Local: D150 talks down to the unwashed, ignorant masses
Two good posts from C.J. Summers about District 150’s plans to slash instructional time at all 12 primary schools. They are located here and here. Leave it to C.J. to provide documentation proving the district is talking about of both sides of its mouth.
But Diane Vespa, herself a Kellar Primary School parent, illustrates perfectly the lack of respect the district shows parents by essentially telling them they are just to stupid to understand why teaching students 45 fewer minutes a day is a good idea.
The audience sat patiently as Asst. Superintendant Cheryl Sanfilip presented the changes to parents as an amazing and unlimited opportunity for our children. Although parents were asked to submit their questions in advance of the meeting, Ms. Sanfilip did nothing more than wave the 3 page list of 44 questions in the air as she repeated her talking points. She did take a few questions afterwards, but unfortunately, her answers seemed to only give rise to more questions. In her defense, the questions and commentary were relentless and completely devoid of any appreciation of the “unlimited opportunities” she was offering. Many of her answers were defensive but she was facing quite a perturbed gathering. She persisted as best as she could despite the “unprofessional” conduct of some of the audience members as described by Board Member Jim Stowell.
Well, we’re quite familiar here with Jim Stowell here at Peoria Pundit. He’s in no position to lecture anyone, let alone concerned parents, about “unprofessional conduct.” And it’s utterly typical of D150 school board members to believe it’s their job to sell the public on whatever schemes vomit forth from school administrators than to represent the wishes of the taxpayers/voters/parents they are supposed to represent.
This is the same top-down, take-it-or-leave it attitude they showed to residents of the East Bluff and the Near North Side when they wanted to close all the schools in these neighborhoods, and build one super-sized school inside Glen Oak Park. And they continued to show these residents this lack of respect … right up to the moment the Peoria Park District said “no.” And it was only because of pressure from the Peoria City Council (especially Bob Manning) that made them finally listen and agree to two new schools, one at the site of the current Glen Oak School location.
And this is what makes me unsure that the forces of common sense and reason will inevitably prevail here. I’m not sure that there’s anything the Peoria City Council or any other agency can do to force D150 to stop this mess. If there is … please do it, guys,
Some months ago, Peoria Mayor Jim Ardis publicly put the kibosh any any suggestion the city would even consider a takeover of District 150, an action I’ve advocated for a long time. Maybe this most recent episode of ignorance, ineptitude and arrogance will convince Peoria’s powers-that-be that these folks don’t really want the type of high-quality, family-friendly programs that Peoria needs, and that some sort of city or state take-over is needed.
Billy Dennis is a former reporter and editor at small daily and weekly newspapers in Illinois and Missouri. He comments on media, news and politics. He also owns and operates 
What makes you think that Peoria City/council could run District 150 any better? They can’t run the city as it is now, how could they do better for the District? Between the City of Peoria’s City Council, the District 150’s staff and Peoria Park District they all have their own independent kingdoms and run them as they please regardless of votes or taxes that they collect from the voters. And don’t you dare oppose any of them because you are an aggitating activist then. You are a vocal minority and your opinions or requests are stupid.
What makes you think the city (or the state, for that matter) could perform any worse? I have found the PCC far mroe receptive to public input than the School Board, which seems to work for the administrators rather thasn the voters.
I agree that it is time for some CHANGE at D150. The Board should all resign and the administration needs to go. A city takeover? It may be an idea whose time has come.