|
|
Post by EagleDad on Sept 18, 2012 19:06:03 GMT -6
Dear District 204 Family,
It is with mixed emotions that I write to share my difficult decision to resign from the District 204 Board of Education and accept an appointment to the Illinois State Board of Education.
It has been a tremendous joy to serve you these past seven years. Together, we have achieved incredible results.
More students are meeting and exceeding state standards than ever before.
Our ACT score grew by 1.4 points – seven times the U.S. growth rate.
District residents grading us an "A" or "B" increased from 76 percent to 87 percent.
Our credit rating increased, placing us in the top 10 percent of districts nationally.
We achieved these results while operating at the lowest cost per student of any district in our county.
With an eye toward these and many other successes, Governor Quinn has asked me to serve as a member of the Illinois State Board of Education.
In accepting this new role, I am required to resign from my current position as a District 204 board member. However, I am pleased to continue serving you in this different capacity, while also seeking to help improve the educational outcomes of Illinois' 2 million other students.
Although this is not a position I sought, I am grateful for the opportunity to serve both your children and the others in our great state.
Honored to serve you,
Curt Bradshaw
P.S. The district has posted information on filling the vacant board position on its website.
|
|
|
|
Post by southsidesignmaker on Sept 18, 2012 19:13:57 GMT -6
Good luck to Brad!
Will the majority prevail, or maybe a new majority. Time will tell.
|
|
|
|
Post by EagleDad on Sept 18, 2012 19:54:14 GMT -6
While I am tempted to post one of my present-day remarks on this event...
I will reflect that Curt is one of the first board members that I ever met. It was as he was walking into my local elementary leading up to all of the sometimes controversial events in 2006. It took great fortitude for him to do so. I was impressed with Curt at the time, I donated to his election campaign and worked for him as a volunteer in that election.
Goodbye Curt, and thank you for your service. You have worked hard over the years.
It is likewise with mixed emotions that I learn of your departure.
|
|
|
|
Post by doctorwho on Sept 18, 2012 20:20:43 GMT -6
While I am tempted to post one of my present-day remarks on this event... I will reflect that Curt is one of the first board members that I ever met. It was as he was walking into my local elementary leading up to all of the sometimes controversial events in 2006. It took great fortitude for him to do so. I was impressed with Curt at the time, I donated to his election campaign and worked for him as a volunteer in that election. Goodbye Curt, and thank you for your service. You have worked hard over the years. It is likewise with mixed emotions that I learn of your departure. Eagledad, I am right in line with you. One of the first SB members I 'got to know' was also Curt. I admired the initial stand he took and his professionalism in the abuse case - accompanying him to Springfield on a few occasions .... However my concern is what turned around the person who 'went by the numbers' to agree to spend $154M on a totally unneeded high school based on attendance numbers I know - he knows were wrong. The correct numbers were put in his possession, including by another SB member well in advance of spending the money. The negligence in site selection as well as spend-tax decision on that school - and the accompanying increase in 204 debt long term is really a black eye. I still like the man as a person but wonder what changed from day 1. Working for the only governor in the country to hike state income taxes in the middle of a full fledged recession - seems like a fit today-- sadly I don't think that was always the case. I also Thank Curt for the amount of time he put in- I know it was extensive, especially with a young family. Maybe one day we can discuss the change in spending view over a beer. So it is also with mixed emotions I wish you well in your next endeavor. |
|
|
|
Post by doctorwho on Sept 18, 2012 20:24:56 GMT -6
Good luck to Brad! Will the majority prevail, or maybe a new majority. Time will tell. there is no new majority SSSM -- I've been thru this process before only to come up on the short end of a 1 vote difference for a vacated seat. The vice president tie breaking vote does not come from the 'new' anything...but the 'old guard' has lost it's leader and there is not one left that can fill Curt's shoes..if that's what you mean. The next election just got more interesting.....for sure. sadly the financial damage is done and we will pay for the mistakes forever -- even once the debt is paid off (long after I am gone from here)- there are the extra transportation charges yearly and the inevitable building closures- those are not too far off. |
|
|
|
Post by mommygator on Sept 19, 2012 14:05:00 GMT -6
Curt was also the first school board member I got to know. I enjoyed his ability to reach out and meet parents. His departure is surely a loss for our district. Hopefully, having him at the State level will be a marked gain for us all.
|
|
|
|
Post by doctorwho on Sept 22, 2012 9:59:33 GMT -6
Curt was also the first school board member I got to know. I enjoyed his ability to reach out and meet parents. His departure is surely a loss for our district. Hopefully, having him at the State level will be a marked gain for us all. unless you're a tax payer- his spend and tax policies can now be spread state wide-- maybe another school district can plunk down $150M for a school they don't need. At least he is now affiliated with the right party for that....no surprise Quinn would tap him. Maybe another state income tax hike on the way. |
|
|
|
Post by casey on Sept 23, 2012 16:03:38 GMT -6
So I'm not going to join in the goodbye party for Curt Bradshaw though I do thank him for the time he devoted to the district. IMO, he has helped screw over the district to get us in the mess we are in today. I never forgave him for not standing up to Mark Metzger when the "M'Fing" email went out to the victim's parents. He should have had the guts to call MM out and ask for his resignation. Good riddance to him. I'm not surprised that Quinn tapped him to join in with the reindeer games. Ugh...
|
|
