City-School-Board liaison Bill Collier is an optimist. When he met with parents and educators this past Monday, he gave everyone hope:
Mr. Collier insisted that we “had the Admins attention” and that they were willing to put options on the table.
Things were looking up when it was announced that District 150 Administration was willing to meet with parents and other concerned parties later this month. But that hope was dampened today with the publication of this article from the Journal Star:
“I will tell you up front it is all contingent upon the teachers using that time effectively,” Hinton said, noting there are no plans for the district to backpedal on the issue. Whether Hinton could sway any opponents remains to be seen.
So, this meeting isn’t about any kind of negotiation or placing options on the table. It’s about Hinton trying to persuade opponents of the benefits of cutting 45 minutes off of each school day.
His argument, as explained in the paper, goes like this: Every teacher has to receive a 45-minute “preparation period” because that’s required in their contract. Currently, “during this time, scattered throughout the day, students are shuttled to another classroom, usually for art, science, music or physical education. Those classes could see some minutes shaved.”
More “arts integration” also would take place, meaning different courses would be blended. Schools would have the equivalent of two full-time “specialists” and decide on their own what to maintain and where to cut.
Those specialized teachers – except P.E. – will go to the classroom and all teachers will get their prep time before school begins.
Hinton said that’s where the big gains come, with common planning time in the morning, the professional development and teacher collaboration at all grades – virtually impossible now. Contact time with teachers will not change, he said.
See, this is semantics. He’s distinguishing between “specialists” and “teachers.” The “specialist” time will be cut, but “contact time with teachers will not change.” I’m sorry, but if the “specialist” is teaching my child art, music, and physical education, I call that person a “teacher.” It doesn’t matter to me whether they are contractually or legally considered a “teacher” by District 150 standards. They’re teaching my children, and their contact time is most assuredly being cut.
It shouldn’t be. Art, music, and P. E. are not things that should be relegated to extra-curricular activities. These are an important part of a child’s education. They should be retained.
I think it’s fair to wonder what good this meeting is going to do between Hinton and the newly-formed District 150 Watch group, but it will be good for the group to meet with him anyway so they can say they tried. Call me pessimistic, but I’ve seen this song and dance before. I predict the parents will be rebuffed once again, and then things will really start to get ugly.
I’ll have lots more to say later but suffice it to say, we have not yet begun to fight. Thanks for the “heads up” Mr. Hinton.
How does a community go about getting rid of a Superintendent that needs to go, preferably without any bonuses!!!
I have a friend who is working on giving each child in District 150’s K-4 six books. She has raised over $10,000 herself from friends and business acquaintances. She got the idea from an article she read about how allowing children ownership of the books helps to raise test scores. I do not have the logistics in front of me but will be glad to get them from her.
She talks to everyone she meets about it and has gotten donations from her massseuse and the guy that changed her tires! The first hand out is next week at Thomas Jefferson, so the children have them for summer.
District 150 finally approved the generous gift, but she had to provide studies that proved it worked, which she did. She was then asked not to contact the media regarding this act of love because District 150 did not want it to interfere with The Pacific Institute fundraising.
For those of you who attended the PI meeting, were there any handouts on the statistics regarding test scores, etc regarding results of using this program?
I fully agree with you CJ, his mind is made up and obviously Gorenz is in his pocket as well! Arrogance just drips off King Hinton. The only thing he has polished is double talk. Why people who blindly support him can not see through that is beyond me. Just remember folks the BOE before this one would not even grant Hinton an interview for the superintendency, but this bunch of yahoos can’t bend over far enough to grant his whims. Unbelievable!
^oo^~
It seems like a repeat of the Prospect house story. Anyone with even a pea sized brain ought to be able to look out at the anger in Peoria over this and see that in the end they (Hinton and the BOE)are going to have to give in. Hinton somehow seems to be blind to this and will fight it to the end. The fact that we are about to do this a second time shows Hinton should not be in the job.
And the Prospect house story required a lawsuit to stop that project.
Does not supprise me. We as taxpayers are to dumb in the eyes of #150, just follow the history of the Glen Oak school site. The public will go down the same path for years to resove this issue.
Kudos to all of you! There are so many questions that I believe have not been addressed. Students are going to be shortchanged. I know for a fact that many of the primary schools already have a common prep time that they interact together. I think this is important. The big question is who is going to monitor the use of this required planning time. I think we should all read the Teacher Contract. It states that every teacher has to have a designated number of duty free prep periods a week. Teachers are required to be in the building during these prep periods. The contract prohibits these planning periods every day. There are many valid unanswered questions that have not been addressed by the administration. I understand that the idea for this disruption of the school day began with a hired, retired consultant. It was not proposed by the superintendent. The research for this proposal was mediocre at best and some dated back to 1985. It is time to really become fired up.
Just remember it is our tax dollars as PPS residents. The superintendent could care less because his tax dollars go to an adjacent school district.
HE DOES NOT LIVE IN PPS 150…THE ONLY SUPERINTENDENT WHO HASN’T!!!!!!
Trackback – http://peoriarocks.blogspot.com/2008/05/d150-and-beat-goes-on.html
C.J, you are correct. The “specialists” are part-time certified teachers, and they are given a part-time certified teachers contract each year. These “specialists” have to meet the same highly-qualified NCLB standard as do the full-time teachers, as well as possess grade-level appropriate and content-area appropriate Illinois teacher certification.
There are some valid questions being asked now as to whether or not the district is compliant in its delivery of PE instruction. Hold on, because next year we might be able to add music and art to that list.
Once again the question begs to be asked: where is the ISBE and its local representative, Dr. Brookhart, in this mess? District #150 is not making adequate yearly progress – their students are not achieving. We’ve all heard that the ISBE is understaffed and overworked. But we have a district that is just about on life support. The state and Brookhart need to get in here and on top of this now. Soon it will be too late.
I spoke with some parents of the Glen Oak School area and they were told “The will be out of their homes by June 15th one way or another.” The School District WILL exercize its imminent domain rights by that day. The District’s imminent domain rights????
I understand their is class action suit against the city and the 150 regarding this. “Fasten your seat belts… it’s going to be a bumpy ride.”
There are so many unanswered questions. Diane and her group need all the support they can get. Even though you have never gone to a school board meeting you should attend tomorrow night. You do not have to say anything. Just being there and supporting those who do speak is critical. Those of us who do not intend to speak can stand and applaud when we agree with whatever is being said. They may demand order but at least they will see how many of us truly care about our children. Please plan on attending….
k.power et.al.
Better arrive early if you want a seat. Seating capacity of the board room is limited to 142 and no standing is allowed. You can be sure that campus police will be there in uniform along with Chief Scales in plain clothes. Even if you have to mill around outside before the meeting rest assured King Hinton and the BOE will be peeking out the blinds at you! OTOH they won’t give a hoot what you have to say! Pretty sick isn’t it? Hinton has to go!
^oo^~
You are right, Campus Police will be there I am sure. Usually they only one officer but I am sure it will be more making the overtime at this meeting. Won’t this conflict with Chief Scale’s night job in Chillicothe?
Do you know if Mayor Ardis or Superintendent Brookhart will be at the meeting representing or are they going to send poor Mr. Collier to eat crow again?
When it is all over, “The King” will get his way along with his “Jesters” and we the people will loose again.