The biggest problem that many who comment on this blog seem to have with District 150, is that they roll out programs so fast that they don’t check back to make sure that the administrative procedure is in place to implement it; or they don’t check to make sure it’s working before they start boasting about it. The ELITE Program is just the latest example of this dysfunction.
It would appear that Grenita Lathan’s way of rolling out a program is not conducive with the way Peoria Park District President, Bonnie Noble rolls out a program. As a result, expanding the ELITE Program into another District 150 school has been tabled until the Board can talk to Carl Cannon and Bonnie Noble about the issues of the licensing agreement.
Superintendent Lathan doesn’t appear to appreciate the fact that the Park District actually has the final say in how the program is expanded, is now threatening to reopen and renegotiate the contract and it's fees.
What’s wrong with the contract and the fees? If there were issues with it – why was it on the Board Agenda to be renewed? Additionally, why was it on the Board Agenda, when they hadn't even talked to Cannon or Noble about the expansion or seen results?
What I find MOST interesting, is the fact that this School Board entered into three contracts, totaling $365,000 a year, in the first place, without even knowing who owns the program. Before signing the next contract, they may want to look further than Carl Cannon as to who really owns the ELITE Program, from what I am hearing somebody else actually owns it and Carl is limited as to how far he can actually take it.
Plans to expand ELITE program hit snag at District 150 board meeting
Peoria School District 150's plans to expand the highly praised ELITE program from Trewyn Middle School to Harrison Community Learning Center have hit a snag over questions about the total cost of the program - almost $1 million over three years for one school - and who has the right to authorize an expansion, ELITE founder Carl Cannon or Cannon's employer, Peoria Park District.
Three different contracts, totaling about $365,000 a year, govern the school district's use of the ELITE program, according to District 150 treasurer Dave Kinney. Two are with the park district, including one that pays for salaries of several ELITE program workers. While the park district pays Cannon's salary, District 150 also has an $80,000 licensing agreement with him for use of the ELITE program, which is his intellectual property.
Concerns about the program came out when the board was scheduled to vote on renewing the licensing agreement with Cannon.
"The question I keep trying to settle in my mind is how much we're paying at one school and what we're paying for," board member Linda Butler said.
Her question resonated with most of her colleagues, who voted 5-1 to table adopting the licensing agreement until they could talk to Cannon and Peoria Park District Director Bonnie Noble. Martha Ross voted no and Rick Cloyd abstained.
District 150 Superintendent Grenita Lathan said she initially was under the impression Cannon had the right to make decisions on when and how to expand the ELITE program to other schools.
Earlier Monday, Noble said The park district wants to see results from ELITE's experience at Trewyn before spreading the program to other schools.
"I don't know if we're talking about expanding," Noble said. "I want us to be positive that we don't do it too fast and that we do it right. I want to make sure there's data that shows the school has stabilized."
Noble said the park district also wants to be sure ELITE can sustain itself without Cannon.
55 comments:
Wow... Folks making quite a nice little living off that ELITE Program.
I for one would be very interested in knowing how this Program works and/or if it works.
What are we paying for
How many employees does ELITE have
What exactly does Cannon do
How does the contract between the Park District/Cannon/School District work
Whose employee is Cannon
How much authority to make decisions in schools does Cannon have
How much authority to make decisions in schools does Bonnie Noble have
Why doesn't the Park District know if the Program is working
If Cannon is the Park District's employee, why didn't he provide them with results
Why hasn't the School District talked to Cannon about ELITE yet
Why would they consider moving it to another school without any results
I could just go on and on with this...
Funny that definition of Magic Negro talks about a "Noble savage."
That would make Carl Cannon the Bonnie Noble savage LOL
Elite came about as an original leg of the progarm C.H.O.I.C.E.S. It was a 'no-bull' topic driven, straight to the point program informing youth of the consequences of their actions. It also gave them the truth of real life prison and tried to instill in youth the importance of respect. This program was given by numerous volunteer Correctional Officers and volunteers in the Law Enforcement field. As the program reached national recoqnition, it began to go to peoples head and the original intention was lost causing many prominant community volunteers and officials to distance themselves with the program. Check the figures and stats, and make sure you are getting what you are paying for. Also please dont forget that this is supposed to be for the kids and not for personal gain or to line someones pocket with money. The youth of today are our future and need that leadership!!!
... so exactly how many pay checks is Carl Cannon getting?
The problem I have with the ELITE Program is that the larger community is "afraid" of any kid who hasn't been blessed by Carl Cannon and the ELITE Program. Good kids can't get a break - Carl Cannon got all the breaks hemmed up for the kids in the ELITE Program.
I worked at Trewyn with Elite and I have to say it was a good thing. It puts positive male role models in the schools where most children do not have them at home. Is the Elite program perfect? No, but I believe it helped make a difference in behavior at a school that was suffering. District 150 is famous for hiring consultants, can this be any different? These guys were there to talk to students, keep the peace, break up fights, and much more. Truly, they were like a Godsend. I think the main problem was that many teachers felt they took the power away from the teachers. Often kids would misbehave until Elite was called. It was like a, "Just wait til your father gets home," kind of thing.
Still, I give each and every Elite member kudos for all the hard work they have given to our schools.
So Carl Cannon not only receives $80,000.00 for the licensing agreement, but he receives a paycheck too? I heard that he also gets other monies from various organizations. As far as employees, I know that Taunya Jenkins's husband is one of the Elite employees, I don't know who the others are. I heard that HYVEE pretty much only hires ELITE students, don't know about other companies. So it really isn't about the kids for him, is it? If anyone has seen him in action he is a bully.
I thought Taunya Jenkins, also works for Elite, does she get paid by them too?
This is off topic, but have the schools'
scores ever been published? I am assuming they must be real low if they haven't.
How can a person claim "Intellectual Property" and is paid by a public entity (Park District)? Shouldn't the Park District have the rights to the ELITE Program? The Park District is paying Cannon to implement "his" program. Legal minds, help me out on this one.
I know of someone who was in one of Carl Cannon's programs. She and the other participants were promised computers to help with their educations. Once they finally got the computers only a fraction of them would actually work. Her parents repeatedly called Carl Cannon's office and got the run-a-round. Not until they threatened to go to the media, did they give her a working computer. I lost a lot of respect for Carl Cannon after that.
What is it with deals between the PPD and PSD150?
The Glen Oak School in the Park debacle
The Glen Oak School Community School programming
The Harrison School Community School programming
The ELITE Program
All of these initiatives seem to have ownership/accountability issues at the taxpayers expense. Who oversees crap like this?
No one oversees this. Once the big dust up settles, it is forgotten. Unless there is bad publicity that everyone can jump on the bandwagon and shake their fists about, no one really cares.
If the Elite program worked so well at Trewyn then why do the teachers have to switch classes and not the students?
The only thing, Carl Cannon is not selflessly helping white folks, he is being paid quite well do to whatever it is that he does.
While watching the news coverage of the D150 board meeting last night, I listened as school discipline issues were discussed. Dr. Lathan says that the reason discipline problems were almost identical two years in a row because two years ago principals and teachers were "afraid" to have too many referrals in their building that would make them look bad so they just didn't refer students for discipline issues and this past year they did write them up. That is a LIE....Every teacher in every building has been either had modeled or told NOT to refer students because the Lathanator will shred everyone in the building except students if there are referrals. We had kids throwing chairs at teachers, assaulting other students, swearing like a sailor, stealing teacher's purses, etc. These kids get NO consequence...
Thanks, Emerge, for so many great questions and observations. When I heard the $360.000 a figure, I admit I was stunned--I had no idea that much money had been allocated for just one school. Also, before anyone comes to any conclusions about the Elite program being the reason for an improvement in discipline, I hope everyone takes into consideration the extremely low class size numbers at Trewyn. Cause and effect can easily be misconstrued. I don't have any desire to fault Cannon or to mitigate the good his program has done in our community. I just think Emerge's questions and the cost must be considered.
Per TV 25, Wolfmeyer chastised the naysayers about discipline after Salzman read the statistics for the last 2 years. There was not a lot of change from one year to the next. Wolfmeyer forgot to include that Dr. Lathan was in charge for BOTH of those years. People, including students, are being hurt in PSD150 schools.
By the grace of God we got our son out of 150 last year. His school was so out of control I took him out in the middle of the day and we never went back. We didn't know how we were going to pay for private school month to month but somehow we manage. We need the free book bag and it would have been nice to be able to get one of the uniform cards, but we didn't get the Dream Center phone call. We will go to the St. Thomas book bag give away.
Sharon, the discipline did not improve at Trewyn, no matter what is said. It, like every other problem, is hidden by the schools. Discipline is so way out of control in 150. There isn't any consistency at any of the schools. The no cell phone policy-- depends on what class and what school. Some teachers let you, others don't. Dress code--this again depends on the teacher or the school. Students feel rules are made to be broken and in some schools they are correct. One school I was in had a rule that no student could where flip flops. Who cares what shoes they wear! In this very same school, students wore their pants down to their knees and their shirts had either their boobs or belly showing. They would walk by the principal and other staff with no consequences, but oh heavens don't where those flip flops!
Have any of the 150 tests score been published, if so where? If not, why the secrecy. From what I hear they are available as other out of district schools see their own.
That is what I'm hearing. Do any of you know about the point system with the District Attorney that restricts arresting students who do not have enough points? That was brought up at last night's meeting--I think by Lathan who claimed that it is the point system that keeps students from being arrested. What she failed to acknowledge (or what others failed to bring up) are the persistent "rumors" that she and administrators beholden to her do to avoid students getting the points. I do believe that Cloyd and maybe others are ready to take some action--I am hopeful.
When a kindergartener assaults his teacher by throwing a chair at her and punching her in her pregnant stomach, then gets NO consequence from the principal, you have to know we are in trouble. After that escapade, I decided that I would not bother to write another referral.....why waste the time.
To be fair, the schools are terrified of enforcing the rules for fear of getting sued and or being acussed of racism. See Crazy Joe - possibly the best inner city educator ever.
Something has to change for the good of all. Unless we find a way to have compassion and consequences, there are no workable solutions. We are in an era when compassion without consequences is the order of the day. Sorry, but until students once again fear consequences, there is no hope. To fear consequences there must be consequences. Unfortunately, just consequences won't work either--we must also have the fear of consequences. Do I know how to return to that era--no, I don't. However, we need to start by finding consequences that take away something that students value.
Sorry, but teachers need to start by sending the referrals no matter what. If you heard Dr. Lathan last night, you know that she blamed teachers for not reporting behavior problems. You have that on your side--I guess I'm saying, "Call her bluff" and put the ball back in her court.
Sharon, I agree teachers need to write all the referrals that are necessary and "call her bluff". But then behind closed doors she has the principal chastise you and then your evaluation is bad. It doesn't say that it is because of the referrals, but it is verbally told to you. In high school the student is sent to the dean and a referral written, but what happens when the student is sent right back to the classroom? On the way out the student will tell the class, don't worry I will be right back and they are and usually disrupt the class even more.
Well, lets see, she fired two principals and fired an assistant principal for suspending too many students. She will simply fire teachers because the new eval model has a component for classroom management and that will be like a pass for her to fire. Mark my words, she fired nine teachers tbis year, she will fire twice that amount next year.
I am glad Dr. Lathan is a person of such high character. A true leader would take some responsibility. She would gain more respect that way.
Isn't it funny how she loves to play the blame game. As the superintendent, the BUCK STOPS WITH HER and she needs the admit that. She is ultimately responsible, not her minions and not the teachers.
She can't fire all of you--at some point you will have to learn to work together. The school board all heard her say teachers don't write referrals. Now prove her right or wrong. There is power in numbers. Of course--before anyone suggests otherwise--I am not suggesting that teachers write referrals just to prove a point; that would be stupid. However, I know that many hold back because of fear and put up with behaviors that harming many other children--they simply have to come first. There are teachers who stick their necks out and they are still around--it's the ones who take abuse quietly that get fired.
It takes more than Carl Cannon to get parents to take charge of their children. Scanner reported Trewyn being broken into overnite, at 2am. Six kids are involved, they caught one. Big, big sigh. Why are 6 kids out at 2am? My kids are home in bed, and I know it, every single nite!
Sharon, i worked with a teacher that actively sought help and followed the referral plan to the t. She is now unemployed...
Sharon, where are the test scores posted for the District? They weren't posted before Lathan's contract was renewed and still aren't. How bad are they?
Remember some of our good principal's resigned before firing and many good teachers have left the district. Rumor has it that Stockman was suppose to take over at Trewyn, but when told she would only be a figurehead and Cannon would really run it, she refused and left the district. She went to Quest as a Dean and now is finally back as a principal at a school in Galesburg. Congratulations, Angie!
The district has had the test scores since end of May. I heard not good went down across thw district. Which is why board only gave $5,000 bonus and held off on additional 5,000. They knew the scores then and still renewed her contract a year early and gave her a bonus. When was the last time teachers contracts were renewed early with a bonus!
What about the break in last week at Richwoods? At least 1 football player, maybe all 3, from what we've heard. They probably won't get expelled either. It is really frustrating when you send a kid out for calling you a "f---ing b" among other things and then the next day they are sitting in your room.Maybe, depending on the circumstances, they get a day or 2 in in-school suspension. Or we have kids miss 20+days in a semester and we're supposed to accommodate them (the 50% rule in full affect). I was fortunate that I only had a few run ins where I teach but several of my co-workers have it worse.
The sad thing is our administration does support us but then they get push back from further above. Ultimately, the students are the ones that lose out because most of them are good kids, its the 1 or 2 in the bunch that are the true issue!
Liliane BettencourtWednesday, July 25, 2012 7:21:00 AM CDT
In product license agreement must and should mentioned the details of both partners and the details of license and other terms and conditions.
To Emerge: At this point, all School Administrators should be in place. Could we get an update on who will be running the schools this school year?
Here is the Principal's page for D150: http://psd150.org/domain/47. Most of them are updated. Wonder why the HR report from Monday's meeting isn't posted yet. It was supposed to be posted yesterday.
I've noticed that every time there are shockers on it, it isn't posted until a few days later. Wonder if that is the case this time.
I agree. My guess it has something to do with the tenured staff that was "rif'd". But then again, the "who's who" of the union will be relaxing at Lake Lawn Lodge next week (Oh, I mean sitting in "meaningful" conferences) at the expense of all the teachers(including the ones that were fired)...Thank you Mr. President....AGAIN!
Do they have to have a HR report after a Committee of the Whole meeting--I didn't think so. However, they aren't supposed to vote at a CofW but they do.
The HR report should have been up by noon yesterday. Yes, now that they have a regular agenda, they need an HR report.
Anonymous poster who needs the book bag - hit me up via email - adkinsdutro@me.com. Jeff Adkins-Dutro
Emerge: Good article in the Economist about Charter Schools. Didn't know if you saw it.
http://www.economist.com/node/21558265
We have waited long enough. It is time for the Board Meetings to be telvised!!!! Apparently finances are not major issues. Money is being wasted on less important things.
The public has a right to see what is happening at our Board Meetings. No excuses this school year, please!!!!!
This article is very interesting. My take-away...
Charters appear to be sucessful in economically challenged areas with minority students. I also see that younger students are more successful in Charter Schools. This brings me to the conclusion, if we want students to read by the third grade, provide Charters for students in k-4 grades.
Amen!
Sharon, they are also supposed to put the Minutes from the meeting on that website page. That also is not happening. Wonder who is running the Zoo on Wisconsin?
Here it is Thursday, 3 days later and still no HR report! It is the end of July and test scores have yet to be published, yet other school districts have published theirs! Must be some really bad items in these that they haven't been published yet! And why aren't the meetings being televised? What is all the secrecy about? Why is the Board allowing it and why are we?
Should we have a letter writing campaign requesting televised Board Meetings? How about starting a petition.? Maybe 200 people packed in the Board Room requesting televised meetings will help? How about a full page in the Journal Star requesting it? We surely need help with this one.
The administration has literally thumbed their nose at the community.
Just because a person has the skills to control kids doesn't mean that he has the expertise and knowledge regarding programmatic evaluation. A method should have been in place with pre and post discipline data. Since it was the first year of the program, it would be easy just to start with baseline data, since the school structure at Trewyn was not the same as last year. One could provide data on the #of suspension, #of referrals, #of interventions, #of repeated offenders. Other considerations in data collection:teacher satisfaction, parent satisfaction, student satisfaction. This data should have been presented to the Board so all involved could make an intelligent decisionon moving to another school. Research, however, substantiates that it takes atleast three years for to see the effectiveness of any program.
I am not a smart person and I can figure that out.
I think Lathan has some "splaynin to do to the BOE. Its about time they start questioning her apparent LACK OF COMPETENT LEADERSHIP.
The minutes of the meeting should be posted also. The meeting schedule is also supposed to be posted at the beginning of the fiscal year, July 1, but this is the end of July and the meeting schedule is not posted. They only posted July's meeting. It looks like the BOE and Super have things to hide; so much for transparency.
When one considers the horrible way last year began, such as no textbooks, no professional development for new programs, buying Science curriculum that was not necessary, paying way too much for graphic organizer teacher guides, etc, the fact that Lathan did not know what was going on with the Elite program makes sense that it was just thrown into Trewyn. Lathan is padding her resume, and is clueless about what these programs are all about.
She wasn't qualified to begin with to ever be superintendent, but the board evidently wasn't qualified either to check into her credentials or the fact that her resume might not be correct.We ordinary people have checked and know she isn't qualified nor had the credentials she claimed she did. She is the Pied Piper of Dist 150 and the BOE are her mice!
And who is paying the ultimate price? The children in the schools...
I personally was a part of the ELITE Program at Dunlap High School for 2 years, and it changed my life. Ask most of the kids who spend at least 3 weeks in the program what they think, And they'll say they love it. I know I did. The program opens up and gives these "High Risk Kids" a chance, and when they succeed in the program, amazing opportunities and doors open up for them. Mine was 3 different Job Opportunities I would have never gotten before.
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