April 2, 2021
Wonderful news – money for our school districts: http://senatormelindabush.com/news/16-latest-news/455-senator-bush-announces-local-schools-set-to-receive-more-than-90-million?fbclid=IwAR2OtNwoQ5iWGyVZ6JDYLrxmx7b_Pifneej0E4Z3FfRE7iOVLS_bE7IE8BQ
March 25, 2021
There are yet more false claims linking Culturally Responsive Teaching and Leading Standards to Critical Race Theory, Karl Marx (Communism), and portraying it as anti-American. These are far-right dog whistles.
Here’s what ISBE says: “The standards will help future teachers engage and connect with students from all different backgrounds They encourage teachers to engage in self-reflection, to get to know their students’ families, to connect the curriculum to students’ lives, and to support student leadership. Great teachers already use these best practices; the standards offer more support to ensure educators are adequately prepared to teach all students effectively on day one in the classroom.”
https://www.isbe.net/Documents/CRTL.pdf#search=culturally%20responsive%20teaching
February 16, 2021
The latest false news concerns Culturally Responsive Teaching and Leading Standards. No, teachers will not be forced to take their students to rally against gun sales, nor participate in protests. CRTLS promotes understanding systems of oppression, seeing students as individuals, leveraging student advocacy, valuing students’ traditions, etc.
- Here is an excellent article explaining Culturally Responsive Teaching and Leading Standards.
- ISBE’s page on their new teaching standards.
School Board Meetings
I have been attending School Board meetings – regular, special and committe for two years. Although, as citizens, we can’t vote we can certainly speak up and make our views known. Below are links to the ZBTHS School Board meetings where I made comments.
I referred to Rep. Rita Mayfield’s HB 0080 which would required mandatory reading on racism. I asked the Board to add a course on racism.
I asked the School Board to sharing the meeting via Zoom in the future in order to make it easier for residents to attend.
I asked the School Board to include links to supporting documentation when posting the approved mintues.
I asked if all School Board meetings are being recorded. (They are per state law.) And if the Board reads the textbooks prior to appoving the curriculum.
I supported the Superintendent’s remote learning plan. And I asked that the Superintendent outline his goals and performance objectives for the district.
I questioned whether the Natatorium project was the best investment of funds and asked that the money be invested in additional personnel to address students’ education
I expressed my concerns that the quadrennial reassessment undervalued commercial properties which shifts the tax burden to residential properties.
I asked whether the Natatorium plans could accomodate solar energy and what is the hourly cost of operating the Performing Arts Center. And I expressed appreciation for District’s decrease in the tax levy.