What are you doing New Year's Eve?

Merry Christmas!

I hope to return in 2012 with my muse, which has gone astray. Thanks for reading and being open to discussion. Have a safe, happy and blessed holiday season.

Oh joy, a three week Winter Break!

I LOVE LOVE LOVE Winter break, but can somebody please help me understand why District 150 will be taking THREE WEEKS for winter break! They get out today and return JANUARY 10th!

Most have termed 2011 the worst start to the school year EVER, with a large number of teachers not receiving text books and materials until just recently. Even the teachers in the very special Fusion program that we've heard so much about are still photo copying pages. So much confusion and change and then a three week break? Amazing.

The AVID program is now at Lincoln Middle School

After submitting an application and interviewing for a slot in the school's first AVID (Advancement via Individual Determination) classroom, approximately 15 students were selected based on their application and interview, as well as the AVID team's belief that they will succeed.

AVID is a college or career preparation program which has an impressive success rate at its schools around the United States and other countries. AVID targets B, C and D - grade earning students that have a drive to succeed and want to go to college.

AVID helps build an academic framework that provides more academic challenges and opportunities to enroll in a four-year university. Richwoods and Peoria High Schools began using the program with freshmen this school year.

Manual Academy is in the planning stages and plan to launch the program next year. Each high school region will also eventually have a program at a feeder middle school, like Lincoln will be to Peoria High School. Source

I swear, I was not eaves dropping...

but I got an ear full today (Sunday), while in a Bergner's Sheridan Village dressing room. The lady that was doing most of the talking remarked that in her 15+ years of experience, this year in District 150 was the worst of her career.

I have no idea what schools they were referring to and I of course, eliminated any names I heard. Some of what was said:

A secretary had her wrist(?) hurt by a student (this is where I walked in, so I caught this piece on the tail end);

They still do not have some of their textbooks;

Schools are supposed to be working on some kind of long-range goals (upwards of 25), but they have little/no guidance on how to achieve this;

A teacher was punched;

A friend's principal was told his job is day-to-day;

In another incident a teacher was pushed down;

The attempted child abduction was not immediately reported to the PPD.

I was somewhat apprehensive about posting this, because I found it a HUGE coincidence that somebody in the stall next to me would be talking about this stuff. But I rationalized that away by remembering they were already in their stall when I walked in. AND what they were saying seems consistent with comments already made on the blogs.

If you are a teacher and you recognize yourself in this post... sorry... but I hope you didn't buy that sweater with the Christmas decorations on it. That is NOT cute.

If you thought you were safe when you were out and about last night in Peoria - you would be mistaken

The PPD was chasing bullets all over town...

There was so much shooting going on, we were simply in awe of what we were hearing on the police scanner. In one instance, a black SUV was spotted in the vicinity of two separate drive bys. To my knowledge, none of the shooters were apprehended.

From the 10-12 shots fired in the parking lot of Friar Tuck (which is in University Square Shopping Center) during the evening when the Fish House, Starbucks and Chilli's was probably packed; down to the East Bluff; and on down to south end of Peoria, bullets were flying. Yet there's not one word of what was happening in the local news. Not to mention an incident that took place on Thursday morning at one of the new boutiques across from the Metro Center that has yet to be reported on.

Chances are, if all of the shootings and muggings were in the news, citizens would be in a panic. So, while you are out doing your boutiquing in our lovely little city, don't take it for granted that you are safe. I would suggest you be extra vigilant - the PPD can only be in so many places and it's usually after the fact.

Update - Warning to folks who live in East Bluff this A.M.

It is 6:30 a.m. and if you happen to be looking at the blog before leaving your home - this is a warning that an armed robbery just occured and the person is currently loose in the areas of Wilcox, Wisconsin and  Atlantic. Be safe.

UPDATE @ 7:30 a.m. - It is believed the person may have left the area in a vehicle.

Principals just wanna have fun!

Principal Sharron Smalls' sexy Facebook photo spread throughout the school

A South Bronx principal accused of credit-fudging has landed in more hot water — after students plastered the school with Facebook pictures of a shirtless stud hosing her down.

The NY Daily News revealed earlier this week that city Education officials are investigating Sharron Smalls, the principal of Jane Addams High School, for a massive course credit scandal that may have jeopardized graduation for half of the current senior class.

On Friday students retaliated by plastering the school with the photo of a bare-chested man spraying the scantily dressed principal with what looks like melted chocolate as the two grind on a dance floor. Until this week Smalls used the photo for her Facebook profile. The pic has left kids flabbergasted, considering her dress code for the school declares “the thug look is out.”

“I cannot believe my principal would dance like that,” said shocked senior Christine Daniels, 18, who saw the photo online, where it has also been making the rounds on email. “She doesn't want us to come to school with short shorts and then she turns around and does this,” said senior Tehrra Smith, 17. “It’s gonna be bad for college, very bad.”

Smalls, 43, is accused of handing students chemistry credits for cosmetology courses and geography credits for tourism classes. Teachers say the fraud may lead to more than 100 seniors not graduating from the F-rated school because they lack credits in high-level math courses.

Smalls has already been blasted by teachers and parents over the scandal - and now officials say she should have shown better judgment online.

“When you are in a leadership position in a school, you have to consider the potential downside of exposing your personal life on social media,” said Education Department spokeswoman Margie Feinberg.

But the abysmal performance of Smalls’ school is more important than her performance on the dance floor, said Feinberg.“This is a school that has for years performed far below citywide averages,” Feinberg said. “This is why we are considering phasing it out.”

Just 45% seniors at Jane Addams graduated on time last year. In 2011, the school earned F’s in every category of its city-issued progress report.

Since the News broke the credit-fudging scandal on Thursday, officials have been scrambling to make sure seniors have the classes they need to graduate.

But some in the school feel the problem won’t be solved until Smalls, who earns $140,074 a year and has been principal since 2007, is removed from the building. “These photos are just another example of our leader’s poor judgment,” said Stephen Tavano, 58, who has taught math at Jane Addams for 19 years and heads the local chapter of the teachers union.

“No matter how this turns out, principal Smalls needs to go,” he said. Smalls did not return repeated requests for comment for this article. Source

Lawsuit filed against former States Attorney Kevin Lyons

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

PEORIA, IL – General Parker filed a lawsuit in federal court today against former state’s attorney Kevin Lyons, and other defendants for violating his civil rights in February of this year by removing his name from the ballot for school board.

Parker says he believes that Kevin Lyons colluded with the judges in this matter and Debbie Wolfmeyer, who is also a defendant, and possibly other county board officials to basically hold a kangaroo court to prevent him from being elected and giving African Americans their first majority in the history of District 150’s school board. Parker states that he has left the door open to amend the complaint into a class action suit for those members of the second district who were disenfranchised by the illegal and unprecedented actions of the former state’s attorney that prevented them from being able to vote for the candidate of their choice.  

“Too often, we as a society have viewed the African community as an under-caste, second class of citizens, who are unworthy of the same rights and benefits of those of other races or socio-economic status.” “I plan to put an end to that kind of thinking.” Parker said. “What’s even worse is, I have received word from a handwriting analyst that, the petitions Wolfmeyer submitted had fraudulent signatures on them. So it kind of makes you wonder why Mr. Lyons had it in for me when clearly there were actual crimes being committed.”

Parker is planning on holding a press conference soon. He says there are issues in the community concerning the treatment of African Americans in the Peoria area that can’t be allowed to stand. Mr. Parker is intent on giving the black community a voice and will discuss next steps regarding the school board and other races.  

“Those who control the education of the children,

controls the future of that race!”

Parker says he refuses to relinquish control of our black children or the future of blacks in Peoria to outsiders or corporate Peoria.   Those wishing to join in the class action suit can contact:  Richard Fedder at (618) 201-5834 or

Of course, it's most certainly double taxation...

but it happened years ago when the special taxing district was first formed.

The folks in the Uplands get extra police protection through a special grant, but the folks in the East Bluff get police protection through double taxation? Just another example of those that have the least being forced to pay more. Why does my life in Peoria resemble being trapped in a pay day loan scheme?

Through all of the allegations about the East Bluff Neighborhood Housing Service for being shady, many of the allegations which have proven true, NOW City leaders don't think they are doing good business? Really?

Well, here's the thing about that... we're not currently getting anything for our tax dollars and the folks in the East Bluff are just the right amount of desperate and apathetic to go along with this new scheme.

East Bluff neighborhood group looks to future

The future of a 25-year-old organization that oversees property rehabilitation in the East Bluff is in flux after its board members and City Council members appear to be split on its future mission.

Following a spirited meeting Wednesday, 3rd District City Councilman Timothy Riggenbach and members of the East Bluff Neighborhood Housing Services board agreed to negotiate a program based on measurable results.

In the meantime, the approximately $65,000 in property taxes the group gets each year to pay for operational expenses will be held by a third-party escrow for up to six months, essentially meaning the neighborhood board's funding will be frozen for the first part of 2012.

"I can't support giving total disbursements back to the NHS"
Riggenbach

The agreement will be voted on by the City Council on Dec. 13. Riggenbach and members of the neighborhood housing services board will meet in January. The discussion on Wednesday produced some fireworks between the two sides with the main disagreements focused on Riggenbach's plan to use the $65,000 on a one-year program to increase police patrols. "We need help," he said. "Ultimately, that is, in my opinion, the most pressing need we see in this area right now."

The Rev. Simon Holly, president of the neighborhood group, said the residents already pay for police services through their property tax money. The $65,000 comes from a special service-area tax levied on East Bluff residents, and costs 18 cents per $100 assessed value. "Seems to me, it's double taxation," he said.

Other board members called the proposal potentially illegal and offensive. Riggenbach said the proposal was only temporary and was needed because the neighborhood group has been unable to make loans, largely because of federal regulatory restrictions and not having an adequate funding source.

 

Holly and other members said they lacked city support to provide a funding source. Also, the group stressed that it had provided Riggenbach and city officials with documents showing how they plan to operate next year. Riggenbach, though, said the group's plan lacked measurable results. Holly fired back saying he was confused on what, exactly, the city wanted.

"I believe this organization is getting thrown under the bus. We've done everything you've asked."

Holly

East Bluff Neighborhood Housing Services, which formed in 1986 to provide loans for rehabilitation projects, has faced difficulties in recent years in making those loans. The group currently oversees 17 loans, with more than 50 percent of them in arrears. The group also owns four properties.