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Firings At Farragut Yesterday, the principal of Farragut notified 12 PAT teachers that they would not be returning next year. The names of several teachers have shocked the faculty and students. They are extremely dedicated teachers who likely have been fired because they were either too popular or about to receive tenure.
P.W. - 3rd year teacher, Bilingual Lead Teacher, about to receive tenure. Head coach of swim team. Assistant coach of baseball team. Coordinated 15 teachers to receive certification to administer ACCESS test. Coordinated sharing of materials and resources between Bilingual and Special Education Dept. Mentor teacher for student teacher who was subsequently hired by the school.
S.W. - 4th year teacher, AP Government, Economics teacher. Raised funds to send 9 students to Washington DC for Close-up. Only CPS teacher to send students to Springfield for Capital Forum two years running. Second place in city-wide stock market competition. Brought in writing tutors for junior-level Contemporary American History course for research papers.
C.C. - English teacher for several years. Published poet, publisher. Coordinated student spoken word competition and performed his own work. Has arranged for publication of many students' work.
J.S. - 4th year teacher, head coach of debate team. Created team from scratch and expanded it to over 30 students. Competed throughout the state. One student was last year's City Champion in Lincoln-Douglas debate. Nominated by two peers for a Drive Award. Implements school's new web site and trained faculty on how to use it completely without pay. Recently elected as Teacher Representative to Local School Council by overwhelming amount.
J.S. - 4th year math teacher. Highest geometry scores in his team, taught ACT prep in addition to two other courses.
S.Y. Foreign language teacher, about to receive tenure.
N.B. and R.P. - Special Education teachers in a department that is already under-staffed and managed by as case manager who is a 1st year teacher.
The others were all 1st year teachers. Some perhaps were not the best but they never had a chance to improve since our administration was more concerned with remodeling the library than mentoring 1st year teachers.
Farragut apparently has more firings than any other school and the principal has clearly demonstrated that if you are an innovative, independent teacher, she does not want you in her school. There is a climate of fear now in this school. When I heard of the teachers who had been fired, I was more than stunned. I have no idea who will be next and clearly, anyone is vulnerable to being fired at the whim of this woman.
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Fri May 9, 2008 at 6:20 AM
Firings At Farragut
Now that's what I call leadership!
What is the principal's name? They deserve a raise.
What is the principal's vision for the school? What a joke.
What is the principal's name? They deserve a raise.
What is the principal's vision for the school? What a joke.
Fri May 9, 2008 at 7:07 AM
Firings At Farragut
It is interesting to note that none of your comments about the teachers speak to waht was occuring IN THEIR CLASSROOMS. My school has also cut some good coaches, club sponsors, really nice people. But they were not performing IN THE CLASSROOM, which ultimately is the job.
Fri May 9, 2008 at 9:01 AM
Firings: contract compliant?
don't have my contract handy - but isn't there a date by which they have to fire PATs? i was under the impression that the date was earlier than the first week of may...
Fri May 9, 2008 at 9:10 AM
Firings At Farragut
I believe the count is 30 days before the last day of school - that would put it this week. We were told the termination letters were sent out last week but individual schools may have handled it differently.
No cuts at my high school which gives a sense of stability to the place.
No cuts at my high school which gives a sense of stability to the place.
Fri May 9, 2008 at 9:25 AM
Firings At Farragut
I believe CTU President -Marilyn Stewart's whole platform to demonize Debbie Lynch was that principals could give no reason to fire teachers and now the teachers have protections. Apparently, they still don't.
Fri May 9, 2008 at 9:47 AM
Firings At Farragut
Although the UPC led every delegate to believe that the new contract corrected Debbie's "mistakes" (which are of course debateable) there is a huge loophole for the principals: all of the oversight requirement is moot if the principal gives the teacher a satisfactory or better rating and then fires them 23A 3.2. That is what mine did.
Can't count, can't add, can't beat the Board at anything.
Can't count, can't add, can't beat the Board at anything.
Fri May 9, 2008 at 10:04 AM
Firings At Farragut
I could not figure that one out.
a satisfactory or better rating and then fires them
there must be talking points for the principals.
I remember back in September right after the contract passed. I had a meeting and they were already saying our after school pay was reduced and that it was in the contract.
The BoE knows more about the contract than do the members it is suppose to protect.
Just think about what i wrote.
The CONTRACT IS BEING USED AGAINST US!
it is suppose to PROTECT US
How did this happen that the BoE knows more about the contract and how to use it than our own union.
Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm
a satisfactory or better rating and then fires them
there must be talking points for the principals.
I remember back in September right after the contract passed. I had a meeting and they were already saying our after school pay was reduced and that it was in the contract.
The BoE knows more about the contract than do the members it is suppose to protect.
Just think about what i wrote.
The CONTRACT IS BEING USED AGAINST US!
it is suppose to PROTECT US
How did this happen that the BoE knows more about the contract and how to use it than our own union.
Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm
Fri May 9, 2008 at 10:40 AM
Firings At Farragut
I work at AASTA-which is part of AUSL's program to turnaround low performing high schools. Our interview process consisted of a 5 min pre interview-followed by 5 minutes observing my class-followed by a 10 minute post conference. Dozens of teachers have been fired by this process, which is so limited it makes me laugh at their incompetence...
How can they determine what type of teacher I am based off 20 minutes of interviewing?
What are 3rd year PAT teachers suppose to do? I was going to receive tenure and be assured of what CPS deems job security.....Now what happens to me and the other 3rd year PAT's? I have called both CPS and the Union to find out what will happen to me if I am unable to secure a position by August. No one can give me a straight answer.Does anybody else know? Any help would be appreciated.....
How can they determine what type of teacher I am based off 20 minutes of interviewing?
What are 3rd year PAT teachers suppose to do? I was going to receive tenure and be assured of what CPS deems job security.....Now what happens to me and the other 3rd year PAT's? I have called both CPS and the Union to find out what will happen to me if I am unable to secure a position by August. No one can give me a straight answer.Does anybody else know? Any help would be appreciated.....
Fri May 9, 2008 at 11:33 AM
PATs?
Trying to figure out how CPS works.
What are PAT teachers? Thanks.
What are PAT teachers? Thanks.
Fri May 9, 2008 at 12:56 PM
Firings At Farragut
To- 3rd year PAT about to receive Tenure
All the have to look at is the test scores and graduation rate of AASTA to figure out that the teachers aren't cutting it . . . scores in the single digits and teens?! What kind of future will these students have without being able to read, do basic math . . .
All the have to look at is the test scores and graduation rate of AASTA to figure out that the teachers aren't cutting it . . . scores in the single digits and teens?! What kind of future will these students have without being able to read, do basic math . . .
Fri May 9, 2008 at 1:24 PM
Firings At Farragut
I would like to let you know that % of students who exceed or met State standards increased about 6% during the 2 y period.
Please take under consideration that AASTA is a small school with the 3.5 y history.
During such short period AASTA faculty and staff were able to demonstrate high level of professionalism and were dedicated to improve academics of our students.In comparison ,UTD the Chicago Academy, the first HS school operated by the AUSL,in the same subgroup shows only 1% better result than AASTA (meeting and exceeding the State standards) .
Also (Chicago Academy)they are able to implement unofficial selective enrollment policy.Such luxury are out of reach at Orr Campus.Before you try to interpret numbers please use your brain.
All info were presented during both hearings regarding the school closure .
If you do have any question please e mail :coollaw3@yahoo.com
We were unable to get support from the Union -Mrs Stewart decided to ignore both hearings.Please take under consideration ,that AASTA never was on probation.
The Illinois School Code required particular steps to be taken
before school closure.
Recently,the ULP lawsuit was initiated.Part of the relief is a mandatory negotiation with the Board regarding reinstatement all school staff to their previous position.It is in your hands Marilyn.
Please take under consideration that AASTA is a small school with the 3.5 y history.
During such short period AASTA faculty and staff were able to demonstrate high level of professionalism and were dedicated to improve academics of our students.In comparison ,UTD the Chicago Academy, the first HS school operated by the AUSL,in the same subgroup shows only 1% better result than AASTA (meeting and exceeding the State standards) .
Also (Chicago Academy)they are able to implement unofficial selective enrollment policy.Such luxury are out of reach at Orr Campus.Before you try to interpret numbers please use your brain.
All info were presented during both hearings regarding the school closure .
If you do have any question please e mail :coollaw3@yahoo.com
We were unable to get support from the Union -Mrs Stewart decided to ignore both hearings.Please take under consideration ,that AASTA never was on probation.
The Illinois School Code required particular steps to be taken
before school closure.
Recently,the ULP lawsuit was initiated.Part of the relief is a mandatory negotiation with the Board regarding reinstatement all school staff to their previous position.It is in your hands Marilyn.
Fri May 9, 2008 at 1:53 PM
Firings At Farragut
I think the person wanted to know if a 3rd year PAT receives tenure and is protected by CPS and would be either placed in the 60 day pool or sub 4 days a week and look for work on the 5th day while receiving full pay for 10 months...Is that true? There are alot of us "3rd year PAT" who need this answered?
Fri May 9, 2008 at 3:01 PM
Firings At Farragut
Dear Colleagues:Please read articles 23-2 of the agreement.You must receive written notice at least thirty calendar days before the end of the school year as to whether the teacher will be reappointed for the following school year.A probationary teacher who does not receive such notice shall be deemed reappointed for the following school year.A probationary teacher who is displaced in accordance with the 20day rule will become a Cadre substitute.
Please refer to the appendix H regarding tenured teachers displacement and layoffs.
Different story if your school is closed,reconstituted etc.
I am afraid that PAT's can be displaced without placement in the reassigned teachers pool.
In order to make sure that you are aware about your situation please keep all documents /letters received and contact your field reps.If you feel uncomfortable ,please e mail me with your particular situation.At this time Union could use some legalities regarding schools closures and negotiate individual situation.
Make sure that you know your anniversary day.You are a tenured after comletion of 3 years of consecutive services.So each of you may have a different situation.Again refer to the Agreement Articles 23-2.The language of the Article 23-2.1 could cause some confusion anyway.
I wish you the best. Chris coollaw3@yahoo.com .
You can submitt the contact form login at http://www.coalitionsdu.org
Please refer to the appendix H regarding tenured teachers displacement and layoffs.
Different story if your school is closed,reconstituted etc.
I am afraid that PAT's can be displaced without placement in the reassigned teachers pool.
In order to make sure that you are aware about your situation please keep all documents /letters received and contact your field reps.If you feel uncomfortable ,please e mail me with your particular situation.At this time Union could use some legalities regarding schools closures and negotiate individual situation.
Make sure that you know your anniversary day.You are a tenured after comletion of 3 years of consecutive services.So each of you may have a different situation.Again refer to the Agreement Articles 23-2.The language of the Article 23-2.1 could cause some confusion anyway.
I wish you the best. Chris coollaw3@yahoo.com .
You can submitt the contact form login at http://www.coalitionsdu.org
Fri May 9, 2008 at 4:53 PM
Firings At Farragut
LOG IN AT http://coalitionsdu.org (write in the address box on the top of screen.
Fri May 9, 2008 at 6:11 PM
Firings At Farragut
Hey hacks why are you not supporting your brothers and sisters at Farragut?
Oh I forgot they are not promising you nice 150k office jobs at the mart.
Sorry you PAT's at Farragut.
We have no time for you we are busy talking politics and how to save our asses here at the mart.
We are planning how to stop the No vote for our fake budget.
We are planning how to pretend we are working.
Wait til the next house meeting.
Trust us you will not like it.
You will need more than those hand full AFT and IFT carpetbaggers to save you.
What's up with those private meetings in Marilyn's office?
Are those legal?
Oh I forgot they are not promising you nice 150k office jobs at the mart.
Sorry you PAT's at Farragut.
We have no time for you we are busy talking politics and how to save our asses here at the mart.
We are planning how to stop the No vote for our fake budget.
We are planning how to pretend we are working.
Wait til the next house meeting.
Trust us you will not like it.
You will need more than those hand full AFT and IFT carpetbaggers to save you.
What's up with those private meetings in Marilyn's office?
Are those legal?
Fri May 9, 2008 at 7:32 PM
Firings At Farragut
You are not tenured after 3 years. Read the contract. You are tenured after 4. Starting next fall, if you are hired in Sept., then you are tenured after 3. If you were hired before September 2008, you still need 4 years to receive tenure.
Fri May 9, 2008 at 7:53 PM
Firings At Farragut
You are right.I would like to suggest that all of you will be able to determine your anniversary date.Call the staffing at CPS and ask about your status.
Fri May 9, 2008 at 10:21 PM
Firings At Farragut
Is it true that Marilyn try to present fake budget and breaking the Union Constitution and By-laws?
Sat May 10, 2008 at 4:17 AM
Firings At Farragut
As long as the Farragut principal shares clout with UNO and the rest of the mobbed up political leadership out there, this stuff will continue. The problem isn't the current mope in the Farragut main office, but the structure of clout and corruption that goes from that office up through the wards all the way to the 5th floors (that's a plural) along Clark St. from Randolph down to Adams.
Sorry, but a bit of history and context are needed.
And, of course, some blame should go to the last three iterations of leadership at CTU for not leading any kind of fight (as in strike) to restore the power (and dignity) of teachers in this town to what it is in every other school district in this nasty state. They can't do this to you elsewhere. They couldn't do this to you 25 years ago (when I was still organizing subs and FTBs and we had protections, contractual and policy).
The sellouts and surrenders are of recent vintage.
Nine years ago, we published an article ("A veteran teacher's death," by Sharon Schmidt, September October 1999 Substance) about how former Farragut Principal Eduardo Guerra drove one Farragut teacher (Joe Hillebrand) to suicide after Guerra used "Reengineering" as the pretext (he bragged he was only hiring teachers under 30 where he could).
It took Chicago another six years before Guerra retired (at a pension of more than $90,000 per year), only to be hired (on the basis of his stellar "record" at Farragut) to head Waukeegan. Waukeegan got stuck buying out Guerra's contract after all his strange realities crashed on them within a year after the hire.
So this Farragut mess has a long and dishonorable history. It will be worth reporting (again) this year, but until the ability of the principals to zap teachers without cause is removed, and seniority restored, this kind of stupidity will continue to be done, and praised, from Farragut to Michelle Rhee's Washington, D.C.
Not every teacher whose life is ruined will walk in front of a Metra train at rush hour to make a statement, but the management philosophy that gives incompetents like Arne Duncan the power to destroy teachers and then praises both the power and those who wield it is at the root.
Sorry, but a bit of history and context are needed.
And, of course, some blame should go to the last three iterations of leadership at CTU for not leading any kind of fight (as in strike) to restore the power (and dignity) of teachers in this town to what it is in every other school district in this nasty state. They can't do this to you elsewhere. They couldn't do this to you 25 years ago (when I was still organizing subs and FTBs and we had protections, contractual and policy).
The sellouts and surrenders are of recent vintage.
Nine years ago, we published an article ("A veteran teacher's death," by Sharon Schmidt, September October 1999 Substance) about how former Farragut Principal Eduardo Guerra drove one Farragut teacher (Joe Hillebrand) to suicide after Guerra used "Reengineering" as the pretext (he bragged he was only hiring teachers under 30 where he could).
It took Chicago another six years before Guerra retired (at a pension of more than $90,000 per year), only to be hired (on the basis of his stellar "record" at Farragut) to head Waukeegan. Waukeegan got stuck buying out Guerra's contract after all his strange realities crashed on them within a year after the hire.
So this Farragut mess has a long and dishonorable history. It will be worth reporting (again) this year, but until the ability of the principals to zap teachers without cause is removed, and seniority restored, this kind of stupidity will continue to be done, and praised, from Farragut to Michelle Rhee's Washington, D.C.
Not every teacher whose life is ruined will walk in front of a Metra train at rush hour to make a statement, but the management philosophy that gives incompetents like Arne Duncan the power to destroy teachers and then praises both the power and those who wield it is at the root.
Sat May 10, 2008 at 4:20 AM
Firings At Farragut
Oh...
Does Farragut still have those casting couches?
But please don't bring those stories to me without sources willing to go on the record -- and maybe some serious visual records. At this point in history, these types of "leaders" should be ready for immortality on You Tube. Whether it's Paul Vallas getting his massages from a former Playboy Bunny (er., excuse me, educational leader with requisite doctorate) or the Farragut harems.
Get real. Follow both the money and the drugs.
Does Farragut still have those casting couches?
But please don't bring those stories to me without sources willing to go on the record -- and maybe some serious visual records. At this point in history, these types of "leaders" should be ready for immortality on You Tube. Whether it's Paul Vallas getting his massages from a former Playboy Bunny (er., excuse me, educational leader with requisite doctorate) or the Farragut harems.
Get real. Follow both the money and the drugs.
Sat May 10, 2008 at 10:50 AM
Get a grievance filed
Ask your delegate to file a grievance immediately. Search your contract book for the language. If your delegate is in "cahoots"
with the school's administration, file it yourself. Go to the CTU offices, and ask for a sample grievance. There should be one around school, that one of the veteran teachers have. Ask them for their support. It you request of the CTU grievance department to write your grievance, you can find a form on line (CTUnet.com). This will take time, and you will have to provide them with information on how the principal did not follow the guidelines, but you have 45 school days to do this. Get help from other unions, like the revolutionary IWW. Ask a friend from another union to help with writing the grievance. Pay no heed to he / she that says that the union does not do anything. You are a union member, and you have a right to file a grievance. Get support from any, and everyone. Write letters to the editor, have a fast (yes, quit eating) until you touch their hearts, and have you reinstated. I am thinking about starting a fast for the PATs at my High School that have received pink slips, though the grievances are on the principal's desk. We are meeting with an attorney this week. Don't let them get away with this.
Write a letter to Garnett the NBA star who graduated from Farragut,
and ask him for his support. You pay dues over $800. times 12?
And they have attorneys, so request from your field rep, a CTU
attorney, that you all together payed over $10,000. the past school year, and you would like to meet with a Union attorney. And / or multiply that $10,000. times the number of years that all of you have been teaching, and tell them that. Make your request for a union attorney to represent you in writing.
This is the city of the "Haymarket" martyrs, so why are we so docile? Please don't take this on the chin. fight back !!
with the school's administration, file it yourself. Go to the CTU offices, and ask for a sample grievance. There should be one around school, that one of the veteran teachers have. Ask them for their support. It you request of the CTU grievance department to write your grievance, you can find a form on line (CTUnet.com). This will take time, and you will have to provide them with information on how the principal did not follow the guidelines, but you have 45 school days to do this. Get help from other unions, like the revolutionary IWW. Ask a friend from another union to help with writing the grievance. Pay no heed to he / she that says that the union does not do anything. You are a union member, and you have a right to file a grievance. Get support from any, and everyone. Write letters to the editor, have a fast (yes, quit eating) until you touch their hearts, and have you reinstated. I am thinking about starting a fast for the PATs at my High School that have received pink slips, though the grievances are on the principal's desk. We are meeting with an attorney this week. Don't let them get away with this.
Write a letter to Garnett the NBA star who graduated from Farragut,
and ask him for his support. You pay dues over $800. times 12?
And they have attorneys, so request from your field rep, a CTU
attorney, that you all together payed over $10,000. the past school year, and you would like to meet with a Union attorney. And / or multiply that $10,000. times the number of years that all of you have been teaching, and tell them that. Make your request for a union attorney to represent you in writing.
This is the city of the "Haymarket" martyrs, so why are we so docile? Please don't take this on the chin. fight back !!
Sat May 10, 2008 at 2:01 PM
Firings At Farragut
Just so you all know, I had the Union representing me against CPS and when CPS told them they couldn't represent me (because CPS sneakily changed my job position number) the Union just walked away. Their reasoning is that they can walk away and they have the power to decide how long they want to defend someone...so what good is the Union?
Sat May 10, 2008 at 2:21 PM
Firings At Farragut
You can pursue your grievancec by yourself.Union has no right to dismiss without your consent.If you need legal advice alway call labor attorney and they possibly could charge Union or the other party depend on the case.Contact legal clinic(the Northwestern University is the best I believe)if you prefer.
Sat May 10, 2008 at 3:33 PM
Firings At Farragut
Joe are you a CTU member?
Do you have pay stubs that show this?
If so you have an easy lawsuit against the union.
You file against your Field Rep and Marilyn Stewart.
Unfair Labor Practice Forms - Charges alleging that the conduct of an employer and/or a union constitute conduct proscribed by the Act and can be filed by educational employers, unions, or employees alleging conduct which occurred within six months.
Any member can file a grievance.
Do you have pay stubs that show this?
If so you have an easy lawsuit against the union.
You file against your Field Rep and Marilyn Stewart.
Unfair Labor Practice Forms - Charges alleging that the conduct of an employer and/or a union constitute conduct proscribed by the Act and can be filed by educational employers, unions, or employees alleging conduct which occurred within six months.
Any member can file a grievance.
Sat May 10, 2008 at 4:40 PM
Firings At Farragut
The forms you need are available on the website http://coalitionsdu.org.Follow Kugle's advice.
Good luck
Good luck
Sat May 10, 2008 at 10:48 PM
Firings At Farragut
I am one of the PATS from Farragut. The first thing I did was call my field rep. The guy must have talked to me 3 or 4 times on Friday to make sure he got everything right . He filed a grievance that day, and told me that the principal did not follow the correct procedure. He told me things would probably be OK. The only obstacle ahead would be if the principal doctored the paperwork. Then there may be a problem. I wouldn't put past her.The field rep told me that the board tried to screw him over when he was a teacher. This guy seemed genuinely concerned. With all the negative stuff about the Union on this blog, I thought everyone would like to know that somebody gives a damn.
Sun May 11, 2008 at 2:40 AM
Firings At Farragut
Hello, 2nd year...
Your optimism may or may not be justified, but some of us would suggest that you log your notes from every phone call to the Mart and keep a complete set of your own records. Especially watch the deadlines and make sure that all appeals are followed during the required time.
Talking the talk is one thing.
Let's see how your field rep walks the walk.
Your optimism may or may not be justified, but some of us would suggest that you log your notes from every phone call to the Mart and keep a complete set of your own records. Especially watch the deadlines and make sure that all appeals are followed during the required time.
Talking the talk is one thing.
Let's see how your field rep walks the walk.
Sun May 11, 2008 at 7:56 AM
Firings At Farragut
Dear year 2
George is correct, I would like to add that some, not all, field reps are the perfect
sponge. They soak up everything you say, take notes, pretend to care, then deliberately
Screw you. Did you get copies of everything? Next time ask if you can tape record the proceedings .Deadlines are everything! Make a list and check everyone. If one deadline is getting close and you have not heard call. Finally assume nothing get copies even if it
Means signed receipts, especially from CPS personal.
George is correct, I would like to add that some, not all, field reps are the perfect
sponge. They soak up everything you say, take notes, pretend to care, then deliberately
Screw you. Did you get copies of everything? Next time ask if you can tape record the proceedings .Deadlines are everything! Make a list and check everyone. If one deadline is getting close and you have not heard call. Finally assume nothing get copies even if it
Means signed receipts, especially from CPS personal.
Sun May 11, 2008 at 1:24 PM
Firings At Farragut
Wake up people, With all of the hype about needing
teachers and especially Special Education, these types of
situations should never fail to amaze us, and remember these are only the one's we are hearing about. the students parents
whose children were in these classrooms can say something
to address IF there children were learning or NOT.
Principals in this system are always allowed to commit
legal crimes until CPS has no use for them. It is a crime
to mis-education and it is also a crime to dis miss teachers
who are doing their jobs when it is stated they ( CPS)
are looking for qualified teachers. Education is a business
children are commodities and educators are pawns.
Wake Up, People what are you going to do to change
things??
teachers and especially Special Education, these types of
situations should never fail to amaze us, and remember these are only the one's we are hearing about. the students parents
whose children were in these classrooms can say something
to address IF there children were learning or NOT.
Principals in this system are always allowed to commit
legal crimes until CPS has no use for them. It is a crime
to mis-education and it is also a crime to dis miss teachers
who are doing their jobs when it is stated they ( CPS)
are looking for qualified teachers. Education is a business
children are commodities and educators are pawns.
Wake Up, People what are you going to do to change
things??
Sun May 11, 2008 at 1:28 PM
Firings At Farragut
Wake up people, With all of the hype about needing
teachers and especially Special Education, these types of
situations should never fail to amaze us, and remember these are only the one's we are hearing about. the students parents
whose children were in these classrooms can say something
to address IF there children were learning or NOT.
Principals in this system are always allowed to commit
legal crimes until CPS has no use for them. It is a crime
to mis-education and it is also a crime to dis miss teachers
who are doing their jobs when it is stated they ( CPS)
are looking for qualified teachers. Education is a business
children are commodities and educators are pawns.
Wake Up, People what are you going to do to change
things??
teachers and especially Special Education, these types of
situations should never fail to amaze us, and remember these are only the one's we are hearing about. the students parents
whose children were in these classrooms can say something
to address IF there children were learning or NOT.
Principals in this system are always allowed to commit
legal crimes until CPS has no use for them. It is a crime
to mis-education and it is also a crime to dis miss teachers
who are doing their jobs when it is stated they ( CPS)
are looking for qualified teachers. Education is a business
children are commodities and educators are pawns.
Wake Up, People what are you going to do to change
things??
Sun May 11, 2008 at 2:48 PM
Firings At Farragut
Send these teachers to Curie High School, not far from Farragut. Do I remember when most of the faculty back in January of 06 said that if Jones (former principal) does not get her contract renewed that they are leaving Curie High School.
So did they leave or talk crap?
That makes room for those disgruntled teachers at Curie to leave and bring in the bright ones from Farragut.
So did they leave or talk crap?
That makes room for those disgruntled teachers at Curie to leave and bring in the bright ones from Farragut.
Sun May 11, 2008 at 3:34 PM
Firings At Farragut
2nd year,
Field reps are supposed to make you feel like everything is going to be alright. I suggest you go to the job fair while the grievence is being processed otherwise you will be subbing or unemployed waiting for them to fix it.
If someone dosen't want you find a school that will appreciate you, she will only nonrenew you next year after making you miserable.
Field reps are supposed to make you feel like everything is going to be alright. I suggest you go to the job fair while the grievence is being processed otherwise you will be subbing or unemployed waiting for them to fix it.
If someone dosen't want you find a school that will appreciate you, she will only nonrenew you next year after making you miserable.
Sun May 11, 2008 at 6:50 PM
Firings At Farragut
By the way... there are 13 teachers who were non-renewed at Farragut. Of those 13, 9 were in their 3rd or 4th year. I'm one of them. Most have filed grievances, including myself. Hearings should be held next week. Faculty morale in the crapper, students up in arms, should be interesting. Updates will follow.
Sun May 11, 2008 at 9:46 PM
Firings At Farragut
Hello John.I am very sorry.Would you please give me a ring?
312 473 1508 or e mail:coollaw3@yahoo.com .
I hope the Field Reps will be more efficient than usually.
312 473 1508 or e mail:coollaw3@yahoo.com .
I hope the Field Reps will be more efficient than usually.
Sun May 11, 2008 at 9:51 PM
Firings At Farragut
Why would a talented teacher want to teach in CPS after reading here about the events such as this? Who in their right mind would want to face such obstacles and endure the crap that happens at some schools? If CPS really wants to attract the best and the brightest, then they need to coach their administrators on how to create environments where people actually want to work and where students really want to learn. Enough of this heavy-handed, political, sneaky stuff!
Sun May 11, 2008 at 10:29 PM
Firings At Farragut
With the current budget crisis in the spotlight, thought I'd repost something I wrote over a month ago.
Settlements for June Davis, Audrey May, Diana Sheffer, and the late President Tom Reece's bodyguard totalling over $700,000.00, all agreed to by PRESIDENT MARILYN STEWART. That's OK, she didn't know what she was doing at the time.
The contracts Lynch gave to her Coordinators were given before the election she lost by less than 600 votes. Why couldn't those one year contracts be honored, then replace Lynch's people. Isn't that what we want new principals to do in schools? I WOULD SUE TOO IF I HAD A CONTRACT AND WAS FIRED! That's called a political firing.
What about that election that PRESIDENT MARILYN STEWART won by less than 600 votes in 2004? Well, if millonaire attorney Larry Poltrock didn't do legal work for the AFT, Lynch would have won the challenge. Kind of like what millonaire LARRY POLTROCK is doing now with the caucus.
Let's borrow money off our strike money that should have been used to stop school closings for the next five years. That makes a lot of sense PRESIDENT MARILYN STEWART. This is a sure fire way to keep everything going until you are ready to retire isn't it?
So how much did MARILYN STEWART save on the leasing of the mart offices. $10,000 per month or so. Sorry PRESIDENT MARILYN STEWART, the mart just wanted the CTU to stay. It was not you or your negotiating skills. It's called the changing of economic times. A little less per month is better than nothing. Drop in the bucket for the Kennedy's.
This budget problem has been ongoing for over three years. PRESIDENT MARILYN STEWART can just blame it on Linda Porter. Over FIVE MILLION lost dollars that PRESIDENT MARILYN STEWART just found out about and took Linda Porter's authority away.
CUT THE GARBAGE PRESIDENT MARILYN STEWART. YOU HAVE BEEN IN ON THE MIS-MANAGEMENT OF THE CTU THE WHOLE TIME. MAYBE YOU JUST DIDN'T UNDERSTAND, BUT THAT'S OK, YOUR JUST THE PRESIDENT!
Let's sum this up. I blame many others but myself. Maybe it is the excess staff hirings over the years. How about the lavish buffets, parties, and spreads for my patronage army, family members and friends. How about your personal "unlimited expense account" that could have ranged from $2600.00 to $10,600.00 per month all these years? Remember when she refused to answer how much her expense account was at the House Meeting? All Stewart claimed she spent last month was 1oo dollars for her cell phone. WHAT AN INSULT TO THE MEMBERSHIP!!
Try reducing unnessasary administrators. You can limit them to five.
1. Grievance 2. Security 3. Lobbyist 4. Editor 5. Quest
Well, that would probably save a few million a year. We wouldn't want to do that now would we? These individuals are your strongest supporters in these hard times.
PRESIDENT MARILYN STEWART-HARD DECISIONS, HARD TIMES!
YOUR 30 CRONIES OR YOUR 30,000 MEMBERS. LOOKS LIKE YOU HAVE ALREADY MADE YOUR CHOICE.
If Stewart gives any of her coordinators or consultants multi-year contracts, then she should be ousted for fiscal mismanagement. Show the membership you really care and get rid of your top financial supporters.
Settlements for June Davis, Audrey May, Diana Sheffer, and the late President Tom Reece's bodyguard totalling over $700,000.00, all agreed to by PRESIDENT MARILYN STEWART. That's OK, she didn't know what she was doing at the time.
The contracts Lynch gave to her Coordinators were given before the election she lost by less than 600 votes. Why couldn't those one year contracts be honored, then replace Lynch's people. Isn't that what we want new principals to do in schools? I WOULD SUE TOO IF I HAD A CONTRACT AND WAS FIRED! That's called a political firing.
What about that election that PRESIDENT MARILYN STEWART won by less than 600 votes in 2004? Well, if millonaire attorney Larry Poltrock didn't do legal work for the AFT, Lynch would have won the challenge. Kind of like what millonaire LARRY POLTROCK is doing now with the caucus.
Let's borrow money off our strike money that should have been used to stop school closings for the next five years. That makes a lot of sense PRESIDENT MARILYN STEWART. This is a sure fire way to keep everything going until you are ready to retire isn't it?
So how much did MARILYN STEWART save on the leasing of the mart offices. $10,000 per month or so. Sorry PRESIDENT MARILYN STEWART, the mart just wanted the CTU to stay. It was not you or your negotiating skills. It's called the changing of economic times. A little less per month is better than nothing. Drop in the bucket for the Kennedy's.
This budget problem has been ongoing for over three years. PRESIDENT MARILYN STEWART can just blame it on Linda Porter. Over FIVE MILLION lost dollars that PRESIDENT MARILYN STEWART just found out about and took Linda Porter's authority away.
CUT THE GARBAGE PRESIDENT MARILYN STEWART. YOU HAVE BEEN IN ON THE MIS-MANAGEMENT OF THE CTU THE WHOLE TIME. MAYBE YOU JUST DIDN'T UNDERSTAND, BUT THAT'S OK, YOUR JUST THE PRESIDENT!
Let's sum this up. I blame many others but myself. Maybe it is the excess staff hirings over the years. How about the lavish buffets, parties, and spreads for my patronage army, family members and friends. How about your personal "unlimited expense account" that could have ranged from $2600.00 to $10,600.00 per month all these years? Remember when she refused to answer how much her expense account was at the House Meeting? All Stewart claimed she spent last month was 1oo dollars for her cell phone. WHAT AN INSULT TO THE MEMBERSHIP!!
Try reducing unnessasary administrators. You can limit them to five.
1. Grievance 2. Security 3. Lobbyist 4. Editor 5. Quest
Well, that would probably save a few million a year. We wouldn't want to do that now would we? These individuals are your strongest supporters in these hard times.
PRESIDENT MARILYN STEWART-HARD DECISIONS, HARD TIMES!
YOUR 30 CRONIES OR YOUR 30,000 MEMBERS. LOOKS LIKE YOU HAVE ALREADY MADE YOUR CHOICE.
If Stewart gives any of her coordinators or consultants multi-year contracts, then she should be ousted for fiscal mismanagement. Show the membership you really care and get rid of your top financial supporters.
Mon May 12, 2008 at 4:35 AM
Firings At Farragut
"...Why would a talented teacher want to teach in CPS after reading here about the events such as this? Who in their right mind would want to face such obstacles and endure the crap that happens at some schools?..." (Working somewhere else, yesterday late).
The corruption at Farragut goes back to the earliest days of the Daley takeover and continues to this day. Gangs. Drugs. Enough to make a TV series.
Farragut is one of the best reasons for avoiding the Inspector General's Office at all costs. Every complaint about Farragut winds up with the whistle blower getting blown.
Most of the young teachers who've been forced out of Farragut over the years stayed in the system because the kids are addictive. Many found decent jobs in the suburbs, where they don't even tell "war stories" about how nasty things are back in Chicago because it's such a depressing reality. The Daley administration has clouted for Farragut for a long time. Nothing's going to change this year unless someone forces out Arne Duncan and his entire corrupt administration.
At least the area around Farragut should be good for some active visuals over the next two or three weeks. As the weather gets warm, the police cars will line up outside every day, and the sirens will be around the perimeter. Of course, that won't be "news" in this town, because we've got this miraculous "school reform" thing going on. Firing teachers will fix the schools; just ask the editorial boards of the Sun-Times and Tribune.
The corruption at Farragut goes back to the earliest days of the Daley takeover and continues to this day. Gangs. Drugs. Enough to make a TV series.
Farragut is one of the best reasons for avoiding the Inspector General's Office at all costs. Every complaint about Farragut winds up with the whistle blower getting blown.
Most of the young teachers who've been forced out of Farragut over the years stayed in the system because the kids are addictive. Many found decent jobs in the suburbs, where they don't even tell "war stories" about how nasty things are back in Chicago because it's such a depressing reality. The Daley administration has clouted for Farragut for a long time. Nothing's going to change this year unless someone forces out Arne Duncan and his entire corrupt administration.
At least the area around Farragut should be good for some active visuals over the next two or three weeks. As the weather gets warm, the police cars will line up outside every day, and the sirens will be around the perimeter. Of course, that won't be "news" in this town, because we've got this miraculous "school reform" thing going on. Firing teachers will fix the schools; just ask the editorial boards of the Sun-Times and Tribune.
Mon May 12, 2008 at 12:45 PM
Firings At Farragut
Some of the teachers that have been let go at Farragut, are extraordinary teachers in the classroom and involved in extracurricular activites; who received last year evaluations of excellent or better; like J.S., S.W., C.C., I.B., S.Y. Some of the teachers are new hires, but since they are not receiving a second chance, we will never know how good they could be. It is our loss to see them leave like this!!!!!
Mon May 12, 2008 at 3:04 PM
Firings At Farragut
Why work at CPS??? Because these are the kids who need me and my Ivy League education. Not all schools in CPS are dysfunctional. Quite frankly, most are not. For those of who are fortunate to have worked for principals with vision and not power-hungry idiots, it is a pleasure. I have worked for visionaries and blow-hards, but the kids are always amazing and surprising. The problems occur with abusive, patronage cronyism. We've suffered through 8 years of the Bush regime, now it's time to boot the bums out. Until Daley gets his parochial hands off the public schools, we'll see more mess like Farragut and Washington.
Mon May 12, 2008 at 10:27 PM
Firings At Farragut
When will any of us teachers start to hold the union accounatable. Marilyn Stewart is sitting on her incompetent self doing nothing but collecting a paycheck. She steals money from CTU, a everybody stays quiet, She drops the ball on the contract delivering the worse of any in CTU History, everybody stays quiet, Non-Tenured teachers get fired she stays quiet. People forget this contract we should all walk out since our concerns were not represented.
Thu May 15, 2008 at 10:40 PM
Firings At Farragut
Glenbrook South High School in Glenview is in need of Highly Qualified African American teachers. They want them !!!! Great salary and benefits. You also get good friday off.
Fri May 16, 2008 at 12:35 AM
Firings At Farragut
I hear choir charter is moving.
oh how easy to screw over teachers, students and everyone else.
nobody says a thing.
strange that the school has been @ Paulina for at least two years is located in the cps directory map as on Paulina but the address is..........................................................
come on now i know its late but this is unbelievable what tricks are happening
yes you guessed right now located website and all
3630 S. Wells Street
you know what that school is?
Abbott Elementary
now you say I must be dreaming or my information is bad.
well lets see.
mom tells my wife that her daughter will stop going to choir on Paulina next year because they are moving past Halsted and that is too far to drop her off in the morning.
YES!
the books are cooked and even pre-misprinted because they can not get their story straight.
In the end the students are the ones suffering and will pay the highest price for the transgressions of the corrupt educational system in Chicago.
oh we love
believe in us
we love you
trust us
get out
oh how easy to screw over teachers, students and everyone else.
nobody says a thing.
strange that the school has been @ Paulina for at least two years is located in the cps directory map as on Paulina but the address is..........................................................
come on now i know its late but this is unbelievable what tricks are happening
yes you guessed right now located website and all
3630 S. Wells Street
you know what that school is?
Abbott Elementary
now you say I must be dreaming or my information is bad.
well lets see.
mom tells my wife that her daughter will stop going to choir on Paulina next year because they are moving past Halsted and that is too far to drop her off in the morning.
YES!
the books are cooked and even pre-misprinted because they can not get their story straight.
In the end the students are the ones suffering and will pay the highest price for the transgressions of the corrupt educational system in Chicago.
oh we love
believe in us
we love you
trust us
get out
Fri May 16, 2008 at 3:56 AM
Firings At Farragut
"...Why work at CPS??? Because these are the kids who need me and my Ivy League education. Not all schools in CPS are dysfunctional. Quite frankly, most are not. For those of who are fortunate to have worked for principals with vision and not power-hungry idiots, it is a pleasure. I have worked for visionaries and blow-hards, but the kids are always amazing and surprising..." (YIKES Monday afternoon).
I said this (not Ivy League; University of Chicago) for three decades while I taught across the inner city from Manley and Marshall out to Bowen. It was out of Bowen the Daley minions (Paul Vallas; Gery Chico; Marilyn Johnson and a cast of hundreds) at CPS fired me for something I did as a newspaper published (see Substancenews.com, "Legal fight" if you want all the boring details, or the Page One story in The Wall Street Journal May 25, 2001).
The fact is, at this point the system is not being organized to promote inner city teaching, but to privatize as many inner city high schools (and now others) as possible. They are rushing to do this before the public catches up with the "Renaissance" "Turnaround" and dozen other corporate scams being run against public education (with the help of the well subsidized corporate media cheerleaders of "school reform," including Catalyst.
Anyone who has a basic knowledge of statistics knows at this point that the deck in fully stacked against those schools that are serving the poorest children. And all of the books necessary (Berliner; Rothstein; Bracey; Valenzuela; McNeill; Ohanian; Embry, etc. not to mention the monthly stuff we published) have been written blowing the whistle on the whole scam, from the cooking of the standardized test data books to the subsidized right wing "think tanks" that spew out the privatization propaganda.
If you stay in the classrooms of the inner city, you are eventually going to be fired as a teacher (after being slandered for being a "bad teacher" at a public lynching like those "hearings" held back in February).
There are only two alternatives, whether you continue inner city teaching or not.
1. Wait for the corporate lynch mob to show up and privatize your school or
2. Organize and fight.
You can continue to document all of the realities, but when they come to get you (and your school) and turn it over to Nobel St. or Perspectives or some new flavor-of-the-month corporate Power Point Mission Statement stupidity, remember that the path they are now putting you on has already been tread by many of us (being on the DO NOT HIRE LIST while serving as Chicago's most prominent Whistle Blower gives me a certain perspective on these things, so indulge me the "I told you so...") from a handful of individuals to whole schools...
Austin High School (now entrepreneured and polytechnicaled on the graves of its public school history)...
Calumet High School (now "Perspectives" charter after its teachers and staff were slandered at those 2004 Purge Trials and Duncan put nearly $10 million into fixing up the building for the privatizers)...
Collins High School (now in its death rattles as "North Lawndale College Prep Charter" and AUSL divide the spoils -- and the benefits of another million dollar rehab)...
Engelwood High School (now that screwball "Urban Prep" thingy that will blow up in sleaze within three years; and that hypercaffeinated TEAM ENGLEWODD fantasy)...
And next month:
Harper High School
Orr High School
Copernicus Elementary School
Fulton Elementary School
Howe Elementary School
Morton ("Career Academy" hah!) Elementary School
all of which are in the long lying Duncan Daley privatization agenda and tradition that stretches back now six years to Dodge, Williams, Bunche and more than 30 other public schools they have destroyed since some people began letting them get away with all these lies and all this attack on a 200 years old tradition of democratic public education...
Sorry if I spent a few more minutes that you had, but while it's nice to hear that there are a lot of "highly qualified" and "good" teachers (Ivy League or not) still working in the inner city, if you believe for one minute that wasn't also true of the vast majority of the classrooms at every school they have lied about, slandered, purge trialed, and then privatized you really haven't been paying attention to contemporary history and current Chicago reality.
I said this (not Ivy League; University of Chicago) for three decades while I taught across the inner city from Manley and Marshall out to Bowen. It was out of Bowen the Daley minions (Paul Vallas; Gery Chico; Marilyn Johnson and a cast of hundreds) at CPS fired me for something I did as a newspaper published (see Substancenews.com, "Legal fight" if you want all the boring details, or the Page One story in The Wall Street Journal May 25, 2001).
The fact is, at this point the system is not being organized to promote inner city teaching, but to privatize as many inner city high schools (and now others) as possible. They are rushing to do this before the public catches up with the "Renaissance" "Turnaround" and dozen other corporate scams being run against public education (with the help of the well subsidized corporate media cheerleaders of "school reform," including Catalyst.
Anyone who has a basic knowledge of statistics knows at this point that the deck in fully stacked against those schools that are serving the poorest children. And all of the books necessary (Berliner; Rothstein; Bracey; Valenzuela; McNeill; Ohanian; Embry, etc. not to mention the monthly stuff we published) have been written blowing the whistle on the whole scam, from the cooking of the standardized test data books to the subsidized right wing "think tanks" that spew out the privatization propaganda.
If you stay in the classrooms of the inner city, you are eventually going to be fired as a teacher (after being slandered for being a "bad teacher" at a public lynching like those "hearings" held back in February).
There are only two alternatives, whether you continue inner city teaching or not.
1. Wait for the corporate lynch mob to show up and privatize your school or
2. Organize and fight.
You can continue to document all of the realities, but when they come to get you (and your school) and turn it over to Nobel St. or Perspectives or some new flavor-of-the-month corporate Power Point Mission Statement stupidity, remember that the path they are now putting you on has already been tread by many of us (being on the DO NOT HIRE LIST while serving as Chicago's most prominent Whistle Blower gives me a certain perspective on these things, so indulge me the "I told you so...") from a handful of individuals to whole schools...
Austin High School (now entrepreneured and polytechnicaled on the graves of its public school history)...
Calumet High School (now "Perspectives" charter after its teachers and staff were slandered at those 2004 Purge Trials and Duncan put nearly $10 million into fixing up the building for the privatizers)...
Collins High School (now in its death rattles as "North Lawndale College Prep Charter" and AUSL divide the spoils -- and the benefits of another million dollar rehab)...
Engelwood High School (now that screwball "Urban Prep" thingy that will blow up in sleaze within three years; and that hypercaffeinated TEAM ENGLEWODD fantasy)...
And next month:
Harper High School
Orr High School
Copernicus Elementary School
Fulton Elementary School
Howe Elementary School
Morton ("Career Academy" hah!) Elementary School
all of which are in the long lying Duncan Daley privatization agenda and tradition that stretches back now six years to Dodge, Williams, Bunche and more than 30 other public schools they have destroyed since some people began letting them get away with all these lies and all this attack on a 200 years old tradition of democratic public education...
Sorry if I spent a few more minutes that you had, but while it's nice to hear that there are a lot of "highly qualified" and "good" teachers (Ivy League or not) still working in the inner city, if you believe for one minute that wasn't also true of the vast majority of the classrooms at every school they have lied about, slandered, purge trialed, and then privatized you really haven't been paying attention to contemporary history and current Chicago reality.
Fri May 16, 2008 at 6:42 AM
Firings At Farragut
And things keep getting stranger and stranger at Farragut. Who should be walking around yesterday? Why it's Edward Guerra! Former principal of Farragut who the IG found responsible for grade-fixing for soccer players (see IG Annual report 2007) among other things. Forced out of Waukegan after only a year. No one knows for sure why he was there. He apparently went to the main office then around the building for a bit.
Speculation abounds. If he was there to see Plascencia, he was disappointed. She wasn't even in the building. She's actually rarely in the building these days.
Let's see. Farragut fires 12 teachers. 9 file grievances. 3 get written up on bogus charges of misconduct and demand hearings. Firings get written up on Catalyst blog. Editorial appears in Sun Times. Numerous calls being made to the Inspector General's Office.
And then Edward Guerra, the man who taught her all she knows, shows up.
Speculation abounds. If he was there to see Plascencia, he was disappointed. She wasn't even in the building. She's actually rarely in the building these days.
Let's see. Farragut fires 12 teachers. 9 file grievances. 3 get written up on bogus charges of misconduct and demand hearings. Firings get written up on Catalyst blog. Editorial appears in Sun Times. Numerous calls being made to the Inspector General's Office.
And then Edward Guerra, the man who taught her all she knows, shows up.
Fri May 16, 2008 at 8:30 AM
Firings At Farragut
If the I.G. really investigates Farragut, the trail will lead all the way back to the Guerra days, and in many instances of the stuff that will be uncovered, the statute of limitations (especially on "Official Misconduct") will still be running. Given the fact that Guerra tried to insure his future by making sure his successors would keep the past well hidden, is it any wonder he's wandering around now?
What will be interesting is to learn how many of various kinds of records will have been disappeared when someone with subpoena power asks for them -- and how many official excuses will be made (all the way up to Arne Duncan) -- when all that "Whoops! Must have mislaid that one, too..." nonsense begins.
Anyone who has ever been "investigated" by one of those overpaid and undercompetent CPS gumshoes knows the drill. Those without clout get bullied, often to the point where they are forced to settle for an admission of "guilt" and a shorter suspension because (a) CTU doesn't do enough to help when the pressure is on and (b) the teacher (or, say, clerk) can't afford all the lawyer time.
Remember: CPS has a floor full of lawyers (7th Floor; 125 S. Clark St.) whose sole job is to violate every law and ethics policy in Chicago or elsewhere in order to preserve the power of the Status Quo. Dozens of lawyers, most paid well into six figures, and all dedicated to the slavish service of power.
Hence, when someone blows the whistle against some clout heavy crook like Guerra, the inspectors and lawyers are deployed full force for the cover up.
Well, it will be interesting to see if anything comes of the latest investigation. And if it does, you'll know how big the fix is if the investigation somehow leaves out the three alderguys who've been doing very well (jobs; contracts; other clout deals) and other politicians (state senators, for example, present and past) during the Guerra years and since.
Heck, if Danny Solis's kin can suddenly discover their overwhelming talent for "security" work in the world of charter schooling, the sky's the limit.
But then, at places like Farragut, it always has been.
What will be interesting is to learn how many of various kinds of records will have been disappeared when someone with subpoena power asks for them -- and how many official excuses will be made (all the way up to Arne Duncan) -- when all that "Whoops! Must have mislaid that one, too..." nonsense begins.
Anyone who has ever been "investigated" by one of those overpaid and undercompetent CPS gumshoes knows the drill. Those without clout get bullied, often to the point where they are forced to settle for an admission of "guilt" and a shorter suspension because (a) CTU doesn't do enough to help when the pressure is on and (b) the teacher (or, say, clerk) can't afford all the lawyer time.
Remember: CPS has a floor full of lawyers (7th Floor; 125 S. Clark St.) whose sole job is to violate every law and ethics policy in Chicago or elsewhere in order to preserve the power of the Status Quo. Dozens of lawyers, most paid well into six figures, and all dedicated to the slavish service of power.
Hence, when someone blows the whistle against some clout heavy crook like Guerra, the inspectors and lawyers are deployed full force for the cover up.
Well, it will be interesting to see if anything comes of the latest investigation. And if it does, you'll know how big the fix is if the investigation somehow leaves out the three alderguys who've been doing very well (jobs; contracts; other clout deals) and other politicians (state senators, for example, present and past) during the Guerra years and since.
Heck, if Danny Solis's kin can suddenly discover their overwhelming talent for "security" work in the world of charter schooling, the sky's the limit.
But then, at places like Farragut, it always has been.
Fri May 16, 2008 at 8:36 AM
Firings At Farragut
A couple of last suggestions to anyone who might want to discuss these antics at Farragut.
Save copies of every piece of every piece of paper (and every stark memory) you might need four or five years from now (which is how long these things take, if they are even undertaken at all).
And save copies of the addresses, phone numbers, and other contact information of every person (student, former student, parent, colleague) you might need to get back in contact with.
Why? As soon as you blow the whistle, they create a fictional narrative about you. It's like the histories the KGB cobbled together for the Moscow Show Trials. They cast their fictions around in the shadows, basically lying slanderous stuff. You have to be ready to refute it and to provide others to help. Since most of the people who know you're a good guy are going to get cold feet, you need a long list and a longer memory. (Don't forgive those who betray the truth; once they go down that road of lying their income potential in this town increases dramatically, but their souls deserve a warmer fate...).
Finally, keep everything you might need down the road in a safe place. The Daley people (how do you spell "Solis" and "Guerra" and "Duncan" if not D A L E Y?) will stop at nothing to keep this story down. Literally. Ask Joe Hillebrand.
Save copies of every piece of every piece of paper (and every stark memory) you might need four or five years from now (which is how long these things take, if they are even undertaken at all).
And save copies of the addresses, phone numbers, and other contact information of every person (student, former student, parent, colleague) you might need to get back in contact with.
Why? As soon as you blow the whistle, they create a fictional narrative about you. It's like the histories the KGB cobbled together for the Moscow Show Trials. They cast their fictions around in the shadows, basically lying slanderous stuff. You have to be ready to refute it and to provide others to help. Since most of the people who know you're a good guy are going to get cold feet, you need a long list and a longer memory. (Don't forgive those who betray the truth; once they go down that road of lying their income potential in this town increases dramatically, but their souls deserve a warmer fate...).
Finally, keep everything you might need down the road in a safe place. The Daley people (how do you spell "Solis" and "Guerra" and "Duncan" if not D A L E Y?) will stop at nothing to keep this story down. Literally. Ask Joe Hillebrand.
Sun May 18, 2008 at 7:48 PM
Firings At Farragut
Is it true that the contract language concerning the laying off of PAT's doesn't require the board to overturn the principal's decision even if they butchered the evaluation process. Someone told me that if the principal screws up the process, all the board will do is discount the rating, not reinstate the teacher. If this is true, this group of union leaders messed up big time!
Fri May 23, 2008 at 10:30 PM
Firings At Farragut
I don't like what I am hearing about my firing. If the evaluation was not followed by Plascencia, do I get my job back or not. Can we get a straight answer. The tentative agreement that was passed out to us in September says "yes" right on the front page. Was this agreed to or not. If we were lied to, may the union people rot in hell. They promised they would protect us. That's why I voted for them.
Sun Jul 13, 2008 at 10:13 AM
Firings At Farragut
So how did story end?
Did the Union intervene and save anyone's job? Why are we paying dues if teachers are not protected? Everyone has a comment or story but the fact is, our contract is lopsided and the power is in the hands of the Board.
Did the Union intervene and save anyone's job? Why are we paying dues if teachers are not protected? Everyone has a comment or story but the fact is, our contract is lopsided and the power is in the hands of the Board.
Sun Jul 13, 2008 at 1:21 PM
Firings At Farragut
Unfortunately, teachers do not have very little job security or protections. I can't believe how different it is from one I was first hired. At that time, if you could make it through the three year probationary period, you knew you had a job for life (short of criminal misconduct or something similiar). Today, we might as well not have a contract because teachers have become at will employees and the Union is not willing to fight to change that. Marilyn and her cohorts don't care because they are making more money in 1 year than many teachers do in three to five years. They are also not spending the amounts most teachers do for classroom supplies, etc. because of their padded expense accounts.
I said years ago that no one should be in office more than 1 term without having to go back to the classroom for a term before they run again. This is the only way that they will remember what it was like in the trenches. Likewise, I think all principals should have to teach for a full-day once a month. District and field reps should also have to return to their schools to teach at least every 6 years. I think then we'd see more service given to the classroom teachers who are the backbone of the Union.
I said years ago that no one should be in office more than 1 term without having to go back to the classroom for a term before they run again. This is the only way that they will remember what it was like in the trenches. Likewise, I think all principals should have to teach for a full-day once a month. District and field reps should also have to return to their schools to teach at least every 6 years. I think then we'd see more service given to the classroom teachers who are the backbone of the Union.
Sun Jul 13, 2008 at 6:01 PM
Firings At Farragut
I appreciate this venue, the information given on this site is priceless! I was one of the original 1100 Pats laid off three years ago. I was within 6 months of tenure, to add insult to injury the principal lied on my evaluation she contradicted herself in writting. Prior to her administration, all my evaluations were excellent . I was never late, missed perhaps two days a year. Needless to say I felt betrayed by the system, we teach our children to be loyal and dedicated employees how do we explain being displaced just because the administrators can. The PATs laid off with me were National Board Certified, veterans, new home owners etc. We were talked to had meetings etc. however we had to find a new job. The board stonewalled us , like they did with the people soft fiasco. I recall some of the insensitive remarks made at the job fairs, like " What took you so long to get tenured"? The job fair is a joke, CPS has instructed the principals who they should hire, very few will call you for an interview, and who wants to hire someone from a probation or turn around school? "They want the best and the brightest" to quote Arne Duncan. So hit the ground running and maybe you'll be sucessful agains all odds. We need to find someone experienced with a plan to close all loopholes in the next union contract, and provide us with job security, and respect we deserve.
Sun Jul 13, 2008 at 8:22 PM
Firings At Farragut
Last I heard several of the fired teachers filed grievances. The Field Rep was trying to negotiate deals between the teachers and the principal offering letters of rec, better evaluations, and such in exchange for dropping the grievance. Several of the hearings were on June 12th and the paperwork I saw was questionable at best. Apparently the meetings lasted less than five minutes.
I believe several of those that filed grievances also filed appeals. One teacher filed an additional grievance for retaliation after he was written up by the new AP for bogus things. We'll see if we hear anything.
From what I heard about those that were fired many have found new jobs. Much better jobs to be sure. A couple however might be coming back to Farragut after cutting a deal to drop their grievances.
Farragut will continue to have morale in the crapper to say the least. People are afraid for their jobs and sick of the administration (especially the pseduo-administrator who recently got arrested for a DUI but still walks around like his crap doesn't stink) but we're also too leery of looking for new jobs. What we have is good enough I guess.
I believe several of those that filed grievances also filed appeals. One teacher filed an additional grievance for retaliation after he was written up by the new AP for bogus things. We'll see if we hear anything.
From what I heard about those that were fired many have found new jobs. Much better jobs to be sure. A couple however might be coming back to Farragut after cutting a deal to drop their grievances.
Farragut will continue to have morale in the crapper to say the least. People are afraid for their jobs and sick of the administration (especially the pseduo-administrator who recently got arrested for a DUI but still walks around like his crap doesn't stink) but we're also too leery of looking for new jobs. What we have is good enough I guess.
Sat Aug 23, 2008 at 9:24 PM
Firings At Farragut
All of our brothers and sisters involved in the "Farragut Firings" have either won their grievances and will be reinstated or have found new positions in the system. Reports that the language in the contract would not hold water have been dismissed. The principal did not follow proper procedure and has been defeated by the union on every case that was appealed. Congratulations to all parties that worked together to create this success.
Mon Sep 14, 2009 at 4:30 AM
Firings At Farragut
Hello,
I currently sit on the Local School Council at Farragut and I've been noticing some unusual activity by the administration at the school in regards to school operations. The current principals contract is scheduled to expire on June 30, 2010 and the matter to re-new her contract came about on the table at our August 09 meeting, however, we did not have all the required documents and data to perform a thorough and genuine 3rd/end-of-contract year performance evaluation. Then, we had to vote on the same night that we "evaluated" her performance for the past three years - her new contract that begins on July 1, 2010 through June 30, 2014. I was appalled because we were not given adequate time to review crucial school data that needed to examined by the Local School Council's principal retention/selection committee and the entire council prior making a decision in regards to renewing a new contract for four years. Also, there were important materials that were not readily available that the council needed to assist them in performing a good evaluation (information that is required as stated in the LSC manual) So, I stated to the council that we should consider this matter at a later date because we didn't have the appropriate materials needed to evaluate as well as the amount of time needed (we were expected to evaluate her performance for the last 3 years and vote on her new contract in one hour?!... the same evening!!)
I abstained from voting on the matter to present the council's performance "evaluation" as is as well as abstained from voting on the matter to renew a new 4-year contract for her. I think this was a very shady evaluation and that the principal wanted to secure herself another four years of a six figured tax-payer based income and she did it in a very sneaky and inappropriate manner. A lot of the rules, guidelines, and policies stated on the LSC manual were not followed properly and I'm weary about her non-transparency in regards to school information that we council members are required by state law to review in examine for ensuring that the school in is compliance with board, state, and federal policy.
I also heard rumors that the Chicago Board of Education is investigating her and her office for mismanaging school funds but I have not been able to verify that info - if this is is true, I feel that the LSC needs to know this info as it pertains to her performance and the decision to renew a contract for her at Farragut.
I don't know where to begin asking for help and assistance in this matter. I want to contact the Office of Local School Council & Community Relations or the Inspector General's office to inform them of my suspicions and the schemes that are occurring. I'm not if the Law Department can be helping to me but I feel like the folks there won't be of much help as they may not want to start any fuss. The two teachers rep's are in her pocket as they both report to her and there seems to be new council members getting appointed to the LSC in every other meeting!!! we had to vote twice in the same month for to appoint a set of two different candidates to the LSC ( and on one of those meetings was the same night that we had to "evaluate" her and renew her contract!!)
Can anyone on here help me?!.....!
I currently sit on the Local School Council at Farragut and I've been noticing some unusual activity by the administration at the school in regards to school operations. The current principals contract is scheduled to expire on June 30, 2010 and the matter to re-new her contract came about on the table at our August 09 meeting, however, we did not have all the required documents and data to perform a thorough and genuine 3rd/end-of-contract year performance evaluation. Then, we had to vote on the same night that we "evaluated" her performance for the past three years - her new contract that begins on July 1, 2010 through June 30, 2014. I was appalled because we were not given adequate time to review crucial school data that needed to examined by the Local School Council's principal retention/selection committee and the entire council prior making a decision in regards to renewing a new contract for four years. Also, there were important materials that were not readily available that the council needed to assist them in performing a good evaluation (information that is required as stated in the LSC manual) So, I stated to the council that we should consider this matter at a later date because we didn't have the appropriate materials needed to evaluate as well as the amount of time needed (we were expected to evaluate her performance for the last 3 years and vote on her new contract in one hour?!... the same evening!!)
I abstained from voting on the matter to present the council's performance "evaluation" as is as well as abstained from voting on the matter to renew a new 4-year contract for her. I think this was a very shady evaluation and that the principal wanted to secure herself another four years of a six figured tax-payer based income and she did it in a very sneaky and inappropriate manner. A lot of the rules, guidelines, and policies stated on the LSC manual were not followed properly and I'm weary about her non-transparency in regards to school information that we council members are required by state law to review in examine for ensuring that the school in is compliance with board, state, and federal policy.
I also heard rumors that the Chicago Board of Education is investigating her and her office for mismanaging school funds but I have not been able to verify that info - if this is is true, I feel that the LSC needs to know this info as it pertains to her performance and the decision to renew a contract for her at Farragut.
I don't know where to begin asking for help and assistance in this matter. I want to contact the Office of Local School Council & Community Relations or the Inspector General's office to inform them of my suspicions and the schemes that are occurring. I'm not if the Law Department can be helping to me but I feel like the folks there won't be of much help as they may not want to start any fuss. The two teachers rep's are in her pocket as they both report to her and there seems to be new council members getting appointed to the LSC in every other meeting!!! we had to vote twice in the same month for to appoint a set of two different candidates to the LSC ( and on one of those meetings was the same night that we had to "evaluate" her and renew her contract!!)
Can anyone on here help me?!.....!
Mon Sep 14, 2009 at 4:38 AM
Firings At Farragut
Hello,
I currently sit on the Local School Council at Farragut and I've been noticing some unusual activity by the administration at the school in regards to school operations. The current principals contract is scheduled to expire on June 30, 2010 and the matter to re-new her contract came about on the table at our August 09 meeting, however, we did not have all the required documents and data to perform a thorough and genuine 3rd/end-of-contract year performance evaluation. Then, we had to vote on the same night that we "evaluated" her performance for the past three years - her new contract that begins on July 1, 2010 through June 30, 2014. I was appalled because we were not given adequate time to review crucial school data that needed to examined by the Local School Council's principal retention/selection committee and the entire council prior making a decision in regards to renewing a new contract for four years. Also, there were important materials that were not readily available that the council needed to assist them in performing a good evaluation (information that is required as stated in the LSC manual) So, I stated to the council that we should consider this matter at a later date because we didn't have the appropriate materials needed to evaluate as well as the amount of time needed (we were expected to evaluate her performance for the last 3 years and vote on her new contract in one hour?!... the same evening!!)
I abstained from voting on the matter to present the council's performance "evaluation" as is as well as abstained from voting on the matter to renew a new 4-year contract for her. I think this was a very shady evaluation and that the principal wanted to secure herself another four years of a six figured tax-payer based income and she did it in a very sneaky and inappropriate manner. A lot of the rules, guidelines, and policies stated on the LSC manual were not followed properly and I'm weary about her non-transparency in regards to school information that we council members are required by state law to review in examine for ensuring that the school in is compliance with board, state, and federal policy.
I also heard rumors that the Chicago Board of Education is investigating her and her office for mismanaging school funds but I have not been able to verify that info - if this is is true, I feel that the LSC needs to know this info as it pertains to her performance and the decision to renew a contract for her at Farragut.
I don't know where to begin asking for help and assistance in this matter. I want to contact the Office of Local School Council & Community Relations or the Inspector General's office to inform them of my suspicions and the schemes that are occurring. I'm not if the Law Department can be helping to me but I feel like the folks there won't be of much help as they may not want to start any fuss. The two teachers rep's are in her pocket as they both report to her and there seems to be new council members getting appointed to the LSC in every other meeting!!! we had to vote twice in the same month for to appoint a set of two different candidates to the LSC ( and on one of those meetings was the same night that we had to "evaluate" her and renew her contract!!)
Can anyone on here help me?!.....!
I currently sit on the Local School Council at Farragut and I've been noticing some unusual activity by the administration at the school in regards to school operations. The current principals contract is scheduled to expire on June 30, 2010 and the matter to re-new her contract came about on the table at our August 09 meeting, however, we did not have all the required documents and data to perform a thorough and genuine 3rd/end-of-contract year performance evaluation. Then, we had to vote on the same night that we "evaluated" her performance for the past three years - her new contract that begins on July 1, 2010 through June 30, 2014. I was appalled because we were not given adequate time to review crucial school data that needed to examined by the Local School Council's principal retention/selection committee and the entire council prior making a decision in regards to renewing a new contract for four years. Also, there were important materials that were not readily available that the council needed to assist them in performing a good evaluation (information that is required as stated in the LSC manual) So, I stated to the council that we should consider this matter at a later date because we didn't have the appropriate materials needed to evaluate as well as the amount of time needed (we were expected to evaluate her performance for the last 3 years and vote on her new contract in one hour?!... the same evening!!)
I abstained from voting on the matter to present the council's performance "evaluation" as is as well as abstained from voting on the matter to renew a new 4-year contract for her. I think this was a very shady evaluation and that the principal wanted to secure herself another four years of a six figured tax-payer based income and she did it in a very sneaky and inappropriate manner. A lot of the rules, guidelines, and policies stated on the LSC manual were not followed properly and I'm weary about her non-transparency in regards to school information that we council members are required by state law to review in examine for ensuring that the school in is compliance with board, state, and federal policy.
I also heard rumors that the Chicago Board of Education is investigating her and her office for mismanaging school funds but I have not been able to verify that info - if this is is true, I feel that the LSC needs to know this info as it pertains to her performance and the decision to renew a contract for her at Farragut.
I don't know where to begin asking for help and assistance in this matter. I want to contact the Office of Local School Council & Community Relations or the Inspector General's office to inform them of my suspicions and the schemes that are occurring. I'm not if the Law Department can be helping to me but I feel like the folks there won't be of much help as they may not want to start any fuss. The two teachers rep's are in her pocket as they both report to her and there seems to be new council members getting appointed to the LSC in every other meeting!!! we had to vote twice in the same month for to appoint a set of two different candidates to the LSC ( and on one of those meetings was the same night that we had to "evaluate" her and renew her contract!!)
Can anyone on here help me?!.....!
Mon Sep 14, 2009 at 7:11 AM
Firings At Farragut
The Farragut LSC has been in the Principal's pocket since Guerra was in charge. I love it in particular when they vote on things that have been presented in English and some of the LSC members only speak Spanish! The only way to end the culture of corruption is if either the LSC grows a collective backbone and throws her out or the Inspector General arranges a perp walk for her and her cronies.
Mon Sep 14, 2009 at 8:17 AM
Firings At Farragut
The next Board of Education meeting is on September 23, at 125 S. Clark St. Sign in for public participation will begin at 8:00 a.m. Public participation will start around 10:30 a.m. depending upon how long "The Great Stall" lasts. ("The Great Stall" -- also called "Good News" -- is what the Board of Education and Michael Scott cynically use to delay the beginning of public participation so that groups that have rented buses are denied the right to speak because things drag on until the groups have to leave).
Anyway, you can request information about your school through LSC relations (now rebirthed as community relations or something like that), demanding to know why you are not getting the information you need to do your job in a dilligent way. When they give you the Great Stall on providing you with the information, you can go to the Board of Education meeting and repeat your request in a public forum.
They do this all the time, by the way. But as more and more people are learning, with persistence you can often get the information you need. We are working to cover every aspect of each Board meeting at www.substancenews.net and will be expanding on September 23. The Board meeting actually includes a huge agenda, everything that comes out of public participation, and, often, other items (such as a "hearing" on a billion dollar bond, for example). Needless to say, you don't get a hundredth of this in the reports in the Sun-Times or Tribune, and the Cable TV version doesn't give you the content of all the Board Reports (some of which are spending millions of dollars of your money every month).
Anyway, you can request information about your school through LSC relations (now rebirthed as community relations or something like that), demanding to know why you are not getting the information you need to do your job in a dilligent way. When they give you the Great Stall on providing you with the information, you can go to the Board of Education meeting and repeat your request in a public forum.
They do this all the time, by the way. But as more and more people are learning, with persistence you can often get the information you need. We are working to cover every aspect of each Board meeting at www.substancenews.net and will be expanding on September 23. The Board meeting actually includes a huge agenda, everything that comes out of public participation, and, often, other items (such as a "hearing" on a billion dollar bond, for example). Needless to say, you don't get a hundredth of this in the reports in the Sun-Times or Tribune, and the Cable TV version doesn't give you the content of all the Board Reports (some of which are spending millions of dollars of your money every month).
Mon Sep 14, 2009 at 11:44 AM
Firings At Farragut
Hi Outspoken One-
It does sound as though this was not a good process, but as always it's hard to tell more without more information. A lot depends on what the vote was on the principal's contract. If she received 6 positive votes, then it will be very difficult to do anything about that.
Don't wait for the Board meeting - you should definitely call LSC Relations (774-553-1400) and talk to people there about your concerns. It's true that they are not always (or even often) helpful, but it is their job to make sure that LSCs operate properly and they need to be informed and asked for help. You can also call the Law Department (773-553-1700).
If you want to call us at PURE (312-491-9101) or e-mail us at pure@pureparents.org, we can also find out more from you about what's happening and see if there are other things to suggest.
It does sound as though this was not a good process, but as always it's hard to tell more without more information. A lot depends on what the vote was on the principal's contract. If she received 6 positive votes, then it will be very difficult to do anything about that.
Don't wait for the Board meeting - you should definitely call LSC Relations (774-553-1400) and talk to people there about your concerns. It's true that they are not always (or even often) helpful, but it is their job to make sure that LSCs operate properly and they need to be informed and asked for help. You can also call the Law Department (773-553-1700).
If you want to call us at PURE (312-491-9101) or e-mail us at pure@pureparents.org, we can also find out more from you about what's happening and see if there are other things to suggest.
Tue Sep 15, 2009 at 12:35 AM
Firings At Farragut
Hi Julie -
I heard a lot about you and the organization you run;PURE. There were six (6) votes in favor to renew the contract, however, I did state to the council that this matter should be discussed and voted on a later date, after the council has had sufficient time to review data and perform a thorough investigation and decide for retention or selection. I was wondering if I could bring the issue back on the table to revisit the matter of performing a more genuine end of contract evaluation and having an interpreter or facilitator available on site to provide assistance and language interpretation.
I believe I can call a "special meeting" and if enough members are present to form a quorum, we can discuss and vote on the issue to perform another evaluation that better reflects the principal's performance and re-consider the matter of approving a new four year contract or deciding to select a new principal. The truth of the matter is that I am tired of the same old corrupt politics and culture that has been embedded into the schools culture and that the school isn't responsive to the needs of the community. With that said, I am leaning more towards selection than retention in regards to the current principal at Farragut.
As I mentioned in my earlier post, it seems as though there are new council members appointed to office at every other council meeting that takes place and feel that the principal plays a major role in selecting prospective candidates who she wants to have on the LSC so she can secure enough votes to have council vote her way. I'm the Community Representative and the other Community Rep. seems to be a friend or acquaintance of the principal, however, the other community rep was also hesitant to approve a new contract for the current principal as I feel that he also thought it was too soon and that the matter should've been presented on the table at a later date. The LSC provides a time line for us to follow with regard to evaluating end of contract performance as well as renewing a principal's contract. It also advises us on the required materials and data that should be readily available to us to make thorough decisions when it comes to evaluation performance and approving a principal's contract.
There is an LSC meeting taking place tomorrow (9.14.09) at Farragut in the school's auditorium at 6:00 P.M. and I feel that more shady business will be taking place. I'm not sure how long I can bare the manipulation of people and information at this school!
I heard a lot about you and the organization you run;PURE. There were six (6) votes in favor to renew the contract, however, I did state to the council that this matter should be discussed and voted on a later date, after the council has had sufficient time to review data and perform a thorough investigation and decide for retention or selection. I was wondering if I could bring the issue back on the table to revisit the matter of performing a more genuine end of contract evaluation and having an interpreter or facilitator available on site to provide assistance and language interpretation.
I believe I can call a "special meeting" and if enough members are present to form a quorum, we can discuss and vote on the issue to perform another evaluation that better reflects the principal's performance and re-consider the matter of approving a new four year contract or deciding to select a new principal. The truth of the matter is that I am tired of the same old corrupt politics and culture that has been embedded into the schools culture and that the school isn't responsive to the needs of the community. With that said, I am leaning more towards selection than retention in regards to the current principal at Farragut.
As I mentioned in my earlier post, it seems as though there are new council members appointed to office at every other council meeting that takes place and feel that the principal plays a major role in selecting prospective candidates who she wants to have on the LSC so she can secure enough votes to have council vote her way. I'm the Community Representative and the other Community Rep. seems to be a friend or acquaintance of the principal, however, the other community rep was also hesitant to approve a new contract for the current principal as I feel that he also thought it was too soon and that the matter should've been presented on the table at a later date. The LSC provides a time line for us to follow with regard to evaluating end of contract performance as well as renewing a principal's contract. It also advises us on the required materials and data that should be readily available to us to make thorough decisions when it comes to evaluation performance and approving a principal's contract.
There is an LSC meeting taking place tomorrow (9.14.09) at Farragut in the school's auditorium at 6:00 P.M. and I feel that more shady business will be taking place. I'm not sure how long I can bare the manipulation of people and information at this school!
Tue Sep 15, 2009 at 12:56 AM
Firings At Farragut
I've been waiting for the full Farragut story since the day nearly a decade ago when a Farragut teacher (Joseph Hillabrand) committed suicide by walking in front of a Metra train in part because Eduardo Guerra, then principal of Farragut, had decided to purge the staff of veteran teachers — especially those who wouldn't follow his corrupt programs.
I've been waiting for the Farragut story for a half decade, since I sat in our office and interviewed a Farragut coach who seemed to have enough about the depth and breadth of the corruption at Farragut -- with documentation and community sources -- to make the story.
I've been waiting for the Farragut story to come out since I sat in the Farragut library and got that nonsense straight out of "Stand and Deliver" from Don Pittman, while Arne Duncan prattled on and on about standards, etc., etc., and how more military programs were going to be just the trick to "fix" the high schools, while dodging my questions about why so many kids who supposedly had scored miraculous gains in elementary school suddenly arrived at Farragut and 39 other general high schools barely able to read, write and do the simplest of what we used to call "arithmetic."
And then disappeared.
Of all the corruptions and coverups over the years by the CPS Inspector General and Law Department, near the top, for more than a decade, has been Farragut High School. Not the students or the majority of the teachers, but the top administration. The Farragut files that have been dumped would have filled the Chicago River.
Ironically, it only came out after Guerra began drawing his six-figure Chicago salary and then hustled himself a job in Weukegan, based on his supposedly stellar record at Farragut. Within a year, Waukegan realized what it had gotten, bought out the rest of its contract, saved its high school, and became one of the many places that had bought into the Chicago Lie and learned the hard way just how corrupt it all was.
I'm no longer waiting. There is too much to do.
But when the story of just how corrupt Chicago was during the years of mayoral control is told in all its ugly, Farragut will be one of the central chapters in that story. And because many of the early victims of the Farragut corruption, going all the way back to the days when Paul Vallas championed Guerra, are now adults with long and painful memories, it will be fun to help tell that story, among so many others.
I've been waiting for the Farragut story for a half decade, since I sat in our office and interviewed a Farragut coach who seemed to have enough about the depth and breadth of the corruption at Farragut -- with documentation and community sources -- to make the story.
I've been waiting for the Farragut story to come out since I sat in the Farragut library and got that nonsense straight out of "Stand and Deliver" from Don Pittman, while Arne Duncan prattled on and on about standards, etc., etc., and how more military programs were going to be just the trick to "fix" the high schools, while dodging my questions about why so many kids who supposedly had scored miraculous gains in elementary school suddenly arrived at Farragut and 39 other general high schools barely able to read, write and do the simplest of what we used to call "arithmetic."
And then disappeared.
Of all the corruptions and coverups over the years by the CPS Inspector General and Law Department, near the top, for more than a decade, has been Farragut High School. Not the students or the majority of the teachers, but the top administration. The Farragut files that have been dumped would have filled the Chicago River.
Ironically, it only came out after Guerra began drawing his six-figure Chicago salary and then hustled himself a job in Weukegan, based on his supposedly stellar record at Farragut. Within a year, Waukegan realized what it had gotten, bought out the rest of its contract, saved its high school, and became one of the many places that had bought into the Chicago Lie and learned the hard way just how corrupt it all was.
I'm no longer waiting. There is too much to do.
But when the story of just how corrupt Chicago was during the years of mayoral control is told in all its ugly, Farragut will be one of the central chapters in that story. And because many of the early victims of the Farragut corruption, going all the way back to the days when Paul Vallas championed Guerra, are now adults with long and painful memories, it will be fun to help tell that story, among so many others.
