District 150 and the barriers to public input

PEORIA -- The Peoria District 150 School Board continues to do everything it can dream up to discourage citizen input.

At the April 22 board meeting, a person in the audience tried to comment.  Oops, he didn't know he had to fill out a card in advance of the 6 p.m. meeting start.

Sorry, they wouldn't take his comment.

The comments once again were scheduled at the end of a long meeting, this time at Lincoln Middle School.  The school board and the huge audience sat through one-hour of awards and student performances, fine if you know the kids, deadly dull if you do not know them.

This sort of thing should be done at school assemblies not board meetings. The board can attend if they choose to go.

Finally the meeting began. Here's the Journal Star's account.

Update 4/25/31:  Here's another PJS story.

Then the public comments took place, this time limited to two minutes. A woman began telling the board about problems with the employee health insurance involving the birth of a new baby.  She was cut off before the end of the tale.

Activist Terry Knapp praised the teachers who taught the kids putting on the performances, then noted that education majors are down 13 percent at ISU, likely because of the way teachers are being treated,  from being fired to having their pensions diminished.

He also noted that in the lawsuit filed by two tenured teachers fired last year, the district's attorney lied to the judge, saying that RIFs, reduction in force, always take place when school is out.  Knapp, a former teacher union president, said that's not true, and that traditionally teachers are considered on the staff until August when the new school year begins.

He also noted that the district has spent millions on teacher development, money likely wasted since it just fired 34 teachers for poor performance.  He says that's a record for the district.

Finally Sevino Sierra questioned why the union contract for the district's security guards has not yet been signed.

In her response, Supt. Grenita Lathan said the contract is still being negotiated, and that teachers are choosing other majors because of a lack of jobs  in education, not because of the evaluation system.

Here is the recording of the public comments.

 

Dist 150 4.22.13

 

Here's a list of the barriers to public input and communication :

Meeting times and places of the board are inconsistent.

People have to sign a card to present a comment, and do it BEFORE the meeting starts.

Public comments are not webcasted.

Public comments take place at the end of the meeting on the 2nd Monday of the month.

Public comments are limited to two minutes at that meeting.

  -- Elaine Hopkins

Comments

[vonster]

For once I agree with you, Elaine. This is shameful.