tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5961215159419443702.post6590090471223663207..comments2023-05-05T03:15:17.710-05:00Comments on D181 Parents for Accountability and Transparency: Parent, Staff and Resident Fall Survey "Comments" Raise Concerns that must not be Ignored by the Board of Education Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5961215159419443702.post-73169995440207899472013-12-10T09:32:17.551-06:002013-12-10T09:32:17.551-06:00Ms. Vorobiev, Mr. Heneghan, Ms. Garg,and Mr. Yaege...Ms. Vorobiev, Mr. Heneghan, Ms. Garg,and Mr. Yaeger voted last night to keep the tax levy at CPI even though the administration wanted it higher. Turek, Nelson and Clarin voted to have it higher than CPI. Keeping the tax levy at CPI won. Dr. Schuster and team did a bunch of scare tactics about what was going to be cut and how it would affect the children. Yaeger cryptically alluded to two months from now things would be different and we would not need drastic cuts. <br /><br />Two teachers from the union - the heads - spoke during public comments in favor of raising the tax levy above CPI. Two citizens spoke about living within our means.<br /><br />Two outsiders from the finance committee made presentations on a bond refunding issue and a IMRF payment (relating to underfunding of pensions for non teacher positions). The board voted in favor of both. After the presentations, Mr. Heneghan pointed out how helpful it was to have a finance committee with outside experts, and we needed one for curriculum since the kids come first. Ms. Garg and Ms. Vorobiev also were in favor. I am not sure if Mr. Clarin was - I do not remember. Then Turek made a going down a rat hole comment and the discussion stopped. But not before Ms. Garg pinned Schuster to a corner and she admitted that the math heads at central - the "experts" - do not agree with D181's new math program.<br /><br />1.5 additional FTE were hired. .5 for English learners at Elm, and .5 Differentiation Specialists each for the Lane and Monroe. All board members voted yes. <br /><br />The survey results were read but discussion was held off until the January meeting due to the late hour. They did make a few questionable remarks. 1. It is good we didn't have satisfaction questions because most people said they didn't know what learning for all is, and 2. Why did we spend so much time on school rankings if the public doesn't care about rankings? Turek was confused why people do not find the administration transparent - he doesn't get it. There was little to no mention of the comments.<br /><br />The web site is getting a revamp during winter break.<br /><br />Mr. Russell is now Dr. Russell.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5961215159419443702.post-47144549664319746912013-12-09T13:22:28.317-06:002013-12-09T13:22:28.317-06:00I hope that the teacher and parent comments from t...I hope that the teacher and parent comments from the Fall survey will be discussed openly and acted upon quickly. Our children and our teachers deserve it. It's been a rough couple of years for them all and it can't continue like this.<br /><br />Please find below a letter I sent to the Board of Education earlier this morning. I encourage others to send similar letters this afternoon and to attend this evening's Board meeting. <br /><br />Dear Board of Education Members,<br /> <br />Unfortunately, I will not be able to attend this evening’s Board meeting as my husband is having surgery today and I will be helping him out this evening. However, I did want to take a moment and respectfully urge you all, if you haven’t already had an opportunity to do so, to please read through all of the parent and teacher comments from the Fall District 181 survey. <br /> <br />Having reviewed the survey feedback presentation that the administration will be presenting this evening, I don’t believe the presentation accurately represents the feedback provided by approximately 600 parents and teachers combined. Parents and teachers alike voiced curriculum concerns as well as the negative impact of the Learning for All program on our children and our teachers. There was also significant dissatisfaction relayed regarding the leadership and motivations of Dr. Schuster and her administrative staff, particularly Dr. Schneider and Ms. Benaitis. Unfortunately the administration’s presentation has glossed right over the salient points in the survey results.<br /> <br />With regard to the tax levy, I hope that the Board will not approve the administration’s proposal and will continue to push the administration to be more fiscally responsible. I believe there is a lot of waste in our district, primarily at the district office with a very top-heavy staff with seemingly redundant responsibilities. I think we should look at ways to use our resources more wisely and focus those resources directly on the schools (smaller class sizes, reading and math specialists, appropriate curriculum materials available in a timely manner, etc.).<br /> <br />I hope that there will be a meaningful, in-depth discussion about the negative state of affairs in the district and what needs to be done to course-correct now before our children’s education is compromised any further. I know my 4th grader is receiving a lower quality education than his sister did two years ago.<br /> <br />Thank you for your time and consideration.<br /> <br />Sincerely,<br /> <br />Joanna Brinckerhoff<br />Monroe and CHMS ParentJoanna Brinckerhoffnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5961215159419443702.post-44423353685799326182013-12-09T08:05:32.266-06:002013-12-09T08:05:32.266-06:00We have been told time and time again that the opi...We have been told time and time again that the opinions expressed by parents are not important because we are not education experts. Well the education experts have now spoken - our teachers! They do not agree with Learning for All, they think it is harming outlier children, they are overworked, they feel undervalued, and they are not happy. Oh and teacher collaboration - the magic cure all - appears to be an expensive joke. Wake up board!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com