Tires were slashed on numerous Peoria School District 150 vehicles overnight Tuesday, causing an estimated $4,500 in damage.
Sixteen vehicles at the district's administration building at 3202 Wisconsin Ave. were vandalized, according to a police report. Nineteen tires were cut, resulting in $4,554 in damage. Source
... I heard that too, Anonymous in Ptown, from a pretty reliable source (not Marvin).
The Peoria Federation of Teachers plan to picket/rally at Tuesday's Board of Education Meeting. The meeting will be held on May 29, 2012, at the Valeska Hinton Early Childhood Education Center, at 6:00 p.m. Teachers are expected to picket/rally from 5:30 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. The teachers do not plan on entering the meeting.
In my opinion, the following blog post is so significant, it is my hope that every black blogger in the blogosphere will re-post it:
Why not invoke Charles Dickens given the dramatic times in which we are living? Two young men -- one still a minor. Two hoodies. One dies in his hoodie and the other becomes an overnight billionaire.
Trayvon Martin and Mark Zuckerberg both sported the hooded sweatshirts, known as hoodies, that are near-universal gear for those under 30, and beyond. Hey, even I've got a couple and maybe you do, too. People who support George Zimmerman claim that leftists want to make Trayvon Martin's death into a race issue when it is not -- even to the degree of blaming the victim for being killed by Zimmerman because he was wearing an ubiquitous hoodie.
"I think what's far more significant is what Trayvon Martin looked like on that night, Bill. Aside from the fact that he's dressed in that thug wear -- look at the size of him, he's not a little kid."
Geraldo Rivera to Bill O'Reilly Fox News
Never mind that George Zimmerman outweighed his teenage victim Trayvon by about 100 lbs, reportedly. The hoodie made Trayvon look like a hood justifying an attack by a neighborhood vigilante. Yet when Mark Zuckerberg appeared on Wall Street during the roadshow run-up to Facebook's IPO, his choice of a hoodie instead of a stiff suit was lauded as culturally cool.
Sure, Zuck caught some static from Wall Street haters who wear ties, but most saw his casual attire represented via hoodie as a nod to Silicon Valley style where what's in your brain is more important than what you're wearing. Indeed, Zuckerberg's hoodie is standard issue at Facebook's Palo Alto headquarters and bears a special mandala design inside that expresses FB's design construct and flow.
Star Jones recently pointed out the double standard inherent in how two young men wearing hoodies were treated in the public eye by the media. She was dismissed as just another angry black woman by others on the show, and right-leaning bloggers on the 'net.
But does Star have a point? Trayvon committed no crime -- he was merely walking home one fateful night after a trip to 7-11 for Skittles -- yet was accosted by a stranger as suspicious in part, it's claimed, because of his hoodie. When Mark Zukerberg wore a hoodie to launch Facebook's public stock offering, he was praised as an icon of a new generation representing the best of American values.
We can see this mirror in law enforcement practices. Study after study shows that young whites are more likely to use marijuana than blacks or Latinos, yet blacks are at least seven times more likely to get arrested for the same offense. Mark Zuckerberg was probably not a victim of New York City's [or Peoria's] terrible "Stop and Frisk" policy during his recent trip to Wall Street's halls of power. But who's the real gangsta here?
Some Wall Street analysts are questioning possible unethical behavior by Facebook's executives and its partner Morgan Stanley in "selective dissemination of information" that gave insider knowledge to some large investors but not others. FB's stock is being called "muppet bait for the masses" who didn't know that Facebook's quarter one earnings estimates had been cut mid-launch. The stock is now sinking like a stone in the NASDAQ stock echange. It's not clear how much Zuckerberg himself knew about the alleged financial shenanigans and shakedowns. But we all must be left wondering -- who would Geraldo name as the hood wearing "thug wear" now?
It's a tale of two hoodies where guilt and innocence are turned upside down, where one young man ends up rich and another ends up dead -- depending on whether you're white or you're black.
Cheryl Contee writes as Jill Tubman for the award-winning & top-ranked black political blog JackAndJillPolitics.com, which she co-founded in 2006. She is also the co-founder of Fission Strategy, which provides innovative social media & mobile services to nonprofits and foundations. Cheryl specializes in online advocacy, engagement, and communications. Follow Cheryl Contee on Twitter at @ch3ryl.
"... religious reconciliation, mutual tolerance, and respect for all faiths." Wow, that all sounds lovely, so why all the denials from Concept Schools about having any affiliation with the Fethullah? Could it be that little concept of church and state?
His name is Fethullah Gulen. Gulen is on a quest for interfaith acceptance and peace. He is the author of a book entitled, Toward a Global Civilization of Love and Tolerance. Fethullah Gulen's books have a consistent message of religious reconciliation, mutual tolerance, and respect for all faiths. His charge to all nations and faith communities to reach out to each other is said to represent a moderate Islam of peace, not violence. His words are said to be the Turkish equivalent to the words of Martin Luther King. Source
Quest Academy Principal Denies Connection to Turkish Imam
PEORIA-The CBS news magazine '60 Minutes' recently aired a report investigating the connection between U.S. charter schools and a mysterious Turkish imam.
Part of the report focused on a woman who used to work for Concept Schools, Inc., the company that manages Peoria's Quest Charter Academy. The woman claims the schools hire teachers from Turkey who are connected with Fethullah Gulen and use the schools to make money.
The woman featured in the report used to work with Quest Charter Academy’s Engin Blackstone at a Concept managed school in Ohio. Principal Blackstone maintains that Quest, in no way, has any connection with the controversial Turkish imam, Fethullah Gulen and neither does Concept Schools Inc.
Glen Barton, board president of Peoria Charter Schools, says the board conducted an investigation into the allegations, twice. The board of directors feels confident there is no connection between Concept Schools and Gulen.
Concept Schools was contacted by '60 Minutes' in January about the allegations. Concept Schools maintains those allegations are false and have no evidence.Source
I consider myself somewhat of a trend spotter. The yellow jeans trend is hot - I have a pair of those myself and I have only seen one other person trying to pull them off (to date). However, the current crime trend we are seeing in Peoria is NOT HOT.
"Police released its first quarter crime index. Property crimes, including burglaries, arson, theft and motor vehicle theft, are up nearly 20 percent. Overall, crime is up 21 percent from this time last year. Burglaries, alone, are up nearly 50 percent year-to-date. Aggravated assaults and robberies have also seen increases in the city." Source
Imagine wearing your trendy, yellow jeans to attend a concert at the Civic Center and you get mugged before you make it to the safe confines of the Catwalk - that would not be cute.
Don't even try and blame the increase in crime on the weather. Put the blame where it should be, inside the horseshoe.
Teachers are conducting their evaluation of Lathan, teachers union President Bob Darling told District 150 board members Monday. Lathan and board members will receive the evaluation and Lathan will have 90 days to respond . The teachers' evaluation of Lathan will not be made public, Darling said, "because it's a personnel issue." Source
If the results of last week's poll question about the Superintendent of Schools and her administration is any indicator, we can pretty much guess what the teacher's evaluation will look like.
The poll reveals that 8% of respondents believe the Super has found it and a over whelming 91% believes that she has...
"… once a superintendent loses the principals, those middle
managers charged with implementing the vision, it can be game over on achieving
that agenda. There is a balance to be had. Has Lathan found it, or lost it?"
PJStar Editorial
Is our illustrious Superintendent of Schools on the cusp of finding a balance? Take the Emerge Peoria poll.
Last night, the Peoria chapter of the ACLU of Illinois held its
51st Annual Meeting at the Ivy Club.
During the business portion of the meeting, they
presented this year's 2012 Sam Belfer Community Service Award to two Peoria education activists, "Terry Knapp and Sharon Crews, Peoria activists who speak out at Peoria District 150 School Board meetings, to hold the district accountable and compel transparency in the public interest. They recently spent $300 to obtain documents on class sizes using the Freedom of Information Act to determine whether students are receiving equitable educations. Information they obtained on student discipline led to discussion by board members." Source
Belfer Award Comments by Elaine Hopkins
At every meeting of the Peoria District 150 School Board,
two Peoria activists, Sharon Crews and Terry Knapp, speak out to encourage the
district to be accountable to the public, the taxpayers, and the parents and
children the district serves. They
recognize the vital role of the public schools in fostering democracy. This year they are receiving the Peoria ACLU’s 2012 Belfer
Award, for their activism in using free speech in the public interest.
Both are retired teachers in the district who remain committed
to serving the public. They talk with
people who know what is taking place in
District 150, and file Freedom of Information requests to obtain documents to
find more information that otherwise never reaches the public. They then share
the information with the board and the public and speak about it.
They recently spent $300 of their own money to get documents
on class sizes. A request for documents
on student discipline spurred the district to begin issuing discipline
information to the board, apparently for the first time. A board member then
commented on the discipline information.
When Knapp and Crews speak, their comments are always well
researched, and usually go beyond opinion to be based on facts. They also stand
up for the rights of students and teachers, including the due process rights of
those who have been fired or disciplined.
Knapp, formerly a science teacher, was the first member of
the public to condemn at a board meeting the censorship of an editorial and
cartoon in the student newspaper at Richwoods High School .
Crews, a former English teacher, read the district’s recent
Remarkable Times newsletter and noted more than 60 grammatical errors there,
which sets a very bad example for students in the district. Pretty remarkable!
The district has tried to silence them, by taking the
meetings off live cable TV and refusing to webcast the meetings, though that
could be done inexpensively by students who would benefit from the training.
The district arbitrarily shifts the times and places of the
meetings between 6 p.m. and 6:30 p.m., and requires anyone wishing to speak to
sign up before the meeting begins, to thwart latecomers.
The district arbitrarily cuts back the public comment time
limit from 5 minutes to 2 minutes then 3 minutes at some meetings. At one meeting in a school gym, there was no
sound system so the large audience could not hear what was taking place. None
of these tactics have discouraged Knapp and Crews.
They are there at the sometimes long, boring and highly
scripted meetings, watching, listening, and commenting on what is taking place,
to encourage transparency in the public interest.
The work of educational leaders in the community never ends, but when you are in a leadership role, you have to be flexible and want to make a connection to the community and students you serve...
About two weekends ago, local school superintendents prepared 3,200 packets of food at the Midwest Food Bank
in Peoria.
The group of 17 volunteers was from the Central Illinois
Valley region of the Illinois Association of School Administrators, an advocacy
organization for superintendents and other school administrators. The region
covers Peoria, Mason, Tazewell and Woodford counties.
Patrick Martin, superintendent of District 50 in Washington,
helped organize the region's first service day project after hearing a
presentation at a Rotary Club meeting about the food bank. "Most superintendents are active in their
own communities. We decided to do something on a larger scale as a group,"
he said.
It was the second time in a month that Roger Alvey,
superintendent of Elmwood District 322, worked as a volunteer at the food bank.
"Working there makes you realize you take a lot of things for granted, and
how difficult life is for many families," he said.
The food bank is a not-for-profit, nondenominational
organization that gathers food donations from national corporations and
distributes them at no charge to social service organizations and at disaster
sites.
Volunteers such as the school superintendents repackage
donated food for distribution to food pantries and into disaster relief boxes.Source
Superintendents who volunteered at the food bank…
Patrick Martin, Washington District 50
Roger Alvey, Elmwood District 322
Chad Allaman, Washington District 51
John Asplund, Farmington Central District 265
Don Beard, Tremont District 702
Jeanne Davis, Creve Coeur District 76
Mike Dickson, North Pekin/Marquette Heights District 102
It's recital season and on Monday, the Board of Education will once again give employees they are looking forward to demoting, the opportunity to entertain them. The employees who are on the playbill (i.e., chopping block), will each provide an original composition (i.e., plead for their jobs.)
Recital Review...
At this time, the attorney for Kevin Curtin (principal of Irving Primary School), appears to be preparing the most intricate choreography. Mr. Curtin’s attorney took a trip to Nashville, Tenn., to take a sworn statement from a former District 150 associate superintendent that was fired in 2011. Jazz hands…
According to the statement from Dr. Michelle Ungurait, the Superintendent was set on driving Curtin and several other principals out of the district after their first meeting. The hook...
It is also alleged, that the district's evidence for reclassifying Curtin is said to mainly involve his failure to provide the requisite paper work documenting two hours a day spent observing teachers in the classroom. Kick ball change…
Before she was fired, Ungurait warned board members about problems in Lathan's administration. Applause...
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.
I will be second hand live blogging the School Board meeting that is being held at Charter Oak School tonight. Word is that Don Jackson, President of the Illinois NAACP is hosting a press conference at 5:30pm outside where tonight's BOE Committee of the Whole Meeting is being held. Check back regularly for updates...
First and foremost, Trayvon Martin came under suspicion, was followed and subsequently shot to death by neighborhood “watchman” Zimmerman because he was a young, black man. The fact that Trayvon had on a hoodie was simply happenstance – people wear hoodies.
It’s unfortunate that some appear to be taking this opportunity to glorify the wearing of the hoodie. I have detested the hoodie for years now. I personally find a person – any person wearing anything that hinders me from seeing their face somewhat unsettling.
Although this is the equivalent of saying that a woman wearing a short dress is looking to be harassed, there is no denying that the one item of clothing that the vast majority of people committing a crime have in common is the hoodie (I can attest to this fact because I listen to the police scanner regularly). It doesn't matter if that person is black, white, yellow or red; if a crime is being committed, the hoodie is mentioned as a descriptor, nine times out of ten.
So please, stop with the glorification of the hoodie. Take the Trayvon Martin tragedy as an opportunity to remind our young people how you will be prejudged and/or stereotyped based upon what you wear. Sure, it's a free country... you have a right to wear whatever you want, be it a hoodie, baggy pants or anything else; just know, you will be pre-judged accordingly, especially if you happen to be a young, black, man.
... and yes, even if it's raining outside and you are trying to keep your head dry and you pull up your hood - you can still be Zimmermaned.
I finally got a chance to take a close up look at the recently censored article which was written by students at Richwood High School for their student newspaper. My first thought after reading the piece... this doesn't sound like any Richwoods High School I have ever known! Wow, what's going on out there in the best high school in Peoria?
I find it interesting that all of the things that Richwoods students are alleged to be getting away with - they come down hard on at Manual. There are some students at Manual who are said to have violated the dress code and who are now wearing uniforms (in accordance with the current policy). Why is the discipline policy being applied so stringently in one school and not the other(s)?
Excerpts from the censored article...
Misbehavior in the halls translates to misbehavior in the classroom. A poor classroom atmosphere then, results in a poor education.
We have seen an increase in cell phone and mp3 usage in the halls and in the classroom. We have also seen a rather lax dress code enforcement, thus students are able to wear pretty much whatever they please.
... a group of students placed a young lady in an empty trash can during lunch and pushed the trash can down part of the terrazzo. They only faced a light verbal chastisement.
... the halls are rowdy, and, quite honestly, a scary place to be.
Some students genuinely fear for their safety at school... Growth is stunted by fear of physical or psychological harm.
There should be stricter policies to curb the rise in texting, dress code violations, fights, rowdy hallway behavior, and plain rude behavior in classes.
This administration needs to lay down the law and enforce it well. Students need to abide by the rules that are set forth, and common sense.
14. ISSUANCE OF NOTICE OF PROPOSED RECLASSIFICATION OF KEVIN CURTIN
Proposed Action: That the Board of Education adopt the resolution of Proposed Reclassification of Kevin Curtin to another position in the district.
15. ISSUANCE OF NOTICE OF PROPOSED RECLASSIFICATION OF ANNETTE COLEMAN
Proposed Action: That the Board of Education adopt the resolution of Proposed Reclassification of Annette Coleman to another position in the district.
16. ISSUANCE OF NOTICE OF PROPOSED RECLASSIFICATION OF GLORIA COX
Proposed Action: That the Board of Education adopt the resolution of Proposed Reclassification of Gloria Cox to another position in the district.
17. ISSUANCE OF NOTICE OF PROPOSED RECLASSIFICATION OF MICHAEL SMITH
Proposed Action: That the Board of Education adopt the resolution of Proposed Reclassification of Michael Smith to another position in the district.
"Monolith" divided...
"Don Jackson, president of the Peoria chapter of the NAACP questioned Lathan’s reliance on hiring administrative staff from North Carolina. It sends the message that no one from the Peoria community is qualified." 3/13/12 pjstar
"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 ... 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 Banks, Exec. Dir., Community Builder's Foundation 3/24/12 pjstar.
For generations now, Peoria District 150 has underserved the children of
Peoria. The disservice to the black community has been and/or is vast. From
what I can see, the NAACP and/or the ACLU could have instituted a class
action lawsuit against the District for the violations against student
civil rights and the inequality in the schools. They did not/they have not.
Today, to hear people complain about what they call “special treatment”
that the students at Trewyn are getting saddens me. These children and
their families are the very people who have been done a disservice by this
District and this City for generations. Sure, they appear to be getting a
little extra, but it’s still a drop in the bucket when you consider how
long the education of black children in this City has been neglected.
While the complaints about the arrogance of the Superintendent may be well
founded, the big stick that the Superintendent is welding is directly
related to power that was given to her when our District violated student’s
civil rights with an unequal education.
Many may not like it, but the Superintendent is doing a great job of CYA
for District 150, which is exactly what the BOE wants/needs for her to do.
Sorry folks, but as long as she is protecting the civil rights of the
children who have obviously consistently received the least in this City,
her power will remain intact.
"… once a superintendent loses the principals, those middle managers charged with implementing the vision, it can be game over on achieving that agenda. There is a balance to be had. Has Lathan found it, or lost it?"
