Swanson Letter to the Editor:Setting the tone -good read

[fedupinwaukegan]

Setting the tone

New leadership is at the helm of the Waukegan District 60 Board of Education. We are calling on newly elected board president Mike Rodriguez to steer a truer course for the district than has been followed for quite some time.

Mr. Rodriguez has an opportunity to set the tone for greater leadership, accountability and professionalism. Several critical areas are in dire need of oversight.

As time has arrived for setting the superintendent's goals, Mr. Rodriguez and the board need to take a greater role in determining what Dr. Batiste is here to accomplish, and to include a metric to measure student achievement and a fiscal metric by which to hold him accountable for paying down the long-term debt. Up to this point, Dr. Batiste has been permitted to set his own goals, and no metrics for student achievement or fiscal responsibility have been included.

With student achievement levels declining and long-term debt being projected out even further, it is time to bring real accountability back to Lincoln Center. Rita Mayfield-Jedkins and Bill Anderson have called for these measures in the past, only to be overruled; It is time for the rest of the board members fall in line.

The budget for fiscal year 2009-10 is being hammered out now, and will be available for public review at Lincoln Center in the near future. COSLA urges concerned community members who want to know that their tax dollars are being used wisely to take time to personally look things over and contact members of the board regarding concerns before the budget comes up for final approval.

Determining where leaks can be plugged and where we need to jettison certain non-essentials in administration, staff and other expenditures is going to be painful, yet necessary if we want to keep the whole ship from going down. The shell game finances being utilized at the moment are only delaying the inevitable unless stronger measures are forced on them by a public that demands greater fiscal accountability.

This is also a good time to remind the members of the school board of their obligation to the taxpayers of Waukegan. Twice, the administration has asked the board to pre-approve spending without giving the board time to review the checks, and the majority of the board approved the request. This is not fiscally responsible.

Their first obligation is to the taxpayers of the community that elected them, not to the administration that feels they are justified in every purchase and expenditure they want to make. Rita Mayfield-Jedkins was the only board member to oppose this and is to be commended for her stance.

The challenges facing this school board have not been seen for quite some time. As this district transitions to neighborhood schools, implements the final phase in the federal order to restructure our high school and deals with financial difficulties in a time of economic downturn, it is imperative that the board insists on measurable accountability from all personnel, from the top on down.

Roxanne Swanson


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[freedomisntfree]

Yes, The letter was well written. However, good intentioned, I believe it missed the problems in the district by a mile or more. The problem with the district IS the board. The board sets policies for the district. Everyone else is an employee of the district. The point is made that the problem with the district is the board not ensuring the superintendent does his job. I disagree. And so does Superintendent Dr. Donaldo Batiste as you can hear him state on youtube by searching on Batiste Hawn and Waukegan. Superintendent Dr. Donaldo Batiste states he tried to stop violations of district policy, state law and federal law but the board prevented him.

The problem at the district starts with the board not following their own district policy, state law and federal law. How can anyone expect a board to hold itself or anyone that works for it to a higher standard when it is violating it's own district policy, state law and federal law over and over and over. How can the district expect the Superintendent to follow district policy, state law or federal law when he gets guidance and direction, as heard on youtube, from the board of education that directs him to do otherwise. Superintendent Dr. Donaldo Batiste states that he "tried" but the "board made him do it" and yes he includes both board members mentioned in the letter.

Superintendent Dr. Donaldo Batiste states he works for the board of education and he is doing what they have told him to do.

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[Snoopy]

"New leadership is at the helm of the Waukegan District 60 Board of Education. We are calling on newly elected board president Mike Rodriguez to steer a truer course for the district than has been followed for quite some time.

Mr. Rodriguez has an opportunity to set the tone for greater leadership, accountability and professionalism. Several critical areas are in dire need of oversight."

Roxanne Swanson wrote some very strong words that touched the hearts of many lifelong residents of Waukegan, as well as new residents to the district.

I hope the pessimism, shared by a few, does not follow my post. My child will graduate from Waukegan, because she is so passionate about remaining here. My youngest may or may not. I pray the Lord above gives our Board the strength to make the hard, sometimes unpopular choices, and create an environment of learning once again.

Thank you school board for your service to Waukegan in an unpaid position. Please hold those that are paid well, with Waukegan Tax dollars, accountable for all that they do. Many of us have faith you will serve us well.

Shawn White
(224) 381-2834

[freedomisntfree]

Sticking our head in the sand

New leadership, elected by the same board members that elected the last leadership, is just as incapable as the last leadership was. We want these same board members to somehow change their spots and now steer a truer course, even though they have repeatedly shown us they are incapable of doing so. Mr. Rodriguez has always had the opportunity to set the tone for greater leadership, accountability and professionalism and has already failed miserably. The time has arrived, once again, to not hold the very board members that we helped elect accountable for anything. Dr. Batiste has told us that the board will not allow him to follow district policy, state law or federal law but we are going to keep ignoring his attempts to “try”. With student achievement levels declining and long-term debt being projected out even further, it is time to, once again, not hold anyone accountable for anything and wait till next year. The budget for fiscal year 2009-10 is being falsified right now and will be available for public review at Lincoln Center in the near future. CSLA urges concerned community members who already know that their tax dollars are not being used wisely to wait till next year and let’s just keep hoping and hoping. It is going to be painful but the whole ship is already pretty bad and nobody is going to do anything to keep it from going down. The shell game finances being utilized at the moment are only delaying the inevitable unless stronger measures are forced on them by a public that will never demand greater fiscal accountability. This would have been a good time to remind the members of the school board of their obligation to the taxpayers of Waukegan but why even try, they know we are never going to actually do anything about anything. For example, twice, the administration has asked the board to pre-approve spending without giving the board time to review the checks, and the majority of the board approved the request. This is not fiscally responsible and we will never do anything about it and they know it. Their first obligation is to the taxpayers of the community that elected them, not to the administration that does the boards dirty work. Rita May-kins, a founding member of C.S.L.A., was the only board member to have tea with us. It was good tea.

The challenge of following their own policy, state law and federal law are too much for this school board and they have repeatedly failed. It is imperative that the board tell us that they insist on measurable accountability from all personnel, from the top on down even though we know they have no intention of even trying. But we want them to tell us anyway, because we will feel much better.

For the children…

Quotes: “I think I’ve said enough” Mark Hawn School Board Member
“God made the Idiot for practice, and then He made the School Board. Mark Twain

[Snoopy]

It is too bad we have idiots with an agenda in order to bring about a bit of good. I asked for an attempt of no pessimism, but I'm sure that is way beyond the capabilities of the idiot Freedomisnt free, specifically, Ron Sartin. I look forward to a few days in "the box". Before I spend that time, I'll make sure I am more than worthy of my time there. This idiot undermines any attempt at good anyone tries to bring to the table. I am so sick of the stupid arguements made because of a decision made long ago. It has nothing to do with mine. To the people in charge of this website, I really do not give a damn if you ban me for life. I tire of the negativity of this unproductive website. I tire of the stupidity of a disgruntled spouse of an ex-employee, and the spew that he puts forth. I have been questioned in other posts about the relevance of stating AIRBORNE. I believe it applies here with these weak ass arguments, but I will remain Shawn White, and be true to myself. To hell with anyone that wishes to undermine my beloved hometown. Good luck.
Airborne!
Shawn White
(224) 381-2834
For the children......

[JazminH]

WELL SAID! BRAVO!

[bruce]

And your airborne division was?................................63rd paratrooper brigade? 173rd? I agree there are a bunch of fools on this board. This has met the same fate as the other one. Good luck to everyone fighting for this town? This is it for me, im way to old to read all of this garbage from a disgruntled employee (spouse of) day after day after day

[fedupinwaukegan]

bruce Wrote:And your airborne division was?................................63rd paratrooper brigade? 173rd? I agree there are a bunch of fools on this board. This has met the same fate as the other one. Good luck to everyone fighting for this town? This is it for me, im way to old to read all of this garbage from a disgruntled employee (spouse of) day after day after day

Snoopy and bruce stay here and keep posting please. There are those of us who will be following your path soon enough and we need your input and help. My children are still in elementary school but my thoughts are already going towards what is going on at my old high school. Will I send my children there or not...

I need to hear what your children experience at the high school snoopy. I need to hear that you will let Mr. Rodriguez know about anything that needs to change. We need to hear what is going on under that roof Bruce. I've appreciated what you add to this board VERY much.

Don't give up now as this fool is still fighting for our town, my hometown. Our efforts do make a difference. And obviously there are issues at the high school that must be addressed. You are one of our conduits bruce -an invaluable contact.

commercial over 8-)

[admin]

Since we can't seem to get away from what the board and administration have done, or stay away from getting pissed off at each other and filing reports when a schoolyard name calling takes place, we're done here.