Arbdella "Della" Patterson Wants to Close PMSA and Fire New Superintendent!!!

Arbdella "Della" Patterson, a candidate for SD209 Board, appeared at a candidates forum on Thursday, April 2, 2009 at the Forest Park Library. The forum was hosted by CU in FP. At the forum, Patterson clearly sent signals that she and her crew will close the Proviso Math and Science Academy if she is elected. In response to an audience question, Patterson said the school is not needed. She also indicated the school district needs a qualified superintendent to be put in place, another signal that she wants to oust new Superintendent Dr. Nettie Collins-Hart. PMSA was recently ranked by the Chicago Tribune as one of the Top 50 High Schools in the state of Illinois, and Dr. Collins-Hart was the Superintendent of the Year in the state of North Carolina in 2006. She is a recognized expert on closing the achievement gap.

Some Truths About Theresa L. Kelly and Arbdella "Della" Patterson...

Proviso School Board member Theresa L. Kelly is running for Supervisor of the Township and she is supporting Arbdella "Della" Patterson for Proviso School Board. Here are some facts you should know about Kelly and Patterson:

Fact: Theresa L. Kelly is the longest serving member of the Proviso School Board, and she has routinely abused her position at taxpayer expense.

Fact: Theresa L. Kelly has traveled to over 25 destinations at taxpayer expense costing taxpayers more than $25,000 for her excursions.

Fact: Theresa L. Kelly never brought back a single report from any of her tax funded excursions.

Fact: Theresa L. Kelly was in charge of the Proviso East Wall of Fame, and to date, she has refused to do an accounting of all the money received from the event in September 2004.

Fact: Theresa L. Kelly voted against having the Proviso Math and Science Academy.

Fact: Theresa L. Kelly has no college education.

Fact: Theresa L. Kelly is having her campaign funded by Cook County Commissioner Tony Peraica, former Proviso Board Member Michael Manzo, and former Proviso Board Member Charles Flowers.

Fact: Theresa L. Kelly had the famous cafeteria mural removed at Proviso East in 2002.

Fact: Theresa L. Kelly was responsible for firing popular Proviso West Basketball Coach Mark Schneider and having him replaced with former Westinghouse Coach Chris Head who was fired after just one year.

Fact: Arbdella "Della" Patterson has no college education.

Fact: Arbdella "Della" Patterson is a former employee of Proviso High Schools, and she reported to work whenever she wanted to do so.

Fact: Arbdella "Della" Patterson was hired to counsel girls against teen pregnancy, but during her tenure, teen pregnancies were at an all time high at Proviso.

Fact: Arbdella "Della" Patterson never filed a single report regarding her work duties.

Fact: Arbdella "Della" Patterson went on over 25 excursions with Proviso Board member Theresa L. Kelly and never filed a single report. Patterson and Kelly used taxpayer money to take vacations.

Fact: Arbdella "Della" Patterson is receiving funds from Proviso's former lawyers who were unanimously fired by the Board in May 2007.

Questions to Ask Arbdella "Della" Patterson When You See Her???

Arbdella "Della" Patterson is running for Proviso High School District 209. Here are some questions to ask her if you see her:

1. Why did you tell the Forest Park Review that you are a teacher when you are not?
2. What is your relationship with Proviso Board member Theresa Kelly?
3. How many trips did you take at taxpayer expense with Mrs. Kelly?
4. What was your relationship with former Superintendent Greg Jackson?
5. Where do you currently work?
6. How can you do your current job and be on the Proviso Board and be loyal to both?
7. Have you ever been convicted of a crime involving theft or dishonesty?
8. Why are you using lawyers that the Proviso Board unanimously fired two years ago when your current boss was one of the people who voted to fire them?
9. Why do you really want to be on the Proviso School board when two years ago you ran for something else?
10. Does your church even support you?


When you ask her these questions, pay close attention to the answers.

Proviso Board Candidate Arbdella "Della" Patterson Hires Burt Odelson as Lawyer!!!

Proviso School Board candidate Arbdella "Della" Patterson has hired Burt Odelson, of Odelson & Sterk, Ltd, to represent her in a case before the Proviso High School Electoral Board. The Proviso Electoral Board has been convened solely to hear legal objections filed against Ms. Patterson alleging that she has a legal conflict and cannot sit on the school board. Patterson's attorney is the School District's former general counsel who was ousted unanimously by the Board in May of 2007. Odelson has since filed a lawsuit against the Board President and the Board President has filed one against him.

Are Handicap Parking Placards Being Illegally Used In Proviso Township???

The Insider has learned from a recent email to provisoinsider@hotmail.com that many people are abusing handicapped parking placards in Proviso Township. Sources tell the Insider that visitors and staffers at Proviso Township High Schools are frequently spotted using the placards. During a random check on Monday, February 25, 2008, Forest Park police reportedly ticketed former Proviso employee Arbdella "Della" Patterson for falsely using a handicapped placard. Forest Park Police also reportedly ticketed a high ranking union official for the same offense. Sources say teachers at Proviso East and Proviso West have been known to do the same thing, but a new crackdown may embarass these abusers.

What do you think of the abusive use of handicapped parking placards?