Comments on: District 150 gets an ‘F’

By: Diane Vespa

Diane Vespa — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 14:45:15 +0000

My prior comment does not in any way deny or impugn the significant management failures that have brought us to this point – but it is what it is and we have to deal with it.

By: Diane Vespa

Diane Vespa — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 11:03:14 +0000

This is a topic that reasonable minds can disagree. I know, for example, that Laura was told by numerous people, many very well respected, that closing a High School was the only responsible choice. Laura has explained some of the benefits of closing a high school, one of which is the ability to consolidate classes that formerly may have had only a few students in. If it is a question of whittling away at choice (because of low class size) vs. continuing to offer and expand specialized instruction, she felt the latter was more appealing.

By: Matthew

Matthew — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 07:55:07 +0000

Ahhh yes … I’m a real right-winger. ROFLMAO. I’m also not anonymous, as a simple click on the link to my blog will tell you.

We all have biases, but some let those biases cloud their work more than others. IMO, both Roger & Elaine are guilty of this. You’ll notice that every person Roger graded above got an “A” or an “F” except for Jim Stowell, and he was a rather half-hearted exception. There’s no gray. It’s black or white. It’s their way or the highway. I just don’t appreciate that mode of thinking. It has no place in a democratic society, and it’s ugly whether it comes from the right or the left. Go ahead and view that criticism as an ad hominem distraction from the issues if it makes you feel better, Elaine.

Diane, I appreciate your viewpoint. I know we’re often on different ends of the political spectrum, but you do take the time to see other points of view. I know that you have deep personal involvement in this issue, and I also know that you have deep (and well-earned) suspicion of the D150 administration. I just don’t think they lie & deceive all the time. There may be a lack of competence and a healthy dose of cronyism in the current D150 administration, but that doesn’t mean they’re ALWAYS wrong.

The decision to close a high school HAD to be made before the selection of a new superintendent. Hinton is going to retire in a year or two. Making this decision now gives his replacement a chance to pick up the pieces and forge a new and hopefully positive direction for D150. Anyone who is interested in the well-being of D150 needs to focus their attention on the selection process for the next superintendent and not dwell on the issue of closing Woodruff. We need a smart, highly qualified, and extremely energetic candidate to take the reigns of D150. IMO, that will have to be someone from the outside coming in. Someone promoted from within D150 administration will not be trusted by the people of the district.

We’ll just have to see what the fall-out will be after this decision, Diane. I really don’t think public opinion of D150 can go much lower than it was before the vote to close Woodruff. I hope people can come together and try to make the best out of a bad situation instead of looking to punish D150 for their perceived sins. All that will do is further harm the students of the district.

By: Diane Vespa

Diane Vespa — Sun, 04 Oct 2009 18:03:36 +0000

Make that “correctly” to correct my typo

By: Diane Vespa

Diane Vespa — Sun, 04 Oct 2009 18:02:18 +0000

Elaine, Nonproductive and juvenile personal attacks come from both sides of the aisle. Reasonable people corectly judge the individual who makes such comments and not their political affiliation.

By: Elaine Hopkins

Elaine Hopkins — Sun, 04 Oct 2009 16:07:09 +0000

Ummm. — make that ‘commenters’ to correct the typo.

By: Elaine Hopkins

Elaine Hopkins — Sun, 04 Oct 2009 16:06:17 +0000

Hey Matthew! An attack on the person instead of the idea or issue. Typical of certain commeners, mostly right wing.
As for comments, blog host Typepad now enables comments that are moderated first via email, so I’m going to do that. I do not and never will allow unmoderated comments on my site for obvious reasons, namely liability and bad taste. And in true journalism style, I prefer real names. I use my real name, and others should too unless their comment would jeopardise their livelihood.

By: Diane Vespa

Diane Vespa — Sun, 04 Oct 2009 14:36:06 +0000

Further, in my opinion any cost savings resulting from the closing of Woodruff (which will me minimal as a percentage of budget) will pale in comparison to the negative fall-out for Peoria families, taxpayers and students.

By: Diane Vespa

Diane Vespa — Sun, 04 Oct 2009 14:12:39 +0000

Matthew, The reason I believe she arrived at an incorrect conclusion was because 1. She gave too much validity to the stats provided to her by the Admin – an Admin that notoriously provides inaccurate and incomplete data (This point is perfectly evidenced by Hintons last minute switcho-chango of projected cost savings the night of the vote) and 2. She failed to allow for complete exploration of other options posed by the community. On those points, I think Roger was dead-on.

By: Peoria Pundit » The Community Word is on the air! (UPDATED)

Peoria Pundit » The Community Word is on the air! (UPDATED) — Sun, 04 Oct 2009 13:20:59 +0000

[...] Roger Monroe’s column about the Peoria District 150 School board is generating some controversy in the [...]