McHenry County Blog

I think that if he had proposed an amendment of some sort, put it on an agenda, and then ask for a second, he would have had better luck.
Now Mr. Snow looks like he is trying to belittle the rest of the board by springing a resolution on them in an emergency session, trying to get back on the side of free speech. And throwing in the bit about residents having free speech at all referendum informational meetings? That's another issue entirely, why is he bringing it up now?
I agree with both concepts, but I think the the manner and fashion in which Mr. Snow presents himself is hurtful to his cause. You don't make any inroads by disrupting the activities of the board and practically insulting it's members.
 

Here's some background on these emails...so they make sense...I am sharing them, because I want everyone out there to realize just what kind of arrogance some of the board members have toward taxpayers who have very legitimate questions. My question was posed to all the board members, but only Shawn Green responded. My question was never answered...and still has not been answered. My question was: How can the board even consider borrowing money, when they don't even have a true accounting of what funds are available from even BEFORE the referendum of 2004? and they are paying someone (mr. hall) to bring the books up to speed, and the state deadline for budget was Oct. 2005, and we still don't know? Here are Shawn Green's and Kim Skaja's responses:

From: SunEGirl [mailto:sunegirl@dls.net]
Sent: Thu 3/23/2006 10:46 AM
To: Skala, Michael; Skaja, Kimberly; Green, Shawn; Snow, Lawrence; Coleman, Frank; Herringer, Rosemary
Cc:
Subject: borrowing money



To the d158 school board:

If you haven’t balanced your checkbook in the last 20 months since Mr. Hall was hired to do so, how do you know for sure you really need to borrow money?

If you haven’t reconciled your book keeping, and you had to ask for an extension from the state in order to continue, how do you know if you are in need of any more funds?



Mr. Skala, as president of the board, you should be asking Mr. Hall for an accounting. You should be asking why eight months ago, the ledgers were not balanced. You should be considering whether or not he is worth $100k a year! We are now on the financial watch list because someone didn’t do their job. Before we take one more step into debtville, shouldn’t you all be pressing the FINANCIAL OFFICER of the district to balance the checkbook first?



If he is this incompetent, then maybe we should consider outsourcing the accounting portion of the district to a PROFESSIONAL accounting firm. I am sure for the same amount of money, they could get the books whipped into shape, and maybe they would find some of that money that is still not accounted for. What do you think?



D-158 considers taking loan

HUNTLEY – District 158 officials are considering taking a loan later this year because of a lag in time until the district gets its tax money.

Stanley Hall, the district's chief financial officer, said he had not determined how much money the district would need before additional property tax dollars arrived this summer. Hall said the district might not have enough cash on hand to meet payments later this spring, but he still is crunching the numbers.

Short-term loans called tax-anticipation warrants and their interest payments are familiar to the district, which borrowed about $13 million a year in 2003 and 2004. But school board President Mike Skala said the district was making progress after voters approved a tax-rate increase last school year.

"In years past, we were issuing [tax-anticipation warrants] in November," Skala said. "We've been able to push that date out further and further each year."

– Tom Musick

shawn's first response:
I think that people might be more receptive to your input if you showed even the slightest glimmer of respect.
-Shawn Green
my next letter to mr. green:
To all board members:

You have a board member that flanks you that has a problem with a taxpayer questioning the way in which money has been spent, mishandled, and misappropriated.

This board member believes that I lack respect for you all as board members.

This is an erroneous conclusion, Mr. Green.

Respect is something that is earned. According to Glen Stewart, one of the goals he voiced after the referendum debacle two years back was that “we need to earn the public’s trust and respect.”

When I see a board fighting with each other, instead of working together; when I see board members not showing up to finance committee meetings which are the heart of the problems in this district; when I see the board focused on trivial matters, instead of core issues, I have trouble mustering respect for those people, especially when those people campaigned to the public speeches about trust, and respect.

Before you attempt to throw my questions put to you all off subject by criticizing my alleged lack of respect, you all may want to review your campaign promises to the taxpayers of this district. Otherwise, you appear hypocritical in your pursuit of public service.

I don’t think it is disrespectful to question your thinking when this school board has not demanded a full accounting of money from even before the referendum up to now. You have a hired employee who is supposed to be a “cracker jack” with numbers (your board member’s words, not mine) and you pay him six figures a year to get a budget in place and stay in compliance with the state. He has done none of that, and we are now beyond the October 2005 extension gifted to us by the state. This board has sat on it’s haunches while d158 administration has misappropriated funds, lied to the state, ignored taxpayers complaints, ignored parents, ignored students, and even ignored the protests of one of it’s own members!

Mr. Green has an apparent eye wear malfunction. He apparently can see the splinter in a taxpayer’s eye, but is unable to see the log in his own!

If this school board was really about earning the respect of the taxpayers in this district, they would start by listening to legitimate questions put to them, rather than ducking the issue and criticizing the messenger.

I have enclosed the previous email sent to you along with Mr. Green’s response….

Sincerely,
Shawn Green's next response:
Actually, I had Lasik a couple years ago- my eyes are doing quite well. Take care now. -Shawn Green

My next response to the board:
From: SunEGirl [mailto:sunegirl@dls.net]
Sent: Sat 3/25/2006 6:36 PM
To: Green, Shawn; Skaja, Kimberly; Skala, Michael; Snow, Lawrence; Coleman, Frank; Herringer, Rosemary; Stewart, Glen
Cc:
Subject: adult bullys


Mr. Green,

Here is an article that seems to describe the tenor of behaviour that many of us in the community have observed coming from both yourself and others on the board. It is also a behaviour that is fast becoming a zero-tolerance in the workplace and among organizations that represent public policy. You may want to rethink how you respond to my legitimate questions posed to the whole board regarding the borrowing of more money when the current financial state of our district has yet to be defined. It isn’t the first time that you have responded to me with sarcasm and bullying remarks. The old English version of the word Sarcasm, means to “tear the flesh” or “cutting of the flesh”…. It would be loathsome to think that someone who is both a police officer and a school board member, someone who is representative of how adults should behave in a community, would continue to want to respond in this manner. We are all judged by our actions and our words, Mr. Green. I hope this will give you pause. These words are something that may be regrettable one day.



Sincerely,

Donna Motzny

(THIS IS FROM THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF ELEMENTARY SCHOOL PRINICPALS. THE ARTICLE IS FOCUSED ON THE BEHAVIOUR OF TEACHERS, BUT THE TYPES OF BEHAVIOURS LISTED REFLECT THE SAME BEHAVIOURS MANY OF US IN THIS COMMUNITY HAVE OBSERVED THIS SCHOOL BOARD DOING)



Are Teacher Bullies Infecting Your School?
"Adult bullying is embedded in the competitive nature of our national and school culture..."

Principal, The Healthy Child - Speaking Out » Volume 85, No. 3, January/February 2006 » page(s) 61

by Steve Gruenert

Some of the meanest people in a school building are those we put in charge of our classrooms. Unfortunately, zero tolerance of adult bullies has yet to find its way into the faculty lounge. See if these descriptions of bullies in the corporate world fit anyone on your faculty:

Chronic bullies "try to dominate people...In [schools] that promote competition, chronic bullies are...seen as 'leaders.'"

Accidental bullies "are social fools... awkward and child-like...unaware of their effect on other people."

Substance-abusing bullies "are very dangerous and threatening."

Opportunistic bullies "are the 'climbers' ...capable of being charming and supportive...they know what is actually rewarded in the school" (Namie and Namie 2003).

How Adult Bullying Impacts Schools
Some people cannot wait to get to work so they may make someone's day miserable. It's a personal mission statement that can be intrinsically motivating. Adults do not have to be the actual targets to feel the negative effects that bullies have in an organization. One negative teacher can impact an entire school, and while all negative people are not bullies, all bullies are negative influences.

Much of what new teachers experience in some schools can be said to resemble bullying, especially by veteran teachers who feel compelled to indoctrinate new staff with stories of failure, frustration, and apathy. School cultures have unique ways of introducing new employees to the "way we do things around here," good or bad. {{{{{For example, bullying behavior may include withholding important information from others, smirks or sarcasm]]]]]] in the hallway, refusing unpleasant duties, and demanding the best-equipped classrooms. Surviving this "hazing" can fill new teachers with a desire to do the same with the next group of new teachers. This is what makes bullying a cultural phenomenon.

Another example of teacher bullying may take the form of a clique of teachers who unite to provide a bully-like effect. They may target teachers who offer up ideas or opinions they dislike at faculty meetings, deliberately ignore or withhold resources from them, or accuse them of not "fitting in."

How Should Principals Respond?
There should be zero tolerance for adult bullies in your school. Their behaviors make their targets feel miserable, frustrated, and angry-attitudes that affect their relationships with their students. As you read through this article, I bet some faces came to mind. These are the obvious ones that need to be addressed, and soon, with a face-to-face meeting, pulling no punches, in private. This is what effective teachers do with students who disrupt the climate of the school; they are quick, to the point, allowing no excuses, but not in an embarrassing way. Unfortunately, many of those being bullied are too proud to discuss it. The only way to identify bullies is to open lines of communication with those who have witnessed or experienced their bullying behavior.

Confronting the Bullies
Once bullies are identified, the principal should take appropriate action. Namie and Namie (2003) suggest confronting them individually behind closed doors with a tape recorder to determine just how committed they are to their bullying behavior. Some bullies may be unaware of their negative impact, some may blow off their conduct as a joke, and some may feel they have a legitimate reason to disrespect someone else. A confrontation with the school leadership may make some bullies reconsider and change their behavior. Those who choose to continue their behavior despite your admonitions have self-categorized themselves as "chronic bullies" and their continued employment now becomes an issue.

Adult bullying is embedded in the competitive nature of our national and school culture. It would seem that bullies are those who cannot get respect the old-fashioned way, by earning it. The need to dominate others is something our culture regards as an artifact of success.

As a leader, the last thing you should do is to bully the bullies. Your behavior will be perceived as inappropriate by your staff, who will join the bullies in perceiving you as the real bully.


Reference
Namie, G. and R. Namie. The Bully at Work. Naperville, Ill.: Sourcebooks, 2003.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Steve Gruenert is coordinator of the Principal Preparation Program at Indiana State University. His e-mail address is easteve@isugw.indstate.edu.

Mr. Green's response:
You know what? You're right. I think that the best method to respond to someone like you is to use the advice most of our mothers gave us- if you can't think of anything nice to say, don't say anything at all. Good day to you ma'am. -Shawn
-----Original Message-----
THEN THIS MESSAGE CAME TODAY AFTER KIM SKAJA RELEASED THE EMBARGOED STUDENT OPINION LETTER TO THE NW HERALD:
Mrs.(NAME REMOVED BY THIS AUTHOR)

I believe that Mr. Green was trying to share with you the wisdom my mother often shared with me. You can catch more flies with honey than you can with vinegar. Or, as Randy Swikle, Illinois Director of the Journalism Education Assocation more eloquently put it, "whether confronting an adversary or making reference to him, an honorable approach is to show consideration, good manners, and courtesy as we present our arguments. Strategically, it is also the most effective approach if the goal is to change someone’s persuasion.

Whatever terms are used, the statement is not made in an effort to bully another person. It is made in an effort to share wisdom.

I hope your weekend was as wonderful and fruitful as mine was. We concluded another successful middle school/high school variety show, enjoyed a visit from our adult children and made substantial gains towards finishing a home improvement project. As if that were not enough, we had terrific weather to boot. Life doesn't get much better. Enjoy your spring break, Kim -----Original Message-----


NOW...DOES ANYONE OUT THERE DOUBT WHAT KIND OF BACK STABBING, DUALISTIC PEOPLE WE ARE DEALING WITH?
and STILL NO ANSWER TO MY ORIGINAL QUESTION....
JUST ONLY PUT DOWNS, CRITICISM, AND ARROGANCE....THIS IS WHAT LARRY HAS TO DEAL WITH ALL THE TIME PEOPLE....AND THEY WHINE ABOUT FREEDOM OF SPEECH...WELL NOW THEY GOT SOME "FREEDOM" FROM ME!!
 

Dave,

If Mr. Snow were a yes person and supported the referenda I believe none of this would have been an issue. People do not like Mr. Snow and the finances he has uncovered in District 158 and District 300.

Cathy
 

First off, sunegirl, you accuse the school board (directly or indirectly) of being incompetent, unprofessional, having eyewear problems, and being adult bullies.

And then you expect them to give you a straight answer? Ok...

I think Mrs. Skaja's response was respectful and cordial, even if she didn't answer your question.


On the other subject, I don't think the Voice article would have even happened if he was a yes-man either. You can go against the flow without being abrasive. I don't know if it's intentional or not. The members of the school board whom I know personally are very professional, skilled, and qualified for the job, even if I don't always agree with how they do the job.
 

To Davewick:
I did NOT accuse the SCHOOLBOARD of incompetence...please read the letter again...I said that the PERSON HIRED TO DO THE FINANCES of the school district is failing in his job....because now we are on the financial watch list for not turning in our budget to the state on time....since the school board agreed to hire him...yes...they are who needs to make sure he's doing his job for 100K a year.... the eye wear mentioned was because Mr. Green felt it necessary to bully me instead of just answering the question....so apparently it is true that he is capable of complaining about a splinter in my eye, but cannot see the mote in his own...yes they are unprofessional in my opinion. This is not the first interaction I have had with this board...I have emails that go back over four years, davewick...and some of them reflect an attitude and stance that would never be acceptable in the business world, let alone public office!! REMEMBER, THESE PEOPLE ARE SUPPOSED TO BE PUBLIC SERVANTS!! As for Kim's response...expounding to me on the virtues of courtesy, good manners, and killing flies with honey while at that very same time she is releasing an embargoed editorial that most certainly was meant to smear and demean a fellow board member hardly seems professional cordial or respectful...what you are defending is behaviour that is the crux of why many of us in dist. 158 have not had a voice with the board....because the critical six simply believe they are above the unwashed masses. It has only been since Larry's arrival, than much of what has been needed in this district has been accomplished. This is why they have hated him so much, because he demands fairness...which is something they don't wish to practice. I find it amazing you would defend board members that have notoriously lied to the taxpayers about not only referendum issues, but about how money goes in and how it goes out of our district. There is no accounting...and when anyone dares call them on it, they immediately jump for the throat of the very taxpayer they beg more money from, and declare that taxpayer either a nut case or someone they don't need to bother answering. One of the former board members actually stated that "the taxpayers of dist. 158 are lazy and ignorant"....she actually said that at a public meeting held before the referendum of 2004...the one where all her fellow board members said Larry Snow was a liar and was causing trouble in the district and that they were the annointed ones who "knew the facts from the expert Mr. Halvorson"... WELL GUESS WHAT? They were all wrong...and not a single one of them has ever apologized for their bad mouthing, nasty public behaviour to Larry or Tony Quigliano....so if you want to defend a group of people who are supposed to be setting an example not only to the public, but also to the students of dist. 158, that's your perogative. But as for me, I tend to gravitate toward people who live their lives in honesty and their actions follow their words.
 

Are any of you actually District 158 Parents?
 

It's interesting how newspapers

get some of it right

some of the time

on some subjects

and some titles are right

some of the time too.

I've already read one of the pieces about the meeting. It's incorrect. And it missed the bigger point.

===========

Snow tells financial truth.
Other people don't like it.

Over and over and over again.


The board majority believes in selective Freedom of Speech as they try to tell him what he can do on his personal time as an individual. If he were to wear Harry Potter's cloak of invisibility to avoid their perception of a conflict - they'd attack him for HIDING information. Financial Truth, for me, wins any day over this board majority's selective Freedom of Speech.


4 members of the board majority were on watch when ........ oh why bother.

People who don't want financial truth won't listen.

People who want the status quo that existed before the referendum to continue won't listen.

People who think it's okay to lie or be incapable of doing the job about financial truth, acknowledged dropped educational plans, etc. - as long as it's done with a smile and "sincerity" won't listen.

They have the right to Freedom of Listening too. They are selective about that too.

In the meantime, D158 can't - literally still can't - balance its June 30, 2005 books and the newsletter has omitted that information for months in favor of fluffy heart-swelling concepts and the equivalent of "What's your favorite color?" It might come out now - because people like Snow dragged it out of world of meetings.

The board majority likes things to look good even if they aren't. I tried to imagine them on the other side of a financial issue where people painted rose colored pictures that weren't real. Frankly, I don't see them being real happy being sold a bill of goods. Of course, when they do it, it's "different".

The current books - wow - doesn't look like the new CFO (former state auditor I believe) and the audit/acctg. outfit and other staff are doing so hot there either. It's the same outfit that couldn't find the problems before the referendum either. Our board majority seems surprised. Gosh.

Let's all get over the diversions and the games.

Snow tells financial truth.

And some people don't like it.
 

It's true.

Snow tells financial truth.

And he can't seem to do it without being overly abrasive and confrontational. Hopefully someone will step up who is more diplomatic that can get some answers without deliberately offending the rest of the board. Then we might get some things done.
 

davewick: You accuse Mr. Snow as being abrasive, contentious, offensive...etc. Did you not read the offensive responses from Mr. Green? Did you not see that a lowly d158 citizen cannot just ask a simple question without being accused of all sorts of stuff that was never there! I WAS polite in my initial letter. Why couldn't they be professional and just answer my question as to why they would consider borrowing more money before they balance the budget? This school board notoriously ignored it's constiuentcy for many years, and even in the press called d158 citizens "lazy and ignorant". I know for a fact, Larry has never referred to any taxpayer in this district as lazy and ignorant, yet the board member who did this, was never held accountable and the board president, who was present at that meeting, and still sits as president, has never called for an apology from that person. What message do you think this sends to the constituency? Mr. Green's FIRST response accused me of not being respectful! There was NOTHING disrespectful in my letter... it isn't disrespectful to call Mr. Hall's competence into question when he is getting paid $100K a year, and we STILL don't have a budget, we STILL don't have resolution to the questions pre-referendum of where MILLIONS OF DOLLARS went He's supposed to be a former state auditor with experience for crying out loud...what's the deal? When you take a step back, this board gets really bent out of shape when they are pressed to answer ANY financial questions....now why would that be?? Do they have something to hide? Like maybe millions of dollars that were siphoned off before the referendum? It happened in Sauk Village.. It happened in Naperville.......Shawn Green's responses were VERY OFFENSIVE, SARCASTIC< BULLYING, which is the way this board has operated with the citizens of this school district since Hector was a pup! Never has Larry Snow been disrespectful to me, or to anyone I have witnessed him talking to. I have however on NUMEROUS occasions listened to Mr. Skala make fun of people, mock them; Ms. Skaja arrogantly put people down, and refuse to listen to their viewpoint, because "she has already spoken with the experts." Larry is assertive. We need assertive in that position...someone who won't back down simply because we have a board who wants to pick and choose what they will listen to and what they won't. And yes, to the other blogger, we are d158 parents.
 

Offended - an interesting word.

I am offended that a 10 year and 8 year board member (5 other board members, 4 administrators, school staff, and the PAC people) refused to listen to all the polite requests by many people to look into books that didn't make sense - before the kids were hurt by cuts that didn't have to happen and - before the district was sold into financial slavery and the potential for a $14m state aid loss.

I am offended that the previous board allowed employees to stay on staff who weren't doing a good job, who "supposedly" left the board hanging clueless in the wind. One of whom got a financial goodybye kiss. One of whom supposedly left the books a mess. (Books that still aren't balanced 8 months and counting after the fact.)

I am offended that a child I love - who is challenged lost out on much needed summer school because of transportation stupidity and staff who affected her status - things that didn't have to happen.

I am offended on behalf of all the people who wanted accurate numbers and who voted NO - wonderful people who during the campaign were somehow turned into child eating trolls by the Yes supporting "nice" people.

If there is any offending going on - let's worry less about what words are used, whether a please or thank you is attached, etc., etc. and worry more about an offensive board majority that doesn't want to hear financial truth - no matter where it's spoken.

Sitting around this school board campfired singing in harmony doesn't fix the past, present or future.
 

OH...and did you notice that the NW Herald in their "news" (gossip column, ahem) somehow ommitted that Kim Skaja was the one who leaked the embargoed editorial to them??? The same Kim Skaja who reported to me via email that she had such a "fruitful" weekend...the same Kim Skaja who is enlightening me with "wisdom" from her mother about catching more flies with honey than with vinegar....the same Kim Skaja who is counseling me on the merits of "good manners, honorable approach, consideration and courtesy". Tell me, how considerate was Kim of her fellow board member? What kind of "good" manners was she exhibiting? How honorable was her approach?
This reminds me so much of the key moment in Christ's life, when the crowd is screaming, "release Barrabas, release Barrabas" because it wasn't PC to align oneself with Him...but more PC to align oneself with a hypocrite and a murderer. The crowd is screaming at Larry Snow, and aligning themselves with character assassins, liars, and hypocrites.
 

Amen 4piggybanks2, AMEN!!!

It makes me sick the way real issues in education are trivialized by people pretending to be offended by irrelevant nonsense!

Who cares if some weak-minded board members can't handle a little brutal truth from a dedicated colleague like Larry Snow?

Larry Snow couldn't harm the cause of education as much as most board members if he tried. Does anybody really care about "hurt feelings" when people are poorly managing multimillion dollar operations and ruining the future of thousands of children?!?

Could you imagine if the same ridiculous mindset found its way into a corporate boardroom? "Gee Bill, your Office Development manager has a new product that could make us millions, but he was mean to me in the elevator, so lets fire him instead."

Or maybe the reverse would happen: "Sure, his ice cream plant caused an outbreak of botulism, but he's a really nice guy and just got his advanced Ed degree. Lets buy some more of his ice cream."

Does it take any amount of thought to see how ridiculous this whole mindset is? Education is too important to be left to soft-skinned educratic political types. If you can't handle it, be a guest on Oprah and stay off the school board!
 

AMEN TO PIGGY BANK...AND TO THE PESCHKES.
Yes, it ends up being a territorial pissing match...and all the while millions of dollars are being un-accounted for, misappropriated, and children's futures are just squandered. It makes me sick too.
 

Sunegirl,

Did you just compare Larry Snow to Jesus Christ?
 

Z,

That question about Jesus is silly. Are you being facetious, or do you truly fail to understand the point sunegirl was trying to make?

I'm not sure which is worse: reading comprehension levels so low as to misunderstand a grammar-school analogy, or attempted soft censorship by pretending to take offense?

We all knew what sunegirl was trying to say. Alas some unscrupulous people will pretend to misunderstand and take offense, hoping to silence opinions they don't agree with.
 

Z
The answer is No...I was not comparing Jesus to Larry Snow...I was however comparing the attitudes of the people around both of them as being markedly similar in behaviour, in action, and re-action...
It might be good for you to read that passage. You will find it in Matthew Chapter 27. Pay special attention to the tone of the crowd, and to the emotion of the people around, and what they based their "opinions" on. Pilate was so sickened by their behaviour, he washed his hands in front of them, and said,"I am innocent of the blood of this righteous man; see ye to it." It angered him that the crowd would choose a lying murderous person over someone who had done nothing but tell the truth. The good news is that despite what others may try to do, TRUTH ALWAYS WINS OUT!! ALWAYS!...a good lesson for us all.
 

I wonder if any of those impressionable young journalistic minds who were so worried about their freedom of speech ever considered this thought:
1)that while you were criticizing Larry Snow for going to d300 and informing the parents of those kids just how much this tax was really going to cost them, you are in essence saying, "I want my freedom of speech, but Larry, I don't want you to have any."
2) That had Larry Snow not uncovered the financial mess of d158 your very school paper may have been one of the cuts that the pro-referendum people threatened would be cut unless taxpayers said yes to the referendum.
3) that while their criticism was about him keeping his focus on the issues of d158 would be compromised by going to another district, that he has been one of the only proponenets of voting most consistently in favor of things that directly affect students: ie, bell and schedule times, busing, class sizes, and class offerings.
Now, why would a group of students who are all about freedom of speech want to criticize someone who has demonstrated over and over that he is on their side? Could it possibly be that they are 1) easily manipulated by authoritative figures over them via their naiivete? 2)leaning heavily on rumor and innuendo rather than facts 3)follow the PC crowd, rather than really look into an issue with objective critique? 4)being unable to recognize being manipulated as a political ping pong ball because of the propaganda machine at work all around them?
I wonder if those same kids ever stop to realize that when referenda are passed and praised, if they really truly understand the sacrafices their parents will end up making to accommodate the schools. For instance, the next time the young journalist wants help with college expenses, or gas money for the car, or car insurance help, or a brand new pair of designer somethingerother, and the money isn't there, because mom and dad are now both working to pay their increased taxes on the house they bought in the brand new subdivision, I wonder if that young journalist will connect those financial dots. I wonder if that young journalist can even see beyond the criticism and understand that behind all the rhetoric there is a real breathing human being who tells the truth about school finances, and that he has a right to express that truth. That he paid his dues, that he holds several hard earned math and science degrees that they themselves could only aspire to, and that at the very most, they owe him a deep debt of gratitude for saving their parents a tax burden that was almost triple what the rest of the sitting board members claimed it would be....I wonder.
 

Thank you for your responses. I would like to elaborate on my question. It was not, as Jim and Cathy suggest, an appeal for clarification, but a pointed remark intended to slow the progress toward Christian rhetoric. In my experience, it is always dangerous to conflate politicians with religious icons, because it encourages the same type of "blind" following that Sunegirl so adamantly rejects in the high school journalists.

I understand her analogy (although I appreciate the comments about my inferior levels of reading comprehension) and I assure you that I am neither "unscrupulous" nor interested in "soft censorship." Again, I do not object to the reference based upon any religious grounds, but rather on the principle that it is unwise to cast politicians in religious roles.

Sunegirl's metaphor of the crowd "screaming at Larry Snow, and aligning themselves with character assassins, liars, and hypocrites" places Mr. Snow in the position of the martyred Christ figure, regardless of her intentions to comment only on the crowd itself. My objection is based upon rhetoric and semantics, and was meant to be cautionary, not rude.

However, on the subject of rudeness, I would like to say that I agree with Mrs. Skaja's point regarding the flies and vinegar. Sunegirl, you present yourself very unprofessionally in these emails. It is true that Mr. Green's responses are sardonic and flip, but the tone of your emails is malicious, indecorous, and disrespectful.

If, as you claim, you were initially well-mannered in your emails to the board, then perhaps a continuation of that behavior will warrant more favorable results. Mr. Green says as much in his email to you. And as you point out, it is difficult to appreciate someone who treats you ungraciously.

You have stated that you believe respect is something that is "earned." That may be true. However, it is the responsibility of human beings to treat one another fairly, with consideration and good manners. Even if you do not respect a man, or respect his politics, it is in your interest-- as an educated and concerned adult and parent-- to treat others in a way that reflects your maturity, good will, and intelligence.

Insulting board members, telling Mr. Green that he has an "eyewear malfunction," and comparing them (collectively) to "liars," "hypocrites," and "character assassins" is hardly the behavior of someone who thinks she will be influential in their future decision-making. These remarks will only hurt your real purpose, which is to question the decisions they have made and to work together to improve the district's policies.

I am not saying that these board members are faultless-- nor do I aim to "assassinate" your character-- but I hope to express to you that your concerns will not be heard unless you find a way to present them that does not simultaneously attack your listeners.

Finally, I would like to address your comments about the Huntley High School journalism staff. While these students probably are "young" and "impressionable," I do not think they are unintelligent or "easily manipulated." The journalism students, although critical of Mr. Snow's decisions, treated him fairly in their editorial.

Furthermore, there is nothing in their comments to the press to indicate they are anything other than smart kids with a good understanding of the political system and strong, opinionated minds. Your dismissal of these students as unknowledgeable, naive, and weak is condescending and ugly.

Why put down students, who are the very worthwhile reason for fighting all of these political battles? Why insult their age and intelligence, claiming that they "could only aspire to" the degrees Mr. Snow possesses? Why not encourage them to find their own answers, develop their own conclusions? We should be supporting these kids. They are bright, courteous, and thoughtful.

Thank you for listening to my concerns.

Best,
Z.
 

well Z, I guess I could accept some of your suggestions if I was able to go to the board of education at d158 with a level playing field. For the last four years, my family and I have gone multiple times to this incumbent board and VERY NICELY I might add, and attempted to bring to their attention information that not only would have saved our students' class cuts, but also saved our school district lots of money. I have been met with a gamut of rudeness, disregard, disrespect, and indifference. Please tell me how one is supposed to continue being NICEY NICEY to people who neither listen to facts, honest figures, or even good reason? Yes, I do build fire under their feet, because for the last four years, they have done nothing to help the taxpayers of this district, and proved that in 2004. We still have a budget that has not been balanced since BEFORE 2004! OUR ILLUSTRIOUS BOARD STILL DOES NOT KNOW HOW MUCH MONEY IT ACTUALLY HAS TO WORK WITH, YET WANTS TO GO BORROW MORE MONEY AT TAXPAYER EXPENSE PLUS INTEREST BECAUSE IT REFUSES TO PRESS THE CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER FOR ANY ANSWERS!! I'm not sure you grasp the gravity of these sluggish decisions, but one of them is that the state will eventually sanction us, and we will get even less money....not to mention that when this same school board signed off on the bus fiasco the year prior to Larry's arrival, IT WAS FALSE INFORMATION! It was a complete lie, and the state auditor found it all...to the tune of $1 million dollars....which the state immediately pulled out of this year's operational fund....so when GIANT things like this happen, and NO ONE is held accountable, imagine the anger and resentment people feel when they are told by those same people who signed off on the buses, "we have to work together....we have to earn the people's trust...we have to show the public we are all about integrity." blah blah blah. I have a friend who has attended nearly every board meeting for the last three years....it would shock you if you could see her notes, and the way the board responds to people. The incumbent members treat average Joe citizens like they are somehow above the rest of the world...and that we are the lowly unwashed masses. AREN'T THEY THE ONES WHO ARE SUPPOSED TO BE THE PROFESSIONALS HERE?? AREN'T THEY THE ONES WHO ARE TO BE SETTING PUBLIC EXAMPLE?? I know for a fact that I have never come out in public and called them lazy or ignorant...but their board member did...in public...with the board president sitting right there...and he never one time said, UH, that's inappropriate, and you should not be calling the hands that feed us those types of names!! He ignored her comments. I have emails that go back four years that deal with the d158 administration, as well as the board, and I can tell you, none of them have shown anything to me but disrespect. I would like to know from you, what you would do in our shoes if you had a board that absolutely refuses to hear people in open board meetings....some have been escorted out of the building...what would you do? You are a taxpayer, you have a legitimate right to be hear, and they just refuse! My respect for them was lost, not because I just one day up and decided they were bad board members. My respect was lost because they, being the PUBLIC SERVANTS refuse to do the will of the people they are supposed to be serving. I went in with open heart and hands, and they went for my throat...so if I am a bit defensive, it's because they earned it...
If they would give me more than just flippant answers and snotty responses, I am sure I could possibly look past the four years of their nastiness. I have watched them bully my neighbors, my friends, and other members of the community...we have all watched them bully Larry...HAVE YOU EVER WONDERED WHY A GROUP OF PEOPLE WOULD FEEL THE NEED TO SIGN A LETTER RELEASED TO THE PAPER THAT LETS THE WHOLE WORLD KNOW THAT THEY ARE IN NO WAY IN A DIRECT RELATIONSHIP WITH HIM WHEN HE WAS INVITED TO SPEAK TO DISTRICT 300 PEOPLE? Why should that be a problem for them? I can tell you that one of the main complainers about this issue is none other than a former board member who called all the taxpayers in d158 lazy and ignorant! Now, tell me how a fair minded board...a professional board....an objective board can listen to someone like that, but refuses to listen to a citizen who has a simple direct non=threatening question? It is plain to all of us that Larry will continue to be a target no matter what he does, nor what he says, nor how he says it....because he doesn't play their game.
As for your comments to me about my views of the kids, I just wonder how much they really do know the facts and issues...the reason I say this is, because I talk with many of them...and I ask alot of questions...and it's true, some are very bright....but they are also very much influenced by what their teachers say...and sometimes, unfortunately, their teachers are dead wrong! Case in point: when the BEST group made their video of the kids on campus at huntley high school and played it on the high school closed circuit tv...and led the kids to believe that if the referendum didn't pass, there would be no sports, no band, no extra curricular activities...and showed empty playing fields...etc....this was a clear propaganda tactic...and Larry was also during this time being painted as a liar, a fool, a troublemaker, and someone who just didn't know what he was talking about....and then the referendum happened...and then two months later...it was discovered that the district had lied to us all...including the kids...what is interesting is that during this time, I listened to what kids said about Larry...I was going door to door to hand out leaflets...and their words were almost verbatim what the teachers, administrators, and the BEST video said...and they even told me that some teachers made comments like:"if your parents vote no, they really don't love you very much, because it will mean you will have a poor education". I speak from personal experience.I don't know whereof you speak. The kids I have talked to are fed one view only, and that is the d158 mantra....and if they hold a different view, they learn early on to not voice it too loud...because there are some in authority over them who may make things difficult for them...so yes, encouraging their OWN ideas would be a good thing...the only problem is that their OWN ideas are not always welcome. As for my critique of their naiivete, it is not meant as a negative...because we all have naiivete....I didn't call them weak...so I don't know where that came from! I just think it is good for them to also see that the things we all are striving for FOR THEM are not just via entitlement...that sometimes they may have to learn lessons of sacrifice and maybe they should look at the other side before jumping on the politically correct band wagon...
Some time ago, I brought up concerns to the middle school literature teacher about choices she made for required reading in 2001. This was after 9=11. The kids were not wanting to even go to school...this was also after some suicide attempts at the school which was kept very quiet by the way. The teacher's choices for required reading for the year included: murder, death, child abuse, dismemberment, and more death for her literary choices. For the whole year the kids were given a daily dose of death. When I politely suggested that this might be too heavy emotionally on kids at this time, I was basically told to take it to the board of education. They refused to hear my complaint. The principal lied to me to my face and told me there was nothing he could do about it...even though he sat at that time on the committee that made those decisions....so you see, the mindset that the d158 people have is "don't tell us what to do...don't tell us how to do it...don't tell us how much to spend...we KNOW IT ALL>" Many of us have stood up for our kids in this district, and no, we don't underestimate their intelligence or their skills thus far, but we do realize that they, like some of us, have more knowledge to gain. It is too bad that some who sit on the board of education believe that they no longer need to gain any more knowledge...that they have arrived..I apologize if my blog sounded harsh to the kids...but I also believe that whenever you write something and put your name to it, you should be completely sure of your facts and also that you understand the intent of the piece...I am not so sure those who wrote that piece really completely understand...I did not see one of them at the meetings I attended that Larry spoke at in d300...had they been there themselves, I think they would have come away with a different slant than the one they criticized him with.