Tuesday, February 23, 2010

Good Bye and Best Wishes



We'd like to take time to wish middle school assistant principal Kim Freislinger well in her retirement at the end of this school year. 

Kim has a constant presence in the middle school and is well liked by both students and parents for her approachable demeanor, the connection she makes with the kids, her take charge attitude and the fact that she truly cares about the students. She will truly be missed!

The position of middle school assistant principal has been posted here under #107 Pleasantdale: http://www.cook.k12.il.us/EmploymentOpportunities/ViewVacancies/tabid/123/Default.aspx

The posting of this position brings up an interesting question. Does Pleasantdale Middle School really need an assistant principal? 

Everywhere in the news lately you will read about Illinois school districts facing unprecedented deficits and having to make budget cutting decisions not only in the classrooms, but in regard to hiring teachers and administrators and with various programs such as transportation. Below are just a few of the many articles found in the news that highlight the plight of Illinois schools.
Pleasantdale middle school has approximately 333 students in grades 5 through 8. The elementary school has 505 students. There are 172 more students at the elementary school yet they do not have an assistant principal.

If you look at the all district middle schools that feed into Lyons Township High School only districts 101 (grades 6-8), 102 (grades 7 & 8) and 103 (grades 6-8) have assistant principals. However, their enrollments are much higher than ours with 537, 634 and 675 students respectively. 

So why does Pleasantdale Middle School with a low enrollment of just 333 need an assistant principal? Why can't current principal Meg Pokorny handle the middle school on her own?

Should Pleasatdale show the taxpayers that they, like every district around them, are tightening their belt rather than doling out over $116,000 a year on a position that really isn't necessary?

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