On another thread, Peoria Public Schools Board of Education member Jim Stowell asked this question:
Charter schools will be the focus of Monday night’s meeting. Thoughts? Please address funding, teacher (union) leadership and involvement, parental and student responsibility – and focus of curriculum. I have heard of a desire for both a math-science school and a vocational charter. Seven are left and several applications are already moving forward.
This is a great opportunity to give feedback to the board, and I didn’t want my readers to miss it, so it’s the question of the day. More information about charter schools in Illinois can be found at the Illinois State Board of Education’s website. You might also find this resource helpful. And I also gave a brief overview of charter schools in this old post from a couple years ago.
Jon: No wonder Jim wants to meet with you–you know more about charter schools than he does.
Sharon: Let me just tell you a little story. When I was first married about 15 years ago, the dozen or more couples my husband and I socialized with lived in and around the Sheridan/War Memorial area. Almost everyone of those couples moved from the neighborhood when their children reached school age. They did not move for a bigger house or a 3 car garage, they moved due to the schools. The few that remain send their children to private school. I believe families would be more inclined to remain in stable neighborhoods like the one that I referred to, if they had more school choice. Another friend recently moved due to the fact that her daughter just graduated from Washington Gifted and did not wish to pursue the IB diploma that would allow her to attend Richwoods but, did not want to attend Central which is the desginated high school for where she lived. What if the MST choice was available or what if their was a magnet college prep high school that allowed anyone in the District to attend. . . . well then she might not have moved.
A MST charter school is not going to cure all that ails the District but it is a start.
Sharon, thanks but my info is primarily what I’ve learned on the internet as well as from the discussion at the board committee meeting, not to mention my own hopefully common sense assessment. In other words, I’m probably wrong.
CJ – I looked up that March 12 article about admin salaries and consultant pay that angelwiththorns just noted – that was extremely helpful. Diane, I especially liked your post about how you came to the conclusion that 150 was REALLY messed up and exactly why.
Jon – Sharon’s right, you do know a lot about charter schools, so let me ask you a question. A charter school does not necessarily have to hire an “charter school operator,” does it?
I thought a charter school was formed by a community group coming together and initially agreeing on a education concept, in this case a middle school MST and then submitting that concept for Board approval. Thereafter, I thought the community group went to work on putting together all the pieces, i.e. curriculum, facility, contracts, etc. and hire a school administrator. I imagined that the community group might hire a temporary consultant to advise them on curriculum or other setup measures but I thought it was the Board of the charter school, along with the hired charter school administrator that did much of the leg work and would ultimately run the school. I understand that some charter schools can be run by groups like Edison, but they don’t have to be, do they????
Frustrated, everything that you have said is correct, but note that it is not the ONLY way. In the case of 150, it seems it was the district, led by Hinton, who chose to initiate, or at least coordinate this initial path (the charter exploratory committee, led by Fischer, but involving many community members – Glen Barton for one also presented to the board at the committee meeting). I don’t know if the district paid for all of this from its own funds (trips to charter schools in Chicago, Indianapolis, Denver, Los Angeles, as well as Dr. Fischer an maybe others) – it would seem some or all likely came from state grant money. Some of the board members also went on some of the charter school trips. It seems to me that the district wants to “pick its partner” as to who will run the charter, and that Baron has or will get PeoriaNext to do it. See their website at http://www.peorianext.org. PeoriaNext is a non-profit with members such as CAT, Bradley, OSF, etc whose goal is:
Our Mission:Through collaboration and creativity, Peoria NEXT will facilitate Discovery, Innovation and Commercialization of new technologies for economic development.
By no means does the charter holder have to hire an operator like Edison. However, given the goal to start in Fall of 2010, it is likely (at this time) that they will hire one. In that case, I would envision the Board of PeoriaNext establishing a committee, working WITH 150 and/or their consultants, to select the operator and determine the curriculum and business plan.
I understand many people don’t want the district involved in the creation of the charter and some won’t want a company like Edison running it, but it seems that the Board of Ed really holds the cards here and Hinton has put together a plan that seems hard to argue against. Part of that rationale is based on what seems to be the fact that thus far no community group has stepped up to create the charter on their own.
Jon – one more thing. Do you know the names of the other members of the group in addition to Dr. Fischer and Mr. Barton??? My interest, like I think many others, is that there are some “fresh” thoughts and leadership involved in the process of developing this charter school. Although, I don’t always agree with Diane, she is spot on, that trust and confidence in District Administration is at a low point. In order to get more community buy in, it is important to understand who all the players are on the team and what their roles are.
I know that the Board has gotten a lot of push back of late, but I really believe they are becoming much more aggressive in attempting to “right” the District and I appreciate their continuing efforts. What a job they have in front of them!!!
There was another woman who spoke but I don’t remember her name. It’s hard to say, but there may have been another 6 or so who were there who had served on separate committees for the exploratory committee. The only person I knew was Ken Brooke, but I don’t know if he was there because he was on a committee or just as an interested parent.
Assuming that next week the Board approves the charter process, I think it would be great if Diane could volunteer to serve on the committee.
Diane has a lot of energy and is passionate about improving the District. I think it is an outstanding idea. How about Diane?
Frustrated: All the stories you just told me–I could match all those stories with those of my own–I am not unaware or unsympathetic. Also, I have a friend who lives in the Rolling Acres attendance area; that area fought against Edison. My friend claims that few children in that area go to 150 schools–left 150 or went to private schools because of Edison. My problem is not that I don’t understand or agree with your point of view. My problem is that there is another side of the story and I see that side, too. Both sides have merit. There are kids on the other side, too. I just don’t know how to choose between the two. More importantly District 150 has no right to choose between the two–both groups are their responsibility. Also, I continually hear all kinds of negative stories coming out of Manual–about the way teachers are treated, the way discipline problems are not handled, about how students are trying to find a way out–students like your friend’s that do not want to pursue the IB program (their only way out), and nobody is listening or even cares what happens at Manual. I hear about a principal at Lindbergh being fired because some parents were unhappy; I hear all kinds of more serious complaints about Manual’s leadership–and no one will be fired. I’m frustrated because I’m conflicted. Then, of course, add to that the fact that I see charter schools from a teacher’s point of view. I don’t share the view that tenure and the teachers’ union are the culprits in District 150–Chicago maybe, but not here. I can see both sides of that issue but I know that teachers would not have a prayer in 150 without tenure–there certainly wouldn’t be any whistleblowers even on this blog letting all of you know how things really are in 150. In fact, take away tenure and 9 chances out of 10 it is the good teachers, not the bad teachers, that will be on the chopping block. Teachers who cater to principals, etc., are often not the best teachers–they just know that keeping their jobs has nothing to do with their teaching.
Jon: Your, “Hinton has put together a plan that seems hard to argue against.” Wow! I have yet to see a Hinton plan that couldn’t be argued against–with strong arguments. Who wrote this plan for him?
EmergePeoria said: “The names of the individuals who sit on the MST Board were published in the November Issue of D150’s ‘Making the Grade’, along with their plans to research charter schools. They are working with Dr. Cynthia Fischer.”
The November issue of “Making the Grade” is online here. There is an article about the MSTA, but I do not see where it lists the names of the advisory committee members. In fact, I can’t find the members listed anywhere. It does, however, list the members of the superintendent search committee, which some of you may find interesting.
Yes, I looked up the Making the Grade as Emerged suggested and could not find a listing of person involved with the charter school. Hopefully, someone else that reads your blog will know.
Sharon-
You have many good points regarding the problems in 150.
This past year a principal does not report a possible crime to her supervisors or the police. Does she get fired? No she gets moved to another building. Last year there were several concerns about the principal at Roosevelt. Does she get fired? No she gets a different admin position at Manual. The prinicpal at Lindbergh gets fired because some parents do not like her and she reportedly is “not a good fit. Is she not a “good fit” because she challenged the unethical practices of Mary Davis?
As more allegations surface against Mary Davis (the latest mentioned above in this thread), the public image of the district continues to take a beating. I have no doubt that there are Board members and administrators that want change to take place. Start by addressing the issue with Davis and the principal. Give the prinicpal a fresh start at a new school. Fire Davis. Of course the ongoing police investigation may take care of this. Encourage others to come forward if they are aware of corrupt behavior in the district. Maybe, just maybe the ship can then be turned around and head to “true north”.
Wow!! Thanks again CJ for downloading the Making the Grade! After reading the entire publication. I do not know why any of us are worried. What saddens me most is that it all sounds good but there is no follow through. We have to go no further than the “Wacky Wednesdays”. I have talked to many teachers who say it is a joke. There is no consistency and accountability. There was supposed to be an continual update, requested by the board. At one time they were going to hire an outsider to evaluate the program. I, also, could not find who is on the Charter School Committee. By the way, interesting group on the search committee!
http://www.psd150.org/parents/docs/MAKING_THE_GRADE.pdf
@ Frustrated, my bad, it is in the August 2008 issue of Making the Grade an article states the Foundation is “… is currently assessing the impact that charter schools and academic programs-of-choice can have on the school district and community.”
So I deduced (notice I did not say assume :)) that the Foundation Board will be the MST Charter School Board.
The Foundation is classified under the Federal Internal Revenue Code as a 501 (c)(3) nonprofit organization and as such could hold the Charter.
The Making the Grade newsletter is not put up on the District website regularly, but the two that the District currently have up have a lot of useful information in them…
“maybe the ship can then be turned around and head to “true north”.”
Sorry… not possible. You can not change a bureaucracy. You can only shut it down and start over.
Mary Davis, … what a perfect example of District 150 at its very best…. (note: sarcasm implied) she should be the covergirl of their 2010 calendar.
Any suggestions for the monthly models… Hinton gets January, of course. (Janus, The god with two faces)
Jon and Frustrated, thanks for floating my name, but I would not be interested. I am more concerned about the overall health of the district which cannot be cured by the creation of one school which, no matter how it is painted, will be available only to “the chosen”. Best example I can think of was the Mandarin Program, which was so novel, but in the meantime a majority of our kids couldn’t read or write English.
I would, however, be interested in serving on the Superintendant Search committee, because I think that choice will be key to the future of District 150 and Peoria. It is CRUCIAL that person be a proven agent of change and not just a lapdog to the existing political structure.
…which is why they most likely would not invite me to sit on that committee.
The Mandarin Program still has legs, it would complement the MST program.
Diane: Of course, I agree that the charter school will not cure the ills of District 150. Along the way, it may create new problems–but I’m willing to wait and see where this takes 150. I guess our District Watch group will not be folding any time soon. 🙂
According to #150 Board Policy 2:105, the district should have an Ethics Advisor appointed by Ken Hinton. Does anyone know who the advisor is?
Also if a complaint is filed, a three person Ethics Commission is to be appointed to investigate the matter.
Is the Davis situation being investigated by such a group?
I volunteer!
The ethics panel is Ken Hinton’s Mom, His best friend and his son. ha hahahahhaha
Have any of you heard of a new method of handling the finances of all various school organizations? First of all, is the new internal auditor for 150 connected in some way to the museum or Build the Block? This rumor is confusing. I have heard that “someone” is proposing that all of the moneys collected at individual schools (student council, band, speech, etc.) go into the education fund and then have the central administration distribute the reimbursements and manage the funds. One reason given for the change would be that if a sponsorship would fold (OR A SCHOOL CLOSE), the money would already be controlled by the district.
I know that the Lindbergh situation has pointed out problems with the way these various accounts are handled and “policed.” However, turning all the money over to the “Cahills” of this world isn’t a good idea either (although I guess Galesburg is ready to do that. 🙂 The sources of these funds are often parent and student groups that have worked very hard to raise revenues for various causes, etc. I can’t imagine that all are ready to co-mingle funds in this manner.
Sharon,
I’ve heard that rumor and find it laughable, but sad as well. While the task may seem simple enough I see it as fraught with potential errors and manpower issues, let alone timing problems. Then to have it centralized at the admin office would probably mean hiring another employee. Personally it would be spending dollars to possibly save pennies misspent or not properly accounted for. The primary and middle schools are not flush with funds and if a principal can’t be trusted with the candy fund raiser monies they should not be a principal in the first place! The other issue will be getting the vocal and more powerful high schools to knuckle under and give up control of their sizable funds. The alumni associations at RHS and PHS for instance have some major dollars maintained there. FOIA last year’s School Activity Report if you don’t believe me, but we’re talking about hundreds of thousands that truly belong to the individual high schools and NOT for Hinton & company to squander!.
Emerge – I am impressed, you really read the fine print. I imagine you are correct that the Foundation members make up the advisory group for the charter school project. A year or so ago, the PJS had a big article on Dr. Chiou (I believe). The individual was a doctor who was really pushing for the development of a charter school. He seems like a focused individual by the article and I was excited that someone like that was pushing for change.
Diane – I agree that you or someone like you, that is a current District 150 parent, would be a fine addition to the search committee. Although there are a number of names on the committee that will add value to the search, none I believe currently have children attending District 150. I will give a free pass on this to Mr. Cannon, who works on a regular basis with young people and clearly understands what today’s youth are about.
WithoutMalice: I certainly know that there are funds with lots of money in the high schools–and that alumni, etc., are not going to turn them over to 150. This sounds very much like an effort for 150 to get a hold of the money from the high school to be closed. I would imagine PTO’s will also put up a fight. I wonder about the legality of all of this–and how and if District 150 can pull it off.
Frustrated: I thought that the couple responsible for restoring Junction City were also pushing for charter schools.
If the couple who are developing Junction City are one of the forces behind the charter schools, I am a little confused as I thought that area was part of the Peoria Heights School district and their children attend a private school already.
As I looked at the Foundation members in the August issue, I noticed that these members do not have children in the district, as with the search committee. I do know that 1-2 of the Foundation members have children who have graduated from Peoria Schools.
As to the search committee, I thought the district had hired a consulting firm in the last month. I had also been told that ISBE will conduct these searches for free but financially money strapped District 150 voted to spend $50,000.00 plus for a consulting firm!
I meant to say that the couple reside in the Peoria Heights district, not Junction City.
The saga continues…
http://www.pjstar.com/homepage/x818360461/Hinton-More-Peoria-schools-could-be-closed
Yeah, lets put these guys in charge of even more schools – the last few have worked out so well.
Of course, I pick up on all the Manual references–one letter to the editor from the PJS article that Diane just referenced states, “They pink slip 1st and 2nd year teachers knowing that that impacts Manual and reduces its teachers by, in some academies, 70%. A lot of money was spent on those new teachers for professional development. What are they thinking?” That was at the beginning of this school year–when money was already scarce–that money for professional development was poured into Manual for teachers who will be gone by the end of the year. 70% of that faculty have been pink-slipped, so the District didn’t get its money’s worth from professional development. Actually, if all that I hear is true, several of the “new” teachers had already found new jobs for next year before they were pink-slipped and several were deemed to be “not a good fit” for Manual. One of the promises of this “new” Manual was built on “looping,” the concept that students do better if they have the same teachers over a period of two years or more. So much for that dream. Who will replace these “hand-picked” Manual teachers? Why some of the veteran teachers who are being uprooted from their jobs because of school closings. Will they be happy to be going to Manual? Probably not. If Manual’s leadership had a difficult time of making the new teachers “happy campers” this year, wait until the building is filled with involuntary transfers.
Just for FUN, here’s my analogy of the situation:
District 150 is like a family with 10 kids. In the beginning 150 buys a house from his parents to raise his kids in. Shortly he’s paid off the house, so he has no debt, but he never did the upkeep on the house. He realizes he has a crappy house, but figures he’s got a good job – he and the whole family contribute to bring down about $100k, so he decides to take an equity loan and do some maintenance, finish the basement, even do an addition. It’s tight, but they make do.
But his kids get older and start moving out of the house – now he’s got just 7 kids living there. And those 3 that left no longer contribute anything to the family, so the family’s making $90k. He’s become more lax in his discipline, and a few of his kids have become troublemakers – he’s got to pay for tickets and damaged property, so his expenses go up. He keeps hiring his friends to help him do some work around the house and his expenses go up again. Then the economy hits and that bonus he used to always get goes away, so now the family total is only $80k. But he still has that big house that he no longer needs and he still owes a lot of money on it and he just can’t seem to tell his friends he no longer can afford them.
His wife (Charter) is itching to leave. She can’t bear to part with the whole family, so they work out a separation, but still legally married. To entice him to go along, she’ll take two of the kids, which cost him 10k to take care of, but she’ll only make him pay $8k. He figures he’s got to do it, cause he’s broke and these kids don’t like him anyway. The wife figures he’s an idiot, she’ll do better with $8k than he did with $10k. (Besides, she figures the “good” kids will want to come with her).
He’s been telling his family and friends that financially, it’s tight but he’s OK. He and his accountant meet all the time to discuss things – they even decided it was OK to do those last few home improvement projects. But he and the accountant mysteriously part ways. His dad has been watching things all along, but not too closely – he trusts his son. But dad has been worried as of late – 150 tried to do some wacky things. Dad brings in a new accountant – son is so messed up he has to get a couple of them to sort things out.
And today the new accountants tells Dad what he feared about his son 150 all along, as reported in the pjstar link.
Really, this was just for FUN:)
Wow! What an financial state the District is in. A PJS blogger to this article stated she is “oddly put at ease” by the news. I would have to agree. I think we are finally getting to the bottom of things. I know all of you hate those consultants but my impression is that Durflinger and Butts are worth the expense and I hope they can stay on to straighten things out.
Frustrated The problem with Butts and Durflinger is not that we have hired them, but we are still paying Cahill! If someone is not doing his/her job firing is in order. District 150 has done it before!! Thank you Diane for the new Hinton bombshell. I can not help but think that if the board president and superintendent had not brought in Cahill to begin with, we would at least have been more honest with our budget!
kpower – I agree, but that is just the way of the world. Mr. Cahill had a contract with the District and the District had to abide by those terms, else it would have cost them much more in legal fees. The real problem lies in the fact that Mr. Cahill’s performance should have been scrutinized much more agressively during his tenure and we should have exercised the termination clause in his contract much sooner.
Hinton should have been able to follow the budget. But I do not think he knew enough about it. He should have been held accountable right along with Cahill.
Jon – that was adorable. I’m starting to wonder though if Cahill was just the fall guy. It’s easy to blame him when he is longer here to defend himself but perhaps there is more to the story…
Now you are thinking Diane… get rid of the fall guy, pay him 9 months severance pay so in effect doubling his salary as he takes a new job and gets paid twice. He is happy, and you are happy because you have somewhere to point… and the public is happy because we now have a devil to hate. meanwhile… another fall guy is being groomed for the next blowup. (Better put your house up now and start looking for a new job Mary Davis
Jon and Frustrated:
Just curious, what was your true motivation for asking Diane to join a committee?
Here is why I ask – I am an inner city parent, my child and neighborhood is affected by every decision that District 150 makes, oh by the way, I am a minority. Would I not be a good candidate?
Emerge: Is it time to reveal your identity so that you can be considered for leadership in your community–and the city, at large? I do believe that your voice is one that should be heard. Also, I believe that Diane has expanded her interests, especially over the last few months to include all areas of the city–not just the one in which she lives. In fact, efforts to improve District 150 will have to bring together people with “conflicting interests” before 150 can progress. What I mean by that is that the north end of Peoria and the inner city must come to realize that the needs of both groups must be met to make 150 a success. Progress will never come if competition for services motivates all change. 150 cannot continue to be a district with x number of failing schools versus x number of achieving schools.
Forgot to remind all: Meeting at Godfather’s at 6 p.m. on Sunday, May 17. Of course, the main issue is the proposal on the BOE table to close a high school. However, any 150 issues are legitimate topics of conversation for all of us. Again–my opinion–we don’t all have to be of like mind to come together. In fact, progress means that we have to work together and to sort out our differences of opinion about what is best for 150.
Jon and Frustrated:
🙂 Just teasing! 🙂
Emerge – my suggestion of Diane was half serious, half a playful challenge (following up on my comment to her of “Keep your friends close and your enemies closer, join up with District 150 and make a Peoria charter school a reality”). I like the charter school idea, and I believe that Diane was skeptical because it was being driven by 150. I understand and appreciate her concern that the problems of 150 won’t be fixed by a charter (I agree). Hinton is already going to retire and there is a search for a new super and controller. Change is a step by step process and I believe the charter school is a good step. Yes, we can also address a myriad of other issues, so I think Diane’s desire to be involved in one of these other issues (the search for the new super) is wise.
I agree that more parental involvement is needed, so to that end I would look to ANY concerned parent who is willing to get involved to do so, especially those who are critical of the current situation and have offered suggestions for change. You would seem to be another person who I believe would be beneficial to helping in this process.
To clear up any doubt the undertones of both Jon’s and Frustrated suggestions were not lost on me. If there was a concern that I would in some way be flattered, don’t worry.
That said, I very much enjoy and look forward to their comments and insights.
150 cannot continue to be a district with x number of failing schools versus x number of achieving schools.
or, to expand a little further Sharon – 150 cannot continue to be a district with X number of achieving schools AT THE EXPENSE OF X number of failing schools.
Darn it! I hate it when I write up some long-winded reply – and miss the intervening posts!!!
Diane: Agreed!
Jon – multiple windows 😉
Good answer Jon!