A New Low for Chicago Politics and Rahm Emanuel

Today Mayor Rahm Emanuel visited Scammon School at 4201 W Henderson an elementary School on Chicago’s North-West side.  If you think you recognize this name it is because of the numerous problems that have been reported by the media over the years.  The Principal Mary T. Weaver a known liar, and one of the most corrupt Principals in the CPS system hosted her friend Rahm Emanuel to come to the School. 

Apparently the Mayor really does not care about the children of this city nor anyone but himself but his staff should have done better research.  Principal Weaver whose son Paul Weaver who worked for the City of Chicago Department of Finance is close with Alderman Reboyras lied on his resume saying that he was a tutor for the Scammon which was never the case.  Principal Mary Weaver’s daughter Alexandra also on her resume claimed to be a tutor at Scammon School while her mother was the Principal all false.
Principal Weaver has had more employee complaints filed with the board and Teachers Union than any other Principal in CPS.  Principal Weaver has bribed LSC members, accepted favors from LSC members, fixed school elections, and purchased lavish items for her and her staff with CPS funds and tax payer money.  So if Mayor Emanuel has no problem with this then what does that say about him?  I have contacted many City and State officials about this and other issues but I guess the Mayor’s visit shows just how and who has been protecting her. 

Principal Weaver has released all the students at Scammon Schools personal confidential information to a Parent, and who knows who else.  The Principal and her staff under her direction has violated children’s Civil Rights to which she continues to do and been found guilty of this yet still no one has done anything.  I was shocked to learn about this trip from the Mayor before it happened from an inside source.  This same source also told me that the children were allowed to be in the video but were unable to be active participants in the making of the video.

Principal Weaver is still denying Special Education Services to children with IEP’s (Individual Education Programs) to this day and Dr. Richard Smith and Rebecca Clark continue to allow this to happen.  The mayor should be ashamed of himself for allowing this to continue and exploit these poor children who are being denied a appropriate education.  You can find the proof of all this at the following links along with some pictures of what the schools inside really looks like.  One maintenance employee for the School has told me that she refuses to allow them to fix the issues with the school correctly and make it a safe place for the children.  Like covers on the florescent lights, mold, asbestos, electrical problems, paint peeling, and much, much more.

After the School and the Principal have been in the news twice once for sex scandals and once for a sending teachers to Las Vegas nothing has happened to the Principal.  This does not include a child who tried to commit suicide at school, or the many violation of children’s rights she is responsible for and continues to violate.

The CPS Board has refused to open e-mails sent to them so they can have deniability even though they have been made aware of the issues on many occasions.  I hope a reporter has the strength and integrity like Dave Savini to do another report on this School and its problems there are many witnesses including Teachers, former Teachers and Parents all who have been ignored.  Some Parents have even claimed to have been threatened with being deported if they come forward.

You may be asking where is the NAACP or any of the other many organizations that are suppose to help with these types of abuses like the Better Government Association well it’s a good question you should ask them.  Where is the Mayor’s integrity?  Where is the Mayor’s Honor?  I guess it’s lost in this case and will continue to be lost until we find a new Mayor.

Jason B Glenn

CPS would seem to have its Priorities Backwards

CPS appoints an apparent Racists Principal Katherine Konopasek to Adlai E. Stevenson Elementary School.  It would appear that the Board of Education of the City of Chicago has really lost all concept of what they are doing or rational thought.  It would seem that in 1998 Katherine Konopasek wrote an internal memo that didn’t remain internal for long.  This memo was about Hispanic students and their parents at Benito Juarez High School were Katherine Konopasek made some very upsetting racist comments as school parents called them.  The memo saying among other things that numerous female students at the mostly Latino school were being “beaten by their male relatives” and that they failed to report the beatings because of "cultural mores." Half of all Juarez girls were suicidal according to the memo.  The Chicago Tribune reported “Chicago school board officials said they would launch an investigation into the author of the internal memo, Katherine Konopasek, who works in the board's Department of School Quality Reviews.”

It would appear that Katherine Konopasek attempted to blame nurses and the social worker for the school.  These staff members apparently deny the comments saying most was taken out of context or misinterpreted in the memo.  In this five page memo one excerpt was found to be very offensive and over the line.  "Besides the gang problem, the school nurse and social worker see numerous students, mostly females, who are beaten by their fathers, brothers, and boyfriends. Many male family members are heavily involved with alcohol. Mothers and daughters suffer from the abuse this addiction brings. Many female students, at least 50 percent, are suicidal and experience bouts of depression. Mental illness exists and many young ladies are placed on medication for this. The community will not face or acknowledge this endemic problem. There are only a few Alcoholics Anonymous programs in the community, mostly for males and attended by few. Cultural mores do not allow females to verbalize their feelings and needs to stop the abuse they experience daily. The school must be proactive. An Alanon program must be instituted in the school. The curriculum as a whole must implement an alcohol awareness and abuse prevention program for all students."

This may have something to do with the fact that Katherine Konopasek’s father was a severe alcoholic and would seem to have been abusive to her mother according to court divorce records.  Maybe Katherine Konopasek just sees alcoholic child beaters everywhere due to her own past and experiences?  No one can say what causes someone to say or think things like this but it seems clear from the memo that Katherine Konopasek is harboring some past resentments.  I can’t speak to what Katherine Konopasek thinks or feels but one must wonder why CPS would make her a Principal of Stevenson Elementary School which is largely Hispanic in its student population.  Maybe they assumed because the children are younger that the “abuse this addiction brings” has not started yet.  When one internet searches Stevenson School reviews by parents the results seem to start to make sense.

Chicago Public Schools Chief Paul Vallas said he would take no disciplinary action regarding an internal memo written by Katherine Konopasek.  However, Katherine Konopasek will no longer conduct academic audits of schools Mr Vallas states.  Mr. Vallas also said that her reassignment to another unit within the Chicago School Board's Office of Accountability had nothing to do with the internal memo that had become public.  Although this may have happened some time ago people do not just change their personal opinions and ideologies no matter how much time passes.  It would seem that Katherine Konopasek’s Mother was stern and some would argue as abusive today.  It is ironic that she seems to be observed as being a by the book person that is stern and unwavering.  I have tried to reach Principal Konopasek for comments but have received no reply, and I was unable to reach her by phone.

I bring this up because it would seem that CPS and Katherine Konopasek has still not learned a lesson from the past as her current actions at Stevenson Elementary are questionable at best.  Recently refusing to allow a homeless student to enroll and after forced to allow him to be enrolled she has retaliated against the 4^th grader and his Mother.  One teacher said that she was yelled at humiliated by Konopasek because she told the mother of this student the truth.  It involves an incident where the mother was called and told her child smelled like urine and feces.  I guess she has strong feeling about the homeless as well, unfortunately for her the student has clean clothes and a bath every day.  Once it was discovered that it was not the 4^th grade student Konopasek not only did not apologize she was angry at a teacher for telling the truth.  This is confusing as the mother upon picking up her son would have realized that he did not smell and as the school has refused to provide uniforms he was in his same cloths.

If all this is not bad enough it would seem that Principal Konopasek then called the CPS Law Department where she had her friend Lee Ann Lowder (Attorney) further attempt to harass the family herself violating several laws to do so.  The Advocate for the mother had been in contact with Ms. Lee Ann Lowder for some time then when this violation was brought to her attention via email her replies abruptly stopped according to Glen Presnell the Child Advocate.  Mr. Presnell also says that he has contacted everyone he could at the Board about this from Jean-Claude Brizard, Patrick Rocks (Boards General Counsel), and many, many more.  To date CPS has been silent and no response has been given to the Parent of the Student or the Advocate.  I will keep you up to date about future events and what is done if anything by CPS in this matter.

By: Jason Glenn

Bullying at CPS it must STOP!

Lately I watched a show on CNN, “Anderson Cooper Special Report – Bullying: It Stops Here” I live in Chicago and deal with CPS all the time.  Though this show was about children bullying each other I found the irony that the biggest bullies I have found at CPS are the Administrators and Lawyers.  I have had many dealings with CPS as a Special Education Advocate, a Parent, and as a Community Member.  It seems like the Chicago Public School District has no accountability and even when you have evidence against them they are allowed to “deal with it”.  I have some horrible stories but the truth is that the worst are still out there and I am shocked by CPS’s actions every day. 

At present in Chicago the Chicago Teachers Union a.k.a the teachers are being bullied by what seems to be everyone.  Ironically we ask these very teachers training them to watch out for bullies and bulling in their school.  The whole time these very teachers are being bullied by the Board of Education for the City of Chicago including the Politicians and Parents.  The Board is allowing Principals more absolute powers over there Schools with little to no accountability other than their contract renewals.  The reason for this is of course to cut costs by any means necessary.  This includes tenured teachers with cheaper inexperience teachers, cutting Special Education forcing teachers to prove every little reason.  Even when they do the Principals try everything to deny the services and when the teachers complain they just get rid of them.  Then you have the Principals who for whatever reason just simply does not like a teacher they E-3 them and get rid of them.  If that’s not bullying enough not only do the principals get rid of them but make sure they are put on the no-hire-list for the future.

Then the Board changes and some appointee(s) decide to bring their friend(s) in which then they decide to change the curriculum.  This is done without any teacher input, then when the teachers are struggling trying to teach a new way and system they are yelled at and bullied.  So when Parents find out that their children are not doing so well or have extra homework they complain to the teacher.  This is the one person who has nothing to do with the curriculum or situation the teachers.  Then the teachers are asked to work more hours for less money and haven’t received adequate raises due to the large student loans most still have.  So the teachers decide to March or strike and the parents get mad at the teachers because they make well enough money, they get the summer off, they have it made.  I dare one of those parents to do a teachers job for one month and see how easy it is to teacher an overcrowded classroom of children of all kinds and needs.  All the time being bullied and worrying weather you will have a job next week or next month. 

Recently after attending an IEP meeting at Adlai E. Stevenson Elementary School I was shocked once again by CPS.  The Principal Kathleen Konopasek recently appointed to the position has a very interesting past I have come to learn.  It was no surprise to me that her Mother Dorothy Dillon once sued her own daughter Karyn for visitation rights.  The daughter she sued was Kathleen Konopasek’s sister who would also become a teacher.  A school teacher also at one time, Mrs. Kathleen Konopasek stated that her sister was "My sister is an angry woman who blames my mother for everything, from not giving her braces on her teeth to not paying for music lessons," says Katherine Konopasek in an interview by William Plummer.  This seems to be the flippant attitude that she has about her own sister and a huge court battle that is on the verge of breaking her sister and her husband financially and emotionally. 

This would be the type of things I would expect to hear from someone who was abused by their mother and possibly father in my opinion.  Music lessons and Braces is no reason to battle your mother in court refusing her access to your child yet this is Kathleen Konopasek’s rationale.  This is also the Principal of an Elementary School which is why I should not be so surprised by her actions and the way she is willing to allow children to be abused and/or neglected under her care or lack thereof.  I have spoken to several teachers at Stevenson school as well as some parents who all said the same thing she if tough and unfair not seeming to care about children but rather the rules and her own job.

This is a Principal that was brought in after the school failed to meet AYP (Annual Yearly Progress) for three years or more in a row.  So this is not a principal that was elected by an LSC, but rather an appointee from the Board to make sure the school looks good to the books and media.  Principal Konopasek even has admitted that she has made real efforts to encourage good and positive media coverage.  Since most media don’t have children who attend the school or attend LSC meetings the truth is left to people like me to expose to the light of day.  This is a woman who refused a homeless child, which is becoming more frequent, an education or admittance to “her school”.  Then when she was forced to follow the law what does she do, she gets the law department one Lee Ann Lowder to harass the parent and Advocate who keeps putting her in her place.

I have requested numerous requests for an interview with both women to ask some hard questions about their actions in this case to no avail.  The advocate has told me that he has requested to observe his client and both the principal and Lee Ann Lowder from the Board law department have refused.  He has assured me that he will be observing his client or force the school to have him arrested for trespassing.  I will be doing a later interview on this Advocate who is a priest and a man who accepts no money from the parents that need his help.  He states “I do it for the children so in fact I work for them and they cannot afford to pay me except with smiles and a good future”.  I also wished to ask if the rumors that Principal Konopasek and Lee Ann Lowder are in a relationship and do they feel this would be a conflict of interest.  Again no reply to my many requests but I am willing to have an interview with them to hear their sides whenever they choose to respond.

By: Jason B. Glenn

Bullying at CPS it must STOP!

Lately I watched a show on CNN, “Anderson Cooper Special Report – Bullying: It Stops Here” I live in Chicago and deal with CPS all the time.  Though this show was about children bullying each other I found the irony that the biggest bullies I have found at CPS are the Administrators and Lawyers.  I have had many dealings with CPS as a Special Education Advocate, a Parent, and as a Community Member.  It seems like the Chicago Public School District has no accountability and even when you have evidence against them they are allowed to “deal with it”.  I have some horrible stories but the truth is that the worst are still out there and I am shocked by CPS’s actions every day. 

At present in Chicago the Chicago Teachers Union a.k.a the teachers are being bullied by what seems to be everyone.  Ironically we ask these very teachers training them to watch out for bullies and bulling in their school.  The whole time these very teachers are being bullied by the Board of Education for the City of Chicago including the Politicians and Parents.  The Board is allowing Principals more absolute powers over there Schools with little to no accountability other than their contract renewals.  The reason for this is of course to cut costs by any means necessary.  This includes tenured teachers with cheaper inexperience teachers, cutting Special Education forcing teachers to prove every little reason.  Even when they do the Principals try everything to deny the services and when the teachers complain they just get rid of them.  Then you have the Principals who for whatever reason just simply does not like a teacher they E-3 them and get rid of them.  If that’s not bullying enough not only do the principals get rid of them but make sure they are put on the no-hire-list for the future.

Then the Board changes and some appointee(s) decide to bring their friend(s) in which then they decide to change the curriculum.  This is done without any teacher input, then when the teachers are struggling trying to teach a new way and system they are yelled at and bullied.  So when Parents find out that their children are not doing so well or have extra homework they complain to the teacher.  This is the one person who has nothing to do with the curriculum or situation the teachers.  Then the teachers are asked to work more hours for less money and haven’t received adequate raises due to the large student loans most still have.  So the teachers decide to March or strike and the parents get mad at the teachers because they make well enough money, they get the summer off, they have it made.  I dare one of those parents to do a teachers job for one month and see how easy it is to teacher an overcrowded classroom of children of all kinds and needs.  All the time being bullied and worrying weather you will have a job next week or next month. 

Recently after attending an IEP meeting at Adlai E. Stevenson Elementary School I was shocked once again by CPS.  The Principal Kathleen Konopasek recently appointed to the position has a very interesting past I have come to learn.  It was no surprise to me that her Mother Dorothy Dillon once sued her own daughter Karyn for visitation rights.  The daughter she sued was Kathleen Konopasek’s sister who would also become a teacher.  A school teacher also at one time, Mrs. Kathleen Konopasek stated that her sister was "My sister is an angry woman who blames my mother for everything, from not giving her braces on her teeth to not paying for music lessons," says Katherine Konopasek in an interview by William Plummer.  This seems to be the flippant attitude that she has about her own sister and a huge court battle that is on the verge of breaking her sister and her husband financially and emotionally. 

This would be the type of things I would expect to hear from someone who was abused by their mother and possibly father in my opinion.  Music lessons and Braces is no reason to battle your mother in court refusing her access to your child yet this is Kathleen Konopasek’s rationale.  This is also the Principal of an Elementary School which is why I should not be so surprised by her actions and the way she is willing to allow children to be abused and/or neglected under her care or lack thereof.  I have spoken to several teachers at Stevenson school as well as some parents who all said the same thing she if tough and unfair not seeming to care about children but rather the rules and her own job.

This is a Principal that was brought in after the school failed to meet AYP (Annual Yearly Progress) for three years or more in a row.  So this is not a principal that was elected by an LSC, but rather an appointee from the Board to make sure the school looks good to the books and media.  Principal Konopasek even has admitted that she has made real efforts to encourage good and positive media coverage.  Since most media don’t have children who attend the school or attend LSC meetings the truth is left to people like me to expose to the light of day.  This is a woman who refused a homeless child, which is becoming more frequent, an education or admittance to “her school”.  Then when she was forced to follow the law what does she do, she gets the law department one Lee Ann Lowder to harass the parent and Advocate who keeps putting her in her place.

I have requested numerous requests for an interview with both women to ask some hard questions about their actions in this case to no avail.  The advocate has told me that he has requested to observe his client and both the principal and Lee Ann Lowder from the Board law department have refused.  He has assured me that he will be observing his client or force the school to have him arrested for trespassing.  I will be doing a later interview on this Advocate who is a priest and a man who accepts no money from the parents that need his help.  He states “I do it for the children so in fact I work for them and they cannot afford to pay me except with smiles and a good future”.  I also wished to ask if the rumors that Principal Konopasek and Lee Ann Lowder are in a relationship and do they feel this would be a conflict of interest.  Again no reply to my many requests but I am willing to have an interview with them to hear their sides whenever they choose to respond.

By: Jason B. Glenn

CPS and the Board seems to think we are Stupid

As the Case Manager for Scammon School Allison Dawson, the Principal Mary T. Weaver allows Carmita Ortiz the librarian to test Special Education students. Not only is Ms. Ortiz not Special Education certified Ms. Ortiz is not even a teacher.  Ms. Ortiz the Librarian for Scammon School also lives in Skokie, IL and has done so for many years thus never making her eligible for employment at CPS.  But as a long family friend of Mary T. Weaver she was given the job even though others who met the requirements.  Further, as the documents show (I am unable and unwilling to release Children’s private information) clearly someone was coaching the students so that Scammon would get off academic probation.  This would allow the school to have another three years until they would not be achieving AYP (Annual Yearly Progress) and have to cheat again. 

A teacher Ms. Edie Sokolnicki seems to have a magical like gift every time she test’s some Special Education students they seem to pass every time.  Not only that but they also seem to score almost twice as well as they did on the pretest.  The charts are literally off the charts in some cases the score nearly double.  Ironically Ms. Sokolnicki was a teacher at the School where Mary T. Weaver’s children went to School what is going on at the Board?  I would be interested in learning weather Mary t Weaver ever worked for Sears as Alicia Winckler CPS Human Resource Department came to CPS from Sears.  I will be investigating that in the future and will let you know what I find in next month’s issue.

When I asked the district how the 8^th Grade class was able to go from a score of 9.8 in ISAT testing in math in 2007.  Then the 8^th Grade students in 2008 scored 34.8 which is an increase that is statistically impossible without some form of cheating.  I was told by CPS that the reason was that they had a new teacher that year and she was very good.  The problem with that is because there was so many eyes are watching this teacher now that in 2009 8^th grade scored a 12.5.  This is almost an exact decrease in relation to the increase from 2007.  Maybe the teacher started drinking, or maybe she just forgot how she taught the year before? 

Let me give you some examples of things Mary T. Weaver has committed including numerous counts of tax evasion and allowed her staff to do the same.  Manda Lukic purchased five I Pads under the guise that they needed to see if they would work before a Federal Grant was approved.  However the Federal Grant had already been approved at the time of the purchases and the Grant did not include cases and upgrades.  These items were purchased from Micro Center with the Schools tax exempt ID, even though it is now Mary Weavers contention that she had always intended to pay the money back.  However, the money being paid back would be tax free also three 2hr. Ultra HD Camcorders that were purchased supposedly for the Christmas party.  If true this had nothing to do with School supplies or operations and gifts are not suppose to be tax exempt.  This was just in the course of one year I cannot even begin to imagine how often this has happened since 2006.

Angela Burgos, Manda Lukic, and Mary Weaver have all gone shopping during school hours on many, many occasions even purchasing laptop computers for some of the staff, as one inside source at the school has told me.  The source has told me that she requested his computer back recently asked for them back due to the pending audit.  This is tax fraud both Federal by not declaring gifts over $500.00, State, and City Taxes as well.  This goes beyond the scope of simple CPS Policy Ethics Violations and others, this is just outright criminal. 

Misuse of public funds, theft, tax evasion, perjury, and the list goes on yet some people to be named in a later article (General Counsel’s office of the CPS Board Law Department) and others from the Board Alicia Winckler, and the accounting department allowing this to continue.  As I have seen no evidence of any actions by anyone from CPS or the Board in any way.  At one point after I made formal allegations, an investigator Raymond Poloko conducted a nonsense, incompetent investigation that found nothing.  After I received the letter that the investigation was concluded and unfounded or sent to another department(s) for investigation I sent them evidence I had found.  After receiving this evidence that proved wrong doing I received an e-mail that the investigation would be reopened.  I guess a mad parent with a computer could find more from his home with no internal help or access then Mr. Poloko.  

To me this was just another way to shut me up to keep the investigation stalled and/or stopped until the next administration or some other reason I don’t really know.  Of course this is only my opinion based on the fact that Mary T. weaver is still allowed to be Principal, maybe they are taking steps I am unaware of?  Proof of some of this misconduct and misuse is at the following link in the accounts records http://scammonschoolchicago.blogspot.com. 

I feel that Ms. Dawson whom lied under oath during a Due Process hearing needs to come forward about the issues she is aware of with the Special Education denials and directives by Mary T. Weaver.  If she does not then she is as guilty as the rest for it is her job, as Case Manager is insure the laws are being followed.  I know it is hard to admit the truth when you would be considered a co-conspirator but that is what the Whistle Blowers Act is good for as many teachers have come forward and done.  If she was threatened with her job and was in fear then she would have some excuse, if not then I can only think she was and is complacent with what was and is being done.  I have had several teachers tell me that they have asked her to have a student evaluated for Special Education but were denied and the Children were never evaluated.  This would be a violation of Child Find if it was true and as the Case Manager she should or would know this.   

I would like to see a real investigator (not Raymond Poloko) go to the school with the evidence thus far and questions the teachers with their Union Representative present so they feel safe to speak without further retaliation as in the past.  It is still happening in the present and future by Mary T. Weaver and those that are allowing her to do this.  Make no mistake I have nothing personal against these people other than I dislike liars, and people who hurt and steal from Children.  Further, I will never stop until these people are brought to justice voluntarily or because the News Media’s stories give them little to no choice. 

I wonder how the over 900 parents are going to feel and think when they learn that their children’s private information was given away and allowed to be released by others?  I was told by a source at Scammon that Allison Dawson had e-mailed teachers with the Principals log in information and password.  The teachers say they can provide the e-mail proof if they are protected from retaliation by CPS so we may never know how many disks or records are still out there.  This only came to my attention after I had found that Mary T. Weaver while being investigated gave me a disk I assume accidentally with every student’s information.  When I went to the office to get my sons test scores as there were many inconsistencies I asked Mary Weaver for the information about his testing scores.  She seemed obviously upset in general and with me, she then went in her office came out with the disk and said here. 

I placed the disk in my briefcase with the other disks of evidence, and recordings of meetings to which I have accumulated many over the years.  I had requested my son’s files earlier and the next day was given the files so I had forgotten about the disk.  Recently when going through my evidence including FOIA requests on disks and the recordings I put that disk in and was shocked.  It had contained confidential information about every student at Scammon School including, address, phone numbers, student ID numbers, grades, test scores, Scantron scores, who tested them, race, economic status of the family, special education information, etc.  This is a Violation of FERPA for each Student and ISSRA which the latter I was made aware of in an e-mail by Patrick Rocks General Counsel for the Board of Education Chicago. 

I wonder if the parents have been informed as is required by law, or if Mary T. Weaver and/or Allison Dawson have been held accountable for these violations.  Lately I wonder why the laws and policies are even in place as no one seems to be punished by them.  No consequences, actions, arrests, firing, suspensions or even a stern talking to that I am aware of to date.  Maybe if you work for CPS or the City of Chicago you are exempt for the rules, policies and laws and just us citizens are the ones that get punished?  Well if CPS does not inform these parents I will inform the parents if they don’t find out from this document or the many News Blogs it is on.

How do you feel knowing of the extravagant purchases CPS employees are making during work hours, now you get an idea why CPS is broke?  How do you think the Mayor is going to react when this hits the media and he was the one who gave principals more powers, and “reformed the Schools”?  I see no reform and no accountability I have been fighting this fight for far too long and though I am tired I am more determined every day.  I will never stop even if I have to go to Springfield or White House to make sure our Children are protected and learn without the Administrations fighting to do the opposite.  I will keep speaking and getting the truth out until the bubble will have to burst from the mountain of evidence.  I will Cc, the website and information to every teacher and pass out flyers at the school every day if that’s what it takes who knows I may get more evidence in the process.

Finally I would like to talk to the Public, Teachers, Administrators, Staff, Board members, Parents, and anyone else.  If you have evidence of any kind including memo’s, documents, Audio, Video, or anything else I implore you to please send them to me.  You can e-mail them in PDF to tcnuJasonGlenn@hotmail.com or Mail them me directly just contact me via e-mail and I will either come get them or give you an address to mail them to.  It’s time to make a stand against corruption and politics, your identity will be kept secret and I will protect your identity no matter what.  I have audio recordings that I took both legally and secretly that I will be uploading to this site.  I know I may get prosecuted for it but if that what it takes to get the truth out then so be it.  Laws are meant to protect the public and to insure justice is served.  The politicians and government employees use that to say and do whatever they want this is not Justice and this certainly does not serve the public good.  I will fight this fact all the way to the Supreme Court if I have to, or spend time in jail before reveling a source if that what it takes for the truth to be served and our Children to be protected.

By: Jason Glenn

Federico Garcia Lorca Elementary School

Let me put to rest all the doom and gloom for one minute and tell you about a School that I can tell is doing it right.  I have found a diamond in the rough a place where teachers care, the Administration knows what is needed to teach children.  The Special Education teacher(s) are great and not only know how to help the Children they want to.  When I say they want to I mean it’s a passion I thought I would never see I assumed CPS had beaten it out of the teachers. 

I place where if a Child or Parent needs help not only will they get the help needed or asked for they get much more they get kindness and understanding.  I will put it this way from what I have seen firsthand, what I have heard from other Children and their Parents the School should be nominated for a Golden Apple.  All too often, and I am a small part of this, we hear about the problems with Schools but us journalist rarely report on the great Schools with no problems.  In our defense it seems that ratings are better when you report the negative more that the positive.  I am here to begin to right that wrong and tell you about a great place that other CPS Schools could learn from. 

I am mentioning this wonderful School because for the first time I see a hope for CPS, a chance for some small measure of redemption.  Federico Garcia Lorca Elementary School is not just staffed with the best its very design is the best.  If you go to the School you will see that it’s very planning and design makes it the most conducive place anyone could want to learn.  Natural light is provided whenever possible; the building is energy efficient so our Tax dollars are used in the most efficient way.  Schroeder Murchie Niemiec Gazda-Auskalnis Architects, Ltd. is the Architect on record and let me tell you they should be proud.  They have embodied an entire structure that is designed for but one thing Children and an environment designed for learning.

 This is Federico Garcia Lorca Elementary School. http://www.pbcchicago.com/upload/8977.pdf To learn more about the School and features click the link.

The Principal is an amazing administrator; the Office Staff is like extended family to the Children, the Teachers are there to push the Children Academically and help the students achieve the most they can.  It is like nothing I have ever seen in a CPS School before staff working together to help each other and the Children get the best education possible.  I think that I have given my opinion enough so I interviewed three Children and one parent so I could get a more objective view.  Instead of a long point by point question answer I will just tell you the children said which will or should give you an understanding of the questions.  Also all the children that I interviewed came to Lorca from another school in the area so all the questions were based on the differences between Lorca and their previous Schools.

Child #1:  An 8^th grade student had these things to say, the child “…liked that the classroom instructions and lessons are so much better explained that it makes doing homework so much easier.”  I asked about the staff and teachers, “…the people are so much nicer and you can tell that they actually care.”  I asked what the student liked about the School, “It is much easier to move around, you get to have your own locker, the Library is big and has a much better selection of reading materials.  The Gym is huge so you can do so much more activities and things, the lunchroom is bigger and the food is good with a better variety.”  I asked what the student didn’t like, “No technology class for the 8^th Grade yet.”

Child #2: A 5^th grade student and the student had these things to say, “They have a great salad bar, and not a lot of homework on Fridays, because we are learning more during the week from the teachers in the classrooms.”  I asked how the student felt about the staff, “The staff is much nicer at Lorca you can tell they are nice and really care.”  I asked the student what they liked about the building, “Everything is recycled, they use less energy including for the lights.  I like that I have my own locker, and I like that it has three floors, its better exercise.  Everything is so clean and perfect.”  I was surprised about the exercise it was something I had never considered and with the child obesity rate going so high that is nice.  I would like to know whether the designers took that into consideration or if they would just be happy that is a byproduct.

Child #3: A 7^th grade student and this is what the student said, “All the teachers are nicer, and they explain things easier.  The teachers also don’t just sit at their desks they go around to make sure everyone gets it, both as a group and as individuals.”  I asked what the student did not like, “The quantity of homework is less then at the other school but the quality id higher.  I would like the lockers to be bigger.” (As you may have guessed this is a straight A student and overachiever.) I then asked what was good or better at Lorca, “Library is way bigger and you learn stuff which is great because you can have homework.  I like the desks; they are shaped like an arrow so when you are doing group activities you get to face each other.  The bathrooms are much nicer and well designed for privacy, and they have a body mirror so you can check how you look.  The bathrooms are also way cleaner, the soap dispenser is automatic, and there are two bathrooms on every floor.”  I asked about the staff, “We always see the Principal, Vice Principal and other staff around, which shows they care, and that means there is less chance of a fight in the hallways.” This is a student who would be great on the debate club or student counsel.

Parent #1: I asked if there was anything that the parent did not like, “The automobile traffic is bad and the school is not allowed to block Springfield a one way street.  The kids and parents that walk to school are sometimes blocked by cars blocking the sidewalk.  Also the parents who drop their kids off or the drivers don’t always pay attention it’s only a matter of time before someone gets hit.”  I asked about the School in general, “it is clean, plants are in the garden, the playground is beautiful, and the building is clean inside and well designed.”  I asked if there was anything else positive, “The building is green and environmentally friendly, the office is bigger with a small area for young children to play while the parents wait.  The staff is friendly and great about communicating and you can see them every day when school lets out if you have a question.”  I asked if there was anything she didn’t like, “The parent turnout was very low at the open house, and I would have liked to see more parent involvement.”

I feel that once the School has an LSC (Local School Counsel) in place there will be a better chance to get the Alderman and City Counsel behind some of the Parent #1’s concerns.  I also feel that with the staff that is so caring and involved the small little kinks every school that is new experiences will be a thing of the past.  I know that with Lorca’s leadership and staff that this is not only one school that cannot fail but that it should be a model for all CPS. 

As for the Parents not being as involved as some would like you have to consider that most school didn’t encourage parents’ involvement.  Sure they would put the notices up but at my children’s last school parents were an annoyance.  They even refused to answer question at the LSC meeting but would wait till the next meeting then if the parents were not at the next meeting no answer.  The School also had a huge digital timer which would only give parents two minutes for comments or questions.  I think once the parents realize this school is so very different they will be participating much more.

I am so glad that my children have a chance to go to a good school and have such good staff support, I know I never dreamed that there could be a school like this in CPS.  Whoever assembled this dream team of teachers, administrators, and staff should be our next CEO of the City of Chicago Board of education.  In closing I would like to say that my faith in CPS has a spark so keep looking for your spark school it may be out there. 

By: Glen Presnell

Why does CPS want our Great Teachers gone?

Why is CPS getting rid of our Good Teachers?

The Chicago Public Schools is losing great Teachers some until they can find another job and some being put on a “Do Not Hire” list.  Mayor Rahm Emanuel has recently charged his new CEO Jean-Claude Brizard with giving Principals more absolute power with their Schools.  However, there is a serious problem with this and that is principals are using that power to threaten, harass, and unfairly get rid of great teachers.  What is worse is that these Principals are allowed to lower teachers’ ratings, move them to another classroom even after school has started.  Cut teacher positions as a excuse for getting rid of a teacher and sometimes for no other reason they don’t like them.  Let me clarify that when I say they don’t like them I mean because, the teachers won’t play office politics, are jealous of their looks, paranoia, or any number of a thousand reasons. 

I am not only speaking of Scammon School either it is however one of the worse I seen by far with a Principal that seems to be unstable mentally.  I’m not sure if CPS does drug testing with its schools administrators but perhaps they should or at the least have them take a psychological test so they can be properly medicated.  At Scammon School so many teachers have been replaced (wrongfully let go) or switched from one grade to another that I am loosing count.  I can’t imagine having to work in that kind of environment and then teach an overcrowded classroom full of children.  The ability to teach has to be effected as would your very soul and every other aspect of your life.  CPS and the teachers Union need to do something about this situation or the teachers should stop paying their Union Dues for an organization that could seem to care less.  CPS should do something because all the lawsuits and grievances, not to mention the bad press and eventual protests. 

Mary T. Weaver the Principal at Scammon Elementary School has had the highest turnover rates in CPS, and I would imagine the most complaints filed.  Yet for some reason she seems to be protected from being let go considering all that has happened one must wonder what she has and on who?  Our children are asking why their teachers are not there anymore a question we cannot give them.  The parents like I was and many more are upset because we were hoping our younger children get that great teacher next year or the year after when they go into that grade. 

One story made me so mad that I could not believe it, a teacher was let go after school had already started.  The teacher was escorted like a criminal to get her personal belonging from her classroom.  The children asked what was happening and she said something like I have to go right now you will have a substitute for now.  The next day when the children found out that the teacher was not coming back they were so upset they were in tears.  When the parents asked if the teacher could go and at least say good bye to the children the principal replied “over my dead body will that teacher set foot in this school again”.  Although the parents would have been happy to oblige Ms. Weaver lucky for her cooler heads prevailed.   

Someone needs to explain to the Board and the Mayor that this new ridiculous policy is going to ruin CPS to a point that it is no longer fixable.  Good teachers are leaving for the Suburbs and would never come back no matter what they were paid because their integrity and dignity is not for sale.  My Children even though they no longer attend Scammon when they find out another of their favorite teachers has been let go get mad.  You would think that you just told them their good friend has moved away and they don’t even go to Scammon so would have even seen them again anyway.  I can’t even imagine how the Children that still are stuck at that School feel or their parents.  The saddest part is the teachers that are safe from being let go the “Weaverites” are some of the worst teachers in CPS.  I pray every day for those Children and parents that are forced to attend Scammon with Weaver at the helm and her friends. 

I say that because I just learned another teacher is gone my Cc’ed friend, when I told my wife she was very, very mad and that’s being nice.  So when the kids heard her reaction they asked what happened when she told them my son and daughter at the same time said why!  It was the first time they have been in agreement since they were in diapers and my son was very upset.  When they asked why she was let go because she was such a great teacher and she was cool.  We had to explain that the Principal Mary Weaver is a bad person and that there is no real reason when it comes to her.  My son who is in 8^th grade for the first time almost used a cuss word in front of me he said the Bbiiyad Weaver she is so terrible.  I think we can guess what he was going to say lucky for him he was quick enough but I sure finished what he wanted to say in my head.  Now I know why last year when she was on the roof for some hair event thing all the kids were shouting “jump, jump, jump!”. 

I think the only way to make a statement that the board is going to hear is for the parents to protest the school by attending class with their children.  That would mean as many parents as possible go to their children’s class and refusing to leave the School. 

Why is CPS in Financial Ruin and Bleeding Money?

Is it because they have too many Children to educate, and not enough budget money allocated to them?  Maybe it is because CPS is not getting its fair share of Federal Grants and funds that are suppose to help and support the education of our Children?  I know it must be because there are not enough Private companies and people donating money to CPS.  If not that it must be that CPS is not allowed to have enough fundraisers to make essential supply purchases.

It’s none of the above, I have come to find out it’s because CPS has no accountability over its Principals and individual Schools spending.  It would seem that the Board is more concerned with cutting and denying Special Education or intentionally denying Services.  They are also willing to break their own rules about class sizing and just about anything as long as it benefits them.  See the Board counts on Parents not having the time, experience, money, and patients to fight their deep pockets.  Even if you have money and all the time in the world they still may deny your child Services because the averages are on their side.  For every one parent that beats CPS and fight for in some cases years, in the end they still lose.

I, after fighting CPS for a couple years and taking my case all the way to Due Process, and filing the proper complaints with OCR (U.S. Department of Justice Office of Civil Rights), I only got the services my Child was entitled to.  Even though the staff at the school lied about his test results and lied about just whatever they wanted not one of them was punished.  Not even so much as a day off without pay or charges brought against them by the Illinois State Board of Education.  Even though OCR said my Childs Civil Rights were violated they did nothing.  They filed no charges against anyone, despite my continued complaints and requests so that these people could not do this to someone else’s Child. 

See at the time I was both ignorant as well as naïve I was under the impression that if you were right and you fought hard enough Justice and Truth would prevail.  I now know that justice is truly blind what’s worse is that she could care less.  And that the truth is a smoke and mirror house of cards and no matter who is dealing the house (CPS) always wins.  See after I won my Due process case by myself as I could afford no one to help me.  Even after I was able to get OCR to admit that the School district and CPS violated my Childs rights another victory.  I was not proud but was ashamed that after years of hard work yes my Child got his IEP and Services for Special Education.  But I then realized that the whole time I was focused on fighting the system proving they were wrong.  In the end my son lost over 5 years of those very services that he needed.

See CPS had won either way because after all was said and done the attorneys they have on staff get paid no matter what the outcome.  However, for those five years they saved on the money it would have cost to provide the services my Child was always entitled to.  So long story short in the end I lost, my Child lost, my wife lost, and my other children lost.  See I had to spend so much time learning the law, filing papers, notices, requests, and my children didn’t have Dad to hang out with.  My Child fell so behind he has to fight twice as hard just to catch up in school, and my whole family missed precious time with me and me with them that I can never get back.  The only people that won were the Politicians, Bureaucrats, and lawyers most are one in the same.

It was at that time when I looked up and noticed my children had aged and my health had deteriorated that I swore I would not let this all be for nothing.  This is when I decided that one Child at a time, one School at a time, one person at a time I would fight with all I have until I am dead, so that no one will ever have to go through what I did ever again alone.  I for the first time understood the words of my hero’s like Dr. Martin Luther King who no matter how big the fight never give up.  He also taught me that I should never stoop to their level for if I should then my victory was no victory at all.  Or Mohandas Gandhi who beat the entire British Empire and won his countries freedom by just staying the course and saying no I will not give up no matter what you do to me.  That if we can unite in one voice and say no, you cannot do this we will not permit it as a people you can do the impossible.  John F. Kennedy who refused to back down from anyone and give into what he knew was right; no matter the cost even his life. 

With this inspiration I will now show you why CPS is broke now, in the past, and will be in the future.  I wanted you to understand how I found the answer and why I will never give up.  I will take my Children’s School as the example but not the exception of what is happening at CPS.  I thought hey if they would lie about my Child’s test scores and perjure themselves in testimony in a hearing what else am I missing?  So I asked, filed FOIA (Freedom of Information Act) requests, went to every LSC meeting, talked to teachers and Parents.  Even though I thought I could no longer be shocked by the depravity of what CPS can do while the Board looks the other way I got sucker punched again.

My Children’s School was Scammon Elementary School located at 4201 W Henderson, Chicago, Illinois 60641.  See, I had caught the Principal Mary T. Weaver in many lies so thanks to her I started to dig and investigate.  The School may sound familiar as it has been on CBS Channel 2 news twice thanks to some great people including Dave Savini and Michele Youngerman.  I have no idea who is in charge over at Channel 2 Chicago but let me tell you that is one station that cares about the truth.  Not just for the ratings, not because it’s popular, but because they care really care.  I even started a Blog dedicated to just presenting evidence and so people at the School would have a place to upload my evidence.  If you’re reading this you may be on that Blog http://scammonschoolchicago.blogspot.com or any of a number of online news columns I write for.  The site above is only the facts you can see for yourself no agenda but the truth.

The truth is that CPS Principals and the Administration is stealing money from us the tax payers and the Government all while committing fraud.  I found out that the Schools watchdog the LSC (Local School Counsel) was rigged and fixed by Mary T. Weaver and her staff.  One member on the LSC Carmita Ortiz the School librarian does not even live in Chicago and never has which means she isn’t even suppose to be employed at CPS.  But she thanks her long time family friend by buying here expensive gifts I am sure to stay in her good graces.  Carmita keeps her job, The Principal Mary Weaver gets her not only to vote her way.  If that’s not enough it’s the LSC that votes to renew the Principals contract but one vote is never enough to insure you get what you want.  So you get a grandmother and her daughter on the LSC, the daughter lives in Niles using her Mom’s address to get your children enrolled.  Since Grandma watches the kids after school while mom is at work it’s convenient and for Mary Weaver she now has two more votes.  Ms. Kostner (community member of the LSC) somehow got her grandchild enrolled in school early, a source told me that there is no Birth Certificates in the students file.  When the source asked the Child their birth date the Child was honest as Children at that age always are.

Then with some simple investigation I found out that an Aide for Alderman Reboyras is also on the LCS and guess what Scammon donated to his campaign fund.  If that’s not a conflict I don’t know what is but now I know why Alderman Reboyras has done nothing about the issues at the school.  I have e-mailed the Alderman numerous times and nothing I guess I know why now.  The Principal even hired substitutes when Gery Chico’s wife spoke at the school so her friends could attend.  Mr. Chico was at the time running for Mayor.  Now Mary T. Weaver Principal at Scammon School has 4 of 6 members votes locked in how could she lose? 

Another inside source on the LSC told me he was sorry but what could he do.  If he didn’t vote Mary’s way and do what Mary Weaver Said he would get let go and would be on the no hire list.  He said I get left alone as long as I keep my mouth closed.  He even apologized for comments he made at a Board meeting but said he refused to say what she wrote for him to say, and he rewrote it himself less harsh.  I can’t say I blame him in this economy losing your job and being on a CPS no hire list is scary when you have to support your family.  He said it makes him sick that they must be the only LSC that always has unanimous votes every time. 

In the documents at the blog listed above you will see money spent for among other things 5 I Pads purchased as gifts.  Laptop computers given as gifts, Target Gift Cards for some of the LSC members, more food and snacks used for fund raising and the money raised put right in Mary T. Weaver’s pocket.  If that’s not enough 1000’s in pizza to keep the kids happy and quiet, approximately $10,000.00 in profits from candy and other items sold at the school the money never going for the Children. 

The worst part is that all these shopping sprees are during School hours and most done by Manda Lukic Assistant Principal with Mary Weaver Principal and Angela Burgos coming in a close second.  When I say shopping I don’t mean popping over to staples down the street for ink cartridges.  Even in some cases going as far as Niles Township to go shop with Chicago’s taxpayer’s money.  I liked the three Ultra HD 2hr. Camcorders for their Christmas party and not one teacher I spoke to remembers them at the party.  Maybe they got lost having been purchased in November? 

I will not stop this investigation into Scammons misuse of public funds or the outrageous behavior(s) of the Administration with Mary Therese Weaver as the leader.  The sad thing is that the buck does not stop there.  The Board has been blocking and covering up for Mary Weaver since complaint one was made by teachers under the “Whistle Blowers Act” several years ago.  I guess the teachers were unaware that the Board is both deaf and dumb in these matters.  Once I finish with Scammon I will investigate Alderman Reboyras, and the Board members involved.  I will insure that I weed out any and all corruption and complacency; in short I am hoping that one man can make a difference.  In my mind these people in doing nothing or covering for Mary Weaver makes them co-conspirators’ after the crime. 

The investigation continues… 

http://scammonschoolchicago.blogspot.com

Scammon mobiles are blocked off

Weaver is a liar and a fraud, by Glen Presnell

What has Alderman Ariel E. Reboyras done?

Hello voters and citizens of the 30^th Ward let’s sit down and discuss some issues that have been happening in the 30^th Ward.  Parents of Scammon Elementary School have asked Mr. Reboyras for help with their Schools Administration Namely Mary T. Weaver the current Principal.  You may remember her from the two CBS 2 news reports by Dave Savini, or maybe you are or know someone who has a child that attends Scammon School.  As parents we have asked Mr. Reboyras to help because Mary Weaver is misusing funds that were intended for our children, lied on so many occasions it is impossible to keep track, harassed Teachers, Staff, and Parents, made false statements on many occasions, and has done nothing to insure a safe environment for our children to say a few. 

We have e-mailed Mr. Reboyras numerous times with evidence of ethics violations, and other infractions to try and get Reboyras’s help.  Since a member of his staff is on the LSC at Scammon School I thought he could get something done about this issue.  He claims to care but has done nothing but inform Mary Weaver about the allegations so she could have time to stop or cover them up.  He refuses to help the children at Scammon, he refuses to help the Parents at Scammon, so what has he agreed to help with, Nothing. 

He has allowed homes and businesses that are standing empty in his Ward to become dens for the homeless and drug addicts.  He has allowed the streets in his Ward to literally fall apart and crumble not to mention the pot holes.  On his home page it shows him working for a day in the Streets and Sanitation as a garbage collector, in what can be an attempt to clean the streets.  Well it is ironic that with the garbage he is spewing and allowing to be building up that he is only picking up physical garbage. 

As a former teacher himself I have to ask myself why he would do this and allow the principal at Scammon to hurt and steal from our children and not help.  Is this the Alderman we really want in our Ward or in any city job?  And one last question when is he ever in his office every time I call or visit I play the "where's the Alderman game".

By: Jason Glenn

Does the Board meeting really help?

Like the Old School Buildings that most of the 666 CPS School’s are left over from the system and people still seem to have that old archaic back door deals idea of running things.  The Board of Education of the City of Chicago has one small problem it does nothing which is a big problem.  From the way the Board meetings are run to the edited/censored version that they let you see on public access. 
The meetings are once a month and no one person, people or subject are allowed to speak two months in a row.  If I have an issue that is not or has not been addressed then I should be able to speak at any public forum.  Even if the issue is different but the School is the same or the person then you can’t speak two months in a row. 
I guess the Board feels that nothing can happen in two months at a School no matter what they do or don’t do.  The most disturbing thing I found is that the video of the meeting itself is edited for content by “the Board” before it is aired on public television.  The Nazis and China tried that but Americans found that editing speech or what s said at a public meeting never works for transparency in government. 
The Board has no accountability from what seems like anyone even if an issue or violation of their policies they do nothing about it.  What good is having rules if when you don’t follow them nothing happens and even if they are forced to react the worst is you lose your job?
By: Jason Glenn