tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5961215159419443702.post6219672292772642471..comments2023-05-05T03:15:17.710-05:00Comments on D181 Parents for Accountability and Transparency: Common Core is The Floor: Only A Turncoat Would Believe OtherwiseUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger22125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5961215159419443702.post-55861391665482566552015-04-03T13:04:10.305-05:002015-04-03T13:04:10.305-05:00I agree 12:06. Each paper should strive for compl...I agree 12:06. Each paper should strive for complete objectivity and lack of bias. The fact that Mr. McCurry is a large supporter of both The Hinsdalean and the Clarendon Courier and this fact was not disclosed at either debate or in The Hinsdalean's D181 election coverage is problematic and unethical. This is similar to Ms. MC Curry's failure to fully disclosure the conflict of interest inherent in her employment with D181. Disclosure cannot cure all conflicts but at least it shows honesty and impartiality.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5961215159419443702.post-38339977891026404222015-03-30T20:55:52.281-05:002015-03-30T20:55:52.281-05:00I agree with you 12:06!! spot on!!I agree with you 12:06!! spot on!!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5961215159419443702.post-44688299262127464302015-03-29T12:06:26.039-05:002015-03-29T12:06:26.039-05:00I am pleased people are questioning the Hinsdalean...I am pleased people are questioning the Hinsdalean.Pam Lannom and Jim Slonoff worked for the Doings until it was restructured and they lost their jobs. In 2006 they created the Hinsdalean. I asked Pam at the time where she got the funding to publish and distribute her newspaper free on everyone's doorstep? She said it came from advertising but she didn't have much advertising for quite a while. I've always wondered who backs her newspaper. She has a lot of political clout. Why should we care who or what a newspaper supports especially when its free on our doorstep? Why should we care who Pam supports? If any of us had the time and finances to deliver a free newspaper to every resident we would have a great deal of political power considering so many wait to see who Pam picks. When you think about it, it makes no sense. She doesn't even live here. I think she does it to advantage the reputation of the newspaper and herself. The other newspapers do not endorse candidates. I also don't think she should supervise the candidate forum. The League of Woman Voters used to do it, much more appropriate in my mind. What do you think?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5961215159419443702.post-58597413911176561322015-03-19T12:13:10.872-05:002015-03-19T12:13:10.872-05:00I have respected Ms. Lannom since she was just a r...I have respected Ms. Lannom since she was just a reporter in a different era of community newspapers.<br /><br /> It is silly to attack the ethics of The Hinsdalean, the simple fact is they just don't have the resources to cover the schools in the depth necessary. <br /><br />The fact is every member of the current BOE, save its titular head, have been critical of L4A. The administration has morphed this thing so many times that it is simply unrecognizable. It is clearly NOT serving all the learners and the evidence of that is not just here on this forum but in the FACT that where once ALL of district schools where on the on the Honor Roll from the Illinois State Board of Education now just ONE is on that list -- <a href="http://www.ilhonorroll.niu.edu/scripts/awards.asp?searchStr=*&awtype=E&year=2013&so=name" rel="nofollow">The Lane</a> VS. <a href="http://www.ilhonorroll.niu.edu/scripts/awardslist.asp?awtype=A&so=city&c=1&searchStr=&yrname=2012&awname=E&colname=school" rel="nofollow"> ISBE Honor Roll Academic Excellence</a>...<br /><br /> As I have encountered anyone that truly expresses an interest in why the BOE needs change I have tried to state the case for fiscal restraint in addressing the issues facing our schools, accountability for the direction of the schools, renewed focus on the classrooms not bloated administrative staff (that apparently cannot handle the tasks they were hired to perform...) and, above all, equal access to high quality schools. <br />If folks can honestly say they believe the candidates supported by The Hinsdalean stand for these things I am deeply worried about the future...<br /><br /><a href="http://www.czerwiecfor181.com/donate-to-our-campaign" rel="nofollow"> Please DONATE So I can afford more ads {even in the papers that support the wrong candidates, because, in principle I think community journalism is a good thing} </a><br /><br />Thanks,<br /> <a href="http://restore181.com" rel="nofollow"> CzerwiecFor181.com</a><br /><br />Be sure to "LIKE" my Facebook pages too!<br /><br /><a href="http://www.facebook.com/Restore181" rel="nofollow">www.facebook.com/Restore181</a>jay_wickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13432309250544319696noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5961215159419443702.post-79975406894181106012015-03-19T11:35:16.859-05:002015-03-19T11:35:16.859-05:00It is clear as day that the Hinsdalean sold out to...It is clear as day that the Hinsdalean sold out to the highest bidder. They will whine and cry that "it ain't so" but do they really think the community is that stupid to not see this political gaming for what it really is. <br /><br />Clear as day that McCurry's husband is a prominent advertiser. Doesn't each full page ad he runs cost just under $1000? If he runs one full paid ad each week, that is $52,000 per year. No way can the Hinsdalean afford to lose his advertising or that of other realtors who might support his wife running for the BOE. The Hinsdalean will claim, "no way, no way, journalistic integrity rules the day," but I'm not buying it and neither are other intelligent D181 community members. <br /><br />If Ms. McCurry had actually given substantive, knowledgeable, fiscally responsible answers to the questions she was asked during the Hinsdalean vetting process and during the debates, then maybe, just maybe, their endorsement would make sense. But anyone closely reading all available material and who has watched both debates knows full well that she is the least prepared of all six candidates to serve our children well. Nice lady, maybe. But nice won't help our kids.Parent Who has Lost Respect for the Hisndaleannoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5961215159419443702.post-42224406602198540362015-03-19T11:07:16.467-05:002015-03-19T11:07:16.467-05:00Oh yeah, and Turek didn't care at all that I w...Oh yeah, and Turek didn't care at all that I was physically assaulted by a fellow board member. That is the icing on the cake. He not only disrespected me as a fellow board member, but as a woman, and his refusal to take a public stand on any type of physical abuse should be reason enough not to vote for him. He laughed at the Clarendon Courier debate when he referenced the blogger's list of reasons not to vote for him, but none of the reasons, especially that one are funny. Yvonne Mayer, Current Taxpayer, Former D181 Parent and Board Membernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5961215159419443702.post-33098173889815280312015-03-19T11:02:09.567-05:002015-03-19T11:02:09.567-05:00I am speechless. This is Yvonne Mayer, and I am o...I am speechless. This is Yvonne Mayer, and I am once again posting using my name. I woke up this morning and checked my front entrance to see if the Hinsdalean had delivered their newspaper to Burr Ridge residents. They had not. Yesterday, the posted on their Facebook Page that today's run would be their largest circulation ever and that they were delivering to all homes in Clarendon Hills, not just Hinsdale. I posted a comment asking them to also deliver to all D181 homes in Burr Ridge and Willowbrook, but they never posted a response. I guess they don't care enough about all of the D181 residents, just those in Hinsdale (as they should since it is, after all, called The Hinsdalean) and now the residents in Clarendon Hills. So I ponder the following questions:<br />1. Why just add Clarendon Hills to their free distribution list?<br />2. Could it be because they are endorsing two candidates who live in Clarendon Hills?<br />3. How many homes are in Clarendon Hills -- a couple thousand? <br />4. Why would a Hinsdale based paper, deliver for FREE, a paper to Clarendon HIlls? It obviously isn't FREE for the paper to run hard copies for all of these homes?<br />5. Why would the Hinsdalean take money out of their profit margin to run hard copies for all of the Clarendon Hills residents?<br />6. Could it possibly be that someone is funding these extra copies, and if so, who is?<br />7. If the Hinsdalean is paying for these extra copies, why are they not running copies for all of D181's residents? Could it be that they have been pressured in some way by some of their advertisers to deliver copies this week to Clarendon HIlls? If so, who are these advertisers (or advertiser)?<br /><br />Many questions to ponder. Of course, no answers will be given. <br /><br />As for the Hinsdalean's endorsement of Turek, I am completely disgusted. Consistency? Good leadership in the last two years? Praising him for the teacher's contract? So disappointing that the Hinsdalean has overlooked the fact that Turek didn't lead the negotiations. Vorobiev and Clarin did. He just voted. So disappointing that the Hinsdalean overlooked the list by the bloggers of 22 reasons, all based in fact and actions/statements made by Turek, that show clearly that he has not been an effective board member to our children and taxpayers, but just to the administration.<br /><br />Pam Lannom has no children in D181. For her to suggest that it is important for the Learning for All "process" to continue to roll out is irresponsible journalism! It was not a "process" when I voted for it. It was a plan, and I only voted yes because it was going to pass since the majority of the board wanted to rubber stamp what the administration wanted, but in order to hold the administration accountable I and Brendan Heneghan voted yes, something Turek personally promised me he would make sure would happen. Three years later, there has been no accountability. No data to prove that the plan has worked. And yet Turek "loves the plan" as he has repeatedly stated during the debates and board meetings.<br /><br />It is truly disturbing that the Hinsdalean has reached the conclusion that the L4A plan should continue, a conclusion that will only hurt our children, should Turek get reelected. <br /><br />On April 7th, please vote for 4 candidates who have recognized the deficiencies that exist in the district's administration and the L4A program and will not just roll over and pretend that all is rosy. These 4 candidates will not just rubber stamp the plan/process continued roll-out, but will demand data and demand accountability. That is NOT MICROMANAGEMENT, no matter how much the Hinsdalean likes to use that word.<br /><br />On April 7th, vote for Burns, Czerwiec, Giltner and Gray!<br />Yvonne Mayer, Current Taxpayer, Former D181 Parent and Board Membernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5961215159419443702.post-9293974614121887792015-03-19T10:49:17.864-05:002015-03-19T10:49:17.864-05:00I'm just curious why the Hinsdale had a pictur...I'm just curious why the Hinsdale had a picture (and name) of Planson instead of Gray. Plans is running for the 86 board, not 181. Was this intentional, or just a mistake, like that one D86 news article on Facebook that accidentally had the axe through a windshield?A British Tarnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5961215159419443702.post-84389379543163818742015-03-19T09:44:39.741-05:002015-03-19T09:44:39.741-05:00Well if there was any doubt of bias, it is all cle...Well if there was any doubt of bias, it is all clear now. Of course the Hinsdalean can give their opinion (they own it) which they really shouldn't be. I agree with Mr. Ellis of the CH courier, it's not their job. Having attended the hinsdalean debate I can say hands down, Mr. Czerwiec was the most articulate and knowledgeable candidate. He won the debate as far as I would tell and no I do not know Mr. Czerwiec. What was also clear was that Ms. Mccurry had no knowledge of the tax levy and district budgeting process. SO for her to be endorsed over someone who clearly understands the issues is mind boggling. Is it better to have someone who understands school finances, the levy and who by the way was a classroom teacher or someone who supports a plan that has worked well for her kids and was a special ed teacher (deals with a smaller number of students)? Aren't we all lifelong learners? Why is it that it is implied that educators are the only lifelong learners? We are all constantly having to learn new things at the workplace. I would like them to see the rigorous board exams and license exams various professionals have to take to remain certified. I also felt that Mr. Turek lacked knowledge of the tax levy and has shown no evidence of holding anyone accountable including himself. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5961215159419443702.post-64516474693342780692015-03-19T08:39:11.017-05:002015-03-19T08:39:11.017-05:00I can't believe Gray wasn't endorsed and M...I can't believe Gray wasn't endorsed and McCurry was. Between the conflict of interest and lack of knowledge and depth that was apparent in both debates and in the impromptu questions asked by the Hinsdalean for publicaton, it is obvious that Ms McCurry is nowhere near qualified to hold this position. "I look forward to learning about the levy process" is just one glaring example." My guess is that The Hinsdalean didn't like the fact that Ms Gray went strongly on the record in opposition to some aspects of the Learning For All plan. In doing so, it missed an opportunity to endorse needed diversity on the Board about this plan. By endorsing Turek and McCurry, both huge supporters of the plan, we are left with only Giltner and Burns to hopefully bring an objective perspective about this plan if they win. Hopefully the community will see this error and necessity more clearly than The Hinsdalean did. Learning For All has been a colossal failure by almost all accounts. More of the same rubber stamping of this major initiative is not what we need at the BOE level. Objectivity and a strong command of facts and details is.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5961215159419443702.post-40103356122731327092015-03-19T08:14:43.823-05:002015-03-19T08:14:43.823-05:00I am extremely disappointed in the Hinsdalean. Le...I am extremely disappointed in the Hinsdalean. Leslie Gray, above all the other candidates, deserved its endorsement. She is the most qualified of the six candidates which was plainly obvious from both the Hinsdalean and Clarendon Courier's debates. <br /><br />I believe they got it right by endorsing Jennifer Burns and Richard Giltner. <br /><br />However, the Hinsdalean certainly showed that Mike McCurry's advertising dollars speak louder than strong qualifications by endorsing Amy McCurry who decided to run over a champagne dinner and couldn't answer a question at the debates without reading from a script. <br /><br />Absolutely disgusted!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5961215159419443702.post-33989678717075378392015-03-19T07:15:33.905-05:002015-03-19T07:15:33.905-05:00Hinsdalean endorsements out: Burns, Turek, McCurr...Hinsdalean endorsements out: Burns, Turek, McCurry, and Giltner. No Gray or CzerwiecAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5961215159419443702.post-20373567981971310632015-03-18T06:29:56.635-05:002015-03-18T06:29:56.635-05:00The $2 million is a conservative number in my opin...The $2 million is a conservative number in my opinion.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5961215159419443702.post-78700959078402088072015-03-17T12:10:12.121-05:002015-03-17T12:10:12.121-05:00This is 11:12, thanks for the info. I will re-lis...This is 11:12, thanks for the info. I will re-listen to the podcast. Thanks again!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5961215159419443702.post-39900608643224321542015-03-17T11:49:14.464-05:002015-03-17T11:49:14.464-05:0011:12, the $2 million figure didn't come from ...11:12, the $2 million figure didn't come from Board Docs but from a discussion at the last BOE meeting during which Brendan Heneghan referred to what he believes the true cost of the proposal/sucessful implementation will actually end up being. I agree with him. I'm sorry but I don't remember the exact point in the podcast where I heard it, you'd have to go back and listen to that point in the discussion. Even if the total amount were just a $300,000 shift in resources, this number is significant and should be properly vetted and prioritized by the BOE, in my opinion.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5961215159419443702.post-44947267065947954232015-03-17T11:12:23.718-05:002015-03-17T11:12:23.718-05:007:02, can you point to something on Board Docs tha...7:02, can you point to something on Board Docs that supports the $2 million number for coaches. This concerned me so I tried to find a reference to it but haven't found it. The only thing I found was a $300,000 amount but that seemed to be a shift of resources rather than new expense. I am very curious about the $2 million quote. I would be very interested to see the details about that. Thanks!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5961215159419443702.post-18090116071868315032015-03-17T09:28:57.301-05:002015-03-17T09:28:57.301-05:00One of the dumbest things that the DOL explained w...One of the dumbest things that the DOL explained when approving inclusive classrooms was research that kids that are accelerated in math early perform worse in math later in school. It was part of the research by the Stanford professor that they were cherrypicking to fit their purpose.<br /><br />Amazingly, no one asked for those numbers for our district where accelerated math students do not perform worse later, but remain advanced.<br /><br />This whole L4A adventure has been a deadly cocktail of dishonesty mixed with a heavy dose of stupidity. <br /><br />I agree that it will impact more than the top and bottom of the class, but the performance of those two groups needs to be monitored closely and compared to the performance level of prior classes.<br /><br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5961215159419443702.post-27957921066358619632015-03-17T07:26:20.563-05:002015-03-17T07:26:20.563-05:00It's a bigger number than the top/bottom 10-20...It's a bigger number than the top/bottom 10-20% that will be negatively impacted by inclusive classrooms. Under the old tiered system, up to 50% of 3-5 graders were accelerated - depending on the composition of the grade. I believe the most common scenario was one of 3 sections grade level accelerated. The number of kids in each class varied from year to year with sometimes grade level being larger, sometimes above grade level. And then there were pullouts on top of that, if needed. Sometimes parents complained if the above grade level kids were pulled out but what they didn't understand was that, in effect, that reduced the class size for all. <br /><br />And, if new math materials are so rigorous that above grade level kids are going to be really challenged, what about the grade level and below grade level kids? At what pace will the class move? How does it look in an inclusive class where such a large group will be struggling? How will a teacher spend his/her time? Oh, that's right, the advanced kids will "go deeper" until everyone else catches up. Then what happens to those students the next year?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5961215159419443702.post-62859647140780802642015-03-16T22:56:27.999-05:002015-03-16T22:56:27.999-05:007:02 PM You are exactly right.
The DOL seems to ...7:02 PM You are exactly right. <br /><br />The DOL seems to believe that they are too far down this road to admit that the facts and evidence do not support what they are doing. <br /><br />With CC and the new texts, that actually should be better than the old ones, they should be able to improve the score of the middle of the one-size-fits-all class that they are teaching to and try to declare victory to the masses.<br /><br />The losers will be the top and bottom 10%-20% of the class, since they are teaching to the middle 60%. The best students will be bored and unchallenged, and the bottom students will be confused.<br /><br />I suspect that they will have the coaches focus on the bottom of the class, that would be the natural thing to do. The bottom will probably still struggle but be somewhat supported. That leaves the top 10-20% inadequately supported from the beginning, and falling in achievement relative to the top performers in prior classes.<br /><br />More troublingly, the top students will probably not be prepared to succeed at Algebra II/Trig as freshmen when they are turned over to d86. Then everyone will feign surprise and pretend that they did not expect this, and wonder why this happened, when it was obvious from day 1. Everyone will point fingers at someone else and no one will take responsibility.<br /><br />Focus needs to be given to metrics that specifically monitor the performance of the top and bottom 10 to 20% of the class to ensure that both groups are supported properly and that this does not continue to happen. <br /><br />Mr. Turek admitted at the HMS debate that the top of the class is not currently being challenged adequately and said they would need to address it in 2 to 4 years. <br /><br />I hope that d181 parents will vote to put a stop to this disaster, but I worry that Mr Turek may win because he has the caucus endorsement. <br /><br />Please vote everyone!<br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5961215159419443702.post-65898687573724337232015-03-16T20:55:25.366-05:002015-03-16T20:55:25.366-05:00Unfortunately, Dr. White is in over his head. Nic...Unfortunately, Dr. White is in over his head. Nice man, but not not the leader we need. I keep wondering how Schneider has fooled him...Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5961215159419443702.post-45237897960091629642015-03-16T19:02:29.064-05:002015-03-16T19:02:29.064-05:00Here's the bottom line on the coaches. If you...Here's the bottom line on the coaches. If you go back and listen to the BOE meetings where the Learning For All "plan" (Mr. Heneghan also routinely pointed out that it wasn't really a plan, more of a philosophy statement) was approved and discussed, the administration says repeatedly (and it is also in BoardDocs) that very little additional expenditure is needed for the plan to be successful. I remember many parents talking about how there was no way a plan of this magnitude could be executed with so few resources and so little money in the budget for teacher training. These parents were summarily dismissed because the Board and administration knew better. Wrong again!<br /><br />Would even our current BOE majority have voted to approve this plan had they been told honestly that, in order for it to be successful, it required $2 million in coaches? And, would the community have remained quiet about the plan had they known about this significant cost? I doubt it and this is exactly the sort of question that they should be asking themselves now but won't. <br /><br />And, are we really considering such an expenditure in light of all of the other /expenses initiatives going on with HMS, new administrative offices, etc...? Dr. White keeps saying that he needs a strategic plan in order to determine priorities and I agree. However, how do we know that this $2 million is the best use of this substantial amount of money? Has our data or success of other school districts shown us conclusively that this is the way we should be heading? Is the anecdotal evidence of a handful of teachers and principals enough to justify a $2 million expenditure? Or, would it be easier/cheaper to go back to the old tier concept and improve identification and flexibility? Seems like we could find better things to do with $2 million.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5961215159419443702.post-91294068490027503252015-03-16T18:31:12.053-05:002015-03-16T18:31:12.053-05:00Thank you Mr. Heneghan for once again pointing out...Thank you Mr. Heneghan for once again pointing out the obvious at the last board meeting. You were completely right to accuse the administration of using research as a sword when it suits them, while also hiding behind it as a shield. Why is it that he (and Ms.Garg) are the only ones who consistently "see the naked emperor" for what he is? The D181 community will feel the loss of Mr. Heneghan since he is not seeking reelection. We wish he was. Our only hope now is to unseat Mr. Turek and elect board members who may actually demand accountability: Burns, Czerwiec, Giltner and Gray.HMS Parentnoreply@blogger.com