What's a Friday without starting a Rumor...

The Champaign School District: Why we should be interested

The story behind Federal Judge, Joe Billy McDade apologizing for allowing cameras in the courtroom deserves more in depth coverage by the Journal Star. Why? Because the court case the Judge is hearing is relevant to Peoria Public Schools, as they are embarking upon an effort to redraw school boundary lines.

The Champaign School District has been struggling to address concerns such as too many black students in special education and discipline referrals; too few in gifted and honors classes; and black students being bused out of their neighborhoods. Responses have been denying the problems or siting new schools outside of black communities (though still technically north side). (e.g., the importance of the Woodruff Community Learning Center to District 150).

The questioning of why it is Jeanne Williamson that is over seeing the redrawing of boundry lines, is where the push back has started. However, it won’t be long before the real issue of the District busing children north and south surfaces.

In the best interest of the children and the vitality of this community, it will be incumbent upon local main stream media to cover the issue of District 150’s redrawing of boundary lines openly and in a fair and balanced manner.

I appreciate Judge McDade's efforts at keeping this process transparent (as it should be). Watch Champaign School's consent decree hearing, with Peoria’s own Judge Joe Billy McDade here. There are some interesting personal comments from Judge McDade beginning at around the 54:00 mark.

Related reading: "Housing Patterns Are Segregated": The Part of the Champaign School Crisis That Requires Action Beyond the School Board.

District 150 loser in growth cell report.

Housing Incentive Program requirement could force some Taft Homes residents to leave.

BOE votes to close Woodruff!

Roll Call
Parker - no
Wolfmeyer - yes
Pettele - yes
Stowell - no
Gorenz - yes
Butler - yes
Ross - no

Hold off on purchasing school specific uniforms

The decision has been made by District 150 to close Irving School, located at 519 N.E. Glendale Avenue and Kingman Primary School, which is located at 3129 N.E. Madison Avenue. Both schools will close before the start of 2009-2010 school year.

As a result of the closings 660 students are currently in limbo as to where they will go to school next year (hold off on buying those special color coded school uniforms everybody).

It is estimated that closing the two schools will save the District $1.2 million. The recommendation for the closure will be made at Monday’s School Board meeting. The board members will vote on the closings at the April 20 meeting at the latest.

In January, District Administration offered a list of considerations to address the current and long-term budget issues:

Timeline:
February 10 – Announced members of a temporary community Budget and Planning Committee. The group is charged with reviewing district finances and assisting the Board and Administration with budgeting issues.

February / March – Administration continues to look at cost reduction ideas. Superintendent Hinton will establish a district-wide expenditure reduction team consisting of union leaders, principals and other staff.

March / April – Through March and April, a decision will be made as to whether or not we will be closing one or more primary schools for the 2009-2010 school year. If recommended, Superintendent Hinton will bring it to the Board no later than the April 6 meeting; and the Board will vote no later than the April 20 meeting.

March / April - Continue discussions on closing a high school for the 2010-2011 school year. If a recommendation is brought forward, it must be made no later than the May 4 meeting and a decision must be made by the BOE no later than the May 18 meeting.

June – If a recommendation is presented and if the BOE votes to close a high school, BOE must vote on which high schools will be reconfigured and consolidated no later than June 15, 2009.

Mid-June 2009– If directed by the Board, Administration and the Board of Education will gather input and develop details for the closing and consolidation of schools. This 14- month process will include curriculum, transportation, facility, staffing and other needs.

Summer 2009 – Board of Education will consider establishing a committee to review and update the Master Facility plan. The group will gather and analyze data on the facility needs for the buildings not currently in the consolidation, closing or construction phases.
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Did I miss the part where they will decide what to do with the Irving and Kingman students? Will that be part of the June 15, 2009, high school reconfiguration meeting? So what ever shakes out with what everybody else wants will determine where these students get to go to school, I see.

There are already hints that the closing of Irving and Kingman will be used in the argument to keep Woodruff open if necessary. There is a protest planned Monday night in support of Woodruff.

When I was a teenager, I remember hearing my older, Angela Davis quoting sister talk about the disenfranchisement of the black student and communal dissociation. Kind of amazing to see it happening to another generation.

Update:

A commenter on pjstar.com states that - "Mr Hinton met with Irving staff on Tuesday & told them that they are not closing until 10-11. Not sure who the source is for this article, but unless Mr. H met with the staff again after 3:30 yesterday, it is wrong." -mommy9193-

The pjstar.com has since updated their article to confirm this commenters information that Irving Primary will not close this year. At this time, Kingman is the only primary school marked for closure. The other school closing will be announced by April 6.

So much to say...

so little time, it's Inauguration Day!

Citizens/parents/jokers, are once again taking District 150 to task for making some tough decisions. Bloggers are reporting that "its gonna get ugly". Really. Isn't there some place in between that the District 150 peanut gallery could start. Don't they realize that the constant and prolonged fights with the District are costly? Can't they see that forcing District 150 into appeasing the mob (or individual personalities) has proven detrimental to District 150's long range plan?

Will District 150's decision come down to what school has the greatest team spirit (i.e., shouts the loudest), or what group of alumni is the most giving and influential? If you can stomach it (them), tune in to tonight's School Board meeting where every wanna be politician will be vying for their 15 minutes of fame for the sake of "the childrun".

Mama always said "Ugly is as ugly does".

p.s. the Woodruff facility is better than Peoria High School