Monday, June 02, 2008
Roiling Up the Troops?
Remember the big to do about changing the junior high school schedule in Crystal Lake?
I don't usually go to District 47 board meetings but that mid-December night I was in the audience at West School and wrote a story on the 5-2 decision.
The teachers had put on a full-court press to defeat the proposal, including yard signs.
After the decision, the teachers made good on their threat to get involved in the board elections and retaliated with a campaign to gain more teacher friendly board members at the spring election and picked up a vote.
Not as an organization, their leaders said, but the yard signs for the teacher-favored candidates were often at the same places the previous “NO CHANGES” signs were.
There was a board meeting recently where teacher satisfaction surveys were apparently reviewed. The teachers used the survey to express their continuing displeasure at the December, 2006, curriculum decision.
“hippiechick” posted the following on Huntley Neighbors:
I don't usually go to District 47 board meetings but that mid-December night I was in the audience at West School and wrote a story on the 5-2 decision.
The teachers had put on a full-court press to defeat the proposal, including yard signs. 
After the decision, the teachers made good on their threat to get involved in the board elections and retaliated with a campaign to gain more teacher friendly board members at the spring election and picked up a vote. Not as an organization, their leaders said, but the yard signs for the teacher-favored candidates were often at the same places the previous “NO CHANGES” signs were.
There was a board meeting recently where teacher satisfaction surveys were apparently reviewed. The teachers used the survey to express their continuing displeasure at the December, 2006, curriculum decision.
“hippiechick” posted the following on Huntley Neighbors:
“Did anyone else hear about what went down at the last CL school board meeting? It blows my mind that Green's comments made it into both NW & Daily Herald, but this one seemed to get missed.I asked District 47 Superintendent Ron Miller about the story and here's his reply:
I received a call from a friend who teaches in CL and attended the board meeting. He/She said that one of the school board members stated that teachers are nothing more than glorified baby sitters and they should be kissing the feet of those who hire them! Apparently there was more, but that was the highlight. Yikes!!
"I know we have some CL teachers on the forum. Did anyone else hear about this?“
Others who attended the board meeting agreed that what “hippiechick” reported was incorrect.”While my memory isn't what it use to be at my advancing age I am pretty positive that no board member made that direct statement. We were presenting the results of the student and teacher surveys that we did surrounding the new middle school day change we made this year. Upon reading some of the critical comments that were made by teachers I do believe that a comment was made that the decision to change the day and add more minutes to math and science has been made and that teachers that didn't like the decision 'needed to get over it.' A reference may also have been made that some teachers care about themselves more than their students as it related to the negative comments that were written about the change.
“I'm pretty sure I would have remembered if a board member said that our teachers are nothing but baby sitters and should be kissing our feet for being hired. Every one of our board members respects the passion and commitment that our teachers have towards providing educational excellence for all students - as do I. Most of our teachers will tell you that I firmly believe that this district is as good as we are because of our teaching professionals.”
Labels: CLETA, District 47, Huntley Neighbors, Ron Miller
Thursday, August 09, 2007
Tax Hikers Say Ed Aid Hike Not Enough
Take a look at this email from A+, a tax hiking group, composed of a lot of teacher unions, including
- the Barrington Education Association,
- the (Carpentsville) District 300 Education Service Personnel Association,
- Cary-Grove Education Association,
- the Crystal Lake Elementary Teachers Association (CLETA),
- the Dundee Township Democratic Organization,
- Elgin Community College/Adult Education,
- Fox Valley Citizens for Peace and Justice,
- Girl Scouts-Sybaquay Council,
- Illinois Migrant Council,
- Kane County Health Department,
- Local Education Association District 300,
- McHenry Classroom Teachers Association,
- McHenry County IFT Local 1642,
- Obama for America/Chicago,
Colleagues:
The time is now.
Today, a proposed state budget for FY 2008 was unveiled, calling for $568 million in additional money for education.
Some of the details of this proposed budget:
* $308.8 million to increase the foundation level by $400 to $5,734.
* $185.5 million to fully fund mandated categoricals.
* A minimal (2%) increase for Illinois’ public colleges and universities.
* $10 million for a block grant program for private schools.
After analyzing this proposal, IEA GR and governance have determined that the organization must oppose this “no-solution” budget.
It is imperative that you and all your colleagues, friends and neighbors immediately contact every member of the Illinois House and Senate and urge them to reject this budget plan.
Talking points
* This budget uses one-time money to fund education. Education needs and deserves a permanenent, predictable and sustainable revenue stream. No more year-to-year Band-aid budgets!
* This budget does little to address the inequities in the Illinois school funding system.
* This budget diverts money from public schools to private schools. Public dollars are for public schools.
If this budget can be stopped, we will be well-positioned, in the days and, if necessary, weeks to come, to push for a modest increase in the state income tax to fund education.
Colleagues, this is a crucial time. Contact your Illinois State Representative and Senator immediately.
Tell your legislator, whether you are represented by a Republican or a Democrat, that you expect them to vote “NO” on this “no solution” budget and that you want them to support an income tax increase for education.
We will keep you informed of any significant developments as they occur.
Labels: CLETA, Income Tax Hike
Tuesday, April 03, 2007
CLETA Raises $1,672
Even I was told that the Crystal Lake Elementary Teachers Association was not going to endorse any candidates in the April election, $1,672 was transferred into its account from the IEA’s PAC by this year.
Combined with the $3,245.43 on hand at the beginning of the year, the political action committee has over $4,900, which it could spend, if it wanted to.
Combined with the $3,245.43 on hand at the beginning of the year, the political action committee has over $4,900, which it could spend, if it wanted to.
Labels: CLETA, Crystal Lake Elementary Teachers Association, District 47
Wednesday, March 14, 2007
CLETA Not Endorsing Anyone in District 47 Board Elections
I just talked to Pam White, Co-President of Crystal Lake Elementary Teachers Association.
Some of her members had seen my article of January 31st, which said,
“Collectively as a group we made a decision that we weren’t going to endorse anyone,” she just told me.
I am happy to publish this refutation of the grapevine.
Some of her members had seen my article of January 31st, which said,
The grapevine has it that the Crystal Lake Elementary Teachers Association—CLETA, for short—is endorsing two people in School District 47’s school board elections.White told me that is incorrect.
Three seats are open, so, who knows, CLETA might have a third candidate.
“Collectively as a group we made a decision that we weren’t going to endorse anyone,” she just told me.
I am happy to publish this refutation of the grapevine.
Labels: CLETA, Crystal Lake Elementary Teachers Association
Saturday, February 03, 2007
CLETA Has Over Three Grand
$3,245.43, to be exact.
And, for those of you who did not read Wednesday’s McHenry County Blog, CLETA stands for Crystal Lake Elementary Teachers Association.
Wednesday I passed on the information I received about CLETA’s being involved in the Crystal Lake District 47’s school board elections.
The teachers’ union has apparently endorse incumbent Dave Hubbard and challenger Nancy Gonsiorek. Both opposed changing the encore class schedule.
Two incumbents besides Hubbard are up for election—Lisa Koeppel and Jeff Larkin. Koeppel and Larkin voted for the administration recommendation to lengthen class periods for math and science.
Hubbard did not.
As a member of the Illinois Education Association (the name of the dominant statewide teachers' union), the $3,200 available is not indicative of the resources that could be brought to bear in this race.
The IEA is capable of transferring thousands on a moment’s notice.
At minimum expect signs for CLETA’s endorsed candidates to pop up on most of the yards that had the “No Changes Please” signs before last fall’s election.
And, for those of you who did not read Wednesday’s McHenry County Blog, CLETA stands for Crystal Lake Elementary Teachers Association.
Wednesday I passed on the information I received about CLETA’s being involved in the Crystal Lake District 47’s school board elections.
The teachers’ union has apparently endorse incumbent Dave Hubbard and challenger Nancy Gonsiorek. Both opposed changing the encore class schedule.
Two incumbents besides Hubbard are up for election—Lisa Koeppel and Jeff Larkin. Koeppel and Larkin voted for the administration recommendation to lengthen class periods for math and science.
Hubbard did not.
As a member of the Illinois Education Association (the name of the dominant statewide teachers' union), the $3,200 available is not indicative of the resources that could be brought to bear in this race.
The IEA is capable of transferring thousands on a moment’s notice.
At minimum expect signs for CLETA’s endorsed candidates to pop up on most of the yards that had the “No Changes Please” signs before last fall’s election.
Labels: CLETA, Crystal Lake, District 47, IEA
Wednesday, January 31, 2007
Crystal Lake Teachers Support Two for District 47 School Board
The grapevine has it that the Crystal Lake Elementary Teachers Association—CLETA, for short—is endorsing two people in School District 47’s school board elections.
Three seats are open, so, who knows, CLETA might have a third candidate.
They are Dave Hubbard, one of the two school board members who voted against changing the schedule, and Nancy Gonsiorek, who is reported to have been active in the campaign to save the now-rejected Encore schedule.
Here's what Hubbard said the night the decision was made:
incumbent who voted for the change, and
· Bob Linning, a challenger= = = = =
The top head shot is of District 47 School Board member Dave Hubbard. District 47 Board member Lisa Knoeppel is seen below Hubbard. Incumbent District 47 Board member Jeff Larkin is the bottom picture.
Three seats are open, so, who knows, CLETA might have a third candidate.
They are Dave Hubbard, one of the two school board members who voted against changing the schedule, and Nancy Gonsiorek, who is reported to have been active in the campaign to save the now-rejected Encore schedule.
Here's what Hubbard said the night the decision was made:“I see it both ways. I’m just not there.”Hubbard also said,
Later: “We all come from different constituencies.”
"I don’t think we should be afraid to go to referendum. I, for one, would be in favor.Lisa Knoeppel, an incumbent up for re-election who voted for the change said,
“We’re actually giving the children more choices. To me it’s not taking away anything. It’s re-configuring what we’re currently offering."Besides Hubbard, Gonsiorek and Knoepple, the following have filed for the grade school board as of mid-Wednesday:· Jeff Larkin, an
incumbent who voted for the change, and· Bob Linning, a challenger= = = = =
The top head shot is of District 47 School Board member Dave Hubbard. District 47 Board member Lisa Knoeppel is seen below Hubbard. Incumbent District 47 Board member Jeff Larkin is the bottom picture.
Labels: Bob Linning, CLETA, Crystal Lake, Dave Hubbard, District 47, Jeff Larkin, Lisa Knoeppel, Nancy Gonsiorek
