Please pray for the @ 9 teachers/staff who are being let go.
For God to help them as they will be receiving notification, make a way for them and comfort them and to encourage them.
May each one of them know how much we value them and to experience our support fully as they finsh the year strong! We are all saddened.
For the Lord help each member of the Board and administration and to help them lead with expertise and compassion. Especially for safety for all our students and for all of us to work together for their sake and for their quality education! they deserve our best! each one of them is so very precious. May our students continue to bring joy to each teacher as they are giving their best for our children to grow and learn!

Stella that was beautiful. Hugo G not sure what to make of your comment. Wouldn't dedicated Kindergarten teachers be lost with half day Kindergarten also? I'm confused? I think your comment is sad.

Not sure why these comments are under this article. It's the wrong one. This article makes me sick. 22 teachers there is no honor in dismissing the ones who worked hard and helped to get your district where it is. 22 people out of work in this economy especially in this line of work? Does anyone have any idea how hard it is to get a job as a teacher now? Absolutely disgusting. I want to know what makes these 8 people qualified to run this district? What qualifications do they have besides getting voted in by some? Also two getting voted in without searching for other outside applicants including one board member and the superintendent. I hope a house cleaning is in order on all fronts including superintendents next election. When is that contract up? Our community is being ruined and dragged through the mud with this behavior and personal agendas. I'm embarrassed, thouroughly disgusted, and angry. Also Board president stop talking in interviews or to anyone for that matter. Hard to believe there were no other options or things to look into the first year of a so called 3 year plan.

For the 9 thousand dollars I pay in taxes what exactly am I getting?? My son will be in an overcrowded classroom, I will have to scrounge up more money if he wants to play any sports or God forbid he wants to play a musical instrument!!! Why not cut some of those administrative positions that are a waste of money!?!? It's appalling and my solution to it all......is move. I'd rather give my 9 grand to a district that is a little more worried about the EDUCATION than the prestige of their prescious colleagues!!

please remember your aggravation and frustration next April when several of these board members will be up for re-election!!!

I agree with Outraged. If you do not vote for qualified candidates in the next election - the frustration will continue. Be proactive and voice your opinion with a vote - it is the only way. Regarding the sup - she was placed by the board - who again were voted into their position...high admin saleries definatey need to be reviewed and my last thought is YES these statements to the media by board members, board president and the sup needs to stop - get everything in order and then make statements on paper which would be submitted to the media - this way there is a record. Where is the professionalism in this entire process???

@Rose C,
I understand what you are saying and I am not expressing that the answer is to fire all administrators but we all know there are PLENTY of people in this school district who are OVERpaid and completely UNDERworked!! They may have a job title but basically just collect a check! It's a shame that the people who lose their jobs are the teachers which educate our children!! They also are paying these ridiculous taxes and for what....to have their hard work, their time and effort be thrown to the side because the others are tenures!! It's ridiculous that this district can't get it's act together. Everyone acts like this was some shock....that board knew that money wasn't coming through a looooong time ago.......but we needed that new high school and to raise my taxes to help pay for it! After living in Frankfort for 10 yrs. I will have paid more than $90,000........,for what? What in Frankfort is worth that amount of money?????

@ Dana If you are paying $9,000 a year in taxes total, it doesn't all go to the school district, only approximately a 1/3 goes to Summit Hill School District. If that is 1/3 of your taxes, appreciate that you must have a lovely, large home to live in and pay for.

@ All Does anyone have VIABLE alternatives to what is being done?? I hear a lot of B&C but no ideas as to how to save funds in a different manner. Most of you are insulting tough decisions that needed to be made. We prevented the full day kindergarten from being disbanned. Did everyone think that we could ignore the deficit we are in and blame it on the administration?? The board, that was elected in by people that actually vote, doesn't even get paid to be crucified by the public. I am not saying I agree with every decision that they have made but I am saying I don't see anyone out there suggesting real solutions to the $3 million deficit. You cannot have your cake and eat it too, no matter what you have been told. I would recommend, instead of making up rumors and throwing out insults, you make an effort to get in touch with the current board and see if they will listen to your viable ideas.

I'm a little curious how many people commenting have even voted in the last several elections. In my personal opinion, if you didn't even go out to vote, you have no right to criticize. Its very possible that most of these board members will be voted out in the next election (since everyone is paying attention finally).
Whats going to happen when the person you vote in does something you don't like or doesn't agree with you.........do you deem them "unqualified"? We need to unite and not tear to shreds this wonderful school district. Yes, some board members have been very unprofessional but some of the actions by my fellow neighbors are embarrassing as well.
Also, I"m not understanding the rational in keeping staff if our enrollment is decreasing. No one wants to see someone loose their jobs but its a reality in this economy.
Also, every single time a person stands up at the podium to bring to light that they feel a rule what was broken, a code was violated, etc. do you realize they are racking up the attorney fee? We need to make sure these complaints are valid before a board meeting otherwise, we are just contributing to the high attorney fee.........another fee we can't afford

@informed, Has the board already decided who will replace Beth? I didn't know they posted the job or interviewed candidates. What about the 2 openings at Hilda Walker?
Please (if you know) tell us how much we will have to pay into Jan and Jeff’s TRS for their early retirement. I'll bet it's more than we paid for Pain's retirement. Seems like we'll be spending a lot money (that we clearly don't have) to get rid of a few more administrators.

@citizen, I will repeat what I said "Oh no - what I HEARD is that Laura Geobal is going to take over for Beth Lind" my neighbor is a teacher in this district and told me she has applied for several different administrative positions in our district over the years...this teacher told me she is very very close to the board member Sean William Doyle, I believe he is the board member with the very long hair.

@citizen, who is Jan and Jeff and what are you talking about? Please be more clear ....

@informed, My mistake, I thought you might have had something to share with us.
Jeff and Jan are our 2 current Hilda Walker Administrators, Jan has already announced her intention to retire (early) and Jeff is not being offered a contract next year, he will most likely (if he can't find a job) be forced to retire early from the district.
Our district will have to make substantial payments to each of their TRS pensions.

@JD - you won't find this on the podcasts. It's simply the way the industry works. If an administrator / teacher is over 50 years old, and have "x" amount of years, they can choose to retire early....(just like Keith Pain did) leaving the district to make substantial TRS deposits, Jan has already announced her intent to retire. I'm not sure how many years she has paid into in TRS, but am certain that she is retiring early. If Jeff is unable to find a job, he may be forced to retire (early). Not positive about this one, but the business manager- Dean, may also be eligible for early retirement. I'm not an expert, but I have several teachers in my immediate family and they say this is a common practice, especially when a administrator is not offered a contract or "forced out" by local school boards.

@Citizen, boy you know it all...thank you for explaining that to me.

@Are you kidding - Rich Marron is just stirring the pot. I would rather the district err on the side of caution than open itself up to a lawsuit. $235/hr is better than a million dollar lawsuit. There is so much misinformation going around the district and it's so sad. It's so easy to blame the current board or new superintendent & her staff for the problems we're facing - the root of these problems are years old. So knock off the smack talk, recognize that changes need to be made, not everyone is going to like them but really what is the alternative? I guess selling your house or sending your kids to private school is always an option - best of luck to you.

@Jaimi-Mrs. Klein was asked to work with the administration to continue to develop the best curriculum for the kids. I believe she is paid a stipend and from what I've heard she doing a great job at 1/10 of the cost of a full time Curriculum Dir. @Kerri-I completely agree with you. @Dana - can you please be more specific on who is overpaid & underworked? It seems to me that with staff resigning left & right they leave everyone else with more responsibilities. You also need to understand the law & teachers' contract. It is sad when any teacher loses their job. Especially new ones with fresh ideas. Unfortunately Illinois LAW sets the guidelines on how teachers are let go. There is nothing any board or administrator can do about that. Taxpayer is right, lower enrollment means staff reductions. It sucks but any company has to cut staff when demand goes down.

@ Jaimi - one other question do you actually know any of the board members? Have you ever been in a hot seat having to make decisions for 3500 students, 350+ staff members, an annual budget over $40 million and follow the guidelines set forth by the State of Illinois (which hasn't made a 'rational' decision in YEARS) and President Bush's less than perfect No Child Left Behind? Maybe you have, and if that's the case you should have the experience to run next April. I'm thinking you should contact board members directly and really inform yourself as to what goes into sitting in one of those 7 chairs? You know what would be even BETTER? If we could shine at light on you - you sound like the type of person who knows everything about everything and have never made an irrational decision in your life, maybe we could learn something. What is it they say about glass houses?

None of this makes sense

If people were really informed they would know that a lot of the above posts are not true. Pay attention to what is going on, what you hear, what your kids are saying...the district was fine until the newest board came to be..and how did they get there..peoples vote or non vote. Lesson learned, pay attention to the election . The kids are what everyone has been taught as important...why have the "officials" decided it is more about administrators and teachers vs. student achievment???These kids will suffer if the students needs are not put first, Also, when people are willing to listen to "friends" and not facts...this also leads to problems. The kids in 161 need all the support they can get, not a teacher who is fearing an "honorable dismissal". Support the teachers, support the staff, support the adminstration...this board, needs to have their priorities put into check.

It just seems like there is an agenda, and that someone is a puppet on strings. Under previous administration things didn't seem so...personal. If you are living the situation you would understand, but most of the people commenting are outsiders looking in.

@taxpayer, first of all it is whether, not weather...and secondly what happened previously may also have had personal attacks but now it is even more apparent. The board is acting like politicians who have no idea what is going on...oh, pay based on scores, no child left behind, what is next? This board has gone above and beyond in displaying their likes and dislikes publicly. How is that fair to good, honest people trying to make a difference in youth today? Try doing the job of a teacher, administrator, para-professional etc...and if you do, as you say you are an insider...open your eyes and actually see what is going on.

informed

9:36 pm on Friday, March 30, 2012

I was just told that The Union Vice President Geobal has been feeding information to Mr. Richard Marron the trouble maker that likes to attack the board and hear himself talk at the school board meetings which is racking up legal fees and nothing comes of his ridulious accusations....neighbors of theirs told me how interesting it is that Geobal and Marron live across the street from one another.....it seems as though the triangle is Geobal, Doyle and the dupe doing their dirty work.
@ informed this all makes sense now. All the information I listened to from Richard Maron seemed to come from a very disgruntled teacher. I listened to what the District lawyer presented, if this is the same information that was presented to the staff at teacher institute, then what is the problem? It clearly wasn't legal advise, it was information regarding a new state law that effects teachers and districts in the state of Illinois. We are learning more and more every time Mr. Maron speaks. The pieces are all falling into place.

I cant believe this board and their friends feel as if they need to attack this teacher and Mr. Maron. Seems to me everything he speaks of during the meetings is public knowledge!! What insider things have been reported? I have been at the last 2 board meetings and what is inside info??? Sad! This sounds as if they need someone to attack to take the focus off themselves. Shows how dirty these people will play!

Why cant this board just play by the rules and be happy that the public now wants to get more informed and be included. Seems like they are not happy that we disagree with some of their actions. TOO BAD We are tax payers and parents who have a right to our opinions. WE voted for you and it seems you all have personal agendas. Lets see if Ms. Murphys boyfriend gets in and then you tell me that they have no personal agendas. I hear their are many qualified people, but will they consider them? They do illegal meetings and inappropriate quotes in the papers and ask for support. Do what is right for the kids and the community and maybe then we can start to support you.

What was the problem that a positive informational presentation regarding SB7 was given to the teachers? What was the reason it was brought to the board meeting by a random citizen....who by the way lives across the street from the Union Vice president? Come on, Poor teacher...having this dupe do dirty work.....I am sick that she seems to be connected to the situation.

This school board (volunteers) are doing the right thing by ignoring these comments and trimming down deficit....keep forging ahead!

Sad to see that happen! Even sadder that the community knows this info before its even voted in. Scott Smalter has to be voted into the next board meeting, I hope that people attend to witness the dirty politics in Frankfort.

@jd - why bother answering @Karen O'Malley and @Tom Kriznel's comments
they seem to be the same as @Are you kidding me? and @citizen anyway....looks like screen names are just being changed.

No comment about the new info, informed (JM)?

@Tom Kriznel - no it's not JM -- I have never changed my screen name unlike you.

@ Tom and Karen, WOW great information, but i think your info could be wrong, I heard Laura Gobel is up for the postition. Can't wait to see who is going to be picked, May the best person for our children be picked.

@Karen O'Malley - usually rumors come true...please don't lose sleep over this.
I believe Murphy's personal agenda was already taken care of one year ago in May,
now her agenda seems to be to trim the deficit that should have been done last year.

Maybe Mayor Maron knows who the next principal and asst. will be at SHJH?
Last I heard Barb Rains will be principal and Sparty the mascot is going to be asst. principal -- I am comparing that to the other ridiculious comments that have been posted.
Geobal ALL THE WAY!!!!!!!!!!!

@citizen my goal is to get the correct information out, not to discredit anyone, that is your take on things. We need to stick to facts, the information you are putting on here doesn't seem to be fact by your own account. Just trying to sort things out for myself to be an informed parent, community member, taxpayer and voter. And if it is true that these administrators are doing what you say they are doing, how is that helping the situation that is all to clear here. This only hurts our children with their actions.

@citizen just to follow up, I would like to know, I must have missed it that Pain was retiring early, Like I said before, I did not hear he retired early on any podcast, unless you are a personal friend of his I would imagine that you would not have that information. So as for the other administratiors, are you a personal friend of each of theirs to say they are retiring early also, or just not fact again.

@JD I'll go back and re-read my comments beacause I didn't realize that i was dis-crediting anyone. Unless you think an Adminstrator retiring is bad thing. I don't know what your trying to say in this statement "And if it is true that these administrators are doing what you say they they are doing, how is that helping the situation that is all to clear here." Please tell.

@citizen please go and re-read from March 31 at 11:42am you accused me of trying to dis-credit you. As for retiring personal preference. That statement is solely based on what you have said would happen if these teachers retire early. So now are you saying what you said is untrue? Don't try and confuse the situation.
You seem to have more info on Pain than the rest of the administrators, are you a personal friend or are you Pain? Im sure you won't answer the question. So for me, I am just going to disregard all of your statements, as I have said before just trying to get the facts.

@taxpayer I need to do more research on this early retirement thing. I need to go an listen to May 2011poadcast so I can hear what was said,almost seems like these administrators can just get out of their contract when they want. How could he retire early if he was given a pay raise (remember we already were in a budget deficit of 1.6million plus when the old board gave him a raise, i remember the vote being split)
and a new contract and just walk away. Is that what the old board did,gave him a contract that he could leave when he wanted. Thank goodness the majority of that board is gone. Talk about mistakes this new board is making, we as a community are still paying for the mistakes of the old board.

a few things.....yes the board approved a raise for Pain and all Administrators. But he didn't take the money and run- he quit. 161 was under no obligation to pay him after June 30th (his last day). When Mr. Pain told TRS (Teachers Retirement System) of his intention to retire early, District 161 had to make a one-time deposit of around 200k toward his pension. Mr Pain also had make one-time TRS payment on his own (although considerably smaller). As for why he suddenly left, in my opinion he saw the board was 5-2 against him. They would have made it almost impossible for him to do his job, leaving was what was best for him and the district.

I was at the May Board Meeting and, the letter from KP that was read indicated he "retired", not "quit". In what podcast or meeting did the Board indicate that the TRS made a one time deposit of 200K to his pension?? I'd like to hear the truth on this. The beautiful thing about the freedom of speech is that we also have the freedom of opinion. I respect your opinion Citizen on the KP thing. I feel that if what you say is true, then he bailed when the going got tough. In my opinion, I feel he bailed because he knew some of his actions were wrong and didn't want them exposed. On top of that, 2 of his coronies were dismissed of their board duties. A person doesn't accept a contract extension and pay raise, and then all of a sudden quits. Again, I am just one opinion, and I respect you Citizen for you opinion.

I live in Arbury Hills and unfortunately I have heard the same thing. How is it that the board has not even from what I understand posted the positions for assistant principal at Walker, or the principal job at Summit Hill and they are filled???? If these are just rumors then so be it...time will tell but if this Mr. Smalter gets the principal job then we know what kind of people we are dealing with. BOARD BE FAIR TO ALL not just your friends or boyfriends.

Rumors, Rumors, Rumors, maybe we should all wait and see what happens. The only thing we should all PRAY for is that our childrens educational needs are taken care of and that the best people will all be picked for our district. I am going to PRAY really hard that happens.

I have to say that I am very disappointed with how this message board floats out information as if ANY of it is proven to be fact. Rumors & scandal make for great TV but it is very destructive to our community. I am a firm believer in a person's right to their opinion, even if I disagree with them. However, things that are being posted here are just mean, false & sometimes plain ignorant. I hope that people who take the time to read the Patch (especially the ones who keep their comments/opinions to themselves) realize that the majority of the things written in the above 82 comments are false. I would hope that they would take the time to investigate for themselves the truth. Rumor & speculation is just that. The other downside to all of this 'banter' is the fact that our district has a couple of very important openings that need to be filled as soon as possible - Director of Finance & Special Ed Director. I don't know about any of you, but when I have looked for a job in the past, I do my research to find out if I would want to work for that company. I fear that this mayhem would discourage great applicants from coming to work in our district. That is really sad. We need to have a good team in place to keep our district moving forward & advancing what is best for all of the kids in the district. Maybe you can think about that before you type any more lies behind your fake screen names.

Anyone else's kid come home from school yesterday saying a teacher told children that Klein is going to Rogus, and Ruffalo is going to HW? Mine did. Not naming the teacher, but my kid is at MD, and why is she and her friends hearing things before the board votes or decides or Rains sends out a communication? Rumor or not, those were the words my child said a teacher said, this isn't the way the teachers should be handling themselves either.

Tracy, Yes...Rains sent an email Friday: Kathy Klein and Christine Carey as Co-Principals who will be sharing the leadership of Rogus. Frankfort Square will be Isdonas as Principal. Walker getting Ruffalo as Principal. And we also heard Martin is stepping down to be the Principal at the Junior High and Smalter going to HW to be Assist. Principal.

Your right about the teachers, but I think is was Rains responsibility to handle this better. I hear the moral at all the schools is the worst, and what happened to the Principal at the Junior High is disrespectful and shows the students there that PBIS does not apply to adults.

Was this an email sent to district residence or just the employees of 161?? I haven't received any email indicating who is going where.
If this was an email sent to the employees of 161, then Rains did her job by informing the staff before the public. I will have to put fault on the teachers for "gossiping" while in and outside of school. These children shouldn't be involved and the teachers should not be discussing this with their class. That is our job as parents.

Thanks Are - no, saw no email here.

I guess I don't understand, how does one become prinicpal or asst principal? There isn't a hiring process? Pople can step down or raise their hand and say, oh, I'll do that... How does anyone 'outside' ever get in this district?

And yes, MD kids around me, who had once gone to Rogus, were not to happy to hear that they would be under Ruffalo again.

And yes Sam - what happens to Hudziak?

Who exactly is mapping all of this out anymore anyway? Rains? The Board? I seriously don't get how this is working now.

Why all the shifting to begin with? Did we need to lose Lind? Do we know the grounds for that reclassification yet? Klein could have easily just slipped over to HW - a school w/out a prinicipal, a principal without a school - seems simple enough. This gets stranger every day.

And wait a min... Martin's salary... he's stepping down, so I am assuming that is less pay. He is accepting less pay? Or no, and we'll be hiring a new asst sup, at the higher pay scale.

Has a list been issued of the teachers going? I thought Joe was going to have that, and I assumed it would be posted in the Patch, or was that in an email I didn't get too?

ANd yes, I have been following here, just didn't want to ask earlier when all the craziness was going on in the comments above, but I sincerely do have questions I'd like to know about - this principal situation. I still want to see the money bottom line being saved on MD closing and 22 teachers going (and is it me, wasn't that stated in the model of the closing of MD, that it would be only 9 teachers... help me out here)

I heard that Santa Claus is going to give up his job at the North Pole to be principal at the Jr. High and the Tooth Fairy is going to be the assistant principal at HW. My kids are soooooooo excited!

Is it sad that all of a sudden I thought wait a minute, there's a leprechaun out there that has to be friends with one of the board members though...

Ok, obviously then, I can't be the only one wondering how this process is working. I really should say now, maybe I should be principal. Nice hours, close to home, oh wait, I mean asst sup... that will be the next fill in position available it sounds like.

How long has Martin been asst sup?

Stop! Get some facts before you post! Mr. Martin isn't going anywhere - why on earth would he agree to step down? Mr. Smalter is a teacher at SHJH - that's it! Mrs. Hudziak is still the vice principal at SHJH. Ruffalo is going to HW. Isdonas is going to Square & Carey & Klein are headed to DJR. The board votes on retaining/hiring employees - it is not their job to decide where to place them. That is the role of the superintendent. Because it is a personnel matter Mrs. Rains may have discussed it in closed session but that is pure speculation unless you are a member of the board.
@ Tracy - as far as moving Mrs. Klein to HW, she may not be certified to be a middle school principal or and I'm just speculating, or she could have said 'thanks but no thanks', you should call & ask her. In regards to the teachers that were let go, Joe did say he would only receive the list of teachers that are staying. There are privacy rules to follow. Which is also why the reclassification is under wraps too. As for the 22 vs 9, we were told in a couple of board meetings & the workshop, positions would be streamlined. I hate to see teachers let go, but we knew sacrifices would be made at every building.

I have a question maybe someone could answer a little off the above subject. How did Mary Drew School qualify as an award winning school? What award did it win? I know that when Mary Drew was principal at Hilda Walker School, she won the Blue Ribbon Award for Hilda Walker School. I believe that was in 2001. Just curious.

There is an email going out on Wednesday about all the principal changes if you guys can wait. At least then you will know what is rumor and what is fact. Until then, why don't we all just take a deep breath and relax. Doesn't matter who is going where as long as our kids continue to receive an outstanding education. @Rose C. -- thank you for being the voice of reason on this comment board.

See, this is why I didn't ask questions earlier, everyone, please calm down. I asked why my kid is hearing things from teachers, that is a concern for all here. All, stop claiming what is a fact or not, cause who knows until it happens. Maybe a lot of things here are being questioned, but it sounds like many are yelling through their tone of writing. Unless anyone here is Rains or the Board, it's all hearsay isn't it? Fact is, very few here know the facts, they are just trying to piece together what looks like what might be happening.

The night of the Wendy's MD fund raising, I did ask Klein 'I have to ask, cause I don't want to be an advocate to something you don't want, but it seems to make sense, are you going to go to HW if you can?' She replied 'I don't know if I will be going there or anywhere, I just know MD is closed, but I told Mrs. Rains I would go to HW, and that I am not ready to retire, really any of the schools, except SHJH.' Glad she wants to stay with D161. Now if she had a choice or was simply told you're going to Rogus, I don't know. What I do know is that my child, and the neighborhood children were upset that Mrs. Meyers is not tenured, so she's gone, and that Ruffalo is going to HW. Which made me ask them 'How do you know this?' And they replied a teacher told them, so I said 'Well, don't believe everything you're hearing right now, and not to worry about any of that, just go play.' Maybe the only people we can trust in right now is the children.

@ concerned parent how do you know an email is coming on wednsday? As far as an outstanding education that changed when a school closed, clubs gone, and staff and good teachers honorably fired. Please tell me how adding more kids in a classroom is outstanding? Anything that used to set us apart from other districts is gone or will be gone next year. You are fooling yourself if you really believe it will be just as good. Really? Makes teachers jobs harder and more stressful. The reason it was so good was because of all those things that are now gone. All those suggestions given without properly being researched and this is the easy way out. It's amazing what other districts have cut but We couldn't get some of those things done I don't understand it. You have a handful of board members saying that everything was rushed and some wrong desicions are being made without proper research and info. Maybe outstanding has a new definition?

@Caspert -- I know that an email is coming because I picked up the phone and asked. Amazing what you can find out by just picking up the phone. As for an outstanding education, I was referring to the actual education my kids have been receiving, not the clubs as I consider those extracurricular activities. My daughter is a straight-A student and had 25-26 kids in her classroom for both 3rd and 4th grade and her education didn't suffer. The classroom size guidelines aren't changing, it is still 27 kids for 3rd and 4th and 25 for 1st and 2nd. Yes, I am upset that good teachers were honorably fired, it sucks for them. However, the district is in trouble and the board had to do something, so I trust that they made the right decision. Only time will tell.

You must have a different phone line or connection? Who exactly did you call and talk to? I knew when I wrote the comment above the clubs was going to be picked out because no one really wants to address the rest of it because its true. As far as the max many classrooms weren't at the max so it is adding kids to a classroom and changing things. Honorably fired? There is nothing honorable about getting fired you can add any fancy word to it and it sucks for everyone not just the teachers. If the right descions were made then why wasn't it unanimous? Did anyone talk to the teachers and ask them what they thought? Did all board members visit all the schools and see how they run or just the ones they reside in? Teachers and staff are the ones on the front lines doing the actual work. Again things they set our district apart and put us above the rest are gone now. Why the catch phrase a 3 year plan? All smoke and mirrors. An informed researched plan with consulting individuals with a background in finances would of been a better option. Yes the district is in trouble all right. I agree with you on only time will tell. But it is at the expense of our kids.

@caspert - I talked to the principal at my daughter's school and he told me that they were supposed to be sending out an email at 3:45 today. I don't think bit is a secret. As for using term "honorably fired" you used it first, I was merely following suit. I agree with you that things are going to change and I'm conecerned (obviously) but I'm trying to have a positive outlook. @Taxpayer - my son went to frankfort square last year and had 26 kids in his classroom. Same for his 3rd grade class. Right now they have 22 in 3rf and 4th. Qst and 2nd do, however, only have 18.

@ Rose, well said.
I have been in this district since 1999. I was here before there were all of these wonderful programs that we have today. My oldest did just fine. Our district was fortunate to have been able to add and enhance the education of our children when the economy was great. Unfortunately, some of those perks need to be let go. Not too often was the community notified of any changes, hiring or firings, programs added or elimated, etc. We were only informed if there was a strange car driving around the neighborhood. Because Barb Raines has opened that line of communication, people are more aware of what is going on. Unfortunately, she is feeling the heat because of it. Reality hurts sometimes but the Board and Superintendent need to make cuts that not everyone will be happy with. I have no doubt the children and the teachers will be just fine. As for the Board members visiting the schools. I can honestly say that I have seen them at my childrens schools on numerous occasions.

Well you 2 really told me. You are right about being in reality. I'm in reality it seems everyone else is busy watching rainbows and unicorns. I number 1 have every right to question things don't fault me. You are acting like others never demanded answers or questioned under K.P. Give me a break! That is not my fault or do I care. btw I'm sick to death of hearing about him its like listening to the presidential races. Guess what we are here now and the actions and the way these decisions have been made are how I'm judging others. Also the way the community is being slammed both at the board meeting and in the papers by a select few of its members. I 'm not ranting at all I'm questioning things. Sorry because you don't agree or its not your opinion that you have a problem with it. My taxes which by the way are not going down but the quality and all the things associated with district 161 is. Maybe others don't work as hard as my family does or just don't care about property values. Well the reason the country, state and school district are in these messes is because no one demands answers, accountability and questions. Maybe if more people did we wouldn't find ourselves in this situation. Lines of communication should always be open we shouldn't be bowing at anyones feet because they finally decided to do it that is the way districts should handle themselves.

@Casper the friendly ghost- explain what you meant when you said "My taxes which by the way are not going down but the quality and all the things associated with district 161 is". I don't understand, Summit Hill School is STILL a great school district...
sorry you and a couple people in this community feel this way.

Everyone needs to become well aware of the States inability to pay their bills to our schools, they also need to be aware that the State is most likely pushing the teacher pension programs to the local districts, also the State is most likely pushing to make changes to transportation funding to districts.... YES THE REALITY IS QUALITY OF EDUCATION IN MANY IF NOT ALL WILL START TO DIMINISH. This is reality! You can only do so much financial reform within any organization. Unfortunately it is inevitable that the quality of education will degrade.

Maybe it is finally time for people to realize that the way we fund education, based on property taxes is a big problem. Why not tell legislators to switch funding of education to sales tax and then people who own homes wouldn't be overly burdened. Just a thought....