Comments on: District 205 battles to keep unflattering letter private

By: Advil 87

Advil 87 — Mon, 22 Nov 2010 22:02:29 +0000

I was thinking of going to the school board meeting tomorrow concerning the cancelling of honors classes and the like. I guess I could ask for the letter too. Anyone else coming? I hope some people show up.

By: sharon gartman

sharon gartman — Sun, 17 Oct 2010 23:53:28 +0000

The “dictator” needs to be removed immediately and we are constantly amazed that she still remains in power. As for Dr. Hardy’s letter…why are we playing with this issue? Withholding it is illegal and immoral…bring it on! Let everyone/the Public read what the insiders have known since day one…not only does Sheffield feel she is above the law, she acts on it! What is wrong with this community…oh, I’ve asked that same question for months now! Wake up ,Rockford, while we can still salvage our School system! What is wrong with these ridiculous board members! Rockford, Unite! Come on, Dr. Hardy, share your letter with us! You are a respected, intelligent former member of our community…we miss you!Let’s hear it!

By: Mary Jo Powers

Mary Jo Powers — Mon, 11 Oct 2010 18:46:02 +0000

Exactly right MH…Patrick has absolutely nothing to hide. Dr. Sheffield, on the other hand, has a whole lot to hide.

By: MH

MH — Mon, 11 Oct 2010 00:44:44 +0000

Correction: this letter can be obtained through the FOIA. The district is playing dirty.

By: bookwrm

bookwrm — Sat, 09 Oct 2010 22:55:59 +0000

I agree that someone should ask Dr. Hardy about his letter. He owns it, is was written by him and he could certainly have a copy. Way to go RRTimes! Keep up the investigations.

By: MH

MH — Sat, 09 Oct 2010 22:29:17 +0000

This letter can’t be released unless Patrick himself grants permission since he is the author and owner. The letter was received (electronically and hardcopy) by several people who are not authorized or given permission to release it (board members and Sheffield).

By: Mary Jo Powers

Mary Jo Powers — Sat, 09 Oct 2010 15:51:51 +0000

Dione…when she has four solid votes on the Board, there isn’t much the rest of us can do besides speak up for those who have been silenced. We all need to be searching for good candidates to take the place of Bob Evans, David Kelley and Jeanne Westholder. If we can replace those 3 of the 4 running this spring, we have a chance to get rid of her.

By: John Penn

John Penn — Sat, 09 Oct 2010 03:40:21 +0000

Rather than deluge a school board that is challenged to get the 4 votes necessary to stop the madness…deluge Attorney General Lisa Madigan to demand RPS205 obey the law and release the letter as her office has already requested.

Contact Lisa Madigan at: http://www.illinoisattorneygeneral.gov/about/email_ag.jsp

By: Dione

Dione — Fri, 08 Oct 2010 20:40:48 +0000

I see a whole lot of talk and NO action. What are people going to DO to get rid of Sheffield??

Besides e-mailing the board. This is getting old.

By: Mary Jo Powers

Mary Jo Powers — Fri, 08 Oct 2010 17:55:58 +0000

Agreed Doug. Our group FOIA’d the ENI Program she brought to town last year. We were told it would cost us $2000 to have it printed…if they think these scare tactics are going to scare us away, they don’t know us very well.

By: MR

MR — Fri, 08 Oct 2010 17:26:32 +0000

An investigative reporter who can write interesting articles … in the Rockford area … what a novel idea.

By: Doug Clayburg

Doug Clayburg — Fri, 08 Oct 2010 14:21:19 +0000

FOIA was created for a reason.

Dr. Sheffield has spoken several times about the transparency of her operations.

RPS205 is starting to charge unrealistic ‘copying charges’ to receive FOIA requests…the time and tax dollars being spent to keep this letter and other requests private is concerning.

Transparency???

By: Mary Jo Powers

Mary Jo Powers — Fri, 08 Oct 2010 13:02:42 +0000

Way to go Joe! Keep doing what you’re doing. You have a lot of support behind you. An earlier poster asked…”why does District #205 think they’re above the Freedom Of Information Act”…Dr. Sheffield thinks she’s above the law in all areas and she has 4 board members who support her…it’s tragic.

By: Dina

Dina — Fri, 08 Oct 2010 12:59:16 +0000

Maybe we need to deluge the school board with requests to read this letter?

By: VeryModest

VeryModest — Fri, 08 Oct 2010 03:44:38 +0000

There must be some real good reading in that letter for them to want to bury it so badly. Has anyone thought of asking Patrick Hardy himself about releasing a copy of the letter. He wrote it, doesn’t that mean he owns it and it’s contents?

By: JimJohn7

JimJohn7 — Fri, 08 Oct 2010 03:38:30 +0000

Hymmmmmm, interesting.

By: Mary Jo Powers

Mary Jo Powers — Fri, 08 Oct 2010 03:37:10 +0000

Good for you Joe! Keep the pressure on…as will we. We are turning in lots of FOIA’s as well, and will continue to do so. She definitely feels that she is above the law. We all need to work hard to get some credible people to run for the school board…people that understand that they are her boss, not the other way around. This district will forever be picking up the pieces of wreckage from her.

By: Sue

Sue — Fri, 08 Oct 2010 01:09:06 +0000

I seriously want to read this letter. Keep going, Joe. You’re doing great!

By: A concerned taxpayer

A concerned taxpayer — Thu, 07 Oct 2010 19:47:17 +0000

I believe every tax payer who contributes to Dr. Sheffield’s salary has the right to read this letter. Why does District 205 believe that they are above the Freedom of Information Act?

By: John Penn

John Penn — Thu, 07 Oct 2010 14:36:37 +0000

Thank you Joe McGehee!

Wow, what an interesting article.

Considering Dr. Sheffield’s past actions and the chain of events that led Patrick Hardy to depart from RPS205, it could be quite an interesting letter.

Perhaps the contents are being hidden due to the clause in Dr. Sheffield’s that if she is let go for ’cause’ she does not receive her golden parachute $$$.

I for one want to read this letter.

By: Joan Wardzala

Joan Wardzala — Thu, 07 Oct 2010 02:28:35 +0000

It’s good to see Joe back in the saddle and doing a great job as always. What’s the next step? The District is obviously in violation.

By: K.P.

K.P. — Wed, 06 Oct 2010 22:27:22 +0000

So, what is the school district trying so desperately to hide?