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Post by steckmom on May 3, 2008 10:49:21 GMT -6
It is unlikely this rift will ever be mended even after its all over. The wounds are too deep. The hatreds and distrust are too strong. Neighborhoods and schools have been negatively labled. That is why a split is needed complicated or not. This mess has proven people in the district will never accept others. And two new SB will be more attentive to their peoples needs. I absolutely agree. And I will add that the current SB clearly does not represent the entire district. I believe they have orchestrated the ill-will. And the hatefulness some of them have demonstrated to certain sections of the district is mind-boggling. Since it seems the egos involved will preclude their resignations, then we should split the district. Several areas are not fairly represented. The SB president has not hidden his disdain. IAnd I find the whole thinng quite simply revolting. By area, how would you split the district? |
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Post by snerdley on May 3, 2008 10:52:00 GMT -6
It is unlikely this rift will ever be mended even after its all over. The wounds are too deep. The hatreds and distrust are too strong. Neighborhoods and schools have been negatively labled. That is why a split is needed complicated or not. This mess has proven people in the district will never accept others. And two new SB will be more attentive to their peoples needs. Cue the violins. ;D Seriously, it's not all doom and gloom. I'm from the north and I know there are a lot of really cool people in the south. I know people from the south that feel the same way about the north. Right, SSM? There are bad apples in the bunch (there were before and there will be after), but it doesn't mean it has to spoil all of us. Rise above. Others will either rise with you or rot on the bottom. The choice will be theirs. Kids are the equalizing factor. I've said this before, and I'll say it again. Kids don't care where other kids live. It's not the first question out of their mouths when they meet someone new. It usually doesn't even come into the conversation until they want to hang out at each others houses. They will be the ones making new friends and bringing the neighborhoods back together. Now, if you're talking about voters and the SB. That's a totally different can of worms, and I'm not touching that one. They are on their own. The SB had a chance to speak our at the board meeting when a PTA President-elect (Lisa Churchill) called areas prejudiced. with the exception of CV, they did not. The rest of them only reprimanded the section of the crowd who don't agree with them. They are unashamedy biased IMO. Then CB comes to Fry and states that 19 of 21 elementaries have a negative opinion of us. These people are doing NOTHING to heal the divide. Perhaps because the created it? And Rural, I'm sure it's been discussed before (splitting the district), but anything is possible if enough people with the will and desire get together. So I wouldn't discount the possibility. I'm sure the SB never envisioned being sued. But they drew a line in the sand and dared some to cross it IMO. |
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Post by snerdley on May 3, 2008 10:58:02 GMT -6
I absolutely agree. And I will add that the current SB clearly does not represent the entire district. I believe they have orchestrated the ill-will. And the hatefulness some of them have demonstrated to certain sections of the district is mind-boggling. Since it seems the egos involved will preclude their resignations, then we should split the district. Several areas are not fairly represented. The SB president has not hidden his disdain. IAnd I find the whole thinng quite simply revolting. By area, how would you split the district? we'll take you along!  Seriously, I am no expert in this. But 204 split from 203 - it's happened in other areas. I would be willing to bet there are people out there who are studying this very issue. I am simply saying it may be the solution here. The North/South thing has been instigated by the SB IMO (long before this latest fight). In the past, maybe it's been a useful tool for them - but they have split their britches this time. I believe the divide is irrepairable. I know for me, it makes me sick to my stomach that MM is in charge here and yet clearly IMO hates my whole neighborhood. |
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Post by southsidemom on May 3, 2008 11:07:11 GMT -6
Cue the violins. ;D Seriously, it's not all doom and gloom. I'm from the north and I know there are a lot of really cool people in the south. I know people from the south that feel the same way about the north. Right, SSM? There are bad apples in the bunch (there were before and there will be after), but it doesn't mean it has to spoil all of us. Rise above. Others will either rise with you or rot on the bottom. The choice will be theirs. Kids are the equalizing factor. I've said this before, and I'll say it again. Kids don't care where other kids live. It's not the first question out of their mouths when they meet someone new. It usually doesn't even come into the conversation until they want to hang out at each others houses. They will be the ones making new friends and bringing the neighborhoods back together. Now, if you're talking about voters and the SB. That's a totally different can of worms, and I'm not touching that one. They are on their own. The SB had a chance to speak our at the board meeting when a PTA President-elect (Lisa Churchill) called areas prejudiced. with the exception of CV, they did not. The rest of them only reprimanded the section of the crowd who don't agree with them. They are unashamedy biased IMO. Then CB comes to Fry and states that 19 of 21 elementaries have a negative opinion of us. These people are doing NOTHING to heal the divide. Perhaps because the created it? And Rural, I'm sure it's been discussed before (splitting the district), but anything is possible if enough people with the will and desire get together. So I wouldn't discount the possibility. I'm sure the SB never envisioned being sued. But they drew a line in the sand and dared some to cross it IMO. I have been speaking with MANY families that attend ESs all over the district (Colishaw, Owen, Steck, Graham, Young) and so far CB is talking a bunch of s%^t! To generalize was his mistake, as it continues to be a mistake the community is continuing to make. The SB is feeding off of this! |
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Post by steckmom on May 3, 2008 11:07:59 GMT -6
By area, how would you split the district? we'll take you along! Seriously, I am no expert in this. But 204 split from 203 - it's happened in other areas. I would be willing to bet there are people out there who are studying this very issue. I am simply saying it may be the solution here. The North/South thing has been instigated by the SB IMO (long before this latest fight). In the past, maybe it's been a useful tool for them - but they have split their britches this time. I believe the divide is irrepairable. I know for me, it makes me sick to my stomach that MM is in charge here and yet clearly IMO hates my whole neighborhood. I have an open mind about it. Maybe we could end up with 2 districts with 2 smaller schools each. Who knows? I'd like to agree with rural that the kids will heal it to some extent. But just last week I heard someone bring up the WE water thing, a Taj Mahal comment and a comment from someone saying they would never send their kid to WV. There's tons of bitterness in this SD. On the other hand, other districts have divides in them and they manage okay. |
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Post by doctorwho on May 3, 2008 11:17:50 GMT -6
It is unlikely this rift will ever be mended even after its all over. The wounds are too deep. The hatreds and distrust are too strong. Neighborhoods and schools have been negatively labled. That is why a split is needed complicated or not. This mess has proven people in the district will never accept others. And two new SB will be more attentive to their peoples needs. Cue the violins. ;D Seriously, it's not all doom and gloom. I'm from the north and I know there are a lot of really cool people in the south. I know people from the south that feel the same way about the north. Right, SSM? There are bad apples in the bunch (there were before and there will be after), but it doesn't mean it has to spoil all of us. Rise above. Others will either rise with you or rot on the bottom. The choice will be theirs. Kids are the equalizing factor. I've said this before, and I'll say it again. Kids don't care where other kids live. It's not the first question out of their mouths when they meet someone new. It usually doesn't even come into the conversation until they want to hang out at each others houses. They will be the ones making new friends and bringing the neighborhoods back together. Now, if you're talking about voters and the SB. That's a totally different can of worms, and I'm not touching that one. They are on their own. I agree kids will deal with things better than us - usually - but this time around it goes way deeper. My daughter and a bunch of her friends are very hurt that they will not be allowed to go to Waubonsie. They may not know the nuances between 5a 5b and 6 -- but they know they are being asked to go to a school they do not want to go to. They also know how damn far away that school is from their homes - it stinks for them. Does anyone think kids want to spend up to 2 hours a day on the bus ? Most of the kids here have traveled alot here for Whaetland sports - music lessons, etc.--- rarely did those travels bring kids here to the far NW corner of the disrict - and looking at that as an everyday propostion for 4 years - they get that. They may not know who to blame - they may not have built in north - south issues, but I can tell you the group of kids I know in Watts is looking to blame someone or something for the low hand they've been dealt. And anyone who thinks they are not talking about this is also sadly mistaken. |
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Post by steckmom on May 3, 2008 11:20:51 GMT -6
The SB had a chance to speak our at the board meeting when a PTA President-elect (Lisa Churchill) called areas prejudiced. with the exception of CV, they did not. The rest of them only reprimanded the section of the crowd who don't agree with them. They are unashamedy biased IMO. Then CB comes to Fry and states that 19 of 21 elementaries have a negative opinion of us. These people are doing NOTHING to heal the divide. Perhaps because the created it? And Rural, I'm sure it's been discussed before (splitting the district), but anything is possible if enough people with the will and desire get together. So I wouldn't discount the possibility. I'm sure the SB never envisioned being sued. But they drew a line in the sand and dared some to cross it IMO. I have been speaking with MANY families that attend ESs all over the district (Colishaw, Owen, Steck, Graham, Young) and so far CB is talking a bunch of s%^t! To generalize was his mistake, as it continues to be a mistake the community is continuing to make. The SB is feeding off of this! What a ridiculous thing to say. I know when I filled out my survey, I had nothing but good things to say about Fry. ;D  |
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Post by whiteeaglewarrior on May 3, 2008 13:19:12 GMT -6
I absolutely agree. And I will add that the current SB clearly does not represent the entire district. I believe they have orchestrated the ill-will. And the hatefulness some of them have demonstrated to certain sections of the district is mind-boggling. Since it seems the egos involved will preclude their resignations, then we should split the district. Several areas are not fairly represented. The SB president has not hidden his disdain. IAnd I find the whole thinng quite simply revolting. By area, how would you split the district? The way I see it it would have to be the current WV- NV boundries. |
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Post by steckmom on May 3, 2008 14:37:24 GMT -6
By area, how would you split the district? The way I see it it would have to be the current WV- NV boundries. If you separated it into NV/WV, most likely one of the districts would pick up an elementary school or two, then the larger district could build the second high school. That would deal with the immediate and projected overcrowding. This decision would have to be made with state approval, I assume. Since the current reality is that they will be building MV at Eola (as it seems), it would be likely that a few schools would have to move into the WV/MV district. |
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Post by doctorwho on May 3, 2008 14:55:35 GMT -6
The way I see it it would have to be the current WV- NV boundries. If you separated it into NV/WV, most likely one of the districts would pick up an elementary school or two, then the larger district could build the second high school. That would deal with the immediate and projected overcrowding. This decision would have to be made with state approval, I assume. Since the current reality is that they will be building MV at Eola (as it seems), it would be likely that a few schools would have to move into the WV/MV district. so you are assuming WV - MV is one district ? What about NV-WV one district - and MV - the new school- the new district also. |
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Post by steckmom on May 3, 2008 15:09:53 GMT -6
If you separated it into NV/WV, most likely one of the districts would pick up an elementary school or two, then the larger district could build the second high school. That would deal with the immediate and projected overcrowding. This decision would have to be made with state approval, I assume. Since the current reality is that they will be building MV at Eola (as it seems), it would be likely that a few schools would have to move into the WV/MV district. so you are assuming WV - MV is one district ? What about NV-WV one district - and MV - the new school- the new district also. No, I was just moving on with WEwarrior's idea of NV-WV. I don't know about just MV. You know (as well as I do) it would have to include people who aren't geographically close, unless of course it pulled from another district? I don't really know what it takes for a split, but here's an article that kind of gives an idea. It's about splitting U-46. Bartlett's efforts to leave U-46 are 'languishing' By Kimberly Pohl | Daily Herald Staff Published: 3/20/2008 12:13 AM It's been more than three years since Bartlett voters put their overwhelming support behind leaving Elgin Area School District U-46. Today, however, residents want to know whether village officials have abandoned the fight. "The residents of Bartlett made their desires very clear. We would now like to know how to make this a reality," resident Frank Napolitano said Tuesday as he addressed the village board. Mayor Catherine Melchert didn't mince words: In short, nothing's happening. Current state laws favor consolidation, not breaking up school districts. A House bill that would make it easier to split from the state's second-largest school district missed an April 2007 deadline for floor action and has been on the backburner ever since. A similar state Senate bill was killed last year before even reaching a committee discussion. "Right now, it's just sitting there languishing," Melchert said. "It will probably go nowhere this session. It probably won't be heard this year." Village officials said they remain committed to forming an independent district out of U-46's southeast quadrant. It would likely corral 10,000 students -- about a quarter of U-46's enrollment -- from Bartlett and parts of neighboring Carol Stream, Wayne and West Chicago. Bartlett's next move is to meet with the U-46 school board, Melchert said. And village officials are prepared to go back to state legislators to continue arguments, just as they sent a delegation to Springfield last year to speak on behalf of the bill. U-46 remains steadfast in its opposition. "Nothing's changed. We're still opposed to it," said school board President Ken Kaczynski, also of Bartlett. "There's been no new information or no new discussion that would change that." Opponents argue that allowing Bartlett and friends to dismantle a district that dates back to 1873 would cause a significant demographic disparity. The new district would be largely white and middle class, leaving the rest of U-46 largely minority and more economically stressed. Kaczynski emphasized much has changed in the years since Bartlett's 2004 referendum. "Our financial situation is much improved, and test scores are rising," he said. Among Bartlett's many obstacles is the recent retirement of former Superintendent Connie Neale. "We're waiting to see who the new superintendent will be," Melchert said. And ultimately, disconnection would need more than the U-46 school board's OK. It would require approval by voters in all 11 district communities. |
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Post by fence on May 3, 2008 16:48:02 GMT -6
I think splitting is an unrealistic idea, and all it guarantees is that we won't be fighting about this particular issue. It doesn't guarantee us blissfully riding off into the sunset.
I think that it is unrealistic to think that we will all agree on every issue. Or that we will not have jealousy or hard feelings over past history. That's just people and the way they are. We're not going to have a love fest.
But what is good for everyone is a high performing district we can all be proud of at the top level. And this is a leadership problem. There is a lack of trust in the SB, they've screwed up this process, they've let emotions get out of hand, they're terrible communicators, and they need to step down. Whether or not they are 100% to blame for the way this went down, this is where we are and I think that it is the only thing that will clear the slate for us to move forward.
The other part of the problem in my opinion stems from irrational emotion, which we can't do anything to prevent, and some problems at WV that should have been addressed and not buried or denied.
I think that this particular issue is telling, because it people were made to feel ashamed for wanting to stay at NV instead of given a reason to feel good about going to WV. Which says to me that the SB themselves feels that WV is subordinate. And that's not good and now it is clear as to why. I don't think that the problems at WV should have been downplayed. I think that they are real problems but problems we can overcome if we come together and be honest.
Anyway, none of this is overly complicated and I just think we're better off staying together and working on our problems.
But we can split from ru4real. That would be OK!!
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Post by specailneedsmom on May 3, 2008 17:35:51 GMT -6
Up until this debacle occured there never would have been talk of dividing the district. Just because the SB does nothing to celebrate the diversity of the district doesn't mean we have to play into their hands. Just because they are myopic and don't work outside their comfort zone doesn't mean we can't rise about that. It makes no sense to me. What we have is a good situation plagued with bad leadership or no leadership at all.
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Post by d204mom on May 3, 2008 17:39:05 GMT -6
Cue the violins. ;D Seriously, it's not all doom and gloom. I'm from the north and I know there are a lot of really cool people in the south. I know people from the south that feel the same way about the north. Right, SSM? There are bad apples in the bunch (there were before and there will be after), but it doesn't mean it has to spoil all of us. Rise above. Others will either rise with you or rot on the bottom. The choice will be theirs. Kids are the equalizing factor. I've said this before, and I'll say it again. Kids don't care where other kids live. It's not the first question out of their mouths when they meet someone new. It usually doesn't even come into the conversation until they want to hang out at each others houses. They will be the ones making new friends and bringing the neighborhoods back together. Now, if you're talking about voters and the SB. That's a totally different can of worms, and I'm not touching that one. They are on their own. The SB had a chance to speak our at the board meeting when a PTA President-elect (Lisa Churchill) called areas prejudiced. with the exception of CV, they did not. The rest of them only reprimanded the section of the crowd who don't agree with them. They are unashamedy biased IMO. Then CB comes to Fry and states that 19 of 21 elementaries have a negative opinion of us. These people are doing NOTHING to heal the divide. Perhaps because the created it? And Rural, I'm sure it's been discussed before (splitting the district), but anything is possible if enough people with the will and desire get together. So I wouldn't discount the possibility. I'm sure the SB never envisioned being sued. But they drew a line in the sand and dared some to cross it IMO. Bradshaw seems to be leading the blame charge lately. Glawe was on board earlier but seems to have checked out. |
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Post by specailneedsmom on May 3, 2008 17:40:16 GMT -6
I am also skeptical about what mediation will accomplish. Assuming that the school will be built at Eola and BB is a dead issue, what is there to mediate? Boundaries? Further testing of the Eola site?
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