If you worked for the City of Peoria...

would you be willing to forfeit 2% of your salary to waive the residency requirement:

click image to enlarge

Over crowding and inequality in education - Peoria, Illinois

Where is the ACLU when you need them? They sue for over crowded prisons - they need to sue District 150 for over crowded schools.

A new school boundary map was made and schools were closed. Parents were given a handful of schools, where children are learning, that they could scramble and beg to attend. Today we read that Glen Oak Community School and Harrison Community School are filled beyond capacity.

While the schools North of Forrest Hill are not seeing classrooms bursting at the seams and children failing to learn; the schools South of Forrest Hill are. Additionally, the schools are all set up on some type of program schematic that place students on a different learning trajectory than their "peers" out North. When questioned about why the classrooms are so crowded, the Superintendent of Schools says: 

"I don't know where people are coming from...,"

How is this an acceptable response to the very real problem of classrooms packed beyond building code?

I will guarantee you, new people are not coming to Peoria feinding to attend Glen Oak or Harrison Community School. These are the same lower economic citizens that the City and the Schools have agreed it is okay to herd in this way. 

Inequality in education is a market in Peoria - it has been for generations. Folks coming from communities far and wide to make money off of the under educated parents with children who live in this town. Millions and millions of dollars in grant money has flooded into this community for the last several years, but ain't nothing changed. We continue to get what we got - maybe even worse. 

So what is the Board of Education going to do for all of these kids crammed into a couple of buildings? How will they remedy this heinous situation? Will they open up more schools; will they open up the boundaries and allow more students to get waivers; or will they continue to allow the most vulnerable students in the City of Peoria to be treated in this way? Unfortunately  I think I know the answer to these questions - they will do nothing. 

I am thoroughly disgusted with this situation, THIS IS WRONG!

Peoria Story has the scoop from last night's School Board Meeting.

Governor Quinn wants to explore having more influence in the City of Peoria

Peoria’s crime rates, crumbling infrastructure, cuts in essential services, failing schools, middle class flight and a reputation of failure has convinced Governor Quinn that the City of Peoria is failing.

He says he's looking at larger states for inspiration to initiate change here that would intertwine his job as governor with the decision-making of the City of Peoria.

My interest is not in running the City of Peoria, and I think that's one of the misconceptions that people have when they hear 'gubernatorial control,' Quinn said.

But Quinn said he is "exploring" the gubernatorial appointment of Peoria's City Council members, who in turn approve or reject which direction the City goes.

The Governor didn't say how far his interests go, whether he is thinking of appointing the entire City Council or just a few members.

He contends that with a governor in charge, there is just one elected official who can be held accountable by voters as to whether they're doing a good job or not.

Peoria's Mayor, Ardis favors the current system. I think an elected mayor and city council is a good thing, Ardis said. It's important for all the different public bodies to communicate with each other, but I think it's also important that we all keep our own identities. I think an elected mayor and city council is important to keep.

City Council member Gary Sandberg said he's willing to listen to the governor but didn't know if there was a need. If it's just a power play, then I'm against it, but if it's a collaboration approach - I would just have to hear more about it, Sandberg said, . . . it's worth the discussion.

Quinn said he believes there are both positives and negatives. I think it needs a good vetting to talk about the pros and cons, he said, I'm going to keep pushing the discussion. I can't think of another city that has a greater importance on downstate than the City of Peoria.

Source

That TIF guy is out!

Craig Hullinger, the Economic Development Director for the City of Peoria has turned in his resignation. Hullinger, a master of the TIFs, has been directly responsible for a lot of positive things happening here in Peoria. [sidebar - exactly what does the Economic Development Council do?] Does the positive out weigh all of the fall out from the TIF’s? In my opinion, probably not, however, without Hullinger where would economic development in Peoria be? Hullinger, who is highly respected by his colleagues, is genuinely a nice guy (I have been told). He will be missed.

Just wondering, does this solidify Rachel Parker's position? I hope so.