In February I posted about what I consider the rabble rousing of District 150. Today, I am sorry to post that the rabble rousing continues. The recent reassignment of District 150 principals and administrators prompted Sharon Crews to repost the following quote from a local blog:
“Insiders say the March 29 move to reshuffle Peoria School District 150 principals and administrators is unprecedented, and may have violated the Illinois school code and other laws and rules.” “The openings were not posted, so others had no portunity to apply for them, which flies in the face of affirmative action rules. Those who lose pay or have other working conditions affected by these changes may have lawsuits against the District.”
Again, what concerns me is what appears to be an ongoing effort on the part of the District Watch Group to find people to sue District 150. I have a problem with people constantly seeking ways to take taxpayers money through lawsuits. These frivolous lawsuits don't do anything to better the environment in our schools - they actually hurt teachers morale, the children and the community as a whole.
From what I understand, some principals who proved to be uniquely qualified, had more than one option to choose from (some of which may have been considered promotions). Principals have known since January about the pink slips and the changes that were to be made. The claim that the positions were not posted appears to be FALSE...
From a January 14, 2011 pjstararticle:
Superintendent Grenita Lathan, who spoke Thursday about building administrators having to reapply for their jobs, could not be reached Friday.
Lathan said principals already should have shared word with their seconds-in-command and others, including deans and academy leaders, but said she plans to meet with the nearly two dozen affected employees personally next week.
"I don't want there to be any misunderstanding," Lathan said.
The superintendent said plans may involve reducing the number of assistant principals across the district but she also will assess each building to determine which schools need assistants.
She said some schools have assistant principals, though there is nothing substantiating why other than "they always have." Part of what will determine which schools have assistant principals will be enrollment.
To that effect, the district's 12 assistant principals, four deans and Manual High School's four "academy leaders" essentially will be pink-slipped.
Lathan said all those affected may reapply for the jobs, but any employee in the district holding a Type 75 administrative endorsement, the credentials needed to hold the post - the same as principal - may also apply. The openings will be available to applicants outside the district as well, "but preference will be given to those already in the district."
41 comments:
In a way, I do not understand either side. On one end, D150 sometimes acts like they are operating a military base with closely guarded secrets. On the other hand lawsuits have not changed anything except costing us money.
such a lawsuit would never happen cause the watch group is watching out for the union not the kids
Is it possible that there would be no lawsuits if District 150 treated its employees fairly? Of course, there are two sides to every story, but without lawsuits only one side of the story is ever told or considered. I, too, hate to see the district spending money on lawsuits, so the district should find another way to resolve these issues--the ball is always in its court.
Emerge, I would really like you to show me how the audit proves that inner city kids have received an inferior education. The audit evaluated only: Open Court (audit says it is not aligned to state standards--absolutely no fault of teachers and teachers have to make do with a faulty program. Also, audit says the teachers aren't given adequate resources to implement the program).
Compass Learning and Apex (I don't know why these are even on the list since, I believe, so far these programs are used primarily by three teachers (one at each high school) who use the programs in Credit Recovery. If the programs are to have a broader use, then the District has not trained teachers to use the programs or even given them access to the programs.
95% group--Audit says it is appropriately implemented--which means teachers are carrying out the program and have been given the resources to do so.
Emerge, where is the proof that inner city kids are not being taught. Do you believe that the programs that were audited are the main teaching tools used by teachers. They do have textbooks and curriculum guides, etc., and those are the resources that most teachers used with fidelity.
I have a folder full of information for last grading period for my three "grandchildren" who go to Whittier. The information is amazing--tells specifics of what the children have learned, shows their weaknesses and strengths. The children themselves are proof that they are learning every day.
Please don't tell me that teachers aren't teaching--unless discipline problems prevent them from doing so.
Again, Emerge, have you ever seen any written communications from Elaine or me signed as members of the District Watch group--we speak for no one but ourselves. Everything we do is on our own. District Watch has no membership list and no unified agenda. You are perfectly welcome to attend our meetings. You give the group way too much credit. Terry is probably the most outspoken--but he certainly doesn't wait to get approval from any group or any individuals when he speaks for or against an issue.
There's nothing wrong with being a rabblerouser--you are very, very much a rabblerouser. You have often used your blog to rabblerouse against District 150 teachers--you just did it in this post. And you rabblerouse against District Watch. We just rabblerouse on different sides of an issue, but you are gracious enough to allow those with other viewpoints to use your blog to present our points of view.
Yet another response--I don't understand Lathan's statement about everyone with type 75 certificate being eligible for jobs--what jobs? Were there any applications accepted or interviews given for all the principals that were just appointed? I still want to know when the PHS principalship was posted. I do not believe that Brett Elliott applied for the PHS job. I could be wrong--but I doubt it.
I have gone back and checked the K-12 Job Spot and ISBE's website for principal openings. I have also checked past job postings on the district's on website. There were none---not even for replacing Steve Ptacek at RHS.
This is where they violated law.
Thanks, Beth. What some seem to forget is that so far District 150 is subject to negotiated contracts. Contracts are legally binding agreements. I don't know enough about that agreement where job vacancies are concerned. However, I am under the impression that jobs (specific, not general) have to be posted, according to contract language. We all know that superintendents in the past have posted jobs, conducted interviews, and still hired the people they intended all along to hire. However, ignoring the contract all together seems to be a bit risky. Yes, when I brought up the PHS principalship, I, also, wondered if the Richwoods job had been posted yet.
I am, also, under the impression that Lathan violated contractual language when she recently shuffled security guards from one place to another. At least, I heard that it is yet another lawsuit in the making.
Beth, Sharon: unless you are a frequent visitor of the IASA and K12 Job Spot sites, you may not see postings. They have a closing date for a reason...they are removed on or about that date. I do frequent these sites often and have seen them and considered strongly applying for the "principal" position in D150. I am sorry you did not see them.
Sharon, there are NO rules for posting time and interviewing for administrators...they do NOT have a contract as a group with school districts!
Emerge, I'm sorry to monopolize this post--unlike District 150 teachers, I am not on vacation. However, I have a very serious question to ask. I failed to catch the January 14 date on the article you quoted. Do you realize that everything Dr. Lathan said about the selection process of principals is a total fabrication. Do you honestly believe that any of this happened with regard to people applying for and being considered for any of the principalships that were shuffled? I can tell you for sure that Brett Elliott's appointment was a total surprise to him. He didn't apply and I would be willing to bet that no one else did. In fact, info about Randy's departure were very iffy--most believed it was dependent on receiving the grant until Dr. Lathan met a week or so before the March 28 board meeting with just a few PHS teachers who were told that the replacement would be with or without the grant. Nobody had time to apply. Also, if you did some serious checking I would guess that you might find that the meeting with two dozen affected employees didn't take place.
I did find the article confusing because it referred to assistants and deans as well as principals. So far I don't believe many of those have been replaced or shuffled.
Dr. Lathan--when in front of a mike--on several occasions has made statements that aren't exactly true. I just wrote an article--now on Elaine's blog--about an experience I had with these faulty statements. I would like your reaction. It seems cut and dried to me, but I'd be curious to get your take.
Here's the link: http://peoriastory.typepad.com/
I took a look at the whole January 14 article. It was very confusing. It seems to refer to the selection of principals, but then it shifts to assistant principal and dean positions. I looked on the District 150 website--there don't seem to be any listings for assistants and deans. I don't believe those positions have been reassigned yet have they.
Regarding Sharon’s article on Elaine’s blog, let’s start with the assumption that Whittier is overcrowded. Sharon states,
“Most importantly, Whittier is using 22 classrooms for a total of 486 students. Harrison is using 24 classrooms for a total of 546 students.”
That would mean Whittier’s average class size is 22 whereas Harrison’s is 23. However, when Whittier added the 4th kindergarten, that would bring their classrooms to 23, reducing the average class size to 21.
Now, you might think something doesn’t look right, when you see the low individual class sizes Sharon stated for Harrison. However, the numbers quoted now are much less than what Sharon first reported on Elaine’s blog back in January.
http://peoriastory.typepad.com/peoriastory/2011/01/the-public-comments-at-the-district-150-school-board.html
Secondly, in the first article (that has the higher class sizes quoted for Harrison), the total of the individual classes does match 546. In the second and most recent article, it’s only 493. Sharon, how did you “lose” 53 students from one article to the next?
Back to those average class sizes and claims of overcrowding. Last year, the state average class size for a K-4 school was 22. So, Whittier’s average class size is less than both the state average and Harrison (well, that assumes 546 students in 24 classrooms, but those numbers are what Sharon reported).
Yes, Jon, the original numbers that I reported were wrong BECAUSE the district gave me wrong numbers--I complained about that at a board meeting and gave the board the wrong report and the new report (from a 2nd FOIA)--clearly the errors were clerical errors that gave Harrison one class size of 36 and a couple of other higher numbers that I don't remember off the top of my head. And your numbers are right--the original FOIA gave Harrison 53 more students because of these errors.
I stand with all my numbers in this article. Your state averages mean nothing to people faced with reality--and I am not the one who originally complained about class sizes at Whittier. Eight Whittier parents spoke at a board meeting.
The fact remains that class sizes at Harrison are much lower than at Whittier and that the district did not keep its promise this year to move the Tyng students to the new Harrison.
Note that Harrison's largest class size is 26 but Whittier has 4 classes over 26 and over the contractual number for primary school. Whittier's lowest class size is 22; Harrison has 8 classes very below that number.
Also, you made no reference to the main point of my article--the non existent class size reduction program at Whittier.
I believe that Sharon is talking about regular classroom sizes. She GAVE you the numbers of all of those classes and you came on here taking one number and dividing by another and acting like the average is 22. Since you have all the classes, why don't you also take into accont the median or mode. Here is the key sentences from Sharon's article.
The sizes of Whittier’s classes (KK through 4th) are 29, 28, 28, 27, 26, 26, 25, 25, 25, 25, 24, 24, 24, 24, 24, 23, 22, 22.
I meant the non-existent class size reduction program at Harrison, not Whittier.
Jon, my speech to the board did sound a bit like yours to me :) : "I received all the information for Whittier and Glen Oak, but Harrison did not include the data concerning students with IEPs.
That omission caused me to submit yet another FOIA. The new response revealed that there were probably three significant clerical errors on the old response. Notice that for the old FOIA there was a first grade class of 36, which in the new data is a class of 16, a sixth grade of 34 students changes to a class of 17, and a kindergarten class of 32 changes to a class of 16. I don’t believe Harrison lost 52 students in two weeks’ time, and no new classes were added. The class averages for kindergarten through sixth grade went from 24 to 21 because of these clerical errors."
Emerge, I guess I am curious about the basis for another of your accusations about District Watch. What lawsuits did we promote or even help initiate--at least, you make it sound as though the group or individuals in the group had a hand in any lawsuits?
Julie McArdle did not need or ask for our help--she just filed a lawsuit all on her own.
The same goes for the Trewyn lawsuit. Michelle Ungurait didn't ask for our help either.
When you make accusations, please provide a basis for your assertions. I certainly can't think of any lawsuits in which we played any role at all--other than curiosity and interest in the outcome, just like everyone else.
In fact, I can think of one potential lawsuit about which Terry Knapp's advice helped the district see the light and, thus, avoid the expense of a lawsuit. Terry didn't need the help of any group when he filed and won his own lawsuit many years ago
"when you make accusations, please provide a basis....." ROFLMAO! Pot meet kettle. Nobody gets a bigger thrill out of casting a negatively biased rumor about 150 than Sharon. Jon proved that months ago, but he still has to respond to nonsense.
Please anonymous give one or more specific examples of unfounded rumors that I have posted. Even when I call my comments rumors (and I own all my comments by using my own name), I have gained the information from reliable sources. I can't defend myself against generalities.
The defenders of all things District 150, of course, call my comments negative. If I report something that is a negative about District 150, am I guilty of being negative? I guess it's the old "kill the messenger" mentality. Of course, I recognize that what is negative to me might be a positive to someone else--so many of District 150 issues are "in the eye of the beholder."
For instance, everything I said about the Whittier-Harrison situation is all factual data obtained through FOIAs--what's to argue about? Jon evidently has a file of all things I write--and he was right to call attention to what appeared to be a computational error on my part--but it wasn't my error; it was the District's error (but he had no way of knowing that).
When you say that "no one gets a bigger thrill..," you are imputing motives to me--you have absolutely no idea what my motives are. For years I have watched negative stuff being swept under the District 150 rug. I firmly believe that District 150 can only succeed if it faces with honesty the problems that plague it (many of which are not of its making). Now the FOIA allows us to bring to light these problems and facts. There can be no solutions without admitting to the problems. If I am to be labeled negative because I wish to force the district to face up to and solve its real problems, then sobeit.
I believe that District 150 board members err in placing blind trust in all that a superintendent advocates (both now and in the past). That simply should not be their role. They should always look at the other side of every issue. They, not District Watch, should try to protect 150 from lawsuits by insuring that all actions (like Ungurait's firing) are on solid, legal ground. Most of all they should be sure that all 150 employees are treated fairly. I don't care about "without cause" clauses in contracts; District 150 board members should be very sure there was a cause that was a threat to the wellbeing of District 150.
Although Emerge and I seem to be more at odds than we have ever been, I appreciate her willingness to allow all of us this forum where we can hash out our differences and even lash out at one another (I hope I don't do the latter but I'm sure I get close on my bad days). I understand Emerge's desire to support Dr. Lathan; I am sincerely sorry that I do not share her optimism.
Nevertheless, I still want Emerge to clarify the lawsuit issue--she has accused District Watch of promoting lawsuits--she should be able to defend her accusations.
"..but preference will be given to those already in the district."
Kevin, Principal for Garfield for over 11 years, was certainly given preference...HARDLY...assigned to a school that will close next year or the year after. Why do that to him knowing he will have to move to another school in another year?
The moves were meant to destabalize power sources threatening to Lathan and Delinski-why move Irving's principal when it is widely known that he wanted to remain with his students to the bitter end unless to diminish his influence?
PSD 150 hired a very insecure leader who is threatened by her employees, even those she recruited.
http://www.ers.princeton.edu/Miller.pdf
A study out of NC showing the detrimental aspects of principal turn over. Doesn't Lathan's contract run out in two years? About the time the schools will recover.
"School principals are responsible for managing teachers, curricula and budgets. Despite the importance of principals,
little is known about how principal turnover affects school quality. Using twelve years of administrative data
from North Carolina public schools, I find that principal departures typically follow a downturn in school performance.
The two years following a departure are marked by high teacher turnover and a dip in school performance,
consistent with a small negative effect of principal turnover. Schools subsequently improve, returning to pre-turnover
levels."
To the Anonymous who stated, Beth, Sharon: unless you are a frequent visitor of the IASA and K12 Job Spot sites," what kind of vacancies are included in this part of the contact--do all vacancies have to be posted or just teaching positions? I am included to believe all vacancies, since some teachers hold Type 75 certificates and should be allowed to apply for administrative positions. In other words, does "all" mean "all"?
ARTICLE XI
VACANCIES, TRANSFERS, REDUCTIONS IN FORCE AND NON-RENEWALSVACANCIES, -– The Administration will post a list of all vacancies daily on the bulletin board in the foyer of the Administration Building and on its website. No vacancy shall be filled before it is posted. Posting of the vacancy must be accomplished ten (10) school days prior to the filling of such vacancy except in areas of demonstrated need.
Yes, “truth”, she GAVE me the numbers. But,
1. Were the numbers correct? As Sharon later noted, the numbers were revised. (Sharon, you might want to correct the statement that Harrison has 546 student, which still appears in your most recent article. When you add up all of those individual classes you listed, the total is only 493)
2. Once you get the data, what do you compare it to? After the addition of the 4th kindergarten, the average “regular” class was 24 while the average class size of all classes was 21. The district report cards and state data do not differentiate between regular and special ed classes - they compute the average class size of all classes. If Whittier is overcrowded, then so are the majority of classes across the state. And that state average I quoted was from last year. When the new numbers come out, don’t be surprised to see the average class size go up even further, given the financial state for most districts.
Now, as to the promise regarding former Tyng students, let me first say that the plan to send them from Tyng to Whittier and then to Harrison was probably ill-advised. I believe that the current plan is to allow those former Tyng students at Whittier to stay at Whittier if they choose, rather than be forced to move yet again. I don’t have a problem breaking a promise if it was a promise to do something stupid.
Could there have been better communication? Apparently, at least as it relates to Sharon. Speaking of which, Sharon, when you discovered what appears to have been a misstatement from Dr. Lathan, did you discuss it with her - show her the courtesy to address it? I mean, this is a woman who personally called you to discuss some issues you previously mentioned at a board meeting, so I would hope that you would have tried to reach out to her after your discovery.
Lastly, if, as I believe Sharon says, the correct average class size for “regular” classes is 24 at Whittier and 21 at Harrison, if you moved those 52 Tyng students over to Harrison, wouldn’t the situation only reverse in that Whittier would be at around 21 and Harrison at around 24? And yet, in doing so, the district would have moved kids as many as 3 times in 3 years? (Even if Harrison had additional classrooms, presumably those 52 are spread out across all grades and it might prove difficult to add an entire new class)
Can I just make one thing clear about the overcrowding at Whittier? Those parents who have addressed the administration and the board have never complained about the overcrowding of classes. In fact, the District has been great about adding classrooms when the numbers justified it.
The problem has been that the building itself is overcrowded. There are over 100 more kids at Whittier now than there were 2 years ago. But the gym and the playground and the bathrooms are all the same size. All of the rooms are filled with classrooms. Interventions happen in the hallway or in a modified closet. Lunch is chaotic.
Let's not let class size be confused with building size.
Thank you for the clarification, Whittier Parent. That is a much different issue. It is interesting how the two are confused - though it could be two different points of view.
Sharon had said "I am not the one who originally complained about class sizes at Whittier. Eight Whittier parents spoke at a board meeting."
Now you've said "Those parents who have addressed the administration and the board have never complained about the overcrowding of classes."
When presented with two different views - my experience has been to favor the one NOT presented by Sharon. :) How unfortunate if Sharon's FOIAs about class sizes and grants were based on something that parents were not complaining about.
Seriously, though, your explanation is helpful.
First of all, in my comments I did address the overcrowding of the school, not just the classes. I believe I used the words "more importantly." The Whittier parent does add the details that prove my statement that the building is overcrowded. Yes, the district did add a kindergarten (and one of my "grandchildren" was in the overcrowded classroom from August to January before the district did anything about it). Should parents have to complain at board meetings before classes are right-sized? I am sure teachers, also, complained--but the district makes a habit of ignoring their complaints. A parent's complaint does carry more weight.
I appreciate this parent's point of view and her charitable attitude toward the district's effort to right-size the kindergarten classes. Some of the classes (especially the fourth grade) still remain larger than the negotiated class sizes and still larger than the classes at Harrison. Complaints about overcrowded classrooms are a function of the union, also--and the union president has addressed overcrowded classrooms from the podium.
While your argument about class size averages is the same often used by the district, it is not an answer that satisfies parents whose children are in overcrowded classrooms. Also, the language in the contract doesn't speak about averages--it speaks to the sizes of individual classes.
Also, the Whittier principal herself did do a good job of seeing to it that the classes are balanced (approximately the same number in each class at each grade level).
Of course, my whole argument relates to the comparison between Harrison and Whittier class and building sizes as proof that the original promise to send the Tyng kids to Harrison should have been kept. Also, I believe that some parents are still questioning (but not publicly) whether or not Whittier will still suffer from too many students if the Tyng students choose to stay at Whittier. It is possible that nothing will change for next year. And, of course, whether or not you agree, Jon, I have a right to state an opinion about any school (without it being "unfortunate") not just the one which my own "grandchildren" attend--just as you have a right to have opinions (usually positive) about situations about which you have no personal interest other than to contradict me.
As far as my calling Dr. Lathan is concerned, all her statements about the class size reduction program were made publicly (and with time in between for her to check her "facts.") I am sure she knows that I questioned the program through two FOIAs when not given the information I requested in the first. Her error is hers to correct publicly.
Also, her earlier call to me had nothing to do with courtesy to me. She wanted information from me about who told me that tardies weren't being counted in the district.
Hi Sharon: This is just the last instance of somebody from the Watch Group encouraging a lawsuit:
Sharon Crews said...
Elaine Hopkins on her blog had some interesting observations about the recent reassignment of 150 principals and administrators:
“Insiders say the March 29 move to reshuffle Peoria School District 150 principals and administrators is unprecedented, and may have violated the Illinois school code and other laws and rules.”
“The openings were not posted, so others had no opportunity to apply for them, which flies in the face of affirmative action rules. Those who lose pay or have other working conditions affected by these changes may have lawsuits against the District.”
You also have stated that you believe Michelle Ungurait should sue.
Emerge, saying they have a case and encouraging them or helping them or two very different things. Do you think any of the principals have been in contact with us? I believe Michelle told the PJS she was filing--she didn't ask us if that was OK. Did your opinion that she shouldn't file affect her decision? We can both have opinions--but those opinions have had no effect on any lawsuits. You made it sound as though we were actively encouraging people to file a lawsuit. If we did, I would assume people might ask us if we wanted to help fund the costs--we won't be doing that.
Stick to your guns Sharon - you are spot on as always. Jon is still pissy about repeatedly getting his ass kicked as a youth for being an unbearable pinhead. Your points are well reasoned, come from experience, and tactful.
The District at times practically begs for people to sue them. I know that one recent suit was filed AFTER the District was told that if they continued down a certain course they would be sued. The District insisted on doing what they wanted without investigating the situation further. Emerge, if you are going to talk about who encourages lawsuits please talk about the District's role in these suits.
Emerge, early this morning I posted a response to the Whittier parent's comments--did it get lost in cyberspace?
Emerge, you suggest a lawsuit against the District for providing an inferior education for inner school students for the last three decades. My following comment is facetious. How could that lawsuit be won when 378 MHS students are on the honor roll for making all A's and B's? Didn't most of them attend soutside schools in the past decade?
At Great Plains, I just ran into a former student. Ordinarily I don't designate race, but he is black and told me that in the last year or two, his daughter started at MHS and he has pulled her out because of the watered down courses and discipline. He is the second former student that I have spoken to in the last couple of months who have children in the district and have the same attitude about MHS. I wonder if District 150 is doing any exit interviews or making any effort to find out why students in the MHS area are searching for opportunities to get out.
I do have to take issue with the Whittier parent who stated that. "Those parents who have addressed the administration and the board have never complained about the overcrowding of classes. In fact, the District has been great about adding classrooms when the numbers justified it."
I just listened to the tape (on PeoriaStory.com) of the November 22 BOE meeting when several Whittier parents spoke. Three of them mentioned overcrowded classes. One parent mentioned that one of the difficulties in these large classes is that there are children with varying degrees of abilities, making it difficult for the teacher to reach all students.
Furthermore, at a Whittier PTO meeting in January when Dr. Lathan was the guest, the PTO passed out an information sheet. These are some of the comments on the sheet:
"Current class sizes range from 24 to 28 students per class, the largest being Kindergarten classes with an average of 27 students each and 4th grade (the
ISAT year) with an average of 28. Although a 4th kindergarten teacher was recently added to the staff, there isn't physical space within the building to separate out a fourth classrrom so the teacher is limited to supplemental classroom support to the other 3 t4teachers."
Comments both at the November BOE meeting and on the flyer addressed another problem that I did not address. On the flyer "Whittier's test scores have plummeted since enrollment has grown. The Whittier student body has many high need students who need supplemental resources to succeed. As the Whittier student populatikon has grown, so have the needs of its students. IN FY07/08 only 25 percent of Tyng students met AYP goals in reading and only 36 per cent met them in math. TO MEET AYP GOALS UNDERPERFORMING STUDENTS NEED SMALLER CLASS SIZES AND MORE TARGETED INTERVENTIONS. (my caps). On the other hand, "FY07/08 83.6 percent of Whittier students met or exceeded AYP goals in reading, and 88.8 percent met or exceeded AYP goals in mathematics."
Personally, I preferred to stick with the class size and building enrollment issues, but clearly Whittier parents have many other concerns.
So please don't make me out to be the only person who addressed the issue of class sizes. Whittier parents, indeed, brought these concerns to Dr. Lathan. "Never" is probably a word that should be used very carefully.
Jon, in the interest of honesty, perhaps you would like to re-evaluate your accusation: "How unfortunate if Sharon's FOIAs about class sizes and grants were based on something that parents were not complaining about." How unfortunate that you jump to conclusions based on one person's comments who purported to be speaking for all Whittier parents.
Sharon - didn't you have a former student who said you gave them an "A" even though, according to them at least, they slept in most of your classes. Is that a real "A" or a watered down "A" on your part?
Sharon - didn't you have a former student who said you gave them an "A" even though, according to them at least, they slept in most of your classes. Is that a real "A" or a watered down "A" on your part?
Yes, that would be Jim Stowell. However, as I've mentioned before, Jim chose to be in a basic class (even though he had gone to Washington Gifted) instead of being in the more challenging enriched classes. Also, Jim does a good job of revisionist history. In his effort to discredit me, he makes himself look less than stellar. However, when a potentially enriched student is in a class with basic students, the odds are that the work will be easier and he/she will probably get A's. The system should perhaps force capable students into the courses that challenge them the most.
I have to wonder what would have happened if Jim hadn't received the grade he thought he deserved. I have a feeling he would have done much complaining.
On snowy days, I did give Jim a $1 to go sweep the snow off my car. One time when I got to my car, mine was the only one with snow on it. Turns out that the wind had blown the snow off of the cars, so Jim wanted to make it look as though he had done some work, so he put snow on it. I should have taken that as an omen of things to come. :)
I miss the Jim Stowell of those days and the one who, over the years, so often stopped by my room whenever he was in the building. Strangely enough, during all those times, he never mentioned sleeping through my class and getting underserved grades. I just have to decide which one is the real Jim Stowell--I think I'll opt for the one of the past.
Jim, I just bet you are reading (well, maybe not tonight), but I bet by tomorrow you will be back on the blogs now that the election is over.
Sharon, I didn't accuse. I said "How unfortunate IF..." Had I wanted to make an accusation, I would have said "How unfortunate THAT..." You know, the way you did. :)
Fess up, Jon; I suspected you of being the Anonymous who brought the Stowell story up. Now with the posts so close together. my suspicions are even stronger.
Jon, I knew that you would have an escape clause (and it does begin with "if"): however, I don't think I'll let you off the hook that easily. :) But others might; some seem to like your style. However, I'll always have TBPRicky.
Sharon, now you're just acting paranoid. I have always used the name "Jon" when posting here and on Peoria Chronicle. (I've posted a few things on PJStar, but surprise, "Jon" was not available).
Yes, Sharon, you'll always have TBPRicky. How unfortunate for you. Really.
No, Jon, he is honestly a good friend, not just an unknown blogger. Of course, you are not exactly an unknown blogger to me either. So that wasn't you posing as Anonymous--that's OK. No need for me to be paranoid--just seemed like a logical, but unimportant guess.
Frankly, I consider those who blog under the same name all the time to be much different than
Anonymous bloggers. Those who use the same name all time time--like you, for instance--do become "real" people because you express yourselves consistently, etc. So the "anonymous" name is as good as if you used your real name.
Come join the Alleged Angry Mob: District Watch meeting at Monical's on Knoxville and Lake this Sunday at 6 p.m.--all are welcome.
Regarding Peoria High: "There will probably be different professional development that will be implemented, the curriculum will pretty much be the same, there will be a lot of monitoring and fidelity checks," said District 150 Chief Curriculum and Instructional Officer Dr. LaToy Kennedy.
Wow. That clears it all up. Word inside Peoria schools is Kennedy is the hired FOG. Friend of Grenita.....
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