From Diane Vespa’s Peoria Rocks:
Nearly a dozen Lindbergh Middle School Faculty and Staffers met privately with me as a group to set the record straight on some of the on-going turmoil within LMS following the unexplained firing of their new principal, Julie McArdle. A half dozen more have spoken with me on the telephone. This group considers themselves the silent majority, very concerned about possible ramifications for speaking out against D150 Administration, but also appalled at the unjust firing of McArdle who they feel has been a source of hope and strength in improving a toxic and divisive environment at LMS.
Some of the stuff in the post is truly appalling, if true. That there are so many making the accusations makes tend to believe them.
On the other hand, I’ve talked to parents who are no fans of McArdle because of her authoritarian approach to student discipline.
Tags: Julie McArdle, Lindbergh
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 
Yes, but student discipline isn’t really the heart of the issue here is it?
This would take a lot of effort to make these stories up.
150 is an absolute train wreck.
It’s true, I have been hearing about alot of it for a while from a friend. I think a train wreck is an ynderstatement. We should start from square one and biuild up. The thing thaty worries me is that Ms. Davis might quite possibly being groomed for a future higher position, possibly suprintendent. Then of course the corruption will continue.
See, I have heard otherwise from a group who spoke privately. Almost all of them wish Vespa would disappear and they were glad to see the Principal go. Who to believe and who is really the silent majority?
I have to wonder what Ms. McArdle’s attorney thinks of Ms. Vespa’s revelations. Surely these concerned individuals have come forth and been interviewed and having their statements and contentions published in a blog might be problematic. I also have to question the motivation behind putting all this in a blog. When there’s an ongoing lawsuit and criminal investigation, why jeopardize any of that? For someone who purports to be doing things “for the kids” it sure seems like a witch hunt and vendetta on the part of Mrs. Vespa. She doesn’t like Davis. She doesn’t like Hinton, we get it.
emtronics – were there 5 of them? ha ha.
Amen “Wondering” I can’t count on all my fingers and toes the people that have told me Vespa doesn’t have a clue…but then…
Mrs. Vespa had every right to meetwith teachers and get the real story. Ever heard about Freedom of Speech?? It is about time for the walls to come crashing down on Mary Davis; this has been a long time coming. The Lindbergh parents (housewives) are upset because THEY are no longer running the school, the principal is. My thought is…if the parents know so much more than the principal, why don’t you homeschool your children? Why subject them to the real world when they have the opportunity to reside in a glass house?? I am proud of the Lindbergh staff that are supporting Mrs. McArdle!! Keep up the good work!!!
When opinions differ, look for the facts.
1. McArdle’s dismissal lwas highly irregular, not the usual procedure.
2. The documents involving the credit card, missing records, should speak for themselves.
3. The illegal food vendor? What’s that about?
4. The long list of irregularities at D.150 — the Glen Oak Park properties, Wacky Wednesdays, now the dismissal of the library managers, also done weirdly without telling the School Board.
5. Apparent financial irregularities as documented on blogs.
The place seems to be off the rails.
I will mirror your comments, “whatever”! Julie was told by a Lindbergh teacher who was involved in the interview process that she was selected because of her strengths, including discipline. I too, am extremely proud of the integrity shown by Julie during this time. Remember, she has done NOTHING wrong. Sometimes I wonder how people sleep at night knowing how their behavior effects other peoples lives…..and not in a good way.
This is off topic, but check out the bang-up website for Washington Gifted School.
http://peoria.k12.il.us/washington-gifted/
Lord help us if this what the gifted kids come up with.
I doubt Emtronics has “heard otherwise from a group who spoke privately.”
My take on this is that we are talking about Peoria Public Schools, an entity that has to- or should- answer to the taxpayers. The public needs to be aware of what goes on in our schools. I wish the professional media had the commitment to delve into this story more deeply. I’m glad Diane was able to provide this aspect to this ongoing epic tale.
You are so right. Trace it all back to it’s roots and the problem is PPS as an entity. The problem is that the public seems to be either indifferent, or unformed. Maybe both. I don’t know how tax payers can not be concerned what is going on with the distrct knowing how much of ther propery taxes go to the school district. Could they be so tired of all of the corruption that they have just turned a deaf ear? Are they really that uninformed? Maybe, but I seriously doubt that the Journal Star will inform them in my opinion there is also some connection there as with the local television stations as well. Isn’t it …a coincidence that all these other things keep popping up at the district to take the focus off of these allegations. Why won’t people make some noise?!
There are many of us that are passionate about the school closings and misappropriation of funds BUT there are many in the community that just don’t get how this will affect them. One of those groups is the West Bluff Council. After many months of trying to get them to understand how detrimental these closings and the budget woes (tax/bond issues, i.e.) are important enough to be vocal I have been allowed to make a presentation about the budget proposals, current cuts, proposed cuts and how it affects homeowners.
The meeting is open to the public and starts at 7 in the basement of student center of BU. I would really like some, if not all, of you to be there, as you have different expertise than I do on this subject. Please come help me get them involved in the mess we call our public school system.
(knocks)ville:
And your point is?
I think we keep forgetting that this case is no longer about whether or not Julie is a good principal (even though she didn’t get much of a chance to prove herself). It also isn’t about which employee is liked or hated. It is about whether or not a District 150 employee engaged in unethical and/or illegal behaviors. Also, it is about whether or not District 150 allows teachers to be harrassed by their principals and/or fellow teachers. The Lindbergh saga certainly seems to point to some serious problems that are being ignored in 150–and similar problems can and do exist in other schools.
Knocks(ville) why are you bringing up this Washington Gifted website that was last updated in 2001–website technology almost 10 years ago can’t be expected to meet today’s standards, can it?
Once the teachers were able to face and express the truth (opening up the “code of silence”) in an institution that is using illegal firing practices, they could finally open up other such “can of worms.” Sometimes when it smells at the top, the deterioration trickles down throughout the system, unfortunately! The fighting efforts were strong to the get to the bottom of the problems, granted. Although the true stories can be “painful for some”, the TRUTH was revealed and prevailed. A hostile work environment is never an effective one for it’s employees or the school system.
Again, how are these “revelations” going to affect the current litigation in this matter?
Wondering, you must have some idea, or you wouldn’t have asked the question twice… so why don’t you tell us how you think this is going to affect the current litigation?
I’m wondering because those who are claiming malfeasance should be witnesses in any ongoing litigation. It would seem that they would be better served saving their accounts for depositions. And it doesn’t take a lawyer to understand that “published” hearsay might compromise litigation.
I was wondering the same thing… Any attorneys out there want to shed some light on this topic?
Wondering, you seem to be making quite a few assumptions for someone who already claimed to be ignorant of the legal implications of the case? There is nothing wrong with what Diane printed.
Whew. Thank goodness another random commenter sees nothing wrong with hearsay.
Nothing wrong with hearsay on a blog Wondering, as a matter of fact that is pretty much the point. It has no implications on the court case, and as for being random I think I’ve been around here a little bit longer than you have…
Sherly: wanna bet? I have to use my real name as Emtronics can’t post here anymore. My reply has never showed up.
Randall (Emtronics)
Rix Wait until Diane et. al. start calling you at home with threats.
I like rumors, I take them for what they are worth ….plus most people dont see the truth when it is staring at them. We eventually will find out the truth…..then lets throw the stones.
Randall: Come down off your cross, OK. If I was deliberately blocking your comments, I wouldn’t be approving them manually afte4r I seem them in the spam filter. I also would be blocking comments posted under your real name. I use Akismet because it’t the best there is at preventing spam comments.
Rix and Emtronics: Also, personal attacks on another commenter is a violation of my posting rules. Please refrain from doing so. Do not use my blog to play out personal conflicts.
Well, thanks for the heads up. Although I don’t recall any personal attacks, I’ll be sure to keep it in mind for future reference.
Yeah I dunno, other than being a smartass and trying to make a point about legal proceedings, of which he admittedly knows nothing about, I didn’t see any personal attacks either.
What attacks? Please….I post a comment here and it NEVER appeared, ever. So, you either canned it or it was deleted by whatever you are using for spam.
Come off your cross. Does this high and mighty rag really need this spam filter? I mean, the “usuals” that post here never seem to have a problem but the few who disagree with you or a few select posters can’t seem to post. What are we suppose to think?
Randall, you are an idiot. There are FOUR other comments from you in this thread. Now, please comment about the post, or move on. Incessant comments about comment policy is a form of thread hijacking.
No Bill, beleive it or not, there is a rather big comment from me missing (under Emtronics) It has never showed and it was revelent to this post. Drop dead
BTW you have resorted to name calling? Shouldn’t you ban yourself?
Randall, there is no comment from you in the spam filter, long or otherwise.
Billy, sorry but I did write a comment in response to this post (topic) using the name “Emtronics” and it never appeared which is why I went and changed my email and name yet again, to Randall. That is what is so frustrating about this site in regards to me posting a comment here and then when I go off, you call me an idiot.
Randall: Listen. I’ll say this again one last time. You might have written a comment for this post. It never showed up in the spam filter. It never showed up hear. Period. You have a DOZEN comments that have showed up, one way or another. Stop whining and implying you are being censored or I WILL ban you for trolling. Constant complaining about matters unrelated to a post IS trolling.
Is there anyone else who had administrative privileges to delete comments?
now, see? I just tried to post the above using my usually “name” (Rix) and it didn’t post. But using “Jane” it did. Same IP address. So, yes, PP, you do seem to be selectively monitoring/blocking comments. Which, of course, is fine because it’s your blog (well, yours and Diane’s) but at least be up front about it.
Jane/Rix: I absolutely am trying to ban YOU from my site, for reasons which you are well aware. I’ll leave these comments up, though.