Education Matters US

Hat tip: Extreme Wisdom

I’ll type up my notes when I have time. Until then, you can watch the 2 hours of meeting online. Thankfully they, did not record the blank time of 1 hour during closed session at the beginning of the meeting. Be patient, it takes awhile for the video to load.

As many of you know I have been fighting for transparency in Grayslake District 46 for several years. To this end I am working with Americans For Prosperity (AFP) to help finally make this effort a reality. The following is the letter sent to each school board member and Superintendent Ellen Correll last [...]

RT @saaorg Celebrate Sam Adams’s 287th Birthday by checking out our virtual event, playing our facebook game http://bit.ly/UEZeD #teaparty #

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RT saaorg petition @RNC @democratsdotorg I believe in the Constitution http://act.ly/kd RT to sign #actly #ibelieve #tcot #tlot #teaparty #

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On September 17, 1787, the delegates to the Constitutional Convention signed our Constitution setting the stage for the greatest country in the world. We are the shining city on the hill as Ronald Reagan said. People around the world want to come here for the freedom and opportunity we enjoy here in America.
Please [...]

The American Liberty Tour kicks off today. Come out and join them in your town: http://americanlibertytour.com/ #brushfire #

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Below is the text of the speech or at the Whitehouse website. District 46 Superintendent will be pre-screening the speech at 11 AM this morning and then allowing the students to watch it between 1 and 3 PM. The will be no accompanying curriculum will not be done. I would like to [...]

The District 46 school board will be holding a community forum tonight. The discussion will be about the finances and the upcoming school years budget.

Grayslake Middle School
6 PM

The last community forum information can be found at Live Blogging D46 Community Forum Meeting

RT ljarratt Lake County IL R’s bans R Candidate running against an establishment R: http://tinyurl.com/ntnnjx #ildirt #iltcot #tcot #
RT @ljarratt petition @glennbeck to feature @NedRyun and American Majority on his show http://act.ly/cl retweet to sign #majority #tcot #912 #

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RT @doc2dochealth When all else fails, listen to the patient: http://tinyurl.com/m63nsj #healthcaer #handsoff #obamacare #

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RT ljarratt: Online coverage of Sotomayor hearings: http://bit.ly/RuVGo Please RT #tcot #tlot #sotomayor #
RT @ljarratt: Please donate to a Conservative candidate for IL State Rep: http://paulfor62.com #tcot #iltcot #teaparty #

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Come and join the Lake County, IL twollo group at http://bit.ly/qT3hI #

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I an live blogging the responses from the school board community forum. Please check back for updates throughout the night. Currently there are approximately 75 community members in attendance. This excludes school board members and school administration. My comments in (parenthesis).
1). Many people in the community would like to become more involved [...]

There has been an ongoing discussion among parents, D46 administration and D46 school board members about whether to hold an open forum with the community. A discussion is on the agenda for tonights meeting. The Daily Herald is reporting on this effort this morning.
Smigielski said the possibility for further budget cuts and [...]

Only 27% of aspiring teachers could pass the math tests. If you have any doubts why fuzzy math, everyday math, new math or whatever name the education schools come up with. Money is not going to solve this problem. Competition, alternative certifications and real world experienced teachers will have the greatest impact.
The [...]

RT @ILBlogger Should kids accused of crimes be kept out of school? http://bit.ly/j7Mmi #
RT @ILBlogger Lake Villa pastor hopes to start Christian school: http://bit.ly/MHQr1 #
L.A. Unified pays teachers not to teach: http://bit.ly/Hfu2g
#tcot #education #
Even if pension is cut, teachers get good deal: http://bit.ly/15KV7F
#education #
Illinois schools: Schools across Illinois freeze salaries for top [...]

This coming Friday, May 8th, there will be a blogger meetup at Carlucci’s Restaurant in Downers Grove, IL.  This event is sponsored by the Sam Adams Alliance and Illinois Review.  The event runs from 10 am – 4 pm and will feature Award Winning Investigative Journalist, Trent Siebert.  Trent, now of the Texas Watchdog, is [...]

There is a school board meeting tonight at Grayslake Middle School. One topic being discussed is the Superintendent’s contract. Please attend if you want your voice heard.
I’d like to suggest that the school board freeze pay or at least tie ti to CPI during these economic hard times. Woodland District 50 just [...]

Help out a Christian School, buy your Mother’s Day presents at http://tinyurl.com/dxebab #christian #homeschool #

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The Grayslake Elementary District 46 Schools is preparing to have an energy review to see if solar or wind power can help them save money.
Energy costs are the latest area where Grayslake Elementary District 46 officials want to make significant cuts.
District 46 isn’t alone in trying to hold the line or reduce its electricity tab. [...]

The MacIver Institute has the video of 17 year old homeschooler, Melika Willoughby speaking at the Madison, WI tax Day tea Party. Watch for yourself and listen to her words. She did a great job representing homeschoolers and calling all people to action.

There are 4 candidates running for 3 positions. The Daily Herald has endorsed Tom Meskel and Thomas G. Halloran.
Incumbent Tom Meskel is a strong member of the board who is both fiscally conservative and an innovator willing to explore creative ideas, such as a wind farm that can generate revenue and be a learning [...]

Grayslake Elementary is cutting 29 jobs to help alleviate a budget deficit. The District did not get as much of a revenue increase from property taxes due CPI being only 0.1 %. Since around 80% of the district’s expenditures are for salaries the only place to make up the $2.3 million deficit is [...]

RT @edupreneurRt @rpagesc @SCRG Report: SC has 11 of the top 25 worst public schools in the nation: http://tinyurl.com/der2yp #edreform #
NC Judge Ordered Homeschool Mom to Place Kids in Public School http://tinyurl.com/anmfzq #hsc #education #tcot #

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A North Carolina Judge ordered a homeschool mom to place her kids in public schools. [Emphasis mine]
A judge has ordered a mom to place her three home-schooled children in public school – even though the kids were excelling.
North Carolina Judge Ned Mangum told Venessa Mills, who was in the middle of a divorce battle, [...]

The Illinois Legislature has introduced 2 bills that could affect homeschooling in the state. Hat tip: Susan at Home Education Magazine and Illinois Review for both of these bills.
The first is HB 3743, “ILLINOIS VIRTUAL SCHOOLS”:
Synopsis: Creates the Illinois Virtual School Act. Establishes the Illinois Virtual School as a statewide virtual school to serve [...]

Lake Villa Christian Academy is accepting registrations. You can request more information by contacing Bob or Mary Parikh at 847-245-7471 or 847-356-1031. More information is below:

The Bible will be taught, faith will be shared and children will be encouraged to receive the life transforming message of the Gospel and Jesus Christ as their [...]

The News-Sun is reporting about how Grayslake High School District is planning on spending $1.6 Million dollars on capital improvement projects. The largest of these projects is approximately $1.1 million to put artificial turf at the new North High School.
The board set aside $500,000 for classroom improvements for art and the band-choir students [...]

Grayslake schools are estimated to receive just over $1.1 million dollars from the stimulus package. The breakdown of IDEA, Part B funds are as follows. Neither district will be receiving Title 1 monies in this estimate.
Grayslake Elementary $813,000
Grayslake High School $336,000
These estimates can be found on page 13 of the pdf found at [...]