Here are a few things I ponder about;
*October has been a cold and wet month. Where is our Indian Summer? Isn’t supposed to turn shitty 5 minutes after trick or treaters start out on their rounds?
*Speaking of weather, nice to see Chuck Collins make a new gig at WEEK. His forecasts haven’t improved any though just by going out on this beautiful sunny Saturday which he said would be cloudy and cool with rain at times. Glad he was wrong in this case since this is what, the 3rd sunny day this month?
*The country is in a swirl over H1N1 flu and everyone seems sick. Can’t wait until I get it. But it’s not a problem, no wait, the President just issued a National Emergency for it.
*The world must be tilted or off balance when the two best football teams in the NFL right now are the Denver Broncos and the New Orleans Saints.
*The best comment on a post I have read today was from CJ’s blog and, guess what, another District 150 issue. No wonder the schools have a bad name when one blogger hits them with everything and 40 commenter's throw their 2 cents in. anyway here is the comment: By Sharon Crews… “…..There has always been a major cover-up–don’t want the district to look bad….”
Huh, Too late, you guys make the District look bad every single day of the year. I little late for concern there.
*On the same issue, District 150, I wonder how these same couch quarterbacks will dis the new superintendent when he or she takes over the job. You couldn’t please some people if you hung them with a new rope.
*I ponder why I keep blogging and keep this blog up at times. Met some nice people while doing this but I have also run into some assholes.
*My fun tonight? Waiting online for the new Blackberry 5.0.0.328 software release to hit the web and then loading it on my phone. Now that’s entertainment.
Meanwhile, over on the cesspool of knowledge site, all I got to say is; “Hang in there Jim, I for one appreciate your efforts with the schools.”
12 comments:
I am waiting for Indian Summer, too! My convertible is still sitting in my garage with the top down! As for entertainment? I'm watching "Kinky Boots." I dare you to watch Randall! LOL And, yes... hang in there Jim, I know your heart is in the right place!
Great post! Don't quit!
Well, you did say you won't comment over there anymore - I'm glad you still read it and comment here about it. Sorry to have come off as one of those assholes recently - maybe you'll get to know me - and see it's only 1/2 true.
Randy--Do you believe any of the information about Manual that Jeff reported? Do you believe Jeff is credible? Do you believe that these kinds of incidences at Manual should be allowed to continue? I'm just curious as to whether or not you would have been OK with things as they are now if your sons were at Manual today.
Jon, I know it's only 1/2 true. :) I do have some class count information. I have compiled the class sizes of all high school English classes, excluding special ed. I did FOIA the count including special ed. It is amazing how many special ed students there are and how few there are per class--how class size is skewed is easy to figure out. I'll try to compile the list so that I can get it on the blog without taking up to much space.
Thx for the vote Randy. Now they think anyone posting a viewpoint that isn't critical of the District is me. Nice to know I'm not alone.
Guilty as charged--you have to admit, Jim, that logic101 sounded like you--I guess imitation is the greatest expression of admiration. There are several people who criticize the critics--but they don't all "sound" like you. Besides, you criticize the district--just not publicly (yet). You'll get the courage soon.
Sharon - I criticize the District in public when warranted, lately it has been fairly often. I also told you why MD is on "paid admin. leave" and not subject to 5:240 or 5:290, yet you don't post or write to clarify. Not in any hurry to provide accurate info to the public, unless it is data you (cough, cough) generate. As I stated, refuting all the second hand and wrong info you feed on and throw out would take up too much time. Some of what you post is true and accurate. I have more to do than bellyache and blog. I am also working to faclitate more collaboration with the many other players that impact children and their opportunities. Too many silos, too many needs unmet.
Jim, I haven't read the 5:240 or 5.290--don't know where to find it--tell me and I will read it and defend your good name if that is warranted (and if I understand the legalese). :) I asked you specifically to deny or confirm my "rumor" about the students who had to be moved recently because the kindergartener numbers weren't plugged into the plans for closing schools. I didn't hear a "Nay." I always invite you to squelch any rumors of mine that are inaccurate. When it comes to opinions, it's not so easy to deem one right and the other wrong--but you can certainly point to data upon which opinions are based. I don't believe that I have thrown out any "second-hand" information, especially about Manual. Had I told you about the industrial arts teacher before you heard the information "second-hand," I don't think you would have believed me. I am not responsible for the information put out by other bloggers--but be sure to call me on inaccurate information. I have no desire to be misinformed or to be a misinformer. If we want to talk about misinformation, let's talk about the statistics delivered at the podium by Kherat. More specifically, if I deliver any incorrect information from the podium, be sure to correct it. I am waiting for the day when you let the public know about your disagreements with the administration, etc.--they deserve to know.
Sharon, please re-read Jim's comments. First of all, he is saying that neither provision applies - I suspect the argument is that a paid leave is different than a suspension, which is what the provisions are for (both CJ and Diane provided links to their blogs to the provisions). Look, Jim seemingly made a mistake by initially thinking (and stating on the blog) that a certain provision applied. He gets crucified for it. Secondly, he said there is no way he can address all of your rumors - whether they are ultimately true or not. This is the dilemma of public officials and transparency - damned if you do and damned if you don't. Put it on Laura's blog - see if/how she responds.
Jon--Jim has no trouble at all addressing my rumors. If he knew I was wrong about something, he wouldn't be able to contain himself until he let me know. Jim e-mails me and I e-mail him and occasionally he telephones me. We have had extensive conversations--we agree on much (but not so much on the blogs-not sure why). Jon, are you sure that Jim has retracted his original contention--I'm behind with that whole discussion because it didn't especially interest me. The one thing you don't have to worry about is my friendship with Jim--it will outlast his time on the board. I am hard on Jim--no doubt about it, but he is free to be just as hard on me (and he takes advantage of that opportunity). By the way, I wish I could think of him as a board member, but he's still in that box called "former student," and I enjoy the honesty with which I can talk to him and him to me--no sugar-coating. And when I have the time and if I can find the rules about administrative leave, I will defend Jim if he is right--might even take his word for it now--but not ready to stick my neck out yet. Ha!
OK - Jim, I'm trying to figure this out: I think it's 5:40
Suspension With Pay
The Board of Education or Superintendent or designee may suspend a professional employee with
pay (1) during an investigation into allegations of disobedience or misconduct whenever the
employee's continued presence in his or her position would not be in the School District’s best
interests, (2) as a disciplinary measure for misconduct that is detrimental to the School District as
defined above, or (3) pending a Board hearing to suspend a teacher without pay.
The Superintendent shall meet with the professional employee to present the allegations and give the
professional employee an opportunity to refute the charges. The professional employee will be told
the dates and times the suspension will begin and end. No suspension with pay shall exceed 10
school or working days in length.
LEGAL REF.: 105 ILCS 5/24-12.
Cleveland Board of Education v. Loudermill, 105 S.Ct. 1487
Tell me where you get the idea that a suspension because of an internal investigation is different from an external investigation. Is there a section that proves your point--where is it?
Sharon - check the board action for personnel. I don't think there has ever been an action to suspend her, but understand that she is "on paid admin. leave pending investigation". Can't find anything in policy manual, but heard it is based on "past practices". Seems like the line in A Few Good Men when Cruise asks the corporal where the mess hall is located, it wasn't in the manual, but he knew it was there....
I agree--the part that I quoted above makes no distinction between an internal or an external investigation--the policies should be clearer than that--if there are exceptions or extenuating circumstances. I would think there should be a very definite policy in place for suspensions, etc.
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