The Sun recently published profiles of candidates for District 204 school board. What do you think?
Here is a link to the story:
http://www.suburbanchicagonews.com/napervillesun/news/election/1492379,6_1_NA24_SCHOOLS_S3.article
School District 204: March 2009 Archives
While Neuqua Valley's boys basketball team didn't make it to the state finals, this season was historic for many reasons, including 31 wins to only two losses and 23 straight wins.
Tuesday night's defeat to Dundee-Crown in the Class 4A NIU Super-Sectional also means an end for fans to glorious nights of cheering, celebrations of wins and analysis of losses.
What does this incredible season that ended on a whimper rather than the growl most expected mean to you? What was it like to sit on the sidelines watching history being made? What were your favorite moments? Parents, tell us what it was like watching your son play the best possible game. Alumni, tell us what it meant to see this team in only its 11th season go almost all the way -- for the second year in a row, too. Students tell us what you expect next year. Will they be able to pull off another great season?
District 204's board and the Indian Prairie Educational Association have reached a tentative one-year agreement that will increase the average teacher's salary by 3.87 percent for the 2009-2010 school year.
Two percent of the increase is on base salaries. The rest is provided by the yearly step increases teachers normally receive, and for additional training or education.
Superintendent Stephen Daeschner said the contract helps the district stay competitive with its benchmark districts - the local school districts that 204 compares itself to. However, some critics on this blog have already criticized giving a nearly 4 percent raise when many other people are taking pay cuts or losing their jobs.
What do you think? Is this a fair contract?
On Nov. 11, two students at Gregory Middle School in District 204 allegedly sexually assaulted a classmate at a private residence. The two have been charged in the case, but a trial is still pending.
In recent weeks, the school district has said it lacks the power to remove the accused students from the school, but one of them has transferred voluntarily to a middle school in District 203. The other accused boy has a legal order to stay at least 100 feet away from the alleged victim. The alleged victim's father and many other district residents say this isn't enough. Parents and residents spoke out recently at a contentious school board meeting. Later, District 204 board President Mark Metzger has taken heat for an e-mail he mistakenly sent to the boy's father and several school officials in which he called the father an unprintable name. On Monday, a group of residents met in a private home to discuss their options, including boycotting district testing and signing a petition for Metzger to step down. On Wednesday, a state House committee will meet to discuss Darlene Senger's proposed bill to give a clear legal option to school districts in situations like this.
What do you think about the recent developments? Do you think there are any options for parents in the district who are unhappy with the district's handling of the situation?
