There were some questions yesterday about candidates for Champaign Unit 4 School Board, and in particular there were some questions about positions on issues and whether any candidates might be willing to discuss their ideas on IlliniPundit.com.
I am hoping to contact each of the candidates in the next week or so, and ask them if they'd be willing to participate in some fashion here.
My idea is (and I'm open to suggestions) is to open up this thread for user-submitted questions, and then email a handful of those questions to as many candidates as possible. Somehow, we'll get their responses posted (preferably posted directly by the candidates, but I'll post them if we can't get that work) on here and the discussion can begin.
Hopefully, the candidates will see some value in participating in this, as the amount of media coverage that will be provided on their races will be minimal, and the opportunities to engage in some sort of group discussion with the public will also be minimal.
So:
- How can I improve this process?
- What questions would you like to see us ask the Unit 4 candidates?
This is the first time we've ever tried anything like this, so I hope it works.
Here is my question;
Given Unit #4 is the largest single receiver of my dollars, I would like to see an accounting of the planned spending together with details on where the money was spent? This accounting should be a laid out in major and sub catogories so taxpayers can understand. I am assuming detailed accounts are available as a matter of public record. If you want strong voter support, you have to show a reasonable projected budget has been developed, then follow it with actual spending against those budget items and you have to do this year after year. Unit #4 is in the business of providing education for our children, the board needs to use a business approach to managing the funding that enables that education.
One of the main problems with online discussions is that people fly off the handle much easier than they would in a public forum. In a public meeting just standing in front of the assembled audience often prevents overly emotional or unreasonable contributions. I thought the poverty and education thread started by teacher man was almost useless because of the unsubstantiated beliefs stated and the high level of emotion displayed throughout. I think forcing contributors to either submit their posts for moderation or be verified members of the IP community would be a good way to keep the contributions positive.
It is also true that any one of the myriad issues could consume hours of conversation, even more time when we're all reading and typing. For true cross pollination it seems like we should have separate threads for each question or post each thread sequentially so that there can be reasonable interaction about each issue. It is unrealistic to think we'll have a thoughtful conversation about twenty Qs all at once.
We all received candidate surveys from the Chamber, they said they might post the submissions on their web site. IP could link to that or simply post them seperately.
I would be very happy to air my views in a public forum,,,,,I am not shy by nature,,,,,and would unload even more freely looking in the faces of the people that wish to run Unit 4 Schools. On the vote last night,,,,it was no surprise that the majority voted to give Culver one more year on his contract. They left the new board to deal with him, and the overwhelming issues confronting the district. In my opinion,,,,it was a slap in the face to every taxpayer,parent, student, teacher,and staff member in the Unit 4 School District. They could not conjure up the will to meet the problems head on while in office themselves,,,,,so they create a whole new set of problems for someone else to deal with. That has been the history of this board. Who said contributions need to be positive to begin with? This is a negative situation,,,,,,,and should be dealt with on that basis.
"For true cross pollination it seems like we should have separate threads for each question or post each thread sequentially so that there can be reasonable interaction about each issue. It is unrealistic to think we'll have a thoughtful conversation about twenty Qs all at once."
Good idea. But so far, we only have one question, so maybe there's little interest in doing this?
Also, on those candidate surveys sent out by Chamber. Are they those usual ones with the sanitized questions? you know the ones, like: What color do you think the school restrooms should be painted, for the best comtemplation? They "might" post the surveys on their website!! the Illini Pundit will post opinions,,,,,there is no "might" too it. We are not talking about a 60 and over slowpitch softball league here. We are talking about a very important unit of government in the city of Champaign,,,,,that has been failing the kids that attend their schools for many years now. How are you going to deal with the consent decree? How are you going to fund school improvements? How are you going to work with the teachers on their next contract? And, last but not least, how are you going to deal with Mr. Arthur Culver? Are those questions on the Chamber survey? I doubt it very much.
We already know that the restrooms will be yellow or white (traditional institutional colors). No need to ask that question on the survey. The survey results will be on the Chamber Web site and in the April edition of our Commerce Connection. Thank you for your interest.
Chraming colors. But, have they been cleared with the " No child left behind folks"? I look forward to reading the responses on you're site.
Here is a question - how would/should the schools deal with the often conflicting goals of maintaining good discipline and of reporting racially balanced disciplinary actions as required by the consent decree?
Please be patient RedState, I know at least one candidate that will answer you're question,,completely, and with full honesty,,,,just getting the well know "ducks in a row" before commenting on this site I believe.
One of the many issues facing the board is that it is not being elected president of the school system. We are a board which by rights hires a good super and then let's him or her run the district. The BOE sets policy and direction. One of the main Qs I have as I seek a seat on the board is to what extent the "executive branch" will respond to a newly reconstitued board. Let's not get our expectations too out of line with reality. The next board has lots of work to do, but their role is limited by staff. Even if the next board wants to get rid of Mr. Culver, the buy out is likely more than the budget will allow, we need to think about the "governing" not just the campaign with all its fantastic ideas.
The answers to Local Voter's questions about the Unit 4 budget and information about where the money comes from and where it goes can be found at
http://www.champaignschools.org/index2.php?header=./finance/&file=index
Unit 4 Chief Financial Officer Gene Logas has links to several power point presentations on that site with budget info as well as tax rates for all of the Unit school districts in Champaign County. Unit 4 has the second lowest tax rate in that list.
By the vote of this lameduck board last night,,,,,,they made sure the cost of any potential move to replace Arthur,,just went up. One hope we have with a new board, is that maybe the actual stats,,,etc will be made public. Unless this secrecy leaves the district,,,nothing positive will be done. Another thing,,,,,I have been told by reliable sources,that some of the outgoing members of the board have been doing some back door politics for people they think agree with them. That is their right of course,,,,,this is a democracy. but if they want to keep their current policies going,,they should have stood for re-election themselves, instead of trying to elect proxies to do it.
Well, Mr. Jackson, I agree with your thoughts, but part of setting policy is also to deal with the administration. Everyone acknowledges that Unit 4 has great problems, and they simply haven't improved under Mr. Culver for whatever reason. So what's the current board's answer--give him another year. If a condition of his employment was to obtain his PhD by a date certain, and he hasn't done that, why is he still here? He hasn't fulfilled the terms of his agreement with the Board. Why not have some performance standards that we all know about so that we can decide whether the Board's decision is a good one? The current board's attitude smacks of noblesse oblige--they know better than the taxpayers and they will tell us what is good for us. I think the taxpayers' overwhelming rejection of the referendum is a clear answer to what people think of the current direction of Unit 4. You tell us we should focus on the positives--I wish someone would point them out, because so far, I'm not aware of any. We are still stuck with the consent decree, and the judge will probably extend it at the rate we're going; discipline has not improved substantially--I understand that teachers are afraid to discipline because of the consent decree; academics have not improved substantially; the budget is in the red, I believe, because of increased spending on such things as legal fees, so I assume that the shortfall will be made up from other items that can't afford to be cut; there appears to be no plan for maintenance of the buildings, and no good plan for the future. If this sounds negative, I have to agree, it is negative, because Unit 4 is in a negative situation and isn't doing anything to improve itself. One would think they would start on public relations and communication with the public--that hasn't happened either.
I don't recall saying focus on the positives exactly though that may be how you took it. It isn't my demeanor to "put on a happy face" and pretend everything is wonderful when it isn't. There are serious problems and that's why I'm running. It has gone on too long and with too little progress for me to be willing to sit on the sidelines and watch other people screw it up. There is no guarantee that I won't screw it up but I will certainly be more forthright, less secretive, and someone who looks to establish a dialog with the people of Champaign. I can't guarantee I have the best answers but I think answers do exist for the problems in our district. It is primarily through listening and dialog that these answers can be found. It is entirely likely that a single mom on welfare can come up with a great idea. There are also PhD researchers trying to figure out some answers as well.
At the moment I don't think removing Culver is a prerequisite to making progress. Making progress is going to have to include more people gaining a voice and getting involved. At the moment, there seems to be no incentive to participate because the volunteers are so often distrusted, lied to and totally unappreciated.
It is hard to imagine why the judge needs to tell the district to collaborate with the plaintiff on ideas and plans to solve a consent decree. It doesn’t seem the administration is willing to collaborate with anyone. Public relations and communication with the public is a glaring need facing the district.
Mr. Jackson,,,,,I already know that you're intentions are very good,,and you truely wish to change the climate at Unit 4. In you're response you hit the exact problem,,,,the current board has left a mess,,,,,they have given Culver yet another year to flounder. Also most of this distrust is in centered in Mr. Culver,,,I do not think that any group involved with wanting Unit 4 to turn around trusts him further than they can throw him. Ms. Skirvin likes to make rosy pictures etc,but everyone knows these are to be taken with a large grain of salt. Getting anything like the true facts on all of the topics you mentioned has been nigh impossible, how can the public be enthused when they get nothing but double talk,,,,,and that is when they get any talk at all. I do appreciate you coming on this site and letting youre beliefs be known to all,,,,,it takes some courage to be open and honest,,,,I am afraid some people are so disgusted with Unit 4, that they will not participate in the discussion, they have truely just given up on the whole thing. I hope not,,,,,,,the more people that comment the better, the more candidates that log on and speak up the better. One thing I do know,,,,,,,the problems are not going to be solved unless we all contribute to the solution. In closing , goodbye to the board members that are leaving, it has not been fun.
My thanks to Margie Skirvin for the website. I enjoyed going through the presentations which were well put together. It was somewhat disappointing not to see any infrastructure set asides for planned improvements/replacements. As a business owner, I have to put monies into a capitol improvement/replacement fund so it is there when needed.
Getting rid of Culver also would create another problem besides the buyout. Since he brought in his Texas crew, smart money would be that almost everyone at New St. would leave with Culver and go back to Texas (or wherever). Not only would we have to do a supt. search, we'd have to replace almost the entire administration... at once. It doesn't endear candidates for administrative positions to see a district go through a massive purge. Even then, Unit 4 is not on the top of the list of districts to work for. As much as it may be satisfying to fire Culver, other issues would also have to be resolved. The question is, can the community and Culver work together to make things improve and does the effort to make that improvement with Culver worth more than the massive exodus that could result if he left?
One thing is for sure, these late reviews without updated goals and contract extensions need to end. He gets a 5-year contract, not so it can be bumped back every year without new goals and little accountability. Trust is already extremely low in the district, those acts make it worse.
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j
Part-Time Pundit
John I do agree with you on this,,,,,,,but sometimes we need to bite the bullet and start over. Culver has done one thing I never thought I would ever see, he has managed to bring together disparate groups into a common goal. Doing something about Culver. Yes the image would suffer,,,,but the story of Unit 4, and the consent decree et al, has gotten some play through the country. Putting tighter accountabilty on Culver would ahve been a great start,,,maybe two years ago. One can only do so much cosmetic repair work,,,,,,,sometimes when the foundation is so rotten,,you have to tear it out and start over Is there anyway for the voters in Unit 4 to approve new money as things stand? I hope you new people to the school board have the backbone needed to change things,,,,,,,,and I do not envy anyone that takes on this role in the new board, it will be a tough job. I admire anyone that wants to take it on.
I am honestly baffled by the debates surrounding the school district. I try to keep up but some things really astonish me when I hear or read arguments relating to the district.
I've heard people suggest that schools with too many black students are somehow inferior and that white students need to be imported to make them less inferior.
I've heard people rationalize that it's okay for the government to group students together into racial groups and set policy treating them as though they are separate species that must be regulated as if they were in a zoo to make sure they co-exist properly with a government zoo keeper.
I've heard people completely dismiss factors that may be hurting school performance and the behavior of students outside of skin pigment almost as if to imply that more or less skin pigment alone can make you a better or worse student.
And then we have these notions codified into policy, court rulings, etc that create artificial solutions based on irrelevant factors for real problems.
I find it impossible to support any new policy or the continuation of any current policy that propagates this absurdity. In the end it avoids dealing with the real issues at hand and the ones that suffer the most are the kids left hanging while people responsible for fixing the situation measure the average pigment levels and shake tiny fists in the air shouting slogans.
"I find it impossible to support any new policy or the continuation of any current policy that propagates this absurdity."
tell that to the judge
I doubt he'd be interested in my lowly lowly opinion on how all men are created equal as he obviously disregards higher authorities on the matter.
Becareful what you wish for.
Glock21 that was one heck of a post, what did it mean?
Mr. Bambanek, if you send Culver a signal that he's too valuable, for whatever reason, to get rid of, then you give him no incentive to improve. So what if all of his Texas imports leave? there are other qualified people out there who would, no doubt, take these jobs, especially at the inflated rates that our school board has agreed to pay. I would like some of the current school board members, if they have the guts, to explain to us why they thought it was a good idea to extend his contract to 2012. I'm not holding my breath.
To Champaign Dweller: If you get a chance read the editorial in todays N-G. Ms Skirvin gives us her offering on why. I almost could not believe anyone could make the statements that she did.
Here's hoping there's more focus on education and less focus on social engineering.
One of the real shameful things about all of this,,,,,,,,is the current board failed,,,,,,,the previous one failed,,,,,this one will not, cannot,,,,,admit they have made a miserable spectacle of themselves,,,,so what do they do,,,,they tack an extra year onto a person that has lost the faith and trust of all almost all parties that care about Unit 4 schools. Then they ride off into the dusk. Unit 4 will survive,,,,,,,because there is no choice,,,,,but it's decline will continue well beyond the remaining 5 years of Culver,,,,,,,then like most mistakes,,,,,,,,we all will have to pay deeply to try and rebuild from it........
There is an active group,,,,,,,that had great ideas for fullfilling the consent degree,,,,,,,try and get ahold of Melodye Rosales,,,,,,,,and yes the village of Savoy should a school. If during the last referendum,,,the board would have kept it strictly for getting the proper seats in North Champaign,,,,,,,and to build a school for Savoy,,,,,say a bond issue for 15 to 20 million,,,,,,,instead of over 60 million, it would have had enough support to pass. then maybe f our year down the road begin a phased in repair.rebuild etc for the rest of Unit 4,,,,,,,,Culver wanted to sink us into a large debt,,,,,lock us in,,,,,,,,,or in common language try to spend his way into a solution he does'nt have.
A school in Savoy would be interesting.. I hope you all realize it wouldn't have Savoy residents in it. It would be filled with a mix from the community in the proportions in which they are found in the district.
Of course a school in Savoy should have and would have a mix of students,,,,if you really are THE Mr. Culver of Unit 4 infamy,,,,,most people in the Unit 4 family do not condone racism in any form,,,,,from my experience of LISTENING!! to parents from all sides,,,,,they are willing to work together for the common good. I also know John Lee did not expect this all so shake down the way it did. Any one of the candidates for the new board that are willing to be open and honest deserve, and will get the support of the general community. From a pure business like standpoint,,,,,I do have to admit to respecting you for getting what you wanted, a secure financial future for yourself, whichever way the school district goe's a turn around for the better...or an exodus in mass,,,,you are set for life. Thru out history,,,whenever there is a vacume,someone comes along and fills it,,,you saw one in Champaign and went for it. Or to break it down into more common folk language, WC Fields once said: "Never smarten up a chump,and never give a sucker an even break" My hat is off to you on that score.
"It's Arthur Culver not Alberto Culver but I hope that any unverified post of a public person would be checked somehow, sorry Gordy this maybe hard to do."
I assumed, because they used the name Alberto rather than Arthur, that no one would think that it was really Supt. Culver. If others think that username is too misleading, I can fix it.
Sorry,I did not think it was really the "real mccoy",,but I thought it was as good a time as any to say what I said. thanks.
I just read in the News-Gazette that the district had not been paying for disabilty insurance for Mr. Culver, Ms. Skirvin noted, " This is something we should do for our Supt", at the cost of $2,400 a year. What next? Is she going over to his house at night to warm up his milk so that he can sleep?
She is afraid that he will get hurt when he and the rest of the staff are at the Fitness Center every day at 10:00am. Glad to see in tonights paper that the Texas Mafia have a replacement since we cannot find a credible candidate within Unit 04. And how bout that Doctorite there Mr. Culver? Where is it?
If you're going to criticize someone's education, perhaps you should double-check your spelling and grammar.