District 205 releases Hardy, Sheffield letters
To view a pdf of Dr. LaVonne Sheffield’s June 17, 2010, letter to Dr. Patrick Hardy titled “Re: Separation of Employment,” click here.
Dr. Patrick Hardy’s June 19, 2010, letter, titled “Rebuttal to Letter dated June 17, 2010 From Lavonne Sheffield,” is broken into the following three sections:
For pages 1-3 of Hardy’s letter, click here
For pages 4-6 of Hardy’s letter, click here
For pages 7-9 of Hardy’s letter, click here
By Joe McGehee
Staff Writer
and Brandon Reid
Assistant Editor
Late this afternoon (Wednesday, Nov. 24), Rockford Public School District 205 released an unflattering letter written by former Rockford Auburn High School Principal and current Freeport High School Principal Dr. Patrick Hardy that The Rock River Times (TRRT) has been battling for more than four months to have released. The district also released the June 17, 2010, letter by District 205 Superintendent Dr. LaVonne M. Sheffield titled “Re: Separation of Employment,” which Hardy’s letter was in response to.
An e-mail sent by District 205 Chief Communications Officer Mark Bonne Nov. 24 stated: “Superintendent LaVonne M. Sheffield decided to make the letter public after being informed by Hinshaw & Culbertson LLP that the Public Access Counselor (PAC) for the Illinois Attorney General has issued a verbal opinion that Dr. Hardy’s letter does not fall within the FOIA [Freedom of Information Act] exemption regarding disciplinary documents, a distinction not previously addressed.”
District 205 asserted that it stands by its position that releasing the letter without Hardy’s permission would breach Hardy’s rights to confidentiality.
The verbal opinion issued by the PAC was in response to the district’s third attempt at an exemption to the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). TRRT has been attempting since Aug. 18 to obtain the letter from District 205 through various FOIA requests. However, the district had refused to release the letter, even after the Illinois Attorney General’s PAC previously ruled twice the letter should be released under the FOIA.
The district filed two exemption requests with the PAC that claimed the letter was a private matter and a personnel matter, respectively. Both exemption requests were flatly rejected by the PAC Sept. 29. The PAC’s Sept. 29 ruling stated District 205 should “…release the letter to [TRRT Staff Writer] Mr. [Joe] McGehee after providing Dr. Hardy written notice…”. The PAC office went on to state that their ruling should “…serve to close this matter.”
The Illinois Press Association (IPA), TRRT and TRRT Staff Writer Joe McGehee filed a lawsuit against District 205 and Sheffield Nov. 3 stemming from the district’s refusal to follow the FOIA and release the letter. The district’s Nov. 24 release of the letter will not affect the course of that lawsuit.
A preliminary hearing in the lawsuit filed against District 205 by TRRT and the IPA is scheduled for Feb. 2, 2011, in Room 426 of the Winnebago County Courthouse. If the IPA and TRRT are victorious, District 205 would be responsible for not only covering the legal fees of the plaintiffs, but could also face fines of up to $5,000.
The IPA and TRRT are among the first to file suit against a public body under the revised FOIA in the state of Illinois. In fact, District 205 is the first public body in the state to face litigation for not adhering to the guidelines of the FOIA.
According to the complaint: “The School District willfully and intentionally failed to comply with the FOIA in relying on a series of baseless exemptions, one after another, in an effort to avoid compliance with the FOIA and eventually abandoning those exemptions only to cite further inapplicable exemptions.”
The complaint also asserts that “In alleging those baseless exemptions of the FOIA, the School District acted in bad faith.”
TRRT issued the following statement Nov. 24: “The Rock River Times is pleased to see District 205 finally follow the letter of the law and release Dr. Patrick Hardy’s letter to the public. The district’s refusal to comply with the Freedom of Information Act—even after twice being ordered to do so by the Illinois Attorney General’s Public Access Counselor—set an extremely poor example for the students of the district that suggested administrators were somehow above the law. Additionally, the district’s refusal to release the letter sent an unfortunate message to the community that suggested District 205 administrators—including members of the Board of Education—were answerable to no one. Indeed, District 205 is the largest taxing body in the City of Rockford, and taxpayers have a right to hold those who oversee the district accountable for their actions. The release of this letter is central to the media’s role in assisting taxpayers with fulfilling that right.
“We also find it unfortunate that District 205 clearly employed a strategy of releasing the letter just prior to the Thanksgiving holiday with the hope it would be lost amid the hustle and bustle of the season. The letter easily could have been released at the Nov. 23 Board of Education meeting—or even sooner.
“With regard to our lawsuit against Rockford Public School District 205, we will continue with our efforts to ensure the public’s right to know is protected under the fullest extent of the law. A preliminary hearing in the case is scheduled for Feb. 2, 2011, in Room 426 of the Winnebago County Courthouse.”
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28 Comments
This is an outrage. When are we going to get our act together Rockford? This superintend is systematically destroying our school system through fear and bullying. Whenever anyone apposes her, such as Watchdogs for Ethics in Education (WEE), she replies with insults and dismisses them. Administrators and teachers fear her. And her drinking problems are deplorable. Shetfeild…your fired.
Sincerely,
A Rockford tax payer
My local radio station verified the authenticity of the letter on Monday and released it. I’m pleased District 205 vindicated my decision today. Ken DeCoster WNTA Radio (local radio station)
Well, the letters are out…….NOW what is the school board going to do????
Fire Sheffield (and her handpicked Cabinet) immediately or Sheffield and her Cabinet should be suspended without pay effective immediately whichever the BOE can do legally AND DO NOT RELY on Mrs. Hoadley’s legal advice as SHE TOO has been complicent!!
Dr. Sheffield’s drunken behavior at conferences PAID for by taxpayers and her Cabinet’s compliance with those behaviors justify dismissal. I am sure in Dr. Sheffield’s contract and ALL cabinet members’ is SOMETHING that states she/they must conduct herself/themselves in an appropriate manner while representing the school district or be dismissed without financial buyout of her/their contracts. Shopping and getting pedicures instead of attending tax paid conferences!!!!
She and her staff need to go NOW.
This school board had better get with the program and FAST. You can be assured come election time NONE of the BOE members that are up for election will be re-elected after this fallout has happened. The BOE had these letters and CHOSE NOT TO DO ANYTHING! how disgusting is THAT!!
I’m shocked and very disappointed in our superintendent. The school board has a responsibility to the taxpayers to investigate/review these issues, reprimand as appropriate and notify the public when this has been completed.
This is evidence beyond a shadow of any doubt that Kelley, Westholder, Jackson, and Evans have been covering up her unbelievable behavior. These board members want her to destroy whats left of the school system. She should have been fired long ago. There is no doubt they will not fire her. This is going to get really ugly. How any decent minded citizen of this city support this administration after this letter is beyond me. Dr. Hardy was a trustworthy excellent employee of our district. Compare that to what has transpired since Sheffield came to town. It is enough to make you sick. School board, do you have any shame? Dr. Evans, do the right thing, the time has come to get rid of this nightmare of a superintendant.
Its a sport for Sheffield to lie and “mow people down”. I know this personally as do many in the school district. There seems to be no investigation of her accusations and lies which have awful consequences to the well being of those who are her targets. Time to put in a new school board who have the backbone to put their (aka “our”) employee, Superintendent Sheffield, to task for flagrant misuse of taxpayer monies and her bullying. Her every move in this district should be held suspect!
LaVonne, time to admit you need AA.
This just shows that all of the crazies were right about her. It’s not that they are crazy, it’s ……. It also shows that what the teachers and building level administrators have been talking about since she took over – her bullying tactics, her retaliation, her power trip, and all of the other things she has been doing to undermine the staff within the district. A very close look should also now be made of everyone of her hand chosen cabinet members, as they too have abused their positions and power to help Sheffield to run this district into the ground. I also still believe that a forensic audit should be called for and find out where every last cent of our money went to that she has spent with and without board approval. I just have a feeling if that information would come out the people in District 205 would be screaming their heads off. She has looked at all of us as just some country bumpkins that have no smarts what-so-ever.
The Hardy letter confirms Lavonne Sheffields history of mismanaging public funds, creating an environment of fear and intimidation for employees who dare question her, and her ability to manipulate numbers and people. Disturbing and disgusting yet impressive at the same time. She is slick. Her willingness to sell our childrens education in order to line her own pocket is shameful.
Rockford parents WAKE UP!
Her statement of having no pony in the race on the topic of zones/neighborhood shows her lack of commitment to our community, children and public school system. The top employee of a public school system who is being paid $200,000.00/year should be the first to voice their opinion on a subject that will have direct impact on everyone in D205.
The decision to eliminate honors classes show her lack of commitment to higher achieving students.
The decision to change the discipline code shows her commitment to the thugs of the district and her willingness to sell out our childrens safety and education in order to receive federal dollars for every butt in the classroom.
The purchase of a new reading program shows her lack of respect for education professionals called TEACHERS, who should have the final say on what works in their classroom; after all teachers will be held accountable.
The contract with ENI shows us her willingness to use public funds on services that do no service for our children but only benefit her pocket. Why no discussion of the fabulous vacation Lavonne and crew, including BOE member, Ms. Jackson, received after the ENI purchase? Shame, shame…
Teflon, do not play the RACE CARD on this one. IT WILL NOT WORK.
BOARD OF EDUCATION you are the elected VOICE of the citizens!
DEMAND the immediate resignation of this superintendent!
THE HUGE DEFICIT she has spent us into, the low morale of our teachers, and the DISRUPTIVE environment our children and teachers are being forced to contend with everydat has GONE ON LONG ENOUGH!
Whether or not the members of the BOE are education professionals is a moot point.
THE Board of Education ARE THE VOICE OF the people.
ROCKFORD TAXPAYERS NEED TO DEMAND THAT THE BOE CLEAN HOUSE!
All administrators hired and promoted under TEFLON LAVONNE need to be FIRED. IMMEDIATELY!
I read Sheffield’s letter and heard her call us a bunch of “crazies”.
These are the typical rantings of an addict. She has all the classic signs. Wake up people!! Addicts like her love to use spin and deflection every time the heat is on. When the flame gets hot enough, she leaves town…probably on our dime to boot.
Feb 2, 2011: The day RPS205 sees it’s shadow and, boy, what a winter they will have ahead of them…
Now is the winter of their discontent made glorious summer by TRRT…
David Kelly should step down and allow for a special election to fill his position in the upcoming elections.
What if the only press professionals we could rely on for in-depth and unbiased coverage of the school district were the editorial board of the Rockford Register Star? Thank you TRRT for your service to our community by your dogged determination to get the truth out.
Joe Clark the black principal in the movie Lean on Me, referred to himself as the “HNIC”. Although Mr. Clark had integrity and competency we can see the result of the “HNIC” phenomenon from Washington D.C to Rockford. Can we really change things in with America and the Rockford School District? Yes We Can!
I believe that this exchange of letters is a personnel issue. The Register Star quotes Dr. Hardy as saying “I am sad that my privacy has been trampled in this manner. I have no further comments on the matter” And yes, I agree 100% with Dr. Hardy. I am ashamed that the RRT would trample his privacy in the name of Freedom of Press. On the other hand, I do think his accusations should be investigated, not by TRRT, but by some one who won’t do a character assassination, and if found true, then bye-bye LaVonne.
God Bless Dr. Hardy for standing up for the students, parents and taxpayers of Rockford. Sadly the board memebers and the superintendent don’t stand up for right of students, parents and the taxpayers.
One only has to read Sheffield’s letter to Dr. Hardy and wonder where she came from. He grammer and punctuation is terrible. Something along the lines of a 6th graders, my apoligies to 6th graders as I am only trying to make a point.
Rockford finally does have a good Godly man in a position to help Rockford schools and what do they do? They return to the ways of the Queen. I don’t see how the school board should not be disbanded and taken over instead by a group of truely concerned parents and taxpayers. The Queen should be sent off to perhaps the whitehouse as her style more closely models Chicago thugery. By the way I in no way claim that my grammer or punctuation is by any means great. I can tell you my bloodpressure is boiling right now and rightfully so. I did move this year from Rockford, finally forced to do so because this city will never change. Take the chance you have no to fire her and get rid of the current board if Rockford schools are to have any chance at of of changing.
It doesn’t take a Philadelphia lawyer to see that the school board is knee-deep in cover-ups. Even before this letter, just watching the school board meetings and the way this district is going to hell in a hand bag indicates the leadership is as corrupt as anything. However, if the ROCKFORD TAXPAYERS DO NOT STAND UP, IT WILL CONTINUE. Do you really think David Kelley is going to just “step down?” Do you really think Sheffield is just going to “step down?” Heck no! They know NOBODY is going to fight back, because in the past this stuff was never covered in the media. Now that it is, it is the TAXPAYERS responsibility to use the information, and stand up to this ABUSE OF POWER. Stand up, Rockford! Refuse to have your tax dollars go to this NONSENSE! A boycott is in order and a protest MUST occur. There is NO OTHER WAY TO FIX THIS. Just asking them to resign or be fired isn’t enough. DEMAND IT. DEMAND IT. DEMAND IT. They work for us! They work for US in the best interest of our children. These snakes need to go, but it has to be a community effort of people who understand how serious the problem is to get it done. Change and revolution can’t happen without teamwork.
As to the Chicago conference, does anyone remember Sheffield’s justification in spending the night and not driving back and forth… and to find out she skipped out. She is full of it and members of the Board are complicit. As reported by WREX 13, last January.
ROCKFORD — Despite shrinking revenues and concerns over tightening budgets, Rockford School District 205 board members and administrators spend nearly $20,000 dollars on a weekend conference.
Nobody at the district, including board President David Kelley and Superintendent LaVonne Sheffield, could tell me how much the conference cost. In fact, neither knew how many people went. But after sifting through 70 pages of receipts and other documents, I finally came up with some numbers.
“I attended a day-long seminar on what’s referred to as the Meyer-Briggs type indicator,” he says. “And the purpose of that was to help board members better understand each other.”
Kelley says the Joint Annual Conference, held from Nov. 20-22, was well worth attending. It cost $340 per person just to get in, and hundreds more for workshops.
Then there’s lodging. I asked Sheffield why the board and her staff spent over $8,000 on hotel rooms in a city two hours away rather than coming back at night.
“I don’t think that’s a reasonable expectation,” she said. “You start class at 7:30 in the morning and you don’t finish till 11 o’clock that night.”
And then there’s meals, including this dinner at Shula’s restaurant, which cost over $2,000.
“We went to restaurants in the hotel,” Sheffield says.
Now the district is trying to get $1,000 back for unapproved expenses such as spouses’ dinners, in-room movies, and other charges. In this e-mail, sent a few days ago, weeks after the conference, a district executive assistant, tells them to hurry with their checks because somebody made a freedom of information request looking into the matter. The e-mail doesn’t mention who, but 13 News submitted a request during that timeframe to get the information in this report.
Dr. Hardy is an administrator with great leadership qualities as well as educational knowledge. It was a pleasure to work for him for two and a half years. He supported teachers but also asked for high standards in the classroom and dedicated time outside of the classroom. This is what it needed to get our school on track.
I have also had two occasions to meet with Dr. Sheffied; both times involved intimidation tactics and insincere irrelevant remarks. She is way out of her ballpark adn relies on bully tactics when all else fails.
Rumors abounded once Ms Sheffield was hired;the BOA ignored and disregarded all of them. Complaint upon complaint was forwarded to anyone who would listen or had any kind of influence to act upon them.
Many, many 205 citizens begged and demanded that Ms Sheffield’s actions be investigated. However dissadents were called crazies and racists.
Now with the proof unfolding (yes it must be verified), we the citizens of RPS 205 are again holding the financial bag. To investigate will cost us tax dollars, to buy her out will cost us tax dollars, and on and on.
Therefore, if my money is to be spent I would prefer hiring an attorney to sue the BOA and Lavonne Sheffield. The BOA has been negligent and possibly complicit from the very beginning. I want to sue Sheffield for monies returned for not performing the job she was hired for and for monies returned for payment made to her “squad” of made up executive positions we were forced to pay for. I want to sue Sheffield for using our money to attend seminars and conferences that were attended to simply line her pockets. I want to sue Sheffield for not attending the required meetings that I paid for. I want to sue the BOA for hiring a headhunter that guaranteed finding a qualifed employee. I want to sue the BOA for knowing this employee had no qualifications for heading our school district. I want to sue the BOA for hiring an employee who had already been dismissed for unethical behavior.
My letter could go on and on.
It is time for the citizens of 205 to hold our officials accountable.
I want my money back from the BOA members, Lavonne Sheffield, and anyone complicit in her her shenanigans and ultimate hiring.
Signed,
ONE TICKED OFF ROCKFORD RESIDENT WHO IS WAITING FOR A CHECK FROM SHEFFIELD
Thank you to TRRT for pursuing this matter. It is unbelievable what the people of this community are allowing to happen in the PUBLIC school district. If action is not taken soon, it’s going to get even worse in Rockford. “Her” previous district referred to “Her” as the second Katrina to hit them. Well, now we know what they were talking about. There is so much more than all this. Why are community members still backing “Her”? Wake up people and let your voices be heard. Also, thank you to Dr. Hardy. Although he stated he did not want to be a part of this, his letters are serving a very important part in starting the process of fixing what is happening in RPS205. Dr. Hardy is a true professional who should be held in highest regard. Perhaps after “She” is run out of town, we could ask Dr. Hardy to come and try to help us fix the damage, it will take years!
I am ALMOST at a loss of what to say!! It’s no wonder our scores are so low, our morale is so low and our children can’t learn in the classrooms because the teachers spend half of the time trying to control the classroom!!! This is just RIDICULOUS!!!! It is appalling to me that ADULTS cannot conduct themselves in a manner that is in the best interests of the children. If you’re going to a conference, by golly, get some good information out of it, PLEASE!! Especially if we’re paying for it!! Use it to help our children!! It’s so SAD to say, but if my child did not require the services of an IEP, I would do ANYTHING necessary to send my child to a private school. Yes, there are problems there, too, but at least classrooms aren’t interrupted every 5 min., fights aren’t breaking out, the teachers are respected. WAKE UP, before we DON’T HAVE a RPS #205!!! Sheffield should be ashamed, as should the BOE. I feel the BOE should start looking for a new Superintendent and Sheffield should resign. And, publicly, Mrs. Sheffield, you owe Dr. Hardy an apology. Oh, and btw, I LOVED the movie “Lean On Me!” We need a “Joe Clark” here!!! God help us!!!
I know LaVonne Sheffield. The fact that she is the Rockford School District 205 is a shock. She’s horrible at what she does. She’s a self-serving, loudmouth who loves to drink and put people down when she’s intoxicated. I’ve called media outlets about this and they all laughed at me. Who is the joke on now?
I’m not sure if the existence of the article below is common knowledge or not. It is a 2003 report in a Colorado paper on the sad state of Detroit school administrators. As disturbing as Sheffield’s behavior is, I am equally bothered by the incompetence of those that brought her here. Please read the article.
http://www.csindy.com/colorado/keeping-up-with-ken-burnley/Content?oid=1117604
Sadly, teachers have been fearful and silenced since the beginning of this horrid faux-leader’s reign. From the outrageous Discipline Code changes to her latest, devaluing of AP and Honors courses.
Except for WEE, P.Hardy, teachers and administrators, few realize the silent and manipulative torture that has wreaked havoc while employees and students have endured.
Think back to the horrible, threatening weekend when LaVonne held the Come-one-come-all, the greatest teaching replacement event of all. It was an awful process! She was a tyrant then and continues. Enough is enough, boot her and the Board out and end the reign of terror.
It is possible for RPS 205 to move forward over the next 7 months, heal our schools, students and staffs. Halt this downward spiral! We can keep good teachers and familes from leaving our school district. Rockford is worth saving.
Thanks, Paul. I hadn’t seen this. It makes our situation here in Rockford even more disturbing.
Paul and readers, that 2003 article is most informing. None of the info would have been reported on if it had not been for “investigative” reporting-other then the efforts of TRRT, something we are sadly missing in Rockford. Taxpayers need to insist on an independent audit of district funds and a commission to investigate charges of improper, unethical behavior. For those unaware board member, Lisa Jackson, is complicit in her actions, having received her Arizona trip free and clear. This is against Board policy. What other board members are guilty? No wonder, they aren’t speaking up.
That is why when the RRStar silences its readers on the first of next month, we should support The Rock River Times as our only source of investigative news. So far this paper has been faithful in regards to finding out the truth about Sheffield and the complicit school board. We need to continue this dialogue as I am certain there are people paying attention who are in the position to put a stop to this drunk once and for all.
The Military deals with “conduct unbecoming an officer” harshly particularly repeat offenders. The dumbing down of the discipline code with resultant class disruption, foul language as students walk the halls, fear created in female students to venture into a bathroom constant “walk throughs”all l have quite understandably developed a general malaise if not animosity towards the superintendent.What an enviornment. The latest bomb closing the schools during Christmas disrupting a scheduled basketball tournament and preventing swim practice along with the comment that non-revenue producing sports like golf and presumably cross country tennis etc. should be dumped are amazing to parents and the community at large.School publications seem to be another target for the knife. The superintendent might want to review our high schools many golf records, fine players and record setting swimmers. Surely there are other areas that need attenion in the budget process rather than attacking those elements of our students careers that provide enrichment of their travel throgh distict 205.Rockford needs thoughtful leaders not those who hit us with surprise announcements about honors classes. school closings and possible extracurricular cuts.Let’s do away with management fiats that are “ready, fire, aim”