PeoriaStory

PEORIA -- A Bradley University professor is the speaker for a Peoria Area World Affairs Council program "Islam and US Foreign Policy, New World Diplomacy, Old World Heritage," at 7 p.m. on Thurs. Sept. 17 in Olin Hall 168 on the Bradley campus.

Speaker Jason Zaborowski began at Bradley in 2006, where he teaches courses on religion in the Middle East.

He holds a Ph.D. from Catholic University's department of Semitic and Egyptian Languages and Literatures, where he focused on Arabic, Coptic, and Syriac literature of the Middle East.

According to his Bradley U. website, he "teaches Islamic studies from historical and linguistic perspectives, always injecting Arabic cultural and language observations into the classroom dynamic, and engaging students with Islamic primary sources. His topic of special interest is the Coptic Christian community of Egypt. He researches their literature in Coptic (the last stage of ancient Egyptian language) and Arabic, examining their fascinating history of cultural interchange with Muslims and others. Dr. Zaborowski's research often deals with social change of religions in the Middle East, from pre-Islamic times to the modern period."

The World Affairs Council states his topics will include: How do religion and politics work in foreign policy decision-making processes? What kind of an impact should religion have in a world that is as diverse in religions as it is in cultures and politics? Tension over Judeo-Christian influences versus Islamic influences is a more recent phenomenon that may be passing. (He will) look at the long and rich history of relations between the United States and our esteemed international partners in the Muslim world, and how those relations may proceed in the future.

This event is free to students with a valid student ID, For BU students, it also applies to the Global Scholars Program.

Tickets purchased in advance by September 14 for the presentation are $5.00 for Peoria Area World Affairs Council Members and $10.00 for non-members. All tickets purchased at the door are $10.00 each, regardless of membership.

On-line registration for this event is available at http://artstix.artspartners.net, or you may send payment to PAWAC, 1501 W. Bradley Avenue, Peoria, IL 61625.

More information is available from the Council's website, www.pawac.org or by calling (309) 677-2454.

Heartland Orchestra triumphs in first concert

PEORIA -- Who could have imagined that the newly organized Heartland Festival Orchestra would play to a sold-out crowd for its first concert!

But that's what occurred at the Aug. 38 event, held at the new Five Points Washington Caterpillar Performing Arts Center.

And what an interesting concert. The musicians were superb, as expected. Soloist Antonio Pompa-Baldi was wonderful, as usual.

And there were some new and interesting twists on this concert, a harbinger of good things to come. The musicians wore not tuxedos but solid colored shirts with black pants -- a rainbow effect which looked good on the large video screen that projected the concert to the audience from angles they could not see otherwise.

So -- the audience could view artistic director/conductor David Commanday's face as he conducted, and Pompa-Baldi's hands as he played -- in close ups. How interesting!

Afterwards, the audience was treated to a reception with cookies and punch, and a chance to chat with the musicians.

The new and comfortable performing arts center is a good venue for the intimacy of a chamber orchestra, and it has free parking, close to the door.

Does all this put a nail in the Peoria Symphony's coffin? Probably not, but it is competition for the classical music fan's money and time.

To recap: The Peoria Symphony Board would not renew Commanday contract after his 10 years of superb service to the orchestra. They ignored petitions signed by 1,000 people asking them to keep Commanday.

So an ambitious core of friends and fans organized the Heartland Orchestra and persuaded Commanday to stick around to run it. All in a time span of less than six months, amazing really.

(Correction: "It was actually in under two months. The distinction, you’ll surely appreciate, is important, because none of this planning began until after David’s tenure had ended with the PSO," writes Laura Evancho, administrative director of the Heartland Orchestra on 8/30/09.)

Meanwhile the Peoria Symphony finally got a schedule out with a list of people applying for Commanday's job, as conductors for the year. We'll see how the fans react to these concerts, in the expensive Peoria Civic Center Theater.

Here's the rest of the Heartland Festival Orchestra's schedule for the season:

Concert II: Soldier's Tale

The Gateway Building Grand Ballroom at the Peoria Riverfront
November 13, 2009, at 7:30 P.M.
November 15, 2009, at 3:00 P.M.

Dmitri Shostakovich Chamber Symphony Opus 110a (from String Quartet No. 8)
Igor Stravinsky A Soldier's Tale: a dramatic production
George Brown, Director and Narrator
Stephen R. Stone, Soldier
Charlie Brown, Devil
Rebekah von Rathonyi, Princess

Charity Partner: Tee It Up For The Troops

Concert III: New Year's Greeting

Five Points Washington Caterpillar Performing Arts Center
January 2, 2010, at 7 P.M.

Music of Old Vienna, by:
Johann Strauss Jr., the "Waltz King",
Josef Lanner, and other masters

Charity Partner: TBA

Concert IV: Music Alive!

Five Points Washington Caterpillar Performing Arts Center
March 20, 2010, at 7:30 P.M.

Respighi: The Birds
Ginastera: Variaciones Concertantes
Haydn Symphony No. 82 in C Major; "The Bear"

Charity Partner: The Peoria Zoo

Concert V: The Eight Seasons

Five Points Washington Caterpillar Performing Arts Center
June 12, 2010, at 7:30 P.M.

Featuring Lara St. John, violin soloist

Vivaldi The Four Seasons
Piazzola The Four Seasons of Buenos Aires

Charity Partner: The Penguin Project

Important Note: Concert program listings above are not complete: each concert will have un-published surprise elements in addition!

For Ticket Purchase: Tickets may be purchased for all concerts (even the November Gateway Building performance!) in person or online at Five Points Washington (309-444-8222, www.fivepointswashington.org) or in person at Kidder Music, 7728 N Crestline Drive, Peoria, (309-692-4040). Tickets for all concerts will be on sale Friday, August 28, at Five Points Washington, and on Monday, August 31, at Kidder Music. Tickets for each concert are $27 for adults and $7 for students/children.

For Questions: www.heartlandfestivalorchestra.org /309-339-3943 or [email protected]

-- Elaine Hopkins

(Full disclosure: I contributed to the Heartland Orchestra's fund raising drive, and am listed as a founder.)

UPDATE, 8/30/09: Here's Journal Star critic Gary Panetta's excellent review of the first Heartland concert.

Right wing speaker comes for Bradley U. -- too bad!

PEORIA -- If this speaker is any tip off for future speakers, this is just what Peoria does not need! And it proves that taxes need to be raised on the rich, especially rich doctors.

Elaine Chao, Secretary of Labor in the George W. Bush administration, will give the inaugural address of Bradley University's Falcon Executive Speaker Series on August 28 at 6 p.m. in the Peoria Civic Center ballroom.

The event will celebrate the establishment of the Theresa S. Falcon Executive M.B.A. program at Bradley. Tickets are $100 per person.

In May, Dr. Falcon, a Peoria physician and Bradley alumna, donated $2 million to the Executive MBA program at Bradley to provide scholarships and develop the Theresa S. Falcon Executive Speaker Series. In recognition of her generosity, the program was named the Theresa S. Falcon Executive MBA Program, the first EMBA program in the world named for and by a woman.

Too bad it has an anti-labor and anti-womens-rights speaker to begin the series!

Ms. Chao was the 24th U.S. Secretary of Labor and the first Asian Pacific American woman ever appointed to a president’s cabinet. She was the longest serving Secretary of Labor since World War II, and the only member of President George W. Bush’s cabinet to serve all eight years of his Administration. She currently is a fellow with the Heritage Foundation and a contributor to FOX News.

Here's what one writer says about Chao's record:

Chao's tenure as Secretary of Labor is stained with dismantling critical mine safety protections, displaying open hostility toward workers and their unions, and collaborating with corporate interests, most notably through her husband, Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell. Her embarrassing legacy shows a complete lack of accountability at the Department of Labor.

That's not all. Some of the most disturbing examples of where Elaine Chao's priorities lie include:

•Hiring a former colleague from the Heritage Foundation, D. Mark Wilson, who actually wrote a report titled "How to close down the Department of Labor."

•Cutting over 100 inspectors at the Mine Safety and Health Administration and, as a result, hundreds of mines weren't inspected and tragedies such as Sago and Crandall Canyon might have been prevented.

•Failing to issue a rule requiring employers pay for their workers' safety gear -- contributing to 400,000 workers injured and 50 dead.

•Having an auditorium at the University of Louisville named in her honor, compliments of her husband's $14.2 million earmark, at taxpayers' expense. Elaine never attended the university, although it is her husband's alma mater.

There's more: From another website:

Although Chao’s work as labor secretary focused primarily on domestic policy, she reinforced the Bush administration’s “war on terror” rhetoric by citing it as a rationale for pressing conservative policy on labor. In mid-2002, when the administration warned it might suppress certain union activities because they could “threaten” national security during a time of war, the Inter Press Service reported: “Homeland Secretary Tom Ridge and Labor Secretary Elaine Chao have both intervened personally to tell the union's bargaining committee that the administration is prepared to prevent any strike, says Clarence Thomas, secretary-treasurer of Local 10 of the International Longshore and Warehouse Union. … [A]ccording to Thomas, administration officials have made it clear that in the event of a strike, Bush would at least invoke the Taft-Hartley Act, under which striking longshoremen would be ordered to return to work for 80 days.”

Here's what Bradley U. says about Chao in its news release: Under her leadership, the U.S. Department of Labor achieved record results for workers and their families in promoting and protecting the health, safety, wages, retirement security and competitiveness of the nation's workforce. As the first U.S. Secretary of Labor in the 21st century, Ms. Chao focused on increasing the competitiveness of America’s workforce.

Secretary Chao's distinguished career has spanned the public, private and non-profit sectors. As president and chief executive officer of United Way of America, she restored public trust and confidence in one of the nation's largest institutions of private charitable giving. As director of the Peace Corps, she established the first Peace Corps programs in the Baltic nations and the newly independent states of the former Soviet Union. Her government service also includes serving as deputy secretary at the U.S. Department of Transportation, chairman of the Federal Maritime Commission, deputy maritime administrator in the U.S. Department of Transportation and White House Fellow. She has also worked as vice president of syndications at BankAmerica Capital Markets Group and a banker with Citicorp. Prior to her nomination as Secretary of Labor, she was a Distinguished Fellow at The Heritage Foundation, and she is also on the board of the Institute of Politics at Harvard.

She's been a banker, too, and no doubt has profited mightily from the federal bailout caused by the irresponsibility of people like her. While her husband rails against federal deficits.

Ugh! I hope someone shows up to protest this event!

-- Elaine Hopkins

Carl Ray will run against Schock

UPDATE 8/24/09: Here's the Journal Star's preview story on Ray's announcement.

Here is a news release from the announcement, with information about Ray:

Washington, IL - Democrat Carl Ray officially kicked off his campaign for Illinois' 18th Congressional District today at events in his hometown of Washington, Ill., and in Springfield,Ill. The 18th Congressional District seat is currently held by Republican
U.S. Rep. Aaron Schock.

In remarks at the events, Ray promised that restoring the middle class would
be his top priority in Congress. Ray emphasized the need for comprehensive
and affordable medical care for all Americans. The issue of health care is
a personal one for Ray. A few years ago, his wife had two illnesses that
strained the family's finances. Then he learned his 18-month-old son was
autistic. Treatments were available, but they had to start right away:

"So we were faced with a choice. Already on financial thin ice, we could
risk financial ruin and start treatment, or we could have a son who may
never speak. Of course, we did what any parent would do and moved ahead
with treatment, resolving to find a way to pay for it. But the funny thing
about health care is you never know how much it's going to cost until after
you've received treatment, and when the bills started to come in, it was
overwhelming. We were bankrupted by it.

"But despite all the pain and humiliation that went with our financial
meltdown, if you asked me if I would do it again, I'd say, 'In a heartbeat!'
Because thanks to the therapy and medical treatment he received, our son now
attends mainstream 3rd grade classes, where he's a straight-A student and
was named student of the quarter last year. I often joke that we used to
pray that he'd speak one day, we must've prayed too hard because now he
never stops. He talks about dinosaurs and the solar system and on and on.

"So I would do it again, but the point is that no one should have to. If
there's anyone around who can appreciate the need for comprehensive health
care reform, it's me."

Ray also says that, during the time his son was being treated, he saw
another child who could not afford additional therapy that seemed to fall
further behind:

"I often think of how unfair it is for this to happen to a child, an
innocent, someone whose only sin is being born into a family of modest
means.

"Earlier this year, there was a program that came up for a vote in Congress
to provide health insurance for kids whose parents couldn't afford medical
coverage - the State Children's Health Insurance Program, or SCHIP. The
vote was to renew coverage for seven million children and expand the program
to cover another four million. When that program came up, I thought of that
little boy and the countless others like him in our country. And when Aaron
Schock voted against the bill, I knew he had to go."

Ray also criticized Schock for having missed 32 votes during his first six
months in office, placing him in the bottom quarter of attendance:

"The House of Representatives only meets three days a week, and yet he's
missed anywhere from one vote to every vote on nineteen different dates.

"Now, just a few months ago, a lot of folks where I work got laid off. Good
people, good friends with lots of years of service. It was painful to see
and scary, too, since I didn't know if I'd lose my job.

"So the idea that, in these economic times, our congressman, who has a
guaranteed job for the next two years, a job that pays him over $169,000 a
year of our money, has great health benefits, retirement, and other perks,
and he can't show up to do his job? That is unacceptable!

"And even when he's present, he's not there for us! He supported the TARP
bailout for Wall Street during the last election, but opposed the stimulus
for Main Street when he got in. On the one hand, he supports allowing
overseas tax havens for corporations and is against limiting the salaries
and bonuses of executives at bailed out companies, yet, on the other hand,
he's opposed bills that would help working women, families losing their
homes, and the unemployed."

Ray went on to lay out what would be his five guiding beliefs as a U.S.
Representative:

1. If you work 40 hours a week, you should be able to earn a living.
2. The street you live on should always be kept clean and safe.
3. Your children should be able to go to a good school and get a solid
education.
4. When you or someone in your family gets sick, you should be able to
see the doctor of your choice.
5. When you reach retirement age, you should be able to live with
dignity.

Ray served in the U.S. Air Force and is a veteran of the Gulf War. In
peacetime, he was based at RAF Lakenheath UK where he worked as an avionics
technician for F-111F strike bombers and was named the Maintenance Person of
the 3rd Air Force (which, at the time encompassed all of Europe). He was
also selected for the Base Honor Guard and was nominated for Base Honor
Guard Member of the Year. In Operation Desert Shield and Desert Storm, Ray
supervised a team of twelve to twenty-four airmen. He received decorations,
awards, and early promotions while serving.

In civilian life, Ray has worked in strategic planning and technology with
Union Pacific Railroad, has been a software consultant, has led process
improvement teams, and performed capacity and capital planning for the U.S.
Operations Division at Caterpillar.

"I've worked with people from all walks of life and led groups in both
civilian and military life, peacetime and wartime", Ray says.

Ray graduated with Highest Distinction in Political Science from the
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and went on to earn an MBA at
Illinois, as well.

Ray has been married for fourteen years to his wife Kristin, and they have
two children. They live in Washington, Ill.

###

From a news release:

Democrat Carl Ray to Officially Kick-off Campaign for the 18th Congressional
District of Illinois

When: Monday, August 24, 2009

Where: Two locations and times -
1. 10 a.m., Five Points Washington, 360 N. Wilmor Rd., Washington, IL
61571
2. 2 p.m., Springfield Public Library (Carnegie Room South), 326 S. 7th
St., Springfield, IL 62701

Carl Ray will officially announce his candidacy for the 18th Congressional
seat, currently held by Aaron Schock. There will be a 10-15 minute address,
followed by time with the media and supporters.

For additional information or questions, please contact:
Bill Poorman, acting press secretary
248-421-6059 (cell)
[email protected]

Carl Ray for Congress
P.O. Box 261
Washington, IL 61571
Voice Mail/Fax: 866-835-8809
E-Mail: [email protected]

The role of the artist and other professionals ... not just workers

PEORIA -- Journal Star arts critic Gary Panetta has an interesting column in the Aug. 23 newspaper.

But he doesn't push his idea where it ought to go in Peoria -- namely educating certain business types about the role of the artist and other professionals, and how they are not just workers to be hired and fired like those who turn widgets in factories. (Unions protect them if they're smart enough to unionize.)

Artists, including musicians and actors, as well as teachers at all levels are professionals, and should not be treated the way business managers mostly treat their employees.

At Peoria School District 150 we hear the call to make teachers adhere to an eight hour day at school. But teachers say they now work way more than eight hours -- they grade papers, read and research material related to their classrooms, and they do this at home, in the evenings, on weekends, as well as during brief prep periods at school.

Where is this demand coming from? From business types jealous of teachers who have a few brief weeks off during the summer? Many use this time to gain more education to improve their skills.

A sure way to destroy education is to demand a rigid schedule at work, leaving teachers too tired to pick up those papers and books at night. If they're held to an eight hour day, or more, they may as well work in business and make more money.

Even worse is the demand that artists and musicians stop being 'insubordinate' when they stand up for their own artistic vision against a bullying board member.

That's the story circulating about former Peoria Symphony music director/conductor David Commanday -- he was insubordinate when he stood up to the board over an artistic decision, and also refused to do more 'outreach' in the community.

I guess they would rather have him glad-handing at the service clubs than researching new music or practicing his own skills, since he is also a musician.

What folly. What ignorance about the role of professionals.

But when you look where business (including medicine) had led the nation in the last few years, it's obvious many of those in business know little about anything except how to squeeze money out of the naive and ignorant.

Let's hope the new National Arts Endowment chief, said to be a theater producer, has better sense and can educate the locals on the basics for artistic and professional achievement.

-- Elaine Hopkins

Women the key to international security, progress: Clinton

For those who supported Hillary Rodham Clinton for president, and continue to support her work as US Secretary of State, here's a terrific interview with her and the vital role she is playing on the world stage.

It's in the New York Times.

Even if Obama fails at reforming the nation's health care system, if Clinton succeeds in her mission of promoting the well being of women and girls everywhere, the planet, and the USA, will be much better off.

How ironic that perhaps Clinton is succeeding when Obama is not, and that her mission is even more important than his.

- Elaine Hopkins

Doctors will debate health system reform

From a news release: Meeting, 6 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 1, Barrack's Cater Inn.

PEORIA -- The Peoria Medical Society is hosting a Debate and Town Hall style meeting, which is open to the public at no charge.

Donald Crane, M.D. and William Albers, M.D. will be debating the merits of single payer vs. multiple payer health care reform.

After the short debate, the forum will be open for comments and questions from the audience regarding health care reform.

Dr.’s Albers and Crane, who both agree that reform is necessary, are considered to be experts in the area of health care reform.

Both physicians are long standing members of the Peoria Medical Society and Dr. Crane has served on the board of directors, including holding the offices of Treasurer for several years and President in 2006. Dr. Crane and his partner, Beverlee Gilmore, have developed a unique plan for healthcare reform, which is covered in their book, “Reasoned Health Care Reform.”

Dr. Albers, a Pediatric Cardiologist has been a proponent of a single payer system for many years. The lively discussion should provide attendees with insights when considering any proposed healthcare plans for the future.

The discussion will take place at 6:00 PM on Tuesday, September 1, 2009 at Barrack’s Cater Inn, 1224 W. Pioneer Parkway and the public is invited to attend at no charge.

For more information, please contact Meg Williams at the Peoria Medical Society:
692-1192
#######

Hare provides answers on health system reform

MACOMB -- Nearly 200 people squeezed into a City Hall meeting room on Aug. 19 to quiz Cong. Phil Hare, D-17th, about health system reform.

Hare said he will have held 18 town hall meetings and two telephone conferences with his constituents on the proposed reforms. He's not afraid of controversy, he said.

"Nobody owns me on this issue. The insurance companies are mad at me," he said.

The audience was polite and civil, and expressed gratitude that Hare was meeting with them, even though some of their questions and comments revealed their concerns and disagreements with reform. No signs or guns appeared.

After presenting problems with the current health care system, Hare said House Bill 3200, the 1,000-page bill he has worked on in committee, has several components:

1. Those now receiving health insurance can keep their policies if they choose to.

2. People can enter an exchange, consisting of different private insurance providers who agree not to rule out pre-existing conditions or cancel policies due to illness or claims.

3. People can sign up for the public option, which will be similar to a standard insurance plan, but will cost only 5 percent of a person's income, which for someone earning $50,00 a year, would be about $220 a month.

4. The Medicare doughnut hole on prescription drugs would be closed. "We're trying to fix Medicare," he said.

5. The plan will contain coverage for mental health issues.

6. It will provide for loan forgiveness for doctors and nurses who work in rural areas.

7. Coverage will be required of all, he said. Those who refuse to buy it will be required to pay for their health care in full.

8. People can form cooperatives to obtain care if they want to, an amendment Hare said he sponsored.

Illegal aliens will not be covered, and no federal funds will cover abortions, he said.

Still, audience members brought up these hot button issues in questions, but Hare deflected them.

In a diversion attempt, a member of the audience mentioned abortion and "killing babies" and urged Hare to vote against federal funds for Planned Parenthood. He demanded to know Hare's stand on reproductive rights for women.

Hare responded that he is pro-choice, to applause.

Another member of the audience asked whether Hare though health care is a civil right.

Hare responded that health care is a right.

"I guess I know where you stand," the man said.

Hare explained to other questioners that there is no 'death panel' involved in the House plan. When someone tried to quote a section of the bill, he responded that section likely dealt with an effort to control fraud.

He argued that tort reform and illegal immigration are separate issues that need to be addressed separately by Congress.

From the tone of these questions, it became apparent that some people are fearful that the changes will diminish their coverage or the system itself. But Hare argued that in the 17th District 99.5 percent of the people will pay less for coverage.

He said 82,000 people in the district without coverage will get it under this plan, if passed by Congress.

Hare is sponsoring a live telephone town hall meeting at 7:30 p.m. on Aug. 27. The toll free number is 877/229-8493 with the pin number 13812. Questions can be asked by dialing Star 3.

Hare is also posting a simplified explanation of the plan on his website.

-- Elaine Hopkins

India program

PEORIA -- The Peoria area World Affairs Council presents a program on India on August 20.

“India and the United States: The Keys to a Successful Relationship,” features Ambassador Ashok Kumar Attri, Consul General of India for a discussion of the ties between the US and what Secretary of State Hilary Clinton called “a key partner” in US foreign policy plans.

It's at Barrack’s Cater Inn. 1224 W. Pioneer Parkway, Peoria, with the reception at 5 p.m., a dinner at 6 p.m., then the presentation at 7 p.m.

Here's a link to the registration flyer: http://www.pawac.org/Programs/India%20and%20the%20US_8_09.doc.

Or register on-line at the PAWAC tab at http://artstix.artspartners.net.

Speaking to the School Board

PEORIA -- The Peoria District 150 School Board is considering limiting public comment at its meetings.

Apparently some board members are tired of hearing people in the audience voice their ideas and opinions to the board.

But curbing public input would be a terrible mistake.

At the Aug. 17 meeting, nine people, including me, spoke to the board, which limits comments to five minutes. Every person, including me, had something important to say to the board.

Here are some of the topics the speakers addressed:

Increased class sizes, school closings, ways to increase the number of pupils (require new hires to live in the district and offer incentives for teachers to live in the district), reading programs that work, lst grade classes today of 30 students (!), the unwarranted expense of keeping the Edison contract, expensive $350-per-day consultants (mostly retired administrators) doing work that administrators should be doing, lack of closure plans for Woodruff High School including 1,000 students with no place to go (!), an increase to 8-hour day for teachers (who already put in much overtime at home grading papers, planning, etc.).

But the most exciting suggestion came from Sharon Crews, a retired Manual High School English teacher, who suggested turning Manual into an alternative school for discipline problems, and/or a vocational school. See her terrific speech below.

I urged the board not to limit public comment, and to consider a statement from the 19th century, as quoted in the Peoria Journal Star, about the outlook of the people who built today's world. It's an attitude that I recall in my own parents:

"Their chief aim was not great wealth but civilization. So while they built their homes, they helped build schoolhouses and churches, sometimes living in the dwellings lacking conveniences so that they might provide the other necessities of civilization."

(From Benjamin J. Radford, publisher of the Woodford County Journal, who also was a minister and taught at Eureka College from 1870-1881.)

To elaborate: what District 150 needs is to maintain and create civilization through education, and not scheme for ways to pad pockets and loot the system. Retired administrators should retire and not be on the payroll for $350 a day. Edison should have been ditched long ago. Schools that are true neighborhood communities, like Kingman and Woodruff High School, should not be closed, etc.

Before the meeting about 300 people rallied outside the building. Many were teachers, whose contract is threatened by -- one said -- almost three dozen give backs. They could end up striking if the contract is not settled.

Among the demands: an 8-hour day for teachers, from those who apparently do not understand how educators, like other professionals such as artists and musicians, spend hours outside the classroom working to prepare or perfect their teaching.

Teacher and union activist Hedy Elliott Gardner made the point that what the board should fear most is if nobody attends the meetings to speak, because no one cares about Peoria's public school district.

Banning public comment or severely limiting it might just accomplish that!

-- Elaine Hopkins

Here is what Sharon Crews told the School Board: (Sharon for superintendent? Yes!)

If you want to save District 150, your first order of business should be the establishment of a bona fide alternative school and a vocational school.

Summer has perhaps caused you to forget that discipline problems plague our schools. Also, currently 150 offers nothing but watered-down academics to the many students who will not go to a four-year college. Consequently, many college-bound students are also getting watered-down academics.

I propose that Manual become those two schools under one roof. I predict that Manual would soon have the largest enrollment of the four high schools.

Put closing a high school on hold until you see how many students are attracted to this “repurposed” Manual.

In the meantime, save district money by putting the 7th and 8th grades at Peoria High and Woodruff-—just as you have done at Manual

Also, you would do well to consider Terry Knapp’s idea to put only the 7th and 8th grade boys at the high schools. Probably you could then close a middle school, instead of a high school for the time being.

That said, I have some comments about the plans still on the table.

To close a high school, a home has to be found for 1,000 students. Mr. Hinton has given you the figure of 850. Please be sure you get beginning of the year figures, not end of the year figures. Otherwise, you could have 100+ students with no classrooms or teachers—and once again get media attention for not planning ahead.

Will the new high school boundaries be an attempt to send more students to Manual? Can Manual accommodate more students? Last year the 9th grade academy was capped at 150 students—and then the usual 190 to 200 showed up.

Thirty of them were sent to Woodruff and Central. How many Manual classrooms sat empty last year? My guess is-—none. Are you sure Manual has room for 100, 200, or 300 more students who would be displaced by closing a high school?

On another topic, recently Mrs. Wolfmeyer asked the administration to conduct exit interviews. Many of the Manual faculty were either pink-slipped or chose not to return.

Why not ask them if Manual lived up to their expectations as first-year teachers? Please, please put on your to-do list, extensive conversations next year with Manual teachers to ask them how they feel about cramming one-year academic courses into one-semester courses.

Manual students will now go without math, English, or science for one semester and a summer every year.

Aren’t you worried about retention rates if you have any hope that Manual will improve its AYP. Remember English, math, and science are the only reasons Manual had to be restructured. Those three subjects are the only ones that make any difference to NCLB.

No matter how wonderful,the content of Johns Hopkins courses will not be on the NCLB test.

Remember that in 2010 the required percentage for AYP will be 77. percent--that’s a long way from last year’s AYP of 8 percent.

On the positive side, I believe Johns Hopkins offers a reading intervention for freshmen that seems to have merit. I wish the district had offered such an intervention much earlier, before restructuring was mandated. You know-—to help the “old” faculty who begged for 10 to 15 years for such help-—I personally begged for it.

You know, the faculty that was given no help and then told “You had your chance.”

Now, why are these reading interventions offered only at Manual? There are students at all three other high schools who do not read at grade level.

As for the Johns Hopkins reading intervention program, I believe that the gains might not be sufficient or permanent enough to help raise AYP significantly, especially if students have only one semester of English, math, and science at every grade level.

Comment 8/18/09 by Ed Dentino:

The school facility issues are getting the practical and sentimental sides pretty well vetted. My understanding is that staff is the significant cost concern. I can't guess what that means in terms of facility choices, class size, administration burden.

I think that moving the Roosevelt Magnet School program to the Manual campus would enhance the status of the Peoria South Valley district.

And Trewyn is overlooked. Perhaps it could become a tech training and vocational skill campus.

I've thought that Manual could be a vocational school. Another idea would be to move the Roosevelt magnet school program to the Manual facility.

Probably, the neighborhood concept of populating schools, libraries, stores, is not going to work again in the city. At least now that the auto and bus transport is the basis for the economic model of urban life.