Four people have filed to run for school board in Huntley School District 156.
Three are incumbents:
Running for the seat that Mike Skala vacated when he took office on the McHenry County Board is Michael J. Fleck. I met Fleck when he was serving on the Huntley Area Library Board. He is not currently on that board.
Jeff Thirtyacre
Below are the people who have filed to run write-in campaigns in McHenry County:
For public officer there are two Democrats:
Polackek isn’t local. He is from Chicago. The link to Thirtyacre has his background. He will have to obtain 500 votes to appear on the fall ballot against Republican Barb Wheeler.
For Republican Precinct Committeeman, there are six:
Dave Goss
Cynthia Allen Schenk was an unsuccessful candidate for the Marengo Grade School Board last year.
Michael Clarke is a newly-elected Alderman in Harvard. “I was the only city council member who voted against raising Harvard’s property tax levy,” he told me.
Donald J. Drzal is on Huntley’s District 158 School Board. He was aligned with the Grafton Township Trustees at the Annual Meeting two years ago, I found when I ran a search of his name in past McHenry County Blog articles.
Mark Widhalm is running on the Ron Paul slate for Delegate to the National Convention.
Dave Goss is a former Crystal Lake City Councilman who now serves on the city’s Planning and Zoning Board.
Sharon Ann Meroni runs Defend the Vote, an organization that seems to be a lineal descendent of Operation LEAP (Legal Elections in All Precincts) and filed an objection to President Barack Obama’s petitions.
Ken Poling was active in politics in Michigan before moving to Crystal Lake.
For Democratic Precinct Committeeman, there are three:
Richard S. Jackson
Barbara Bovinet
Robert S. Jackson of Woodstock was an unsuccessful candidate for the McHenry County College Board
last year.
Change.org reports that Barbara Bovinet’s interests line in human rights and criminal justice from the petitions she has signed.
This Huntley High School Gym was packed to the rafters--over 700 people--with several rows of chairs in front before the Annual Town Meeting began. Certainly this meeting was the largest Annual Town Meeting in McHenry County I've seen since 1966.
Township Attorney Keri-Lyn Krafthefer, partner of the law firm Ancel Glink. Citizens petitioned for a Annual Town Meeting vote on whether to fire the firm, but another Ancel Glink lawyer, Rob Bush, ruled the people did not have that power, so that motion was not listed no the meeting agenda.
With over 700 registered voters in attendance, electors at the Annual Town Meeting overwhelmingly refused to follow the script laid out by Ancel Glink partner Keri-Lyn Krafthefer.
There were so many people in attendance that the 700 pink ballots designed by Township Administrator Pam Fender ran out.
About ten people stood on the sidelines as a result of the slight miscalculation.
They were told if there were ever a close vote, their vote would count.
They were not happy campers.
But none of the votes were close and none were taken by paper ballot.
There were so many people that the meeting did not start until after 7:30.
T-Shirted Grafton Township activists like Loretta Wuich passed out "poop" sheets as people were entering the Huntley High School Gym. The huge number of people could not be processed in time for the meeting to start at its advertised 7 PM beginning.
The opponents to the Trustees’ position clearly outmaneuvered the proponents.
On the way in people in bright green (they look yellow to me, but I’m color blind) tee-shirts saying,
“NO MORE TAXES,”
handed out a one-page explanation of what the meeting was all about…from the opponents’ viewpoint, of course.
Huntley Police were out in force. No problem occasioned their services to be required, except for traffic control getting out onto Harmony Road.
The Huntley Police, including its Chief were visible throughout the night and quite helpfully had flashing lights to slow down Harmony Road traffic as hundreds of cars left one by one after the meeting.
Most of the nine intricately worded resolutions written by the Trustee’s lawyer were ignored as it became obvious that opponents to the Township Trustees’ desire for new offices were not in control of the only form of direct democracy left in Illinois.
The test vote came when Jim
Newly-appointed Township Clerk Harriet Ford swears in Jim Kearns as Annual Town Meeting Moderator.
Kearns overwhelming was elected Moderator of the meeting.
My guess is that about 80% of the audience voted for him.
Next came a motion to do first what Ancel Glink put last on the agenda, a motion proposed by Township Road Commissioned Jack Freund to “unwind” (undo) the sale of the township hall to the Grafton Township Road District.
A motion was made to make the last first and it passed overwhelmingly without a paper ballot.
The desires of Township Road Commissioner Freund were explained by his attorney Pat Coen and after its combination with the sale of the Haligus Road property—the subject of three other resolutions—was split, that reversal of the past Supervisor John Rossi Board action was accomplished.
Trustees Betty Zirk and Rob LaPorta were sitting front and center next to Pam Fender, who did not get the opportunity to present the visual presentation she had prepared.
Six irrelevant resolutions that were intended to be considered first were then almost summarily disposed of. Among them were ones ratify the unlawful sale of the Town Hall to the Road District.
“Hot button issues should not rule the day,” Diane Ayers said. “Maybe by leaving this at the end of the agenda some of the tempers will cool, so we can have a reasonable discussion.” Ayers is a Democratic Party precinct committeeman.
Numerous attempts to slow down the meeting were made by those supporting the Trustees’ desires.
District 158 Board member Don Drzal calling for a paper ballot.
More and more mainly older residents left the meeting confident that their side was winning the day.
District 158 School Board member Paul Troy calling for a paper ballot.
District 158 School Board members Don Drzal and Paul Troy, at different times, tried to slow down the meeting by requiring a paper ballot.
Neither succeeded.
“This sounds like the township meetings,” Don Glogovsky, a Sun City man who ran for township trustee, interjected.
“Let’s continue with the agenda and do away with all the minutia and let democracy prevail.”
Opponents of unlawful action taken by the previous townshp board win a vote. Electors are holding up numbered and padded ballots intended to be used in a paper count. (Click to enlarge any photo.)
The first Haligus Road property resolution would have ratified the unlawful purchase. It was voted down. There was no question as to the outcome, although one supporter of the Trustees wanted to delay resolution until the next meeting.
His suggestion was met with a chorus of ‘No’s.”
A third school board member, Aileen Seedorf addressed the motion:
“They’re trying to ratify what they did.” (If you want to do that, vote ‘Yes.’ If not, then, Vote ‘No.’”
Before the meeting Ancel Glink attorney Rob Bush confers with Township Trustee Rob LaPorta with Trustee Barbara Murphy seen on the right.
The second Ancel Glink attorney at the meeting, Rob Bush, explained people who want to approve the purchase should vote in favor.
‘If you don’t want to take the deed, you should vote, ‘No.’”
The vote was not even close.
“Is this the way Christ would want it?” a man from the far end of the bleachers asked.
The next Haligus Road resolution would have the Trustees offer the property back to the Village of Lake in the Hills for the price the township paid, about $99,500. The motion carried with, it seemed, both sides’ support.
Both Huntley School Board member Aileen Seedorf and Crystal Lake City Councilman Jeff Thorsen were sitting in this section of the gym, a place where supporters of the Trustees were clustered.
The final motion would have the Trustees sell the property if Lake in the Hills did not want to buy it back. The motion was amended to require that the sale would have to be for at least $99,400.
Crystal Lake City Councilman Jeff Thorsen, sitting among a stronghold of Trustees’ supporters, observed,
“I don’t see anything here that that makes (the motions) mutually exclusive.”
During discussion, one man said, “Any price that’s market value should be acceptable.”
The amendment was adopted requiring the $99,500 payment, which Peter Hoffman figured would be about $36,000 an acre.
Prior to some votes, opponents of the Township Trustees' plan to obtain new township offices held up signs saying, "Yes" or "No."
The amended motion passed overwhelmingly.
Except for giving the Township Road Commissioner the right to sell some surplus property, that pretty much ended the meeting. It was after 9:30 and people were leaving in droves.
Afterward I asked each Trustee the same question:
“What now?”
Gerry McMahon, who had been most out front in his desire for the township to have new offices, said,
“I don’t know. (We) have to digest it first and then proceed with bankruptcy…maybe.”
This Grafton Township Elector confronted Township Trustee Rob LaPorta after the meeting was adjourned.
Betty Zirk’s reply?
“Nothing.”
As I was approaching Rob LaPorta, a man was berating him, telling him he got $100 a meeting for (doing less than a stellar job).
“Who are you serving?”
he said in a loud voice, using a barn yard epitaph to LaPorta’s reply.
“Who is this Bozo?” LaPorta asked.
“We don’t do anything behind closed doors,” I heard LaPorta say.
Lake in the Hills Trustee Steve Harlfiner, who lost the role of Moderator to Kearns, approached the cluster, saying, “Good luck selling (the property).”
This unhappy taxpayers told Trustee Barb Murphy that Linda Moore would not have been elected if the Trustees had not decided to spend $3.5 million on a new township hall without asking the voters.
“Linda Moore wouldn’t be in office if you hadn’t bought that building,” a second man said.
“We went by the advice we were given,” LaPorta replied.
“We made mistakes,” Trustee Barb Murphy, standing nearby, conceded.
“If you hadn’t tried to get that three and a half million dollar building, Linda wouldn’t have been elected,” the second mean reiterated.
I asked Murphy what was next.
“We can unwind,” a position she was the first Trustee to suggest last November.
You'll see me wearing a tee shirt like this one being wore by Rick Lueth at the Grafton Township meeting at the Crystal Lake TEA Party on Route 14 in front on Best Buy from 3-6:30 this Thursday afternoon.
When I got to talk to the acknowledged leader of the Trustees, LaPorta told me,
“We’re going to follow what was completed tonight and get the township processes to run smoothly.”
As I was walking out the meeting with two folks I was taking home, I asked Fender if I could have a commemorative ballot.
I had already been given an extra large tee-shirt saying,
“No More Taxes,”
which folks will see me wearing this Thursday at the Crystal Lake TEA (Taxed Enough Already) at the corner of Route 14 and Main Street.
“That’s the most fraudulent meeting I even saw in my entire life,” the Township Administrator remarked.
The separation of powers suit that Township Supervisor Linda Moore filed against the four trustees is scheduled for arguments during the second week of May before the same judge, Michael Caldwell, who issued the ruling that stopped the new township hall dead in its tracks.
Lazy River at Wisconsin Dells Kalahari Resort approaching a waterfall.
Over the weekend while our family was in the Wisconsin Dells (son and buddy in water park, father reading novels, wife visiting with family), the following comment on this article about Cheryl Kalkirtz’ resignation letter arrived.
I thought it might interest more people than those who take the time to go all the way back to the article to check on new comments.
It might even help District 158 reply to a recent Freedom of Information request I filed.
Don Drzal and Kim Skaja want everyone to believe that what they and Burkey have done is honest and true, and everything Cal and Cheryl have said is fabricated to make them look bad. They claim parents who believe anything other than what comes from the district are stupidly following garbage.
Lets take it one step at a time to see what seems most reasonable.
#1
A. Kim, Don, and Burkey sate that Cheryl lied on her resume by claiming she had an endorsement she didn’t really have.
or
B. An entire room of people including one board member and two parents were there when she told Smith that her endorsement was pending.
#2
A. Cheryl had to leave her position, because the district is required by law to have special education run by someone with the correct endorsement. Having her leave her position was legally required.
or
B. This was just an excuse to get rid of Cheryl for refusing to go along with unethical requests made by Burkey such as refusing to reallocate special ed grant money to other areas. Cheryl wasn’t required to hold this endorsement just as the previous director wasn’t. There isn’t a legal reason for the head of special ed to carry the endorsement in question in district 158 just as confirmed by the State Board of Education. [See this article, as well.]
#3
A. Kim, Martin administrator (opinions shared on Huntley Neighbors with a pseudo-name) say it is impossible for parents to know of the negative information found in Alward’s personnel file, because it does not exist. She has been an outstanding employee who is respected by her peers and superiors.
or
B. The information that has been seen, being identical to that found Alward’s personnel file is legitimate. Including, but not limited to identifying her falsifying gas mileage, changing curriculum without approval, and non-collaborative decision making.
#4
A. Burkey told the truth when he stated that Cheryl’s attorney had not been in contact with the district, and any documentation stating otherwise is fake. He did not lie in regard to the FOIA, because if he did lie it would be grounds for dismissal of his position. Because he did not lie, that is not an issue.
or
B. The first contact made by Cahill and Associates on Feb 2, addressed to Dr. Burkey, faxed to his fax number and transmission of receipt attached is valid. So are the other letters and responding correspondence from Mr. Anthony Ficarelli, 158 attorney, dated Feb 3 and Feb 9 as well as phone consultation on Feb 18, and Burkey did lie when he stated otherwise. Burkey should be investigated and pending proof of the above statements, he should be terminated from his position.
#5
A. Cheryl didn’t turn in a letter of resignation on January 11, and any letter with that date was written after her termination on Feb 1.
or
B. Cheryl handed out 5 copies of her resignation letter to various employees. Several of those copies were shared other employees after January 11, but prior to Feb 1. Employees heard Burkey discuss the copies “original” letter of resignation, and witnessed his hostility at being unable to find it. Because of this original letter or resignation, Terry Awrey met with Cheryl on January 22 in a collaborative meeting to develop a plan on how to address these issues as part their agreement to try to work out the underlying reasons that forced her to write her letter of resignation in the first place. The 3 pages of bullet points that were discussed at this meeting are available and have been viewed.
#6
A. Teachers are happy with administration, they aren’t overworked or under supported. They haven’t been threatened into keeping quiet about any issues, because they feel comfortable speaking with their administration. Parents have bullied the special ed department and have forced them to quit.
or
B. Teachers and other employees have contacted numerous parents, thanking them for helping them. They have stated that they aren’t allowed to discuss any of their concerns for fear of punishment. Administration, teachers and therapists have contacted parents, explaining how they were bullied to keep quiet about the district breaking the law by not meeting IEP minutes and excessive workloads. Some were forced to quit due to lack of support by district administration. They left 158 taking jobs in other districts, because 158 forced them to put money over the needs of the children of district 158.
#7
A. The district has lost so many members of the special ed department, because the parents bullied them into quitting. Others left because the district underpays, and they found more lucrative positions in other districts.
or
B. The employees left because they realized they would never be able to do their jobs properly in 158. As had as they tried to make the district change, it became apparent that it never would. They left to go to districts where they could make a difference. Despite confidentiality agreements, they have shared a lot of information about what they think is wrong with the district and who is really calling the shots in 158.
#8
A. The district has been honest about everything. Parents and Cal Skinner have worked hard, falsifying documents, placing items in personnel files, spreading conspiracy theories, and managed to get employees to support them in this lie for no reason other than to discredit the district for their own twisted agenda.
or
B. Burkey lied, cheated, and deceived the children, school board members, and district 158 teachers and parents in an attempt to cover up his unethical behavior. The 158 BOE follow the 158 administration blindly, refusing to investigate any of the claims by parents. They have refused to even consider the evidence that was delivered to their doors prior to agreeing to the separation agreement between the district and 158. They had almost all of the evidence to prove Burkey lied, but refused to even consider crossing him. All documents are not only legitimate but provable, and none of the board members have admitted to even seeing it.
Whose been deceived? It seems obvious to anyone who is outside of the school board’s circle.
Door-to-door leafleting.
Pretty basic politics.
And some Special Education Moms were doing it this afternoon in neighborhoods around town.
With a photo of Superintendent John Burkey, taken by yours truly, the broadside’s headline was
Our Superintendent wants special ed money spent on filing cabinets to help our kids learn.
Bet your Superintendent doesn’t do that!
In the leaflet seen above (click to enlarge), the Moms talk of politely asking, pleading, literally begging, and almost groveling to get Burkey to listen.
“It’s gone from giving us the stone-ears treatment to where Supt. Burkey now wants our board to approve nonsense.”
Citing the approximately $100,000 being spent on filing cabinets, office supplies and equipment, plus an expensive reading program the Moms don’t want, they explain that still there is “no option B and option C alternatives.“
“We disagree with Supt. Burkey’s priorities and judgment about spending large sums of special ed money that won’t help special ed children learn. This is personal for us. It’s our children. But frankly in our opinion, many of his recommendations reflect terrible educational judgment and a callous insensitivity to our children’s learning needs.”
One is tempted to ask, “How do they really feel?”
The message asks for people to attend Thursday night’s meeting at 7 and gives email addresses:
Despite the hopeful words from board member Kim Skaja, the Moms seem to write her and fellow veteran official Mike Skala off, referring to them as “rubber stamp board members,” who “want to give Supt. Burkey another long contract with lots more money.”
This is the firth and final installment of a too long article about the discussion of spending $800,000 of special ed money allocated to Huntley School District 158 this year as a result of the Federal stimulus program. The other stories are here: Part 1, Part 2, Part 3 and Part 4.
Board member Paul Troy brought up the question of staff training. He found $8,000 explicitly listed.
It turns out there is more, but it was not identified in the budget document. It was bundled with other identified expenditures in various line items.
Clearly exasperated by this point, Superintendent John Burkey asked,
“What do you think it should be?“Tell us.
“We’ll make it look like that.”
Troy suggested 5%, saying he “would also like to see the general education teachers get it, too.”
“It’s already there,” Burkey replied.
“I want the regular education staff to understand the needs of the special ed (kids),” interjected veteran board member Mike Skala. “They don’t have a complete understanding of what it means to be special ed.
“If you tell me that’s what’s going to happen, great, and I’ll theoretically hold you accountable.”
“If that’s what you want, it’s not in here,” Burkey observed.
“General teachers don’t know what to do when a kid has a melt down,” Seedorf said. “Don’t call the kid a name. Don’t insult the kid. Is it impossible to send down a memo that says, ‘If you have a problem with a kid, call Cheryl and (another person)?”
Assistant Special Ed Director Karen Alward revealed that she was “doing Special Ed 101 classes” in each school.
As the meeting moved toward its conclusion, Skaja concluded, “Everything we’ve brought up has been addressed.”
Kevin Gentry disagreed.
“I think people want a different allocation, but can’t (come up with it).”
“I don’t feel comfortable spending $500,000 on Read 180,” Don Drzal added.
Referring back to Comptroller Mark Altmayer’s statement that he would order the Read 180 licenses as soon as the plan were approved, Skaja said,
“Do it slowly, then go forward with more.
“As soon as it’s approved Mr. Altmayer said he’ll filed a purchase order.
“That’s the one item I wouldn’t approve.”
“I’m fine,” Troy said, seemingly changing his mind after Skala spoke.
Maybe someone else can figure out how the board will vote when given more detail in the face of a December 1st filing opportunity, but I have no idea.
What I took away from the meeting was that there were not a lot of suggestions the special ed staff professionals made that could not be fulfilled with the money that was available.
If some Read 180 money were to be eliminated by the board, it made me wonder if the Special Ed Moms, who were filled with suggestions at the July 14th town hall-style meeting with administrators and board members I attended, might come up with their own priority list for spending a couple of hundred thousand dollars.
Surely, some of them know enough about the subject to make rational suggestions of what would help their children.
= = = = =
Huntley School District 158 School Board member Paul Troy is on top. Superintendent John Burkey can be seen just below.
Five of the seven school board members can be seen in the next shot, plus Supt. Burkey. From left to right are Don Drzal, Paul Troy, Shawn Green, John Burkey, Kevin Gentry and Kim Skaja. Hidden behind Skaja sits Mike Skala. Aileen Seedorf sits to the right of Troy.
This is the fourth installment of the discussion last Thursday night at the Huntley School District 158 board meeting on spending Federal stimulus money under the IDEA grant program. Here are links to the prior stories: Part 1, Part 2 and Part 3.
When we left off, newly-elected member Don Drzal was trying to find out what the special ed administrators would spend money now destined for Read 180, if the hoard decided to cut it back to a pilot program.
Assistant Special Education Director Karen Alward seemed to have already provided the answer in an interchange with board member Kevin Gentry.
Gentry was trying to find out how the special ed administrators had gotten down to the $800,000 in first year money that is available.
“We really didn’t have to say, ‘No,” to anything,” Alward told the board. (Alward is the one looking at the camera in this only shot that got all four special ed administrators’ faces.)
Later it was explained that some suggestions, like providing gift cards to students for accomplishing something, were made that just were not legal under the guidelines.
Board member Aileen Seedorf, who seems to be the patron saint of the Special Ed Moms waiting until last.
“I believe the parents would have expected something in this year,” she said.
“Is that correct?”
“Yes, “The Moms answered.
Seedorf asked about the classroom furniture. Board President Shawn Green had a similar concern.
Kevin Gentry took offense at what he thought was a Seedorf’s accusation that regular students were treated better than special ed students.
“If you’re right, we need to do something about it.”
Green agreed: “If you have specific concerns they need to be addressed?”
Seedorf repeated several times that the committee she has proposed could have investigated that line of though, but the board majority had decided not to allow it.
She burrowed in on Read 180 and took a jab at one of her fellow board members.
“I’m not interested in running for senate.”
“I’m not interested in running for senate either,” Gentry replied.
“Good for you,” Seedorf countered.
Seedorf wanted to know if the Read 180 pilot program “could be pared down to 15-20.
“How many do you need to buy to do a small study before you drop big bucks on this?”
Special Ed Director Cheryl Kalkirtz replied that they could also be used as part of an RIT initiative, that is, with at risk kids.
“Let’s get 30 licenses and see how the kids do,” board member Paul Troy added. He suggested that would be better than “buying 360 license today.”
“We need to give direction to the administration and move forward,” long-time board member Mike Skala said.
“We can’t just buy 360 licenses and go forward not caring whether they work or not,” Troy interjected.
“If the administration wants to change it and come back to us, I’m fine with that…but not the opposite,” Skala replied.
The board decided to ask for more detail on the Read 180 line item.
“We all trust you. You’re all professionals,” veteran board member Kim Skaja added.
More tomorrow.
= = = = =
Read the whole series:
Huntley School District 158 Special Ed Moms Draw Blood, Board Divided – Part 1
Huntley School District 158 Special Ed Moms Draw Blood, Board Divided – Part 2
Huntley School District 158 Special Ed Moms Draw Blood, Board Divided – Part 3
Huntley School District 158 Special Ed Moms Draw Blood, Board Divided – Part 4
Huntley School District 158 Special Ed Moms Draw Blood, Board Divided – Part 5
This is the third part of a rather exhaustive article about what happened at last Thursday’s Huntley School District 158 school board meeting concerning how the district is going to spend the first half of a $1.6 million grant from Congress’s Stimulus Plan designated for special education.
In Part 1 and Part 2, McHenry County Blog looked at the public comments of Special Ed Moms. We conclude those comments here and move onto the reaction of the school board members.
Referring back to what had been presented at the town hall meetings in mid-July, she observed,
“It looks to me like you’re going through what you originally proposed.
“It isn’t about the money. It’s about our children. It’s about getting the right tool.”
Money for staff development came up again.
Newly elected board members Don Drzal and Paul Troy had tough questions.
Toward the end of a night in which the discussion on this subject ended about 11:15, Superintendent John Burkey was virtually pleading to be given direction.
“If you don’t want to see it, we’ll take it out,” the superintendent said.
The general consensus was the newer board members wanted greater detail.
Drzal was the boldest.
He pointed out that “the previous Special Ed Director clearly said this was to provide another program.”
The emphasis seemed to be on the word “another.”
“I don’t feel comfortable spending $500,000 on Read 180. I don’t think having the amount of money allocated to Read 180 is acceptable,” Drzal concluded.
For illustration purposes, he compared spending $40,000 on one reading program, $50,000 on another versus $500,000 for Read 180.
“That seems out of whack.”
The amount cited included a second reading program called System 44.
But the cost and elements of the two programs were not spelled out in enough detail for questioning board members to wrap their arms around the proposal.
Earlier Troy made a point that seems elemental for any government expenditure, but is too often lacking:
“Are there criteria in place to evaluate the effectiveness into saying ‘Yes, it ‘s worth going onto the next step?’”
Troubling to some members was a comment by Comptroller Mark Altmayer. He said that he would order all of the Read 180 licenses and spend the associated expenses immediately, if the board approved the Federal IDEA Stimulus Plan proposal.
“Don’t buy it,” a Mom behind me said audibly.
“You’re basically telling Shawn and I can’t vote for it,” Drzal concluded.
Drzal asked a logical budgeting question.
“If I don’t want to spend more than $80,000 for Read 180, do we have a plan for that (extra) money?”
Later he concluded, “There’s no Plan B.”
More tomorrow.
= = = = =
Read the whole series:
Huntley School District 158 Special Ed Moms Draw Blood, Board Divided – Part 1
Huntley School District 158 Special Ed Moms Draw Blood, Board Divided – Part 2
Huntley School District 158 Special Ed Moms Draw Blood, Board Divided – Part 3
Huntley School District 158 Special Ed Moms Draw Blood, Board Divided – Part 4
Huntley School District 158 Special Ed Moms Draw Blood, Board Divided – Part 5
In mid-May, the Huntley School Board was approached by some disappointed and frustrated parents.
At both the Finance and the board meeting, the moms of kids with special needs felt empowered to speak about the education their kids are or are NOT getting.
You see, two key special education employees jumped ship.
The parents seemed to think there no longer was light at the end of the tunnel.
How Federal economic stimulus money will be spent is at stake, too.
The Huntley School District is getting $1.5 million. The money has to be spent over a two year period.
A loophole, however, allows half of it to be drained to other than new or additional special education uses.
The administration wants to spend a rather large amount of money on a reading software that they have not piloted or know if it will be effective with special ed students.
The reading software is being used for regular students now. This makes it look like the software the district will be buying is software that would normally be bought this year to expand its use with more regular ed students.
The reasoning for diverting the money is that Federal mandates for so many years have been unfunded. Maybe “underfunded” would be a better word.
During comments the parents made a lot of interesting points. One became emotional at the board meeting and pretty much ignored Board President Shawn Green’s attempt to shut her down after a certain amount of time.
Board member Aileen Seedorf was aggressive in the discussion, even pulling out a hat and put ting it on mid-discussion, using it as a prop to make a point.
Seedorf pushed for a standing Special Ed Board committee, but the the board majority would not allow it.
In any event, signatures are being sought on the following petition:
119 had signed when I looked at it mid-day Thursday.To: Superintendent and Board of Education, District 158
John Burkey, Shawn Green, Kevin Gentry, Kimberly Skaja, Don Drzal, Aileen Seedorf, Michael Skala, Paul TroyRE: Special Services in Consolidated School District 158
It is our sincere belief that the following measures would be in the best interest of the students in District 158 who are receiving special services. We ask that you do the following:
1) Take the economic stimulus (ARRA) funding over the two year period, rather than one, to ensure that more is spent on new special services2) Since so much of the ARRA funding is slated for a reading program that has, to our knowledge, not been tested on the students receiving special services in our district (and for whom the program is being purchased), run a pilot program with fewer licenses than currently planned of the READ 180 computer program, and test it only on students receiving special services.
3) Use more of this ARRA funding on education/further education of teachers and aides, to give them the best possible tools to work with students with special needs of all types
4) Specifically seek input on the ARRA funding as well as the future of special services in our district from parents whose children are receiving services
Sincerely,
The Undersigned
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