Sheffield responds to ‘Rumor Tuesday’ at Nov. 9 Board of Education meeting
By Joe McGehee
Staff Writer
Rockford Public School District 205 Superintendent Dr. LaVonne M. Sheffield forwent her usual sports update during her comments at the Nov. 9 Rockford Board of Education meeting to address what she views as “rumors and misinformation” regarding her and her administration. Sheffield called Tuesday’s meeting “Rumor Tuesday.” To read Sheffield’s full remarks, click on the following link: Sheffield’s Nov. 9 remarks.
Specifically, Sheffield’s remarks focused on the work of local grassroots organization Watchdogs for Ethics in Education (WEE) and a guest column written by WEE members Jane Hayes and Mary Jo Powers that appeared in the Nov. 3 issue of The Rock River Times (click here to read the column). WEE organized a concerned taxpayers’ rally outside the District 205 Administration Building prior to the board meeting.
More than 50 people attended the rally. Signs read “BOARD—Have you forgotten? YOU WORK FOR US!”, “LIES, LIES AND MORE LIES,” “Have You forgotten Mrs. Westholder … Supt. Sheffield works for … YOU!!!”, and “Release Hardy’s Letter” (in relation to TRRT and the Illinois Press Association’s efforts to obtain a letter written by former Rockford Auburn High School Principal and current Freeport High School Principal Dr. Patrick Hardy).
Click here to read a full report of the Nov. 9 Board of Education meeting.
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3 Comments
If all we need to do is ask, why is it necessary to file Freedom of Information Act requests to get information. It seems to me, if Dr. Sheffield would just share the information the district would not have to spend $45,000 to deal with the requests.
Dr’ Sheffield, I am asking for a copy of Patrick Hardy’s response to the action taken when he sought another job. True, a lot of gossip has occurred involving this incident so please put it to rest by showing us the letters.
Of course she skipped the sports. There were really none to report. All the teams were out of the playoffs in one form or the other. I guess she could have talked about the NIC 10 champion female golfer not being able to golf in the sectionals due to a school rep not being there. But pretty sure she wanted to slip that one under the rug. Nope not much to talk about in the sporting arena.
“We cannot win this for our kids or our community if we arent unified as a team, Sheffield said. What it all comes down to is this: I am Rockford Public Schools. You are Rockford Public Schools. We are Rockford Public Schools. Together, we can achieve victory in the classroom.”, Dr. LaVonne Sheffield 8/29/2009
Collaboration is a key management skill…but we see that anyone in the public community that disagrees with Dr. Sheffield is referred to as crazy, a vocal minority, as someone that does not support our children’s education…and even racists.
Considering that is how she treats her critics in the public arena…just how do you suppose she treat critics within her employment…or cabinet? She has fired and repositioned several principals, fired nearly 600 teachers because she could, and demoted Dr. Patrick Hardy from one of the top positions in her Cabinet to Principal…is it any wonder why those in her employment are fearful. Yet Dr. Sheffield tells them to call her when they have a problem or concern. If you were employed under her reign, would you?
16 educators signed the anti-teacher manifesto Sheffield signed. Not only are the two authors Michelle Rhee and Joel Klein gone but so is Ron Huberman, chief executive, Chicago Public Schools Chicago Public Schools announced he will resign his $230,000-a-year-job effective Nov. 29…perhaps Dr. Sheffield will wake up and start to build that unified team…or join Rhee, Klein, and Huberman. Either solution would be a significant improvement.