PEORIA, IL -- The public comments at the Peoria District 150 School Board meeting on February 23 again did not come until after a 2 hour presentation to the board.
Why the board puts up with this is a mystery. The long presentation at the last meeting took criticism during the comments as not being objective, though a board member said objectivity wasn't necessary. Right.
Here is a recording of the comments:
Dist150 Feb 23
Meanwhile -- among the comments, the grandmother of a special education student criticized the board and superintendent as failing her child. "You don't listen," she said. The reading test scores are failing yet you talk about how wonderful the reading program is, she said. "You need a reality check."
Activist Terry Knapp pointed out that a presentation on an occupational program, said to be new, was not accurate. The same program was used two decades ago, he said.
Then he mentioned the missing (stolen?) drugs at Jameson School for the handicapped, and the fact that the district never contacted the police.
Knapp said he has contacted the state's attorney.
Then he mentioned the 41 college hours the instructional leader of the district has taken at district expense, "while the schools are failing." She should be presenting at the teacher academy, so it doesn't cost the district," for college hours for teachers, he said. The academy apparently is defunct.
Activist Sharon Crews noted how last year's test results have never been publicly reported, though they are public records and available. The recent long presentations apparently were done to counter criticism that too much money is being spent on programs, she said. And also to counter the low test results.
But these programs have not been subjected to real analysis. "Don't expect us to believe subjective accounts of success," she said.
Her report will be reproduced below.
The president of the teacher's union said those discussing the strategic plan at town hall meetings now taking place are calling for "new leadership" in the district. "If this issue isn't a priority the process can not be considered legitimate," he said.
"These presentations are not a measure of success -- success stories are a red herring."
In addition, teachers have been told not to write referrals" for bad classroom behavior, he said.
-- Elaine Hopkins
Comment from Sharon Crews:
You were all so embarrassed by the 2014 NCLB test results that, for the first time in ten years, you have not publicly reported the scores. At your last meeting, we were regaled with unbelievable accounts of successes in District 150 classrooms.
This whole event was obviously orchestrated to discredit claims that too much money has been spent on programs that have produced little success.
How could all District teachers be represented by only ten presenters from only six schools—Franklin, Harrison, Rolling Acres, Trewyn, Woodrow, and Valeska? Presenters included a first grade and an eighth grade math teacher. Reading success was touted by three of Valeska’s preschool staff, a first, a second, and a fifth grade teacher, and two interventionists.
I can only imagine how these presenters were chosen and prepped. Even while they were presenting, Dr. Lathan played the role of ventriloquist, putting words into their mouths.
In a typical class, there are students who raise their hands to answer every question. I remember that I was often tempted to believe that those students represented the whole class when, in fact, there were two other groups of students—the ones who caught on to some of the material and the other group who understood little or nothing. Today there is also a group that is focused on checking cell phone messages.
The teachers who presented were not making up stories of classroom success--they were just telling us about the responses of students who always participate.
Believable accounts would be videos of teachers and their interactions with students. Don’t expect us to believe subjective accounts prepared for board meetings. Including students, as you did tonight, is much more effective—besides they make me smile.
Mrs. Wolfmeyer was so excited about these presentations that she stated there was no need for objective proof. Also, if you believe teachers will come to you with complaints about programs, you are fooling only yourself.
Discipline problems and absenteeism remain as huge obstacles to classroom success.
Committees of teachers once worked tirelessly on curriculum guides. Your website shows a hodgepodge of curriculum guides and lists of learning expectations, all quite possibly lifted from other sources.
As your website states, this is the first year of full implementation of Common Core standards and no PARCC tests have been given. So your hype was much too premature and unprovable. -30-