School board accepts LaVonne Sheffield’s resignation
Superintendent Dr. LaVonne M. Sheffield (Photo by Jim Hagerty)
By Jim Hagerty
Online Editor
The Rockford Board of Education accepted the resignation of Superintendent Dr. LaVonne M. Sheffield Tuesday (April 12) in front of a sizable crowd at Ellis Arts Academy.
The motion passed with a 5-1 vote.
Jude Makulec, Jeanne Westholder, Harmon Mitchell, David Kelley and Bob Evans all voted to accept Sheffield’s resignation, while Lisa Jackson voted “no.”
Alice Saudargas was absent.
Before the board voted, Jackson expressed disdain for the process by which she claims the superintendent was influenced to step down. She also applauded speakers who expressed support for Sheffield.
“For months, I have been listening to the vicious attacks by members of the community,” Jackson said. “It is refreshing to sit here and listen to the positive things said here tonight.”
Jackson emotionally thanked Sheffield for making radical changes in the district, something she said was necessary to “put children first.”
“You have had a very difficult, daunting tenure,” Jackson said. “You have been charged with maneuvering us through a financial crisis… providing a climate conducive to learning, bringing forward a balanced budget–to name a few. I’d like to say, ‘Job well done.’
“You have had to work with a divided board– in particular a divisive board member that has undermined your authority from the very beginning.”
While Jackson did not name the board member she accused of sabotaging Sheffield, she said her colleague did so with “hidden agendas and false allegiances.”
The board also approved the addition of a virtual learning program and the purchase of summer reading packets for elementary students. Both items were brought forward last week during a meeting of the Education Committee.
Sheffield’s last day with the district will be Saturday, April 30. Her severance packaged reportedly will include $105,000, three months’ worth of health benefits and unused sick and vacation days.
Three new school board members will be seated Tuesday, April 26. Laura Powers, Ken Scrivano and Tim Rollins will replace Kelley, Saudargas and Westholder, respectively.
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12 Comments
The board meeting last night was surreal. A group of people showed up for the first time to worship at the altar of Sheffield and make claims and allegations for which there was no basis. The wierdest thing was the Nation of Islam folks. The speaker went up to speak flanked by bodyguards. Kind of scarey.
Several spoke up in support of Dr. Sheffield and her administration, but not one speaker expressed concerns that Dr. Sheffield and her administration looked to eliminate full day kindergarten with 67% minority students. No one expressed concerns that Dr. Sheffield and her administration tried to end Early Childhood Education a program that is proven to benefit the youngest and poorest of our students in their ongoing education. No one challenged Dr. Sheffield and her administration for applying for and using the grant to study student assignment to take away Choice and implement a zoned school policy for Rockford’s students. No one challenged Dr. Sheffield and her administration as to why they have made no attempt to start a vocational program in RPs205 during her tenure.
Many speakers did identify that significant problems exist in our current educational system. Yes, many existed before Dr. Sheffield arrived here, and too many still exist as she departs. As a community we need to focus on those problems and on the needs of our children and NOT on special interest groups.
At the board meeting last night the RPS205 school board approved over $2,000,000 in expenditures to vendors without having a real discussion on alternative sources, other options, or specifics of where the funds are coming from. $2 MILLION dollars spent without batting an eye. Dr. Sheffield and her administration along with this school board have spent $67 million dollars MORE this year than we did just two years ago to run our public schools and blatantly try to tell us our CHILDREN must make sacrifices because of financial challenges within the district.
We need to work together without allowing agendas or favoritism of special interest groups, business organizations, and politicians to direct us. One speaker last night stated, “Enough is enough”, and I agree.
Doug Clayburg
http://www.educationunited.net
Who will the rockford media-mavens pick next? Help remove these media types!! They are wrong and they are a huge part of the problem here. When will we have a minority host on local talk radio–not a token show on Sat. morning. Honest people unite>> expose kenny.chunck,grist and others. nothing will change until haters and racist are EXPOSED!!
We helped get b butler the boot,expose the media race-baiters and haters and we can get rid of the rest. We have all the hate speech on tape from last year when ken and bruce double teamed Dr. Sheffield.
I don’t know about the rest of your reading public but the display that Lisa Jackson put on last night was appalling and I believe there needs to be some way to have her removed from the BOE. The accusations she made were unconscienable!! This is NOT the behavior we want our children to emulate. She is NOT a representative of our school district parents and children but only a representative of the few who keep stirring up trouble and throwing out the race card. SHE is a representative of the children in our school district who are the problems within our schools. Get those children OUT of our schools and her OUT of the BOE. As a minority person, I am ashamed by what she has done and said!! Educated, respectful, intelligent minorities do NOT act like Ms. Jackson or any of the other embarrassments that spoke at the board meeting last night!!
let’s recap= 7 supt. in 11 years. how many media types have earned the ‘daily bread’ rippin on “CAVE’ people. Rockford will never change $$$ ‘they’ own the media—i.e. RRS and talk radio$$$ Try to even convey a truthful thought on talk radio and you’ll be called a crack-pipe operator or whack-job. The only people ‘they’ give time to are the haters and racist. “THAT’s so ROCKFORD. ;]
I agree with Kitty 100%. It all boils down to accountability for ones actions!
No one mentioned that she drove out Dr. Hardy first from downtown and then from Auburn High School, others as well have left. Everyone keeps mentioning change but what is the positive change and where are the results? The district had been making positive gains over the past 4 years prior to Dr. Sheffield what direction have we gone in the past two years????
a bit off-topic… the RRS has begun charging alot of money to read the paper on-line. supposedly, one can read 15 articles per month for free before a rather outrageous fee is demanded. well, it’s been waay longer than 30 days since i’ve been able to read an article. i keep saying to myself, “typical rockford. glad i moved out…” on the positive side, now i can’t wait to read the RRT.
Its amazing how people are speaking about her in relationship to Jesus….. Was sort of sick. I agree no one mentioned how she ran Dr. Hardy out of the district. Has reclassified Dr. Richardson (minority principal at Stiles) who is more intelligent than her, Cedric and Cesar combined. No body spoke of her keeping and protecting her minority principal friends and family members of some cabinet members who have broken a child’s arm, assaulted teachers with all being covered up and gage orders issued. No body spoke how she removed a principal based on the complaints of a teacher who happens to be a board members sister and replaced said principal with her friend who wanted a year round building because of higher pay. No body spoke of the way veteran principals are being ignored, treated like dirt and in some cases removed by the administration. This mistreatment has enraged teachers and parents but some are afraid to speak out for fear of retaliation against themselves or their school leader and in essence leading to the squashing of ones 1st amendment rights. But this is all ok because to certain people view thus as payback for mistreatment several hundred years ago. Hey I’m a Christian and my ancestors were food for lions. I’m not burning down Europe in retaliation.
This madness must end and her crew of thugs from Lewis, Mickens, McArdle and Hernandez all must go. Only then can the board take control, right these wrongs and replace these highly qualified and beloved principals. The new board must listen to the public who voted them in and do what is right reinstate the principals now!!!!.
treefrogdk, yeah, I’m right there with you. RRStar can’t count past 30. It’s been way more than 30 days and that little screen still pops up and says I’ve read my 15 for the month. (But I am working on ruining my eyesight trying to read through the gray LOL)
thanks, ann. i thought it was just a fluke. now i know it’s ….. not.