tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5961215159419443702.post6032445478060696499..comments2023-05-05T03:15:17.710-05:00Comments on D181 Parents for Accountability and Transparency: Hinsdale Middle School No Longer Projected to Re-Open Before Monday, February 3.Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger15125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5961215159419443702.post-21457064521682983122014-01-26T15:33:17.579-06:002014-01-26T15:33:17.579-06:00Dear Mr. Belt
I see you are one of the infrequent... Dear Mr. Belt<br /><br />I see you are one of the infrequent designated administration support commentators. They typically became completely silent when faced with a question--please provide examples. Please provide examples of how the majority of the board members ask good questions, come prepared, and suggest in any way that they have spent time on these matters. I do agree that Clarin and Jill V are coming around, but the other three are literally checked out. They have repeatedly stated that it is not their job to "micromanage" and so not only are they checked out, the proudly proclaim it is there role.<br /><br />Now, you are correct that a fellow commentator, a Mr. Everett, has made unfounded statements. He referred to people as shortsighted fools as though there has been a grand and distracting movement to build a new middle school. That is simply not the case. The complaints have centered around curriculum and not the inability of the superintendent to be in Illinois and manage the district<br /><br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5961215159419443702.post-20221966249767445042014-01-26T10:46:30.994-06:002014-01-26T10:46:30.994-06:00Mr. Belt - I frequently attend BOE meetings and li...Mr. Belt - I frequently attend BOE meetings and listen in if I can't physically be there. I disagree with your statement that the majority of the BOE comes prepared. The only two who come prepared are Garg and Heneghan. However, I will say that Clarin seems to be coming around and has been very good during this HMS crisis. The vote is out on Vorobiev. She has potential to be effective, but I think she is just going along with the majority right now and not asking the thoughtful questions I would expect of an attorney. The rest don't show up, play on their computers or patronizingly try to shut down important discussions. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5961215159419443702.post-24134810439111173792014-01-26T10:41:33.910-06:002014-01-26T10:41:33.910-06:00Sorry, but have you actually listened to more than...Sorry, but have you actually listened to more than the last few meetings or read Board Docs for the last year? The only two board members who consistently ask questions both to prepare for and then at the meetings are Brendan Heneghan and Mridu Garg. Michael Nelson has hardly been to any meetings in one year, and even when he calls in he has almost nothing to add, except to say "Ay" when a vote is taken or to commend the administration for all their work. Gary Clarin has stepped up recently, we would agree, but it took the Donoroo issue at CHMS and now mold at HMS for him to really become involved. Prior to that he seemed willing to just agree with the educational "expertise" of the administrators and vote yes on everything. Yaeger is a bully toward people who step up to make comments -- has been for years. Vorobiev runs a good meeting, but is clearly still figuring our that she can go against the majority and advocate for what is right, not just on facilities issues but also curriculum issues. Turek is simply a tool for Dr. Schuster and doesn't even realize it. <br /><br />Yes, we need to let the BOE do its job, now more than ever, but all of them need to put in the time before, during and after meetings to really understand the issues and then work with each other at meetings to make long sighted, responsible decisions.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5961215159419443702.post-10792622404296440602014-01-26T10:26:07.462-06:002014-01-26T10:26:07.462-06:00I think it's offensive to say that the Board o...I think it's offensive to say that the Board of Education is made up of "short sighted fools". If you actually attend or listen to the board meetings, you will find that the majority of these people are actually very well prepared. They ask important questions and seem to be trying to do the best they can for our community. They should be applauded for their commitment to our children rather than vilified for not giving in to the mob mentality of dismissing the administration at any cost. Allow the BOE to do their job, which is extremely difficult and as they display with their actions and words, not being taken lightly.Mr. Beltnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5961215159419443702.post-12314104895724181362014-01-26T09:33:15.248-06:002014-01-26T09:33:15.248-06:00Similarly, was the Board ever made aware of teache...Similarly, was the Board ever made aware of teacher and student health concerns related to possible mold in the building? When were the first health concerns reported to the Administration and when were they first reported to the Board? If the board did not learn about them until the Union Co-President and an HMS teacher made public comment at the January 13 board meeting, then they need to ask Dr. Schuster for an explanation. If teachers have been complaining for years, then why did the administration wait until last October and November to conduct air quality tests. And lets not forget that despite all of the tests coming back within acceptable limits, SERVPRO reported to the board this month that upon visual inspection after removal of baseboards and drywall, mold was found in 90% of the areas that had passed the air quality testing.The Parentshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06479785630757500730noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5961215159419443702.post-49832365192997317812014-01-26T08:39:46.444-06:002014-01-26T08:39:46.444-06:00Parents, was the BOE aware of the air quality test...Parents, was the BOE aware of the air quality testing in November and December-prior to the polar vortex fall out? It seems to me that they were blindsided at the first emergency meeting to learn this information? If indeed they did not know, why didn't the administration communicate this information?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5961215159419443702.post-33053436181975334252014-01-25T22:57:45.399-06:002014-01-25T22:57:45.399-06:00Didn't they say they started air quality testi...Didn't they say they started air quality testing in October to look for evidence of mold? Maybe they should have been doing more, but its not accurate to say they were totally ignoring it.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5961215159419443702.post-41552672557985973092014-01-25T19:01:53.262-06:002014-01-25T19:01:53.262-06:00Is it ACCEPTABLE for this administration to say, w...Is it ACCEPTABLE for this administration to say, well, there is mold and on-going issues with the building, but we’re not going to deal with it because it originated on our predecessor’s watch? Of course not! I will say that this superintendent inherited a problem that should’ve been dealt with by the previous administration or the one before that or the one before that. But it wasn’t. It has been a problem that has been passed down from administration to administration. And our current administration knew it and they should have taken action, especially since there have been numerous complaints since they took office. But they didn’t. Bottom line is that it demonstrates negligence and poor leadership for an individual who is in charge of an organization to ignore a hazardous situation when there is documented evidence that teachers, staff, and students have been at risk. There are no excuses. And attempting to use a sniff test to hide what they knew was behind those walls is reprehensible. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5961215159419443702.post-77416079996453600932014-01-25T17:21:15.500-06:002014-01-25T17:21:15.500-06:00Just a point of fact. 2008 was 2 or 3 Superinten...Just a point of fact. 2008 was 2 or 3 Superintendents ago depending on how you count. Dr. Tenbusch "retired" June 2008 and Dr. Rober Sabatino served as interim until our current Superintendent took over in July 2010.Jill Quinonesnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5961215159419443702.post-72860356298228402612014-01-25T12:36:18.109-06:002014-01-25T12:36:18.109-06:00^ strongly^ stronglyAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5961215159419443702.post-62474071926652115292014-01-25T12:32:50.187-06:002014-01-25T12:32:50.187-06:00I stringly feel that the information is being down...I stringly feel that the information is being downplayed as it is reported to the community. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5961215159419443702.post-42278770454006865732014-01-25T10:35:46.778-06:002014-01-25T10:35:46.778-06:00Mr. Everett: I actually agree with you that the b...Mr. Everett: I actually agree with you that the board is primarily made up of short sighted fools. I certainly hope that neither the Administration or Board waste time wrangling over the ABC FOIA request, as they have over other FOIA requests. Remember, both Turek and Nelson have publicly stated that they want to get out of the business of FOIA. Instead, the district should fully comply with this request, within the week allotted for its response, so the teachers, staff, parents and students -- and perhaps even the board -- can see exactly what the Administration knew about mold and health concerns before this polar vortex initiated crisis. It is important to shine a light on this because the teachers have publicly stated that their concerns have been ignored for years. If that is the case, do we really want to keep an administration in place that is only reactive to a crisis and not proactive? Especially now as you point out when we need to spend time working to improve the curriculum and reverse the downward trend? Based upon some of your earlier comments, you might respond that one superintendent is as good as another, but I disagree. Trust in the leader of the organization is needed if you want everyone to get on board. That trust, I believe was broken even before this mold issue because Dr. Schuster has ignored teacher and parent curriculum concerns regarding her ever name changing curriculum revamp, but now, the trust has been irretrievably broken. I sincerely hope that the BOE realizes this and for the sake of the long term success of the district cleans house, and soon.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5961215159419443702.post-33162620836865513702014-01-25T10:15:40.122-06:002014-01-25T10:15:40.122-06:002008, what was that three or four superintendents ...2008, what was that three or four superintendents back...<br /><br />The folks that want a shiny new school undoubtedly have friends at ABC.<br /><br />Now instead of the district spending time working to improve instructional efforts and reverse and downward trends in performance the BOE will waste time arguing over ridiculously costly new middle school.<br /><br />Nice distriaction, short sighted fools..lMr. Everetthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11143735317153479973noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5961215159419443702.post-65724478171763560162014-01-25T08:17:01.794-06:002014-01-25T08:17:01.794-06:00Check out Board Docs. ABC news filed a FOIA on th...Check out Board Docs. ABC news filed a FOIA on the mold issue requesting all documents dating back to 2008.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5961215159419443702.post-75602996971657718962014-01-24T23:57:25.085-06:002014-01-24T23:57:25.085-06:00The question that should be asked: What HAS been f...The question that should be asked: What HAS been found this week at HMS??? <br /><br />Not good! Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com