One of my readers has informed me that a phone survey is being conducted, and the questions are most intriguing. Here’s part of the e-mail describing the questions he was asked:
Some paraphrased questions I recall-
Do you approve or disapprove of the following people
Ken Hinton
Jim Ardis
Paul VallasDo you approve or disapprove of a take over of the district by the city
Do you approve or disapprove of a take over of the district by the state
Do you approve or disapprove of raising taxes to support a charter school coming into the district
Biggest issue for the district- crime, scores, money
A question on the teachers union- they are doing the best they can, they are in it just for them
Do you approve of the direction the city is heading
Do you approve of the direction the district is heading
What is your opinion of Dunlap 323
I would love to see the results of this survey. But even more than that, I would love to know who is conducting it. Anyone want to ‘fess up?
Even if you don’t know who’s conducting it, what do you think of the questions? How would you answer them?
UPDATE: I’ve gotten confirmation from District 150 and the City of Peoria that they are not conducting this survey. The Heartland Partnership has indicated that they’re aware of the survey, but they can’t get me any more details until Monday. I’ll pass along any new information I receive.
When I considered running a few years ago, I was told that I would have to resign as an employee of the district. I was a substitute secretary/teacher’s aide.
No. A current employee of the district cannot run for the seat. A school board member cannot be a subordinate of the district’s administration.
We need a great school board candidate to support. If anyone is considering a run please let me know! You must live in District 3 – which generally speaking is North of Forrest Hill. There are some exceptions, however, and I can e-mail you a .pdf of the district map. Contact me at dianevespa@yahoo.com
Thanks for the info in the know. Makes sense.
KCDad – I didn’t want to go beyond the “adult content” warning! 😉
Susan on Laura’s blog just offered some good observations about the issue of the public speaking at board meetings. She called attention to the fact that the board really doesn’t conduct business at the regular meetings. Most of the time they just take a vote in public on issues that they have discussed at length at their other meetings. How many times do we hear, “Any discussion” “Hearing none” and then the call for the vote. Some board members–probably mostly Gorenz–are bothered by the waste of time (and discomfit) brought on by the speakers. However, they don’t seem to object to the “feel good stuff” that takes place at the beginning of meetings during the school year–when they parade out the good things that are happening in the district.
Diane… you ARE an adult, right?
Don’t put me on the school board… I’ll have the place under federal investigation and shut down within 3 months. On the other hand, if that is what is needed….
J-Darcy: Kingman students are going to Glen Oak and Irving, both of which are slated to close at the end of the school year. Students who have never been on a bus before will be bussed to one of these schools for one year and then get to go to a whole new school the next year. Thank goodness the district thinks about things before making decisions or these poor kids might actually still be in their own neighborhood.