At a recent BOE meeting, Laura Pettele asked the
Superintendent what was happening with televising the meetings. However, I do not
recall hearing whether the Superintendent responded to her on the record. One
would think if the BOE wanted the meetings televised, all they would have to do
is tell their employee [Superintendent] to make it happen. Right?
Anonymous said... So tell me 150 bloggers, what happened to the principal at Day Treatment?
Tuesday, April 24, 2012
Anonymous said... I heard she slapped a student....and several adults witnessed it...is that what you are referring to....
Tuesday, April 24, 2012
Anonymous said...
Day Treatment does not have a principal. The administrators are an Assistant Principal, and a special education coordinator.
Don't understand what you mean by "what happened to the principal at Day Treatment?" There is no principal, unless you mean the Trewyn Principal. Tuesday, April 24, 2012
Anonymous said...
Who is /was the Principal at Day Treatment? Tuesday, April 24, 2012
Somebody asked me to post the definition of cronyism. Seeing how I got nothing else for today, here it is...
Cronyism is partiality to long-standing friends, especially by appointing
them to positions of authority, regardless of their qualifications. Hence,
cronyism is contrary in practice and principle to meritocracy (wherein
appointments and responsibilities are objectively assigned to individuals
based upon their "merits", namely intelligence, credentials, and
education.)
Cronyism exists when the appointer and the beneficiary are in social
contact; often, the appointer is inadequate to hold his or her own job or
position of authority and for this reason the appointer appoints
individuals who will not try to weaken him or her, or express views
contrary to those of the appointer. Politically, "cronyism" is derogatorily
used.
We have seen all of the "Anonymous" comments from teachers on the blog and questioned why they won't sign their name to anything. Lately I have noticed that some teachers are being more vocal and speaking before the Board of Education. Additionally, they ARE giving their input directly to the Board and signing their names to it. The letter below is from a tenured teacher:
Members of the District 150 Board of Education:
When Norm Durflinger came to our district, I didn't trust him. I thought, "What can this man from a small town know about an urban district like ours?" However, what Norm understood -- and what he helped me to understand -- is the power of collaboration -- of getting everyone on board with a solid plan and working together to carry that plan out. No matter where you are or what situation you're in, if you can work together for improvement, you'll improve.
Shortly before Norm left, we were poised for change -- the kind of change needed in District 150. The union, the board, and the administration were working together to push for progressive reforms.
With all of that said, it must be noted that in the last few years, the Peoria Federation of Teachers has transformed itself into an instrument of leadership, collaboration, and meaningful change. The union has invited administrators and board members to TURN conferences, where unions, board members, and administrators learn to work together for the benefit of their districts.
As I said, Norm had our district poised for meaningful, collaborative change. As a union, we were poised for taking a collaborative approach to getting our district on the right track. Norm asked for input, developed a plan, and made it his business to get everyone in the district on board with that plan.
We have two SIG grants in our city -- millions of dollars funding reforms at Manual High School and Peoria High School. Obtaining and maintaining a SIG grant is heavily dependent upon the board of education, the central administration, and the teachers' union working together. Had there been hints of a district about to splinter, we could have kissed those grants goodbye. Further, with Race to the Top dollars being dangled in front of Illinois' nose, it's critical, again, for districts to be able to show that their unions, administrators, and board members are willing to work together -- to collaborate -- as they usher in meaningful change.
Our superintendent is saying, "You don't have to like me; you don't have to love me; I'm asking you to respect what we're trying to do in our schools."
The question begging to be asked is . . . WE who?
The president of the Peoria Federation of Teachers is saying that so much harm has been done by the current administration that he's not sure the district can be fixed. Doesn't sound like collaboration to me.
You have a split board on decisions being touted as "part of the strategic plan." Doesn't sound like collaboration to me.
You have the bus drivers' union, the aids' union, and the campus police union all up in arms. Doesn't sound like collaboration to me.
There are whisperings (more like shouts, actually) of the teachers' union taking a vote of no confidence in the administration and the board. If the teachers take a vote, I can almost guarantee that the other unions will as well. Then what?
This WE needs to be defined. Is it Dr. Lathan and the board members who agree with her at any given time? Certainly, it's not the district as a whole. That's very clear. WE who?
Guiding a district must include getting input from and securing buy in from all stakeholders. This "you don't have to like me / you don't have to love me" nonsense might make for a good soundbite on a late night reality show; however, it's no way to lead a district. The father (or mother, now) knows best approach is an antiquated, beurocratic approach that simply won't fly. There must be buy in and collaboration. For state and federal money, it's required.
It must be noted too, that saying, "Change is hard . . . Change is painful . . ." . . . well, those hackneyed cliches don't mean anything and, quite frankly, they're downright insulting. The implication that the superintendent and the board members, sans two, are the only ones who understand and can handle change is absurd. Then, when you throw in the red herring, "It's about the children," you might as well just slap all of us in the community in the face. Essentially, you're saying, "If you don't agree with what we're doing, you are against the children."
Union President, Bobby Darling "out of order" at BOE meeting...
5:58 No picketers!
6:40 Meeting still hasn't started. Supposed to begin at 6:30
6:41 Meeting finally started
6:50 Teacher spoke regarding Harrison and Glen Oak. "Who is responsible for promising the taxpayers community schools and not delivering?"
6:52 Terry Knapp spoke regarding state baseball tournament. The IHSA baseball championship game help same day as 150 graduation. Lathan promised last June that would not happen. It was brought up last August and she did not change date. He is hoping that will not happen next year.
6:53 Mr Sierra said discipline is NUMBER issue that faces 150.
6:55 Bobby Darling states the district laying off 70 teachers...what will that do to class sizes?
7:00 Speaker asking why board meetings aren't televised live. Asking for BOE to give community opportunity to watch meetings.
7:00 Public Hearing for Dismissal of Teachers.
7:09 Public Hearing people can speak a second time.
7:18 Bobby Darling
asking if layoffs are really for economic reasons? Why does the District continue to buy
more programs if this is truly about economic reasons?
7:19Teacher said
that she has 34 kids in her home room. "…if district is laying off teachers next year will I have 44 or 54?"
7:24Teacher said
layers and layers of bureaucracy ..lots of people making 6 figures that never
see the children.
7:25So it came out that the teachers that will be dismissed tonight were not EVEN NOTIFIED!
7:40Martha says she doesn't feel comfortable firing people without giving them notice.
7:41Linda Butler and Dr Lathan says that Union given list.
7:43 Bobby Darling jumped up and yelled "IT'S NOT THE UNION'S JOB TO TELL PEOPLE THAT THEY ARE FIRED!!!!"
Linda Butler.." Mr Darling, you are out of order! Mr. Darling you are out of order! "
7:51 Wolfmeyer.."Mr Darling, I totally I agree that it's not the Union's job to tell people that they are fired."
7:54 Martha said she will not support layoffs bc staff was not notified that they were being laid off before vote.
7:59 Does Chris Crawford speak?
8:00 Martha changed her vote 7-0 all teachers dismissed without notification.
8:04 Presentation by BOE. Patelle wants to know where the District is as far as televised meeting. Lathan said something will be in board minutes.
8:11 Meeting over.
Check back regularly for updates.
Hat tip to my friend on the Verizon Wireless BlackBerry
I understand the ruling, but does that make what Ungurait is alleging the Superintendent did okay? From the website of District #150's law firm.
ILLINOIS APPELLATE COURT RULES THAT ASSOCIATE SUPERINTENDENT'S RELIANCE ON ALLEGED ORAL PROMISES FROM THE SUPERINTENDENT DID NOT INVALIDATE THE CONTRACT
In a major ruling regarding school administrator contracts, the Illinois Appellate Court held that a board of education properly dismissed an associate superintendent pursuant to an early termination clause in her employment contract.
In Ungurait v. Peoria Public Schools No. 150, successfully defended by Stan Eisenhammer and Michelle Todd, the appellate court upheld the trial court's dismissal of Ungurait's initial complaint.
Dr. Michelle Ungurait
This case centered on the employment of Dr. Michelle Ungurait as the Associate Superintendent of Schools. Ungurait relocated to Illinois from North Carolina prior to entering into a written agreement with the board of education memorializing the terms of her employment.
During her first year as Associate Superintendent, the board terminated Ungurait's employment with the school district under an "early termination" provision of Ungurait's contract. The early termination clause provided that the board could terminate the administrator's employment, without cause, if the board provided the administrator with 30 days' notice of the termination and paid the administrator the remainder of her salary for the contract year.
After the board's termination of the employment contract, Ungurait filed her complaint arguing that the Superintendent had made oral promises to her in order to elicit her relocation and employment with the district which rendered the employment agreement unenforceable.
In its decision, the appellate court found that the early termination provision of the contract was enforceable because the board complied with the notice provision and salary payout as defined by its own written terms. Moreover, the court concluded that the executed employment contract between the parties barred Ungurait from arguing that she relied on alleged oral representations from the Superintendent regarding the terms of her employment– including contract term, salary and benefits. The court definitively held that the express terms of the employment agreement barred any of her claims for damages related to oral promises made by the district.
There is no doubt that the job duties of a superintendent of schools must be vast. From the outside looking in we can clearly see a lot of time being spent on power plays backed up by polarizing posturing. From what we are finding out, we apparently elected a board of education that wanted a person with just the management style our current superintendent possesses.
The majority of the BOE has gone on record in support of such a management style and we just need to understand that what we may see as chaos and pain is all part of the "Strategic Plan." We don't have to like it, we don't have to love it, but we are being asked to "respect" the Machiavellian approach to turn around in education... after all, the ends justify the means.
"We're ready to make difficult and unpopular decisions because a good future demands it."Board President, Reverend. Linda Butler
What exactly does the BOE support?
Constant turnover among employees at the school district; never ending bus driver issues; the potential cutting of the people who serve as aides, nurses, occupational, therapists, and school librarians (last year, 82 support staff were pink slipped); the yearly principal shuffles at high risk schools; employees being treated unprofessionally due to the emotional nature in which actions are brought to the board; late arrival of books; and oh yes, the annual practice of pink slipping teachers.
In the midst of spending time to manage constant turmoil/turnover (all in the name of “Accountability”), we are supposed to trust that there is still time left in the day to insure that children throughout the District are receiving a good education and that this chaos does not hinder that.
District 150 Board To Vote On Teacher Layoffs
Layoff notices will be going out next week for some Peoria District 150 employees.
District 150's school board will vote on Monday to pink slip first, second, and third-year teachers, as well as part-time teachers.
Pink slips for less tenured teachers happen every year, but most teachers are eventually brought back to teach again in the fall.
There is one change for this year. Some schools in District 150 will give out pink slips based on performance, not tenure.
If teachers are pink slipped in District 150 Public Schools this year, all will be handed out without regard for seniority. It's part of a new state law that's designed to give teachers chances to improve before being let go.
Teachers faced a series of formal and informal observations by administrators throughout the school year.
The district created a new evaluation tool to gauge teacher performance. This year, it will only be used at District 150 high schools and Sterling Middle School. All other schools will use an older evaluation model until next year.Source
Students kicked out of school for demanding better education
About 50 students were suspended Thursday from the all-boys Frederick
Douglass Academy in Detroit, Mich. for walking out of classes in protest, demanding "an education."
Among their complaints: a lack of consistent teachers, the reassignment of the school principal, educators who abuse sick time and a shortage of textbooks.
"We've been wronged and disrespected and lied to and cheated," senior Tevin Hill told the Detroit Free Press. "They didn't listen to us when we complained to the administration. They didn't listen to the parents when they complained to the administration, so I guess this is the only way to get things solved."
The 17-year-old Hill told The Detroit News that so many teachers have been simultaneously absent from school that dozens of students had been forced to gather in the gym or other common school areas. Students also went for long periods without homework, and Hill said he struggled on a recent placement exam at Bowling Green State University, where he's been accepted to attend next year.
"I literally couldn't answer a question on there," Hill said. "Right now, I'm not going to be as successful as I should be because I haven't been properly taught."
I was waiting for Pam Adams to write this story, but as of today, it has not happened. Maybe it's just me, but I think it is a significant news story when you have so many people in the black community being outspoken on any one topic. In my opinion, the local, main stream media is remiss in that they have not reported on the rift in the black community over the actions of the current Superintendent of Public Schools.
"You don't have to like me, you don't have to love me, I'm asking you to respect what we're trying to do in our schools."
Superintendent Grenita Lathan
Team Superintendent
Rev. Tony Pierce said he had been among the group of ministers who met with Superintendent Grenita Lathan to discuss the four administrators' futures. At the Charter Oak BOE meeting he stated "I stand tonight in support of Dr. Lathan," he said, adding that she had been hired to be a "change agent." The Reverend Tony E. Pierce serves as Co-Senior Pastor of Heaven’s View Christian Fellowship; CEO of Heaven’s View Community Development Corporation and Co-Founder of the Community Development & Service Institute.
Joyce Banks, stated in an editorial she sent in to the local newspaper, "We will not move forward with personnel at the helm who have so many personal ties to the community that radical change would be rendered virtually impossible. The skill set of the team necessary to turn a failing district around should be her call. Does it matter how many team members come from places outside the district if they are the right ones for the task?"
Joyce K. Banks is a minister at Heaven's View Christian Fellowship Church and lives in Peoria.
Pastor Harvey Burnett "I can only say that if we expect different results for our students, we cannot continue to do things the same as we have always done. Our children deserve an environment where the teacher will be just as accountable as the student is expected to be. Where the principal is actively engaged with both students and parents as opposed to hiding behind secretarial staff to deflect attention. We certainly have issues as a district, but a Supt. that is out of control IS NOT one of them."
Pastor Burnett is the father of a District 150 student, founder of New Bethel COGIC of Peoria, IL; and the Peoria Assn. of Pastors For Community & Spiritual Renewal
Board President Linda Butler "The board is aware some of you have come to express concerns about a personnel matter," Butler said before the public comment portion of the meeting. "We're ready to make difficult and unpopular decisions because a good future demands it." Linda Butler is Chaplain & Director of the New Promise Center at the Peoria South Side Mission
Team Principals and Teachers Donald Jackson, "It's not just one or two people in the community who are concerned," The district has hired 11 people from North Carolina, Lathan's home town, for $1.5 million, but none are black males, while qualified people from Peoria are ignored. People with master's degrees are supervising those with Ph.Ds.
While there is "a level of administration never had before," classroom aides are being cut to part time next year and some classrooms have 30 children. The money could be better spent. Jackson is the President of the Illinois and Peoria NAACP
Dr. Rita Ali, was one of the speakers at the Charter Oak news conference, who reiterated a theme - a "culture of constant fear" - that has come up at the last three board meetings in reference to Lathan's leadership style. "The same superintendent that recommended Mrs. Coleman from her role are principal, just a few months ago rated her as an outstanding leader in the top five percent and with great potential to be a great superintendent one day," "I question the evaluation " of the principals, by "an individual from North Carolina with no central management experience," and "a letter filled with run-on sentences and typos. Is she qualified to evaluate" these principals with "an untested evaluation tool" Dr. Ali is the grandmother of District 150 students, Director of Diversity at Illinois Central College; was on the search committee that brought Lathan to town; on the Board at Manual Academy and is a member of the African American Leadership Alliance.
Board member Martha Ross, asked about letters sent to each of the four in question, asking them to voluntarily, privately take a specific reassignment, with a specific lower salary. The district's attorney said all four refused, and the process became public. That gave the administration the option to assign the four to a variety of positions, potentially with even lower salaries. Ross called it punishment.
"We should not wait until the end of the year to let our staff, administrators know that they are not up to par," she said. Martha Ross is Principal in Martha Ross Travel Solutions; a member of the African American Leadership Alliance; the Board of the Illinois Alliance of Information and Referral Services; and Director Lifeline Family Services
Board member Lynn Costic, criticized Lathan for earlier saying District 150 is "dysfunctional." "It's an insult," she said, adding "I do not believe changes should be made that are the result of retaliation or personal preferences. This district needs administrators who have great relationships with parents and children. This isn't change for improvement." Lynn Costic is owner of Mayah's Just for Kids
Kristie Hubbard, who said she had been Lathan's Realtor, told board members she understood their position, but the process for making decisions to reclassify the four was flawed. Hubbard is the mother of a District 150 student, wife of the Pastor of St. Paul Baptist Church; a former assistant principal at Manual Academy and current Quest Academy board member.
Rev. Harold Dawson Jr. compared the four to Trayvon Martin, the unarmed teen shot and killed by a Neighborhood Watch volunteer in Sanford, Fla. "No blood was spilled in the street but their character has been assassinated," Dawson said. Dawson, was also among the group of ministers who met with Superintendent Grenita Lathan last week to discuss the four administrators' futures. Dawson is the father of a District 150 student, the Pastor of New Hope Deliverance Church; Chairman of the Religious Affairs of the NAACP; Commissioner on the Greater Peoria Airport Authority; Director Illinois One Family One Child; his father was/is the Chairman Peoria Christian Leadership Conference and a founder of the African American Leadership Alliance.
Quotes excerpted from pjstar, peoria story, week, ciproud.
