There will be a joint meeting of the Peoria City Council and the District 150 Board of Education tonight at 6:30 p.m. at the Gateway Building. The meeting is open to the public and will cover this agenda:
ITEM NO. 1 WELCOME – OPENING COMMENTS by MAYOR JIM ARDIS
ITEM NO. 2 WELCOME – OPENING COMMENTS by DISTRICT #150 SCHOOL BOARD PRESIDENT DEBBIE WOLFMEYER
ITEM NO. 3 PRESENTATION – PEORIA PROMISE
ITEM NO. 4 PRESENTATION – RACE TO THE TOP
ITEM NO. 5 PRESENTATION – DISTRICT #150 SCHOOL CONSTRUCTION – NEW and RENOVATIONS
ITEM NO. 6 PRESENTATION – SCHOOL/CITY IMPACT ZONES
ITEM NO. 7 PRESENTATION – PEORIA HIGH SCHOOL and READINESS to OPEN in AUGUST 2010
ITEM NO. 8 PRESENTATION – DISTRICT #150 ADMINISTRATIVE STRUCTURE for 2010/11
ITEM NO. 9 PRESENTATION – MAYOR JIM ARDIS — MAYORAL INTERESTS in URBAN EDUCATION
ITEM NO. 10 ANNOUNCEMENTS and CLOSING COMMENTS by MAYOR JIM ARDIS and DISTRICT #150 SCHOOL BOARD PRESIDENT DEBBIE WOLFMEYER
Item No. 9 should be especially interesting, as it’s being reported that Mayor Ardis hopes to “put to rest” rumors that the City wants to take over the school district.
For those who have just recently joined this site–and have leveled some serious criticisms in my direction, I would like to clarify (and chances are regretably add more fuel to your fire)some of the beefs I have with Manual (administration). First and foremost, of oourse, will be discipline. The three or four of you who have responded recently may refute me, but I believe I am on very firm ground in my belief that discipline at Manual is out of control. Furthermore, I believe that the administration does not even follow the policies that are already in place (and I believe that some of District 150’s policies are flawed). Moreover I don’t believe these problems can be resolved until there is a viable alternative school in place. Also, I believe that the administration either overtly or subtly blames teachers because they believe the teachers do not understand the young people, etc. People–especially Emerge whom I still respect for her interest and wisdom–often say that I call attention to Manual’s problems when the same problems exist at the other three high schools (soon to be two). The difference is that the teachers at the other high schools don’t complain as much or at all about the lack of support from their administrators. And I have to add–these problems didn’t begin when Dr. Kherat took over–I just don’t see any attempt to improve the situation. We all agree that all schools have discipline problems–the difference is the way or degree to which the administrators do their part in supporting teachers.
I believe Manual administrators do encourage Manual teachers to grade high. My reasons for believing so is that students who have not proven themselves to be capable of handling enriched work were labeled “enriched.” The November 2009 honor roll raised questions in my mind–Manual had 256 on the honor roll and Richwoods had 296. I did a FOIA study of the 2009 graduating class and spoke during public comments at a board meeting that the exhorbitant number of absences of some graduating seniors indicated to me that the graduation rate was too high. I could add my belief that Manual teachers have been subjected to way too many meetings that aren’t all that productive–time that they could use more wisely. I am assuming that those of you who have responded recently do not agree–and that’s fine. If all those meetings are OK with you, then I retract my sympathy. For those teachers who do feel they have been “talked at” too much, you still have my sympathy. Never doubt that I believe that good things happen at Manual–I just happen to believe that most of them happen in your classrooms against all odds. I won’t even get into my objections to the Johns Hopkins program–but primarily I object to the fact that it is a program designed for students who perform way below grade level. I believe that the parents of the students at Manual (and who will be coming in next year) should have been told that and should have been allowed to seek another option. Also, there is absolutely no way I believe that 1 year of material can be covered in 1 semester even with 90 minute class periods. Dr. Kherat herself wrote all her arguments in favor of this plan to me personally–I respectfully disagreed. I know that I always had difficulty covering all the material in a year. Maybe I could have covered the material but my students couldn’t have absorbed it–especially, students who do not read at grade level.
Sharon Crews: I am adding yo0u to the list of Peorians who seriously need to start their own blog. Let me know if you have any questions or need any help doing so,
Sharon I believe current and the past Manual teachers work very hard. I think when comments are made about the “Old Manual” it is not reflecting on the past teachers but rather the whole system as a whole. The “New Manual” or whatever you may call it has more resources for teachers because they (administration) realize there is a need to give teachers more support and education. We have collaboration time to meet each morning with our co-workers, block schedule, an emphasis on addressing visual, auditory, tactile and kinesthetic learners, lots or research and profession development to help with address reading strategies, etc. Manual has not been given enough time to determine if we can increase test scores. This is not a quick fix. I think administration is expected to provide this “quick fix” which puts tons of pressure on administrators and academy leaders at Manual. We have several academy leaders at Manual so it would be natural to have varying viewpoints of the administration based on what academy leader you might have. Stress impacts teachers and leaders in different ways. Manual has some wonderful academy leaders/staff and I just want people to know it is not all negative. We have to give people a chance and time. This is something that takes a few years. Give us time and support. Complaining does not reap any type of benefit. Change happens through constructive dialogue, research, hard work and yes TIME.
teacher: what you aren’t “getting” is that all the resources, strategies, collaboration time, and academy leaders in the world don’t mean a thing if the administration cannot get the students to school, on time, and ready to learn. You are in a dream world if you can’t understand that. The fact is, everything that Manual has right now is being paid for with grant money because of restructuring. Once that money dries up, and it will, there will be NO MORE resources, strategies, collaboration time, OR academy leaders. Then what will you do? My advice, heed Sharon’s advice…
Sharon, have you ever looked at any of the studies regarding the Talent Development High School model?
http://web.jhu.edu/CSOS/tdhs/research/results.html
Unfortunately, I don’t have access to some of the research results linked above, but I did find the mdrc and csrq studies (2nd and 5th articles) compelling.
Also, Chicago is opening a new high school created from the Johns Hopkins Talent Development Model. The new school states:
“At Chicago Talent, we believe great teaching is the keystone of a great education, and we strive to foster a creative, respectful, and supportive environment for all of our faculty members. To achieve this, we are pursuing a collaborative, site-based labor-management agreement that will formalize the role and voice of the teaching faculty with the growth and establishment of the school.”
This new labor-management agreement has won the school (a charter school) an American Federation of Teachers Innovation Fund grant. The grant was requested by the Illinois Federation of Teachers.
http://www.chicagonow.com/blogs/district-299/2009/10/llinois-federation-of-teachers-ift.html
If charter schools and the Johns Hopkins Talent Development program are so bad as you so often claim, why would the IFT and AFT support a new school based on both concepts?
Jon, let’s just wait and see what the results are in Peoria–that’s all that matters to me. I’m not big on research results–too many variables that could mean the research can’t predict or promise success in District 150. The proof is in the pudding, so to speak. I guess I haven’t convinced you that I don’t have to agree with everything IFT or AFT–both are only as good as the local chapter, as far as I’m concerned. The Peoria IFT Ok’d the MOU with Manual for the Johns Hopkins program–I disagreed with that action.
Sharon, the irony again…
“let’s just wait and see what the results are…”
No irony, this time–Johns Hopkins is already in Peoria, so why would I want to read about research somewhere else. District 150 already believed the research. I just don’t buy that if these educational programs work in one place, they will work everywhere else–again, too many variables. If it doesn’t work at Manual, what difference would it make if it worked in Chicago? The big question: What data will be used to prove that it’s working at Manual? Kherat and the poster Teacher both ask for more time. I don’t get that–every year Manual gets a new group of students (7th graders and freshmen)–if JH is working every year that group should show marked improvement, culminating in their senior year. The students who were freshmen last year should be showing improvement this year, etc. And next year when they are juniors AYP should improve–because that’s what JH promised would happen. I hope you get my point–each group starts at ground zero–there’s no accumulative effect. So if each incoming group doesn’t show improvement, the program isn’t working.
Best practice…are you a teacher at Manual? Do you actually know what is going on daily? Everything takes time to produce results. Many of the resources are paid for through grant money. However, you cannot take away the knowledge of the teachers gained through the professional development and coaches. We have a model in place that can continue once the money is gone. Honestly, we have several teacher leaders that could step up to the plate if academy leaders are cut or let go. Tardy hall was developed to help students get to class on time and it is proving to be effective. Gains are being made at Manual. It is not the sole responsibility of administration to get the student to school. Attendance is a team effort that includes parents, dedicated teachers and administration. People need to stop pointing fingers and step up to the plate to help improve the situation not criticize the efforts being made for change.
Sharon I hope that you did not use sarcasm with your students to get your results. I am sure this would only shut students down. Maybe, you should volunteer at Manual and help out instead of complaining. We could use more help in the classroom and after school. Lexile scores are improving throughout the year. Our data is showing results. We are making progress. It may not be jaw dropping progress yet but we are headed in the right direction.
Teacher, are you aware that Manual had tardy hall before I left in 2005 and that Derrick Booth was in charge of it? Derrick did a great job. However, sometimes kids who didn’t want to go to class were tardy on purpose so that they could meet their friends in tardy hall. Also, they were allowed to make up their work in the class they missed, so there were no consequences. What District 150 administrators (in building and central office)and Johns Hopkins don’t get is that behaviors don’t change when there are no meaningful consequences. I truly don’t understand “reinventing the wheel” (nobody developed it this year) and calling it an innovation. Johns Hopkins is not paid for through a grant–it is costing the district $200,000+ per year and $5,000 to $6,000 for special textbooks not used by other schools in the district. If it doesn’t produce results in the very near future, District 150 should not continue throwing money away. I heard that District 150 is asking that grant money (if received) be used to pay JH even though it was destined for some other purpose.
Sharon you summed up District 150’s number one problem….students don’t face any consequences for not doing what should be required of them. However, that is a society wide problem of today’s world. Society of today insists that there always be a “safety net” out there for everyone.
The problem at manual is the same at any school that is predominantly urban and poor… you can’t do “workforce education” where the students have no prospects of entering the workforce.
They, even if you don’t, recognize the colossal waste of time and effort in the process.
I know you want to hear about how great education is and how it is the ladder up out of the ghetto and the great leveler and all that … but when you grow up and see 60% unemployment in your neighborhood… a job are not something that is worth trying for.
Our society decided 50 years ago that education wasn’t important, but training was… it has taken awhile, but we are now paying the price for that corporatist mentality. These kids coming out of the ghettos of our cities are part of a society that says either the government or an employee will take care of you… if the government, you will be stigmatized and if an employer, than you will “owned” by that employer.
Think about it… as the recipient of more than 100 years of post-slavery culture and traditions… which would you choose?
Charlie unfortunately (and I am going to catch h@!! for this statement) a large majority of students in those particular schools have no plans of entering the workforce. I’ve have ask many of them over the years…what do you plan to do if you don’t graduate from high school….how will you get a job….and the reply to me is always…I already get a check.
The government welfare system has done more to destroy people than anything.
Lynn Smith, I taught for 43 years and no student ever said to me, “I already get a check.” Lynn, are you a teacher–I hadn’t gotten that impression until just now when you mentioned your experiences with students. Today there are–probably more than ever–young people who have decided that they have a better chance of financial success through the drug trade than they do through getting a job. Most of them have already dropped out of school. Much of that problem (addressed by several young men at a recent board meeting and by Terry Knapp, and me etc.) was created when District 150 took away vocational classes–and, also, don’t discount the factors that Charlie mentioned. Poster Teacher, I hope I didn’t do anything to shut any student down–I can’t imagine that I had 100% success. Again, I will defer to my former students–and maybe you are one or a former colleague–I don’t know who you are. Also, I do not believe that I have ever said anything on this blog to disparage teachers–several posters have criticized me for supporting teachers too much. I definitely don’t believe that Manual teachers are the problem.
Teachers and students will “buy into” a program that ALL believe in. Not because it “worked” somewhere else or that it will “transform” this school. How about good, old fashioned Reading, Writing, and Arithmathic? Add to that some vocational training with extracurriculars in the arts. That WILL work and the teachers/students will be successful.
“The government welfare system has done more to destroy people than anything.”
What an easy answer to a problem that has nothing to do with government… WHY did our government decide to intervene in the market with labor laws, health and safety regulations, unemployment and Social Security? Are these the “welfare” programs you are complaining about?
The culprits are and have always been corporations.
Why do you think The Constitution was ordained and established to PROMOTE THE GENERAL WELFARE?
Welfare is not a bad word… it is a very good word.
My God, Lynn… is it the government’s fault there is 22 million gallons of oil in the gulf heading for the Atlantic Ocean?
Is it the government’s fault those coal miners died in W Virginia? That there is 15% unemployment? That the stock market is volatile? That banks are failing everywhere? That mom and pop stores and small communities are dying? That after 57 years the best the car companies can do is produce partially electric cars? (I listen to the TV ads for cars… “gets 35 MPG!”… I get more than 30 MPG in my 10 year old Neon.
When does big business take responsibility for itself?
Sharon you mean to have me believe that in your 43 years of teaching in inner city schools that you never heard or met students whose only plan to support themselves after high school was by being on the welfare system? Are you sure you taught in the Peoria Public Schools system?
Charlie, I was going to answer you but you have wandered too far off of the reservation for me to even try and reason with you.
Lynn, what conversations would you have with students that would elicit that kind of response? You make all these blanket, very, very bigoted statements. My goal was to convince students that they could choose another way of life. Any high school student that would make such a statement is smart enough to know that he/she could get a rise out of you by giving such an answer. I honestly do not believe that high school students have the intention of being on welfare for the rest of their lives. With that intention that would drop out of high school.
Lynn sounds like the Manual teacher I heard in the teacher’s lounge who commented that a white girl at Manual had no excuse for not being on the honor roll.
Yes, Charlie, I have often wondered who that person was–you made that observation when I first came on the blogs.
Instead of constantly wondering who I am why don’t you listen to what I tell you. If you want to consider my statement as a bigoted statement then by all means do so. Both of you know that what I have said is true yet you choose to live in that little perfect world that only exists in your imagination. You consider anyone who doesn’t subscribe to your preachings as racist, bigoted, ignorant etc.
Through the past several years society has listened more and more to the ideas that people like you preach and look how society has turned out after following your philosophy. It’s just all peaches and creme…isn’t it?
Lynn, what you preach just plan frightens me. I don’t live in a perfect world in my mind or any place else–but I don’t have to look down on others to feel better about myself. You lump way too many people into the same mold that you have created for them.
“plain” frightens me–I lost my editing time. 🙂
Sharon yes we brought back “the old school” tardy hall and it works. Students are not allowed to make up work but rather work on math and reading assignments. They are still responsible for what they miss. Manual had some good policies before. Actually, we had teachers before the “take-over” that recommended tardy hall. It is a good idea….old or new. Students do not enjoy tardy hall……parents get called or have to come in and it is not “fun times”. I agree we need to work on our behavior at Manual….but really we benefit from talking to teachers like you who were there before, etc. This whole process it about working together, trying new things and use the old things that used to work. We need community support and ideas.
Poster Teacher–the new tardy hall does sound like a better idea (not being allowed to make up work is definitely a consequence that our tardy hall was missing). When teachers are allowed to be a part of the decisions, everything would work better. I believe when I left in 2005 we had tardy hall because that was Derrick’s job–not sure what happened after I left. I know that detentions after school were a joke during our era–the deans would let kids choose the dates when they could attend–by then they had acquired even more detentions, etc.
Rumor is that Manual principal and asst principal are out of here. Fired.
Pardon me if this has already been reported here.
Totally and completely untrue.
It is either true or untrue. Hard for it to be “totally” true or untrue or “completly” true or untrue. We shall see.
who said it was gossip?
It’s one of those rumors that is growing all over the place. It is rampant enough that I believe that District 150 should speak up one way or the other soon. I know that the blogs are blamed for starting rumors–but quite often the blogs have started the truth. If I am not mistaken, I believe the blogs first reported secretaries’ raises, children on I-74, Shipp’s removal, etc. If this Manual rumor isn’t the truth, District 150’s owes it to those involved to speak up. If it is true, might as well get it over with.
The story came from a good source. We will know shortly, I suspect.
If I absolutely knew one way or another, I would say so.
District 150 never fires anyone. Everyone goes on “paid leave” – no matter how egregious the offense. It’s the most confounded thing. Thousands of dollars a week going to paying adminstrators to sit on their asses at home eating Cheetohs and watching reality TV. How does one get on that plan anyway? Contrast that to the teachers and librarians who work directly with our kids, but get pink-slipped without so much as a Thank you M’aam. Then every one bitches about how great the teachers have it. I’ll sing Lathan’s praises only after she trims the dead weight – Permanently – and doesn’t simply rearrange the deck chairs on the sinking ship.
Well they are terminating some certified staff member only designated by a number at a special board meeting tomorrow. Is anyone taping these special meetings?
And what is up with Stowell in the paper this morning? What a bunch of mumbling gobbledy gook. He was part of arguably the most inept board in d150 history. Next week stay tuned for an editorial from former Governor Rod Blagovechich – “My vision for Illinois”.
They terminate them by number at the meeting, but I believe names have to be posted in the minutes–which will appear on the website after the next meeting at which the minutes are approved. Am I correct in assuming that Valda Shipp has already worked for the money that she is now being paid on administrative leave (since the pay for 9 10 or 11 months for admin is spread out for 12 months–not clear on that one? I don’t think the situation is the same for Valda as it is for Mary Davis. Since Valda was relieved of her duties at the end of the year, she could be terminated permanently at the end of the school year, couldn’t she? However, in the past principals relieved of the position at one school frequently are placed somewhere else, especially if they are close to retirement. It all depends on how seriously her “insubordination” is in the eyss of the board–the ones who ultimately do the firing, etc.
Here is a copy of tomorrow night’s special meeting agenda.
PEORIA PUBLIC SCHOOLS
BOARD OF EDUCATION
ORDER OF BUSINESS
June 7, 2010
AGENDA ITEMS
EXECUTIVE SESSION – Superintendent’s Conference Room
1. CALL TO ORDER – approx. 7:30 P.M.
2. ROLL CALL
3. MOTION FOR EXECUTIVE SESSION 2(c) 1 – personnel
4. ADJOURNMENT
REGULAR SESSION – Following executive session – DLC Board Room
OPENING
1. CALL TO ORDER – ROLL CALL
2. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
3. PRESENTATION BY AUDIENCE ON ACTION ITEMS
(Board Policy 2:230 – Each speaker will give his or her name and address and identify the specific action item
he or she wishes to address. Not more than five minutes may be allotted to each speaker and no more than
twenty minutes to each subject under discussion, except with the concurrence of the majority of the Board.)
ACTION ITEMS –
DELIBERATION AGENDA
1. TERMINATION OF CERTIFIED EMPLOYEE
Proposed Action: That the Board of Education adopts a resolution Authorizing a Notice of Dismissal and Charges to
Employee 060710-01.
Inserted by me: (this is the date and I assume the 01 means 1st to be fired)
2. APPROVAL OF EMPLOYEE CONTRACTS
Proposed Action: That the Board of Education approves employee contracts as presented.
I liked Mr. Stowell’s comments. Investigating providing education based on counties makes sense and could eliminate much administrative overhead and duplication of special services. Also, a holistic approach to the education of socially disadvantaged children seems a much more rational approach than the piecemeal efforts made thus far, that have proven to be ineffective. With the advent of the new Glen Oak and Harrison schools, there should be adequate facilities for the City and the District to bring social services into the mix. If the Mayor wishes to be truly helpful there are many other ways to do so other than hijacking the decision-making from citizens as to who sits on the Board.
I, too, was confused by Stowell’s comments. What the heck was he trying to say?
.. that today’s children need to be prepared to be part of the current education system, rather than the current education system needs to be prepared for today’s children and tomorrow’s needs.
If Stowell feels threatened by some of the noise coming from the city council as well he should. He consistantly votes on the wrong side of nearly every issue, causing huge liability and expense to the District and the ongoing exodus from PPS. The Mayor should be sabre rattling. The failures of this board have had resounding consequences throughout every layer of our community. He should resign as well as a majority of the rest of them. Here is a piece of trivia. Do you know that District 150 has an operating budget equal to the entire City of Peoria? And they still can’t get it right. No more tax dollars for you, Mr. Stowell.
As WMBD radio is reporting, the employee to be dismissed will undoubtedly be Mary Davis–since she was arraigned on Friday.
Hope Mary Davis is only the first to be fired in a long line of unethical administrators
Can we have our money back now?
“The Lottery” releases Tuesday. Documentary reviewed in Weekend Journal about Charter School application process. Points out that teachers union paid ACORN half a million a year to protest against charters, despite parents hopes for better opportunities. Must see!
“despite parents hopes for better opportunities. Must see!”
Do you mean some parents hopes, or all parents hopes?
Suggest you read review and watch movie. You are obviously having problems understanding.
RE: the termination of Davis. Awesome news, just a year and $100,000 late.
Sharon–Pardon my fussiness, but MD was arraigned on Thursday, a day I won’t soon forget. 🙂