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.
Jon: “Acceptable reasons” is not easy to answer in that districts come up with different plans to make sure schools are treated equally (hence the Comparability Study). Title I fund can only be used for reading and math improvement: instructional salaries and materials. The grant makes the districts plan every expenditure before they receive it. If I were you, I would FOIA the NCLB Consolidated Grant for the 09-10 school year. Make sure you specifically ask for it in that way. I would also add “i.e. ALL Title grants and supporting reports” You will then be able to get some answers on specifics D150 gave.
As for special Ed, I wish it were that easy to cut the entitlements in half and then have half the expenses therefore saving a great deal of money. Special ed is reimbursed by the state, allbeit not 100%, but it is reimbured. Students deserve the interventions and accomodations they need to perform on an even playing field. I am NOT advocating removing services from deserving students. I am suggesting that D150 follow the same rules as other didtricts.
Hope this helps:)
Someone who knows: can you ballpark the spec ed reimbursement by the state? It’s not 100%, but is it closer to 100% or 50%? If it’s closer to 100%, it’s largely a moot point when it comes to budgetary relief. If it’s closer to 50%, given the vast number of spec ed students, it’s a sizable issue and we should see some relief (at least at the K-8 grades). Do you know if there are any similar “rules” to be enforced for high school students? Peoria appears to have a very high number, relative to the state and other similar districts, in this area as well. I am not advocating removing services from deserving students either, but statistically speaking, it’s likely that with the change in “rules” there will be many who are determined to not be “deserving”.
As for Title 1, it would appear that much of the allocation problem has now been fixed – according to that PJStar article last May, far more schools would share in those funds than before. But interestingly, you’re suggesting I FOIA the 09-10 school year – maybe there is more to the story? Do you talk in a deep voice? š
Diane and Kool aid, you both are correct! Ptacek has stated his standards are higher than the previous administration….wow….didnt realize that Centralia was outperforming RW…thats not what Ill Rept Crds indicate. Also it is sad for the kids and the city if the new HR and Ptacek were given the power to fire an IHSA and national hall of fame coach. Marty Hickman, Executive Director of the IHSA is on record praising Gross and others stating that communities and school districts are lucky to have such coaches working with student athletes…..this action is raising many eyebrows statewide. I dont think this will go away for quite sometime.
TR64: request the emails from the server
Illinois School Code, Article 10, School Board, (105 ILCS 5/10-21.9) (from Ch. 122, par. 10-21.9) Sec. 10-21.9 Criminal History records checks and checks of the…(c) of this Section or have been convicted, within 7 years of the application of employment with the school district, of any other felony under the laws of this state…”
I didn’t see anything that indicated the year or date this policy was put in place. If the date was provided, I missed it.
Jon–I think I’m beginning to understand your reasoning. However, I believe you have stated you have or will have high school age chldren. I believe, also, that you and Frusrated (and I) agree that high performing students should be given the utmost in educational opportunities. If special ed students are mainstreamed (as they are at Manual), then the higher performing students in the same classes (because there are large numbers in Manual classes) will be short changed–no doubt about it.
Did I hear that it is possible to FOIA e-mails of district employees? The D150 school policy 6:235AP does state āRecognize that electronic mail (E-mail) is not privateā. Has anyone out there FOIAd a D150 e-mail? And, if so, how specific do you have to be? (sorry if thatās a hanging chad, Iām not a teacher:). For instance, can the FOIA request say āall e-mails between āJohn Smith principalā and āMike Jones administratorā from Dec. ā08 to Nov. ā09? Just wondering.
Yes, TR64 all e-mails on psd150 mail servers are foia-able. Here is a post I made regarding foia’d e-mails.
http://peoriarocks.blogspot.com/2008/07/local-still-swingin.html
At the time I wrote that post, I was still waiting for D150 to fulfill my FOIA request. Eventually it was filled with about $140 worth of hard copy e-mails. Contrary to what Mr. Hinton had REPEATEDLY told the public, the e-mails from teachers to Central Admin were overwhelmingly against the concept of Wacky Wednesdays. Long story short- Hinton either lied to the public and the board or he has horrible short-term memory.
Bear in mind that many in sensitive Admin positions use their home e-mails in order to avoid detection, but I believe that those may be foia-able as well if they pertain to District Business. That point I’m not certain on but I *think* this issue just arose with the Illinois Governors office
Someone should FOIA the economic interest statements on file as per Board Policy- Peoria Public Schools, District 150 5:120. It could be interesting.
General Personnel
Ethics
All District employees are expected to maintain high standards in their school relationships, to demonstrate integrity and honesty, to be considerate and cooperative, and to maintain professional relationships with students, parents, staff members, and others. The following employees must file a “Statement of Economic Interests” as required by the Illinois Governmental Ethics Act:
1. Superintendent;
2. Building Principal;
3. Head of any department;
4. Any employee responsible for negotiating contracts, including collective bargaining
agreement, in the amount of $1,000 or greater;
5. Hearing officer;
6. Any employee having supervisory authority for 20 or more employees; and
7. Any employee in a position that requires an administrative or a chief school business official endorsement.
Ethics
Here is the full link:
http://www.psd150.org/BOE/Policies/Section5.pdf
For those interested in 150 money matters: The 2008-09 audit was due on October 15, 2009, but 150 filed for an extension with Regional Office of Education until November 16, 2009. I guess they don’t have their books in order or their ducks in a row, yet they are ready to vote on spending $30 million on Monday night.
Sharon-
it is not uncommon for schools and other organizations to file for extensions. It could pertain more to the workload of the company completing the audit than anything D150 has done or not done.
Keith: (and Jim who is listening for my second-guessing) I should not have editorialized–just the facts.
Jon,
I am enjoying our conversation, sounds like you are quite knowledgeable about school issues…good for you! I wish more people were as informed. Misleading information given by the current administration hurts all of us.
Here is a web site to the funding for special education: http://www.isbe.net/funding/pdf/state_sped_funding.pdf
There are different formulas for salaries, materials, and transportation. Then each of these is broken down into even more formulas. It would be difficult to put a percentage on the whole thing…an educated guess would be around 66% overall, but that is just a guess.
Here is the contact information for the Special Education Division at the ISBE:
Beth Hanselman
Assistant Superintendent for Special Education
217/782-4870 Springfield
312/814-5560 Chicago
Springfield Office
217/782-5589
217/782-0372 (Fax)
217/782-1900 (TDD)
David Andel
Division Administrator
Donna Schertz
Supervisor
They are usually quite helpful.
As for the NCLB Consolidated Grant…FOIAing it will give you specifics on what schools are to receive allocations and what those allocations are to be used for specifically. I am sure there is no mention of using the funds for choir groups to go to Jamestown to sing for the Queen (sorry, I couldn’t resist:).
According to the National Security Archive at The George Washington University: (FOIA Basics) ” 2) Educational Institutions – …Educational requesters are required to pay duplication costs, but are entitled to the first 100 pages without charge…” Also, note exemptions for duplication costs under “FEE WAIVERS” section. Lastly, “…amended in 1996 to allow for greater access to electronic information.” I can’t vouch for the accuracy of the National Security Archive, but I believe D150 charges $.25/copy after the first 10 free pages.
Really–I get only the first 10 pages free.
You can Google “The National Security Archive The George Washington University” if you want to look into it.
It appears that a requester who doesn’t qualify for “2) Educational Institution” could be categorized as “5) Other Requesters – …required to pay search costs for more than 2 hours and duplication costs for more than 100 pages.”, according to The National Security Archive (The George Washington University).
I really don’t have a problem with paying–since it is taxpayer money and teachers don’t have enough paper.
I choose to believe most at D150 (admn and BOE) are honest and would want to know if policies/practices were not in compliance with the U.S. Gov’t. Maybe D150 is in compliance and I just misunderstood The National Security Archive. The site does appear to be up-to-date.
Sharon:
What is a Title 1 teacher and how many are there in District 150?
I have heard a couple things. Tom Simpson, Cindi Fischer and Cheryl Sanfilip (maybe 1 other) have started their own consulting business. They are evidently experts on school culture, (excuse me while I puke). My my, they are the ones that contributed to the horrible state of culture the district is in.
I have heard that after over a 30 year relationship between the district and the juvenile detention center (the old gift home) the special ed director, Mary O’Brian is cutting ties with the juvenile detention center . She was heard saying that the Orphanage Act money does not reimburse the program ANY MORE. No kidding, it NEVER has. It was one of the only programs making money since the district was reimbursed from the county. Another idiotic mistake by her. Please someone clean up special ed in the district. Bring someone in that knows something, this woman just does not get it and never will.
Emerge, that’s a question I can’t answer. A Title I teacher most likely would be one that is paid through Title I funds–but I don’t know how many there are and where they are. That would be a good FOIA.
If anyone could secure the above foia could you please let me know? I’ve been swamped. Or Jim maybe you could get them for me?? They should then be published for public view. The Statements of Economic Interest are designed to protect tax payers from public employees “double dipping” or using taxpayer dollars for personal financial gain. Not that I think any of that goes on, but we should be vigilant about monitoring that, particularly in light of recent events.
Or perhaps they are already on line? Anyone know?
Sharon:
Is Comprehensive System of Student Support (CSSS) tied into Title 1?
Diane, I couldn’t agree with you more. I am an elected official and MUST fill one out and take it to the county clerk each year and have it stamped as received. It is the law that a statement of economic interest be filed EACH year, not as a “district” but as an individual. We are vigilant about that across the river…..
Emerge–I am really uninformed about funding, etc.–I think there might be people who post on the blog that know much more than I do. When it comes to Special Ed and Title I, I am basically ignorant–and would like to know for whom these services are designed and who pays for them–let’s wait for knowledgeable people to post.
Emerge, CSSS is a starting ground for students who are experiencing difficulty. It is the “begining” of the mandated Response to Intervention (RTI) process which can lead to entitlement. This is where it gets tricky, you cannot double-dip and pay for programs from Title I and Special Education funds…that is a definite taboo and most everyone is aware of it. However, in the CSSS process for D150 (RTI is what most districts call it) a student is not entitled until they have utilized as many interventions as possible and the student continues to fail. These interventions can be funded through Title I. If the student does not come to grade-level standards, they then may be entitled for special ed. services at which point no Title I $ can be used for that child’s services. Is that as clear as mud?…sorry, it’s the easiest way I know how to explain it:)
Diane – We are vigilant and transparent on this side of the river š I would guess you could go to the County Clerks office and ask as that is where they are filed. I have heard them referred to as the “None” forms, as most don’t have the conflicts you think exist. What recent events cause you to think self-dealing exists? Fact-finding or fishing?
“Not that I think any of that goes on”
Jim, what part of that statement don’t you understand? No reason to be defensive. You, likewise I’m sure, want to be a custodian of our children’s education funds, no? But thank you for your advice. Couldn’t I also get them through the district? This would make more sense, as I don’t know D150 personell well enough to know who would be required to file under your Board of Education Guidelines.
SWK thank you.
It’s all just so convoluted, it’s difficult to form an opinion about it. It must be an accounting nightmare to document considering CSSS and Title 1 go almost hand in hand.
I don’t know if they are retained by the District, but rather “filed” with the clerk. A call to the clerks office might even disclose that you could “inspect” for free, thereby avoiding FOIA costs. I would imagine they would be grouped by entity (i.e.) Dist 150, and not by individual names. It was the “in light of recent events” I was really asking about. Obviously, I don’t think admin adequately ruled out alternatives other than spending $$$ to build new, but I find myself in the minority, again, I’m afraid.
Hey Jim, Thanks for your current input. You are obviously trying. That said,you can also go to the county clerk’s office and get a copy of the
McArdle vs. D150/et. al. lawsuit. Perhaps you should read it very carefully. Because, you, Ken Hinton, Tom Broderick, Mary Davis, and other board members failed to do your DUE DILIGENCE, the taxpayers are on the hook for it. And IT will cost us plenty. Thanks a lot……need more bonds?
Sorry Jim, D150 is as transparent as MUD
So Jim, how would the district know that their employees are in compliance with the state law? Is it an “honors” system? I don’t expect you to know that but maybe you could find out for me. I know we want the same things, so please don’t take it the wrong way.
The reason for asking is on fully paid administrative leave well past the sanctioned 10 days. A second reason for asking is on file at the County clerks office as referenced above.
Mabye a third one is that the district just closed a school and will now build new ones with huge state contracts using public money.
Jim and other board members need to learn that they don’t have to be defensive about searches for wrongdoing or just wrong directions in 150–it is only their fault if they don’t look into allegations, complaints, etc. Frankly, I think Jim should be thanking us (not holding my breath š ) for helping to point out areas that need attention. I am just amazed at how much the BOE members seem to feel that they need to guard and protect the administration when, in fact, they should be the watchdogs protecting the interests of the taxpayers that voted for them and the students of 150. I am so anxious to see how the board votes on Monday on the plans for spending $30 million. The board continues to give lip service to an alternative school–but I don’t see a vote or a plan on the horizon. Without it, all is lost.
We all need to stop finger pointing. Administration blames the teachers, teachers blame the administration, the board blames the teachers and administration. We all know that changes MUST be made. It isn’t important who is wrong or who is right. We need to agree to disagree FIRST. Let’s get this district back on track. Hire a superintendent with experience managing urban districts struggling with finances, NCLB, and internal chaos. I would be willing to pay that person DOUBLE what the current superintendent is making, if he/she could work with the board and community to do right by the children.
#4 Might the Edison contract have an impact economically on the salaries of Mr. Hinton and company?
Sharon, “I am just amazed at how much the BOE members seem to feel that they need to guard and protect the administration when, in fact, they should be the watchdogs protecting the interests of the taxpayers that voted for them and the students of 150.”
Yes, the board is elected by the people! Some of them do not understand that fact. (Jim, I am not including you in this statement) I feel as if they have been led like sheep to a slaughter, believing everything Hinton has told them without doing their homework.
Actually Jim after a little google research it seems that the SOEI are filed with the Secretary of State’s office and not the county clerk – a copy of which must be forwarded to the District. This article kind of lays it all out.
http://ethics.siu.edu/econint.htm
MAWB–As I look back on the decades of board history, I believe this has been a common trait–not just with this board–that they have to defend at all costs the superintendent that they chose. Maybe it’s an unwillingness to admit they may have made a wrong choice. Maybe it’s just that they spend so much time listening to this one person that they tune out the opposition. Except on board meeting nights when a few people get up to talk, the board doesn’t have the “opportunity” to listen to opposing views and they don’t seem to seek them out. When you hear only one side of a story, it isn’t too hard to fall for it, I guess. Face it, most people who become board members know very little about how schools are run, policy, etc., before they take on this daunting task–and, from a teacher point of view, they know little about teaching–the last time they were in a classroom was when they were students–the perspective is different from a student desk.
Sharon, is there not a coalition committee that has teachers, parents, admin and students?
If not, there should be!
As I look back on the decades of board history, I believe this has been a common traitānot just with this boardāthat they have to defend at all costs the superintendent that they chose.
I too have been baffled by this phenomenon, and I have come to believe that the State Board of Education is to blame. Linda Butler and I once had a long conversation and she told me this (paraphrased): After an individual is elected to a Board of Education, they attend a seminar taught by the state on “how to be a good little B of E director”. (sarcasm intended and purely my own). They teach them that they cannot act as individuals but only a body, and that their task is to support the Admin they hire and not work against him. This message is repeated like a mantra thoughout the seminar.
As I heard the description of the class it occurred to me that the State bureacracy basically bullies newly elected Board members into submission and maintaining the status quo – Popping the wind out of their sales in advance if they come into office with any big ideas about silly reform.
Why? Because the State Board of Ed. is itself nothing but a bureaucratic, self-preserving, Administrator- serving cash cow and they don’t want anyone with a brain to make waves. Sound familiar? The State Superintendent, in this case Christopher Koch is a political appointee of Rod Blagovich. The state Board of Ed is an extension of Illinois State Politics. Elections have consequences my friends, and Illinois Voters have put many a politician with questionable ethics in office and the stench infiltrates every pocket of Illinois Government. If you think our schools and our children are exempt from this chicanery, think again:
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/chi-afterschooljul20,0,6218298.story
If elected board members have a choice to attend or not attend this seminar, I would hold up a stiff middle finger.
No, the State Board of Education will not be the hope for Peoria Public Schools. The trend of local School Districts throughout the country is for control to be re-delegated through legislation to the municipality they serve. (The city).
http://www.amazon.com/Education-Mayor-Improving-Americas-Governance/dp/1589011791
Re: Brainwashed BOE. Diane, I had never heard that–could well be the “start” of that kind of thinking and then constant contact with the superintendent, etc., causes a kind of group think (that’s one of the buzz terms–not sure why I used it). MAWB, there are very few times when administrators and board members meet with teachers to discuss 150 issues (problems and solutions). My very cynical (yet I believe informed) opinion is that teachers are brought together mainly to brainwash them into believing that administration ideas are a great idea–Wacky Wednesday and new grade policy are major examples. An Administrator presided over the grade policy committee–and suggested the 50 instead of zero, etc.
More interesting reading:
http://www.iasb.com/principles.cfm
Gosh, where should we start?
Where has Ptasek gone. I dont want to hijack this thread, but since he fired John Gross he has been largely absent on here.
After reading all these comments about D150, the Julie McArdle situation, Mary Davis, Dave Lang situation, after the Gross firing, after reading some of Ptaseks thoughts and witnessing his ego and listening him talk about himself and his past adnauseum…………..I have decided that I am leaving the District after this school year. I still have 4 kids to get educated for a total of 13 school years.
The District is an absolute cesspool and for an elected board member to question the motives of concerned parents/citizens/taxpayers and get into namecalling, is unacceptable. I dont know any of you personally, but I appreciate the information you provide and that there is a forum for folks to have this dialogue. Need to keep folks honest. Best of luck to the those of you who are fighting the good fight.
Jon, I’ve just been reading over posts here and noted your question about special education reimbursement. The *intent* of Congress was to use federal funds to cover the cost of 40% of special ed services (includes cognitive disabilities, speech/language impairments, etc.) that local school districts provide. The actual level of reimbursement has been below that, however. The last # I’ve heard put the rate of federal reimbursement at 32%. I remember that number but can’t find my source. I’ll keep looking. But, that said, I’m not sure what other monies are involved in the process.
FOIA IL
“(5 ILCS 140/6) Sec. 6. Authority to charge fees.
…b) Documents shall be furnished without charge or at a reduced charge, as determined by the public body, if the person requesting the documents states the specific purpose for the request and indicates that a waiver or reduction of the fee is in the public interest…”
ISBE FOIA fees:
69 pages or less: free; 70 pages or more: $.15/copy: diskette: no chg.
Would you expect it to be free it the requester provided their own flash-drive? It would save on paper and copier costs.
Very interesting. I do think that I recall that 150 raised cost from 10 cents to 25–only a vague memory.
Well…let’s see just when you think things can’t worse they do. Today, not only was there a food fight (maybe I should call it a riot) but three students were taken into custody because of their actions towards adults. After they were corrected, because they were throwing juice boxes, open containers, food basically whatever they could they starting resisting the police officers. That’s right the police officers!I can’t believe it. It is out of control. I also was in the main office today trying to talk to a parent about some information and the kids in there were suppose to be in trouble were so loud that the parents that were in our building were ashamed as well. I was embarrassed as a professional with the way the kids spoke to guests in our building, but yet time after time when we as teachers are told it’s our fault. We send kids out because we can’t do anything else, we have tried everything we can do and they get sent right back and get told that it is our fault that we provoked the incident. I am tired of being told that it is “our” faults because we can’t handle these kids. I’m sorry but I am a good teacher and I do a lot for my kids but if we had some administration down there that could give out some consequences and back their teachers a little more we might have control of our building. But right now WE DON’T. It’s a dangerous place to be and a lot of teachers are ready to give up the profession because we are stuck and can’t get out of there. Nobody will sign a transfer, so people are left to suffer. We need help at Trewyn NOW! Not later. And twice this week I have seen someone out from the headshed, however he didn’t go into a classroom he stood in the hallway observing. He also was looking at the 5th and 6th graders who are in control not looking at the 8th graders. So once again it was hear no evil, see no evil, don’t have to correct the evil. Please come and visit our school and see what we are put through in a regular day.
And to that person who was there from the district office I appreciate you coming down to look at things and talking with some of us telling us how great of job we are doing, however we still need help. Please come down and observe more without having the principal lead you around.
Well, Jim Stowell, the next time you go down to host the Trewyn Breakfast, you better hope this doesn’t happen. Once again, our 8th graders were out of control. It all started with a huge food fight….from there, it turned into a riot!! We had students hitting students and students hitting police officers. Yes, you heard me right, police officers! These kids have no fear and the principal has no clue. Deadly combination. Is that what it will take for the horseshoe to act and put someone in place to help the teachers down there? Perhaps this would be a great time to talk to those teachers you blog about. “I talk to the Trewyn teachers.” Well, talk to them now!!
I just don’t understand why the district placed Mr. Thomas down there. Trewyn is the toughest middle school in the district, it only makes sense to place your toughest administrator in that building. Explain that to the Trewyn teachers, Jim…I’m sure they would love to hear what you have to say. Mr. Thomas is a nice man, but he cannot handle Trewyn Middle School.
Let’s recap….last week a teacher was assaulted by a student and was taken by ambulance to the St. Fransis Medical Center, today was a riot in the cafeteria. What will be next?
150 Blogger
Well, don’t mention it at the BOE meeting–Martha said she doesn’t want to hear any more bad things about “our” children. Will 150 ever act–an alternative school is needed for both middle and high school students NOW.