disaster at the high school

[bruce]

FYI--

The high school is in deep trouble under this administration. I challange the board of ed. to come to the school UN-announced someday and see for themselves. This admin has no controll at all. Hamlin was basically "booed " off the stage by the sophs at the assembly on Friday. Is this the leadership we need?

[Snoopy]

FYI--

The high school is in deep trouble under this administration. I challange the board of ed. to come to the school UN-announced someday and see for themselves. This admin has no controll at all. Hamlin was basically "booed " off the stage by the sophs at the assembly on Friday. Is this the leadership we need?

Funny that you mentioned that. I also heard from a couple of Sophomore's that the teachers were telling the students not to attend that madness. I suggest you send a message to the school board. I do not think that that buy everything that the admin sells them, as some bitter former spouse of the District may represent they do.
I'll use his quotes against him with one of my own,
"I have not failed. I've just found 10,000 ways that won't work."
Thomas A. Edison
I will not sit and beat the same tired drum if it has not brought me a solution to my troubles, it seems utterly useless to me.
I hope you find the courage to bring about the change to help solve the troubles you present.
Kids do not have text books to take home with them, I question the priorities of this district about putting in security camaras for their beloved admin, when my own child does not have a textbook for all of her classes? Let's make sure our admin are safe, but not insure the same and educate the youth of Waukegan in the process?
More people, especially the educators of this City, need to stand up and fight for the kids. Demand the best for the children you educate? Let's go Bruce, you are on to something here!
I have heard from tenured teachers being dicked around because this assignment has changed and your seniority is not with the school but the district? Where is the union? Why allow this ignorant ploy by management to turn someone's life around that has devoted many years to a school and Waukegan? This silly game has got to end. Lincoln Center was never this full in my lifetime. Waukegan Public Schools were not at the bottom of the State in my youth.They hold a sliver over North Chicago for last place.

[freedomisntfree]

"as some bitter former spouse" If that is what you call someone seeking justice. Just one thing I'm still the spouse NOT FORMER.

Seriously, you don't understand how close you are to the truth. IF all of this is just the administrations fault then why doesn't the board do something about it immediately? They haven't have they? That is my point. It doesn't make sense that they can't resolve problems under their authority does it?

If you just consider the alternative idea that they are all on the same page and the reason they haven't done anything about it is they agree with what has happened. They aren't changing the administrations handling of these issues because it's really the board's AND the administrations decision. JUST CONSIDER IT for a moment and see if things start to make more sense or at least most of them do.

Is it more likely that the administration is always doing things against the board and the board decides NOT to excersize their authority to fix a problem even though that causes all types of problems for the district that they don't like and are held accountable for? Or is it simpler and more likely that the administration and board are making joint decisions?

Have you heard of Occam's razor? Occam's Razor states that the explanation making the fewest number of assumptions tends to be correct.

Unless you think all the board members individually and jointly are really that stupid and incompetent. That is simpler but not really plausible is it?

[justwondering]

Will the district's Board of Education and administration eventually do something about who they put at the helm of the high school? I really doubt it. It would be one of those, "Oops, we have screwed up hiring at the high school once again, but if we admit it, we will look incompetent."

What kind of an atmosphere is this for learning? The morale is non-existant with the staff, teachers and students--but from what I hear the high school administrative staff is very happy with how things are going and quite pleased with themselves. Good teachers are bailing out and no one can blame them, but where does that leave our students? If, indeed, the principal was booed by the sophomore class, what is that telling the community? Is anyone listening to their children who are students at WHS? Are you delving into what is happening there and then taking those concerns to the district administration and to members of the board? We are all as much at fault for this disaster as those we elect and re-elect time and again.

Years ago, students marched to Lincoln Center to ask for the district to ease the overcrowding of West Campus...soon after, East Campus was re-opened to high school students (with the building of Juarez for middle school students.) Since the parents aren't doing anything to resolve the issue at the high school, maybe the students need to do another mass exit from the school and march to Sheridan Road and maybe they will then be heard. Oh wait, now with the magnetic door locks on the high school, they can't get out. But, we will start "zero hour" physical education with a prayer and non-certified teachers. That should make everything a.o.k.!!!

[eliza]

Here's one view of the situation: (and for everyone on this post: focus on the topic at hand, please-not personal issues)

1. Of the top administrators, three have limited or no high school experience-
2. The philosophy is, "We don't want to hear about the past." That results in throwing the baby out with the bathwater, to be cliched. As a result, the many programs and policies that worked, most on automatic pilot, are gone: cases in point: plain old procedural stuff: submitting senior failures, scheduling for graduation assignments. Most egregious among these lapses is the one involving approval from the AP national organization for previously approved courses. All that's involved is pretty much pushing a "send" button to the AP Audit committee. The person in charge has yet to do this, even though she has had the already-approved curricula since March. Her explanation at the time was that she had to make sure that the audit info included the district's mission statement. Realistically, the AP committee doesn't a flying f--- about our mission statement. Our courses need the "stamp of approval," meaningful or not, for colleges to look favorably upon our AP classes. (This was the same person who wanted to know when we "wanted" to give the AP exams.)
3. No one recognizes the real needs our students face: The house principal for one CSP house is experienced at the elementary school level and in women's prisons. Just what we want for our advanced programs. And no one has directly addressed the situation of student in lower level classes. What are we going to do for them so they have the skills necessary to function in the "real world"?
4. Friday's assembly was just one more indication of the lack of foresight on the people up front. Teachers did not receive notification of the final schedule until Thursday, and that schedule differed dramatically from what we had discussed at department meetings the day before. Our assemblies are, in effect, an open invitation for kids not to come to school-and this most recent one occurred the last Friday before senior exams. At the assembly, Hamlin totally lost his cool with the kids and his presentations to the faculty focused exclusively on making himself look good, rather than on a substantive exchange of ideas.
5. Considering the massive and probably chaotic change that's about to occur, an exchange of suggestions and concerns between administration and staff would be helpful. Not so-teachers and other staff members have no say, no opportunity to question, no route of information-in fact, no information at all. It's all Steve, all the time
6. Discussions with students and faculty on the various interview committees (for associate and house principals) all confirm that NO ONE recommended the people that eventually got jobs. So what's the point of the interviews?
7. Despair prevails. The union does not take a stand-but at least the faculty is clearly united on one side (except for those people who continue to laugh at Hamlin's jokes and applaud his comments)
8.. Ultimately, everyone is out in the cold-students of all abilities, teachers of all disciplines, support staff in every part of the building.

It has to all go back to the top

[fedupinwaukegan]

Heartbreaking...

I am an alumni of West Campus. I had always thought my children would follow my path. Not any more.

Their elementary experience has been great. But already we are researching middle and high school options -unless there is change. And yes I have emailed board members, talked to them... Talked to aldermen about concerns with our schools. Time to approach the new mayor to see his thoughts about this.

Just last week yet another family shared with us that they are leaving Waukegan this summer. Why? The schools. They do not want their children to go through middle/high school here.

Teachers have told me they wouldn't send their own children to some of the middle schools. That their children are pressured by the gangs to join. Threatened.

We are going to be asking a lot more questions as our time gets closer. All of Mayor Sabonjian's plans will be for naught if the schools don't improve.


my hometown...

[Snoopy]

Will the district's Board of Education and administration eventually do something about who they put at the helm of the high school? I really doubt it. It would be one of those, "Oops, we have screwed up hiring at the high school once again, but if we admit it, we will look incompetent."

What kind of an atmosphere is this for learning? The morale is non-existant with the staff, teachers and students--but from what I hear the high school administrative staff at the high school is very happy with how things are going and quite pleased with themselves. Good teachers are bailing out and no one can blame them, but where does that leave our students? If, indeed, the principal was booed by the sophomore class, what is that telling the community? Is anyone listening to their children who are students at WHS? Are you delving into what is happening there and then taking those concerns to the district administration and to members of the board? We are all as much at fault for this disaster as those we elect and re-elect time and again.

Years ago, students marched to Lincoln Center to ask for the district to ease the overcrowding of West Campus...soon after, East Campus was re-opened to high school students (with the building of Juarez for middle school students.) Since the parents aren't doing anything to resolve the issue at the high school, maybe the students need to do another mass exit from the school and march to Sheridan Road and maybe they will then be heard. Oh wait, now with the magnetic door locks on the high school, they can't get out. But, we will start "zero hour" physical education with a prayer and non-certified teachers. That should make everything a.o.k.!!!

It is funny you should mention this. Molly Schaffer,( I apologize for spelling), was the best candidate for the job. She is a born and raised Waukegan Daughter that has never had anything on her agenda, other than working for the best of Waukegan kids. I do believe on paper there may have been better qualified candidates, but I now see that we are a "on paper" administration, not searching and contemplating every side of the process. I do not know Dr. Hamlin, but I do know the teachers were happy with Molly at the helm. I cannot speak of the moral of anyone involved with this at the High School, but I do have a vested interest. I presently have one child there, next year my baby will attend Waukegan High School.

This Small learning community grant, to my understanding, was secured many years ago. My understanding of this is, unless they inact this they will have to repay the money. Somebody please advise me on this issue, because I wish not to speak falsehoods. If this information is actually true, where in the hell were the efforts four or five years ago when the grant was actually secured? There are many flaws being exposed, I hope people contact their Board members to resolve these issues. They are our voice between this union/management battle. As far as I'm concerned, I want Waukegan people running Waukegan schools. I want people that actually care about my hometown, not take a salary because they make a great presentation in an interview or look good on paper.
Shawn White
(224) 381-2834

[freedomisntfree]

The problems that you have reported on this board, complained to the senior administration about and emailed and complained to the board all have the same thing in common - the senior administration and the board. Isnt it time that you stop giving the Superintendent, senior administration, board and board attorney the benefit of the doubt when they have all let you down over and over again? All of the problems are CONNECTED and you don't need to leave your hometown to resolve them.

Suggestions: Stop thinking from the bottom up as a way to resolve these problems. Start thinking that the board and senior administration needs to be involved PUBLICLY and issues discussed PUBLICLY and reports provided PUBLICLY and follow up incidents and issues discussed PUBLICLY.

If the board, superintendents and senior administration are COMPETENT they can handle the scrutiny and you will be amazed at their competentcy.
If the board, superintendents and senior administration are NOT COMPETENT and THEREFORE can't handle the scrutiny then they should resign or be forced to resign by you.

Isn't it supposed to be about YOUR CHILDREN'S EDUCATION, SAFETY AND FUTURE? Or are these problems that you can let the current senior administration and board take another 4 or 5 years to resolve while their contracts are paid in full and they build up their retirement accounts before they move on?

[freedomisntfree]

Connections - JUSTWONDERING you hit it on the head with your statement, "Oops, we have screwed up hiring at the high school once again, but if we admit it, we will look incompetent." That is EXACTLY the boards mentality as reported to me. Deputy Superintendent Gaudin reported to me that in our case the board stated to him that we were, "Just trying to embarass the board" when we pointed out that they had forged time sheets and falsified paperwork when our claim to them arrived just a week before the arrests of Williams and Artley were publicly announced. He went on to say that even if our report that Executive Director Richard Pattison had lied to them, the board stated, "Even if Executive Director Richard Pattison HAD LIED TO THEM ABOUT EVERYTHING during the termination, it didn't rise to the level of being a problem". In other words the board's mentality was , "Oops, we have screwed up again, but if we now follow FLSA, state law and federal law and if what we did was based on a terrible lie by an Executive Director WE JUST HIRED, WE WILL LOOK INCOMPETENT so we are going to do NOTHING".

Connections - WHEN THE SENIOR ADMINISTRATION AND BOARD ARE MORE CONCERNED ABOUT HOW THEY WILL LOOK THEN FOLLOWING THE LAW IN OUR CASE OR THE QUALITY OF YOUR CHILDREN'S EDUCATION IN YOUR CASE - IT'S TIME TO PUBLICLY HOLD THE ENTIRE BOARD AND SENIOR ADMINISTRATION ACCOUNTABLE FOR EVERYTHING THAT GOES ON AT THE SCHOOL.

[Bupkes]

I'm hearing more and more about what a disaster Dr. Hamlin is......Waukegan High School needed a leader and got bupkes where he's concerned.

How do we feel about him allowing a group of volunteers (members of the clergy from local churches) to be supervising the P.E. make-up sessions that are being held before school every day? These folks aren't certified teachers and...AND they are instructing the students to form a circle and pray together before the session. What about the separation of church and state? What about coercion and the violation of students' civil rights? Teachers union....where the hell are you? School Board......<sound of crickets chirping....hello?> And, God forbid, what if a student is hurt while a non-certified person was supposed to be supervising. How many more law suits can this district handle - not to mention if a parent sued for having their child's civil rights violated? Oy! It makes my head want to explode.

Dr. Hamlin sent emails to the P.E. staff telling them to skip giving their finals and go on a retreat to Wisconsin in order to promote greater unity in the department. WHAT ABOUT THE STUDENTS?
A retreat? Really, Dr. Hamlin? Who's paying for the retreat? What's the total the extra substitute teachers are going to cost this district? This man just doesn't get it.

And finally, students who need to make up P.E. credit are being told that Dr. Hamlin will waive 2 days for every one day they attend. Cutting corners is not the way to achieve student success. But, it sure looks good on paper.

With morale as low as it is, it's hard to imagine it can get any lower, but he seems to help find the way.

This school board must be meshuggeh if they think it's a good idea letting this guy run things like he's doing.