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Post by admin on Mar 5, 2009 9:14:41 GMT -6
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Post by twhl on Mar 5, 2009 10:52:50 GMT -6
www.204taxpayers.org/ Here are the candidate's questions from the IPPC/LWV program guide: Doug DiFusco 1. a. Welch. I have a seventh grader at Thomas Scullen Middle School and a freshman at Neuqua Valley Gold 1. b. BA ¨C Saint Bonaventure University; Partner / Business owner Star Werks Inc. 1. c. Executive Director / President Naperville Patriots Youth Football Organization; Member of Stillwater Home Owners Association 2. With my business and the Patriots Youth Football program I have had the success of facilitating positive growth via communication and working with excellent individuals with specific skills sets. Both in the non for profit and corporate sector success have been driven by a commitment to work with individuals sharing ideas towards a common focused goal. It is imperative a culture change commence with the school board. The focus has been lost that the position is one of a volunteer serving our kids and community. Listening, hearing, exchanging ideas and facilitating a well thought throw plan that best represents our community with the end result bettering our schools and district. If elected I commit to making certain our community has the ability to contribute and take pride in ownership of our school board decisions. 3. The role of a school board member is to represent the interests and ideals of all the communities in our district, encompassing students, parents, educational support professionals, educators and taxpayers¡¯ district wide. The boards¡¯ charter will be to seek out and garner our community¡¯s views regarding policy, utilizing feedback to modify plans in the best interest of our students in this district. The community interaction and communication with our board should help to set the tone for our district. The board is the vehicle by which policy is set, but make no mistake the people of this community are that which shall govern the next district 204 school board. 4. 204 Taxpayers for Excellence are committed to immediately calling for changes how the school board and community will communicate. It is our position to create a consistent flow of ideas by actively soliciting input between board meetings and interaction during board meetings. The public comments will be moved to the beginning of the meeting with no time limit on what a member of the community we are here to serve has to say. We will be committed to making certain special education support is at a sufficient level to be proactive and effective in all classrooms. So all special need children have the proper support for their educations. We will push to return project arrow to the stringent standards that made it a best in class amongst our district and sought after from surrounding school districts. 204 Taxpayers for excellence are committed to providing a support system that is desperately lacking for the average students in our schools. At the elementary level the most critical learning stage kids are being subjected to 90 plus degree classrooms for days on end. Valuable learning time is lost do to an environmental issue that has a viable solution not explored. We do not have time to let yet another year continue to tick by. Children with severe allergies or asthma are just trying to survive the day let alone learn. Solutions exist that are viable and able to be implemented at a fraction of the cost the current board has provided to retro-fit schools. The technology base and infrastructure absolutely has to be made current and cutting edge for we live in a society driven by real time results and calculations. Hardware and software platforms not meeting today¡¯s student demands must be assessed and corrected. The District 204 virtual school is a part of the technology sector lagging sorely behind our virtual state of Illinois system in course offerings. The board will be guardians of your tax dollars and everyone has the right to have access to an on line budget in a format all can comprehend. 5. I will push to have existing strong PTA networks become partners to the board and their local school. Providing feedback as to how we can better a students learning experience. As previously stated a citizen¡¯s advisory council / committee will be established with the charter to examine the district budget and present their findings to the community. The committee will have full cooperation of district staff along with independent auditors if required. We the 204 Taxpayers for Excellence believe board members need to continue to meet with subdivisions to make certain we understand their needs as changes occur. Real time interaction with the board during board meeting is definitely something we feel would be a tremendous benefit to the community and to the new school board. 6. The attendance boundaries have been settled. An outcome sadly that left friends divided. It is time for the district to heal as a community and become whole again 7. If all schools were equal in resources across the board site based management theoretically could flourish. But as we know all schools are not equivalent. In true site based teachers, staff, support professionals, teaching assistants and administrators are to have input into school decisions. That just is not the case in our district. In general the administration has shut the workforce out in determining the course of our district, in effect isolating the resource which spends all day with your child in a classroom. It is 204 Taxpayers for Excellence position to empower all so all viewpoints can be heard and utilized when making critical decisions that will decide the classrooms direction in our schools. Until the system it refined and true empowerment occurs a district policy should be the road map to guide.
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Post by casey on Mar 5, 2009 16:16:04 GMT -6
I was asked to post this: Karl's Notes|Notes about Karl|Karl's Profile What I learned this week.ShareYesterday at 10:32pm Up until ten days ago, my attitude toward our local school board was quite indifferent. I did not care about what they did as long as my property taxes didn't go up. But when I saw our school board president disrespect the parents of a victim of a sexual assault that occurred between children from my son's middle school, I got angry. I knew what I saw was not right, however I did not know what I could do to help this family. I also needed to get answers to questions that Michelle and I had about this situation and how it was being handled. As I began to communicate with other parents in our school district and neighborhood, I was quickly learning of a consistent pattern of disrespect, unreturned phone calls, unanswered emails from the board President and other school board members. As my anger and frustration grew, Michelle and I finally decided it was time to take action. We decided that we would invite any parents from the school district that were willing to get together to come to our home. I can say I did not know what to expect at the meeting. First and foremost, I was impressed by the caring and concern that was expressed by the other parents in attendance. I was simultaneously disappointed and amazed to hear about the years of struggle that these men and women had endured trying to communicate with the school board on variety of topics. These parents really did care, and had been trying to hold the board accountable for the many years when I did not care. I invited the local press to the meeting in our home. I did this with intention that having them there would allow us to get media coverage and keep pressure on the school board to act on the situation at my son's middle school. The reporter and a photographer came, and the story was written by the reporter at our dining room table. The next day, the pictures of the meeting were on the front page of the paper, along with ten inches of column space dedicated to the stories that were shared among the parents. That morning as I was working, I received phone calls from TV reporters wanting to learn more about the meeting. I agreed to speak with them. Having a background in broadcasting, I knew I would have to guard my words, and I tried to answer the questions they asked, in a way that was appropriate and non sensationalistic. I also wanted to keep them in context with the Christian values that I try to live my life by. I am proud to say that approach worked and the coverage of the school board meeting yesterday was accurate and fair. Looking back, and examining the information I gathered this week, has given me a new perspective. As parents, we have to care what the school board does. We need to research the candidates and not just vote randomly for these positions. I am guilty of having done this in the past. The people that serve in these roles have thankless jobs, they run a huge business, over $270 million dollars in the case of District 204 budget, with total responsibilities that could be close to a billion dollars when you factor surplus funds and properties. We trust them to make wise decisions regarding our children's safety and education. On Tuesday afternoon, for the first time, I attended a school board meeting, I now understand the process, and how the meetings are organized. As a parent you need to understand this process, in case you ever need to go before the board. Don't get me wrong in the case of this meeting it was like watching grass grow. I did address the board during the public comment time, so I had come full circle from not caring to standing up and fighting for my kids. On April 7, 2009 we will be electing four school board members in District 204. I have now met many of the candidates and afterward attended a public forum where they answered questions about their beliefs and core values.. For the first time ever, I will enter a voting booth actually understanding where these types of candidates stand on issues that absolutely matter to my children and yours. I encourage you to get educated and become informed. I can promise you that I will take an interest and watch how our school board in District 204 acts from this day forward. Visit www.204taxpayers.org to learn more about the candidates that I will be voting for and helping to get elected. Bottom line: I ask you to get educated and get involved. Our children are the most precious gift that God gives us. He entrusts us to raise them and be good parents in his likeness. That requires that we learn about things like school boards, whether we like it or not. Thanks for reading. Karl Cordes |
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Post by Arch on Mar 12, 2009 7:49:50 GMT -6
It's been tossed around that Doug would present a Conflict of Interest on the SB because his wife is a teacher in D204... that he should not be allowed to vote on the Teacher's Contract.
If Doug were elected and did abstain from the actual vote; would that be sufficient for those who believe it is a conflict of interest? Why or Why not?
My own personal feelings on this is that he probably should abstain but the reality is that it won't make a difference in the vote outcome because I can not recall at any time a contract being voted down by the board or even having a 'close vote' for approval.
Thoughts???
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Post by JB on Mar 12, 2009 8:34:42 GMT -6
It's been tossed around that Doug would present a Conflict of Interest on the SB because his wife is a teacher in D204... that he should not be allowed to vote on the Teacher's Contract. If Doug were elected and did abstain from the actual vote; would that be sufficient for those who believe it is a conflict of interest? Why or Why not? My own personal feelings on this is that he probably should abstain but the reality is that it won't make a difference in the vote outcome because I can not recall at any time a contract being voted down by the board or even having a 'close vote' for approval. Thoughts??? I'd look for precedent in 204, then neighboring districts. I'm sure this isn't a unique situation. I would tend to agree, abstain, but in the end it won't make a difference. |
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Post by doctorwho on Mar 12, 2009 8:39:01 GMT -6
It's been tossed around that Doug would present a Conflict of Interest on the SB because his wife is a teacher in D204... that he should not be allowed to vote on the Teacher's Contract. If Doug were elected and did abstain from the actual vote; would that be sufficient for those who believe it is a conflict of interest? Why or Why not? My own personal feelings on this is that he probably should abstain but the reality is that it won't make a difference in the vote outcome because I can not recall at any time a contract being voted down by the board or even having a 'close vote' for approval. Thoughts??? I'd look for precedent in 204, then neighboring districts. I'm sure this isn't a unique situation. I would tend to agree, abstain, but in the end it won't make a difference. Isn't Rasmus a part-time teacher here ? Would that not be an issue then also ? |
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Post by Arch on Mar 12, 2009 8:44:18 GMT -6
I'd look for precedent in 204, then neighboring districts. I'm sure this isn't a unique situation. I would tend to agree, abstain, but in the end it won't make a difference. Isn't Rasmus a part-time teacher here ? Would that not be an issue then also ? Yup. *cue big scary music* District 204 Substitute Teacher susanrasmus.ieasysite.com/vote_for_sue_002.htm (right bottom of page) Personally, I say good for both of them, as it gives them insight from another perspective into the roles of the workers in the District. |
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Post by treehugger on Mar 12, 2009 8:51:29 GMT -6
You can't substitute and be on the SB. She would have to quit subbing in 204.
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Post by lurker on Mar 12, 2009 9:25:04 GMT -6
It's been tossed around that Doug would present a Conflict of Interest on the SB because his wife is a teacher in D204... that he should not be allowed to vote on the Teacher's Contract. If Doug were elected and did abstain from the actual vote; would that be sufficient for those who believe it is a conflict of interest? Why or Why not? My own personal feelings on this is that he probably should abstain but the reality is that it won't make a difference in the vote outcome because I can not recall at any time a contract being voted down by the board or even having a 'close vote' for approval. Thoughts??? I've had more than enough of insider deals, backroom handshakes, and hidden agendas. I personally have a very big problem with this scenario as it pertains specifically to Doug and his wife. This would not be an issue at all for me if she were simply a school teacher but because of her former position within the union, I cannot shake the feeling that something could be up and I simply do not want to deal with this type of "board member" controversy again. I am definitely voting for Jerry Huang, so this has nothing to do with the ticket/party they've formed. Jerry is, IMHO, clearly the brains behind this group. However, I am frightened by the possibility of trading M2 for Doug. Our community cannot afford another massive controversy. So, I prefer to completely eliminate the risks Doug brings to the table in this situation. No need to go down the path of having to decide whether or not to recuse yourself if you aren't on the board. I think you can appreciate this line of thinking, Arch. Back to lurking.... |
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Post by anteater on Mar 12, 2009 9:34:09 GMT -6
There is actually an SD policy on BM conflict of interest. It basically says that a BM can't have a significant interest in a contract awarded by the board. Also, it seems to say that a family member cannot be hired by the district after someone is elected, but an existing employee does not have to give up their job. In looking at the Illinois school code sections, it looks like abstaining would satisfy the legal requirements. The policy can be found here. board.ipsd.org/Uploads/Policies/240.pdf |
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Post by Arch on Mar 12, 2009 11:11:52 GMT -6
It's been tossed around that Doug would present a Conflict of Interest on the SB because his wife is a teacher in D204... that he should not be allowed to vote on the Teacher's Contract. If Doug were elected and did abstain from the actual vote; would that be sufficient for those who believe it is a conflict of interest? Why or Why not? My own personal feelings on this is that he probably should abstain but the reality is that it won't make a difference in the vote outcome because I can not recall at any time a contract being voted down by the board or even having a 'close vote' for approval. Thoughts??? I've had more than enough of insider deals, backroom handshakes, and hidden agendas. I personally have a very big problem with this scenario as it pertains specifically to Doug and his wife. This would not be an issue at all for me if she were simply a school teacher but because of her former position within the union, I cannot shake the feeling that something could be up and I simply do not want to deal with this type of "board member" controversy again. I am definitely voting for Jerry Huang, so this has nothing to do with the ticket/party they've formed. Jerry is, IMHO, clearly the brains behind this group. However, I am frightened by the possibility of trading M2 for Doug. Our community cannot afford another massive controversy. So, I prefer to completely eliminate the risks Doug brings to the table in this situation. No need to go down the path of having to decide whether or not to recuse yourself if you aren't on the board. I think you can appreciate this line of thinking, Arch. Back to lurking.... I can definitely appreciate the concerns and now you've really tweaked my curiosity... "I simply do not want to deal with this type of "board member" controversy again" ...was there a problem in the past with a situation like this, or do you mean controversies in general (which we've had a bumper crop this past year). ? Total agreement on Jerry. He's one I am completely impressed with and brings a wonderful credential list to the table that seems to be lacking now. It seems the balance as it stands is less business/finance people currently on the board and we definitely need more eyes and ears in there with this in their skill set. |
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Post by lurker on Mar 12, 2009 15:32:29 GMT -6
I can definitely appreciate the concerns and now you've really tweaked my curiosity... "I simply do not want to deal with this type of "board member" controversy again" ...was there a problem in the past with a situation like this, or do you mean controversies in general (which we've had a bumper crop this past year). ? Recusing ones self from voting on a matter does not prevent one from attempting to influence others if it is in their personal interest. Just because Doug doesn't vote on the matter doesn't mean Doug sits silently on the sidelines. Why run the risk that Doug uses his position behind the scenes (now where have we seen THAT before -- generic controversy). Obviously we would hope he wouldn't use his position of influence to further his personal interests. My view is why bother with having to ask the question at all. There are other qualified candidates who have no personal ties to the executive level of the teacher's union (J Huang, DeSart, Rising, Vickers, Crockett, Hepburn for instance). I don't even want to think about what happens if the Sun prints some future article about how Doug has influenced the union contract. Now, I'm not saying he will nor am I accusing him of doing this, nor am I saying he's dishonest; I simply don't want to deal with the possibility. This whole thing feels too much like Cook County for me. I prefer to engineer the defects out of the process rather than incur costs to fix the finish product. Seriously, back to lurking...... |
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Post by Arch on Mar 12, 2009 16:00:48 GMT -6
I appreciate you elaborating and I can definitely see the concerns that people would have, even though the 'ties' are in the past to the executive level. I've heard she stepped down from that post and will not return to it.
Last question on the topic, and you can even do a PM if you want instead of a post... If his wife was no longer a teacher in 204, would that change your feelings on this, or do you consider it a no go still?
Again, I appreciate you taking the time to dive into this topic and share your opinion/angle on it.
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Post by doctorwho on Mar 12, 2009 16:29:39 GMT -6
I can definitely appreciate the concerns and now you've really tweaked my curiosity... "I simply do not want to deal with this type of "board member" controversy again" ...was there a problem in the past with a situation like this, or do you mean controversies in general (which we've had a bumper crop this past year). ? Recusing ones self from voting on a matter does not prevent one from attempting to influence others if it is in their personal interest. Just because Doug doesn't vote on the matter doesn't mean Doug sits silently on the sidelines. Why run the risk that Doug uses his position behind the scenes (now where have we seen THAT before -- generic controversy). Obviously we would hope he wouldn't use his position of influence to further his personal interests. My view is why bother with having to ask the question at all. There are other qualified candidates who have no personal ties to the executive level of the teacher's union (J Huang, DeSart, Rising, Vickers, Crockett, Hepburn for instance). I don't even want to think about what happens if the Sun prints some future article about how Doug has influenced the union contract. Now, I'm not saying he will nor am I accusing him of doing this, nor am I saying he's dishonest; I simply don't want to deal with the possibility. This whole thing feels too much like Cook County for me. I prefer to engineer the defects out of the process rather than incur costs to fix the finish product. Seriously, back to lurking...... or better yet have zero defects ( from TQM) which is now really starting to re enter the world of process/sigma analysis - no chance for error if these is not chance of it. What I would mean is.... Theoretically, where does your viewpoint go if the teachers ratify a contract before the election under the current board ? I suppose it is possible - not sure where it stands today. Is the connection to a PAST union rep then mute ? Just curious if that changes it in your opinion. |
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Post by rural on Mar 12, 2009 17:10:33 GMT -6
Another view is that you are voting for someone you feel will make the best decisions for the whole district through his/her vote/voice on the board. If a candidate must recuse themselves from discussions and voting on certain teacher-related issues, would that not be a poor choice for the seat?
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