PEORIA -- A lackluster meeting of the Peoria District 150 School Board on June 14 got more interesting when the subject turned to student activity fees and a contract that will allow now retired building and grounds/construction manager Dave Ryon to supervise the district's school construction.
"Hundreds of thousands of dollars" flow through the high school activity funds, apparently without adequate oversight, according to controller Pam Schau.
Auditors have recommended tightening the audit controls, she said, so the board agreed to purchase a $10,000 computer program for that purpose.
The board discussed whether the program would be used at a high school next fall, and Manual was suggested but no final decision was announced.
The board also approved a contract with AECOM Construction, for Dave Ryon to oversee construction. Board members complained about the lack of a cap on the amount he was to be paid, and stipulated that the contract be capped at no more than his yearly pay and benefits before he retired recently.
Board member Martha Ross questioned allowing retirees to continue to be paid what they have been earning as employees, but voted for the contract. Laura Patelle voted 'no' but did not explain her objections.
Board chairwoman Deb Wolfmeyer said the arrangement would let the district avoid hiring someone new while construction is taking place, since it likely will end after a year or two.
The board heard a presentation from charter school board chairman Glen Barton about the new charter middle school for math, science and technology to open in the fall at Loucks School.
Barton said he wanted to do a power point presentation but the board room technology would not allow it, an odd comment since other power point presentations have been presented in the past.
The school's poverty rate, based on those who receive free/reduced price lunches, will be 72 percent, with 69.8 percent African Americans. Twenty-three students who have not been attending District 150 schools were accepted. The 220 students were picked by lottery.
The school will have 28 percent more instructional time than regular schools, with programs on Saturdays. Apparently teachers will be working 6-day weeks. Fifteen teachers will be hired, he said.
The public comments, which the board refuses to include in their delayed cable TV broadcasts of board meetings, soon will be posted below from an audio recording. Seven people spoke.
Former teacher union president Terry Knapp questioned why board members did not ask Barton hard questions, such as how many special education and non-English speaking children are among those selected from a lottery to attend the school.
The entire meeting was filmed by the District 150 Watch Group members, and a video will be posted on WMBD-TV's website within a day or two.
-- Elaine Hopkins
Here's the audio of the public comments:
UPDATE 6/15/10: Here's the Peoria Journal Star's story on the meeting.
So will David Ryon, the newest "retired-rehired" recieve full retirement benefits at the same time he is consulting for the District (double dipping)?
Posted by: District Watcher | June 15, 2010 at 05:42 PM