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

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… 

OCR (Office of Civil Rights) U.S. Department of Justice

I am confused as to what this organization thinks it is suppose to do and what their mandate is suppose to be. I have filed multiple complaints with this organization and to date they have done nothing in any way that I can see to help protect the Civil Rights of children being violated by CPS. They have been investigating my multiple complaints for more then a year, to which I have provided them with all the evidence. Yet they seem to drag their feet and that is being nice. The investigators are incompetent and from what I can tell seem to take the word of any representative from CPS without question. However, the parents are forced to jump through hoops and prove every little minute detail and provide proof to back up the claim. If Mr. Obama is in the mood to clean up federal agencies then I would suggest that this is one that needs some major cleaning up. (The FDA is another)

I guess my confusion is that when I go to work in the private sector my boss demands that I actually do something for my paycheck. It would seem at most government agencies OCR included simply showing up and sleeping on the job, weather figuratively or literally I have not decided is not only ok but the norm. I would think that something as important as an Americans Civil Rights and a Childs to boot would warrant some action. I think when people elected Mr. Obama they thought like JFK he would shake up the Government and make them be accountable to the people once more. Yet he too has seemed to fall into the do nothing and sleep policy. Though he may be an elegant speaker that is where his talent ends, he has done nothing worth while in office except a lot of talk and promises that have amounted to nothing.

I will be writing a full expose on OCR and the actions they have or have not done with regards to several investigations mine is one but I have been interviewing others who have had the same lack of action. I contacted Dave Savini with this story and the violations that CPS has committed but he has seems to be uninterested as he has stopped responding to me and now deletes my e-mails without even giving me the courtesy of reading them. It is Media apathy like this that is why nothing gets done the media would rather do a story on Britney Spears shaving her head then tackling real issues people need to know about. The days of Woodward and Bernstein are dead. We need people like that back, and we need to drop the politically correct rope tote and get down to some real issues.