The Public Building Commission is worried. They still have $30 million more in bonding capacity, and they might not get to spend it if District 150 doesn’t get its act together soon.
You may recall that the Public Building Commission (PBC) was established in 1955, but school districts used it so much in the 1980s that there was significant voter backlash, which led to the state legislature making school districts ineligible to get funding through the PBC after 1993. Well, District 150 didn’t let that stop them. In 2006, thanks to then Senator Shadid and Representative Schock, District 150 got access to the PBC once again, but only until July 1, 2011. According to a Journal Star article from earlier in the year, “any project needing funding must be significantly completed by July 2011.” And that means there’s not much time left.
Spending PBC money is a win-win for District 150 and the PBC, but not for voters and taxpayers. If municipal organizations stop borrowing from the PBC, it will cease to exist, so the PBC has to keep marketing itself to other governmental bodies. Executive secretary for the PBC James Thornton has been doing just that. For months now, he’s been trying to cajole District 150 to find a way to max out the PBC’s bonding capacity. Of course, the benefit to District 150 is they get to raise taxes for capital projects without having to get voter approval.
District 150 has a new Harrison School and a new Glen Oak School under construction, and they have done remodeling and enlargement at Richwoods, Northmoor, Lindbergh, and Kellar. After all that, they thought they had used up all their PBC bonding capacity, but surprise! Due to recent annexation, the total Equalized Assessed Value of property in Peoria went up. Since the PBC’s bonding authority is set as a percentage of EAV, its bonding capacity also increased. So now the PBC and District 150 are just looking for a project — any project — that will allow them to spend this extra money.
To hear some board members talk about it, they view it as some sort of moral imperative that they use every last dollar of bonding capacity (also known as debt) — that they take full advantage of this “opportunity” to access the PBC before the five-year window closes. Thus, they are doing back bends to try and please the PBC. That’s one of the biggest reasons why they closed Woodruff High School.
That’s no way to make educational decisions. And it’s not in the best interests of taxpayers, either.
How does annexation help District 150 in its bonding capacity? Those areas annexed are in Dunlap school district. Something doesn’t sound right.
C.J.–Thanks for this explanation. Personally, I do think it’s time that 150 stops its building and renovation projects–without taxpayer approval. I still believe that Woodruff should be kept open–because closing it is bound to mean that an addition will have to be built on to one of the other high schools. Nobody is giving out any estimates as to how much it will cost to fit 1,000 students into the existing structures. I think it could well cost as much as is being saved. I know that I want an alternative school–but aren’t there enough vacant buildings available now to house an alternative school?
I’m in the dark–can someone explain the recent annexation–how was 150 able to annex any Dunlap area property?
The City of Peoria annexed the unincorporated areas that are in the Dunlap school district. Not all of the City of Peoria is in District 150. There are other school districts within the City of Peoria.
I thought Dunlap was “safe” from ever becoming part of District 150–I believe John Parkhurst, who died this week, was instrumental as a state representative in seeing to it that the Dunlap area, unlike what happened to the Richwoods area, could never be annexed. Approximately, how many residences are in this newly annexed area? West Peoria is in the reverse situation–in District 150, but not in the city of Peoria.
Sharon,
City of Peoria can annex all of the unicorporated land it desires and have followed all the legal steps required to annex additional land masses, but D150 will not grow 1 inch larger then it is right now unless they can convince another adjacent school district to unify.
Link to my site where I graphically show what is where
Red is Peoria city limits yellow D150 all other lines are school dist boundaries of the other Peo County school districts
http://peoriacountypolitics.blogspot.com/2008/03/where-is-dunlap-school-district.html
How does this relate to the closing of Woodruff? I don’t follow.
Sharon & pdman — The Public Building Commission is a separate entity from District 150. The PBC doesn’t just bond out for schools, but also for other municipal buildings in the county, such as the county jail. So the bonding limit is not based on District 150’s boundaries. Rather, “Public Building Commissions cannot have outstanding bonds that exceed five (5) percent of the assessed valuation of the county seat.” The City of Peoria is the county seat of Peoria county, so the Peoria PBC cannot have outstanding bonds that exceed five percent of EAV of the City of Peoria. Thus, when the City’s EAV increases, either through appreciating property values or annexation or whatever, their bonding limit increases as well. There’s no limit on how much of the PBC’s bonding authority District 150 can access.
🙂 Sorry I asked–it’s that money stuff that’s way over my head. But I like the sound of the conclusions you draw in the last two paragraphs of your post, C.J.–that’s good enough for me.
PI — Upon reflection, it would have been more accurate for me to say, “That’s one of the biggest reasons why they closed a high school,” because no one from the PBC said anything about Woodruff specifically. One of D150’s attorneys reported:
This belief was cited by several board members as the reason they voted to close a high school, and why they needed to vote on it immediately and not wait until a plan was in place.
I believe that Laura Petelle was the one who secured the above referenced letter from the D150 attorney and at the time I shared my concerns with Laura that once again, it was District 150 officials stating the position of the PBC, rather than the PBC speaking for itself. The fact that the PBC itself was not willing to put that demand in writing in my opinion is as meaningful now as it was then.
Diane — Yes, the letter was secured by Laura, as evidenced by the link, which is to Laura’s blog.
I’m going to go out on a limb here and suggest that the Bond authorities are not stupid people. They see the writing on the wall for what may happen when they merge these high schools.
I didn’t check the link CJ but I wasn’t suggesting you were using it inappropriately.
I am so glad to have this clarified–at least, I believe that C.J.’s explanation makes so much sense. I believe the board and Hinton have been hiding behind that $30 million threat (or desire to spend the money)–or maybe they accepted with blind faith something that had been told to them. I just had a difficult time believing the PBC was demanding that a high school be closed–that was the Chamber of Commerce folks, wasn’t it?
C.J.–What are the chances that you would be willing to express your opinion on this subject at a board meeting?
What other building projects or remodels are needed at the District at this time?
Now we’re getting to the truth. Woodruff was being sold down the river for 30 pieces of silver, so to speak. The whole idea was to fulfill one more of HInton’s dreams about brith to eternity schools. Take Woodruff off the chopping block, stop building new buildings that the taxpayers didn’t approve and can’t afford, and use one of the already closed buildings for an alternative school. I am going to be curious to find out what is going to go inside the new Glen Oak and Harrison Schools. The PBC doesn’t provide money for new desks, etc., does it? Where will the district get the money to furnish these buildings. How dismal will it be for students to walk up to a beautiful new structure and then to walk in and find old beat up furniture.
The district does need a place for the Kingman and Irving students. I don’t think it is fair to just “stuff” them somewhere.
Finally someone gets it-where is the plan?
The district had previously presented the intent to the PBC that the residual bonding authority was to be used for the programmatical themes of a math & science academy, vocational, and alternative school. It was not site specific. These are all areas I think the district needs to offer. I have asked our comptroller (who is out ill with the flu) to provide me with the figure of how much a $100,000 home would save if we rolled back the taxes and don’t bond. Look forward to the number. I wanted to use the math science capability at PHS, it needs considerable facilities upgrades, and spread the vocational to both WHS and Manual (sans Johns Hopkins). WHS to be graphic arts and computer vocational, trade skills at MHS. The PBC won’t demand action, but I appreaciate them holding us accountable to a plan (vision) that I feel is sorely lacking, but my fellow board members blindly follow. Sharon – if you came to any number of building committee meetings you would know we have been planning for the furniture and fixtures for some time, but then, that would get in the way of your “facts”. The action to close a HS was not merely to secure the bonding capability as some suggest, but to bring our operating budget in line. Some of you might have forgotten our anticipated $8-9 MILLION dollar deficit expected this year, with no reserves. I will speak at length to this to anyone who wants to talk. Do I think we need to secure the financing? YES. Do I want to raise taxes? NO. Would I rather keep the rate the same, apart from tort (seperate issue), and improve the facilities we can? Yes. By the way, a board seat is coming open. Petitions are available. It’s easy to have all the answers when you don’t have to be accountable, a little different when lives and futures are in the balance.
Again, welcome to D150. where they do too many things and not any of them well.
does that include teaching? I certainly wouldn’t jump to that conclusion. Gotta ask – If you don’t like it – what are you doing to improve it?
Jim, see how easy it is to get information–just put a rumor out and someone will straighten me out almost immediately. The old way of spreading rumors from one person to another–wasn’t “truth” seeking. Putting it out on the blogs is a way to get more than one perspective almost immediately. Did you say from where the money would be coming for the furnishings? I wish someone could find a way to get money for paper, cartrdiges, transparencies, light bulbs for overhead projectors (in lieu of paper) and supplies so much needed by teachers. It would be nice if the district (now considering year-round school) could cough up the money for fans. In my 43 years of teaching, the district provided me with 2 fans–I couldn’t count the number I bought on my own. Since you didn’t speak to my “rumor,” about overlooking the kindergarteners, can I assume that I can continue to spread that “rumor”? 🙂 So every week when I hear board members saying “yes” to every proposal coming from the superintendent (and I know that you often vote “no”), is that being accountable to taxpayers? About those petitions–doesn’t it also cost money to run a “winning” campaign? Some of us don’t have jobs and/or political connections to support such a campaign–so we’ll just have to continue to take the “cheap” route–being a thorn in the side of elected officials.
PS–there is more than one way to bring the budget into line–ending Edison and Johns Hopkins, for instance–two of the programs that have already put 150 in debt.
Jim, what does she do to improve it?–teaches against all odds with almost no support from the central administration.
You know Jim, I wouldn’t waste one more ounce of my breath trying to explain my position to you. I have witnessed your rude, infantile, and devisive attitude for way too long. I will say that I have spoken with a vast number of teachers who all say that they are embarrassed to tell anyone that they work for D150(not because of the students/staff/parents).This board of ? and sorry excuse for an administration have done a fine job of humiliating the citizens of Peoria. Instead of trying to throw it back at us, why don’t YOU do what YOU were elected to do and quit letting idiots run the show. It’s a JOKE that never seems to END.
teach – that isn’t the response I received when I visited with teachers at TJ, Columbia, Charter Oak and Trewyn in the last two days. I had good dialog with all and constructive feedback. Please elaborate on my devisive, rude, and infantile nature. How so? I volunteer. Help me.
And I’m sure that these teachers were as honest with you as Ken Hinton is with the board. The way you have attacked a lovely woman like Sharon Crews and an activist in her own rite, Diane Vespa, you have shown your TRUE self…..
Sharon – running for the position costs nothing. Bring me a good candidate to support and I will help. Central admin needs an overhaul. I get that. I advocate for school based budgeting and a de-centralized structure. Someone who won’t waste a breath to help a volunteer strikes me as someone who won’t lift a finger to help a child. I’d hate to jump to that conclusion without a dialog to see if we can’t work together.
Do you want their names to ask them? They are passionate teachers who have often challenged the Board. I value their input, and they know that. So back to your comment. Please elaborate. Sharon is a lovely woman who taught me and we have spirited disagreements. diane is also a passionate activist who I have disageed with, but have always engaged in conversation. They fire from the lip and I respond, often from the same. Collectively, I trust we all know we are working for positive change. That all you got?
ok Jim, we get it. YOU ARE A VOLUNTEER. Guess what, so am I. I know many people who are VOLUNTEERS. That does not make you special. Quit wasting time defending the pathetic excuses your board has made and clean it up. I couldn’t care less how many teachers you talked to, as I could find twice as many to contradict them. If you came to my school, I would probably sing the praises of D150 (my bread and butter) for you, sorry, that’s life in D150 (right now). Oh, my picket sign is ready to go…….
I appreciate your efforts Jim. And I am glad Laura has joined the cause. Now if another new, productive board member like the two of you would step forward, we will have something.
Hey Jon, what about you? You spend a lot of time researching the facts which is impressive. You are comfortable with managing the numbers. You have young children, so a vested interest in the success of District 150 . . . well??
I am leaving on a week long vacation today. I would really appreciate it if you all could have any problems or issues related to the management of the City or the District resolved by the time I get back. Thank you.
hey teach – with the test scores you show for your students, sure hope you have a lot of savings. They might do to you what Cat did to us, and now Obama wants to break you too! Be careful what you ask for…..
So true, Jim. Some days I wanna strangle you and other days I wanna hug you. Usually strangle though. Lol!
teach – How do you know “they’d” contradict them when you don’t know what they shared? I appreciate honesty. Evidently that is a quality you admitedly do not possess. And it is you who taxpayers entrust to teach their children? Better edit before you get found out….
I agree that it is not expensive to run for the school board. If you have a good message, are well qualified, and are believable and trustworthy, you have an excellent shot! District families pay attention to school board races and for the most part make the right choice.
So my guess is that ALL the teachers you spoke with would be happy for you to post their names? Just because they were cordial and speak passionately about their jobs (as do I) doesn’t mean they aren’t humiliated and embarrassed by the shenanigans going on over on Wisconsin Ave. Why won’t you just come right out and say that you are in way over your head and no one with one ounce of sense would run for Gorenz seat….
I’m working hard to create the change I feel is needed. The teachers I spoke to were openly critical and offered facts and observations I felt justified their positions. The bureacracy of education is daunting, not overwhelming. Thats why dialog and collaboration is needed. All parties to this fiasco are culpable. It starts with the state funding methodology and state aid formulas – extends to self-preserving administrators and a teachers union that protects the weakest links. Over my head? Your call. Working for positive change. My intent.
Jim, you really need to stop attacking people for not volunteering or running for school board–just because they are two of your “virtues.” First of all, most of what teachers do is “volunteer” work because of all they do after the 6, 7, or 8 hours of mandatory presence at a school–probably surpasses any of your efforts at volunteering. I confess that I never did much volunteering because in my younger days I was paid to work Headstart, paid to tutor pregnant girls, paid to work at Urban League, and paid to teach summer school. However, my intereaction in all those positions–interactions that took me into the homes of many of my own students and that gave me opportunities to influence and care for young people in some very meaningful ways. Paid or not paid, I gave much of my time to doing the kinds of things you are now berrating me for not doing. What I did at your age and what I can do at 72–now that’s something quite different. D150 teach, thank you for your kind words–Jim reserves all his kind words for me in our one-on-one conversations; he rather enjoys attacking me “in public”–and I give as good as I get. In spite of my disagreements with him as a school board member, Jim will always be one of those kids that I love.
Jim, your attacks on d150 teach and your accusations that she is dishonest–don’t you think you crossed a line there?
Jim, Just noticed this one, “Someone who won’t waste a breath to help a volunteer strikes me as someone who won’t lift a finger to help a child.” What on earth are you trying to say? Now we are no longer expected just to volunteer, we are also supposed to help volunteers. Did you get the idea for this cliche from the same book that Kherat got her, “They don’t care what you know until they know you care”?
Just finished reading an excellent article by Diane Vespa on her blog, Peoria Rocks! Jim, are you just that naive?
I guess the board will be discussing how to spend the $30 million.
October 27, 2009
DLC Boardroom
6:00 p.m.
During the Committee of the Whole, the Board meets publicly as a committee to hear
presentations from the administration, explore issues and ask questions. The meeting may go
into executive session. No official Board action is taken.
A. CALL TO ORDER
1. Roll Call
2. Approval of minutes from September 14, 2009
3. Discussion of projects for proposed PBC bonding
4. Other
B. MOTION FOR EXECUTIVE SESSION
I guess the board will be discussing how to spend the $30 million.
October 27, 2009
DLC Boardroom
6:00 p.m.
During the Committee of the Whole, the Board meets publicly as a committee to hear
presentations from the administration, explore issues and ask questions. The meeting may go
into executive session. No official Board action is taken.
A. CALL TO ORDER
1. Roll Call
2. Approval of minutes from September 14, 2009
3. Discussion of projects for proposed PBC bonding
4. Other
B. MOTION FOR EXECUTIVE SESSION
Manual High School is an absolute disaster. I received a phone call last night from a teacher who told me that two fires have been set in the science wing of the school. Another 150 employee told me no one was punished for having set the fires.
I recently talked with the parent of one of Manual’s pre-restructuring valedictorians. This parent indicated that because of the school’s poor administration, the school is a disorganized mess. This family is moving out of Peoria. From what I understand, another family — parents of yet another pre-restructuring valedictorian — have removed their younger child from all classes at Manual except for ROTC. Talked to one of my fellow Manual graduates who told me her niece and her niece’s friends opted not to attend Manual’s homecoming because the school’s events are so wild. They opted to go out to eat and to go to a haunted house instead. The parents of a student with whom I graduated from Manual were at an assembly at Manual recently. I was told that they were absolutely appalled by the behavior they witnessed. The administration had no control over the students. I saw yet another fellow graduate whose child attends Manual. She indicated that her son was in a class with seven other students and the teacher had no control because the teachers were told they couldn’t send any students to the dean for the first couple of weeks of school. This parent was upset by the fact that she is going to have to pay for her young adult to take remedial classes at ICC to make up for the education her child isn’t getting at Manual. I talked to a Manual student recently who told me that he was talking to a girl he was interested in and thought he might like to date. Much to his surprise, he later saw the girl in the eighth grade line. He said, “I stopped talking to her but there’s some seniors who don’t care. Eventually one of those eighth graders [at Manual] is going to get pregnant and that will be the end of Manual.” My wife walked into Manual last year and came upon a teacher who was crying because of the massive amount of irrelevant work she was having to do . . . Teachers are so severely micromanaged and bogged down with absurd paperwork that they’re ready to jump in front of a school bus. I recently heard from a teacher who stated, “You have [Manual] teachers down here walking around hoping they close Peoria High or Woodruff before they find out what a joke Manual is and close us down.” I was sent a memo from Manual in which the Manual administration told the teachers that if students are failing, don’t blame the student . . . ask yourself what you can do differently. What was wrong with Manual in the first place — students not being held academically accountable and not being held accountable for their behavior — has been magnified to the point of absurdity. The GREAT ENABLERS (to borrow a term from another teacher) have taken over and they’re worse than drug dealers because whereas when kids fall victim to drug dealers and start selling, they know they’re doing wrong and risk jail. These administrative enablers con students into believing that if they run wild, don’t do any homework, cuss out their teachers and blame teachers for “disrespecting” them when the teachers do try to hold them accountable . . . that they’ll graduate and be ready for the real world. What they prepare them for (and I’ve seen this with my own eyes — having taught GED at the county jail) is prison.
The same administrators who walk around repeating the educational cliches they’ve read in the shelf full of Ruby Payne books they have in their carpeted, air conditioned offices and say — as though they are the prophets of some great awakening only they themselves understand — “All Children Can Learn” are the same great enablers who think these very same students are too dumb . . . or too poor . . . or too disadvantaged . . . to behave in a civilized manner. They are a student’s worse enemy. No students will be have if you don’t compel them to do so . . . no matter how much money they do or don’t have . . . no matter how advantaged or disadvantaged . . .
From what I’ve been told (by two different teachers), the principal of the school is telling teachers they are to say only positive things about the school — meaning they’d better NOT tell the truth about the many, many negative things going on. (Last year, the principal told my wife (then the Manual speech coach) to tell me to “stop talking about her school.” This was shortly after I wrote an editorial critical of Manual.) Apparently, the principal thinks that the memorandum of understanding signed re: Manual gives her the right to limit people’s freedom of speech. But it’s to the point at which people are starting to speak up despite being told not to.
So . . . why bring all of this up amid a blog about money for buildings? Well, District 150 had a blank slate with Manual. They hand-picked teachers; they poured hundreds of thousands of millions of dollars into renovating a school that needed no renovation; they chose the curriculum, etc., they wanted . . . and are spending 200,000 for it . . . And when it’s all said and done . . . they’ve created a nightmare. So . . . I agree . . . don’t give them any more money to squander at the expense of our district’s children.
Oh . . . and think about this . . . The district closes Woodruff saying they need to consolidate small classes and eliminate unnecessary jobs . . . while at the same time they create a bloated, top heavy, horribly inefficient school from scratch that has more administrators per student than (probably) any other school in the state. How many administrators at Manual are making six figures? W-O-W Confiscate the checkbook.
Jeff, well said. I believe your post should be emailed to Mr. Durflinger asap. He really needs to know the truth of what is happening at Manual before he puts the last nail in the coffin of Woodruff.
Wow! What a dialogue. Now what’s to be done?
One more sane vote on the School Board and the Woodruff closing could be reversed, saving that community; Edison and Johns-Hopkins could be ditched, saving almost $1 million a year; smart administrators could be hired to bring some real order to Manual, and who knows what else could be accomplished.
Maybe the cost of the backdoor referendum could be mitigated if the $30 million in bonding doesn’t happen. (I hope you get those figures soon, Jim., but stop attacking the school activists who only want the best for public education. I love sarcasm but it must be directed at the right targets, not them.)
The vacant seat next spring is in Gorenz’s district, not mine and not Sharons’s. Will someone with sanity PLEASE step forward!
Jon–You questioned why I didn’t relate more stories about Manual–I told you they weren’t mine to tell–just waiting for Jeff to be ready. In case anyone wants to accuse Jeff of sour grapes because he wasn’t “chosen” to remain at Manual–Elaine can attest to the fact that Jeff and I did the same thing with regard to discipline, etc., at Manual in the early 2000’s–went to the PJS and Elaine took if from there. Jeff as a young teacher convinced me (as an old teacher that had not made waves) that silence out of fear is not the best policy. I know it’s a risk to come forward with the truth about what is really happening in 150 schools–not just at Manual–but I believe it could be well worth the risk if others would come forward. Neither Jeff nor I had or have personal axes to grind. Jeff is definitely an advocate for students and good teachers. The most poignant of Jeff’s comments above , I believe is that these enablers “are the same great enablers who think these very same students are too dumb . . . or too poor . . . or too disadvantaged . . . to behave in a civilized manner. They are a student’s worse enemy. No students will behave if you don’t compel them to do so . . . no matter how much money they do or don’t have . . . no matter how advantaged or disadvantaged . . .”
Jim, were you over at Trewyn when the teacher was assaulted and had to be taken to the hospital in an ambulance? Was she one of the teachers who spoke so “glowingly” about D150? Yeah, this district is in GREAT shape!
On Oct 3, 2005, I sent a 2 1/2 page email to Mary Spangler about what I observed at Manual in one of several visits. Mary forwarded my emaii to Marcey Runkle, Lead teacher at Manual. I received back two blistering emails from Ms. Runkle denying almost everthing I observed, even accusing me of entering the building without authorization. I still have a copy of my signed pass dated 10/28/05. Ms. Runkle denied gang influence that I observed saying that the gangs came from Woodruff and Peoria High, not Manual. I produced figures from from Judicial (I am getting an update for the last 2 years) showing the Manual School serviced area as being #1 in arrests, etc.
The English class I visited was sad. The teacher only asked questions from 4 or 5 kids in the front rows, while most of the class paid no attention at all. Many of the kids did not have materials. When I asked why not was told “they often leave them in their lockers or at home.” (I’m told that 2/3rds of the kids from Peoria Promise have to take remedial reading at ICC.)
When I asked Mary Spangler if she ever dropped in to visit a class, she said she attended events at Manual and that Manual was Jim Stowell’s jurisdiction.
I have many blogs about my visits to #150 schools, many of them being delightful.
Do I have a right to visit and comment? Yes, $3600 on my last real estate bill.
#150 administration took a good principal from Whittier and put her in a position where, in my opionion, she is not qualified. Same as Mr. Hinton; a very good grade school teacher; yet, in my studied opinion, an unqualified superintendent.