D15 Vote to Be Taken Despite Threat of Legal Action

VOTE TO BE TAKEN DESPITE THREAT OF LEGAL ACTION

A Special District 15 Board of Education Meeting has been called for this Friday, May 3rd at 7pm at Sundling and all District 15 parents are urged to attend.

The issue of when the contracted professional development time will take place is on the agenda to be discussed and voted upon.

The new Board has not yet been seated. That will happen on Monday. This will be the last vote the current Board undertakes.

The only change in the makeup of the Board, albeit a major one, is current Board President Tim Millar will be leaving and Jim Ekeberg will be coming on.

There will be time for Citizens to Address the Board. 

CTC President Lisa Nuss has threatened to initiate legal action in the event of a vote for Friday Early Release. 

She believes "overwhelming opposition" from parents, per the wording of the contract for the professional development time, has not been shown.

Citizens for Accountability believes otherwise based on many factors, including but not limited to, the following:

- 4,700 survey responses. One survey per family was allowed and we have less than 7,000 families in D15. The number one comment on the survey was No Change to the Current Schedule and the second was Friday Early Release.

- 1,205 petition signatures from a successful petition drive, led by Lisa Szczupaj.

Citizens for Accountability advocates for Friday Early Release:

- Since this professional development time was negotiated as part of the contract to occur during the current school day, it must be done at a time so as to minimize the negative effect on educational outcomes.

- Friday Early Release will have the least negative impact on the education of the students in District 15 since that is the least productive time of the week for learning.

- The teachers would not be working any later than they do today. Plus, many teachers have vocalized either full support or indifference to a Friday Early Release for their professional development.

- Deliberately changing the morning routines of very young children who are still getting used to going to school (Ks and 1st), disrupting a more productive learning environment (mornings are typically more productive) for older children, not to mention interfering with parent work schedules, is unnecessary and we fail to see the upside.

If you are unable to attend on Friday, please send an email to the addresses below. Every email matters and will contribute to the "overwhelming opposition" showing needed in the event of litigation.

Email addresses:

bokorr@ccsd15.net
babcockm@ccsd15.net 
herrs@ccsd15.net
iannuzzg@ccsd15.net 
millart@ccsd15.net
sriramm@ccsd15.net 
seifferd@ccsd15.net
jkekeberg@comcast.net
thompsos@ccsd15.net (Supt. Thompson) 
garwoodj@ccsd15.net (Deputy Supt. Garwood)

Email us with questions: contact@d15citizens.org.

Visit our web site to join our email list: www.d15citizens.org.

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