Due to the leadership of Board President Tommie Miller and the SD88 Board of Education, the Proviso Herald reports that a school that has been closed for seven years will reopen next week to house Bellwood School District 88's growing preschool population.
Lincoln Primary Early Childhood Center, 3519 Wilcox St., Bellwood, will open Sept. 22. The school was closed in 2001 due to a termite infestation.
The school will house about 130 students ranging in age from three to five-years-old along with 25 faculty and staff members.
Gwen Frasier, director of personnel and day-to-day business at School District 88, said the school never reopened because the district's preschool population was spread out among the districts other schools, but now things have changed.
"We've had steady growth to the point where we can offer the same early childhood program throughout the district," she said. "The need was to have a site in Bellwood."
The termite problem at the school was corrected, but Frasier said other repairs had to be done to open it up to students due to the lengthy closing. "We did the flooring, put in new carpeting, painted, put in new windows," she said.
The district also put up new fencing, landscaped the property and paved the parking lot, Frasier said.
Prior to opening up the school to the public a short program will take place at 10 a.m. Parents and students will have an opportunity to take a tour of the school and meet the teachers and administrators following the short program.
Showing posts with label SD88. Show all posts
Showing posts with label SD88. Show all posts
Friday, September 19, 2008
Friday, August 08, 2008
Nichelle Rivers Leaving Town...
Nichelle Rivers, the former Superintendent of Bellwood SD88, and reported relative of State Representative Karen Yarbrough, has reportedly resigned her role at the Cook County Regional Superintendent's Office. Rivers has reportedly found a new opportunity in a new state.
Bellwood SD88 Closes Wilson School
The Bellwood School District 88 Board of Education has reportedly voted to close Wilson School off 25th Avenue and the Expressway. The school reportedly has problems with its roof, and it is in need of extensive repairs. The students from Wilson will reportedly be bused to Thurgood Marshall School.
Thursday, July 24, 2008
SD88 Employee Joe Burdi Accused of Violating Policies!!!
David Pollard of the Proviso Herald did a two part story recently that revealed Bellwood SD88 employee Joe Burdi is being accused of violating policies and steering contracts. Click this link to read more: http://www.pioneerlocal.com/maywood/news/1069135,ma-burdi-072308-s1.article
Do you know anything about this? Who is Joe Burdi? Would he knowingly violate school policies?
Do you know anything about this? Who is Joe Burdi? Would he knowingly violate school policies?
Tuesday, April 22, 2008
Threatening Message Closes Schools In SD88!!!
According to a report in the Proviso Herald, a Bellwood elementary school and middle school will be closed Tuesday after a threatening message was found Monday afternoon on a bathroom stall.
Bellwood police received a call from school officials at 2 p.m. Monday who reported a message was found written in the bathroom at Thurgood Marshall Elementary School, 2501 Oak St. The message, written in marker, read "Prepare to die 4/22/08," according to police.
School District 88 Superintendent Rosemary Hendricks took the advice of the police department and closed the school until further notice. Roosevelt Middle School, 2500 Oak St., will also be closed Tuesday as a precaution.
Bellwood Deputy Police Chief Richard Blass said bomb dogs from the Cook County Sheriff's Emergency Service Unit did a sweep of the building and found nothing. He said he hopes to have school back in session Wednesday.
Bellwood Police Commander Kevin Davis said the closing of the schools was a precautionary measure.
"In this day and age you have to be safe than sorry, especially after this incident at Northern Illinois University," he said. "You have to take precautions in this day and age."
As of Monday afternoon, Davis said there had been no arrests and police had no leads.
Anyone with information regarding the threatening message is asked to contact the Bellwood Police Department at (708) 547-3528.
Bellwood police received a call from school officials at 2 p.m. Monday who reported a message was found written in the bathroom at Thurgood Marshall Elementary School, 2501 Oak St. The message, written in marker, read "Prepare to die 4/22/08," according to police.
School District 88 Superintendent Rosemary Hendricks took the advice of the police department and closed the school until further notice. Roosevelt Middle School, 2500 Oak St., will also be closed Tuesday as a precaution.
Bellwood Deputy Police Chief Richard Blass said bomb dogs from the Cook County Sheriff's Emergency Service Unit did a sweep of the building and found nothing. He said he hopes to have school back in session Wednesday.
Bellwood Police Commander Kevin Davis said the closing of the schools was a precautionary measure.
"In this day and age you have to be safe than sorry, especially after this incident at Northern Illinois University," he said. "You have to take precautions in this day and age."
As of Monday afternoon, Davis said there had been no arrests and police had no leads.
Anyone with information regarding the threatening message is asked to contact the Bellwood Police Department at (708) 547-3528.
Thursday, April 17, 2008
What's going on in SD88?
David Pollard of the Proviso Herald wrote an interesting story on SD88. Read the story below and comment on what you think is going on in SD88:
While some District 88 School Board members say dissension among officials is harming students' education, at least one maintains the board is making progress.
Bellwood School District 88 board member Althea Busby compared the board to passengers on a sinking boat.
"We're all in a boat with a hole in it," she said. "Instead of working together to plug the hole, there are some who are putting more water in the boat."
Busby said a change is needed soon.
"When are we as a Board of Education going to take education seriously?" she said. "I grieve because our children aren't being educated properly."
She said action taken at March 31 board meeting, when District 88 Board Member Marilyn Thurman proposed a motion to remove the school district's research evaluation and assessment position, was an example of the school board not focusing on education. Bellwood School Board President Tommy Miller seconded Thurman's motion and it was put to a vote.
The motion failed with three board members voting against it, two in favor and two abstaining.
Busby said she was speaking out of frustration because some members of the board wanted to get rid of the position, which she believes is needed.
"Every time we seem to get ahead in some areas there are factions that seem to pull us back," she said. "The director of evaluation and assessment knows where we were (in terms of academic test scores), where we are and how far we can get."
She said the position is essential to charting the students' academic performance in the district.
"How else can you do that?" she said. "Can you ask a teacher? This is the accountability factor for us to chart our students' academic performance."
Miller said he looked at eliminating the position as way to save $90,000 per year.
"Every year about this time there has been some complaint about a superintendent," Busby said. "This (is the time) when the (board's) concentration should be on the upcoming year."
"There are going to be some disagreements, but we are striving for the wrong things," she added.
Board Member Ronald Anderson said board members' hidden agendas have caused tension.
"The board president thinks he is the board," he said. "He wants to be the board and the superintendent. It's difficult when (superintendents) have that kind of pressure on them and are tiptoeing around."
The district has had a revolving door of superintendents, with four leaving the position since 2005. The current superintendent, Rosemary Hendricks, will start her second year of a three-year contract at the end of May.
Miller didn't respond to Anderson's accusations, but said on every board there are always varying opinions.
"I see a board working," he said. "When you are trying to make decisions, not everyone is going to agree. "On the board people have other opinions and you're not going to come up with the same ideas."
Board member Maria Castrejon agreed with Miller.
"It's never perfect," she said. "Everyone has their own ideas and has a voice. I think we'll be okay."
Miller said the main focus of the board should be doing what is best for the school district.
"The bottom line is you keep working for the kids," he said.
While some District 88 School Board members say dissension among officials is harming students' education, at least one maintains the board is making progress.
Bellwood School District 88 board member Althea Busby compared the board to passengers on a sinking boat.
"We're all in a boat with a hole in it," she said. "Instead of working together to plug the hole, there are some who are putting more water in the boat."
Busby said a change is needed soon.
"When are we as a Board of Education going to take education seriously?" she said. "I grieve because our children aren't being educated properly."
She said action taken at March 31 board meeting, when District 88 Board Member Marilyn Thurman proposed a motion to remove the school district's research evaluation and assessment position, was an example of the school board not focusing on education. Bellwood School Board President Tommy Miller seconded Thurman's motion and it was put to a vote.
The motion failed with three board members voting against it, two in favor and two abstaining.
Busby said she was speaking out of frustration because some members of the board wanted to get rid of the position, which she believes is needed.
"Every time we seem to get ahead in some areas there are factions that seem to pull us back," she said. "The director of evaluation and assessment knows where we were (in terms of academic test scores), where we are and how far we can get."
She said the position is essential to charting the students' academic performance in the district.
"How else can you do that?" she said. "Can you ask a teacher? This is the accountability factor for us to chart our students' academic performance."
Miller said he looked at eliminating the position as way to save $90,000 per year.
"Every year about this time there has been some complaint about a superintendent," Busby said. "This (is the time) when the (board's) concentration should be on the upcoming year."
"There are going to be some disagreements, but we are striving for the wrong things," she added.
Board Member Ronald Anderson said board members' hidden agendas have caused tension.
"The board president thinks he is the board," he said. "He wants to be the board and the superintendent. It's difficult when (superintendents) have that kind of pressure on them and are tiptoeing around."
The district has had a revolving door of superintendents, with four leaving the position since 2005. The current superintendent, Rosemary Hendricks, will start her second year of a three-year contract at the end of May.
Miller didn't respond to Anderson's accusations, but said on every board there are always varying opinions.
"I see a board working," he said. "When you are trying to make decisions, not everyone is going to agree. "On the board people have other opinions and you're not going to come up with the same ideas."
Board member Maria Castrejon agreed with Miller.
"It's never perfect," she said. "Everyone has their own ideas and has a voice. I think we'll be okay."
Miller said the main focus of the board should be doing what is best for the school district.
"The bottom line is you keep working for the kids," he said.
Saturday, February 23, 2008
Here We Go Again...Another Superintendent Might Be Headed Out In SD88!!!
The Pioneer Press' Catherine Gran recently reported on Bellwood SD88. Here's the story:
Bellwood School District 88's interim superintendent still is awaiting word on her future with the district.
Board members Feb. 11 again declined to approve a contract for the 2008-09 school year for Rosemary Hendricks.
Board President Tommy Miller compared the issue to a student seeking a final grade of "A" while halfway through the semester. He did not rule out a contract for Hendricks.
"One has to earn it," he said. "You get promoted by performance. If you do the work, the board will review that.
At the January meeting, board members began voting on a motion to approve a superintendent's contract, but when called to vote Maria Ramirez-Casterjon told fellow board members that while she agreed interim superintendent Rosemary Hendricks was a good superintendent, Casterjon wanted to hold off voting on a contract until the Feb. 4 board meeting. That meeting was rescheduled to Feb. 11.
With three votes already cast on the original motion, board President Tommy Miller, with the approval of the district's attorney Martha-Victoria Diaz of Sanchez, Daniels and Hoffmann LLP of Chicago, recognized Casterjon's motion to table the vote on the contract.
Voting in favor of tabling the contract approval were Casterjon, Miller, Yvette Ramirez and Marilyn Thurman.
Voting against were Athea Busby, Ronald Anderson and Daphne Walker.
That vote mirrored the February vote.
The board approved hiring Hendricks as interim superintendent June 21. She received a one-year contract at a salary of $140,000. Hendricks came to the district after serving one year as superintendent of Calumet School District 157.
What is going on in SD88?
Bellwood School District 88's interim superintendent still is awaiting word on her future with the district.
Board members Feb. 11 again declined to approve a contract for the 2008-09 school year for Rosemary Hendricks.
Board President Tommy Miller compared the issue to a student seeking a final grade of "A" while halfway through the semester. He did not rule out a contract for Hendricks.
"One has to earn it," he said. "You get promoted by performance. If you do the work, the board will review that.
At the January meeting, board members began voting on a motion to approve a superintendent's contract, but when called to vote Maria Ramirez-Casterjon told fellow board members that while she agreed interim superintendent Rosemary Hendricks was a good superintendent, Casterjon wanted to hold off voting on a contract until the Feb. 4 board meeting. That meeting was rescheduled to Feb. 11.
With three votes already cast on the original motion, board President Tommy Miller, with the approval of the district's attorney Martha-Victoria Diaz of Sanchez, Daniels and Hoffmann LLP of Chicago, recognized Casterjon's motion to table the vote on the contract.
Voting in favor of tabling the contract approval were Casterjon, Miller, Yvette Ramirez and Marilyn Thurman.
Voting against were Athea Busby, Ronald Anderson and Daphne Walker.
That vote mirrored the February vote.
The board approved hiring Hendricks as interim superintendent June 21. She received a one-year contract at a salary of $140,000. Hendricks came to the district after serving one year as superintendent of Calumet School District 157.
What is going on in SD88?
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