at the school walk to the school–just as it was went I went to Kingman in the 1940s. That kind of support will no longer exist when this neighborhood school closes. Also, the plan is that the Kingman students will be divided among four different schools. Of course, when the new Glen Oak is built, Kingman kids will go there. Why wouldn’t it be smarter just to wait to close Kingman until the kids have a new permanent school–to which all of them will still have to be bused?
The interior of Kingman is now being painted. Do any of you find that to be a waste of money–to paint a building that will be closed in June? When asked about this situation, Hinton is said to have responded by saying that the painting was already scheduled.
diane,
“nothing more than an electronic talk over the neighbor’s fence.with about another 1000 neighbors listening. Lol!”
“if you would say it, but not write it, should you say it?”
appreciate that i provided a laugh. sometimes i think the world is too serious. grace needs to be abundant, not constrained.
p.s. how do you do italics?
text
no spaces in between.
Oh crap. let me try again.
first you make this then write your text here…
sorry, I can’t do it without it italicizing. HELP!!??? Anyone???!!!
Erik, you type this: <i> before the text you want to italicize. Then you type </i> after the text you want to italicize. So, for instance, typing this in the comment box:
…will look like this after the comment is submitted:
Sharon, thanks for the advice.
I do not at all feel threatened to say anything, I honestly believe that every attempt should be made to work with concerns internally before going public. I feel that jumping to the public, especially saying things behind a nickname, is a cop out.
True change is from within and my plans for change and improvement have been met with understanding and support.
Well its been fun, but I am taking advantage of this spring break and my wife and I are off for our first vacation in 5 years. No one told us about that when we had kids.. lol (two boys ages 4 and 6.. grandma misses them and will watch them for a couple of days).
Happy Easter everyone!
Sharon – In my experience working with District 150 and as a District 150 parent, I definitely got the impression that there was a degree of “fear factor” present. Strong administrators or teachers that wished to stand up for what they believed often met with resistance.
When my children attended Kellar, I felt like the District purposely restricted the development of the school. I do not believe the principals that served at Kellar while my children attended were given the leeway to take the school in a different direction. It was as though they did not wish the school to distinguish itself.
I recall a new primary reading text was purchased District-wide. It was suppose to be effective for an inner-city student population. It was not very well-suited to the learning needs of Kellar students. My child’s first grade teacher (a young, enthusiastic go-getter) recognized this and attempted to address the matter with the principal. Apparently the teacher’s manual offered a more elevated format in which the material could be delivered. She was told “no” that the Superintendent (not Hinton) wanted do deviation. So , resourceful individual that she was, she put together enrichment folders for many of the students and I helped her grade the extra material and put the stickers on. I always felt that she tried to keep the extras she provided to the children quiet for fear of reprisal. I was sad for my child but sadder for the teacher that she seemed to get no support or encouragement for having the initiative to offer a curriculum that better served her students.
Selection of the text also seemed to be an example of what Sharon speaks of – that is, there is little teacher input to these matters. This reading series covered all the primary grades and as my children moved forward, I found that many of the teachers did not like this reading program. All the teachers I experienced at Kellar were highly skilled professionals and anyone of them could have provided valuable insight to administrators as to the reading program that would best serve students. My impression was that teachers were not consulted in such matters. What a pity!
Frustrated: Let me guess, the reading series was called “Open Court.” From everything I heard, your assessment is completely correct.