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Local Advocacy - Your Views
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thoughts regarding the 6 candidates running for school board. We will
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submitted as a letter to the editor to the Herald, Countryside, Tribune and
Sun Times 3-19-2007
Watch out for the PAC-men!
Although the Northwest Coalition for Quality Education sounds altruistic
in name, the facts surrounding its inception and purpose confirm a hidden
agenda. This coalition is a political action committee (PAC) with close
ties to the leadership of the Classroom Teacher’s Council (CTC). The CTC is
the local chapter of the largest teachers union in Illinois (IEA) and in the
country. This PAC had its beginnings in the fall of 2006 during the
contract negotiations between the CTC and the current school board. With
documented involvement from the CTC president as well as its chief
negotiator, PAC leaders handpicked the three candidates. PAC leaders also
worked with the candidates, the CTC and the union’s communications
specialists to create the campaign budget and “endorsement committee”. Jan
Belzer, CTC President, used her district e-mail address to communicate with
the PAC, CTC reps and subsequently every teacher in District 15 asking
him/her to work a phone bank to get the “PAC-men” elected. One phone
bank is set up at the Palatine office of the teacher’s union. The telephone
script prepared for the teachers does not disclose the teacher’s union
involvement nor does it disclose CTC’s ties to the candidates through the
coalition! I want to remind voters that District 15 Board members are
elected to represent all the constituents of this community. The CTC is and
has always been a union that represents the interests of the teachers. I
hope District 15 stakeholders will elect non-partisan board members who
consider it completely improper to accept “endorsements” from the very union
they will be negotiating with! Watch out for the PAC-men! Vote yes
for board members who have the integrity to represent all the stakeholders
in District 15. Vote yes for Neal, Quinn and Vanek.
S. L. K. - Palatine, Il
Thanks for all the great information. The ladies
have our votes!
submitted as a letter to the editor of the Herald,
Countryside and Tribune March 22,2007
Clear Choices for District 15 School Board
I am writing to encourage you to consider Sue Quinn, Lisa Neal and Mary
Vanek for Palatine’s School District 15 Board of Education. Each candidate
embodies the type of School Board member that will govern with integrity,
honesty, intelligence, respect, diplomacy, transparency and fiscal
responsibility. Each of these candidates is committed to working with all
school board members to provide a checks and balances for all groups within
the District 15 educational system, including administration, staff,
educators and the unions representing the union employees of the district.
Dr. Quinn was a PhD scientist working on aircraft engine design and aerosol
effects on global warming. Ms. Neal was a published research biologist
studying drug effects on specific regions of the brain. Ms. Vanek is an
attorney and practiced in Illinois for 12 years. In Quinn, Neal and Vanek,
you have very different backgrounds, ideas and approaches. All three are
at-home parents of District 15 children committed to continued excellence in
District 15 and achieving even greater excellence for all students in
District 15 schools and those that make the schools run. They have not been
hand picked to run as a team by a singly-focused group intent on ensuring
their interests are met by the new school board. Sue Quinn, Lisa Neal and
Mary Vanek are three independent voices for District 15.
The choice for District 15 School Board is clear – vote for Quinn, Neal and
Vanek on April 17.
Brita Higgins
Palatine, IL
Submitted to the newspapers -
letter to the editor
What kind of experience do taxpayers want?
It concerns me that Gerald Chapman’s experience as a superintendent for
211 (District
211 policy on travel knows no limits
Palatine Countryside (IL) November 5, 1998)
shows caution thrown to the wind for travel and professional growth when
that district’s education fund was 12 million in the red. The article
pointed out one dinner tab at over $700, lodging at over $250/night and
extended stays approved by Mr. Chapman. Mr. Chapman was at a conference
during the candidate forum March 1, 2007 so the public could not even ask
him about the rationale for his experience at district 211.
I actually agree with Mr. Boker that we
need long-term administrators in our district, but NOT at the expense of the
children through excessive, unbalanced spending. Mr. Boker described
himself as loyal at the forum. I ask respectfully, loyal to whom? Will Mr.
Boker’s decision making be identical to Mr. Chapman’s past experience of
decision making?
Mr. Ekeberg seemed unsure of himself at the candidate forum. Is this the
reason why they are running as a team and all their answers are identical?
Is it just me, or is district 15 becoming a district 211-retirement boy’s
club?
Please do not misunderstand me and think that I am trying to personally
attack these gentlemen. These are questions we must examine.
If anyone has followed what has happened in district U46, the
superintendent’s excessive salary seemed to have a direct negative impact on
the students there. That superintendent was given 400K/year and then a few
weeks later the newspapers reported that over 100 teacher aides were fired.
Teachers are then strained and children lose. How can that superintendent
call herself an educator? Who needs that kind of experience?
Every school board member, as policy makers must hold our taxes with deep
respect. It is not a personal bank for excessive, wasteful, irresponsible
decision-making. We do not need experience over common sense, integrity,
honesty and sound stewardship of our community’s finances.
Sue Quinn, Lisa Neal and Mary Vanek call for fiscal responsibility, a
complete audit of where we stand financially and then to go forward with
transparency and establish trust among ALL involved in district 15.
Please examine the candidates and vote April 17.
M. C.
Palatine
http://journals.aol.com/arise211/insightd211/
Neal, Quinn and Vanek, Clear Choice
April 17th is election day. In this local election, we have
the best opportunity to elect people who will have a direct impact on our
lives. School board elections may not seem like such a big deal, but these
boards are responsible for spending over 60% of our property taxes. We need
more board members who can evaluate situations and make the tough
decisions. We need new faces and better ethics. Isn’t it in our best
interests to know the candidates and to make the best choice?
In District 15, the best choice is clear. Lisa Neal, Sue Quinn and Mary
Vanek. These three embody the best qualifications for a school board
member: They have children in the schools and are in touch with the
community. They are committed to representing us and not special interests.
Because of their children, they have a vested interest in ensuring that our
district excels. They will be good financial stewards who will not
recklessly spend the districts money. They know the issues facing our
district because they have attended every board meeting for the last two
years and they all advocate for open communication with the community.
District 15 needs a change. It is time to vote for NEAL, QUINN and VANEK.
A. E. R.
Palatine
District 15 at a Crossroads
Never before have the residents of school district 15
had a more opportune time to have their voices heard and enact change,
positive change. We’re at a crossroads. The last two years has seen a
“great divide” on our School Board with many crucial votes ending up four to
three. Three of the total seven seats are now open and are being sought
after by a group of men: Bokor, Chapman and Ekeberg and three women: Neal,
Quinn and Vanek. The three women have spent the last two years attending
School Board meetings, serving on district and school committees, and
volunteering in our classrooms. In stark contrast, the three gentlemen have
just now, in recent months, taken an interest in our D15 schools. These
three have no children currently attending D15 schools, and two of the three
have long histories of teacher union ties and involvement
District 15 Concerned Parents is very proud to announce our whole-hearted
endorsement of Lisa Neal, Sue Quinn, and Mary Vanek. D15CP is the
grass-roots organization that was formed in response to the recent contract
negotiations in our district. Hundreds of concerned parents from every part
of this district joined together in an effort to advocate for transparent
contract negotiations along with fair and reasonable compensation packages
for the teachers of this district. We feel it is imperative, as parents of
these children, that politics as usual in District 15 cease and transparency
take root. This will only happen if we elect these three women who are
there to put the kids first and not the three beholden to the union
hierarchy that is helping to finance their campaign.
Vote Neal, Quinn and Vanek on April 17th.
L. M.
Chapman drove 211 into the ground financially. As superintendent he
submitted a deficit budget to the board year after year and they finally
needed a referendum. Can D15 afford him?
I read the article in the Countryside dated Nov 5,
1998. It was all about the excess of Chapman and his D211 school board
in New Orleans. Close to $10,000 in hotel bills? $2,450 in meals and
$500 for a limousine? This type of excess must stop. Has Chapman just
recently learned the meaning of fiscal responsibility? He sure didn't
know what fiscal responsibility was then!
As a former parent of a Pleasant Hill student I am deeply upset by
the letter that was sent via US post mail to my home today.. . Although Mrs.
Rooney speaks so highly of Palatine schools, the apparently were not good
enough for her grandchildren who live close by and would have attended
Paddock school had they utilized the highly regarded schools she refers to.
They however attended a private grammar and high school. In closing, I would
like to commend you on your website and efforts to expose how the union
works against parents and taxpayers by gathering up its armies of retirees
who have nothing but time and our money to send out letters such as this.
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