It would be easy to make snarky comments about the District 150 School Board for taking a pass on a potential $6 million federal grant by deciding to NOT replace Randy Simmons as principal at Peoria High School.
My two cents is that personnel decisions need to be based on whether or not the person in question is right for the job, not on whether the Feds will pass along some cash.
I’ve heard good things about Simmons, I’ve heard bad things. The article is full of people gushing over him. Perhaps the critics of whom I am aware didn’t speak up. Oh, well.
I don’t think ANYONE is indispensable. But I think that firing someing because you might get some cash is probably the crappiest thing any employer can do. Of course it happens all the time. Look at the Peoria Journal Star. GateHouse Media has reduced staff drastically simply because the bosses want to make more money themselves.
Nevertheless, we kno have a high school principal who knows exactly what he is worth: $6 million. I can see how THAT will be a problem. How does a new superintendent make a personal change anytime in the future knowing that HER bosses passed on a potential $6 million in order to keep him round?
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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 
Randy Simmons is a fabulous principal!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! District 150 finally did something right.
If you read my post, you would see that I am AGAINST making personnel decisions based on grant money.
I knew what you meant.
Billy this post is the epitome of exagerration. Big surprise there. Did you not read the part in the article says that grants start at $50K? Plus, we would have to hire an outside firm to take over. Great. As if there aren't enough people that live outside district boundaries calling the shots for Peoria Public Schools. And do you really want to give control of our schools to the Feds? They've done such a great job at the National level…
So, let me get this straight. The federal government is offering up to $6 million over x number of years, but in order to get it, District 150 has to fire Central's principal? Why? Because the federal government has traveled to Peoria, looked at the school, assessed the situation, and determined that this would be best for the students? Not hardly. Instead, it's because "the guidelines say you have to fire the principal." District 150 made the right call on this one. If the principal isn't the problem, it would be immoral to fire him for money.
It was immoral to fire Julie McArdle, but it didn't stop D150 BoE. Perhaps they have finally become enlightened? We can only hope.
In a district desperate for more good people, Randy Simmons is solid gold. Good call 150.
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