Adkins-Dutro Announces Presidential Run

Long-time District 150 teacher, parent, and community member Jeff Adkins-Dutro has announced that he will be running for president of the Peoria Federation of Teachers. Adkins-Dutro says he’s stepping up because he feels a sense of obligation to the teachers, parents, and students of District 150.

When asked what kinds of changes he would make, Adkins-Dutro points to the system that governs the schools. “The antiquated bureaucracy that governs District 150 is played out. I think that’s why everyone is so exhausted. We’ve tried to collaborate with the school board and with the administration. President Darling explored every possible avenue and did so with the best of intentions; unfortunately, every avenue ended up being a dead end. What we need to do now is to take the lead in advocating for a more streamlined system that will respect, reward, and retain quality teachers and administrators -- a system (and governing body) that will draw families to our district instead of chasing them away. That said, families will only be drawn to District 150 if morale is high, if discipline is under control, and if parents are allowed to make solid connections with a consistent school staff. We need a system that will rebuild that kind of foundation.”

“We can’t continue to explore the dead ends. It’s time to forge a new path. I have four children in District 150 and one more who will be in 150 a year from now. I have absolutely no intention of taking my kids out of District 150 nor do I have any intention of moving out of this community. I intend to stay and to fight for the teachers, parents, and students of our district.”

“We have the most highly qualified, hardest-working teachers in the state. It’s time for us to stand up and to fight for a system that will set things right. There’s absolutely no reason for us to be anything other than the best district in the state. Period. We need to slay the beast -- do away with the bureaucracy -- and start anew.”

Retweet:   #JAD4PFTPrez

UPDATED: Second hand live blogging Board of Education Meeting...

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?

7:19   Teacher said that she has 34 kids in her home room. "…if district is laying off teachers next year will I have 44 or 54?"

7:24  Teacher said layers and layers of bureaucracy ..lots of people making 6 figures that never see the children.

7:25   So it came out that the teachers that will be dismissed tonight were not EVEN NOTIFIED!

7:40  Martha says she doesn't feel comfortable firing people without giving them notice.

7:41  Linda 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

This IS a message to all teachers from Bobby Darling

We have been informed by many teachers that the start of this school year has probably been the most challenging of their careers. We want everyone to know that we will be holding 3 meetings the week of Oct 24th. The purpose of these meetings will be to listen and try to address your concerns about grade level issues, curriculum, lack of materials, discipline, walk through's, testing, new initiatives and any other issues teachers would like to discuss.

Tuesday, Oct. 25th, Middle School teachers at Peoria High School 3:15 PM
Wednesday, Oct. 26th, Primary teachers at Peoria High School 4:15 PM
Thursday, Oct. 27th, High School teachers at Peoria High School 3:15 PM
 
Source: Sharon Crews (comments section)

Teacher's Union looking for ways to "get their information out to the public"

From Council Member Tim Riggenbach to East Bluff Neighborhood Association Presidents:

THURSDAY MARCH 10th at Prince of Peace Church Councilman Tim Riggenbach invites you to hear the Peoria Public School District 150 Teacher’s Union under the leadership of Bobby Darling present their vision of the educational reforms and actions they are willing to make and promote. The discussion will include the hows and whys of teachers should be leading the reform efforts.

To Council Member Riggenbach from Bill Collier:
(Bill Collier, is Mayor Jim Ardis' "education liason")

Tim---

The Peoria Public Schools District 150 Teacher's Union, under the leadership of Bobby Darling, would like to visit with neighborhood organizations/associations to inform the residents in the various council districts of educational reform actions the teachers and their union are interested in making. The school board and district administration have various avenues to get their information out to the public--paid communication people, a web site, electronic newsletter and televised school board meetings. The Union has no such abilities to explain to the public how teachers could and maybe should lead the reform efforts.

I have agreed to help the Union with the setting up of meetings throughout the city and my first thought was to ask district council people to host such a meeting as a good first step. Your district is home to some very active neighborhood associations who like to be informed and this seems to be a great opportunity for them to interact with teacher leaders. The sharing of information can only help the district better know and react to resident concerns while at the same time interacting with those who send their kids to D150.

As you are one of the most active council members I thought I would ask you if you would be interested in hosting a one hour neighborhood meeting. You would select and secure the location and invite those you wish to invite. We would like to start out with 20-30 attendees and see how the sessions go before holding larger meetings. The dates selected for the first round are March 10, March 24, March 30 and March 31. These would be evening meetings. Once you select a date I will ask other council persons if they are interested and fill in the dates as commitments are made. We may be able to host additional meetings in April as time allows. (emphasis added is mine)

Let me know your thoughts and if you wish to host a meeting, select the date(s) that work for you and we will make that a commitment.

Bill Collier
645-8062

Related article: Peoria teachers union president talks education reform

Does Bobby Darling have a dilemma?

Recently a random comment attributed to an anonymous “Trouble Maker” was posted over on the Peoria Chronicle and implied that Bobby Darling, President of the Peoria Federation of Teachers has a problem with a conflict of interest:

"Trouble Maker - August 6, 2010 at 9:28 pm

… the D150 union president has an office on Wisconsin Ave. and is the Department Head for Driver’s Education and the Athletic Directors. He does not work with students at all……therefore, [he is] an administrator, correct? Evidently not, he was originally “hired” in an administrative position (taken straight from *BoE minutes), yet at the very next board meeting, the job turned back into a teaching position! Could it be that if this job were an administrative position, he would have to resign his position as teacher’s union president and lose his $20,000 union STIPEND (besides his $100,000+ teaching salary)? The fact that he sits at the administration building says plenty. How many other “teachers” in D150 have their office on Wisconsin? Many believe that the teacher’s union president is out to help HIMSELF and a few close friends, while stomping on the very teachers he was ELECTED to support. Question: who is he supporting? administration or teachers, many of us want to know. He appears quite comfortably cozy with the new superintendent and hr director."

In an interview given recently to a local business magazine, District 150’s Superintendent spoke of the need to work closely with the teachers union to develop a teacher evaluation instrument:

“We’re going to work closely with the teachers’ union to develop a new teacher evaluation instrument. We’re looking at working with the regional office of education and a couple of agencies throughout the state to partner together, so we’re not going to be doing that in isolation. The state is moving in the direction of a new teacher evaluation instrument, so we’re going to pool our resources, sit down and see what we can develop.

…we’re working with the principals’ association and with key principals in our district and across the state to develop a new instrument for them. So hopefully that will come within the 2010-2011 school year, as well as the teacher evaluation, and we’ll put everything together, with full implementation for 2011-12.”

The charges leveled against Darling appear to indicate that there may be a lack of trust between him and some of the teachers he was elected to represent. I would think it's a good thing for the head of the teacher's union to have a rapport with the Superintendent and Human Resources.

What do you think? Does Bobby Darling have a conflict of interest, or is this just the start of those in the local teaching community gearing up for the fight against the implementation of a new evaluation instrument?

*BOE minutes referred to are May 10, 2010 and May 24, 2010