District 209 critics attempt to organize

Bill Kirchner, a Forest Park resident who was on the recently dissolved Proviso Township High Schools advisory committee, is organizing a meeting of citizens, parents, taxpayers, etc. to discuss District 209 issues.

Where? Forest Park Public Library, Jackson & Des Plaines, northeast corner
When? Wednesday, August 8, 6:30-8:00 6:00-8:30PM

The core group of people organizing the meeting are the recently dissolved advisory committee and the recently dissolved committee organizing the foundation. Both groups were selected by former superintendent Stan Fields, so it will be interesting to see how these pro-Fields critics of the school board work with the anti-Fields critics of the school board.

According to Kirchner, someone from the core group is already in contact with the Illinois Superintendent of Education. The office of the superintendent has indicated an openness to get involved in Proviso Township High Schools, perhaps in a way adversarial to the board of education, if the superintendent receives a written complaint with specific and serious charges.

So, if you want the superintendent of education to get involved, come to the meeting with your complaints of misconduct and mismanagement made as specifically as possible, in writing, so they can be combined into a single list.

I don't know anything about the Illinois Superintedent of Education Christopher A. Koch, EdD, but I'm glad Sen. Kimberly Lightford was not appointed to this position. I strongly suspect that she would have bent over backwards not to rock the boat for board president Emanuel "Chris" Welch and his political allies.

[UPDATE: Below is an outline of a grievance to be submitted to the Illinois superintendent of education. Please try to fit your grievances against District 209 and the board of education into these areas.

I.D209 board members have used their positions to advance their personal interests
II.D209 has taken actions that cost the taxpayers money but failed to deliver value
III.D209 has harmed the education of students
IV.D209 has engaged in other unlawful behavior
V.D209 board members have engaged in other illegal or unethical behavior
VI.The normal checks and balances have broken down at D209
VII.School board elections have not been conducted in a free and fair manner or in compliance with Illinois election law.
VIII.Political campaigns connected with school board president Emanuel “Chris” Welch have raised an unprecedented amount from school vendors, creating the appearance of kickback campaign contributions.
IX.The board of education has consistently failed to deliver and implement either a plan to improve test scores or eliminate deficit spending
X.Because of the ongoing federal criminal prosecution we suspect the board president and other key District 209 leaders are focused on saving themselves in the next few months, not improving the district's fiscal outlook and test scores in the next few years.
XI.D209 has taken actions that generally reflect incompetence of the board or administration.
XII.D209 provides information that is inaccurate, withholds information that is important, refuses to answer relevant questions or otherwise makes it difficult for citizens to know what’s happening in the district

[End update]