Decision time.. who will lead the 2012-2013 School Board

Remember last year when the process for choosing who would sit at the head of the School Board was questioned?

Well it's that time of year again and as far as I know, nothing about the process for choosing has changed. 1470 WMBD is reporting that current board vice-president Chris Crawford and board member Martha Ross will likely be nominated for board president. Ross has been on the School Board for nine ten years, longer than any other member. Crawford has been on the School Board since 2010.

Last year it was Ross vs. Linda Butler, with Butler winning the seat. Board member M. Lynne Costic voted with Ross. Voting for Butler, in addition to herself, were Debbie Wolfmeyer, Chris Crawford and new board member Rick Cloyd, who was sworn in that day. Laura Petelle was absent.

Currently, the only qualification to be president is to sit on the board for at least one year. A past policy required a board member to be vice president before becoming president. Source

Dist. 150 school board expected to elect new president

The Peoria District 150 school board apparently will be under new leadership the next fiscal year.

Sources tell 1470 WMBD current board vice-president Chris Crawford and board member Martha Ross will likely be nominated for board president when the panel holds its annual reorganization meeting Monday.

Current board president Linda Butler will not seek another one-year term as president.

Board member Rick Cloyd will likely be the lone nominee to replace Crawford as vice-president.

Board members could make other nominations during the meeting which starts at Noon Monday at the District 150 administration building. Source

What's hot on Emerge Peoria this week?

click image for a better view

Surprise Surprise Surpise... Obamacare lives!

... oops, looks like the Romney campaign is going to have to go back to the drawing board.

The individual health insurance mandate is constitutional, the Supreme Court ruled Thursday, upholding the central provision of President Barack Obama's signature Affordable Care Act.

The controlling opinion, written by Chief Justice John Roberts, upheld the mandate as a tax, although concluded it was not valid as an exercise of Congress' commerce clause power. Justices Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Stephen Breyer, Sonia Sotomayor and Elena Kagan joined in the outcome. Source

Riggenbach and Gulley getting their ducks in a row?

Do the newly approved District Maps hint at a renewed vigor from the folks who live on the East Bluff and in Southtown to make sure they are represented by the people who will best support their interests?

The fight that the District 1 and District 3 Councilmen put up for the new maps show that Gulley and Riggenbach may realize that the time is NOW to answer to their constituents... finally.

The new map puts the City on the hook to make sure that there is some growth in District 1 and District 3. Unnfortunately, Councilwoman VanAuken was hoping to get in on some of that power growing North...

By a 6-5 vote, the council settled on what has been labeled "Map B." Spain, Van Auken, Ardis, and Councilmen Gary Sandberg and Bill Spears voted against Map B. Voting in favor were Gulley and Council members Chuck Weaver, Beth Akeson, Timothy Riggenbach, Dan Irving and Eric Turner.

The vote also comes about 13 months after the map-making process was first introduced with more than two dozen versions drafted and multiple meetings with sometimes passionate discussions. Source

Empty Lakeview YWCA vandalized

The building has been empty since the YWCA left last fall, after encountering financial problems. It is not known how vandals entered the building or where they set off several fire extinguishers that triggered fire alarms, but according to a police report a back door was found unlocked and there were no signs of forced entry.

Peoria Notre Dame High School had been renting the building from the Heartland Partnerships but had been "barred" from using it after damage had been done, according to the report. Officials from Heartland said they would not comment on an ongoing investigation.

Notre Dame Athletic Director, Matt Blackford said the high school used the building for basketball practice - as it had when it was occupied by the YWCA - for between $1,500 and $3,000 per month from October through February.

Blackford said he did not have any knowledge of the school not being allowed to use the facilities at Lakeview.

Are full service community schools servicing the community?

At one time Community Builders oversaw the Community School effort.

Glen Oak Community School (click images to enlarge)

I thought we were told that the multi-million dollar Glen Oak School, would be a full service community school. However, on any given day or time, you can drive by the building and it is clear that the building is currently being under utilized in a neighborhood filled with crime and children with nothing to do.

The Community School Initiative is being run by Bradley and they have assembled a very impressive board. However, the St. Bernard's scenario below, is an example of volunteers who are actually doing the work needed for the community vs. a bunch of impressive folks sitting around a board table having donuts and coffee for one hour every month.

St. Bernard's School on Kansas

A local group is turning the old St. Bernard's School into a community center. St. Bernard's School is currently being used for summer youth basketball leagues. But city leaders, community members, and local pastors want to expand that by opening part of the building as a neighborhood outreach center.

Meals, recreation, and educational opportunities would be offered to people of all ages. The group is in talks with organizations like the Boys and Girls Club and the Peoria Park District for potential programming.

"We don't really have neighborhood schools anymore. So we're kind of hoping we can step in and fill that gap. And this will be the place that people look to for that center of the community." Organizer, Father Tom Stone

The organization is currently seeking funding for the center, which it hopes to open this fall. The information below is from psd150 website.

Full Service Community Schools

Bradley University’s College of Education and Health Sciences, along with the Institute for Principled Leadership in Public Service, serve as the lead agency for the Peoria Full Service Community Schools (PFSCS) project. Guided by The Federation for Community Schools, this initiative is funded through various grants, including Heart of Illinois United Way and Illinois Children’s Healthcare Foundation. The partnership is governed by a community advisory council that includes representatives from Bradley University, Peoria School District 150, City of Peoria, Peoria City Council, Illinois Central College, Caterpillar Inc., Methodist Medical Center, United Way, Two Rivers Professional Development Center, Southside Bank, and Peoria County Health Department.

PFSCS is responsible for implementation of the full service community schools model, which targets health, families, community, and academics, by providing a continuum of care and support that will empower students and their families to become productive, engaged members of the community. Currently, PFSCS serves three Peoria School District 150 schools: Harrison Community Learning Center, Trewyn Middle School, and Manual Academy. The project also supports a Parent Mobile Resource Center (a renovated school bus) that will travel in the neighborhoods surrounding the three designated community schools to provide information, connection to resources and District 150’s Parent University, and services such as immunizations, screenings, and parent education/workshops.

The PFSCS goals for the 2011-2012 academic year include hiring a resource coordinator for each school, engaging parents, teachers, and community members in promoting the well being and academic success of the students in these schools, promoting students’ mental health, physical health, and safety, and establishing data collection and analysis protocols to measure the partnership’s success over time.

Core Advisory Council

Michele Anderson, South Side Bank

Renee Andrews, Principal, Trewyn Middle School

Judy Dietrich, Illinois Central College

Steve Fairbanks, Community Development Specialist, City of Peoria

Curt Fenton, Peoria City/County Health Department

Dr. Jana Hunzicker, Bradley University, College of Education and Health Sciences 

Taunya Jenkins, Principal, Manual Academy

Jan Leonard, Two Rivers Professional Development Center (Regional Office of Education)

Dr. Chris Lucas, Bradley University, College of Education and Health Sciences

Karin Maybanks, In-School Health Coordinator, Methodist Medical Center

Renee McKinnon, Peoria School District 150

Veralee Smith, Principal, Harrison Community Learning Center

Michael Stephan, President, Heart of Illinois United Way

Dr. Jenny Tripses, Bradley University, College of Education and Health Sciences

Chuck Weaver, Peoria City Council

Jennifer Zammuto, Caterpillar Foundation

Manual Academy

Manual Academy, which serves students in grades seven through twelve, is divided into four “schools within the school”. It houses a Middle School Preparatory Academy, a Ninth Grade Success Academy, and two career-focused academies for sophomores, juniors, and seniors: the Health Academy and the Business Academy. In 2008, Manual implemented the Johns Hopkins Talent Development Program, which incorporates features such as novel-based literature programs, quarterly academic progress conferences between students and community volunteers, and a daily advisory program. Manual’s mission is to redefine teaching and learning. The school’s website states, “We will ensure that each student reaches his or her full academic and personal potential through an educational approach characterized by continuously re-conceptualizing teaching and learning in a nurturing environment.” Manual received an Illinois Academic Improvement Award in 2010.

Trewyn Middle School

Trewyn Middle School, serves students in grades kindergarten through eight. Partnering with the Peoria Park District and Carl Cannon’s E.L.I.T.E. program, Trewyn’s mission is “to collaboratively transform, inspire, and empower students to be goal oriented and proactive in their education, using best practices while maintaining the highest standards of accountability”. E.L.I.T.E. is a code of conduct and communication that is based on the concept of mutual respect. It is, therefore, everyone’s responsibility to: (a) use Phrases for Success (please, thank you, you’re welcome, yes ma’am, no ma’am, excuse me, I’m sorry, help me, I have, I can, etc.), honor others through simple acts of courtesy, and exhibit self-respect in the way we dress, speak and act.

Harrison Community Learning Center

Harrison Community Learning Center, which serves students from birth through eighth grade, opened the doors of its new facility in 2010. The school is described as “one of the most researched and studied facility designs to be developed in the United States”. The school provides a variety of programs and services, including the 21st Century after school program, which engages third through sixth grade students in reading, math, science, and social studies through the fine arts. Harrison’s mission is “to ensure that all children build an academic foundation, develop (become life-long learners), and grow in self-confidence and compassion through a challenging curriculum which nurtures each student’s abilities and aspirations in partnership with parents, family, and community”.

Parent Mobile Resource Center

The Parent Mobile Resource Center (MPRC), the brainchild of former parent educator Julie Lonteen, launched on June 23, 2011. A true collaboration, Julie brought together Peoria District 150, the City of Peoria, and Bradley University to plan an innovative approach to parent engagement through the revitalization of an old, retired school bus. The actual revitalization of the bus was a true community project with individuals, businesses, and unions stepping forward by donating money, supplies, time, and talent to turn Julie’s vision into reality. This bus travel s in the neighborhoods surrounding our three community schools to provide information and services, including Parent University classes, early childhood screenings, immunizations, a lending library, and workshops and activities designed especially for parents.

Growing parents and citizens to be involved in schools

Imagine a District growing a group of knowledgeable parent volunteers through their school parent advisory groups and Parent University. Parents who want to help other parents learn to work with the schools, help their students be better students and advocate for their child's education. Take that just one step further to a community of learners that embrace education and cultural diversity.

In my experience, the majority of parents want to be more "present" in schools, they just don't know how. Not enough parents know enough about the system to effectively make an impact and this needs to change. Parent advisory groups and Parent University is certainly a start. However, in my opinion, it is incumbent upon not just the District but also the City and community leaders to actively work to engage citizens i.e., parents and educate them about the schools and community connection, otherwise folks will continue to sit on the sidelines and we will continue to get what we got.

Early last year, I came across a program that is similar to the Community Leadership School (CLS) that is put on each year by the Peoria Chamber of Commerce. Instead of operating out of ICC like CLS, this program could be instituted much cheaper at the District's Community Schools. Instead of doing a ride along with a Peoria Police Officer, this program would have students ride along with a School District Officer (you get the idea). The students would learn about programs, school finances, board governance, etc. Check it out...

Austin Independent School District's strategic plan includes emphasizing the link between community and parent involvement and increased student achievement. The school board wanted to develop an effective and effcient way to increase the awareness and involvement of parents and community members. It also wanted to build a cadre of leaders and advocates for the district (i.e., a school board succession program/Emerge).

Solution

The AISD UpClose program began in 2007 as a step toward achieving those goals. Participants in the program fully represent the ethnic, cultural, and geographic diversity of the Austin community. The program reaches out to audiences that have been traditionally difficult to engage. It provides participants with opportunities to meet and interact with a number of district and community leaders. Participants attend monthly classes over 10 months at various sites across the district. Classes cover a wide range of topics. Program participants learn how the district and campuses operate, as well as becoming familiar with district challenges and issues. They help identify possible solutions and opportunities for community partnerships and collaboration.

UpClose maintains an interactive website and produces monthly television shows on various topics. The program increases the awareness of participants. It also prepares them for advocating for the district within the community and for service on district campus committees and task forces and even the board.

Members of the school board embraced the program and welcome new UpClose participants at their first class, provide presentations on board governance, and congratulate participants at a special graduation event. The board draws upon UpClose graduates for service on board appointed committees. Further, the board values the importance of the program in grooming community members for possible board service.

This Magna Award winning program has been very successful for the Austin Community. the community interest has increased so much that more classes have been added to meet demand. The success of the AISD UpClose program has been noted by other districts, as well as other governmental agencies, who have inquired into the nature and scope of the program.

AISD 2011 Graduating Class

Our City/County officials are looking for ways to collaborate right?

We have CLS growing community leaders; Peoria County currently does a citizen’s “school”, and the City used to do a neighborhood college program; wouldn't it be great if the District/City/County could collaborate and put on something like this? Isn't this program just one more aspect of engaging parents and increasing involvement; thereby improving our schools and educating our community?

Additionally, another School District/City/County collabo could be making sure the public is fully informed by working together to televise school board meetings (just like the County Board and City Council meetings are televised). Check out this District - how difficult and/or expensive can this be, really?

Read em' and weep...

Quotes from an inner city kid caught in the violence:

"I just want to get out of Peoria. I want my life, I want to live my life. I still got life to live and I don't want to get killed I don't want to get stabbed I don't want any of that."

"... kids in my neighborhood are "fighting, shooting, stabbing each other," which makes it hard to stay out of trouble. I mean it's too much violence. In order for me to stay out of trouble I don't have friends." quotes are from a 17 year old, inner city, Peorian

Before we start blaming parents - let's make sure that the District is doing what they are required to do to include them...

Board Policy 8:96 Community Relations - Parental Involvement adopted Aug 18, 2008

In order to insure collaborative relationships between students' families and the Board of Education and District personnel, and to enable parent(s)/guardian(s) to become active partners in education, the Superintendent shall develop administrative procedures to:

1. Keep parent(s)/guardian(s) thoroughly informed about their child's school and education (09/18/08) School Board Proceedings 45

2. Encourage involvement in their child's school and education.

3. Establish effective two-way communication between all families and Board of Education and District personnel.

4. Seek input from parent(s)/guardian(s) on significant school-related issues.

5. Inform parents/guardians on how they can assist their children's learning.

6. Train district staff to work with and accept input from diverse groups of parents/guardians. The superintendent shall periodically report to the Board on the implementation of this policy.

District Parent Involvement

1. District 150's district plan, its parental involvement policies and the district's process for reviewing its district plan must all be jointly developed by and agreed upon with the parents of the district's participating children, including parents of participating children enrolled in private schools.

2. The District will inform all Administrators, staff and parents of District 150's Parent Involvement Policy, changes to that policy and opportunities to participate in the eduction of children.

3. District 150 must submit any parental comments with the District's plan when it is submitted to the State if the plan is not satisfactory to the parents of participating children.

4. District 150 shall establish a District Parental Involvement Committee comprised of representatives for all District programs, including preschool, along with representatives from groups such as Even Start and Head Start. This committee shall meet at least one time per semester.

5. Each District 150 school Principal shall establish a parental advisory committee consisting of parents, teachers, staff and administrators. This committee shall be involved in decisions regarding how the District uses funds to increase parental involvement.

6. Each District 150 school shall develop a plan for building strong parental involvement programs. This plan shall be included with the school's overall SIP plan.

7. Each District 150 school will actively promote appropriate professional development programs for teachers,parents,pupil services personnel, administrators, and other staff in order to raise the academic standards and performance of the students.

8. The District 150 administration will provide technical assistance and materials to the schools as they support district parents to help promote learning at home.

9. Each District 150 school shall require parents of participating children to provide necessary feedback and suggestions for planning, developing and implementing effective programs. The responsibilities of the school and parents as partners in education will be outlined in a signed school/parent compact.

10. The District 150 administration will provide regularly scheduled conferences for teachers to communicate actively with parents and actively involve the parents in the school curriculum.

11. The District 150 administration will coordinate the district program and collaborate with other agencies providing services to children, youth and families including health and social services.

12. The District 150 staff will provide services to eligible children in private schools and hold timely and meaningful consultations with private school officials and the parents of participating schools.

13. The District 150 administration will be responsible for verifying that the district carries out parental involvement requirements as mandated by law.

14. District 150 Schools will annually measure the progress that students are making towards meeting State student performance standards through the use of high quality student assessments and report the information to parents, students and teachers.

15. The District 150 Parent Involvement Advisory Committee will annually evaluate the effectiveness of the district's parental involvement policy.

16. The District 150 administration will use the evaluation findings in designing strategies for school improvement and in existing parental involvement policies at the District and school levels.

CROSS REF: 6.250 (Community Resource Persons and Volunteers), 8.90 (Parent Organisations) ADOPTED: August 18, 2008 On roll call, 6 ayes. Motion carried.

Is District 150 Board prime for a State takeover?

And... is that something we would really want?

                              

State takes over 2 Illinois school boards

The Illinois State Board of Education has ousted the elected school boards in the East St. Louis and North Chicago districts.

The state board took the action Thursday in Springfield, citing nagging academic under performance. Under Illinois law, state education chief Christopher Koch will direct the regional superintendents over the affected districts to replace the locally elected board members. Koch then will appoint a five-person independent panel to take their place.

The East St. Louis district has more than 7,000 students, while the North Chicago system has nearly 4,000.

Messages left with Garrett Hoerner, the general counsel for East St. Louis schools, and North Chicago schools superintendent Milton Thompson were not immediately returned.Source

Shooting in... Shooting up... Peoria Summer 2012

Uptick in heroin overdoses in Peoria

The emergency room at OSF Saint Francis Medical Center might treat one heroin overdose in a typical mid-June week. Last week there were nine. Two people died.

Some arrive via ambulance, others get dumped on the doorstep, a needle literally still stuck in the arm. Other than the drug, there is one common theme: Almost always, the victims are young, white males from affluent areas around Peoria. Source

Violent crime task force

A violent crime task force is now being formed to patrol "hot spots" where gun violence has recently been on the rise. The shooting of Roberico King was the seventh homicide of the year and the Police Cheif is reporting that "50% of gun violence so far this year has taken place in the last six weeks alone."

Points of focus for the 16-officer team will be - a strip of South Peoria between Starr and Garden streets just west of South Western Avenue and an area of Howett Street just east of Western. Additionally included is a portion of the East Bluff near the intersection of McClure Avenue and University Street.Source

                                   

                                                    

click images to enlarge

Let's stop just letting our drop outs "walk" maybe we can save some lives

I consider myself a citizen who cares and is involved with her community. I volunteer in the community, only doing the things I know I will enjoy doing, which helps me to remain committed. I have done a shift with a very popular and busy Peoria Police Officer and I have done a ride about with a very popular and busy District 150 Teacher who is desparately trying to reach students who have dropped out and pull them back.

On the first ride about with this teacher, we encountered the young man, who is the "city's seventh homicide victim of the year." His street name: Reco Suave, his birth name: Roberico King. Roberico was a drop out from District 150 public schools, he had so much potential. Potential that he will never realize. If only this teacher had more help in reaching him...

Peoria has got to find a way to reach all of these young people who have dropped out of school and subsequently civil society. Recently a reader of the blog pointed me to a program that other communities are implementing, a program called "Drop Out Walks":

A Drop Out Walk is when volunteers (community representatives, Board members, administration and school staff) take part in an annual “Reach Out to Dropout Walk” to encourage students who have dropped out of school to return and complete their education. The event would give volunteers the opportunity to meet face-to-face with students to show that they care about the students’ success at completing high school. This is the call to action from another city:

                     

The teacher I mentioned above is heart broken about Roberico and all of the other students that we are losing to the street. This teacher has gone into neighborhoods that even I wouldn't consider going, just to reach students. This teacher shouldn't be alone in the drop out walk - we can all help.

Let's get this started Peoria. We can plan over the summer and kick off the 2012-2013 school year reaching out to youths who have dropped out. Is this something readers of this blog would get behind?

Hat tip to Kohlrabi for the Drop Out Walk information.

Four more years of Us vs. Them? For the sake of the children in this District, I hope not...

"Meet me half-way, but don't use hate to criticize. 

If you're going to criticize be constructive about it, but don't use hate to do that."

I don't think it's a stretch to say that many teachers and members of the Peoria community are saddened by the fact that last night, the Board  of Education (BOE), extended the contract for Superintendent Grenita Lathan for four (4) more years.

I'm thinking that this BOE must be privy to some pretty interesting data about progress, if they made this decision. You people in comments who keep talking about not making AYP, this move by the BOE would indicate that we will be seeing improvement (because we know they already have preliminary scores).

All pull quotes are from the Ungurait deposition, click images to enlarge.

                           

Citizens should be able to expect that the BOE reviewed their employee and acted in the best interest of their constituents when making this decision.

It sometimes seems as though the BOE and Administration is caught up in a bubble (or some may say ivory tower), the Us vs. Them bubble and as a result, doing what's best for the children gets lost. I know people (especially on blogs), say mean things about them, but that kind of goes along with the territory of being a change agent, doesn't it? They just seem to be a little too busy being defiant, you can see it on their faces and in their posture.

                       

Surely they know that every citizen in Peoria is not against them, but that doesn't stop them from constantly using fighting words and double entendres to hit at certain people, every single time the camera is in their face. It's just not nice, it's not good customer service and for the money we are paying, we deserve better.

                         

We have seen in the Ungurait deposition allegations of the mean spirit that permeates through the District. When the Superintendent gets awarded a very nice contract, (thanks to the taxes of citizens of Peoria) did she step up and smile and say anything nice? No, she didn't; instead she came across very defiant, almost (dare I say), angry. I really expected better. It's past time to rise above the drama - that interview could have been a new start. Unfortunately, it seemed like a promise of more of the same (with just a hint of...  or, you can kiss my ***).

Quotes from the Ungurait deposition, click to enlarge.

                     

The Superintendent says that she would like to receive constructive criticism that is not riddled with hate, that's a reasonable request. I hope that in reviewing her, extending her contract and then giving her a raise, that her employers (the BOE) asked her to at least give her employees and citizens of this community the same respect.

                   

However, judging from the most recent television interview, I doubt that discussing the issue of civility with the Superintendent was a part of the BOE's decision.

When Fabulosity goes horribly wrong... Osama Bin Laden's ex will be checking for you

Kimora, Ming & Ayoki Simmons

Osama Bin Laden's former girl friend/sex slave is not buying into Fabulosity. As a matter of fact, she hates every thing that Ms. Fabulosity, Kimora Lee Simmons stands for. For a couple of weeks now Kola has been boasting on Twitter about the affair she has allegedly been having with Kimora's husband, Amistad actor, Djimon Hounsou.

Kimora, Kenzo & Djimon

Of course, Russell Simmons, who USA Today recently named one of the “Top 25 Most Influential People of the Past 25 Years,” must be concerned about the situation, as Kimora has two children by Simmons and one by Hounsou.

Kola claims that Simmons has threatened her hoping to get her to back off of Kimora.

Kola, who has been angry with American media, because she feels like they did not take interest in her story as Osama's girlfriend/sex slave because of her skin color, is thrilled that the American media is giving her a public platform to defame Kimora - the Queen of Faublosity...

click on image to enlarge

The Statement 

"For four years (starting 3 weeks after Kimora Lee Simmons 'faux' West African wedding to actor Djimon Hounsou in the country of Benin)....I took part in an adulterous affair with Ms. Simmons' man. I can honestly say that I slept with her husband more than she did the last four years.Today is June 14th, 2012. But a few months ago...my affair with Djimon caused so much strife within their coupling that Djimon Hounsou walked out on Ms. Simmons. 

This affair with Djimon was about revenge for me, Kola.The American media giving me this opportunity to publicly humiliate her is just icing on the cake. I didn't expect this at all. Be aware that despite Russell's denials (Russell Simmons, her mega-rich slimy turtle without a shell MOGUL ex-husband whose name she still uses instead of Djimon's)...and despite Kimora's and Djimon's denials that they have broken up...let me tell you....they HAVE!!

Go here if you dare to read the entire rant - it is VERY lengthy and filled with soft porn and dirty words...

These men want to help District 150

I just happened to see this photo on Facebook. I'm re-posting it here (with the permission of Mr. Porch), because I hope Mr. Porch and company will be able to connect with the right people at District 150 and get the access they seek. 

Peoria desperately needs grassroots involvement from the black community (especially men) to make a difference in educating our children. It's good to see more people looking to step up to volunteer.

We hear about how stellar the Elite Program is but unfortunately, there is only one Carl Cannon. If it's working, let's duplicate it and/or tailor something similar for other District 150 schools. Let's give some other programs a chance to make a difference. 

Does anybody know who could give them "the access Carl Cannon has" (click on image to enlarge)

This is an open letter to the D150 Board of Education.

TEACHER said...

I am an elementary teacher at an "inner city" school. I have had 22 students come and go during this past school year. I started with 23, ended with 18, and had only 12 of my original students from the beginning of the year. The teachers were told at the beginning of the year that we would receive a "guide" for teaching reading/language arts. This guide was, in a word ridiculous. Trying to "follow" it was like Hansel and Gretel dropping bread crumbs.

I do hold a Master's Degree in Reading and truly couldn't believe this MESS that I was handed. So, I decided to do what was best for my students. I taught Open Court (with fidelity) and Michael Haggerty (daily). My students learned life-long reading strategies and all left my classroom as readers, able to decode most words.

Now, I have a peer who taught at another D150 school. She felt she had to teach the MESS that was handed to her by the district. Having taught with her, I know how hard she works with her students and does not take her responsibility to her students lightly.

She lamented the last week of school to me that almost half of her students could not read, their decoding skills were almost nonexistent, and there were several strategies, ie, letter sounds, that were not even included in the "curriculum" that was to be taught. She said this was by far the worst year she has ever taught, feeling that she had failed her students, yet did what Dr. Lathan et al. told her to do.

I spoke with a past school board member recently who told me that during the interview process Dr. Lathan said she thought Open Court was an excellent reading program. This board member was SHOCKED that Dr. Lathan would take it away considering how she thought it was wonderful that regardless of what school a child was transferred to, they would be teaching the same thing.

So, you see, what you all have been told and what is really happening is different. Our Science curriculum was only 3 years old, the spines on the books barely cracked, when Dr. Lathan thought it a high priority to replace it. At this point, as teachers, we do not know what to use for reading/language arts. The people Dr. Lathan brought with her don't seem to have much of a clue either.

Before you approve her contract for 4 more years, please wait for ISAT, PSAE scores to come out. I believe they ALL are lower than EVER before. So, to extend her contract, give her a bonus, and continue to allow her to BULLY the employees of this district, WAIT. Please wait until next Spring, which would be a logical solution (my thoughts are that no school district is going to be fighting over her).

Thank you for listening. As you know, I am fearful of retaliation so I will just sign myself as....TEACHER.

Media Take Out is actively pushing the stop snitching campaign

Shame on you Media Take Out!

     

Every day you watch the local news, you will hear a couple of things on the regular: (1) Crime is tearing up the inner city; and (2) even as our children are shot in the head while they sleep in the bed, people are not talking to the police (a/ka/ snitching). I am personally, thoroughly disgusted with the “stop snitching” campaign that is tearing our communities apart.

click on images to enlarge

This stop snitching crap has successfully created a  wall of silence in our communities, which has led to the murder of hundreds of innocent adults and children across America every single year.

To now witness a blog, that touts itself as "the Most Visited Urban Blog in the World", perpetuating this stop snitching nonsense, is nothing short of sickening. 

The article that Mediatakeout.com posted about "Snitch Brown"  has already had 540,191 views:

June 15, 2012: MediaTakeOut.com just received word that police may be close to charging one of the WORLD'S top rappers, Drake, with a crime . . . and that's because Chris Brown has been COOPERATING with police.

Word is that a member of Chris' entourage VIDEOTAPED the incident, and the tape shows Drake and members of their entourage involved in the fight. We're told that the tape supposedly shows Drake getting it in . . . and it appears that he's using a BOTTLE as a weapon. It's not clear, however, whether Drake were doing so aggressively . . . or in SELF DEFENSE.

But it gets even MORE interested. MediaTakeOut.com spoke with a person close to Drake who says he's "DISGUSTED" that Chris Brown is supplying EVIDENCE to police. Tells the YMCMB insider, "Chris [Brown] is a f*ckin snitch." We're not sure what to think about it. But it does sound very SNITCH-LIKE . . . to be giving videos to the police. Especially since it was AFTER Chris CAUGHT A FADE at the hands of Drake.

What's HOT on EmergePeoria right NOW!

One can only hope that Board of Education (BOE) members are doing some research as they prepare to vote on a four-year contract for the Superintendent of Schools. The Super is in the second year of a three-year contract and the Board will be voting on renewal at the Monday, June 18, 2012, BOE meeting.

Some folks are concerned that the BOE is being asked to make the decision on the contract at this juncture. In my opinion, it's only fair that they let the Super know now if they want her to stay in her current position or not, as I am sure that she and her cabinet will need to get to work on their relocation. How nice of the BOE to be so considerate of our company. You cain't say that wee's ain't hospitable.

Considering what the Ungurait transcript alleges that the Super and friends think of PIAiens, I can't imagine they would want to stay around once the gig is up.

If the BOE used the same criterion to review the Superintendent's progress that she used to judge teachers and principals, do you think the contract should be renewed? Take a moment to answer the poll to right of this post.

It can only get better, right?

While anxiously awaiting District 150's 2011-2012 AYP information, let's revisit District 150's 2010-2011 AYP information. It can only get better, right?

Challenge: Transitioning schools in the midst of constant change

Quest Charter Academy is one District 150 school that is constantly on the grow. As such, every year, for the next several years, Quest will essentially be a new school. I find the aspect of the constant change very interesting, because Quest is a middle school that is transitioning to include a high school and we all know that the transition from primary to middle; and the subsequent transition from middle to high school can be very difficult on students. 

• First year - grades 5-7 in old Loucks School

• Second year - grades 5-8 in old Loucks School

• Third year - grades 5-7 in old Columbia School

• Third year - grades 8-9 in renovated Loucks School

• Fourth year - grades 5-8 in old Columbia School

• Fourth year - grades 9-10 in renovated Loucks School

• Fifth year - grades 9-11 in renovated Loucks School

• Sixth year - grades 9-12 in renovated Loucks School

Not only will the physical aspects of the school change every single year, but there is also the constant change in staff. For the 2012-2013 school year, the school has hired 11 new staff members, including two to replace two employees whose contracts were not renewed.

At the start of the second year of the school, Quest hired two new Deans. Angela Stockman was the Dean of Academics and Terrie Armstrong (both former employees of other District 150 schools) was hired as the Dean of Students. Regardless of what the titles were,  the Deans were the main disciplinarians while Principal Blackstone handled the other stuff. And truth be told, these ladies were BUSY.

The 2012-2013 school year Quest students will find that the two ladies who knew them so well, Dean Stockman and Dean Armstrong will no longer be there. In my opinion, the loss of the Deans is quite  significant. We have read on this blog and heard out in the community about the fighting and bullying problems that exist at Quest. Hopefully the replacements for these two will be able to acclimate their selves with the particulars of the student body, before school begins. Otherwise, the bullies and trouble makers will be free to start anew... and they will.

From the Silas Willard, April 2012, school newsletter

Working on the future: Quest Charter Academy

This past Tuesday night, Quest Charter Academy's Board was asking the tough questions about financial decisions and the future of the school. Apparently, when some board members questioned what happens with a loan from Board President Glen Barton, if District 150 doesn't renew Quest's five-year contract (which expires in 2015), the discussion generally skipped over some member's questions.

From October 23, 2011, pjstar.com

Quest Charter Academy Board President lends charter school $300,000

Glen Barton, who is President of the Quest Charter 
Academy Board, is a retired Chairman and CEO, 
Caterpillar Inc. and a Commissioner on the Illinois State 
Charter School Commission. (Term: 2011-2014),
is speaking to students at the first 
Quest Charter Academy Promotion ceremony.

Tuesday night, Quest Charter Academy's board of education approved a $300,000 loan from board President Glen Barton, along with a new $3.6 million budget with enough cuts to cover $200,000 in unexpected losses in general state aid. 

The loan from Barton comes in addition to a $500,000 line of credit from Peoria County. Both loans will be used for renovations on the former Loucks and Columbia School buildings. A second mortgage on the two buildings will serve as collateral for Barton's loan.

Quest board members recently purchased the two buildings for $300,000 in a complicated three-party arrangement between the board, Peoria School District 150 and Peoria County. Quest will repay the district for the buildings with money from a private donor who established a long-term annual gift to the school, which is privately managed with public funds.

Quest's first freshman class, will grow from 75 to 90 students. Board members voted to increase the class size to offset attrition that occurs in student numbers. District 150 agreed to the increase in the freshman class size. However, the District will not give Quest additional money. The 15 additional freshman students will be selected from Quest's waiting lists.

District 150 passes its per-pupil funding in general state aid to the charter school. However, when numbers drop below 75 students in a grade level, the district decreases the revenue source. The general state aid Quest will receive through District 150 will decrease by $500 a student, or $200,000 total, next year. Source

NEWSFLASH: "Quest Charter Academy students didn't outscore District 150 students" - because Quest Charter Academy students are District 150 students

It appears that preliminary ISAT scores are out. The only District 150 school whose scores are being released at this time is Quest Charter Academy. Quest did not release the results of it's ISAT scores for the 2010-2011 school year. 

Stating that "Quest students outscored District 150 students," implies that a Quest student is not a District 150 student; and if you continue to read it in the press, people begin to believe it. 

The ISAT information that was given doesn't tell us what Quest's annual progress is, as the Quest scores were pulled out of all other District 150 scores to make the comparison. So... did Quest make AYP?

Quest students score high on ISAT

Preliminary scores exceed District 150's results

Based on preliminary results of Illinois Standards Achievement Test, Quest Charter Academy students outscored District 150 students in every comparable subject at every comparable grade level and tested second best of 27 Concept Schools - the private company that operates the publicly funded school - on a national standardized test that measures student progress.

The gap between Quest and District 150 students' ISAT scores widened the longer the students were at Quest.

• Fifth grade - 69% of Quest students met or exceeded reading goals on the ISAT test, compared to 62% of District 150 students.
• Sixth grade - Quest students came in at 80% on the reading portion of the test, compared to 64% to District 150. 
• Seventh grade, it was 78% of Quest students, 64% of District 150 students.

"You may say 78% in reading is not that high... But it is high for the population we're getting."


Quest Principal Engin Blackstone.

More than half of Quest students are performing below grade level academically when they arrive at the school, Blackstone said. About 70% come from families that meet federal poverty-level guidelines.
Blackstone emphasized the ISAT results were preliminary and would not be finalized for several months.
Source

NBA Finals TONIGHT

The Oklahoma City Thunder will meet the Miami Heat when the 2012 Finals tip off on ABC tonight... Who are you representing?

Crystal

Suede

Crystal

Suede

Utterly captivating, Limited Edition, authentic HERSTAR™ Custom Crystal Pumps representing the Oklahoma City Thunder and/or the Miami Heat. Encrusted, dazzling, and intensely mesmerizing with every step, these elite pumps command a presence of their own. Fully hand strassed in luxurious, hand selected Middle Eastern crystals, then offset by a sky-high 6” heel and 3" internal platform; these glittering heels glisten on the court and off. They are simply magical to behold. Step into these shimmering, sparkling pumps and be ready to light up the games. Also available in Swarovski Crystals. These shoes are CUSTOM made and require 6-8 weeks to produce.  Yes, they are absolutely worth the wait. $274.99

The "natural hair journey" is now underway

The recent article in the local newspaper about the young lady who was asked to cut her locks was very troubling to me. I posted about the issue here and some of the comments showed such a level of ignorance and lack of acceptance for people being different, that I feel compelled to continue to try and share information with those who read here, about what is now widely called the "Transitioning Movement". Just look around you and you will see the "natural hair journey" is well under way and locks are a huge part of that Transitioning Movement. 

There was a recent article in the New York Times about this Transitioning Movement that explains the beauty and excitement around the Movement with succinctness. Please go here and watch the video and then come back here to to Emerge Peoria to discuss. An excerpt from the NY Times article is below:

There are as many “natural hair journeys” as there are transitioning women. What I find remarkable about the movement is the way it is spreading through black women in America. Many are transitioning silently, without much fanfare. Some are inspired by friends and family members who have already made the switch. As Anu Prestonia, the owner of Khamit Kinks, a natural hair salon in Brooklyn, told me, “There’s been an evolutionary process that has turned into a revolution.” It is not an angry movement. Women aren’t saying their motivation is to combat Eurocentric ideals of beauty. Rather, this is a movement characterized by self-discovery and health. 

But black hair and the black body generally have long been a site of political contest in American history and in the American imagination. Against this backdrop, the transition movement has a political dimension — whether transitioners themselves believe it or not. Demonstrating this level of self-acceptance represents a powerful evolution in black political expression. If racial politics has led to an internalization of self-loathing, then true transformation will come internally, too. It will not be a performative act. Saying it loud: “I’m black and I’m proud” is one thing. Believing it quietly is another. So the transition movement is much more profound and much more powerful — and I believe it offers lessons in self-acceptance for people of all hues and all genders. Source

It's precarious for joggers and bike riders in Glen Oak Park

The very unfortunate fact that Glen Oak Park does not have a bike or pedestrian lane has always been a pain, but it was manageable, because you could ride your bike and/or jog in the street, around the inner circle (see orange line on photo), only coming out on the street as you pass the Zoo. Again, that scenario was precarious, but  it was manageable.

Now that Glen Oak Park, has the new Peoria Zoo, walking around that inner circle has become even more dangerous, because all roads now lead to the parking lot of the entrance to Africa at the Peoria Zoo and if you are jogging or riding your bike on the inner circle - you must go through the parking lot. (click on images to enlarge)

No pedestrian or bike lanes in Glen Oak Park, must walk across the new Zoo parking lot.

Riding bikes on grass in Glen Oak Park

At this point, in the development of the upper Glen Oak Park to accommodate the Peoria Zoo, I don't even see where they could add a bike or pedestrian lane. Very disappointing development for a inner city park.