Comments on: Guest Column: Parents: ‘Beware the Ides of Ombudsman’

By: Dave

Dave — Wed, 28 Mar 2012 16:00:24 +0000

and very well said, Jane.

By: Dave

Dave — Wed, 28 Mar 2012 15:59:18 +0000

Bob, just because you lived in Freeport doesn’t mean you know anything about Rockford schools. I grew up in Rockford, although I now live out of town, and I have seen first hand how inept and incalcitrant the “leaders” of district 2oh5 are. The district has been sued once already for its long held racist policies and attitudes with disastrous results. Perhaps it’s time to consider this plan of action again.

By: Marcia

Marcia — Fri, 23 Mar 2012 16:22:14 +0000

Jane, thanks for understanding and researching the Ombudsman Program. It’s interesting that the students that are the least successful and most at risk to fail (at their home school), the administrators want to have seated in front of computers for their learning.

As for Bob, get your head out of the sand.

By: Bob Hsramtihw

Bob Hsramtihw — Thu, 22 Mar 2012 03:33:00 +0000

In response to Bob, I have so much I could say. I will try to make it short and sweet.

1. A simple Google search? So, you are looking into what Ombudsman says? How about you look into some recent editorials pertaining to Ombudsman? Or look up how many districts have ended their contract with Ombudsman as soon as it was up. Or look into the fact that Rockford would be the first district to use Ombudsman for more than 70 seats – ever. And we are not talking about 100 seats – but over 700!

2. Julius Caesar didn’t have an iPhone? What does this mean? We should ignore history for only the past five years? Why iPhone, get with the times Bob. It’s all about the iPad now. Actually, why doesn’t Ombudsman take your suggestion and get with the times. Take a visit to a school that hires Ombudsman and you wont find tablets but outdated computers with clunky software.

That’s all Bob. Enjoy the west coast.

By: Mary Jo

Mary Jo — Thu, 22 Mar 2012 00:42:00 +0000

Bob Whitmarsh…you very obviously are living under a rock and have not been following what is happening to education all across this country…educate yourself, for crying out loud, before you spout off about something you know NOTHING about. How disgusting!

By: Susan

Susan — Thu, 22 Mar 2012 00:16:17 +0000

Living in Rockford and seeing how the school board has mislead the public repeatedly, I do not see the outsources as remotely related to anything other than union busting. Teachers are constatnly put down by people who do not have a clue about the administrative mess that has been here and has persisted for years. From everything that I have heard from people actually involved Roosevelt does a very good job.

The personal attack on Ms Hayes was uncalled for and speaks poorly of the man from CA writer.

By: Bob Whitmarsh

Bob Whitmarsh — Wed, 21 Mar 2012 13:13:20 +0000

Beware the Ides of Status-Quo!

I used to live in Freeport, but now live on the west coast but check in on the local news from time-to-time, and couldn’t help myself in commenting on this off-the-wall response to an idea that challenges the status-quo in public education. Now I don’t know a whole lot about Ombudsman, but any person with a pulse can Google their name, find their website and do a little investigation on their own. By all accounts, I don’t believe an organization that has partnerships with over 100 school districts in the country has the ability to do so with pockets lined with gold, or because they don’t care about kids.

And Jane, I’m no school administrator, but I can bet all the money in my account (which isn’t much these days) that your administrators in Rockford aren’t looking at Ombudsman because you DON’T care, they know you care. But I believe your negative reaction has nothing to do with Ombudsman, it has everything to do with your protection of the status-quo. I mean let’s be real, are you seriously quoting Julius Caesar—that guy didn’t even have an iPhone!

The world is changing at an astronomical rate and school districts across the country, including many in my area, have been the last things to evolve. And in my opinion, it’s because of folks like you that can’t seem to understand that change is often times needed, even in the face of public opposition. I commend the administrators in Rockford for their understanding that things need to change in your district—if only we had more administrators like them around the country, perhaps we could begin to move the needle with reform in our schools.

So in the end, don’t be mad at Ombudsman, don’t be mad at Rockford administrators, just look yourself in the mirror and know that the only person you should be mad at is yourself because you haven’t been able to accept the fact that the status-quo in your district is changing.

By: for the kids

for the kids — Wed, 21 Mar 2012 11:49:27 +0000

Thank you, Jane. You speak for many of us who still fear to open our mouths. I so appreciate your efforts. Rockford, wake up. If you have the inclination to care about the public schools, please ask questions and find the truth.