On tonight’s School Board agenda: New Superintendent

The Board of Education for Peoria Public Schools District 150 will meet tonight at district headquarters on Wisconsin Avenue, 6:00 p.m. The most important item on tonight’s agenda:

“12. APPROVAL OF CONTRACT FOR DR. GRENITA LATHAN
Proposed Action: That the employment contract for Dr. Grenita F. Lathan be approved and executed by the parties.”

WCBU-FM (89.9) is reporting that the board is expected to unanimously approve the contract, and that Lathan will not be in attendance at the meeting. If the contract is approved, Lathan is expected to begin July 1.

The board members I’ve talked to have all been impressed by Lathan, and feel she will make a positive difference at District 150. I sincerely wish her the best of luck here in Peoria.

112 thoughts on “On tonight’s School Board agenda: New Superintendent”

  1. rumor has it that she will be paid $250,000 a year and will be given a 5 year contract. well, d150 boe is setting up the taxpayers again. how about a 2-3 year contract and if she “does her magic” extend the contract. She has not stayed at a district in a position of authority for more than 3 years. WHY does she need a 5 year contract? Will the taxpayers end up buying out yet another contract. evidently d150 has planted a new money tree, replacing the one that Hintin picked clean…

  2. Jim, can you find out why the Department of Transportation felt they did not have to RUN THEIR BUSSES TODAY??? Thank you

  3. Yes, Jim, thanks for the update. I hope you understand that putting the rumors out there seems to be the only effective way of getting to the truth and, so far, you and Laura are the only two board members who read the blogs and respond when a rumor needs to be dispelled. I am curious to know the justification for paying a starting salary of $250,000 to someone who has no experience as a superintendent. Another question that I have is about the position Dr. Lathan now holds as an associate superintendent in San Diego. Since that is one of the largest districts in the country, how many associates does the district have? Tauting her has an associate makes it sound as though she could be 2nd or 3rd in command. Is that truth or disception?

  4. Yes, and how many of her own people will she be bringing in as her assistants–and how much will they be paid? Please remember 150 was burned on an earlier surprise when three academic officers (later to be called consultants) showed up.

  5. Sharon, this superintendent will have some but not as many of the same vacancies at the top the same as Royster did. People seem to forget that when Royster arrived, Garret, Williamson, Russell, Hinton and Kilpatrick all exited! Royster needed help FAST and yes she brought with her three trusted colleagues – which the BOE approved!

  6. Agreed! But am I wrong in my belief that the three arrived without proper credentials to serve as associate superintendents (or Academic Officers) and that they (maybe one, two, or three) never did earn the propoer credentials? Board approval–any board–doesn’t mean much to most of us any more. We have experienced too many poor decisions to believe that board approval assures good results. Also, I know that teachers, including me, experienced first-hand the incompetence of one or more of those trusted colleagues. However, I do understand that it is precedent for a superintendent to choose his/her own assistants and that all superintendents, going back to Harry have had more than one. However, the district has downsized considerably since then, so I am not at all sure that more than one assistant is needed. Also, we need further explanation about a mentor–length of time to serve and salary. If someone is good enough to be mentor, perhaps he/she would have been knowledgeable enough to be superintendent.

  7. did peyton manning need a mentor when he was given a multi year contract? did lee iococa need a mentor? If she has been hired to be SUPERINTENDENT then she should not need someone to show her how to do a job that SHE is being paid $250,000 a year to do.

  8. em, when you started your job did you get paid $30,000 a year more to START than your predecessor? Did the company hire a mentor to hold your hand for the first year? She may well be a savior for this district but should schools get shortchanged for teachers so dr. lathan can have a paid person tell her what her job is? just curious, McArdle received NO HELP WHAT SO EVER at LMS last year so it appears that the district doesnt want to make that mistake again. imo

  9. And how much money did they pay out to help the current special ed director, DR. Mary O’Brian, spend excess funding? She needed a consultant to help her spend money. Crazy. Now they want a mentor for the new sup? Double crazy.

  10. ….and they still give 6% bonuses to teachers & adminstrators to pad their gold plated pension – for what? – triple crazy. Paid medical – quadruple crazy. Nine month work years with liberal vacation and personal days….. when will the madness end?

  11. this is the second HARD freeze we have taken. not only did we not get a step(cost of living) but we have more students using less resources. believe me, it is NOT the teachers that screwed up this district. btw, we only get paid for 9 months and NO vacation pay. get informed before you spout off.

  12. Admin gets vacation – you get liberal #’s of personal, sick, and funeral leave days. Absenteeism is extremely high, affecting student achievement. Let’s talk tenure too. Outdated and allows you teachers to protect weak links. Oh, but its admin fault for not “getting rid” of bad teachers. With grievances, etc, whats that process take on average, 5-8 years? Try working in a real world job that holds you accountable before you spout off.

  13. “The board members I’ve talked to have all been impressed by Lathan, and feel she will make a positive difference ”

    Based on what I wonder… her resume? Her lengthy experience and successes in San Diego and Chicago? Or does she talk a good game?

    Count me on the side of “nothing changes except the amount money wasted… again.”

  14. First of all, the choice of a superintendent will probably reflect the vision of the board–that is what worries me. I want to see a complete department from the status quo–a recognition that over 70% of 150 students need something more than watered-down academics and focus on NCLB tests that reflect only the interests of students who go immediately from high school to college. Many 150 students need some experiences outside of the classroom and a bit more time to mature before seeking post-high school programs. Someone has to face reality. Also, I want a departure from “let’s cut down on the suspensions and keep kids in school” to “let’s demand a safe learning environment and provide an alternative to those who cannot conform to that environment.”

  15. frustrated taxpayer,

    I thought I had an ax to grind. Maybe you should ease up just a tad? Maybe we could all get together and bitch about the museum awhile?!? Now there is something EVERY taxpayer should get frustrated about!

  16. According to D150’s website Hinton made $185,000 plus benefits. I wonder if the district is including Dr. Lathan’s TRS as part of the $198,000 or if the TRS is in addition to the $198,000. Hinton’s $185,00 did not include the TRS. He did receive TRS on top of the $185,000.

  17. Let me understand this, we are in for BIG change with this superintendent but we as taxpayers have no idea what that change is about. When will we be told more about Lathan and what she is bringing to Peoria. We should already have this information and its a shame that we don’t.

  18. So, we have to pay a job coach? Why didn’t we just hire the job coach as the superintendent? And who decides if the job coach continues next year, the board or the superintendent? And when she doesn’t need a job coach she gets how much extra per year? Was that amount ever given?

  19. the PJS star is reporting that “the School Board approved by a 6-0 vote a three-year contract with Grenita Lathan beginning in June. Board member Rachael Parker was absent from the meeting. For District 150, Lathan’s contract also is the first in which its superintendent can receive a performance bonus.”

    well, three years is better than five. if she fails, atleast we arent stuck with her for 5 years. i like the performance bonus idea too.

    hm, maybe there is a glimmer of hope here afterall? its still early. i wont get my hopes up too high.

  20. Add to her price tag the fact that the BoE is paying to fly her back and forth from California at least twice a month so she can get acclimated to our wonderful Oz. This is in addition to a mentor and who knows what else. Maybe she will actually live in the city that is paying her.

  21. “An interim deputy superintendent at San Diego Unified Schools”
    THAT was not her position… why are they introducing her that way?
    She was “Chief Elementary School Improvement Officer”.

    Way to start her off officially with official BS. Let the lying begin!

  22. Agreed, Charlie–I keep asking how many such positions exist in San Diego. Leaving the impression that she is second-in-command seems to be dishonest..

  23. Quite frankly, District 150 is lucky ANYONE would be willing to accept this job. And if she hadn’t been afforded the opportunity to have a mentor/job coach, I’m sure people would be raising hell about how she’s inexperienced. It’s really not that unusual for those new in leadership roles to have mentors help them learn the ropes. I also find it funny that there are some who insist that the school district can be run just like a business, yet when standard business practices are put in place (compensation for moving expenses, ‘sweetening the pot’, performance bonus) those people are the first to cry foul. Make up your mind and give this woman a break.

  24. I believe superintendents have always had someone to “show them the ropes.” However, calling that person a mentor and paying him/her is a new concept. Whom do you all think would be an appropriate mentor? The person has to be someone who is more familiar with the district than the new superintendent is. And how much do you think the person should be paid and for how long? Dr. Royster did not have a mentor–other than maybe John Garret, who may still have been around. Who eased Durflinger into the job?

  25. Personally, since there is going to be a mentor, I hope it is Jeannie Williamson. Surely, the board would not even consider Hinton. He will go down in history as the worst superintendent of Dist. 150.

  26. Come on… Eureka College just selected 3 candidates from California for a teaching position… there are NO Superintendent or History teacher candidates locally??? Wake up, Peoria.

    How long do you think these people intend to stay in Peoria? Not past the next open job someplace else. That’s how long.

  27. A public service, non-profit news organization in San Diego called her the 2nd in command at the San Diego public school system (which has 10x more students than D150). She was appointed to that temporary position in September after both the superintendent, Terry Grier, and then 2nd in command left the district.

    http://www.voiceofsandiego.org/education/schooled/article_6fd60a99-4ef3-57e0-9819-bb19b92e0101.html

    Also, here is a link to the administration page of the San Diego school district – showing Lathan directly under the interim superintendent, with the title of interim deputy superintendent.

    http://www.sandi.net/20451072010436100/site/default.asp

  28. I would like to know what the definition of a “mentor” means in this case? Personally, I don’t think that it should be one particular person. I for one can think of many qualified individuals. Maybe a group of volunteers that is made up of a small business owner, a couple of parents, a retired and current teacher, a few students, and possibly a dean or a counselor from one of our schools. I am not talking a big group, but a nice blended variety of folks from the community. I don’t think that a “mentor” should receive compensation. We have enough people in this community that can help. As far as all the logistics go, there are enough people in the central administration to assist with the day to day grind. Ms. Lathan has been hired. We can point out all of the “should have’s;” “could have’s;” “would have’s;” and a vast assortment of negatives. But the unanimous vote has been cast. I am hopeful that she will come in and shake things up. I want to see someone stand up in this community and demand the madness to stop now. Hopefully, one of our BOE members will give a clear-cut definition of what the “mentor” position is.

  29. If Lathan can ‘fix’ Dist 150, maybe she will be worth the money, however……. that is a big if; if she has the ability and know-how, if Dist 150 doesn’t go bankrupt [any further I mean], if the city of Peoria will LET her fix Dist 150, and if her plans to ‘fix’ 150 do not in anyway interfere with the proposed museum…she just might get something done!

  30. Interim Deputy Superintendent… WTF?

    “As a school district insider who was already overseeing principals under Grier, Lathan represents a conservative pick for the school board. The pick surprised principals — gasped out loud when Lathan was announced at the school board meeting. ”

    “It looks like the revolving door at San Diego Unified may keep spinning, ”

    There doesn’t seem to be any good news coming out San Diego. Maybe Ms. Lathan is the bright spot in an otherwise depressing series of events.

    I have written a local reporter and an administration member from San Diego for some background on all the controversies there.

  31. A cynic is an optimist with experience… that describes me.

    I don’t necessarily look for it, but I certainly have the ability to recognize now.

    Don’t you think for $200,000 we ought to get something other than an untested candidate?

  32. Strong1 – I like your suggestion of Williamson as a mentor. Someone that can provide some District 150 background information, plus I think she seems pretty sharp. I think it is insightful that the Board has suggested a mentor might be in order. Certainly, if I was Lathan I would not want to rely on the existing administration that is left to bring me up to speed.

    I do not understand why some feel her starting salary is so objectionable?? What would you expect a superintendent of a large and troubled school district to be paid?

  33. Frustrated;
    Do you know how much $200,000 is?

    $548 every day of the year. EVERY day.

    Do you how much minimum wage is?

    $46 every day of the year.

    So, do you think is $502 a day above a “living wage” is fair and just? Remember, that $502 does not require the recipient to sweat, strain, do or produce anything at all.

  34. charlie,

    stay on point. how is lathan (and schau, for that matter) going to guide the district through the loss of all FIRST, SECOND, THIRD, FOURTH, AND FIFTH year teachers due to the loss of stimulus dollars? How do lathan and schau propose to oversee the weeding of administrative positions while at the same time shedding 20-30% of the workforce? how can the BOE bury their heads in the sand when they were last week told the state is looking at cutting general state aid by 20%, and other general state shared revenues will follow suit? did no one pay any attention to this being reported on WEEK?

  35. Frankly, I believe that a secretary could provide guidance as good as Williamson can provide. I like Dib’s idea (which is much more realistic) of a group of people–each one to provide guidance in a certain area. Dr. Lathan should need guidance only with regard to “housekeeping” chores–where are the files, etc., what issues need attention, etc.–probably no one person who hasn’t been on Wisconsin Avenue on a daily basis has all that knowledge. What about Durflinger–isn’t he knowledgeable enough by now?

  36. Illinois received 1 billion dollars in stimulus money LAST FRIDAY. Bet you don’t hear anyone is D150 talking about the money that should be here THIS WEEK. Isn’t it funny how they never talk about money when they have it(quietly give raises and bonues to upper admin.), but whine incessantly when they DON’T? I am also curious as to why the new supt. will be receiving TRS (retirement) and money in an anuity. Could it be that she cannot collect TRS in IL because she has not paid in enough to receive retirement benefits therefore will be withdrawing that money “when she leaves” on top of the anuity money. Kinda like a DOUBLE retirement. whuhuhu! lucky for you!

  37. Charlie – are you sure you are not kcdad?? He hates anyone that makes any money as well.

    What would you expect someone charged with the responsibility of running District 150 to make. Seasoned teachers earn $75,000.

  38. I have been teaching for more than a decade in D150 and have a Master’s degree. I made $48,000 last year, Frustrated. What do you mean seasoned? Where can I buy the seasoning salt because I would LOVE to make $75,000 a year……

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