Education: March 2008 Archives

BY DAVE PARRO

As if things weren't bad enough in the East Aurora School District already, now a principal is being investigated for helping students cheat on ISAT standardized tests.

While district officials are downplaying the "improprieties" as isolated incidents -- which they very likely could have been -- there's a larger question here of why the Krug Elementary educator would set such a poor example for her students. In a financially struggling district that has landed schools on the state watch list in the past based on adequate yearly progress standards, the pressure to perform has to be immense.

Has the federal No Child Left Behind Act put administrators in the terrible position of being tempted to cheat on standardized tests, especially in poor districts where budget cuts have led to fewer resources?

BY MIKE CETERA

Ever heard of a niece who "moved in" with her aunt and uncle so she could attend a preferred school? Or how about the athlete who doesn't like the makeup of the team in his district who conveniently moves just down the road?

I suspect the idea of falsifying your address to get out of a bad school district (or to get into a good one) is more common than we think.

And now the West Aurora School District is confronting the issue.

Board members Monday reviewed the plan to scrutinize documentation of student addresses and educate administrators about residency requirements.

Administrators have so far identified "more than 20 students" who do not live in the district but are enrolled in West Aurora Schools, said district spokesman Mike Chapin.

"This is a crime," said Superintendent Jim Rydland. "We are systematically and consistently going to investigate."

Some suspect the illegal students are coming from the neighboring East Aurora School District.

BY MIKE CETERA

It looks like people opposed to the Indian Prairie boundary changes (and the new location of Metea Valley High School) are getting ready to sue.

They've set up a Web site basically announcing an impending court fight:

We are also unhappy with the decisions of district officials and concerned about the future of the district...and, to that end, have secured legal counsel to explore options ranging from stopping the new high school location to overturning the 2006 Referendum.

Did you think it was over? It is not over. Our legal team thinks we have a fighting chance - so should you.

The local news media has stood by the school board and administrations' comments and either lacks the ability or the interest to delve into details of how taxpayers have been misled in a classic "bait and switch" to build a school that is poorly located, too large by any measure, and perhaps, not even needed. Where was the unbiased journalism? The investigative reporting?