Tonight was the last District 150 Board of Education meeting that will be televised live on Comcast’s education public access channel 17. From now on the meeting will be broadcast a week delayed — and with the public comment period excised. It’s increasingly easy to see why the district would not want this portion of the meeting on television. They want to be able to control the image of the district, the board, and the administration. But during the public comment time, a more unflattering image is often presented. And sometimes it exposes things the administration wants to keep hush-hush.
Like tonight.
Rumors of unapproved clerical raises were substantiated at tonight’s school board meeting, the Journal Star reports:
The union representing clerical workers at Peoria School District 150 is filing a grievance after learning 10 of its members in the central administration building were arbitrarily given raises in November now totaling more than an estimated $80,000, officials said Monday.
The raises were rescinded Monday, effective immediately.
Debbie Chavez, former president of Local 6099 Peoria Federation of Support Staff, which represents some 650 clerical, cafeteria and paraprofessional workers, told School Board members during public comments [emphasis added] on Monday that both the union and the School Board had been left in the dark about the raises approved by the administration, which she said boosted the pay of some by more than 50 percent.
Interim Superintendent Norm Durflinger defended the raises and said they didn’t violate the collective bargaining agreement … even though they were kept a secret from the union and the school board … even though he rescinded them effective immediately. He’s going to sit down and talk to the union about the raises … now that they know about them. Whoops.
I have to admit, I was skeptical about this scandal when the rumors first started flying on my blog. It sounded too ridiculous to be true. Imagine giving just a few clerical workers humongous raises — an $8/hour raise in one case — at the same time the district is pleading poverty, laying off teachers, closing schools, and cutting out live broadcast of the school board meetings. Nobody would be that stupid.
And yet….
If the school district were trying to destroy every last ounce of trust the public might have for them, I don’t know what more they could do than what they’re doing now.
My suggestion: Now that they’ve rescinded the raises, they should have enough money to broadcast the meetings live and in their entirety. After all, finances were the reason cited for going to a one-week-delayed, censored broadcast. Now that they can save $80,000 in five months, they should have plenty of money to restore the live feed and let the public see their representatives in action on Monday nights, right?
How many months did we have co-superintendents waiting for Hinton to get his certification? I don’t remember, but I don’t think we were paying Hinton at the same time. Why would we pay Lathan before she has certification? I still want to know how much 150 has spent bringing her back and forth from San Diego. Hopefully, Bradley paid for the last trip–I wonder.
Part of the problem is that the system of state educational certification is archaic. In today’s more mobile society, why should a teacher or administrator that has worked in the field for years suddenly be deemed unfit to work in the same capacity, simply because they moved from one state to another??
Frustrated, it is no different than any other field that deals with complex laws that vary from state to state – The same is true with Real estate and the practice of Law. Anyone who operates in those industries knows up front that is part of the game. Lawyers or real estate agents that want to move to another state will generally take the certification classes and pass the tests before they seek employment in that state.
This should come as no surprise to anyone. The search firm is quoted as saying it happened in Rockford and Naperville. This info should have been shared with the Board on the front end. Hey, does Mary Davis have her certificate 🙂
Laughing laughing laughing… I feel so giddy sometimes when I reading about the next adventure ion District 150 or Peoria’s fumbling… it is like a really bad soap opera or horse opera.
“We have not been notified of any problems,” Shangraw said… even though the State “lost” Granita’s first application and … How long has been Stacy been there?
I didn’t know, I didn’t see, I never heard… I can’t recall…
“what Lathan is facing with the state of Illinois is not uncommon.” Illinois requirements are much higher than other states.
MUCH HIGHER??? WOW! That must be why we get such GOOD ONES!!!!
The Truth is a rare commodity these days-may we have some here?
Last week Norm Durflinger was quoted as saying that he supported the Charter School, against his better judgement, because he feared the District was “losing support of the Business community”. So let’s see, so far the “Business Community” closed Woodruff High School without a plan, brought about a Charter School to take its place and hired us an unqualified Superintendent. Does anyone know how we can sign up for the plan that does not have the support of the business community?
In all fairness though I don’t see where District 150 ever had the support of the business community to begin with. They all live in Dunlap or Tazewell County.
i have said this for a long time – FIRE EVERY ONE OF THEM. get new blood and fresh ideas in there fast. it continues to be one bad news story after another, and its absurd.
From Dr. Lathan’s contract ” Throughout the life of this contract, the Superintendent shall provide and maintain a valid and appropriate certificate to act as Superintendent in the State of Illinois”
Looks like she should not start until credentials are in hand.
Where can one get a copy of her contract?
Watcher- Ask and you shall receive 🙂
Click on the link below.
http://www.scribd.com/doc/27307889/District-150-superintendent-contract
Watcher-
Ask and you shall receive 🙂
http://www.scribd.com/doc/27307889/District-150-superintendent-contract
So, from the her first date of employment she will be in violation of her contract … how … amusing.
$761 per diem??? Above her salary? How is that figured??? 180 working days equals $136,980. 250 days (an 8 hour a day, 5 day a week work year, you know, NOT salaried) is $190,500. 365 days is $277,765.
And she gets $100,000 cash if she gets fired.
Nice contract.
If she is to start work without the proper certification the Board should (IMHO) call a special mtng and decide to hire her as an Associate Superintendent (at less pay of course) until she has the proper credentials.
But would she be properly certified as an Associate Superintedent?
But would she be properly certified as an Associate Superintedent?
Who knows? If not she could be a consultant 🙂
All of this is reminscent of the Royster era when her academic officers (associates) had to become consultants (at the same high pay) because, I believe, at least two of them never passed the Illinois test. I understand all of the posters who think we should be patient, etc. However, the school board should have anticipated these problems (the board has plenty of recent history from which to have learned the lessons). Then they should have been up front–honest–with the public to let them know that there was a “situation” with Lathan. Why not beat the press to the “news.” By now, they should know that they just can’t operate secretly any more–the truth will out.
And I will add this thought: Frankly, I don’t like bringing Royster up because everyone is likely to believe I am comparing them because of gender and/or skin color. I am, also, in disagreement with the PJS posters who intimate that the choice of superintendent was influenced by race. Maybe it was, but to be fair, for most of its existence District 150 was headed by a white, male superintendent. It was just taken for granted that a superintendent would be chosen from that group. I am more interested in the mindset of the superintendent regarding discipline and academic standards–as to whether or not he/she will hold students to a high standard. A lax mindset on these issues has been exhibited by white males and white females in 150 leadership. And, there are black males or females who do not have a “permissive” mindset–I just hope we have chosen one such person, but I have my fears.
Just received word that state just issued Grenita a certificate. Don’t have other details than that and will be away from internet for awhile.
Good news! Thanks for sharing Jim.
Too bad you weren’t as quick on the draw with 10 clerks getting raises Jim……could have saved the district a bundle.
Does anyone know if there have been rehires for any admin. positions?
Well, Dist 150 finally did something right by retaining Randy Simmons at Central. He has done a fabulous job there….
Do I suggest that the only reason Simmons stayed on at PHS is because there was no guarantee of $2 million. If there was they would have discarded him like others. But as a taxpayer I am glad they kept him there. He is one of the few good ones left in the district.
So the district saves $1.2 million a year by closing Woodruff but they turn down the chance to get $2 million a year for three years. The reason was so they could keep a principal? Is anyone worth $6 million?
Yup, Simmons is a terrific principal, the best in the district. Kudos to Dist 150.
150 Observer: AMEN
Not only the principal but (I believe) half or more of the faculty would have had to leave. There will be enough chaos at Peoria High next year as it is with the merger of two student bodies and faculties.
Exactly correct Sharon. Well said.
I heard that Manual is trying to get that grant. Does that mean that the current administration there will have to leave as well as 50% of their staff?
According to the PJS, “The district still plans to apply for the grant for Manual, which already is undergoing federal restructuring, though it will not have to replace its leadership, school officials said.” That being the case, I wonder what changes MHS will have to make to get the grant. The turnover of faculty will occur anyway. Several of the current non-tenured faculty were given letters of dismissal because they were determined by the principal to be a poor fit for the school. The other non-tenured teachers (and that is much of the faculty) were pinkslipped. It sounds as though Manual will not have to make any changes to get the grant.
The district has flip-flopped on postind one admin position. The job in question was for director of Drivers education and Athletics Director. Then it was posted as a teachers’ position and then disappeared. However it never appeared on the internal job postings. Anyone find this curious. Transparency in this district is transparent that “good ole’ boys club” is alive and well. Lyndon Johnson’s smoking room deals has nothin on this board!!!!
I apologize for some of the typos!!!
I heard they were interviewing today for athletic director. Who does this “panel” think are the best applicants? How do we help district select “best person” and not best connected? Whose responsibility is it to actually choose?
general – First, to have any decision-making capacity when it comes to 150 you have to live outside the district. Anyone who remains in the district to raise and educate their children is deemed to be too stupid to have a worthwhile opinion.
so Watcher – r u in r, r u out?
When will it end?
http://www.pjstar.com/news/x1195009476/Documents-show-District-150-gave-out-wage-hikes
Jane – Thanks for the link. This article reads like a “Whose on 1st” comedic routine. Must be a challenge for the PJS reporter to follow such convoluted decision-making. Someone will have to explain to me why the Asst. HR Director’s performance is so outstanding as to merit a 5% increase, during these dire times, and yet she is now reporting to the District Treasurer, leaving the HR Director as the only managerial employee to handle all HR/Labor business of a 2500 employee organization??? I am sure it makes sense, somebody just help me out here.
Wow! Also, it makes no sense that secretaries were given a pay raise to do the job of the administrative assistant–and there is now an assistant also getting a pay raise. Dave Haney is definitely coming alive as an investigative reporter.
Durflinger said he did it
While documents show the pay hikes were made Nov. 2, during the time former Superintendent Ken Hinton still was in charge, Durflinger said Friday that Hinton knew nothing of the raises. Durflinger said he knew of and approved “three to four people” being reclassified
Why do people cover for Hinton? IMO, Hinton is the one who knew and approved all of this.
Peaceman: Hinton was the “annointed” one. It will be found out long after he is gone not only how completely incompetent he was but that he always found a way to line friends and families (his included) pockets. Whether it be a job they are not qualified for OR extra “duties”…….at least the new superintendent doesn’t have a plethora of family and friends that NEED jobs. BTW, NOTHING was done on wisconsin ave. without HIS (hinton’s) nod of approval, anyone over there will offer that information.
Sharon did not say Hinton did it. Who, in the world, knows who did it; what a convoluted story. Most importantly, we don’t know why all these raises were given–that will be the real story.
“The job in question was for director of Drivers education and Athletics Director.”
Of course, driver’s ed and sports… that’s where you put people who can’t teach. Makes sense to make it one position.
“Hinton was the “annointed” one.”
Oh stop it with your redneck, Rush Limbaugh ignorant parroting. Come up with some original thought.
Lucky in Illinois you really dont have to have much knowledge or ability to teach in any subject. All you need is an education degree and a certificate. PE and English teachers all have about the same education and qualifications plus or minus a few courses.
Is there a reason for the name calling Kcdad?
Actually in Illinois you must be “highly qualified” to teach specific areas. You can visit ISBE to check it out.
You defending Rush? Good boy.
Charlie: I did not know that Rush coined that phrase, I believe I was referring to Webster’s Dictionary: The Messiah, or in a Christian context, Jesus Christ. Many people felt that after the Royster debacle that Hinton would be D150’s savior. The community can see where that idea got us……..just a thought.