A word about the Dunlap School Board races....

Dunlap School Board Races - Choose Three!

It has been reported that some Dunlap School Board candidates and their supporters are asking voters to punch the ballot ONLY for them, even though there are three open seats! (There are three seats, and four candidates). In my opinion, this is an attempt to disenfranchise you, and suggests at least to me that the campaign is thinking only of their own personal welfare, and not the overall health of the School District and the students they seek to serve.

To thrive and improve, a school district needs every member (not just one) of it's Board of Education to be the most highly qualified person ready willing and able to carry out the duties and responsibilities of this most crucial organization. An election is not about an individual - but rather, a movement to determine which seven people will be the best representative and advocates for our children.

If any candidate or their supporters tell you to ONLY punch the ballot for their preferred candidate (even though there are three), give some thought to doing the opposite, as I'm not sure they truly understand the mission.

A word about.... Mine subsidence - UPDATED

Recently our State Farm agent has been calling and e-mailing incessantly wanting us to sign a "mine subsidence" waiver of insurance on our home- owners insurance policy. Apparently, the standard residential homeowners policy does not include coverage for damage due to mine subsidence. So after the latest call, (following my failure to act and return the document), I started wondering if I should be putting more thought into this "waiver". I posted a question on our Realtor Facebook Page, asking fellow Peoria Area agents to comment if they had more than my mediocre knowledge of the subject. Jason Catton of RE/MAX Acclaimed was kind enough to offer this link to the Illinois State Geological Survey.

It's a map from the Illinois State Geological Survey showing a legend of old mine activity. You can type in a complete property address and it will overlay a color-coded map of old coal mines over the subject area. By executing these steps, you can see if there may be an old coal mine underneath your home. It's quite fascinating, and if you drag the map around and look at the Charter Oak area, as well as the Bartonville and South Peoria area, you'll see that it would at least appear, you might want to consider purchasing that Mine Subsidence addendum. Generally speaking, according to the Geological records, it appears that most of Peoria County North of War Memorial Drive is in the clear.

The following comment appeared when the Peoria.com forums linked to this blog article:

The Illinois Mine Subsidence Act was passed in 1979, and mandated that property insurers offer coverage for the peril of mine subsidence. There are 34 counties where coverage is automatically rolled onto policies, however the insured has the option to waive coverage in writing. For a list of those counties, ask your insurance agent, or see the website cited below. In the remaining counties, coverage can be added to the policy by request. Through the same legislation, the Illinois Mine Subsidence Insurance Fund was created to provide reinsurance for companies who pay mine subsidence losses. Although created by the state, the Fund is not a state agency. When an insured suspects their property has been damaged by mine subsidence, they should notify their primary insurer, who will file the claim with the Fund. For more information about mine subsidence, mine subsidence insurance, or issues surrounding mine subsidence such as buying or selling a home in mine subsidence affected areas, please visit our website at: www.imsif.com or call us at 800-433-6743.

Kathy Moran, Consumer Education

An interview with District 150 write-in candidate Rick Cloyd

Last week brought news of a write in campaign for the Third district - District 150 School Board seat (Stowell vacancy). As you may know, the filing date for the vacant seat came and went without a single person submitting a petition or statement of candidacy. Rick Cloyd, a lifelong resident of Peoria, community volunteer, and employee of Caterpillar, Inc, announced last week that he will attempt to win the seat through a write-in campaign. Seemingly well qualified, I couldn't resist calling him and asking him to share with our on-line community a little bit more about himself. He politely obliged. Below are my questions to him and his replies, without commentary.

1. Please tell us a little about yourself, your family (if you wish), and any past associations you have had with Peoria Public Schools.

I was born and raised in Peoria and graduated from Hines Grade School and Richwoods High School. I graduated with a degree in Journalism, with honors, from Bradley University and earned an MBA with emphasis in finance from the University of Illinois Executive program in 1996. I worked for Keystone Steel & Wire in Bartonville for 25 years, and was vice president of sales and marketing from 1997 until 2001, when I joined Caterpillar.

Sally and I have been married 29 years. She is an independent writer and producer with a U of I degree was in Speech Education. Over the past three years, we’ve volunteered with Carl Cannon’s ELITE Youth Outreach program for Peoria-area high school sophomores and juniors. I’ve helped with some program content, taught at the spring retreat, and worked at lock-ins.

If we had not been involved with ELITE, I would not be running for this office. I’ve seen first hand what great things happen when young people receive support and guidance and learn that respect is a two-way street. They get to experience the life-changing benefits of courteous language, respectful conduct and appropriate appearance.

I’ve served the community in a number of capacities, including the Greater Peoria YMCA board, a volunteer with our church and several other civic and charitable organizations. Recently, I taught a Junior Achievement economics course at Richwoods, did some home repairs for Rebuilding Together, and photographed South Side Mission Adopt-a-Block families for their Christmas cards.

My daughter and her husband are University of Georgia graduates. She is in banking and they also own a small business in Athens, GA.

2. Can you tell us what may make you uniquely qualified to serve on the District 150 Board of Education.

My unique qualification for the Board is my lifelong Peoria residence and four decades of business experience in finance, marketing, strategy development, and in the leadership and development of people. I have developed and managed large operating budgets and executed cost reduction programs, when necessary.

I’ve managed two national sales and marketing organizations, an 850,000 sq. ft manufacturing facility, and two product distribution facilities. Along the way I’ve built and maintained constructive working relationships with union and non-union hourly workforces -- sometimes in difficult financial circumstances.

My current responsibilities in Strategy & Business Development at Caterpillar include enterprise strategy consulting and execution support; analysis of industries, markets and competitors; and our department’s career development and mentoring process. International travel, particularly to China and India, has provided stark evidence of how critically important it is to prepare students for success in a hyper-competitive world.

3. What would be your three highest priorities during your tenure on the School board, if elected?

Financial accountability -- Dist. 150 is a large business, spending more than $1 million per school day, based on dividing the total budget of $187 million by the 176 days required in the school year. Taxpayers and business leaders need to see a better return on that substantial annual investment.

Strategic focus – The Board and Administration must have long-term goals for student academic achievement and a financial, operating and personnel plan to achieve them. The Board’s role is to establish policies, work with the Administration to set goals and metrics and to hold it accountable for measurable progress toward those goals.

A safe and respectful educational environment – No learning takes place when students fear for their safety, are distracted by disruptive behavior, or aren’t engaged with the teacher or educational material.

4. What is your opinion of the Charter School, and what words of advice would you have for families that did or do not win the "lottery" for enrollment in the Charter School?

I supported establishment of the Quest Charter Academy, and we’ll all learn a lot as it develops.

5. Can you name 3 people that you admire, have inspired you and/or have served as role models?

The late Dr. Paul Snider, who headed Bradley’s Journalism department. He was a great educator with an unforgettable way of holding his students to the highest standards of accuracy and excellence.

Carl Cannon, for his passion and dedication to youth, and for creating job opportunities and building self-respect in those students willing to step up and be ELITE.

Blanche Peeler, my great aunt, who took my mom into her home as a teenager during the Depression. Dr. and Mrs. Peeler provide for mom’s college education and then for her nursing degree at Vanderbilt University.

6. In your press release announcing your write-in candidacy you stated "District 150 can, and must, provide a safe and respectful environment of educational excellence to help students realize that potential". Other candidates before you have made similar statements and many district observers feel that little if any progress has been made in that regard. What specific measures would you advocate for in order to be one of the first to deliver on this campaign promise?

That’s what the District should aspire to. My promise is to apply my education, business experience and passion for educational excellence to the best of my abilities as a member of the Board.

As a governance body working together, the Board should hold the Dist. 150 Administration accountable on the issues of safety and security based upon appropriate metrics, policies and statutes.

If the ELITE program can create and sustain a safe and respectful environment for several hundred District 150 students every year, why can’t the rest of our students have that too?

7. What are your concerns, if any, about running and/or serving on the school board and what would be your expectations of the families of District 150.

My concern is that many people in the community have given up on Dist. 150 and see no hope for change or improvement – and every stakeholder will suffer the consequences. My hope and expectation is that families in our community will provide a supportive home environment for learning, and make their children’s education a top priority.

8. If there is anything you would like to add please feel free to do so here.

To help accomplish anything we discussed, I need, and would greatly appreciate, your School Board District 3 readers’ write-in votes on April 5 for Rick Cloyd.

Thank you for your participation.

Live "Build the Block" Cam up and running!

The Regional Museum has had it's fair share of growing pains over the past few weeks, but regardless, it is kind of exciting to see this live cam monitoring it's progress.

The Live Cam link is here.

Thanks to my friend Don at IT360 for the "heads-up" on the link, and if you are ever having computer problems, Don and Matt are the guys to see. Tell them Diane sent you. They'll laugh their heads off. We have a lot of fun!

Hello? It's Julie McArdle calling... she'd like her reputation back.

"It has been almost a year to this date, April 21, that I got the call from Tom Broderick", said former Lindbergh Middle School Principal Julie McArdle today after learning that her nemesis, Mary Davis, the source of personnel reports that resulted in the termination of her contract last April, had finally been charged with multiple felony counts. "I am so happy she has finally been charged", said Julie. "This whole experience has been a nightmare. Now everyone will know I wasn't dreaming this stuff up".

Julie shouldn't have worried about that. Her many many friends, family and co-workers never had a doubt.

I love the smell of a rally in the morning!

I love Democracy and all expressions thereof. There is nothing more American to me than a peaceful assembly of citizens organizing for a common interest. The outrage some feel towards the "Tea-Par tiers" is a bonafide mystery to me but fortunately, I don't care. I have attended the Tea Parties and I was equally thrilled to participate in the rally in Springfield yesterday. The participants were mostly professionals from various walks of life protesting proposed budget cuts to their industries.

I was invited to hop aboard a Peoria Charter Coach and join the Peoria Federation of Teachers as they participtated in the general expressions of discontent with the state of Illinois Government. Since I basically agree that there is plenty to complain about, and, anyone who is willing to take my kids off my hands for nine months out of the year, well, let's just say you had me at Hello. So I was happy to oblige and support our teachers! Road Trip!

Myself, the Elliott-Gardners and the Adkins- Dutro's all brought our kids. We took up the back half of one bus. Funny but the other bus without the kids was for some reason more crowded than ours. ;-)

Our little protesters


We departed Peoria Stadium around 8:30a.m. after a morning
greeting from Superintendent Norm Durflinger. Truth be told I think he may have been a little sad he wasn't going along. He had other plans however. Hopefully he had a full box of No-doz in his pocket.

I estimated the crowd at somewhere between a bazillion and a gazillion.

The issues were remarkably the same as the Tea Partiers!
The boys realized quickly that the posters made awesome jumbo jets!

As we entered the protest area, I noticed the wide variety of issues and signs. It struck me how similar it was to the tea parties. In fact, there are many many areas of common agreement between these two groups. The proposed solution to the problems is where they may part ways. For instance, one speaker who sounded like she had just swallowed a bag of unmixed asphalt chanted "Raise our taxes!" I squirmed a little bit, but then realized a little improvisation was in order. "Vote them out!" fit nicely in between the chants and added a poetic quality.

Here is my top ten list of similarities between the Tea parties and yesterday's Springfield rally:

1. They both have valid points
2. They both have the right and in fact the obligation to express themselves
3. They both are committed to their cause
4. They have all been victims of a corrupt and wasteful government.
5. They should both have the blessings of Bill and Hillary!
6. They both have demonstrated in a lawful peaceful manner.
7. They both are advocating for the issues that are important to them.
8. They both want to reduce government corruption and waste
9. They will all VOTE in November
10. They don't want to be labeled, marginalized or demeaned.

So there you go! I am qualified to make these judgements since I was at both events. I hope this puts the hostilities between the parties to rest. Everyone needs to be registered to vote. Everyone needs to know their legislators and cast the appropriate vote in November. Do not expect the same people that got us into this mess to get us out of it. That would just be stupid. Face the fact that Spingfield's and Washington's (and our) addiction to wasteful, reckless spending must end! Personally, I am heartened to see that the long apathetic slumber of the average citizen is over. We needed a wake-up call. The alarm is ringing!

Local teacher walks the walk... - UPDATED!

UPDATED - Karen McDonald wrote a story as well complete with interviews with the students. Her excellent coverage is here. Hedy also reported today that since this story broke the PHA phone has been ringing off the hook from citizens wanting to make donations of supplies to the program. She wishes to thank the Peoria Fire Fighters who donated calculators, rulers and pens, and in particular, Firefighter Byron Yang who personally wrote a check for $100! Mr. Yang also asked for and received a gift card from Kroger's Foods for future supply needs.

Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Teach him how to fish and you feed him for a lifetime. Lao Tzu.

With the persistent bad news regarding the state of public education, it is my pleasure to write about something positive. No, it has nothing to do with shiny new buildings. Nope, it's not about new IPAD's or smart boards. Sorry, but nothing to do with the snappy new Charter School... and no, there is no latest bestest learning program to unveil. This news is about one person who wants to teach and students who want to learn.

The teacher I refer to is our own Hedy Elliott-Gardner, daughter of comedian Royce Elliott, a familiar voice at the District 150 School Board podium, and Vice President of the Peoria Federation of Teachers. Her students are residents and children of Peoria's Housing Authority, Taft and Harrison homes.

Last week I shadowed Hedy, a woman I have long admired, as she prepared for her first day of classes at Taft. Through her employment as a District 150 teacher, Hedy sought and received permission from the Regional Office of Education to create and teach an adult GED program and supplemental grade school classes on the premises of Taft and Harrison Homes. She said she had been mulling the idea for awhile, and finally approached Regional Superintendent of schools, Dr. Gerald Brookhart. From the onset he was enthusiastic about the idea, and encouraged Hedy to follow her dream. He helped her lay out a road map, and from that point forward the pieces fell in to place.

"While this was in the planning stages, many doors were opened. I had help from so many sources. ELITE founder Carl Cannon, Assistant Regional Superintendent of Schools Jeff Nelson, PHA Executive Director Brenda Coates, Interim Superintendent of Peoria Public Schools Norm Durflinger, and Human Resources Director of Peoria Public Schools Debra Dimke, all played a significant role in this project coming to fruition."

Hedy is thrilled with her spacious classroom, which is located above the Administration Building within the complex. There is nothing fancy about it - all white walls, a suspended ceiling, and old linoleum floors. She has big plans to bring it to life, however, with bold colors and inspiring wall murals. She enlisted the assistance of accomplished local artist Larry Hendricks, (pictured above) who will paint at least one wall with a large educationally themed mural. He is also helping her with color choices and room design. "When my new students first walk into the classroom," Hedy said "I want them to feel like this is the first day of the rest of their life". In the top photo, Hedy is shown perusing her new workspace.

Many of her students have experienced an unrelenting sense of hopelessness - a condition described as "generational poverty" that is handed down from parents to children. Just as a middle class parents will have children that are likely to become middle class themselves, those born poor are likely to remain in poverty. According to Hedy education can break that cycle. "Education is the ticket to a better life for themselves and their children."

Last Friday was her very first day of classes at Harrison, located on the South side of Peoria near Manual High School.

"I hoped and prayed that I would have 1 - 3 people walk into my classroom today. I was shocked when people kept coming in, and I ended up with 11! They were prepared, rested and pen in hand. It was a wonderful experience. They were all so engaged and wanting to learn. It was no different from any of my other classrooms. One of my students was a Great-Gram-ma. She had 7 children, 20 grand children and 27 great grandchildren. She told me that she felt she needed to have a diploma in order to personally demonstrate to her children and grandchildren the importance of education.

So what makes Hedy tick? I just had to ask. Wouldn't life be a whole lot easier if she just worked in a classroom and punched the clock every day?

"I know I can inspire and reach these folks, and when I see a need that I know can be satisfied I can't ignore it. It tortures me. The way we currently treat this population just feels wrong to me. You know many people are willing to step up and help children. They are small and cuddly and cute. But the adults are largely overlooked. We can do so much more than just satisfy their basic needs. The key is education. We can give them the tools they need for a better life. The children cannot succeed if we don't simultaneously address the needs of the the parents."

Hedy's style is self described as "old school".

"I get back to the basics. We don't need fancy buildings and technologies and the latest in newfangled research. We need to implement the tried and true recipe of structure, expectations, rules and hard work. For children we need smaller classrooms, more individualized instruction and fewer interventions and disruptions in the school day."

I couldn't resist asking her opinion of the new Charter School. She cautioned that it is not the "magic bullet" that everyone wants it to be. "The Charter School will serve several hundred, but I am concerned about the needs of over 13,000 students in this district".

That is why I admire her so much. She doesn't bow to political pressure but instead marches to the beat of an inner moral compass - a characteristic that is becoming increasingly elusive among our leaders. With her position in the PFT, her tenured status, and the widespread respect she commands among her peers, she could most likely snag a cushy job in her choice of schools. But teaching is her passion. She wants to teach - anyone who wants to learn. What a novel concept.