District 150 3rd District School Board race

I received the following post today:

"I'm not finding too much info on Tuesday's school board election, just meaningless one sentence soundbites in local media, stuff like "I have a plan" and "I'm not a finger pointer. I'm just focused on solutions." and Gary Stella'a editorial endorsing Lickiss. Can you point me to any meaningful info or offer any input? Otherwise I'll probably just go for Lickiss and cross my fingers."

It's true, people who read the blogs are curious as to why none of the local bloggers have discussed this race. We post ad nauseam about District 150 and the Board of Education, but folks have been rather quiet on this matter. I didn't post on it specifically, because in my opinion, the pickings are slim and I don't particularly favor any of the candidates (one in particular I have a strong aversion to, but I won't mention her/his name). Not sure how "meaningful" this will be - but here goes:

As a parent of a District 150 student, who lives in the inner city, I will be voting for the future of District 150. Even though I may not like everything about the particular candidate, I will vote for the one who shares my views on the issues most important to my family. Keeping in mind that if and when Rachel Parker wins a seat on the County Board, there will be another vacancy on the BOE. I will be cautious with this vote, because the potential for special interests groups to gain a foothold on the BOE is great. If you read this blog from time to time, you know where I stand on the issues facing the District.

Christopher Crawford
Age: 37
Profession: Attorney, Quinn, Johnston, Anderson & Pretorius
Education: He received his B.S. from Drake University in 1995 and J.D. from Drake University in 1998. His practice areas are civil law and workers’ compensation.

Political experience: No political experience.
Charter school proponent
Rumored to be Chamber of Commerce pick

No children currently in District 150 schools

Ernestine Jackson
Age: 69
Profession: Equal Opportunity Associate, City of Bloomington
Education: I graduated Manual Training High School. I have taken courses at ICC and at Parkland in Champaign.
Employment Experience: Youth Supervisor III with the State Department of Corrections—3 years; Personnel Officer non-academic personnel University of Illinois–2.5 years; Director of Equal Opportunity, City of Peoria–8 years; Project Target–2 years; Assistant to the city manager for community relations–9 years; Director of Diversity, CILCO–3 years; Equal Opportunity Associate, City of Bloomington–8 years
Political experience: While I have never held an elective office, I have been active in the political arena all of my adult life. I have been active in city, state and national campaigns working in every area imaginable.
Against school closures
Against charter school
Wants to stop closure of Woodruff
No children currently in District 150 schools
NAACP/Donald Jackson’s pick

Jeff Lickiss
Age: 49
Profession: Registered Nurse, Medical Intensive Care Unit, OSF Saint Francis Medical Center Critical Care RN/Paramedic, Advanced Medical Transport
Education: Graduate; RN program, Illinois Central College, Graduate; EMS Services Program, Memorial Medical Center, Springfield, IL
Political experience: Peoria County Board, 1996–2004 served as Chairman of Health Services Committee 2002-2004; Peoria Area Convention and Visitors Bureau 2004-2006
Against school closures
Against charter school
No children currently in District 150 schools
Rumored to be Teacher’s Union pick

Check the Peoria Times Observer for more comprehensive candidate profiles.

Source

Sigmas at Rutgers arrested for hazing

The young pledge said she was told the beatings would "humble" her, that each flesh-rending strike with a wooden paddle would build love and trust between sorority sisters.

It wasn’t hazing, she said they told her. The women of Sigma Gamma Rho at Rutgers University didn’t condone hazing.

For seven nights the beatings went on, she said. In all, she was struck 201 times. On the eighth day — unable to sit, her buttocks covered with blood clots and welts — she went to the hospital. Then she reported it to the university.

Today, Rutgers police said they had arrested six members of the sorority on charges of aggravated hazing, alleging they repeatedly beat at least three pledges between Jan. 18 and Jan. 25. A university official, vice president of student affairs Greg Blimling, and the pledge who spoke to The Star-Ledger put the number of victims at seven.

The university immediately suspended the Rutgers chapter of Sigma Gamma Rho, as did the sorority’s national organization, headquartered in North Carolina.

"The local chapter was doing this on its own, not with the sanction of either the university or the national organization," Blimling said, noting Rutgers has a clear anti-hazing policy that includes workshops for all fraternities and sororities.

He said the university moved aggressively against Sigma Gamma Rho, which has operated for "many years" on the New Brunswick campus but does not have a dedicated sorority house, after learning another hazing session had been scheduled for Tuesday night. The first arrests took place before it could happen.

Charged Tuesday were Vanessa Adegbite, 21, of Jersey City; Joana Bernard, 21, of West Orange; Kesha Cheron, 20, of Newark; and Llana Warner, 20 of the Bronx. Each was charged with aggravated hazing, a felony that carries up to 18 months in prison. All four were later released from the Middlesex County jail on $1,500 bail.

Wednesday, police arrested Shawna Ebanks, 21, of East Orange, and Marie Charles, also 21, of West Orange, on the same charges.

The pledge said she was eager to join Sigma Gamma Rho, an African-American sorority founded in 1922, because of its history of community service. On Jan. 18, eight pledges gathered in an apartment in Rockoff Hall, she said.

"They told us there was no hazing, that they didn’t believe in it," she said.

Then the paddles came out. The pledges, clad in sweat pants, were instructed to wrap blue and gold tape around the wooden paddles, each a foot long and 6 inches wide, she said.

She was struck 19 times that night, she said. Four sorority members delivered the blows, the pledge said, while two others supervised. She said the group was told the beatings would "humble" them and would get them to rely upon one another.

One pledge stopped attending after a few nights, she said. Another began to bleed freely at one point. The pain, she said, grew worse by the day. By Monday, unable even to lie down without pain, she called her cousin and mother and went to the hospital.

Source

Teaching girls to be bad at math

A University of Chicago study has found that girls may be learning math anxiety from female teachers who have qualms about their own math skills. (we are currently working through this) Sian L. Beilock, an associate professor in psychology, and her colleagues studied students of both sexes in the classes of 17 different teachers, most of whom were women, and found that the female students of the female teachers who thought they were not good at math were more likely to agree by the end of the year that boys were better at it. Those girls also scored worse on math tests.

“It’s actually surprising in a way, and not. People have had a hunch that teachers could impact the students in this way, but didn’t know how it might do so in gender-specific fashion,” Beilock said in a telephone interview.

Part of what drove the study was that elementary education majors in college are more anxious about math than students in any other college major, Beilock said. If anything, this is an argument for better teacher training. It would be hard to find an “elementary education” major at many high-ranking colleges, but those schools often provide teacher training certification programs that complement, rather than supplant, more area-specific majors like math. Luring math majors into teaching careers with better salaries would be another start, too. But it’s not surprising that young girls would pick up this sentiment from their female teachers. As a kid, I always issued the disclaimer that I was bad at math, in part because its exactly what my mom said before she did anything remotely numbers related.

Source

District 150 has their eye on a particular candidate

District 150 is prepared to announce that Dr. Grenita Lathan is their preferred candidate for the position of Peoria Public Schools Superintendent. Although no official appointment will be made until all due diligence is completed, she will be coming to Peoria soon for an official introduction.

Dr. Lathan is currently the Interim Deputy Superintendent for the San Diego Unified School District.

In 2007, a staff member at Guilford County Schools, in North Carolina, where Dr. Lathan was a Principal at the time described Dr. Lathan as follows: An individual who leads with,”…vigor and compassion, strength and courage, humility and respect – beckoning all the while for all of us to come alongside and share in the grand adventure of educating children and shaping the future”.

Yeah, we are gonna need ALL of that for District 150. Bring it Dr. Lathan.

Articles on Dr. Lathan:
Taking Initiative a Look inside Guilford County Schools

Struggling School Comes Out on Top

Tough Test Beginning for Magnet Programs - if she can bring a Montessori Program to District 150 - we just might be on to something...

Whatever You Want Wednesday

Plea deals. For the Prosecutor they may be necessary, but for the family of the young man who was shot DEAD… How do they feel that nobody will be charged with murdering their loved one?
No murder charges in homicide

Prosecutors drop first-degree charges against South Peoria man
Teen takes plea, agrees to testify in murder case

16-year-old with gun gets probation if he cooperates in Diondre Nunn investigation
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Peoria man dragged from car, beaten by group
Isn’t it against the law to have a 17 year old girl friend when you are 21?

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DUI dispositions
I remain baffled as to why the PPD won’t put DUI dispositions up on their website? It would be a tremendous public service. We get to see who the drug dealers and buyers are; the pimps and the hoes; why not the drunk drivers who can potentially kill people when they get behind the wheel? Do you think it's a black/white thing?
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Republican Endorsement: 10th Circuit judge, Vespa vacancy - Umholtz
I’m not Republican – but I concur wholeheartedly with the Peoria County Bar Association on this one -I like Thiemann. What does the Journal Star know any way, right?

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Ugghhhh!!!! I am so sick of this conversation. Enough all the damn ready! How much more of this NONSENSE must one group of people be subjected to? I guess since the President of the United States is a true African American we all need to rethink what that means? Whatever.

Rethinking ‘African-American’
Today’s idea: American-born blacks shouldn’t call themselves “African-American” because now there are many more people in the United States who were actually born in Africa, a black linguist and commentator says.

Keep the children of Haiti in your prayers

Last night, as I watched the news reports about orphans from Haiti being adopted, I couldn't help but feel sad to think that they may have lost most, if not all of their family history. I also worry that some people may be taking the children for the wrong reasons (i.e., cute/trendy). As I feel off to sleep, the orphans were in my prayers...

And then today, I come across crap like this:

My Minx is a fashion web game that has a feature where you can adopt a child as an accessory and even dress him/her up.

The game encourages adoption of children as fashion accessories. My Minx players can buy orphans such as Pax, Maddox and Zahara – named after Angelina Jolie’s children – and Mercy and David Banda – named after Madonna’s kids. While four-year-old Zahara is said to be Ethiopian and a fan of eating guinea pigs, Maddox’s favourite food is supposedly cockroaches.

Do you think Angelina, Brad or Madonna approved this?

A look at a Race to the Top Application

Here is the link to the entire 200-page Race to the Top application for Georgia.

Here is an excerpt that will interest teachers outside of core areas on the issue of performance pay:

Value-added score, which measures the effect of a teacher or a school on student learning. Value-added scores will be calculated on the basis of standardized tests currently available in Georgia (CRCTs in Reading, Language Arts, Math, Social Studies, and Science and End-of-Course Tests in High School). This means that only teachers in tested subject areas (approximately 30% of teachers) will have value-added scores, a constraint that all VAMs have in common. Georgia does not plan to create new summative tests in non-core areas. Because such tests must be developed across multiple courses and subject areas, they are not cost-effective. Instead, Georgia plans to invest in the development, testing and evaluation of alternative quantitative measures to assess student engagement and student achievement – see (4) below. The quantitative value-added component will constitute at least 50% of the overall TEM for teachers in ―core‖ areas (tested subjects) and at least 50% of the overall LEM for all building leaders.

(3) Reduction of the student achievement gap at the classroom/student roster level (for teachers) and the school level (for principals). Georgia is defining the student achievement gap as the difference in achievement between any student subgroup (n ≥ 15) in a given teacher’s classroom (or overall roster of that teacher’s students) and the highest performing subgroup in the State (based on aggregated performance, by student subgroup, at the State level). For principals, student achievement will be aggregated, by subgroup, at the school level and the differences in achievement between the school’s subgroups and the highest performing subgroup will be used as a basis for determining size of gap reduction. GOSA will work closely with the TAC to identify a) the specific method for calculating the reduction and b) the level of gap reduction needed to be deemed significant.

(4) Other quantitative measures, to be developed, tested and evaluated by the State in collaboration with participating LEAs. Georgia anticipates that it will, at a minimum, contract with a provider to develop a number of teacher-focused surveys (e.g., student surveys starting in grade 4—based on research pointing to student surveys being reliable instruments starting at this grade level14; parent surveys in grades pre-K through 3; as well as peer surveys) and principal/school-focused surveys. GOSA and participating LEAs and a potential external provider will look at best practices of climate surveys targeted at students, staff and parents, with the goal of measuring a principal’s effectiveness in creating a favorable school environment and working conditions.

Thoughts?

The AABA "...moving ourselves in a better direction"

In this post-racial America, we need the All American Basketball Alliance (AABA), because what people really care about are the fundamentals of basketball.

A new professional basketball league boasting rosters made up exclusively of white Americans has its eyes set on Augusta, Georgia, but the team isn't receiving a warm welcome.

The All-American Basketball Alliance announced in a news release Sunday evening that it intends to start its inaugural season in June and hopes Augusta will be one of 12 cities with a team.

"Only players that are natural born United States citizens with both parents of Caucasian race are eligible to play in the league," the statement said.

Augusta Mayor Deke Copenhaver, who has publicly expressed his support for minor league teams in the past, said he would not do the same for this team.

"As a sports enthusiast, I have always supported bringing more sporting activities to Augusta," he said. "However, in this instance I could not support in good conscience bringing in a team that did not fit with the spirit of inclusiveness that I, along with many others, have worked so hard to foster in our city."

Clint Bryant, athletic director at Augusta State University, laughed when he heard the news.

"It's so absurd, it's funny, but it gives you an idea of the sickness of our society" he said. "It shows you what lengths people will go to just to be mean-spirited. I think at any basketball level, no matter if it's all black, all white, all Hispanic, all Asian or anyone else, the players should just be a basketball team."

Don "Moose" Lewis, the commissioner of the AABA, said the reasoning behind the league's roster restrictions is not racism.

"There's nothing hatred about what we're doing," he said. "I don't hate anyone of color. But people of white, American-born citizens are in the minority now. Here's a league for white players to play fundamental basketball, which they like."

Lewis said he wants to emphasize fundamental basketball instead of "street-ball" played by "people of color." He pointed out recent incidents in the NBA, including Gilbert Arenas' indefinite suspension after bringing guns into the Washington Wizards locker room, as examples of fans' dissatisfaction with the way current professional sports are run.

"Would you want to go to the game and worry about a player flipping you off or attacking you in the stands or grabbing their crotch?" he said. "That's the culture today, and in a free country we should have the right to move ourselves in a better direction."

The Atlanta-based league, which will operate as a single-entity owning all of its teams, is looking for local contacts to pay $10,000 to become a "licensee" in one of 12 cities throughout the Southeast. Lewis said he has already received threats from people opposed to the roster restrictions and several cities have told him to stay out of town. Lewis said he has yet to hear from any one in Augusta.

"We need a local person ingrained into the community to make this successful," he said.

Lewis said he expects to eventually find support in every town with a team.

"People will come out and support a product they can identify with. I'm the spoken minority right now, but if people will give us a chance, it'll work... The white game of basketball, which is essentially a fundamental game, works."

Lewis said he wasn't sure where the team will play.

From the Tuesday, January 19, 2010 edition of the Augusta Chronicle

Happy MLK Day

Today is Martin Luther King Day. It is a day to reflect on the astounding but still unfinished progress in justice and equality made by the civil rights movement in this country, led by King and many others.

The history of this holiday is very interesting. It was first proposed by Rep. John Conyers (D-Detroit) and first got a vote in Congress in 1979, where it failed to pass by a mere five votes. After more than six million people signed petitions in favor of the holiday, Congress passed a bill declaring today Martin Luther King Day by a massive margin (338-90 in the House 78-22 in the Senate) in 1983.

Ronald Reagan, president at the time, was opposed to the bill and threatened to veto it. But with the bill passing by veto-proof majorities, he bowed to political reality and signed the bill into law rather than lose a showdown with Congress. Among others who opposed the creation of this national holiday: Sen. Jesse Helms (not exactly a surprise) and Sen. John McCain.

Some states resisted recognizing the holiday. The aforementioned Evan Mecham was governor of Arizona when he actually rescinded the recognition of the holiday that had already been established by his predecessor, declaring, “King doesn’t deserve a holiday.” He was later impeached.

South Carolina didn’t recognize the holiday until 2000. Prior to that, state employees had a choice to celebrate that day or one of three Confederate holidays. Perhaps even worse, until the year 2000, Virginia had one big combined holiday in January called Lee-Jackson-King day, which celebrated — quite bizarrely — Martin Luther King along with Confederate heroes Robert E. Lee and Stonewall Jackson. To this day, they still celebrate Lee-Jackson Day and shut down state offices on that day.

Here is the full version of King’s famous I Have A Dream speech:

Source

Morehouse Whiz Kid

Causing a Stir: 13-Year-Old Dominates College

At thirteen years of age, Stephen Stafford is causing quite a stir at Morehouse College. Stafford has a triple major in pre-med, math and computer science. Though he loves playing video games and playing his drum set, he is no typical teenager.

“I’ve never taught a student as young as Stephen, and it’s been amazing,” said computer science professor Sonya Dennis. “He’s motivating other students to do better and makes them want to step up their game.”

Stafford began his college career at the age of 11, after being home-schooled by his mother. Stafford’s mother said that when Stafford began to teach her instead of being taught by her, she knew he needed to be in a college environment.

Now THAT’S what I’m talking about. Stephen Stafford, in my opinion, represents exactly what black men are about: Intelligence, ambition and high academic achievement. This is not to disrespect men in other walks of life, but the truth is that you will never see Stephen Stafford’s accomplishments promoted like a rap music video.

We must, as a community, applaud and uphold this young man. We must cheer for him as if he averages 40 points a game. We should converse about his achievements as if he had released a platinum hip-hop album. He should get the same respect as every linebacker, point guard or hip-hop artist in America.

Corporate America will not blow Stephen’s trumpet, but I will. I also want all the other Stephen Staffords to make themselves seen. There are hundreds of thousands of Stephen Staffords out there who’ve been convinced by a culture of thuggery that they should do their best to hide their greatness. Rather than acing math class, they’ve been taught to measure grams and kilos or to memorize football playbooks that are 100pages thick. Our young men can analyze the triangle offense in basketball and break down a nickel defense, but then become mentally deficient when it comes to doing algebra, science and social studies. The time for mediocrity is over, since education is the key to making your dreams come true. Sports only creates more nightmares.

By Boyce Watkins, PhD on Jan 13th 2010 7:45PM

East Bluff Housing Service- flipping for renters

Yes, the EBHS is in the business of flipping houses for rental.

Dale Hanssen, the EBHS Treasurer, is also the owner of Principal Property Management. Mr. Hanssen, who is a volunteer, has offered the EBHS his expertise in buying, renovating and renting properties.

Mr. Hanssen is charged with choosing the properties to renovate; negotiating with the banks; deciding on the renovations to make; hiring the team (there is no bid process) to do the work; sets the schedule for getting the work done; decides who will rent the property; runs the background check on the prospective tenant via Principal Property Management; negotiate the contract with the tenant; and then oversees any maintenance on the property that the tenant may need (through Principal Property Management); at a rate decided upon by Principal Property Management.

East Bluffers are concerned that there may be a conflict of interest with Mr. Hanssen being the Treasurer of the EBHS and the owner of Principal Property Management. I wonder if there is even a contract between the EBHS and Principal Property Management? Hmmm... I would love to see the terms of that document.

In the meantime, there are longstanding homeowners who are hoping to get loans through EBHS for a roof or a porch (you know $2,000-$3,000), but EBHS won't return their calls or answer their e-mail. Not that the EBHS could help said homeowner, because the money that the EBHS has is tied up in flipping houses for renters.

All of that aside, East Bluffers know that deep in their hearts there is the fear that the EBHS is getting ready for the influx of public housing tenants that the City is relocating to the East Bluff. Could that be the real reason why the City of Peoria needs the EBHS to work out? From what I understand City staff attended the meeting heavily. Everybody from the Corporation Counsel, to the Director of Planning, to five Councilmen and even a deputy City Clerk was in attendance.

Just think - the East Bluff Housing Services a division of the Peoria Housing Authority. Is that where we are heading? I don't think any homeowner in the East Bluff would relish the thought of that. I know I don't.

Notice of the East Bluff Housing Service meeting and board vacancies

The East Bluff Housing Service (EBHS) currently has four vacancies open on the Board. If you own a home on the East Bluff and you have the time to give a darn, please consider inquiring about the available Board positions.

At this time, the EBHS is being run like it is the East Bluff Business Association, because they are only advancing the needs of businesses. In my opinion, and the opinion of many others who own homes on the East Bluff, we deserve a Housing Service that is truly dedicated to the needs of the homeowners who live in the area.

Interested in joining the Board? Here is the contact info: Peggy Shadid-Joseph, East Bluff NHS, ebhns1@yahoo.com; Dale Hanssen, dale@hanssengroup.net; Rev. Simon Holly, pulpit8@verison.net; Tom Stone, thomas.stone6@comcast.net.

Here is what is really special about the EBHS Board - you don't have to live in the East Bluff to sit on it, some of the Board members actually live outside of Peoria. As a matter of fact, none of the leaders of the Board (Hanssen, Holly, Stone) live on the East Bluff.

So, if you are an expert in the Neighborhood Code (which was imposed upon homeowners in the East Bluff without their input/knowledge and is now impeding every right East Bluffers have to fight to protect their property values) the EBHS would be a perfect fit for you. Again, don't worry if you live outside the neighborhood - if you have an opinion of what the people in "these neighborhoods need" - the EBHS wants you. (end sarcasm)

A plea for racial sensitivity training in District 150

There is just way too much pearl clutching going on in District 150 these days. As I have previously posted, it is my belief that many District 150 teachers have some problems understanding "black culture" and are sorely in need of racial sensitivity training.

It saddens me that in 2010 the word diversity is still relevant in Peoria. However, racial sensitivity training could be instrumental in closing the achievement gap between students of different races.

It is unfortunate that the discrimination lawsuit that the teachers have brought against District 150 did not request racial sensitivity training as part of their settlement. The lawsuit indicates that such training is needed. When Benassi handled the Mitsubishi lawsuit, on going racial sensitivity training was a part of the settlement. I am curuious as to why training was not requested in this instance?

Many teachers come from communities where there is very little diversity or interaction with people of different backgrounds. I have seen some student teachers who appear to be left speechless, as if they have never spoken with a black parent before. Their only conversation is for you to question them, at which time, you find out they are from some little town called Avon or whatever.

The Board of Education can and should be proactive in this matter. They don't have to wait until racial sensitivity training is demanded in a lawsuit - they could and should institute such training within District 150 NOW. We all know we need it.

Critical Issue - Educating Teachers for Diversity

As the student population in American schools becomes increasingly diverse, educators must respond with school reform efforts that meet the needs of all students. They must develop culturally sensitive curricula that integrate multicultural viewpoints and histories, apply instructional strategies that encourage all students to achieve, and review school and district policies related to educational equity. Teacher education programs in particular are responsible for preparing future teachers to promote meaningful, engaged learning for all students, regardless of their race, gender, ethnic heritage, or cultural background.

Read the entire article here.

I only watch the Superbowl for the commercials

... and the snacks. Anyway, this commercial is cute:

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Why no snow day today?

I found it interesting that District 150 and Morton Schools were pretty much the only area schools open today. Is it because Norm Durflinger who is now the interim Superintendent of District 150 is also the Mayor of Morton?

I live off a main snow route that was no where near being shoveled this morning as we struggled to get off the side street. The ride to school was nerve wrecking to say the least. Our school, which has a huge parking lot, was not shoveled and it was treacherous to maneuver.

Apparently, I am not the only person wondering why District 150 decided to keep schools open. Pastor Harvey Burnett sent the following inquiry to local media outlets:

Media:

I don't mean to be an antagonist (I really don't) but I have received a number of inquiries today regarding PSD150 and their decision to remain open.

From the accounts I have received from just 3 schools, there are over 1,000 students out because of the weather. Many other organizations have closed today also and most private schools that I am aware of (I could be wrong however). Can anyone inquire as to Dist. 150's rationale and treatment of our students regarding this matter?

I took mine late, only because the Dist was open and after quite a workout (which I can use) shoveling snow. In the inner city many of the kids have to walk to school and catch buses and the streets are a work in progress.

I don't necessarily want to push the issue but I think we need to know what the District's thoughts are regarding our children. Are they concerned?

Pastor Harvey Burnett

Time for a remake of Mandingo...

... starring Tiger Woods.

I wasn't going to say anything about this nonsense, but every time I see this photo of Tiger Woods, I just have to chuckle. All the while he was running around in that tired, red polo shirt talking about he's Calibasian...

... it took the brilliantly, twisted eye of the desperate and bankrupt photographer, Anne Leibovitz to show him as the true Mandingo that he really is.

Irony much?