Still chalking up the deuces

On Friday, January 14, 2011
Anonymous said...
"Ptacek is leaving. He told his staff he was taking a job in Paducah, Kentucky."

Today, Thursday, January 20, 2011, the pjstar reports...

Richwoods principal may break contract
Ptacek in the running to be superintendent at another district.

After just three years, Richwoods High School Principal Steve Ptacek may be moving on and up.

Ptacek, 43, is a finalist for the superintendent post of a tiny southern Illinois school district of about 300 students. The Joppa Maple Grove School Board meets Monday and is expected to vote to hire a superintendent. The school district's current superintendent, Catherin Trampe, said she is retiring.

Ptacek, who came to Peoria in 2008, said he recently sent an e-mail to teachers and staff to quell rumors. Ptacek said, "I can't say what is happening," but noted in the e-mail he was not being fired and that he would remain at the school through the end of the school year.

"That's not healthy to have those kinds of rumors going around," Ptacek said. When asked about the job prospect, he replied, "I can't say anything officially right now . . . I'm not in that position, probably next week."

Ptacek originally signed a four-year contract with District 150 in 2008 and is paid $110,000 annually. Before coming to Peoria, he was principal at Centralia High School in southern Illinois. Prior to that, the Navy veteran was assistant principal at Cahokia High School, also in southern Illinois. He is from Lebanon.

Last year, Ptacek completed the necessary courses at Western Illinois University to hold a Type 26 certificate, which upon activation would allow him to hold a superintendent position for up to one year as an internship. Provided he showed the necessary skills during that time, he said a superintendent's endorsement would be granted by the state.

UPDATED - PHS parent speaks out against negative press

I have been informed by very reliable source that many of the statements made in the letter sent by Rev. Watson to local bloggers holds many inaccuracies and in some instances, is simply untrue. The letter is printed in it's entirety here.

While I still believe that the mainstream media often has a rush to judgement about negative news about certain schools, I do have a problem believing that certain BOE members (who have been very responsive in the past), or Dr. Lathan ignored this group of parents. I noted in a previous post that at the September BOE meeting I only saw one parent from PHS come forward to speak to the BOE.

In an e-mail sent to local bloggers, Rev. Watson states the following:

We have repeatedly asked for Board Members to come meet with us to discuss our issues and no response. We have contacted Dr. Lathan as far back as May, and had no response. If The Chamber of Commerce or any other organization deemed important by the B.O.E. or Superintendent requested their presence, they would attend. We, as parents, are tired of groups/members of the public that have no children at PHS spreading false rumors and accusations against our children and school staff. We felt the closure of a high school was a mistake but we have to make the best out of the situation. Those in the public that are spreading rumors, we ask you to stop because it does nothing but harm all the students of PHS. There is much truth to the adage if you can’t say something positive, say nothing at all. You are there to represent all the students of District #150 and set an example. How do you think our students feel after hearing these unwarranted accusations? Remember, the Board voted to close Woodruff and now it is a Peoria High problem? It might behoove you in the future to have solutions before decisions are made.

We also are offended by the fact that nothing was done by the Administrative staff to prevent these stories from exacerbating on Channel 25 and in the Peoria Journal Star. Stories like this could likely be ran about every school in America, but the Board and Administration reacted to the stories by recommending staggering dismissal times, etc., in essence, blaming PHS. Again, more assumptions about our Peoria High students. We understand that there will happenings, but it is not exclusive to Peoria High. These incidents occur across every school, across every city, across the nation.

In summary, we feel we are receiving disparate treatment as issues are ongoing at the other schools, yet they do not receive the unwarranted attention that has been thrust upon the Peoria High School community. The Board of Education and the Superintendent have failed to address and plan regarding the issues mentioned above. We do not appreciate the inaccurate perception that is being portrayed to the general public about our school and we are extremely disappointed and frustrated with the lack of information and support that we have received. Randy Simmons and his staff are the best of the best and we expect to be treated as such, which provides for a domino effect to the education and fulfillment for the PHS students. Our children deserve no less.

We have asked for School Board involvement and been ignored. We have asked for District150 Administration involvement and been ignored. We will no longer be silent about the injustice being perpetrated against PHS and our children. Let all who read this know if you want your child to be taught by the best and cared for by the best then PHS is the right place for your child!

Related articles: Urban legend - the #150 Marauders; Are our schools safe?; Our school is better than your school