I am sitting here disgusted having just been told of the elected officials, appointed administrators and chosen decision making committee members who will NOT be attending the ONLY Community Communication Forum scheduled by the District 15 Board of Education and the Superintendent's Office to discuss the controversial Late Start/Early Release Program proposed for all District 15 grammar and middle schools for next year.
As concerned parents, we have been told that we need to show "overwhelming community opposition" at the Forum on Saturday, January 26th in order to have a voice in this discussion. We have heard overwhelming community opposition, have garnered it (more than 900 community member signatures in a little over a week) and are planning to be available to present it at the time that was scheduled by the Superintendent's Office and Board of Education. We, the parents and stakeholders, will be present even though the Community Communication Forum was scheduled at a time on Saturday morning when our children play their Park District basketball and soccer league games.
What is absolutely disgraceful is the fact that I have just been told that we can expect only 2 of the 6 people on the decisionmaking committee for this change to attend Saturday's meeting. These two representative attendees will be from the Superintendent's Office - Superintendent Scott Thompson and Deputy Superintendent James Garwood. The other 4 representatives - Northwest Suburban Council PTA President Julie O'Hara, Lisa Nuss CTC Teachers Union President, Anne Bridges CTC Teachers Union Executive Director and Mary Beth Landerman CTC Teachers Union Exec Board Member - do not plan on attending.
What is the point of communicating the thoughts and opinions of the community to a committee entrusted with making the decision that is best for our children and families if not even half of them bother to show up to listen? Will these people truly represent what we think and the current conversation or have they already decided what they are going to do? Do our reasonable feedback and opinions not matter?
In addition, only three of the seven members of our Board of Education intend to come to the meeting they are hosting. Did we not elect these people to the Board of Education to represent us, the taxpayers of District 15? How can seven members of OUR Board of Education represent US if they do not come and listen to us tell them what we think at the Community Communication Forum that they scheduled? This Community Communication Forum was suggested under the pretext that they are interested in having the community communicate directly with them and tell them what we think as we listen to what they think.
On top of all this, the very small group of us making the effort to get the word out has been stunned at the lack of knowledge on the street about this change; a change that has an incredible impact on the families in our community. We feel that the effort at communicating the change has been half baked at best and has completely missed a large portion of our demographic that lacks daily email contact. We feel, in speaking directly with many teachers in our District, that they also feel as though this potential change for them has not been well communicated and they do not understand the impact of the change or why there is such resistance by the Superintendent's Office and the CTC to consider the impact on the community.
Am I disgusted? Yes, I am. I ask all people indicated above: Who do you represent? Do you feel that you are representing them well? Did we not elect you to do a job? Can you show up to do it? We, the working parents, are still going to have to show up to do our jobs whether you decide Friday afternoon, Monday afternoon, Monday morning, Wednesday afternoon or Wednesday morning. You are all expecting us to figure out a way to still show up every single week after you make a choice that does not work for us. CAN YOU JUST SHOW UP ONE TIME?
Lisa Beth Szczupaj
District 15 Resident & Taxpayer
Palatine, Illinois
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Editor's note: Letters to the Editor are presented as they are originally submitted by our readers. Palatine Patch neither agrees nor disagrees with the opinions presented.
Teachers don't have "summers off" as everybody thinks. They actually do job related work - from learning new curriculum because the states changed how testing is done for the next school year, taking enrichment courses because the state requires it, preparing plans, getting classrooms ready. This may not seem much but it is necessary for their jobs. If you think teachers are spoiled then you have no clue what is involved in this profession.
For ExPalatineRes, what is being said here is most of us who have professional jobs would love to have it as teachers do. Since I'm really blessed with work, I am often home by 4:30 and a former teacher asked me if I was a teacher since I was home so early. I said, no, I get in @ 7 & can work from home if needed. Most are not as fortunate as I am. Until unions are eliminated we will never really see the quality children deserve.
At least the teachers I know have an superb work ethic and do make it work in the real word. The kicker is the teachers I know get compliments from parents and letters from students about how much they enjoy school. By the way, your 12 hours days includes an hour lunch and probably a few coffee and water cooler breaks throughout the day. Not to mention you get to sit down for most of the day.
"He also added that early dismissal on Friday afternoons was not included as an option in the survey because the end of a long work week is not considered an optimal time for professional development." Dr. Thompson, I work for a Fortune 50 Company and we have Friday afternoon Teleconferences EVERY WEEK at 4PM CST. Last time I checked ~63% of my tax dollars go to Education in Dist 15. It's time you listen to your constituents that pay YOUR salary. Not the Teachers Union. Wake up get with the REAL world that works 365 Days a year.
It would be nice if all parties INVOLVED attended this meeting so something acceptable could be discussed.
That's the flaw in the whole process; the teachers and the BOE knows the terms of a new contract, but the public *never* gets to see it until after both sides have voted to ratify it. And then it's too late for the public to object. Grayslake just settled their strike this week - the BOE knows the terms, the teachers know the terms, but the public won't know until *after* its been signed by both sides.
my vested interest? Your reading to far into it. My kids are in elementary dist 15 and my family will be affected. I think multiple start /dismiss times for elementary students is wrong. Friday early release would be the best for ME also. That way my family weekend plans could start earlier. It's not "ABOUT ME" though. The other side is now teachers weekend plans would be starting later interfering with their family plans. Families weekend plans sometimes start on Friday right after work or school. I doubt that Friday was even an option when teachers agreed to Professional development time vs more $$. I agree with Lisa's letter and was just stating my 2 cents. I do think the school board needs to be held accountable to the people that put them there. If you are elected, you need to attend this public discussion. People are not happy. How many would have agreed to a $20 tax increase vs multiple start/dismiss times ? BTW Bad guys refers to the teacher bashing comments of others I read here and not about Lisa's letter . I wouldn't want to be a teacher and I'm not. I'm glad to have teachers that enjoy teaching my kids. Some peoples comments about teachers work days and benefits compared to the real world seem envious. We all pick our career path in college knowing the demands and benefits of that career.
On paper, we won't because they will get it back in four 10 minute increments. However, in reality, those 10 minutes will likely disappear into thin air. We are already at the state-mandated minimum amount of instruction time. So, if any part of any day is to be taken away from the children, shouldn't logic suggest it be the least productive part of the week? Namely, Friday afternoons? Let's remember for whom the schools exist.
Isn't it 3/6ths? I am under the impression the committee is comprised of 3 CTC, 1 PTA, 2 Superintendent's Office? Did they add someone?
am running for April Election
Contact everyone you can and let's get this issue truly resolved in the best interest of the students schedule. Let's remember for whom the schools exist. In the current schedule K-6th grade teachers have a 30 minute planning time 4 days a week and a full hour on the 5th day. Jr.High teachers have a 35-45 minute personal planning time and a 35-45 minute team planning time EVERYDAY. With an early release or late start a Jr. High teacher would have 2 1/4 hours of planning time and a 30 minute lunch in their 6 1/2 hour day. It will be hard for them to find the time to teach on that day. If the parents and students don't want it. The teachers are not in favor of it. Why are we doing it? ASK THE COMMITTEE Superintendent Scott Thompson and Deputy Superintendent James Garwood, Northwest Suburban Council PTA President Julie O'Hara, Lisa Nuss CTC Teachers Union President, Anne Bridges CTC Teachers Union Executive Director and Mary Beth Landerman CTC Teachers Union Exec Board Member. If the district isn't representing the interest of parents and the CTC isn't representing the teachers let them know they can leave anytime they want! DO WHAT'S RIGHT FOR THE STUDENTS or expect to be replaced.
"In the big picture, it should be what's best for (the children) and what's best for them is what's best for their families." In this regard, what's best for the children is not what's best for their families. My taxes are going to the school district to provide the best education possible, not daycare. I want my money used well and appropriately and that means I want the kids to learn and receive a good education. I'll support whatever means achieve that end. What's in the best interest of the family is up to the family. What's in the best interest of education is up to the schools. I don't want the schools telling families what's best for them and I don't want families telling schools what's best for education.
Am one of the 9 candidate for April school board elections, i have been in touch with this issue, for me both overwhelming and extreme is same and vague , a poor choice of clause for a contract. If I was sitting in there, i would have suggested some quanitfialbe statements, like 60% of registered parents who participate in written survey or 70% oppose by online survey or a statement like, Committe should draft a addendum to the contract on guidelines on interpreting the "overwhelming" clause. our time having clarity on this, and I intend to work on avoiding to getting into these type of siuations. Both me and my wife signed Lisa's petition for Friday, we love and respect the teachers of our childer in 3rd and 7th grade, they are awesome. But what is vague is vague and community, teachers, administration coming together to solve is nothing wrong. Hope my position is clear on this. Thanks for asking. Abdul Javid