Lots of controversial items on tonight’s District 150 Board of Education agenda. These recommendations were just revealed a couple of weeks ago by the Superintendent, Dr. Lathan. You can read more about the rationale behind these recommendations by clicking here (PDF).
12. CLOSING OF GARFIELD PRIMARY SCHOOL
Proposed Action: On the recommendation of the Administration the Board of Education closes Garfield Primary School at the end of the 2010 – 2011 school year and authorizes the Administration to set necessary school boundaries.13. CLOSING OF COLUMBIA MIDDLE SCHOOL
Proposed Action: On the recommendation of the Administration the Board of Education closes Columbia Middle School at the end of the 2010 – 2011 school year and authorizes the Administration to set necessary school boundaries.14. BOUNDARY CHANGE FOR WHITTIER PRIMARY SCHOOL
Proposed Action: That the Board of Education authorizes the Superintendent to make the necessary boundary changes to Whittier Primary School that were in force prior to the closing of Tyng Primary School.15. CONFIGURATION FOR GLEN OAK COMMUNITY LEARNING CENTER
Proposed Action: That the Board of Education authorizes the Superintendent to change the configuration of Glen Oak Community Learning Center from K – 8 to K – 6.16. CONFIGURATION OF TREWYN MIDDLE SCHOOL
Proposed Action: That the Board of Education authorizes the Superintendent to change the configuration of Trewyn Middle School to a K-8 school.17. IB PROGRAM
Proposed Action: That the Board of Education authorize the Administration to implement The International Baccalaureate Program at the following schools: Charter Oak, Mark Bills, Sterling and Trewyn.18. ESTABLISH A CAREER AND TECHNICAL CENTER
Proposed Action: That the Board of Education authorizes the Superintendent to establish a Career and Technical Center at the former Woodruff High School. The school will be named the Woodruff Career and Technical Center.19. RESTRUCTURING OF PEORIA ALTERNATIVE HIGH SCHOOL
Proposed Action: That the Board of Education approves the restructuring of Peoria Alternative High School and relocation of the new program to the Woodruff Career and Technical Center.20. RESTRUCTURING OF GREELEY ALTERNATIVE SCHOOL
Proposed Action: That the Board of Education approves the restructuring of Greeley Alternative School and relocation of the new program to the Woodruff Career and Technical Center.21. CONTRACT WITH EDISON LEARNING
Proposed Action: That the Board of Education terminates the contract with Edison Learning.22. GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS
Proposed Action: That the Board of Education increases the graduation requirements from 18 credits (16 academic and 2 physical education) to 22 credits for Peoria and Richwoods High School students and 28 for Manual High School students. The new requirements will apply to the 2014 graduating class.23. HIGH SCHOOL REGISTRATION HANDBOOK
Proposed Action: That the Board of Education approves the High School Registration Handbook. The handbook reflects a change in how class rank is calculated, when the valedictorian calculation is completed and changes the PE requirement.24. PARENT UNIVERSITY
Proposed Action: That the Board of Education authorizes the Superintendent to establish a District 150 Parent University.a. The Parent University would be comprised of three academy sites located in the three high school regions within District 150 boundaries. There would be an academy site located at Glen Oak Primary School, Harrison Primary School and Richwoods High School. The responsibility for the development, implementation and coordination of the Parent University curriculum would be facilitated by the Family Community Coordinator in collaboration with the Title I Department. It is further recommended that the Parent-Teacher Advisory Committee serve in an advisory and advocacy capacity for the Parent University. Its primary role would be to oversee and promote the Parent University’s vision.
I haven’t seen an explanation of what’s going to happen to the vacated buildings as a result of these actions, except for the old social security administration office on Knoxville that District 150 inexplicably acquired and remodeled while trying to save money by closing other buildings several years ago. What will happen to Greeley? Or the old Washington School building on Moss? What impact will these decisions have on neighborhoods and transportation/busing overall? Perhaps these issues will be discussed tonight.
Suspended asst superintendent moved to a lower paid teacher’s job effective 5/1/11.
No, Sharon, you couldn’t have known. It’s just a strange coincidence about D150 communication. Keeping it close to the vest was mentioned in terms of discussing info prior to disclosure from the central office. I have the CD if it’s an issue.
Mind you…two years waiting clearly indicates PRIOR to Dr. Lathan’s leadership.
District 150 observer; how do you know that it is infact asst. supt. forced to teaching?
see pjstar.com
2 cents, you have the CD of what?
“What happened to the original idea (I heard) of calling all principals to Von Steuben after a board meeting on March 14 (rhetorical question)?”
No idea. Never heard that idea. 🙂 If it was kicked around, it didn’t make it high enough up the chain to be presented to the board; not all ideas do.
“Laura, please don’t become defensive–that isn’t your style.”
Oh, I’m not being defensive, I was being quite literal! If you’ve got 7 board members, 30+ principals, and 8ish central office administrators all with the information, it’s going to get out, and fast! Especially since the principals are free to discuss it with whomever they wish, and I hope they do. I just remember incidents in the past where people found out things about their employment via the media, and that was just awful.
Literally, we knew it would get out quickly — not through any wrongdoing on anyone’s part, just because news gets out — and we wanted to make sure that the people affected were all told more or less at once, in advance of the news getting out to the general public, as is only fair and right. After that, no problems.
Laura, this kind of situation has never, never existed before in all my years of teaching in District 150. There were always a few prime appointments (usually just one at a time) about which everyone was speculating, waiting for the news of the final appointment. However, this time every principalship was literally up for grabs–much, much more speculating and more people who had stakes in the decisions (parents, students, faculty, and the principals themselves). There was just no reason for withholding the information from the public. The way it was handled seemed like game playing–it was assumed word would get out, but there was a good chance false information would get out, too. So why didn’t the District just put all that to rest early in the day. In fact, at last night’s board meeting an announcement could have been made that by such and such a time the press would have the information. Last I checked (but surely by now) the PJS hadn’t even been informed.
Another unprofessional set of moves by District 150 Board and Central Administration. The lack of transparency and communication shows how inept you all are as leaders. The team can only be as strong as its leadership.
PHS will miss Randy and Cindy who are great leaders and they do not lead in the dictator style of Lathan and her entourage. Dr. Lathan respect is earned not given. If you would be a little more humble and approachable that would be a step in the right direction. Maybe you could learn something in regards to leadership from Mr. Simmons and Ms. Clark. Or are you afraid they are overshadowing you in that catergory?
You and your carpetbagging peers are what degrade school districts like ours and rob kids of the resources they need to rach their full potential. Too bad we are not living in the time when we could tar and feather you and ride you out on a rail.Get a clue and get over yourself or please leave so we can get someone who really cares about our community. You and the board members should really have visited these schools more often before you started this mass destuction master plan . Real professional texting principals at midnight.
One last recommendation if you are to be at a meeting…BE ON TIME. Excuses are another sign of poor leadership. If we expect our students to be on time, the least we could expect is our leadership to model that behavior.Thanks for a job well done(sarcasm).
“There was just no reason for withholding the information from the public.”
The District posted the information less than 24 hours after it was discussed and yet Sharon Crews still complains. You wouldn’t want to give the principals a chance to inform their own staffs.
“In fact, at last night’s board meeting an announcement could have been made that by such and such a time the press would have the information.”
In other words, you need to save people like Sharon Crews from themselves. You don’t want Sharon Crews speculating and giving out false information in the meantime. (But would setting a deadline prevent that?)
“Last I checked (but surely by now) the PJS hadn’t even been informed.”
If Dave Haney hasn’t written an article about it – it MUST BE the District’s fault.
NO MATTER WHAT, SHARON CREWS IS GOING TO COMPLAIN.
It’s sort of like the boy who cried wolf.
“The lack of transparency and communication shows how inept you all are as leaders. The team can only be as strong as its leadership. PHS will miss Randy and Cindy who are great leaders…”
Let’s see…If the leaders are inept….and the team can only be as strong as its leadership….then the team (teachers, staff, etc.) must also be inept (or worse)?…And if Randy and Cindy are great leaders…and their leader is Lathan…and the team can only be as strong as its leadership….then Lathan must be at least as strong as Randy and Cindy, if not greater?
Oh wait…I’m trying to understand the logic of someone who longs for the days of tarring and feathering someone.
Jon- Again you missed the point. Lathan and the Board constantly make poor decisions that tie our hands as educators. Thus, we aren’t as effective as we could be. I show up early for work every day and am ther late most days also. Lathan and team are often late to meetings which is only one example of poor “leading by example”.
The strength that Randy and Cindy show and exude are what has kept the powder keg from the merger of Peoria High kids and Woodruff kids from completely blowing up. If it were not for them and some otherbuilding administrators and alot of good teachers she would really look bad. We are tired of carpetbaggers in this country bleeding our communities and then leaving after they have taken everything they can and leaving more of a mess in their wake. Get it now? Or do you want to advocate some more for these poor leaders????? Have a good day!! Our loss at PHS will be the gain of Von Steuben and RHS. Washington Gifted is getting a great guy too. I need to get to work. My day starts in 15 minutes.
I applaud Lathan for making these moves. The district has needed a decisive decision maker for years and now someone has stepped out and is leading.
As for informing the masses about personnel changes, I see nothing wrong with the process. Staffs need to be informed, employees must digest these offers, etc. Must we complain about everything?
Jon, you seldom have an argument of your own. You appear to disagree just for the sake of disagreeing and to have fun deriding those of us who present our arguments. Also, your convoluted argument about the trickle down leadership effect doesn’t hold much water since Randy Simmons as a leader preceded Dr. Lathan–he was a leader before she arrived.
Also, Dr. Lathan’s making decisions just to give the appearance of being a mover and a shaker might not be wise either. I believe wisdom would dictate that we should wait for the results of all these decisions before we applaud them. I believe the previous administration also made some very decisive decisions. The problems arose (and still will) when it comes time to implement these decisions.
This is the new motto for government bureaucracies:
Creating New Excuses for Failure!
By shifting principals around they have perfect excuses for EVERYTHING wrong with the system.
Laura Petelle earlier made the point that the board has not yet voted on these changes. The PJS this morning doesn’t make that clear in this statement, “Just hours after the School Board approved a number of sweeping reforms throughout the district – from closing buildings and severing ties with Edison to bolstering curriculum – it gave its blessing for changing building leadership.”
I believe this points out another problem with this process. Maybe the board should have voted first. Of course, I believe the board will approve all of Dr. Lathan’s wishes–however, what if board members decided to do what is expected of them–vote their consciences, etc. Wouldn’t their refusal to rubber stamp these changes cause even more chaos in the district? I think the cart went before the horse.
Also, for those who criticize parents, staff, public, etc., for being anxious to get this news, remember that the administration had stated that March 14 would be the announcement date. Everyone had to wait another 2 weeks as it is. Also, rumor (maybe just that and maybe not) had it that the delay was somehow tied to Michelle Ungurait’s dismissal–which indicates some choas on Wisconsin Avenue.
“Two Cents”
Does your news have anything to do with the investigation at Ricketts?
I like the idea of moving principals. I think people tend to become complacent in the same building, doing the same job, seeing the same faces over and over again. It can also lead to corruption and the building of “dynasties” as in the Mary Davis at Lindbergh case. Sometimes a new perspective can make something that is good, better. Personally, from a career standpoint, I would welcome the challenges a new leadership role could bring about. It could also be a useful evaluation tool for the district to see how principals handle the change and give them an opportunity to demonstrate what they may be capable of. On the other hand, I can understand the angst associated with it. No pain, no gain.
In fact, from this chart I see some that have not been moved that should be moved. Just sayin…
Distri
Based on another posters comment from another Chronicle blog: who is willing to research how often principals were moved around during
Harry Whitaker’s term as superintendent?
District Watcher: wondering how you much you would welcome such a challenge if the move meant the terms and conditions of your employment were changed. For example, moving from a high school principal at a higher level of compensation, to that of a middle or primary school principal at a lower rate of compensation and different work year, especially if your agreement to such a change was granted under duress. Say, you were told that if you go along with the “company line” and not to “complain” then everything would be nice for you. It’s a little reminiscent of “quid pro quo” harrassment, isn’t it?
Iris, that would be a completely separate subject. I’m referring simply to the lateral moves of principals. Caterpillar, Inc has a similar philosophy. Ever notice how often Cat moves their key people? There must be a quantifiable reason for that or they wouldn’t do it. What you are referring to are personnel issues and I doubt that we would be privy to enough facts to make meaningful judgments, other than perhaps the people and situations we know of personally.
Sorry, District Watcher, it is the same subject because in District 150 there are different rates of compensation for each of the principal levels – primary, middle and high schools – they are, or were, called “responsibility factors”. Many of these people will have their livelihoods negatively impacted by these “positive” changes and some, of course, are basically receiving involuntary promotions so will see their compensation levels increase. District 150 is not Caterpillar and the core business of education is extremely different from that of a for-profit manufacturing corporation. A better analogy would be to look at comparable or larger school districts and see what their past practice is for moving administrators around. A query to LUDA should provide you with the data you seek.
I don’t seek any data. What gave you that impression? I was just expressing my opinion, which hasn’t changed. I don’t think it hurts to move people around a bit, salary packages aside. Gives them a broader perspective of the district and they may pick up some skills they wouldn’t otherwise pick up. No doubt it won’t be perfect, but overall, it offers some benefits, and I think from a job security standpoint the more well-rounded the principal the better off they would be in the long-term. That said, I don’t agree with the decision to move Randy Simmons. Too many growing pains for that school already and they should have allowed him to see it through.
No, it didn’t have anything to do with the Ricketts Bldg investigation. Wasn’t a scandal of any sort, just proof that a bldg administrator was not following the boss’s instructions to not discuss information before an official announcement was made. And it wasn’t a rumor or heresay. It was in an e-mail.
Will salaries be adjusted for the principals being moved to other positions in the district? Seems like the moves are a combination of promotion, lateral, and demotion.
All of these moves are based on one philosophy, I AM THE BOSS AND I WILL DO AS I PLEASE.
Whether the moves are successful or unsuccessful doesn’t matter because the one who made them will not be held accountable, if they turn out to be bad moves. She will still collect a nice big fat taxpayer paycheck until she decides that there is nothing left to plunder and then moves on to another host.
Actually, I prefer changes when changes need to be made, but not just change for the sake of change. Some principals serve effectively for many years; others may never have been effective. That’s where the wisdom of leadership comes in; however, Dr. Lathan hasn’t been here long enough to make judgment calls enmasse.
Sharon sez: “I believe wisdom would dictate that we should wait for the results of all these decisions before we applaud them.” Of course, Sharon is unwilling to wait for the results of these decisions before declaring them failures.
Change is a good thing for those who don’t need to hold onto the past. Others like status quo because they are comfortable. I read somewhere that “if you are not standing on the edge, you are taking up too much space”. At the edge is where you can see the most, it can also be very dangerous. Let’s stop to see what happens before we ASSUME what the outcome will be. 36 years ago, you didn’t have this blog either, now people think this is the cat’s a–! Hmmmmmm
Sud–doesn’t matter. Some have made up their minds that the decisions are good and will bring success. Others of us aren’t that sure–even tend to believe the negative. It doesn’t matter; nobody can claim victory or failure. However, anybody that believes that changing principals at any school is going to result in higher NCLB AYP is crazy. There is no evidence for that cause-effect relationship.
I am more concerned as to the cause-effect relationship about discipline–that is a factor over which a principal does have great control. The irony, of course, is that I remember the day when my fellow teachers used to call me Polly-Anna because I refused to find anything whatsoever about which to complain. Times change; my viewpoint changed. However, I can’t much blame anyone who is taking my former stance–I’ve been there.
The one thing that hasn’t changed–I still look back at my Polly Anna days and still believe all things were good then–so my memories are positives; for me that’s all that matters. I just hope the younger teachers have even half of the joys from teaching that I enjoyed. I was extremely blessed by all those students who provided those memories. I ran into three of them (two from the 60s and one from the 80s) at therapy at Great Plains. One young man told me, “You’re still high school ready; see you at the prom.” My former students continue to bring me joy and add humor to my life.
Iris, you make a good point–I wonder how much all these changes make a difference in 150 finances. For instance, Randy will continue to make his salary at Von Stueben (and I am very OK with that); however, that position should have been filled by a person just beginning his/her administrative career and at a much lower salary.
“Sud, doesn’t matter.”
Nothing in the world is more dangerous than sincere ignorance and conscientious stupidity. – Martin Luther King, Jr.
Jon, once again, no original thoughts. If you want to call me ignorant or stupid, then go ahead–just don’t try to let Martin Luther King, Jr., speak for you. Also, when you reference my “doesn’t matter,” you might want to refer back to state what it is that I said doesn’t matter–because our opinions really don’t matter.
Rational thought matters, Sharon. Critical thinking. Reason. Logic. (or the lack thereof)