03-28-2010, 11:23 AM
03-28-2010, 12:35 PM
why is it that.........
board members are so quick to follow the administration and don't question their proposals?
board members approved a list of programatic reductions and eliminations without specific details listed?
board members approved school nurses being cut?
in a time of defecit, the board did not at least ask the superintendent to renegotiate the last 2 years of his contract?
in a time of defecit, the board approved long term extensions of the contracts of the CFO & CAO just prior to announcing budget cuts?
adminstrators may join others in paying a small % of their individual health care, but will continue to have 100% of family members insurance fully funded?
board members would agree to balance the budget in the backs of the teachers and students without looking elsewhere to save money?
even if rif notices had to be sent out as a precaution, the boe has not publically charged the admin to go back to the drawing board and come up with cuts
that do not directly impact students/teachers in the classroom?
the majority of the board members are content to follow the adminstration rather than lead them?
the board has not ordered the admin to begin negotiating with the unions?
the board has not held a public hearing on the financial crisis which would allow community members to have questions answered?
members of the community and employees who question and or demand alternative measures are demonized?
we aren't getting the transparency and accountabilitythat we were promised?
why is the tail wagging the dog?
board members are so quick to follow the administration and don't question their proposals?
board members approved a list of programatic reductions and eliminations without specific details listed?
board members approved school nurses being cut?
in a time of defecit, the board did not at least ask the superintendent to renegotiate the last 2 years of his contract?
in a time of defecit, the board approved long term extensions of the contracts of the CFO & CAO just prior to announcing budget cuts?
adminstrators may join others in paying a small % of their individual health care, but will continue to have 100% of family members insurance fully funded?
board members would agree to balance the budget in the backs of the teachers and students without looking elsewhere to save money?
even if rif notices had to be sent out as a precaution, the boe has not publically charged the admin to go back to the drawing board and come up with cuts
that do not directly impact students/teachers in the classroom?
the majority of the board members are content to follow the adminstration rather than lead them?
the board has not ordered the admin to begin negotiating with the unions?
the board has not held a public hearing on the financial crisis which would allow community members to have questions answered?
members of the community and employees who question and or demand alternative measures are demonized?
we aren't getting the transparency and accountabilitythat we were promised?
why is the tail wagging the dog?
03-28-2010, 08:16 PM
Wk75,
60 administrators in five years??? That is crap! Do you know that would equal about 100 teachers. A hundred teachers added to the schools would lower class size and help the students learn. Rodriquez and Hahn dont want that though...they will just do what ever Batiste tells them, and then allow Batiste to throw them right under the bus when the pressure starts to come.
I have a vision: 450 teachers cut, and then I will see Batiste, Hahn, Rodriguez and Anderson pulling into the casino in Batiste's brand new SUV with the cool running lights. They will get out one by one laughing and then playing craps with the school district and taxpayer money once again. At this same exact time there will be 450 teachers explaining to there young children why they dont leave to work in the morning anymore. WOW just imagine
60 administrators in five years??? That is crap! Do you know that would equal about 100 teachers. A hundred teachers added to the schools would lower class size and help the students learn. Rodriquez and Hahn dont want that though...they will just do what ever Batiste tells them, and then allow Batiste to throw them right under the bus when the pressure starts to come.
I have a vision: 450 teachers cut, and then I will see Batiste, Hahn, Rodriguez and Anderson pulling into the casino in Batiste's brand new SUV with the cool running lights. They will get out one by one laughing and then playing craps with the school district and taxpayer money once again. At this same exact time there will be 450 teachers explaining to there young children why they dont leave to work in the morning anymore. WOW just imagine
03-30-2010, 08:31 AM
60 Administrators? For what?
School Board members are basically lower level politicians who don't have enough intelligence or guts to try for city council or other offices. They like their nice little fiefdoms that come with Board membership. They are rarely voted out because they 'fly under the radar'.
They approve programs which cost the city money, without thinking about if these programs are truly necessary, and what the alternatives would be to get the same result. They have a 'knee-jerk' reaction to any recommedations from administrators or outside organizations, because they either have no desire to do the homework, or prefer to pass the buck and not take responsibility. There may be grants for some programs, but the money doesn't last long and you are stuck with paying for the programs year after year. Then you have to hire people to keep finding money for these 'vital ' programs. In the meantime, the core programs for things like Reading, Math, Science, etc, are cut while 'diversity' programs are never cut or questioned as to why they really are necessary.
I recall some years ago when went with my brother to observed a Zion High School board meeting, and they voted to approve tearing up sidewalks and replacing them with ones which were six inches wider. Six Inches! The reason? Because an outside association recommended it. There was no real reason to tear up perfectly good sidewalks, but the Board said OK and used 'Life and Safety' Bonds to pay for it. This is typical of most school boards. They don't think, but simply slide along and cite 'experts', rather than use common sense and fiscal responsibility.
The schools are top-heavy with very well compensated administrators, and yet what do we get for the money? Are these just paper pushers or have they actually improved the schools? If not, how hard is it to get rid of them and get somebody else to take on the work? If they are under contract, who the hell negotiated these contracts where you can't get rid of them? If it was the Board's attorneys, then maybe the Board should find somebody who can actually be able to negotiate rather than give away the store.
If you want better schools, then you have to make big changes.
School Board members are basically lower level politicians who don't have enough intelligence or guts to try for city council or other offices. They like their nice little fiefdoms that come with Board membership. They are rarely voted out because they 'fly under the radar'.
They approve programs which cost the city money, without thinking about if these programs are truly necessary, and what the alternatives would be to get the same result. They have a 'knee-jerk' reaction to any recommedations from administrators or outside organizations, because they either have no desire to do the homework, or prefer to pass the buck and not take responsibility. There may be grants for some programs, but the money doesn't last long and you are stuck with paying for the programs year after year. Then you have to hire people to keep finding money for these 'vital ' programs. In the meantime, the core programs for things like Reading, Math, Science, etc, are cut while 'diversity' programs are never cut or questioned as to why they really are necessary.
I recall some years ago when went with my brother to observed a Zion High School board meeting, and they voted to approve tearing up sidewalks and replacing them with ones which were six inches wider. Six Inches! The reason? Because an outside association recommended it. There was no real reason to tear up perfectly good sidewalks, but the Board said OK and used 'Life and Safety' Bonds to pay for it. This is typical of most school boards. They don't think, but simply slide along and cite 'experts', rather than use common sense and fiscal responsibility.
The schools are top-heavy with very well compensated administrators, and yet what do we get for the money? Are these just paper pushers or have they actually improved the schools? If not, how hard is it to get rid of them and get somebody else to take on the work? If they are under contract, who the hell negotiated these contracts where you can't get rid of them? If it was the Board's attorneys, then maybe the Board should find somebody who can actually be able to negotiate rather than give away the store.
If you want better schools, then you have to make big changes.
03-30-2010, 01:56 PM
marshmellow Wrote:I recall some years ago when went with my brother to observed a Zion High School board meeting, and they voted to approve tearing up sidewalks and replacing them with ones which were six inches wider. Six Inches! The reason? Because an outside association recommended it. There was no real reason to tear up perfectly good sidewalks, but the Board said OK and used 'Life and Safety' Bonds to pay for it. This is typical of most school boards. They don't think, but simply slide along and cite 'experts', rather than use common sense and fiscal responsibility.The more cynical side of me tends to think that the board member pushing for this had some indirect interest
in a sidewalk contracting business or concrete supplier.
04-02-2010, 08:02 AM
It's sad that teachers are losing their jobs along with other individuals who care about the children of District 60. Now lets look at these high paid positions adminstrators at Lincoln Center. Mr. Basitate, Mr Goudin and the school board members when you have these intelligent board meetings. Do you do what is best for the children? I can answer that question for you NO again NO. If you did your salaries would be cut. Why do you need a car that I am sure that taxpayers are paying for. Drive your own vehicle. I am sure you can afford it with those nice salaries that you receive. Where did you receive those fancy degrees. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to know that the children of District 60 will suffer. This district doesn't even had enough books to supply the children with. They have to share books this is not 1930's people. Wake up and smell the coffee. I have to perfect solution to this madness get rid of the high paid adminstrators of District 60 and let the taxpayers run it. I think the taxpayers should have some say so in this unthoughtless decision.
04-02-2010, 11:48 AM
The School Board members are taxpayers! The State of Illinois needs to come in. Even they could do a better job. Why don't those taxpayers with the beautiful homes near the lake run for school board. If the schools were better their houses would be worth more. No one with school age children who care about education will move to Waukegan. Wake Up - the CSP program is nothing special and is what other schools consider a regular program. Yes there are some kids who make it out but imagine how much more they would have had the opportunity to be exposed to in a district with books, field trips, annual trips around the country and teachers who are given the tools the need to teach! The problem isn't just the school board it is the entire community. Community members who have real business experiance and know how to ask hard questions and really understand what they are looking at need to be on the school board. Minimally they need to have an accounting background so the administration can't BS them with fancy spreadsheets and have already acheived enough personal success to not need their egos boosed because they are on the District 60 School Board.