Glen Oak, Irving and Columbia schools will be restructured.
RECOMMENDATION FOR BOARD APPROVAL OF RISING STAR RESTRUCTURING PLANS – Moved by Butler, seconded by Ross that the Board of Education approve the restructuring plans for Glen Oak, Irving and Columbia schools. These three schools are new to restructuring and require board approval to proceed to submit their plans to the Illinois State Board of Education. On roll call, 6 ayes. Motion carried.
Emtronics has been complaining about treatment of the cafeteria managers and the fact that they have not had a cost of living increase in several years. I guess a 1.1% increase is better than nothing?
COST OF LIVING INCREASE – HIGH SCHOOL CAFETERIA MANAGERS – Moved by Butler, seconded by Ross that the Board of Education authorize a 1.1% cost of living increase for the high school cafeteria managers. On roll call, 6 ayes. Motion carried.
Time is of the essence in the assignment of Administrators – curious as to what Mrs. Costic needed clarification on?
RESOLUTION TO ASSIGN ADMINISTRATORS TO TEACHING POSITIONS - Moved by Butler, seconded by Crawford that the board of Education adopt the resolution to reassign administrators to teaching positions. Mrs. Costic asked for this resolution to be tabled for further clarification. Dr. Lathan explained that she needs to move forward to realign the district. Delays in this action will have a domino affect in regards to future planning.
Mrs. Ross replied by saying that she would like to wait for the facility study before moving forward with this action. Mrs. Wolfmeyer would like to give Dr. Lathan the flexibility she needs to move forward – closing schools, programs, etc. She also stated that not all of the employees listed on this resolution will be reassigned back in the classroom.
Mrs. Butler spoke out saying that she supports Dr. Lathan and she is doing what she was brought here to do. “Right sizing” this district is a difficult task.
Mr. Stowell supports moving forward – he does not feel we need to continue supporting past practices.
Mrs. Costic replied by saying she understands what everyone is saying. On roll call, 5 ayes – Butler, Costic, Crawford, Stowell, Wolfmeyer. 1 nay – Ross. Motion carried.
So, the District is NOT going to reemploy Administrators who are probationary teachers?
RESOLUTION TO NON-REEMPLOY ADMINISTRATORS WHO ARE PROBATIONARY TEACHERS – Moved by Butler, seconded by Stowell that the Board of Education adopt the resolution to non-reemploy administrators who are probationary teachers. On roll call, 6 ayes. Motion carried.
Stowell mentioned several staff members attending the No Child Left Behind Conference in Chicago. I'm curious...how many staff members and at what cost?
TRAVEL REQUESTS – Moved by Butler, seconded by Ross that the Board of Education approve the travel requests as presented by the administration. (Copy is on file in the Board Secretary’s office.)
Mr. Stowell commented on the number of staff members attending the No Child Left Behind conference in Chicago. He would like to see some pushback from the community to state and federal government officials as this is a non-funded program. On roll call, 6 ayes. Motion carried.
RECOMMENDATION FOR BOARD APPROVAL OF RISING STAR RESTRUCTURING PLANS – Moved by Butler, seconded by Ross that the Board of Education approve the restructuring plans for Glen Oak, Irving and Columbia schools. These three schools are new to restructuring and require board approval to proceed to submit their plans to the Illinois State Board of Education. On roll call, 6 ayes. Motion carried.
Emtronics has been complaining about treatment of the cafeteria managers and the fact that they have not had a cost of living increase in several years. I guess a 1.1% increase is better than nothing?
COST OF LIVING INCREASE – HIGH SCHOOL CAFETERIA MANAGERS – Moved by Butler, seconded by Ross that the Board of Education authorize a 1.1% cost of living increase for the high school cafeteria managers. On roll call, 6 ayes. Motion carried.
Time is of the essence in the assignment of Administrators – curious as to what Mrs. Costic needed clarification on?
RESOLUTION TO ASSIGN ADMINISTRATORS TO TEACHING POSITIONS - Moved by Butler, seconded by Crawford that the board of Education adopt the resolution to reassign administrators to teaching positions. Mrs. Costic asked for this resolution to be tabled for further clarification. Dr. Lathan explained that she needs to move forward to realign the district. Delays in this action will have a domino affect in regards to future planning.
Mrs. Ross replied by saying that she would like to wait for the facility study before moving forward with this action. Mrs. Wolfmeyer would like to give Dr. Lathan the flexibility she needs to move forward – closing schools, programs, etc. She also stated that not all of the employees listed on this resolution will be reassigned back in the classroom.
Mrs. Butler spoke out saying that she supports Dr. Lathan and she is doing what she was brought here to do. “Right sizing” this district is a difficult task.
Mr. Stowell supports moving forward – he does not feel we need to continue supporting past practices.
Mrs. Costic replied by saying she understands what everyone is saying. On roll call, 5 ayes – Butler, Costic, Crawford, Stowell, Wolfmeyer. 1 nay – Ross. Motion carried.
So, the District is NOT going to reemploy Administrators who are probationary teachers?
RESOLUTION TO NON-REEMPLOY ADMINISTRATORS WHO ARE PROBATIONARY TEACHERS – Moved by Butler, seconded by Stowell that the Board of Education adopt the resolution to non-reemploy administrators who are probationary teachers. On roll call, 6 ayes. Motion carried.
Stowell mentioned several staff members attending the No Child Left Behind Conference in Chicago. I'm curious...how many staff members and at what cost?
TRAVEL REQUESTS – Moved by Butler, seconded by Ross that the Board of Education approve the travel requests as presented by the administration. (Copy is on file in the Board Secretary’s office.)
Mr. Stowell commented on the number of staff members attending the No Child Left Behind conference in Chicago. He would like to see some pushback from the community to state and federal government officials as this is a non-funded program. On roll call, 6 ayes. Motion carried.
18 comments:
Interesting that when Mrs. Butler made a comment it was referred to as "speaking [spoke] out".
I am guessing the reason Costic wanted to "table" to "changing of the guard" at some schools is because of her friend down at Manual, who has been the topic of rumor for several weeks now. Just a thought.
It would be unfortunate if Costic is being trained by Ross.
Is it possible to discuss the meeting without slamming the people?
Interesting, particularly the part about reassignment of administrators. Dr. Lathan has been verbal in her desire to move some administrators around the district (keeping them as principals but in other buildings). Does anyone have any idea when announcements of these changes might happen? I've heard that they might be announced at either the 3/14 or 3/28 board meetings...
As far as the NCLB conference...I totally agree with Stowell on this one. NCLB makes no sense (particularly for kids with special needs) and should be pushed against. I'm surprised it hasn't happened yet!
To interested parties, just want to let you all know that Richwoods won the Masonic Sectional Meet today in Scholastic Bowl. They beat Dunlap, Limestone, Lincoln, East Peoria, Morton, and Metamora on the way to Masonic State which will be Sat. March 5 in Riverton. Add this to the WYSE academic victory over Morton, Dunlap, and Metamora and I would say that good things are happening in D150.
Along with requiring all prinicals and assistants to reapply for positions, the decision to restructure the aforementioned schools gives Dr. Lathan even more to work with right? Restructuring under the State would require new leadership at those schools right??
Dr. Lathan is really working this. She is using all avenues in order to be able to eliminate the ineffective and start anew. Good for her!
So, I was told that the principal of my school - Peoria High - was punched by a student who had been expelled. The student ran off but was later apprehended - so I'm told. I got a call a few weeks ago. Apparently, the Calvin Coolidge principal was punched in the face by a student. I got a text a several days ago. Apparently, a Whittier teacher was kicked in the face twice by a student. I got a call a couple of days ago. Apparently, the art teacher at Trewyn was beat up by a student. Sad. Last year at Peoria High, the conversation revolved around making safe harbor. This year, it's making it through the day without any fights. Our administrators are great. They don't tolerate nonsense. Unfortunately, either the new administration or the school board (I'm not sure which) is so lax on fighting that our schools are starting to FOSTER a culture of violence. My daughter has told me about numerous fights at Richwoods, and I KNOW that principal doesn't tolerate nonsense either. I'm tired of the violence, my wife and kids are tired of it, my students are tired of it, and I'll be DAMNED if we're going to pay 20,000 a year to send our five kids to a nonviolent private school when the public schools they attend should be violence free. Not without a fight. (Pun intended.). Thinking of starting a citizens group solely to ensure our schools are kept safe and violence free. Wow. How can a district have to think about what discipline actions are necessary for a student who brings a s emi-automatic weapon to school and hides it under the teacher's desk. If one of my kids did it, it wouldn't matter if he were expelled by the school district or not. I'D expel him and he'd be spending the remainder of the school year in his bedroom and doing community service projects and talking to classes about how WRONG it is to bring a gun - loaded or not - to school. But 150 has to think about it? Maybe their policy is - Unloaded Semi-Auto Hand Gun = Brief Suspension. Loaded = Expulsion. Maybe.
A-D
and a very real looking "toy gun" was brought to Glen Oak last week. Kid in the class the next day.....no consequences.
I was watching TV and a commercial came on for American Express. It's about a company named Sam's Fish and the founder commented that a HAPPY employee is a PRODUCTIVE employee. Perhaps D150 could "borrow" that motto. Too many teachers, students, and staff are "held captive" by violent students in their schools. It literally has become a survivalist mentality. Many teachers are simply greatful for "making it through another day". Sadly, many of our veterans in the military have said the same while stationed in combat zones. D150 Board needs to WAKE UP. If a third grader is allowed to come to school with a REAL gun and play show and tell in the bathroom, then hide it under the teacher's desk so he won't be caught, then ALLOWED to stay in school with nothing more than a finger wagging, don't do it again.....guess what, when he is in 8th grade, he is going to bring a LOADED gun to school.....too late! Sometimes we NEED to sweat the small stuff, before it turns into the BIG stuff.
I think I'll start that group. I'm also hearing that students who are caught with drugs at school and who are put on probation can FAIL their drug tests without any consequences.
A-D
All District 150 students are entitled to due process, which sometimes takes a while - especially if the child has an IEP. You cannot just push them out the door without some review of their situation.
When people post about specific problems in schools, I always try and check them out. I very seldom can get to the bottom of all of the allegations that are being made (which I find odd because most of the allegations deal with people being beat up and what not).
For example, comments have been made recently about students hitting teachers at Trewyn. I'm thinking kids down at Trewyn are running through the halls just randomly knocking teachers upside the head. But then I ask around only to find that there was a fight, the teacher tried to break it up and she was hit by accident as a result of putting herself in between the students. That's a lot different than a student just hauling off and hitting a teacher.
I heard that fights are up at Trewyn, but don't fights usually increase in warm weather? Kids being kids, I guess.
I would hate to think that any teacher is being beat up and children are getting away with committing assult.
If teachers are calling the police or reporting the incidents to the BOE or their Union rep and their complaints are not being heard - WHY DON'T THEY WALK OFF THE JOB?
How many of us are going to work someplace where we are "held captive" by violent people? Why work in an environment where you are in "survivalist" mode and each day you are "greatful for making it through another day".
Get out of that building - find yourself a better job. This is not the south side of Chicago where that type of behavior is the norm - this is Peoria and there better opportunities out there for qualified teachers.
If teachers are being abused - they should make it a point to hold a press conference, tell the specifics and put the school district on blast.
Heard there was a fight at Coolidge today. Yeah, Emerge, I agree with putting the district on blast. I did that years ago when things were out of control at my previous school - before I knew what a blog even was. Letter to school board with cc: to the PJS. I can't just walk off the job, though. I'm a teacher; however, what I'm all about goes beyond simply teaching English. I got into the profession to make a difference - to make things better for kids in P-Town. I'm sure I could find a different job - teaching or otherwise; however, I'd be walking away from students who are going to be stuck dealing with the nonsense I left
behind. What good would that be? The way I see it, students have a right to earn an education in a calm, peaceful, and positive environment - and that's what I'm going to fight for. As for putting the district on blast - well, I'll probably do that too.
A-D
Hey A-D,
Sharon hasn't written into the blogs of late. I am concerned. Is she feeling o.k.?
She is getting surgery on her wrists. Carpal tunnel syndrome from writing such lengthy posts on the blogs.
Just kidding.
I don't think Sharon would mind me telling you that she had her knee replaced . . . and that she's recovering nicely.
A-D
Please send her my best and tell her that she has been missed.
I hope you all appreciate A-D's willingness to speak openly about District 150 issues and events that are often swept under the rug. Most teachers would not dream of taking the risk that he always takes. Also, anyone who knows A-D knows that he does not spread idle rumors--he just isn't that kind of person. Before he puts his name on information, he is very sure it is fact, not rumor. When he gives opinions, he labels them as such.
Yes, I am extremely biased, but I know how he behaved and performed as a student and know that his return to his alma mater, Manual, as a teacher was for all the reasons he just stated. He entered the doors as a teacher with every intention of making a difference in their lives. You just should hear some of the stories of the young people at Manual and now at Peoria High who hold him in the highest regard.
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