Comments on: Guest Column: Comments for the Board of Education http://rockrivertimes.com/2010/09/08/guest-column-comments-for-the-board-of-education/ The Rock River Times - THE VOICE OF THE COMMUNITY SINCE 1993 Thu, 23 May 2013 03:48:46 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 hourly 1 By: Dione http://rockrivertimes.com/2010/09/08/guest-column-comments-for-the-board-of-education/comment-page-1/#comment-1195 Dione Sat, 11 Sep 2010 00:39:15 +0000 http://rockrivertimes.com/?p=26384#comment-1195 The other board members she treats with such disrespect, which is more than evident when you watch how she talks to them on TV. She treats them as if they work for her and they allow it. Why is this board so afraid to confront her and when she does start treating them with disrespect, why aren’t they calling her on the carpet right there. Reminding her that she works for them, not the other way around. That board needs to grow a pair. I'll take skin color for 1000$ Alex! The other board members she treats with such disrespect, which is more than evident when you watch how she talks to them on TV. She treats them as if they work for her and they allow it. Why is this board so afraid to confront her and when she does start treating them with disrespect, why aren’t they calling her on the carpet right there. Reminding her that she works for them, not the other way around. That board needs to grow a pair.

I’ll take skin color for 1000$ Alex!

]]> By: VeryModest http://rockrivertimes.com/2010/09/08/guest-column-comments-for-the-board-of-education/comment-page-1/#comment-1193 VeryModest Fri, 10 Sep 2010 04:35:54 +0000 http://rockrivertimes.com/?p=26384#comment-1193 You ain't seen nothin yet folks... Dr. Sheffield is already talking massive layoffs for next year, as if nearly 600 this past year wasn't massive enough. She is also talking about eliminating course offerings throughout the district from 150 down to possibly 50 or so offerings. There goes all of the honors courses throughout the district. The kids most interested and motivated to be in school will be punished once again for being smart and working hard. The word on the street is that she is looking at eliminating English classes but keeping the Language Arts classes. Now does this make sense? The kids are struggling and scoring low on the ISAT tests in reading with 2 English classes (1 English, 1 Language Arts)and she's thinking about cutting one of them. Has anyone on the board bothered to look at the new English/Language Arts books that were purchased this last summer. The middle school series is so dumbed down that it is an insult to even the average students. Someone must have received a nice little kick back on this one. Now all of the students in the middle schools will be taking extra tests this year with some of the English/Language Arts tests being given in the Social Studies classes because they already take so many tests in the English/Language Arts classes. Why don't we just do away with all of the curriculum and just test the kids everyday until we get the results that they are looking for. How much data do you generate to really need to get from all of these tests and are the tests actually helping the students to learn or are they just taking up class time that could be used for actually teaching the curriculum. Does anyone on the Board of Education or for that matter in the general public realize that teachers are no longer being allowed to teach and that the lessons they are permitted to go through with the students are all scripted. These people all have college degrees in teaching with a large number of them having advanced degrees and they are relegating to teaching from scripted lessons. They are being told what they can and can't put up on their classroom walls to try and help motivate students. I don't think we can wait for the board elections next year. The damage will already be done to our students and I really believe in my heart she doesn't care. All she is concerned with is trying to break the union at all costs - including throwing the students under the bus. She is already posturing for long and ugly negotiations which can only lead to one thing - a strike. That in itself will hurt the kids even more than what she is doing to them now but she doesn't seem to care and she still has 4 rubber stamps on the school board. The other board members she treats with such disrespect, which is more than evident when you watch how she talks to them on TV. She treats them as if they work for her and they allow it. Why is this board so afraid to confront her and when she does start treating them with disrespect, why aren't they calling her on the carpet right there. Reminding her that she works for them, not the other way around. That board needs to grow a pair. You ain’t seen nothin yet folks… Dr. Sheffield is already talking massive layoffs for next year, as if nearly 600 this past year wasn’t massive enough. She is also talking about eliminating course offerings throughout the district from 150 down to possibly 50 or so offerings. There goes all of the honors courses throughout the district. The kids most interested and motivated to be in school will be punished once again for being smart and working hard. The word on the street is that she is looking at eliminating English classes but keeping the Language Arts classes. Now does this make sense? The kids are struggling and scoring low on the ISAT tests in reading with 2 English classes (1 English, 1 Language Arts)and she’s thinking about cutting one of them. Has anyone on the board bothered to look at the new English/Language Arts books that were purchased this last summer. The middle school series is so dumbed down that it is an insult to even the average students. Someone must have received a nice little kick back on this one. Now all of the students in the middle schools will be taking extra tests this year with some of the English/Language Arts tests being given in the Social Studies classes because they already take so many tests in the English/Language Arts classes. Why don’t we just do away with all of the curriculum and just test the kids everyday until we get the results that they are looking for. How much data do you generate to really need to get from all of these tests and are the tests actually helping the students to learn or are they just taking up class time that could be used for actually teaching the curriculum. Does anyone on the Board of Education or for that matter in the general public realize that teachers are no longer being allowed to teach and that the lessons they are permitted to go through with the students are all scripted. These people all have college degrees in teaching with a large number of them having advanced degrees and they are relegating to teaching from scripted lessons. They are being told what they can and can’t put up on their classroom walls to try and help motivate students. I don’t think we can wait for the board elections next year. The damage will already be done to our students and I really believe in my heart she doesn’t care. All she is concerned with is trying to break the union at all costs – including throwing the students under the bus. She is already posturing for long and ugly negotiations which can only lead to one thing – a strike. That in itself will hurt the kids even more than what she is doing to them now but she doesn’t seem to care and she still has 4 rubber stamps on the school board. The other board members she treats with such disrespect, which is more than evident when you watch how she talks to them on TV. She treats them as if they work for her and they allow it. Why is this board so afraid to confront her and when she does start treating them with disrespect, why aren’t they calling her on the carpet right there. Reminding her that she works for them, not the other way around. That board needs to grow a pair.

]]> By: dagney taggert http://rockrivertimes.com/2010/09/08/guest-column-comments-for-the-board-of-education/comment-page-1/#comment-1190 dagney taggert Thu, 09 Sep 2010 14:04:58 +0000 http://rockrivertimes.com/?p=26384#comment-1190 Well written Doug. I too shudder when an elected official or authority use the word transparency. When Bob Evans used it at he board meeting regarding the budget I knew the public would be locked out of information. Your letter makes it clear that my instincts were correct. It's frustrating. Dagney Well written Doug. I too shudder when an elected official or authority use the word transparency. When Bob Evans used it at he board meeting regarding the budget I knew the public would be locked out of information. Your letter makes it clear that my instincts were correct. It’s frustrating.

Dagney

]]> By: Doug Clayburg http://rockrivertimes.com/2010/09/08/guest-column-comments-for-the-board-of-education/comment-page-1/#comment-1189 Doug Clayburg Thu, 09 Sep 2010 10:12:05 +0000 http://rockrivertimes.com/?p=26384#comment-1189 RPS205 did what was required and made the 2010-2011 proposed budget available for public view. They also did the minimum required by law. While it was possible to ‘see’ the budget, copies were not made available to take away for further review and no on-line access was provided. Considering the challenge a $41 million dollar deficit budget provides our school system, it is difficult to comprehend why easier access to the budget and more feedback from business professionals was not encouraged. It is concerning that the names, agenda, and follow up plans of a committee discussing Rockford Public Schools budget, the use of our tax dollars, and the future of the education of our children would take place in secrecy. I did receive the list of Dr. Sheffield’s newly formed budget committee. Unfortunately, I was required to obtain them via the Freedom of Information act instead of from a general request to Mark Bonne. Committee Members: Jon Anderson, Connie Bland, Kenneth Board, Kenneth Copeland, Janice Fadden, Nancy Kalchbrenner, Bob Trojan, and the RPS205 Cabinet. I found it interesting that such a small group of only 7 community representatives would include 4 members that are also on the board of the Rockford Charter School Initiative. While I do not have enough knowledge of the value charter schools would bring or take away from Rockford Public Schools, I do see a conflict of interest in opening RPS205 books to a charter school advocates. http://www.rockfordcharterschools.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=21&Itemid=32 I have no association with any union, teachers group, or other formal organization. As a life long resident of Rockford concerned about the violence taking place in our schools last December I decided to attend a school board meeting. Since then I have made it a priority to try and attend as many of these meetings as possible. I have offered my assistance to Dr. Sheffield, the RPS205 administration, and Board on various projects. I have also requested to be included on committees for Rockford Alignment, a local organization that includes Dr. Sheffield and several RPS205 staff. I have contacted Mayor Morrissey’s office and never received a reply. While I may not be well connected, have money to contribute, or political ties, I do have a solid understanding of the Rockford community and am in touch with many area residents. As a community resident volunteering my services, it has been discouraging to not be able to contribute to such a key issue as education. Sincerely, Doug Clayburg RPS205 did what was required and made the 2010-2011 proposed budget available for public view. They also did the minimum required by law. While it was possible to ‘see’ the budget, copies were not made available to take away for further review and no on-line access was provided. Considering the challenge a $41 million dollar deficit budget provides our school system, it is difficult to comprehend why easier access to the budget and more feedback from business professionals was not encouraged.

It is concerning that the names, agenda, and follow up plans of a committee discussing Rockford Public Schools budget, the use of our tax dollars, and the future of the education of our children would take place in secrecy.

I did receive the list of Dr. Sheffield’s newly formed budget committee. Unfortunately, I was required to obtain them via the Freedom of Information act instead of from a general request to Mark Bonne.

Committee Members: Jon Anderson, Connie Bland, Kenneth Board, Kenneth Copeland, Janice Fadden, Nancy Kalchbrenner, Bob Trojan, and the RPS205 Cabinet.

I found it interesting that such a small group of only 7 community representatives would include 4 members that are also on the board of the Rockford Charter School Initiative. While I do not have enough knowledge of the value charter schools would bring or take away from Rockford Public Schools, I do see a conflict of interest in opening RPS205 books to a charter school advocates.

http://www.rockfordcharterschools.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=21&Itemid=32

I have no association with any union, teachers group, or other formal organization. As a life long resident of Rockford concerned about the violence taking place in our schools last December I decided to attend a school board meeting. Since then I have made it a priority to try and attend as many of these meetings as possible.

I have offered my assistance to Dr. Sheffield, the RPS205 administration, and Board on various projects. I have also requested to be included on committees for Rockford Alignment, a local organization that includes Dr. Sheffield and several RPS205 staff. I have contacted Mayor Morrissey’s office and never received a reply. While I may not be well connected, have money to contribute, or political ties, I do have a solid understanding of the Rockford community and am in touch with many area residents. As a community resident volunteering my services, it has been discouraging to not be able to contribute to such a key issue as education.

Sincerely,
Doug Clayburg

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