Alfie Kohn is coming to the Chicago area!
http://www.cuchicago.edu/news/story/?sid=798
Oct. 14, 2009 – Internationally recognized education scholar, speaker and author Alfie Kohn will visit Concordia University Chicago Nov. 18 to discuss “The Deadly Effects of ‘Tougher Standards’: Challenging High-Stakes Testing and Other Impediments to Learning.”
Kohn will examine authentic challenges for students as opposed to what he describes as “mindless ‘harder is better’” mentality, and difference between standards as guidelines and standards as lists of facts students should know. Admission is free and the event is open to the public. Audience members are welcome to bring a copy of their book for Kohn to sign.
A nationally known speaker and scholar on human behavior, education and parenting, Kohn has appeared in hundreds of TV and radio interviews including on the Today show and The Oprah Winfrey Show. Time magazine has called Kohn "perhaps the country's most outspoken critic of education's fixation on grades [and] test scores."
The Washington Post and the Los Angeles Times have profiled him, while his work is discussed and debated by critics, education experts, parents and teachers across the globe. As a frequent keynote speaker, Kohn lectures regularly at universities, for parent groups and for corporations, and conducts workshops and seminars for teachers and administrators.
Author of 11 books including The Homework Myth: Why Our Kids Get Too Much of a Bad Thing and No Contest: The Case Against Competition, Kohn has also contributed to publications including the Harvard Business Review and Psychology Today.
The presentation begins at 7:30 p.m. in the Chapel of Our Lord at Concordia University Chicago, 7400 Augusta St. in River Forest. Free handicapped-accessible parking is available in the University’s parking structure on Bonnie Brae Street.
Kohn’s talk is co-sponsored by the Concordia University Chicago College of Education, the Northeastern Illinois University College of Education and the Chicagoland Lutheran Education Foundation.
The College of Education at Concordia University Chicago prepares teachers, school leaders, school counselors and directors of Christian education (DCE) at the graduate and undergraduate levels. The University’s doctoral programs offer specialization in early childhood education, public school leadership and nonpublic school leadership.
Recognized as a leader in teacher education, Concordia graduates the state’s largest number of public school teachers among private Illinois colleges. More than 3,000 Chicagoland teachers and administrators seeking their graduate education degrees enroll at Concordia each year.
CONTACT:
Sarah Hickman, Communications Coordinator
708-209-3235 or sarah.hickman@cuchicago.edu
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
Thursday, October 22, 2009
ITBS Test Results
At last night's board meeting, administrators told the Board of Education on at least two occasions that the latest ITBS scores are not in yet. They said the school should be receiving them in about two weeks.
We also heard from several others, including parents, that the scores ARE in; they arrived earlier in the week and they are not looking too good. Hmmm...
We also heard from several others, including parents, that the scores ARE in; they arrived earlier in the week and they are not looking too good. Hmmm...
You Won't Find This on a Standardized Test....
Congratulations to Gurrie Middle School on making a difference in the world. You matter!
Click on the link to brink up their video at Every Monday Matters and check out what they are doing.
http://everymondaymatters.com/gurrie-middle-school-rocks/
Here are some other things that the kids from Gurrie are up to. They are so inspiring!
http://secure.smilebox.com/ecom/openTheBox?sendevent=4d5445304d5459784e44633d0d0a&blogview=true&campaign=blog_instructions_directurl_makeyourown
http://secure.smilebox.com/ecom/openTheBox?sendevent=4d5445794f4445314e44513d0d0a&blogview=true&campaign=blog_instructions_directurl_makeyourown
http://secure.smilebox.com/ecom/openTheBox?sendevent=4d5445324e6a41794e44553d0d0a&blogview=true&campaign=blog_instructions_directurl_makeyourown
Kudos to Louise Kulaga at Gurrie Middle School for making a difference!
Would a program like this be more exciting and motivating for our kids in the realm of SEL than the Homeside Activities they are currently doing? We think so!
Click on the link to brink up their video at Every Monday Matters and check out what they are doing.
http://everymondaymatters.com/gurrie-middle-school-rocks/
Here are some other things that the kids from Gurrie are up to. They are so inspiring!
http://secure.smilebox.com/ecom/openTheBox?sendevent=4d5445304d5459784e44633d0d0a&blogview=true&campaign=blog_instructions_directurl_makeyourown
http://secure.smilebox.com/ecom/openTheBox?sendevent=4d5445794f4445314e44513d0d0a&blogview=true&campaign=blog_instructions_directurl_makeyourown
http://secure.smilebox.com/ecom/openTheBox?sendevent=4d5445324e6a41794e44553d0d0a&blogview=true&campaign=blog_instructions_directurl_makeyourown
Kudos to Louise Kulaga at Gurrie Middle School for making a difference!
Would a program like this be more exciting and motivating for our kids in the realm of SEL than the Homeside Activities they are currently doing? We think so!
Dear Anonymous
Thank you for your comments. We appreciate you taking the time to read this blog. It means we are reaching all kinds of people to raise community awareness which has always been our intention, purpose and goal. In addition, when people leave particularly uninformed comments, our readership goes up, so thank you for making yesterday our highest traffic day in over six months!! We’ve had over 17,000 page views and we are growing larger every day.
We’d like to take this opportunity to educate you on some of the things we have done to help, promote, assist and work for the good of these entities. First of all, we attend many, many board meetings each month. By involving ourselves in our community, whether it is at the park district, PTA, school or village we are not sticking our heads in the sand and pretending that everything is hunky-dory. We are not here to contribute to the “fat, dumb and happy” mentality that permeates throughout our community. How many PTA, park board, school board and village board meetings have you been at in the last 24 months? Collectively, we have spent hundreds and hundreds of hours in board meetings, and we are not even sitting members on these boards. We take time away from our families to learn about and get involved in our community without compensation. Secondly, several of us have run for local governing boards such as school boards, village boards and park boards to make a difference. Running for office is not easy. It requires a great sacrifice. It takes time and money - time away from our families and money that many of us do not have to spare. We have volunteered at the schools, at the parks, for the PTA, and in various villages on a number of occasions.
About 18 months ago several of us banded together to form a team of community members that backed the Safe Routes to School Program. We spent many hours conducting meetings, writing grant proposals, tallying surveys, taking photos and creating slideshows to demonstrate the need for safety for the children of our community. It was through our hard work and dedication that the Village of Willow Springs was awarded nearly $400,000 by the State of Illinois to build sidewalks and implement other safety measures such as crosswalks and flashing traffic lights so that the children in our community can SAFELY walk to school. We’ve done a lot, but our work is not finished yet. There is much more to be done. So before you leave comments asking us to embrace these organizations, take some time to educate yourself on what we have done and will continue to do.
You want to talk about squeaky wheels? If we hadn’t squeaked our wheels and raised awareness that the Pleasantdale school district was seriously lacking in the area of technology, do you think our children would be benefitting from the Promethean Active Boards that now grace the walls of 48 classrooms in our schools? Certainly not! It wasn’t even on the horizon according to middle school technology director, Judith Stevens, when we spoke with her last March. Thanks to the squeaky wheels, the children in the Pleasantdale school district are now able to learn their lessons on cutting edge technology. Read some of our older posts to learn about other changes made and victories won as a result of our squeaky wheels.
This blog was started to raise community awareness and so that everyone’s voice would be heard. Our goal is to bring some measure of accountability and transparency to the local governments that are spending our hard earned tax dollars. Not just our tax dollars, but yours as well. We live in an area this is not adequately covered by the print media. A perfect haven, if you will, for wrongdoings to go on unnoticed. We cannot and will not sit by and pretend they don’t happen. Since we began this blog, we have heard and seen things that have raised many an eyebrow. The problem is people like you that want to sweep things under the rug and hope that no one will notice. Ignoring problems do not make them go away; smoke and mirrors will not hide them. When the dust settles, they will always remain.
Next time you wish to comment, please don’t hide behind the mask of anonymity. Come out of hiding and work hand in hand with us to make this the best community it can be.
We’d like to take this opportunity to educate you on some of the things we have done to help, promote, assist and work for the good of these entities. First of all, we attend many, many board meetings each month. By involving ourselves in our community, whether it is at the park district, PTA, school or village we are not sticking our heads in the sand and pretending that everything is hunky-dory. We are not here to contribute to the “fat, dumb and happy” mentality that permeates throughout our community. How many PTA, park board, school board and village board meetings have you been at in the last 24 months? Collectively, we have spent hundreds and hundreds of hours in board meetings, and we are not even sitting members on these boards. We take time away from our families to learn about and get involved in our community without compensation. Secondly, several of us have run for local governing boards such as school boards, village boards and park boards to make a difference. Running for office is not easy. It requires a great sacrifice. It takes time and money - time away from our families and money that many of us do not have to spare. We have volunteered at the schools, at the parks, for the PTA, and in various villages on a number of occasions.
About 18 months ago several of us banded together to form a team of community members that backed the Safe Routes to School Program. We spent many hours conducting meetings, writing grant proposals, tallying surveys, taking photos and creating slideshows to demonstrate the need for safety for the children of our community. It was through our hard work and dedication that the Village of Willow Springs was awarded nearly $400,000 by the State of Illinois to build sidewalks and implement other safety measures such as crosswalks and flashing traffic lights so that the children in our community can SAFELY walk to school. We’ve done a lot, but our work is not finished yet. There is much more to be done. So before you leave comments asking us to embrace these organizations, take some time to educate yourself on what we have done and will continue to do.
You want to talk about squeaky wheels? If we hadn’t squeaked our wheels and raised awareness that the Pleasantdale school district was seriously lacking in the area of technology, do you think our children would be benefitting from the Promethean Active Boards that now grace the walls of 48 classrooms in our schools? Certainly not! It wasn’t even on the horizon according to middle school technology director, Judith Stevens, when we spoke with her last March. Thanks to the squeaky wheels, the children in the Pleasantdale school district are now able to learn their lessons on cutting edge technology. Read some of our older posts to learn about other changes made and victories won as a result of our squeaky wheels.
This blog was started to raise community awareness and so that everyone’s voice would be heard. Our goal is to bring some measure of accountability and transparency to the local governments that are spending our hard earned tax dollars. Not just our tax dollars, but yours as well. We live in an area this is not adequately covered by the print media. A perfect haven, if you will, for wrongdoings to go on unnoticed. We cannot and will not sit by and pretend they don’t happen. Since we began this blog, we have heard and seen things that have raised many an eyebrow. The problem is people like you that want to sweep things under the rug and hope that no one will notice. Ignoring problems do not make them go away; smoke and mirrors will not hide them. When the dust settles, they will always remain.
Next time you wish to comment, please don’t hide behind the mask of anonymity. Come out of hiding and work hand in hand with us to make this the best community it can be.
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
Quote of the Day and Park Board Highlights
"I don't keep track of money, I just spend it!" ~ Joe Jura, Chalet Renovation Project Manager
Seems like some people at the Pleasant Dale Park District need a lesson on timeliness.
Tonight's meeting started late again.
Joe Jura arrived for the 7:30 meeting at 8:20, well after the discussion on the Chalet renovation was to take place. This discussion was tabled until later in the meeting as they waited for Joe to arrive. When Joe finally did arrive, acting president Colleen Pettrone tried to postpone the Chalet discussion until after executive session. Was she afraid of what he might say in front of an audience?
Park board president, Brad Martin, arrived at 9:00 p.m. How convenient... He got there after the board meeting had ended but just in time for executive session. Last week he didn't even show up at all and the meeting was cancelled.
Marc Poulos, the executive director from the Indiana, Illinois, Iowa Foundation for Fair Contracting (III FFC) attended tonight's meeting because he has received several complaints in regard to non competitive bidding and prevailing wage on the Chalet renovation project. He indicated that he sent a FOIA request to the park district last week and is waiting for the information he requested. (Thank God he didn't send it to the Village of Willow Springs or he'd never get it!)
During open forum, Mr. Poulos gave a short presentation on what the III FFC is and asked some pointed questions in regard to the bidding practices and paying prevailing wages on the Chalet renovation project.
The highlight of the night came during Joe Jura's update on the Chalet renovation. Park commissioner Ernie Moon asked Joe some questions about the expenses and budget for the project at which point Joe stated, "I don't keep track of money, I just spend it!"
When Joe was asked a question about the bidder selection process that was used, he said that he saved the park distinct thousands of dollars; they showed him the bids and he picked which guys to use and who not to. Colleen Pettone quickly cut Joe off from talking any further and referred Mr. Poulos and his questions to the park district attorney.
In other news, the park distinct held a hearing this evening on the proposal to sell non-referendum bonds. They owe $1.2 million dollars this year and will only be able to pay off $628,947. Yikes!
The next park board meeting (another special meeting) will be held on Tuesday, October 27 at 6:30 p.m. to discuss fee structures and rental proposals.
Seems like some people at the Pleasant Dale Park District need a lesson on timeliness.
Tonight's meeting started late again.
Joe Jura arrived for the 7:30 meeting at 8:20, well after the discussion on the Chalet renovation was to take place. This discussion was tabled until later in the meeting as they waited for Joe to arrive. When Joe finally did arrive, acting president Colleen Pettrone tried to postpone the Chalet discussion until after executive session. Was she afraid of what he might say in front of an audience?
Park board president, Brad Martin, arrived at 9:00 p.m. How convenient... He got there after the board meeting had ended but just in time for executive session. Last week he didn't even show up at all and the meeting was cancelled.
Marc Poulos, the executive director from the Indiana, Illinois, Iowa Foundation for Fair Contracting (III FFC) attended tonight's meeting because he has received several complaints in regard to non competitive bidding and prevailing wage on the Chalet renovation project. He indicated that he sent a FOIA request to the park district last week and is waiting for the information he requested. (Thank God he didn't send it to the Village of Willow Springs or he'd never get it!)
During open forum, Mr. Poulos gave a short presentation on what the III FFC is and asked some pointed questions in regard to the bidding practices and paying prevailing wages on the Chalet renovation project.
The highlight of the night came during Joe Jura's update on the Chalet renovation. Park commissioner Ernie Moon asked Joe some questions about the expenses and budget for the project at which point Joe stated, "I don't keep track of money, I just spend it!"
When Joe was asked a question about the bidder selection process that was used, he said that he saved the park distinct thousands of dollars; they showed him the bids and he picked which guys to use and who not to. Colleen Pettone quickly cut Joe off from talking any further and referred Mr. Poulos and his questions to the park district attorney.
In other news, the park distinct held a hearing this evening on the proposal to sell non-referendum bonds. They owe $1.2 million dollars this year and will only be able to pay off $628,947. Yikes!
The next park board meeting (another special meeting) will be held on Tuesday, October 27 at 6:30 p.m. to discuss fee structures and rental proposals.
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
Park Board Meeting Postponed
Tonight's park board meeting was postponed until Tuesday, October 20 at 7:30 p.m. due to a lack of quorum. In other words, there were not enough park board commissioners present to conduct the meeting.
The meeting, which was scheduled for 6:30 p.m., was postponed today just before noon. We were informed that, "one commissioner has a wake, another is sick, and another just called because her mother is being transported by ambulance." We hope they will all soon be on the mend.
Two park board commissioners showed up tonight for the meeting...Carol McMurray and Ernie Moon.
Interestingly, today's meeting was postponed shortly after the park district received a letter from a local union informing them that the union would be attending this evening's meeting seeking answers to questions in regard to the Prevailing Wage Act and the Chalet reconstruction project.
Several union members showed up at the park district tonight only to hear that the meeting had been postponed.
We strongly encourage you to attend next week's park board meeting for the next chapter of "The Adventures of the Pleasant Dale Park District."
The meeting, which was scheduled for 6:30 p.m., was postponed today just before noon. We were informed that, "one commissioner has a wake, another is sick, and another just called because her mother is being transported by ambulance." We hope they will all soon be on the mend.
Two park board commissioners showed up tonight for the meeting...Carol McMurray and Ernie Moon.
Interestingly, today's meeting was postponed shortly after the park district received a letter from a local union informing them that the union would be attending this evening's meeting seeking answers to questions in regard to the Prevailing Wage Act and the Chalet reconstruction project.
Several union members showed up at the park district tonight only to hear that the meeting had been postponed.
We strongly encourage you to attend next week's park board meeting for the next chapter of "The Adventures of the Pleasant Dale Park District."
Saturday, October 10, 2009
The Village of Willow Springs and Their Mixed Up Priorities
A recent inquiry to Village of Willow Springs Administrator Bill Murray in regard to the Safe Routes to School Sidewalk Grant has yielded no response. That is pretty much par for the course over there.
We continue to hear rumblings throughout the community that mayor Alan Nowaczyk and village board members Annette Kaptur, Mario Imbaratto, Kathy Stanphill and George Bartik intend to turn down the $400,000 in grant money they were awarded to build sidewalks to Willow Springs School and Pleasantdale Elementary School.
Yeah, you heard right, they don't want the money. They don't want to put in sidewalks so kids can walk to school. The safety of children is just not a priority in the Village of Willow Springs.
We asked Administrator Murray why there is no mention on the village web site of being awarded $400,000 to build sidewalks so that kids can safely walk to school. We would think this would garner more attention than local teen, Kirby Kaptur being named to a swim team. Again, we got no response. Seems like their priorities are a bit mixed up.
This grant will benefit the entire community, both north and south of the river, so we are curious as to why it is not mentioned on the village web site. Will this grant award be mentioned in the next village newsletter that is due out soon? Probably not.
For what it is worth, Pleasantdale School District 107 made no mention of the awarding of this grant in any of their Friday packets or on the district web site. They never even reached out to the Village of Willow Springs when they heard this grant was awarded and they were a direct beneficiary. Guess they really don't care about the safety of kids either or maybe their priorities are mixed up too.
In April, U.S. Rep. Dan Lipinski came out to School Street to discuss funding roadwork and safety measures there. The Village applied for federal stimulus assistance to fund a full reconstruction of the School Street. Lipinski was photographed along with principal Matt Vandercar, mayor Nowaczyk and trustees Katur and Bartik. It is funny that the two staunchest opponents of the sidewalk grant and repairing School Street, Kaptur and Bartik , are in this photo. Why wasn't former trustee Mesec there? After all, he was the biggest supporter and the only trustee to get the ball rolling on this grant application. It seems odd that the Village would apply for federal stimulus assistance yet not take advantage of the FREE grant money that it was awarded to construct sidewalks so the neighborhood children can walk to school.
We continue to receive inquiries in regard to the construction of sidewalks that were awarded to our community in the Safe Routes to School Grant program and we would like to be able to give people some answers.
So tell us, Mayor Nowaczyk, what is going on with the sidewalk grant?
An email we received:
Gina,
Thank you for the info concerning the sidewalk grant. Your letter was very concise and accurate. It is very aggravating that this Village being in a state of financial difficulty can not take advantage of monies that will benefit the safety of the children in Willow Springs. To compromise their welfare is ludicrous. A Mayor and a Village Board that can not realize the importance of this grant is certainly not looking out for the betterment of the community. The attitude that the Mayor is taking towards the sidewalk grant program is not serving his constituents as he should. To brush this under the table as if it never existed is not serving the tax payer of Willow Springs and is doing an unjust to those who will benefit from the sidewalk program.
This grant program is separate from the stimulus program in which, the village probably have not received any funds for as of today.
It is my understanding that duration of the grant is a three year period, why in the world would they not want to move forward on this program? Is it the work involved in implementing the process of the grant? Everything was put in place for the village to move forward on this worthwhile program.
When this was proposed to the Mayor and the Board all were in agreement in moving in a direction to secure the funds available for the sidewalk program. A directive was given to staff to move forward and put the grant together and send it on to the state.
Why should the children's safety of Willow Springs be put in jeopardy? Is it to much work? Is there a political hidden agenda for some reason for not moving on this program?
The Administrator of Willow Springs should act now and forward the letter of intent to the state so the residents of Willow Springs can receive grant money for the sidewalk program. A copy of the letter of intent should be inserted in the next newsletter for residents to share. This is a three year program and there is no reason why the village can not initiate these grant funds from the state. A community that has excessive financial problems should use all resources at their disposal to bring in all available funds necessary that will enhance the improvement of the community.
The SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOL GRANT PROGRAM is necessary for the safety of the children in Willow Springs and should not be discarded due to lack of village management.
James Chevalier,
Former Director of Public Works of Willow Springs
We continue to hear rumblings throughout the community that mayor Alan Nowaczyk and village board members Annette Kaptur, Mario Imbaratto, Kathy Stanphill and George Bartik intend to turn down the $400,000 in grant money they were awarded to build sidewalks to Willow Springs School and Pleasantdale Elementary School.
Yeah, you heard right, they don't want the money. They don't want to put in sidewalks so kids can walk to school. The safety of children is just not a priority in the Village of Willow Springs.
We asked Administrator Murray why there is no mention on the village web site of being awarded $400,000 to build sidewalks so that kids can safely walk to school. We would think this would garner more attention than local teen, Kirby Kaptur being named to a swim team. Again, we got no response. Seems like their priorities are a bit mixed up.
This grant will benefit the entire community, both north and south of the river, so we are curious as to why it is not mentioned on the village web site. Will this grant award be mentioned in the next village newsletter that is due out soon? Probably not.
For what it is worth, Pleasantdale School District 107 made no mention of the awarding of this grant in any of their Friday packets or on the district web site. They never even reached out to the Village of Willow Springs when they heard this grant was awarded and they were a direct beneficiary. Guess they really don't care about the safety of kids either or maybe their priorities are mixed up too.
In April, U.S. Rep. Dan Lipinski came out to School Street to discuss funding roadwork and safety measures there. The Village applied for federal stimulus assistance to fund a full reconstruction of the School Street. Lipinski was photographed along with principal Matt Vandercar, mayor Nowaczyk and trustees Katur and Bartik. It is funny that the two staunchest opponents of the sidewalk grant and repairing School Street, Kaptur and Bartik , are in this photo. Why wasn't former trustee Mesec there? After all, he was the biggest supporter and the only trustee to get the ball rolling on this grant application. It seems odd that the Village would apply for federal stimulus assistance yet not take advantage of the FREE grant money that it was awarded to construct sidewalks so the neighborhood children can walk to school.
We continue to receive inquiries in regard to the construction of sidewalks that were awarded to our community in the Safe Routes to School Grant program and we would like to be able to give people some answers.
So tell us, Mayor Nowaczyk, what is going on with the sidewalk grant?
An email we received:
Gina,
Thank you for the info concerning the sidewalk grant. Your letter was very concise and accurate. It is very aggravating that this Village being in a state of financial difficulty can not take advantage of monies that will benefit the safety of the children in Willow Springs. To compromise their welfare is ludicrous. A Mayor and a Village Board that can not realize the importance of this grant is certainly not looking out for the betterment of the community. The attitude that the Mayor is taking towards the sidewalk grant program is not serving his constituents as he should. To brush this under the table as if it never existed is not serving the tax payer of Willow Springs and is doing an unjust to those who will benefit from the sidewalk program.
This grant program is separate from the stimulus program in which, the village probably have not received any funds for as of today.
It is my understanding that duration of the grant is a three year period, why in the world would they not want to move forward on this program? Is it the work involved in implementing the process of the grant? Everything was put in place for the village to move forward on this worthwhile program.
When this was proposed to the Mayor and the Board all were in agreement in moving in a direction to secure the funds available for the sidewalk program. A directive was given to staff to move forward and put the grant together and send it on to the state.
Why should the children's safety of Willow Springs be put in jeopardy? Is it to much work? Is there a political hidden agenda for some reason for not moving on this program?
The Administrator of Willow Springs should act now and forward the letter of intent to the state so the residents of Willow Springs can receive grant money for the sidewalk program. A copy of the letter of intent should be inserted in the next newsletter for residents to share. This is a three year program and there is no reason why the village can not initiate these grant funds from the state. A community that has excessive financial problems should use all resources at their disposal to bring in all available funds necessary that will enhance the improvement of the community.
The SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOL GRANT PROGRAM is necessary for the safety of the children in Willow Springs and should not be discarded due to lack of village management.
James Chevalier,
Former Director of Public Works of Willow Springs
Busy Day Week!
It has been a very busy couple of days on our blog! Thanks to all who stopped by to check out our administrator salary spreadsheet and to read about the ridiculous antics going on over at the park district. Stay tuned for an upcoming post on what is happening in the Village of Willow Springs!
Thursday, October 8, 2009
More Park Shenanigans
The shenanigans never seem to end over at the Pleasant Dale Park District.
On Tuesday evening, the park board held another "special meeting" to discuss who knows what. There wasn't an agenda, so anything goes.
In addition, this "special meeting" was held in a BAR with several TVs blaring, customers chatting and a few members of the park board as well as its infamous director, Katherine Parker, imbibing alcohol...and lots of it.
The park board, minus one, and its director, Katherine Parker, note-taker Nancy McKenna and project manager, Joe Jura were huddled around two tables discussing park district business. Once again this "SECRET special meeting" was not disclosed to the public nor posted on the park district website. In addition, there was no seating set aside in case the public wanted to attend. Of course there wasn't...because THEY DON'T WANT ANYONE THERE!!
Some of the discussion included increasing fees and dropping the rental space price from $1 a square foot to a measley .50¢ PER SQUARE FOOT to attract a tennant. Nothing like giving the park away, huh? And this place is supposed to make money?? We wonder what park board president Brad Martin will be charging his sister-in-law Sue Keck to lease the space for her volleyball leagues. No doubt you will be seeing a "FOR SALE" sign there in no time at all.
Shortly before the meeting ended, park commissioner Ernie Moon had had enough of the shenanigans, and stormed out of there before the meeting was over. The problem with this "SECRET special meeting" is that the park director, a supposed recovering addict, was tanked along with a few others as they were discussing financial matters involving the public's money!!
Seriously, we don't care if you drink, but rap the gavel, end the meeting and then have at it...but don't do it during a public meeting while you are deciding what to do with OUR money!
SCARY is all we have to say!
Wade Brewer was smart to stay home.
On Tuesday evening, the park board held another "special meeting" to discuss who knows what. There wasn't an agenda, so anything goes.
In addition, this "special meeting" was held in a BAR with several TVs blaring, customers chatting and a few members of the park board as well as its infamous director, Katherine Parker, imbibing alcohol...and lots of it.
The park board, minus one, and its director, Katherine Parker, note-taker Nancy McKenna and project manager, Joe Jura were huddled around two tables discussing park district business. Once again this "
Some of the discussion included increasing fees and dropping the rental space price from $1 a square foot to a measley .50¢ PER SQUARE FOOT to attract a tennant. Nothing like giving the park away, huh? And this place is supposed to make money?? We wonder what park board president Brad Martin will be charging his sister-in-law Sue Keck to lease the space for her volleyball leagues. No doubt you will be seeing a "FOR SALE" sign there in no time at all.
Shortly before the meeting ended, park commissioner Ernie Moon had had enough of the shenanigans, and stormed out of there before the meeting was over. The problem with this "
Seriously, we don't care if you drink, but rap the gavel, end the meeting and then have at it...but don't do it during a public meeting while you are deciding what to do with OUR money!
SCARY is all we have to say!
Wade Brewer was smart to stay home.
P.A. 96-0434 Visual
In case you want to know where some of your tax dollars are going...
Below you will find a spreadsheet of the following Pleasantdale school district 107 administrator salaries: Mark Fredisdorf, Catherine Chang, Kelly Voliva, Matt Vandercar, Meg Pokorny and Kim Freislinger.
It is broken down into a total annual salary and a per day salary. These figures do not include vacation, personal or sick days that are paid out. Click on the image to enlarge it.
Below you will find a spreadsheet of the following Pleasantdale school district 107 administrator salaries: Mark Fredisdorf, Catherine Chang, Kelly Voliva, Matt Vandercar, Meg Pokorny and Kim Freislinger.
It is broken down into a total annual salary and a per day salary. These figures do not include vacation, personal or sick days that are paid out. Click on the image to enlarge it.
Sunday, October 4, 2009
In Case You're Still Looking...
Pleasantdale's administrative salaries can be found using the following route.
1. Go to http://www.d107.org/
2. Click on the link at the top of the page titled Administration. Pointing to it will only produce a drop down menu. You must actually click on the link.
3. Look for P.A. 96-0434 Reports which is buried in the middle of the page.
4. Click on the first link titled P.A. 96-0434 Report. There you have it!
For a much easier time finding it, copy http://www.d107.org/media/Administration/Public%20Acts%200960434.pdf and paste it into your browser.
If you want to see the collective bargaining agreement between Pleasantdale School District 107 Board of Education and the Teacher's Association of Pleasantdale IEA/NEA, click on the link just below P.A. 96-0434 Report or copy http://www.d107.org/media/Administration/NEGOTIATED%20CONTRACT.pdf and paste it into your browser.
1. Go to http://www.d107.org/
2. Click on the link at the top of the page titled Administration. Pointing to it will only produce a drop down menu. You must actually click on the link.
3. Look for P.A. 96-0434 Reports which is buried in the middle of the page.
4. Click on the first link titled P.A. 96-0434 Report. There you have it!
For a much easier time finding it, copy http://www.d107.org/media/Administration/Public%20Acts%200960434.pdf and paste it into your browser.
If you want to see the collective bargaining agreement between Pleasantdale School District 107 Board of Education and the Teacher's Association of Pleasantdale IEA/NEA, click on the link just below P.A. 96-0434 Report or copy http://www.d107.org/media/Administration/NEGOTIATED%20CONTRACT.pdf and paste it into your browser.
Are school districts really going for transparency?
By Kerry Lester
DAILY HERALD 10/03/2009
The aim is increased transparency. But for taxpayers in a number of suburban school districts, the effect is anything but.
A new state law, passed in August and effective Thursday, requires all school districts in the state to post administrators' salaries on their Web site.
While almost all suburban districts were in compliance Friday morning, a number required a scavenger hunt of sorts to unearth the information.
The law mandates districts must post an itemized salary compensation report for every employee with an administrative certificate who is working in that capacity.
That means superintendents, assistant superintendents, principals and assistant principals. The report must include each individual's base salary, along with bonuses, pension contributions, retirement increases, health and life insurance costs, paid sick and vacation days, annuities and any other types of income they might receive.
The law does not get into specifics on how - or where - information should be posted. There is also no specific state penalty for districts that do not comply. However, state board of education attorneys pointed out that county regional offices of education are able to take action against districts that willfully refuse to comply.
A Daily Herald analysis found that by noon Friday, 80 of 82 local districts had information on their Web sites.
Wheeling Township District 21 had plans to post salary information as of Monday, officials said. Calls to Woodland Elementary District 50 were not returned about where its information might be.
Of the districts that had salaries posted, a few made things simple.
District 207 had a link right on its Web site's home page, along with a note explaining just why it is now posting the information.
Elgin Area School District U-46 sent out a news release announcing the move and its decision to go a step further and provide information on noncertified administrators as well as all teachers' salaries.
Kane County's nine school districts met together, looked at different forms, and discussed how to post them, Kane County Regional Office of Education Superintendent Doug Johnson said.
"We wanted to make this as easy as possible for the public," he said.
After all, he said, "districts don't have anything to hide."
But elsewhere, finding information was trickier. Nine of 29 DuPage County districts checked, including Salt Creek Elementary District 48, used a maze of drop down tabs and links to access salary information.
"It was handled with our finance people in cooperation with information services. They grouped it where they felt it was appropriate," Superintendent Janice Rosales said.
Kildeer Countryside Elementary District 96 also made things difficult. After clicking through several pages, administrator salaries could be accessed, but no names were posted. Assistant Superintendent Beth Dalton said she felt their posting was both logical and accessible.
Disparities, she said. "May come from fact that their isn't clear direction from the state on how this should be labeled," she said. "School districts have different interpretations."
Editor's Note: Can you find the adminstrative salaries on Pleasantdale's website? We did, but it wasn't so easy.
DAILY HERALD 10/03/2009
The aim is increased transparency. But for taxpayers in a number of suburban school districts, the effect is anything but.
A new state law, passed in August and effective Thursday, requires all school districts in the state to post administrators' salaries on their Web site.
While almost all suburban districts were in compliance Friday morning, a number required a scavenger hunt of sorts to unearth the information.
The law mandates districts must post an itemized salary compensation report for every employee with an administrative certificate who is working in that capacity.
That means superintendents, assistant superintendents, principals and assistant principals. The report must include each individual's base salary, along with bonuses, pension contributions, retirement increases, health and life insurance costs, paid sick and vacation days, annuities and any other types of income they might receive.
The law does not get into specifics on how - or where - information should be posted. There is also no specific state penalty for districts that do not comply. However, state board of education attorneys pointed out that county regional offices of education are able to take action against districts that willfully refuse to comply.
A Daily Herald analysis found that by noon Friday, 80 of 82 local districts had information on their Web sites.
Wheeling Township District 21 had plans to post salary information as of Monday, officials said. Calls to Woodland Elementary District 50 were not returned about where its information might be.
Of the districts that had salaries posted, a few made things simple.
District 207 had a link right on its Web site's home page, along with a note explaining just why it is now posting the information.
Elgin Area School District U-46 sent out a news release announcing the move and its decision to go a step further and provide information on noncertified administrators as well as all teachers' salaries.
Kane County's nine school districts met together, looked at different forms, and discussed how to post them, Kane County Regional Office of Education Superintendent Doug Johnson said.
"We wanted to make this as easy as possible for the public," he said.
After all, he said, "districts don't have anything to hide."
But elsewhere, finding information was trickier. Nine of 29 DuPage County districts checked, including Salt Creek Elementary District 48, used a maze of drop down tabs and links to access salary information.
"It was handled with our finance people in cooperation with information services. They grouped it where they felt it was appropriate," Superintendent Janice Rosales said.
Kildeer Countryside Elementary District 96 also made things difficult. After clicking through several pages, administrator salaries could be accessed, but no names were posted. Assistant Superintendent Beth Dalton said she felt their posting was both logical and accessible.
Disparities, she said. "May come from fact that their isn't clear direction from the state on how this should be labeled," she said. "School districts have different interpretations."
Editor's Note: Can you find the adminstrative salaries on Pleasantdale's website? We did, but it wasn't so easy.
Friday, October 2, 2009
How tax dollars are spent should not be kept secret
Rockford Register Star
rrstar.com 09/28/2009
A spokesman for the state’s largest teachers union says public disclosure of teacher pay and benefits “is not an issue that makes all of our members happy.”
On behalf of the people who pay your salary, we say: Too bad.
We couldn’t be happier about new laws that make it easier to get information about educators’ salaries and other forms of compensation. In the past, if you wanted to know the salaries of school officials, you would have to file a Freedom of Information Act request through the State Board of Education.
In an age of electronic records and real-time information, that’s ridiculous.
Taxpayers pay the salaries, health benefits and pension contributions for school employees. The information should be available with a couple of clicks of the mouse.
We want to be fair. Illinois Education Association spokesman Charles McBarron said some teachers get the point of full disclosure. “Some people are comfortable with it. Others are not,” McBarron said. “On the other hand, I think everybody understands the concept of public employees and tax dollars.”
Certainly, state lawmakers understand. The pair of measures that assure more information — and more timely information — about educator salaries and benefits passed without a single no vote. Legislators said they were motivated by a desire for greater transparency in government. It’s about time.
Lawmakers were also angry over reports that Chicago-area school boards quietly awarded large perks to top administrators. When those perks can lie behind a large stack of Freedom of Information Act requests, it’s not surprising these sweet deals exist.
This is how GateHouse News Service describes the function of the two new laws: By Oct. 1 of every year, every school district must post on its Internet site “an itemized salary compensation report” for every employee who holds an administrative certificate and who works in that capacity. The report must include such details as base salary, bonuses, pension contributions, the cost of health insurance and any other form of compensation.
The report also has to be presented at a school board meeting.
By every July 1, starting in 2010, school boards must report the base salary and benefits of the district superintendent, all administrators and teachers. The information, including vacation and sick days, bonuses and retirement enhancements, will be sent to the State Board of Education.
Just as sure as leaves turn and the seasons change, we predict foot-dragging and technical hang-ups with both of these laws. We hope they can be minimized.
For years, the Family Taxpayers Foundation downloaded the salaries of school employees in the state and made them available on the Web. The searchable database was moved in the last several years and is now available at www.championnews.net.
Look in the upper right corner of the home page and click on “Teacher & Administrator Salary Database.”
Both Champion News and the Family Taxpayers Foundation were founded by entrepreneur and businessman Jack Roeser, a longtime advocate of education reform. It’s good that people like Roeser have stepped up to provide the salary information, but it should have been government’s job all along.
The Illinois Association of School Administrators said its group has been successful in getting the word out among educators about the new laws. So much for ignorance being an excuse.
Executive Director Brent Clark called it “part of the new culture, or alleged culture, of transparency. We’ve not had a lot of that in Illinois.”
Which is to say that we really deserve it. Now show us the salaries.
rrstar.com 09/28/2009
A spokesman for the state’s largest teachers union says public disclosure of teacher pay and benefits “is not an issue that makes all of our members happy.”
On behalf of the people who pay your salary, we say: Too bad.
We couldn’t be happier about new laws that make it easier to get information about educators’ salaries and other forms of compensation. In the past, if you wanted to know the salaries of school officials, you would have to file a Freedom of Information Act request through the State Board of Education.
In an age of electronic records and real-time information, that’s ridiculous.
Taxpayers pay the salaries, health benefits and pension contributions for school employees. The information should be available with a couple of clicks of the mouse.
We want to be fair. Illinois Education Association spokesman Charles McBarron said some teachers get the point of full disclosure. “Some people are comfortable with it. Others are not,” McBarron said. “On the other hand, I think everybody understands the concept of public employees and tax dollars.”
Certainly, state lawmakers understand. The pair of measures that assure more information — and more timely information — about educator salaries and benefits passed without a single no vote. Legislators said they were motivated by a desire for greater transparency in government. It’s about time.
Lawmakers were also angry over reports that Chicago-area school boards quietly awarded large perks to top administrators. When those perks can lie behind a large stack of Freedom of Information Act requests, it’s not surprising these sweet deals exist.
This is how GateHouse News Service describes the function of the two new laws: By Oct. 1 of every year, every school district must post on its Internet site “an itemized salary compensation report” for every employee who holds an administrative certificate and who works in that capacity. The report must include such details as base salary, bonuses, pension contributions, the cost of health insurance and any other form of compensation.
The report also has to be presented at a school board meeting.
By every July 1, starting in 2010, school boards must report the base salary and benefits of the district superintendent, all administrators and teachers. The information, including vacation and sick days, bonuses and retirement enhancements, will be sent to the State Board of Education.
Just as sure as leaves turn and the seasons change, we predict foot-dragging and technical hang-ups with both of these laws. We hope they can be minimized.
For years, the Family Taxpayers Foundation downloaded the salaries of school employees in the state and made them available on the Web. The searchable database was moved in the last several years and is now available at www.championnews.net.
Look in the upper right corner of the home page and click on “Teacher & Administrator Salary Database.”
Both Champion News and the Family Taxpayers Foundation were founded by entrepreneur and businessman Jack Roeser, a longtime advocate of education reform. It’s good that people like Roeser have stepped up to provide the salary information, but it should have been government’s job all along.
The Illinois Association of School Administrators said its group has been successful in getting the word out among educators about the new laws. So much for ignorance being an excuse.
Executive Director Brent Clark called it “part of the new culture, or alleged culture, of transparency. We’ve not had a lot of that in Illinois.”
Which is to say that we really deserve it. Now show us the salaries.
Now, This is an Award!
Three local schools, Madison, Hinsdale Middle and Clarendon Hills Middle, earned the 2009 National Blue Ribbon School status by the U.S. Department of Education.
Only 314 schools, 254 public and 50 private, received the national honor. Sixteen were in Illinois, including thirteen public and three private schools.
Congratulations to all the Illinois Blue Ribbon Award winners:
Arcadia Elementary School
Olympia Fields
Central Elementary School
Wilmette
Clarendon Hills Middle School
Clarendon Hills
Clifford Crone Middle School
Naperville
Deerfield High School
Deerfield
Hinsdale Middle School
Hinsdale
Ira Rupley Elementary School
Elk Grove Village
Madison Elementary School
Hinsdale
New Trier Township High School
Winnetka
Peoria Christian Elementary School
Peoria
St. Joseph School
Libertyville
St. Raymond School
Mount Prospect
Stevenson Elementary School
Bloomington
Whitney M. Young Magnet High School
Chicago
Windsor Elementary School
Arlington Heights
Woodlawn Middle School
Long Grove
Only 314 schools, 254 public and 50 private, received the national honor. Sixteen were in Illinois, including thirteen public and three private schools.
Congratulations to all the Illinois Blue Ribbon Award winners:
Arcadia Elementary School
Olympia Fields
Central Elementary School
Wilmette
Clarendon Hills Middle School
Clarendon Hills
Clifford Crone Middle School
Naperville
Deerfield High School
Deerfield
Hinsdale Middle School
Hinsdale
Ira Rupley Elementary School
Elk Grove Village
Madison Elementary School
Hinsdale
New Trier Township High School
Winnetka
Peoria Christian Elementary School
Peoria
St. Joseph School
Libertyville
St. Raymond School
Mount Prospect
Stevenson Elementary School
Bloomington
Whitney M. Young Magnet High School
Chicago
Windsor Elementary School
Arlington Heights
Woodlawn Middle School
Long Grove
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