I really do miss watching the BOE meetings on television. Lately, I have had to actually GO to BOE meetings, because they are no longer aired. Unfortunately, Diane & Co. are on hiatus for a little bit, so there have been no BOE meetings uploaded on ciproud since late August.For the reasons mentioned in the paragraph above, I was in attendance at tonight's BOE Meeting. I, too, noticed what the Superintendent didn't respond to...
From comments - Sharon Crews:
"Now for the latest 150 rumor. I have heard that the district is no longer keeping tardy records for students—which would, also, mean no consequences for being late to class. Is this rumor or fact? Is this a policy on which the board will vote—I certainly want to see that show of hands. Will the students be led to believe that they will suffer consequences? They will figure it out; I’m all for them finding out right now so that the chaos will be apparent immediately. Students respond to honesty; they will take advantage of dishonesty."
After the public comments at every BOE meeting, Dr. Lathan is given time to address any comments made by the speakers. I believe this time was instituted partly due to Jim Stowell's complaint that we speakers often make incorrect statements, etc., that need to be addressed. That is why I labeled my comment as a rumor to be dispelled.
Well, Dr. Lathan commented on several issues brought up by speakers, but nothing about mine. Therefore, am I to believe that the rumor is not a rumor at all but fact. Terry, also, commented on how unusual it is that there have been no suspensions on the board agenda for at least the last two meetings. Yet one teacher spoke about the chaos that is occurring regularly at her school. What is replacing suspensions as a consequences for inappropriate behavior?
13 comments:
... however, just because the Superintendent does not address every rumor that is raised by the public in a BOE meeting, does not mean that the rumor is true.
True enough, Emerge, but I think the one about a new tardy policy is important enough for her to address--if it isn't true. Also, Jim Stowell (at the end of the meeting) sometimes calls attention to what he considers to be misinformation delivered by the speakers. Not a peep from either of them. Personally, I believe it to be true. And I believe it to be a huge mistake. Also, I find it interesting that the board didn't vote on it--it is board policy that is being changed.
Also, I am sure Jim checks out the blogs--so now is his chance to clarify the issue. I would be curious to know if the news was news to him, too.
Can you imagine an entire generation of children who show up late for work? Other school districts must also let tardiness slide. What is the result? I do believe that children are often late due to the result of their inept parents, however. Is this part of the "don't make the child feel bad about himself" theory?
Punctuality is important in life. Sharon, I hope your conclusion that the tardy system has been eliminated in incorrect.
On another matter, I have inquired on this blog as to the status of the IB program and its continued viability and was assured it would continue. I guess I really didn’t ask enough questions. I contacted Richwoods recently to find more about its program and learned it was a shell of an IB program. Very disappointing! Over the summer my daughter had worked with a local Peoria tutor and he said he was using the HL Math textbook used by Richwoods to tutor my daughter. Imagine my surprise when I made contact with Richwoods and learned it does not offer HL math. In fact, it HL offerings generally are very limited. My conclusion is (like Sharon, I may be right or I may be wrong based on the little information I have) that there once was a greater variety of IB courses offered at Richwoods and over time the programming has been diminished. If District 150 wants different, it must be different. An IB program offering a full array of coursework to meet a wide variety of student needs and interests is a beautiful thing. This program offers an in depth style of learning and sets students on a course for long term academic success. I question why District 150 has not fostered a strategic partnership with CAT in growing this program instead of allowing it to waste away. It would be in the interest of both entities.
Dr. Lathan phoned me this morning to tell me that the tardy policy in District 150 has not changed. I will write more later about our conversation, which, also, dealt with the suspension issue. I just don't have time right now--but will later.
HL Math is offered as well as SL Math at RHS.
Another fascinating revelation! I just looked through the board policies related to students (on the district website under board policies attendance, suspensions, etc.)—there is absolutely no mention of the word “tardy” or any consequences for being late to school or classes. Maybe I’m not looking in the right place—can anyone enlighten me? These policies are dated 2005—after I left teaching. Is it possible that Dr. Lathan called me to refute the rumor I heard about a policy that doesn’t exist at all? What irony!
Dr. Lathan called me at 8 a.m. today (Thursday). She was extremely congenial; we had a pleasant conversation. She first told me that the tardy policy in District 150 had not changed. Then she asked me where I had heard the rumor. I did laugh and told her that I wouldn’t be revealing that information. She said, “Come on, Sharon.” She said that she wanted to know if principals were changing policies in their buildings and blaming her. She didn’t mention blogs, but I told her that (because I write on blogs and because I have mentioned this situation) I would write about our conversation.
Toward the end of the conversation, I asked her for clarification. I asked if the tardy policy would remain the same—in that a certain number of tardies result in a suspension. She said, “What is it—three tardies make an absence?” I told her that policy was for summer school only. I went on to say that I thought an accumulation of 18 tardies was considered to be an offense for which a suspension was a possible consequence. (I was astounded—since, at a recent board meeting, I discussed this summer school policy and mentioned that the FOIA’d records revealed the policy hadn’t change, but it wasn’t followed at all.)
She offered that she had spoken to the principals, telling them to monitor suspensions. She said the reason for the directive was that she feels that not all principals are on the same page with regard to the reasons for suspending students. (She did not mention anything at all about the IEP argument mentioned by Laura Petelle.)
My comments about the phone conversation: First of all, I really want to know if teachers believe there is a tardy policy—and if there is one. Secondly, I was somewhat stunned that Dr. Lathan expected me to tell her my “sources.” Also, I called the information a rumor, but I really don’t believe it was a rumor. It may have been a misunderstanding—but not a rumor. Also, I was told that the reason for not counting tardies was that tardies somehow affect money received from the state. That makes no sense to me unless Dr. Lathan believed that three tardies are equal to an absence in regular school.
Also, if I were the superintendent and someone stood up at a board meeting to accuse me of changing a board policy without a board vote, I would have wanted that cleared up ASAP. There is a time set aside at the BOE meeting for that very purpose. I didn’t leave right after the meeting—Karen, Terry, and I were probably the last to leave. Dr. Lathan could have spoken to me then. I do wonder why she wanted so long to call me.
Dr. Lathan’s obvious confusion or lack of knowledge about policy makes me wonder why she has not been assigned a mentor—actually, I thought the school code made a monitor mandatory.
As to suspension, “monitoring” and a “moratorium” are not the same. Also, I am hearing all sorts of reports (rumors, if you like) about students who have been suspended in the last two weeks—but the board hasn’t voted on any in the last four weeks.
Another fascinating revelation! I just looked through the board policies related to students (on the district website under board policies attendance, suspensions, etc.)—there is absolutely no mention of the word “tardy” or any consequences for being late to school or classes. Maybe I’m not looking in the right place—can anyone enlighten me? These policies are dated 2005—after I left teaching. Is it possible that Dr. Lathan called me to refute the rumor I heard about a policy that doesn’t exist at all? What irony!
Dr. Lathan called me at 8 a.m. today (Thursday). She was extremely congenial; we had a pleasant conversation. She first told me that the tardy policy in District 150 had not changed. Then she asked me where I had heard the rumor. I did laugh and told her that I wouldn’t be revealing that information. She said, “Come on, Sharon.” She said that she wanted to know if principals were changing policies in their buildings and blaming her. She didn’t mention blogs, but I told her that (because I write on blogs and because I have mentioned this situation) I would write about our conversation.
Toward the end of the conversation, I asked her for clarification. I asked if the tardy policy would remain the same—in that a certain number of tardies result in a suspension. She said, “What is it—three tardies make an absence?” I told her that policy was for summer school only. I went on to say that I thought an accumulation of 18 tardies was considered to be an offense for which a suspension was a possible consequence. (I was astounded—since, at a recent board meeting, I discussed this summer school policy and mentioned that the FOIA’d records revealed the policy hadn’t change, but it wasn’t followed at all.)
She offered that she had spoken to the principals, telling them to monitor suspensions. She said the reason for the directive was that she feels that not all principals are on the same page with regard to the reasons for suspending students. (She did not mention anything at all about the IEP argument mentioned by Laura Petelle.)
My comments about the phone conversation: First of all, I really want to know if teachers believe there is a tardy policy—and if there is one. Secondly, I was somewhat stunned that Dr. Lathan expected me to tell her my “sources.” Also, I called the information a rumor, but I really don’t believe it was a rumor. It may have been a misunderstanding—but not a rumor. Also, I was told that the reason for not counting tardies was that tardies somehow affect money received from the state. That makes no sense to me unless Dr. Lathan believed that three tardies are equal to an absence in regular school.
Also, if I were the superintendent and someone stood up at a board meeting to accuse me of changing a board policy without a board vote, I would have wanted that cleared up ASAP. There is a time set aside at the BOE meeting for that very purpose. I didn’t leave right after the meeting—Karen, Terry, and I were probably the last to leave. Dr. Lathan could have spoken to me then. I do wonder why she wanted so long to call me.
Dr. Lathan’s obvious confusion or lack of knowledge about policy makes me wonder why she has not been assigned a mentor—actually, I thought the school code made a monitor mandatory.
As to suspension, “monitoring” and a “moratorium” are not the same. Also, I am hearing all sorts of reports (rumors, if you like) about students who have been suspended in the last two weeks—but the board hasn’t voted on any in the last four weeks.
Sorry--my too long post is on twice.
RHS has a tardy policy. All first hour detentions are a deans detention. 2-6 hours detentions are handled by the teacher until the 4th detention. Any tardies beyond the 4th. Are deans detentions. While that is the proceedure for detentions, not all teachers enforce it.
Anonyomous - it is interesting that you state RHS offers HL math. I just spoke with the IB Coordinator a week or so ago and she stated the only HL courses offered were Biology, History, and English (I believe that was the 3). I was specifically looking for HL Math and HL Chemistry to which she said neither was available at RHS??
Would love if you were correct and the IB Coordinator was wrong.
I guess I just assumed the two year math was HL. I also know they offer a one year math. Both must be SL. Sorry.
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