Supt. Ryan's pact merits 'outrage'

There was a letter to the editor in the Daily Southtown today aboout the outrage of the practices of Thomas Ryan, the Superintendent of Sauk Village School District 168.

Scores of children have been mistreated by District 168 stretching back years (reported in the Southtown and elsewhere): homeless children being denied entry to District 168 schools, humiliated over their lack of dress-code shoes or uniforms; a child with disabilities put through a harsh ordeal just to graduate on stage with other students; poor African-American honor students referred to by Ryan as “scum” who’d turn the area into a “ghetto”; families forced to leave their school who had every right to stay; threats to parents who spoke out against District 168′s actions to the press, children denied much-needed school-fee waivers and, later, children unlawfully denied the right to participate in graduation or other school activities; and “zero tolerance” discipline policies that targeted ethnic hairstyles with extreme punishments. Moreover, Ryan flaunted the educational laws of the state of Illinois incurring lawsuits and payouts to lawyers and investigators. The cost for the families has been real: tears, transfers, public embarrassment, missed school days and learning opportunities, further economic hardship. ………………………… These actions must make us – the outraged public — ask: who’s in charge here? Whose interest is being served? Certainly not the kids.

Read more at the following links:

• District Funds Used To Pay Daughter’s Tuition
• Superintendent out of race for state group
• Money for after-school program bought hockey tickets, parties
• What is Homework Lab? Answers vary
• Grand jury probes SD 168 chief
• Investigators slap SD 168 official with subpoena
• Other provisions in Ryan’s contract
• Ryan owed half-million in unpaid sick days
• School board votes to close records as subpoena is served

Here is another example of why FOIA information needs to be readily available.