All that is on the agenda is:
1. Call to Order
2. Personnel
a. Staff Report
3. Other
a. High School Handbook
4. Adjournment
One has to wonder exactly why this could not have waited until the next regularly scheduled meeting in August. Perhaps the disclosure of the illegality of the recent retirement packages given to Administrators in contradiction of Board policy and without contractual obligations or any evidence of Board action... (see "Decatur Administrator Severance Packages Really Sweet" and "Decatur Administrator Severance Packages in Contradiction of School Board Policy") is proving too much ?
This agenda, of course and per usual, says absolutely nothing. This has prompted me to begin a task I have been intending to do, but never quite got the time. That task is to look at the agendas and minutes of other school districts in Marion County.
Today I take a peek at what IPS is doing for agendas.
Here's a link to their agendas. You'll have to click on a date in the far left to view one. I suggest "Jul 27, 2010", which is the most current as I write this entry.
They have a great deal of information on their agenda. Imagine that - the public can actually see what is to be discussed and some real detail about each action item !! Don Stinson would never allow that to happen here in Decatur.
Scroll down the left hand panel and click on any action item. I clicked on "5.05 Increase Contract with Luerssen Consulting, LLC For Substitute Nursing Services". That already is far more detail than any Decatur School Board agenda would have. Clicking the link brings up information in the right hand panel. Imagine - MORE INFORMATION for the public !!! I have reprinted this one item below:
Agenda Item Details
Meeting Jul 27, 2010 - Board Action Session; July 27, 2010; 7:00 P.M.
Category General Superintendent's Recommendations - New Business
Subject Increse Contract with Luerssen Consulting, LLC for Substitute Nursing Services
Type Action
Fiscal Impact Yes
Dollar Amount $ 35,000.00
Budgeted Yes
Budget Source IDEA Grant
Presented By: Dr. Willie Giles Robb K. Warriner
Strategic Plan: Everyone Can Learn
TOPIC: Approval to extend contract with Luerssen Consulting, LLC for substitute nursing service at a cost of $35,000.00.
Background Information: Given the continuing need for substitute nursing services, it is recommended that we extend our contract with Luerssen Consulting, LLC, for the 2010/2011 school year to include services through June 30, 2011. The amount of the contract will remain the same at $35,000.00.
***Superintendent’s Recommendation: I recommend that the Board of School Commissioners approve the contract with Luerssen Consulting LLC for substitute nursing services at a cost not to exceed $35,000.00. I also recommend the Board authorize the Director of Special Education to execute the extension on behalf of the Board. Funding will be provided through the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) grant and will not impact the General Fund.
The Decatur School Board doesn't approve contracts - in violation of State law -- much less let the public know how much money is involved in anything. Not only are their agendas worthless, attending meetings leaves the audience without a clue as to what is being decided, and their minutes complete the trifecta of keeping the public in the dark. Even the Bell, California, Council meeting agendas have more detail than Decatur School Board does - and look what they got away with !
Posts
49 comments:
I have a back to school concern. I have noticed you can check your childs bus informtion on the districts website. All you do is type in your grade (to distinguish elem, ms, hs, etc) and your address. It will tell you what school you're going to, time the bus will pick you up, drop you off, bus number and your p/u and d/o location (nearest intersaection, etc). Even provides a map. So any pedophile in the area can easily map out our children's day! This is disturbing to me - does it bother anyone else? Can't we link this program to Skyward, in which you'd need a password to obtain these details?
HYE - just a thought -perhaps a Back to school sounding post would be helpful.
Would someone please explain the rotation of special area time that is announced on the Decatur website. They say this is necessary to help with class size?????????
It is my understanding there is a rotation on gym class in elementaries. There will be one gym teacher that will cover 2 elementaries. Basically one elem. will have gym for 9 weeks, then the other elem will have it the next nine weeks. Same teacher will rotate schools, each 9 weeks.
Can anyone confirm this is true?
I'm all for art, music, and pe - but in the winter when there is no recess, gym is the only active time of their day. Can't take them outside after school when it's 10 degrees. Maybe at the special school board meeting, all admins will agree to give up a small smidgeon of their salary and we can hire a couple more elementary pe teachers!!!!
Better still, perhaps some of the administrative fat-cats could fill in as PE teachers on a rotating basis? It'd benefit our kids allowing them to burn off some energy. It'd also allow the administrators to burn off a few of those extra pounds they've picked up from eating Stinson's cake at their catered-in dinners at taxpayer expense. We don't any more porky administrators.
The Board needs to end any and all plans to pay consultants if they do not have the money to pay for elementary pe, music, and art. The children are going to be hurt develpmentally if they are doing this.
Ohhhh! This school board makes me SO MAD! If I only knew when they had meetings I'd go! I can't get involved because they never say when they will meet! How do they get away with this! Those crooks! I want to get involved but I just can't with babysitter problems and work. I could schedule ahead of time if I knew when the crooks held their meetings! They don't even say where they meet at either do they. How convienient they do that so no one can get involved! I might run for school board president in November. Anyone know how I can get involved in the school board election in November? Those CROOKS!
Question for comment about bus schedule...do you have to log in to get this information?
This concerns PE rotation. I was told it would be a semester before SD had PE. I was also told that WN is the only elementary that does not have to do without any of the special classes.
no, you do not have to log in to get this information. Just got to the district home page to the transportation section and wah-lah! There it is for all of America to see!
12:36 pm....this district really does NOT care about kids, your post proves that.
A concern I have is that the CO admins and the retirees have a purse full of money and the custodians have worked all summer with NO AIR CONDITIONING, "to save money"
registered peyton for lynwood today. must say i wasn't a bit let down!!!! from the begining i disagreed with the disolving of ecc and transfer to lynwood. who'd a thunk i would have all the amo to back it up on just registration day???? the school was blocked off within 20ft of the door. the building itself was compareable to an abandoned asylum from a sci fi movie. they have NO air and hope to have it going by the time the children arrive. meet your teacher night is aug. 5th you prob won't get to see your childs room with the construction it's not an option. between the withering old woman at the front desk (if you would call it that) who was severly suffering from heat to the lady with all the awnsers explaining to me to ignore this date, and use this date, we had a typo. left me furious with the retards running decatur township!!!! our 5yr old children must ride a bus to the dilc and unload then re-load just to head to their new school. still we are doing this even with all of the k graders going to the same school. how about we take our 10 yr olds to lyn i mean...(liberty) and let them load and re-load. seems a bit safer to me. with the cost of the new air conditioning and rehab of lynwood, to the most generic playground installed at the dilc, leaves me wondering why didn't we just fix ecc and leave lynwood for the piece of crap that it is?
why in the world did we move the kids out of the ECC? So that we can move more kids into it???? I thought the ECC had mold? The big kids must be able to breath this in. Now lets spend more money to get Lynwood ready for lil kids when the ECC was already fit for their lil sizes. What in the hell are these people thinking? I think they talk themselves in circles so much they don't know what in the hell they do anything for. Oh and let's spend more money so we can change all the school signage. I think their stupid fixes are going to cost us even more money. Oh and my third grader has 30 kids in her classroom and you know that will be more as the new enroll's come in! If they keep making all these crappy decisions maybe we should hire a consultant way to much money if they can get the board to make a better decision. Several years ago the 5th and 6th graders were in the elementary schools and we moved them out for a reason. I wonder if the board remembers those reasons. Let the BS begin! If I had the money I would move my kids out of these schools also like the many others I know that have gone to private schools.
The meeting is probably to approve all the "consultants" ie "retired administrators who want to continue doing very little and earning a paycheck."
They will probably also be approving the Edge replacement for Kelly McWilliams at the high school??? Let's see, move Meerman and Opel out and into the classroom at the top of the pay scale, insert McWilliams (who was making more than Opel) and Consultant Rather in Athletics, hire a replacement administrator for McWilliams?? How much "savings" is taking place there? Is this the school's idea of doing more with less??? Stinson-omics????
You people are hysterical! Or perhaps I should say pathetic. The MSD is having a hard enough time finding money to fund the administrators' employment contracts, and cutting costs here and there within the school district is necessary in achievement of that goal. Our administrators deserve what we pay them as they're having many sleepless nights trying to work their way around the roadblocks to excellence placed in their way by our governor MyManMitch.
Susan Adams is fully cognizant of the current condition of every building in the MSD. The A/C will be running in the buildings as soon as the teachers report back to work. It's a union issue, you see. Until then you people need to toughen up and stop being cry-babies about the heat inside the buildings. If the janitors can take it, so can you. Susan is very busy taking free trips to Acapulco and Aruba and only has a limited amount of time between trips. She is doing the best she can.
She is also monitoring this blog. Don't think you can get away with this forever. Some of you will be out of a job soon if you don't shut your faces. I didn't see any of you at the board meeting. Couldn't find a baby-sitter, or couldn't you get your car to start? LOL!!!
let's be realistic, if your precious admins would take more of a pay cut they wouldn't be hurting. you know out hear in the real world i've even known people who surrive on just 30k a year. Maybe if people had been more concerned about money in the first place some of the absurd admin employment contracts wouldn't be in danger now? you talk about cutting cost, i am talking about the extra spending. if you are so proud of your admins and their salaries why keep yourself anonymous? be proud of the junk you back up! Lets quit blaming mitch and get to the real source. the consistant unnecessary spending finally caught up with the township. furthermore your once again RETARDED and Heartless comment about the A/C only proves the ignorance and mentality of the people unwillingly chosen to lead our children. it is my child i am concerned for. not myself, and certainly not you. i'm sure susan on her free trips to acapulco and aruba are indeed losing the sleep you mentioned earlier. the problem is that is the best she can do. we need better, so lets find it. i find it interesting you are threatening people that work for msd with their jobs. who r u? you know who they r? they r the ones who believe in something. our children, their future, their morals! you are a follower not a leader. not anyone someone should be proud of. you are vengeful, cold and shameless. i no longer attend the board meetings because they are sickening and pointless. i have better things to do then sit around watching the board and admin present stroking themselves. they care not about what we think and say.
oh.... lol!
Where in the restructuring presentations for program changes was it discussed that p.e., music, and art programs would change in the elementaries?????????
undaunted - I could not tell if anon 5:36 was joking. Your comments are very good, nonetheless. Thank you.
anon 11:05 and others - I am not sure if this helps anything, but I did trip on the following paragraph on the district website --
"As part of the fiscal restructuring plan being implemented this year in the MSD of Decatur Township, there will be a modification of special area time in the elementary schools. This action, although not desirable, was part of the district cost cutting measures that does not impact class size. As a result, Stephen Decatur and Valley Mills Elementary students will rotate Physical Education classes each semester and the Gold and Blue Academy students will rotate Art classes each semester. Special classes will be rotated each year at these schools so that all students will receive the same special area rotation in a 2 year period. West Newton Elementary School is not impacted this year by this change. Measures such as this are being implemented to help facilitate reasonable class sizes in elementary schools across the district."
the link is (then scroll down): http://decatur.schoolfusion.us/modules/cms/pages.phtml?sessionid=53a398bbdfcb37a8d63a89dbce027485&pageid=147134&sessionid=53a398bbdfcb37a8d63a89dbce027485#Top_TOC
if it was a joke, i am very sorry.
I can't make out what is joking and what is not in that comment - perhaps the author can clarify.
"West Newton Elementary School is not impacted this year by this change"
Of course it isn't.
Stephen Decatur is a "choice school" you have the right to send you child to any school in the township if they were placed at that school. So if your not happy send you kid else where. I am out of town can somebody tell me what went on at the school board meeting.
To avoid any confusion - the person who posted last spells his (likely fake) name differently than the Decatur school superintendent.
As to Stephen Decatur being open for school choice -- I understand that a robo-call from Gary Pellico was made to all parents whose children are set to attend SD. As it was explained to me, this designation as a school failing no child left behind may be a temporary deal, so do discuss this with school officials so that you understand all possible outcomes BEFORE you make a decision. For instance, if it turns out to be temporary, and you have changed your child's school, you may become responsible for your child's transportation to and from school -- or -- you would have to change them back to SD. But get all the facts before you decide what school your child attends.
Hope Channel 6 or Channel 13 will do a report on the Superintendent and Board action tonight to approve their illegal administrator retirement packages. Contact Mitch Daniels and the legislators??? The taxpayers should sue the school corporation.
Were the administrator retirement packages disclosed at the board meeting last night??????
Oh this school board! When do they have meetings? I want to be involved SO bad but I never know when they meet! How sneaky are they! I need a baby sitter and have to schedule work time off and I have no idea when they meet! Do they meet on a regular basis? Oh well I guess I'll just gripe and complain because I don't know when they have meetings.
Anon 11:10: Why didnt YOU go to the meeting? Why ask online? LOL you have a baby sitter problem or work problem or your car wouldn't start LOL! Wah wah wah I didn't know about a school board meeting! Wah wah wah! LOL!
anon 2:22, 2:24 - you've made your point ad nauseum . You have become simply a caricature and abusive toward others. Any more of these posts will simply be deleted by me.
HEI 2:50 PM,
Have you not also become a caricature and abusive to others.
I am glad that you thought that "undaunted"'s comments were good, since I had a tough time wading through the poor grammar and the misspellings. I thought her comments bordered on being abusive since the people that she was bad mouthing at school registration are not the ones that are usually targeted on this blog. They were most likely admin assistants that are trying their best to do their job (under conditions that are not within their control)and get students registered and not retards, which in itself is an abusive term is it not?
To the person that cannot seem to figure out when the board meetings are, they are the second Tuesday of every month, except for August because the second Tuesday is the beginning day of school so, it will be the third Tuesday.
Anon july 28; 12:36 PM, having did a search on the bus schedule page, I don't really find this to really be a concern. The bus #s nor the times are posted. Pedophiles probably already know more information than is provided on that web page.
HEI has consistently presented verifiable data. There has been no abusive sharing of information unless "the truth hurts."
Yoda, would you please share your factual data that causes you to question HEI's data????????
Here you go, Yoda -- www.blogger.com
You can start you own blog. I'm sure lots of us would be tickled pink to leave comments on it for you.
And, if you actually identified yourself, I'd actually post a link to it from my blog.
Have at it.
It appears that DCHS is hiring 2 positions for athletic department supervisors.
I do not understand how firing Opel (former AD) and Meerman (former Asst AD) and promoting McWilliams to AD while paying Rather as an AD consultant (former administrator) and these supervisor positions saves money????
Anon 7/30 10:14 p.m. How much money are they paying these 2 new athletic supervisor positions??? Are these hourly positions? What are the job requirements - licensed teachers? Part-time or full time positions? Why do they need these positions - they have several assistant positions at the high school? Why can't Dave Rather do this? How about Don Stinson? Could board members or their family members do this since they are admitted to games for free? Are parents qualified?
It is not HEI's data that is abusive but her purpose in general. The real nature of HEI comes out every once in a while, just like it did earlier when she said she was going to delete "abusive" comments and yet she lets the abusive comments of someone like undaunted stand and even stated that she approved of the comments.
How is that for fact. She seems to be a lot like the present administration in Washington, as long as you agree, you are fine but if not, let the abuse begin.
[originally posted by anon 5:24 pm]
The info is on the website, it does not list qualifications needed. I imagine it would not require more than a HS diploma. I think the positions are not open to the public for a few more days. Something tells me they already have candidates picked out and their online notice is just a formality.
An aside, McWilliams has already been in trouble, [details removed by HEI]. Simply unacceptable, this should be grounds for firing her. Apparently the situation was "taken care of". Right.
[Anon 5:24 – I removed the details you posted, as it would be unfair if you had been given information that wasn’t true. I reposted the remainder of your comment.]
HEI,
To confirm the above info for yourself, just ask Pellico. My guess is they won't comment as they don't discuss personnel issues.
anon 10:37 -- are students protected with an up to date privacy policy? I should think, with all the modern techology, that schools would be interested in expanding those policies beyond protecting social security numbers.
HEI,
I have not seen an official document prohibiting staff from posting (school related information, particularly as it relates to students) on social networking sites, or even warning against it.
is there any truth to the rumor that pellico and jones will be coming back after a month off as some kind of community liasons?and if so how does this save any money?looks like they all just changed titles and got more money by retiring and coming back and still getting a check from school.
anon 8:38 - the rumor includes Candace Baer's return as well as Pellico and Jones. Rather apparantly has been talking about his new post-retirement contract in public forums.
Yes, indeedee, it does seem like it is using the pension system, but not cutting our expenses like they want us to think they are. Standard Operating Procedure for this district.
sorry if i lack in the spelling department, i received my education from decatur township. my comments were not at all directed to the poor souls who were at the registration. i felt horrible for them. that is also why i did not address any of my issues with them. i know they have nothing to do with it. they are all just worker bees. what i find abusive is the violation of our children, teachers and parents. to be clear the retards of whom i am speaking would be the board and certain admins. if you decide to check webster for reference i think you too shall find the word fitting and not at all abusive.
rumor is rather is working directly for the construction company that is building the high school for a month. This technically gets him off the books for a month, and then he'll be back.
They're playing with fire.
I guess I'm shocked at how the 5 School Board members are acting. I've known them all my adult life; thought they were to be respected. I tried talking about this staffing situation to a couple of them recently, NOT at a school function but out and about. They both kind of blew me off. I know it's hard to talk about anything at Wal-Mart; but hey...at LEAST listen to me! What's up with these people! Has a little bit of local power corrupted them? They are totally different than I ever knew them! And I'm not asking for any details or information that's not public knowledge...all I'm asking is "what in the world is going on".........!
Wow. I'm shocked and disguisted. Anyone know when the next election is and who's seats are up????? I'm kinda hoping it's the two that I tried to talk to.....
Sorry; after I posted I re-read my post. I started with ..."I'm shocked at how the 5 School Board members are acting..".
I haven't tried talking to the other 3. Sorry. I only have tried speaking to the two that I ran into. LOL If I ever get a chance to talk to the other 3 then I'll have an opinion on them!
Sorry I didn't mean to disrespect anyone that I haven't talked to.
LOL sorry to keep adding to my posts but.....
Has anyone ever seen Cathy Wiseman out in public? I mean; I run into 2 of the 5 board members on a weekly basis. Usually Wal-Mart or a sporting event.....
Come to think of it, I've never EVER seen Cathy Wiseman at a school event or anywhere in the community. Anyone know anything about her? Does she live in the Township? I think you have to live here to be on the board don't you? At one time I heard she was having some domestic troubles and moved out of the township for a while. Come to think of it, I've had kids in the schools for many years...and NEVER ever ever EVER saw her anywhere. LOL not even at Wal-Mart.
anon 1:22 -- the next School Board election is in the spring of 2012. The seats occupied by Don Huffman and Doug Greenwald will be up then.
Yes, you do have to live in the District to serve on the School Board.
"rumor is rather is working directly for the construction company that is building the high school for a month. This technically gets him off the books for a month, and then he'll be back."
If true,that's certainly an odd arrangement.
"They both kind of blew me off.
Hmmm...A couple of folks from the board blowing off members of the community....
It's not surprising. They're school board members,you're just a peon. You should've asked them what they received in return for supporting the superintendent.
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