Consider... "WORK RULE CHANGES" intended to RETURN District 109 students and families with special needs [those students that are most vulnerable to poor educational practices] ....BLOCKED and opposed by these Board Members [Ellen London] and doing so based on information provided by newly hired administrators who have lost all credibility with parents within the entire District well before contract negotiations began. Shame on them.

With the buzz all around Deerfield now being for movement demanding the resignations or firings of School Administrators [just hired since the downward slide!] all the way to including moving for a recall to replace Board Members ....I must say the ground swell of support for such actions has grown in the last two weeks. And now I must support any move for change such as this. If you're at Wallgreens, Starbucks, Barns and Noble, Whole Foods or Jewel during your week... working out at Sachs Center or at Jewett for a class or event, if you're a parent or not, when running into neighbors and friends around town, parents and taxpayers are gagging on what this Superintendent, her chosen school administrators and elected school board have done to this school district in just 3 years. They have been "outed" by the facts being reported and discussed. Imagine NOT being for children with special needs!

....and imagine trying to "spin it" in that changes are FOR the children when in fact they are not. I was as insulted as the rest of those who attended the meetings last week when what we heard from Caruso's Middle School spokesperson was that the downward slide complied with minimum standards since "all students were learning". OUCH!

Prior to this Superintendent and her chosen administration comming into our schools, it could have and in fact would have been reported that our schools have EXCEEDED minimum standards.

Is this where we've gone? Lowering our standards and on the backs of children needing it most? And...being told we will NOT have answers to our Questions? [with attitude!] School administratoers speaking in public with the attitude and demeanor of a spokesperson from a utility company as if to say "WE DON'T CARE....WE DON'T HAVE TO" when refusing to answer questions during a meeting called by administration.

YES! It's time for change. It's time to consider moving forward to replace those employees WHO WORK FOR US [and elected officials] that are.... UNDER PERFORMING....DISTRICT 109 ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICIALS.

Wow Bob! I couldn't have said it any better myself! I am so not surprised to hear about attitude from the administrators. That is how it is...it doesn't matter what is best for the students....it is their way or the highway! I say let US send them all to the highway! How dare Ellen London make comments about negotiations when she wasn't even a part of it! These people make me virtually ill....I think even meeting with the special education parents is a scam just to get them to quiet down. They don't give a damn about special needs students...the district in which families used to move to because of their special education services...most are told just get through your three years in middle school and wait for high school because it is so much better...well that is three years of education lost as well as illegal services being given!

The wool won't be pulled over the parents eyes any longer. The SpEd parent group that is forming is led by two smart parents who have been through the wars and know all the tricks and lies. So I would encourage anyone with SpEd children in the district to join this group and stay informed. They will be providing information on how to advocate for your child. And they will not stop until the process has been fixed.

Hopefully everyone realizes that Ellen London=Renee Goier and that they are rather close friends. Somewhat of a conflict of interest, don't you think?
Also, operating under the lip service of being "fiscally responsible" while going through countless situations involving litigation because of feeling a lack of need to comply with either the current contract or the law is a complete joke. There is nothing fiscally responsible about the huge amounts of taxpayer money being spent on lawyers because the current board and administration feel they shouldn't have to answer to anyone but themselves. In my opinion power-hungry people are usually hiding something...incompetence. This couln't be any more clear than it is right now. We need to clean house and start fresh before things get any worse. Anyone know how to begin such a process?

Are you asking about how to clean house pertaining to the teacher's? Are you asking because the demand for a 19% pay raise (over the next three years) in an economy where many of the people who have not been fired have had salaries frozen or reduced seems out of touch with present economic conditions?

Excellent question.

To add more fuel to your fire, don't forget the fact that the laws of supply and demand dictate that there are hundreds of quality teachers who would love to work in a community like Deerfield and be quite happy with any contract. With so many teachers out of work perhaps the quality of teachers in 109 could even increase!
That would be terrific.

Thank you.

This might be a good start:
http://www.ehow.com/how_6799992_remove-school-board-members.html

John Doe....if you have been following any of this....there is absolutely no raise for the teachers based off of what the board members and administration has offered. The board offered a raise package...my understanding is 1.9% not 19% and wants to increase the healthcare costs for all educators, but for those that are administrators who have them all paid for by the board including if I am understanding correctly family. All district employees pay for healthcare...that being said it would take away the raise that was offered plus the raises in which these educators received when the district decided to increase the school day and instead of allowing more educational time with students added a new program that is a waste of time and money! As for special education....the administrators don't listen and I hope these parents don't go away, because they will make promises and not keep them. My understanding is Renee Goier has hired a lot of people that she is friends with...like that principal that was quietly removed from Walden a few years ago.

Here the board/admin shoots themselves in the foot again. It is funny how they get all these perks and a 401 k match, fully paid health care unlike teachers, fully paid doctoral programs, health club memberships, pension, and cars. This is totally ridiculous and then they lie to the public once again 19% do they think that we are seriously dumb enough to believe that? Their proposal has been out for months, 1.9% right? And for a fact know that the teachers have said they haven't discussed and refuse to talk financials until the other issues are resolved according to the parents meeting.

From what I think the proposals that have been discussed at the board meetings, and parent meeting have been a reflection of our student needs, not teachers wants. I am sure they would be happy staying quo pro compared to their last contract, benefits, and salary. I mean 19% seriously? Just give them 4% each year on their salary schedule (respectable and if I did my calculations correctly the same as their last contract on the district web page), and let them keep their benefits.

This boggles me. I for some reason highly doubt the teachers are dumb either asking for 19%. They didn't even get that with the school day extension. Who is kidding who? Don't most jobs also get a small increase higher than 1.9% a year? The way even utilities and gas is going how can they expect people to keep their same quality of life especially while reducing benefits?

I feel for the teachers. Not the 4 extra administrative staff they have hired over the last few years. Or the cushy jobs and benefits the administrators have. Has anyone been watching the U of I situation on TV? Administration and Boards are taking advantage of their constituents and it has to stop!

If I remember correctly from all the reading from the teacher website and the past patchh posts it was 1.9% NOT 19%! Who are they kidding...maybe it was a typo on the part of the communications director that was a newly established position in the district office. What the union to me seems to continue to ask for is respect and quality for the students and assurances for themselves...a BATHROOM BREAK! A, I believe the union president did say that money/raises has not been discussed and won't be discussed until other issues are resolved...Make sure to tell your friends and neighbors to go to that board meeting tomorrow night at WILMOT!!!!

19% over three years according to Sun-Times.
Article is dated today.

deerfield.suntimes.com/news/10597753-418/district-109-board-claims-union-has-distorted-proposals.html

http://deerfield109teachers.wordpress.com/

DEA response to the response has the Board proposal at "just under 2% per year" which is less than the current salary schedule. So that's what the Board thinks the teachers are worth. Pathetic.

My daugher has a 504, not an IEP, which is not even in any discussions, however these are some of the comments made to me by 109 administration over the years:

- If your child gets C's that should be good enough for her, shouldn't it?
- The TAP parents are a powerful group so that's where the focus is in the district, not on special needs kids
- Your child will really have a difficult time in junior high but we don't have to help her because she's not completely flunking now
- Being at a meeting and hearing "your child is doing great!", only to go home and receive an email from a teacher saying your child is flunking her class

I could go on but recalling these comments is too depressing. The administration and board have lost credability in Deerfield. They bet that parents would not want to discuss their child's challenges in public and proceeded to treat parents as if they were stupid idots at meetings (providing you could even get them to 'grant' you a meeting). If they had been honest and attempted to work with parents, we would not be at the point we are.

I would ask all those people who don't think there is an issue one question. What would your reaction be if you were the recipient of some of the comments above?

I am thankful that the teachers identiied this as a contract issue. It has exposed the administration's glib and inappropriate behavior, something special ed parents have known for a long time.

This article is more like a PR piece from the teachers union. patch should present all sides if they want to call it 'news'.

19% seriously? Where is this evidence? Do they understand the teachers have voted and a strike is looming? The board/admin looks like puppies with their tails between their legs doing a full out PR attack to gain our support? 19% over three years? That would roughly be 7% per year salary increase if you compound it and if this is true then it was an initial proposal over a year and a half ago when negotiations started? They haven't negotiated on this at all. Of course it will come down, it is a negotiation after all. They make it sound so horrible. They need to take care of this now especially since our community is starting to look into recalling board members already.....

$17 million surplus is there for what reason? Not meeting special education minutes according to IEP's....isn't that against the law and a disservice to all of us? They would save money if they didnt need all these lawyers for their mistakes, and didn't overcompensate themselves.

Interesting though from 2002, http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2002-10-15/news/0210150222_1_teachers-union-tentative-strike-date

TO "JOHN DOE"......SPOKEN LIKE A TRUE MERYL LYNCH V.P.!

A 6% raise each year over the next 3 years is unreasonable and a sure fire way to assure future tax increases on homeowners.

A vote to authorize a strike frames the current state of negotiations. So let's employ simple math and check out the scorecard.
The teachers voted 261 - 2 to authorize a strike if an impasse in negotations is reached.
The Deerfield 109 School Board is comprised of 7 members. So, at best their vote could only be 7 - 0 to maintain the status quo.
Next, we should canvass the eligible voters within the District and get their opinion. A simple method would be to have people chime in on their perspective. I suggest that the concerned parents who recently organized circulate a petition for recall of board members. Use the model from the recent recall petition drive in Wisconsin that presented a strong indication of the will of the people. For illustration, the 2010 census indicates a population of 18,923. http://www.deerfield.il.us/assets/1/community_development/ExecutiveSummary-4.pdf There are 2.84 average persons per household. There are 6,586 households in Deerfield. A simple majority of 3,294 households is a nice target to achieve within the next two weeks. If you are concerned about the state of education in Deerfield Dist. 109 and wish to make a change....sign the petition. One person one vote...democracy works when people exercise their freedom of speech and their right to vote!
Simple math. A few thousand trump 7 misguided individuals!!
Katie, get cracking on circulating those petitions!

The difference between the 2002 contract and this one? Mrs. Goyer and HR director Pascal DeLuca. He was fired from his previous supt. position for similar actions as to what is happening here..."Adding more to the tension, teachers voted unanimously Tuesday night, with more than 500 teachers present, to ask the school board to call for Superintendent Pat Deluca's resignation. Teachers say Deluca's "negative management style" has caused teachers to strike for the second time since 2004. There were no teacher strikes in the fifteen years before he was hired. They also say Deluca has lowered morale among employees and damaged community relations.
"The Harlem Federation of teachers expresses a vote of no confidence in Superintendent Deluca, and urges the board of education to call for his immediate resignation," Dave Comerford, the teachers' union representative from the Illinois Federation of Teachers, told a crowd of cheering parents and students outside Harlem High School Tuesday Night. " more here...
http://www.wifr.com/mobi?storyid=9437261

To John Doe-
How many times have I heard that teachers make enough money, too many. If you don’t feel like they deserve to be paid fairly then keep your kids at home and home-school yourselves. Try not to cast aspersions until you know what it is like. These teachers are the ones who are educating our children while helping to shape their future. Many times the teachers spend more hours per day with our kids than we do, while educating them, while dealing with their own child(ren), while maintaining a relationship and a home, and having time for themselves. It is life, absolutely. But again if you don’t like the system, show up and change it instead of griping to those in your path. Be the change…..
Try to refrain from coming into this open forum and shouting just to shout, KNOW THE FACTS!!!! The teachers are not asking for a 19% salary increase over 3 years, which is clear if one would check their facts by reviewing Appendix B on page 86 or the below link. http://www.dps109.org/humanresources/Contracts%20and%20Agreements/2008-2011%20Collective%20Bargaining%20Agreement%20Between%20Board%20of%20Education%20and%20Deerfield%20Education%20Association%20(DEA).pdf

What is being asked for by teachers pretty much follows this schedule. There was also a jump in salary due to the extended school day, which stands to reason. The increase is also dependent on if a teacher is within a different bracket of what their educational degree is and how many years they have been teaching. The DEA has said that salary will be the last part of the negotiations due to the fact that this aspect is the one that they can give more on if need be. To me, teachers deserve all that we can give them and then some but that is just my opinion.

And remember that the teachers are working on LAST year's salary because they have not signed a new contract yet. They have not taken a new "step" this year even though they have that added year of experience. If you look at the steps on their contract on the DPS109 website, they attempt to keep up with standard of living. Therefore, the 1.9% raise per year the Board is offering is not a respectable offer as it is much lower than the 3.5-4% one would expect to keep up with standard of living. And don't forget about looking at salaries in other surrounding, competitive districts. We need our teachers to be compensated for the phenomenal work they do with our children every day!

The district has gathered a $17 million surplus and pats themselves on the back at the expense of the students. I am upset that my tax dollars are sitting gathering interest but my daughter's classes get bigger and bigger and other kids getting special education services in her room are being done at an expense to her learning. I want my money spent so classes are smaller and students like my daughter who are neither at the high or low end get the attention I pay good money for.

I wonder if the board members realize what this horrible situation will do to permanently damage their reputations in the community.

This isn't about money, it is about control. Eliminating all protections relating to evaluations is simply so teachers who speak up for children and their parents or who demand the contract and educational law be followed can easily be eliminated without the consequences of litigation like what currently happens.. This is about massive ego.

Pam, you’re exactly right. When you read between the lines of what the teachers are asking for, it is clear that they are being “silenced” by this administration. I’ve heard of teachers being yelled at after the IEP meetings for offering their input and suggestions. The district wants no minutes and no teacher input so that they cannot be legally held accountable for what is discussed in an IEP. This leaves the parent with little recourse.
It is a clear and deliberate plan to maintain complete control over every aspect within her district. As you know she has hired most of the school’s administration and as a result they are useless and silent puppets as this all goes down under their watch.
Simply put, the teachers are asking for respect. I think they should take a vote of confidence in the administration and I’m sure it would come back along similar lines as the strike vote. Her policies are hurting morale and her “push in” philosophies are hurting the education of all our children. The experiments should stop and the resource rooms restored. The time is now for change. Supt. Goier must go.

This is a turning point in our community's history. I grew up here in Deerfield and in the 40 years I have lived here, there has never been this kind of conflict, distrust, and disrespect for the teachers, parents, and students. With that in mind, it is clear that this new administration has made some terrible decisions and the BOE has supported them. At this point, it is the responsibility of all the residents of Deerfield to attend the meetings, read the teacher's website, as well as the BOE updates before judging the teachers. If this were just an issue of money, the contract would've been settled months ago. This is an issue of ego on the part of the board. BTW, 1700 votes removes a board member from office.

How can the School Board talk about being fiscally responsible when they have allowed the current administrarion to create 20 to 30 completely new positions over the last 3 years? The Deerfield taxpayers need to demand all this information be accurately published in the paper! Their once well respected school system has been run into the ground by Renee Goier!

Echoing Lisa's comments, please attend the board meeting Monday night - currently scheduled for 7 PM at Wilmot School. Let's hear what the board has to say about Special Education Services for the children of our community. Someone said it above - "meeting standards" is so far below Deerfield standards. Deerfield District 109 has always stood for excellence in every respect, but especially in how students with special needs have been treated. I know; I have two such children (2007 and 2010 DHS grads). Our now long ago Dist 109 experiences were always driven by impassioned, creative teachers working to build our children into successful learners and well rounded children. These teachers led the way for our children and for Marcy and me. Administrators were there to help the teachers help our children excel. They weren't there to manage budgets and pretend to meet someone else's standards. When we had issues with structure or programs we were able to talk with administrators and work to make what was good better. (continued below)

Things weren't perfect; even then I'm not sure that the board completely understood the impact of the miracle workers masquerading as special ed teachers, speech and physical therapists, social workers and how the rest of the general ed teachers shared in the love and guidance our children received. But there was always collaboration; there was always the ability for the real experts (the teachers) to decide and lead the best course for our children. That’s what District 109 was about and should always be about. Giving the best to those who need it most makes each of us the best we can be. Doing less brings us all down.

Tonight's Board meeting moved to the Shepard gym.