PLATFORM | tod219board

Why should you elect Frank Sacks to the

D219 School Board on April 7?

FRANK SACKS' PLATFORM FOR POSITIVE REAL CHANGE!!

On April 7, 2015 taxpayers finally have a real choice in the election for Niles Township High School District 219 Board of Trustees. D219 is wonderful, unique and diverse high school district community with many excellent students, parents, teachers, and community members. Both of our high schools were once ranked among the best schools academically in the state. Niles West and Niles North High Schools have declined in recent years under leadership of the current school board which is responsible for hiring and supporting the current superintendent in 2008 and her mentor, the previous superintendent in 2003. District 219 has a budget of almost 200 million dollars and is the highest spending high school district in Illiniois with more than 31 students enrolled. However, Niles West and Niles North are now ranked as low as 148th and 167th in Illinois. Average ACT scores are now between 21 and 22 which denotes the lowest range of the college readiness. Over 50% of District 219 students do not demonstrate college readiness in science, math, or reading. Now is the time for effective positive change and a new vision for excellence. Frank Sacks represents a new voice for positive change and financial responsibility.

PLATFORM ISSUES and

PROPOSED INITIATIVE SOLUTIONS

ISSUE #5-Improving Relationships with our Feeder Districts

26 Million dollar incentive to D69 (2 million for 13 years) is unfair to other 8 feeder districts and no way to win friends
Feeder District relationships strained by D219 adminstration's disrespect , disapproval, and interference in their provenance.
D219 has not proven ability to improve high school outcomes and lack credibility to advise or dictate policy to feeders

Solutions and Initiatives

Listen to feeders rather than dicate policy and curriculum.
Initiate equitable programs for all non-high school ready feeder
students to improve incoming student achievement
- Programs could be held on weekends, evenings, vacation days, and in the summer at D219 schools.
Coordinate school year calendar to start /end year together
Coordinate vacation days with feeder districts

ISSUE #6-Consolidation with District 69

D219/D69 agreement faulty on many levels
Agrreement pushed through too quickly with little or no taxpayers and community input
Financial support to 1 of our 9 feeder districts with tax dollars earmarked for high school students legally questionable
Agrement favoring D69 ethically and morally specious.

Solutions and Initiatives

Agreement with District 69 indiates 219 has budget surplus
Budget surplus should be refunded back to taxpayers
Requre public hear for non-operational expenditures of 1 million dollars or more
Require referendum for non-operational expenditures of 3 million dollars or more

ISSUE #7 - Lack of Student/Parent/Teacher Community Member Voice in D219

Top-down managment style of board/administration eliminates input from taxpayers who vote and pay their high salaries
D219 students, parents, community members, and teachers lack input regarding educational services provided
Board/administraton do not treat students, parents, teachers, and community members as partners in education
Board and administration treats other stakeholders as adversaries and uses intimidation and retaliation toward students, parents, and teachers who speak out about issues

Solutions and Initiatives

Begin student and parent evaluations of each teacher, coach and administrator to improve the quality of teaching and coaching in District 219. A model of student evaluationsis available in New Trier Township High School District 203.
Initiate teacher evaluations of administrators without reprisal from Board or Adminstration
Provide copies of evaluations to parents and tax payers

ISSUE # 8- Dispute Resolution

D219 budgets more than 2 million plus dollars for legal fees
D219 went over budget and wasted more than 2 million dollars on outside legal fees
Board and Administration treat students, parents, teachers, and community members with disrespect and disdain
Small resolvable (No cost) issues become expensive battles
Board and Administration refuse to acknowledge and solve problems before they reach epidemic proportions
Board members do not respond to emails and telephone calls
Parents and teachers forced to hire attorneys to deal with 219 Solutions and Initiatives
President conduct board meetings in a professional manner
Eliminate constant president and superintendent private conversation and interfacing by changing sitting arrangements
Treat everyone that speaks at meetings with proper respect and dignity by listening intentively to public comments without board/administration making faces or snide remarks
Board president, trustees, and superintendent agree to listen rather than speak or defend themselves during open meetings
Board contact public speakers seeking solutions within 48 hours to begin resolution of problems
Initiate comittee of students, parents, teachers, community members, and board members to hear and resolve disputes
Adjudicate issues with dispute committee and arbitration rather than incurring large outside legal fees.
Decide whether to to retain outside legal firms or retain D219 in-house attorneys rather incurring expenses of both groups

ISSUE # 3- Trust with Community Members

Quality schools important to maintaining property values
Quality schools attract new families to the our district
Community does not trust board /administrators use tax dollars properly and efficiently. (Example: Gymnastics Center at West)
District 69 agreement (2 million dollars/13 years) and $500,000 football scoreboard purchase causes suspicion and mistrust.
Exessive outside legal fees and legal fees cause red flag

Solutions and Initiatives

Involve community members in decision making process
invite communty to attend programs and tutor students
Provide community fair access to utilize school facilities
Hold public forum/referendum for costly new initiatives and construction
Initiate programs for community members to get a return on their tax investment in schools
- Program examples include fitness classes, swimming lessons, arts, weight training, tennis, computer classes

ISSUE # 4-Calendar and School Day Schedules

Current school calendar doesn't coincide with feeder calendar
Early 219 school year start causes issues for family with children in feeder districts
D219 school day has short 42 minute periods
D219 school day inefficient leaving 3 empty periods weekly (2 science labs periods and 3 periods with nothing scheduled)
Students in arts programs limited to 1 elective per year

Solutions and Initiatives

Develop school calendar in agreement with feeder districts
Starts and ends school on nearly same dates as feeders
Coordinate vacation days and school holidays.
Develop new schedule with longer class periods
Create schedule that enables students more electives options
Encourage students rather than discourage to select classes in practical arts such as business, culinary arts, auto mechanics
Create more semester and 2or 3 day per week electives

ISSUE #1-Decline in Student Growth

Average District 219 ACT scores dropped below 22
Scores of 21 denote the lowest level of college readiness
Over 50 percent of D219 students are not ready for college in math, science, and reading when they graduate.
No improvement under the current D219 Board and last 2 D219 superintendents in over 12 years

Reasons for Decline in Student Growth

D219 has not hired the most talented, qualified, or experienced teachers and administrators available.
Relatives, friends of board members, administrators, teachers, and others with connnections hired at D219

Solutions and Initiatives

Hire the best, most experienced and qualified teachers, and administrators regardless of sex, race, religion, age, or sexual orientation.
Research indicates highly qualified teachers can raise student achievement level by as much as two years
End patronage, cronyism, niche compliance hiring, and internal hiring of lesser qualified friends and supporters of Board and Administration.
Initiate Board Committee that reviews applications of new

staff and those seeking tenure to affirm that D219

hire and retain best teachers and administrators available.

ISSUE #2-Financial Responsibility and Trust

D219 budget of almost 200 million dollars
D219 spends almost $23,000 per pupil
State average spending is about $12,000 per student
District 219 pay among the top salaries in Illinois
- Former Superintendent Neil Codell retired early with the highest pension in the state valued at 26 million dollars and Codell receives an annual pension of more than $614,000
- D219 performance not commensurate with dollars spent
Board /administration excessive spending lead to public mistrust.

Solutions and Initiatives

Initiate independent forensic audit of all spending in D219
Audit spending of Board members and administrators
Send audit results of cost savings found to taxpayers
Eliminate all non-essential spending
End 26 million dollar comittment to District 69
Eliminate school based health clinics.
Examine each line of the budget for cost savings.
Eliminate and Consolidate Administrator positions
End agreements with Ecra Group and any other entity with D219 connections

Why should you elect Frank Sacks to the

D219 School Board on April 7?

FRANK SACKS' PLATFORM FOR POSITIVE REAL CHANGE!!

PLATFORM ISSUES and

PROPOSED INITIATIVE SOLUTIONS

ISSUE #5-Improving Relationships with our Feeder Districts

ISSUE #6-Consolidation with District 69

Agrreement pushed through too quickly with little or no taxpayers and community input

Financial support to 1 of our 9 feeder districts with tax dollars earmarked for high school students legally questionable

Agrement favoring D69 ethically and morally specious.

ISSUE #7 - Lack of Student/Parent/Teacher Community Member Voice in D219

ISSUE # 8- Dispute Resolution

D219 budgets more than 2 million plus dollars for legal fees

D219 went over budget and wasted more than 2 million dollars on outside legal fees

Board and Administration treat students, parents, teachers, and community members with disrespect and disdain

Small resolvable (No cost) issues become expensive battles

Board and Administration refuse to acknowledge and solve problems before they reach epidemic proportions

Board members do not respond to emails and telephone calls

Parents and teachers forced to hire attorneys to deal with 219 Solutions and Initiatives

President conduct board meetings in a professional manner

Eliminate constant president and superintendent private conversation and interfacing by changing sitting arrangements

Treat everyone that speaks at meetings with proper respect and dignity by listening intentively to public comments without board/administration making faces or snide remarks

Board president, trustees, and superintendent agree to listen rather than speak or defend themselves during open meetings

Board contact public speakers seeking solutions within 48 hours to begin resolution of problems

Initiate comittee of students, parents, teachers, community members, and board members to hear and resolve disputes

Adjudicate issues with dispute committee and arbitration rather than incurring large outside legal fees.

Decide whether to to retain outside legal firms or retain D219 in-house attorneys rather incurring expenses of both groups

ISSUE # 3- Trust with Community Members

Quality schools important to maintaining property values

Involve community members in decision making process

invite communty to attend programs and tutor students

Provide community fair access to utilize school facilities

Hold public forum/referendum for costly new initiatives and construction

Initiate programs for community members to get a return on their tax investment in schools

Program examples include fitness classes, swimming lessons, arts, weight training, tennis, computer classes

ISSUE # 4-Calendar and School Day Schedules

Current school calendar doesn't coincide with feeder calendar

Early 219 school year start causes issues for family with children in feeder districts

D219 school day has short 42 minute periods

D219 school day inefficient leaving 3 empty periods weekly (2 science labs periods and 3 periods with nothing scheduled)

Students in arts programs limited to 1 elective per year

Solutions and Initiatives

Develop school calendar in agreement with feeder districts

Starts and ends school on nearly same dates as feeders

Coordinate vacation days and school holidays.

Develop new schedule with longer class periods

Create schedule that enables students more electives options

Encourage students rather than discourage to select classes in practical arts such as business, culinary arts, auto mechanics

Create more semester and 2or 3 day per week electives

ISSUE #1-Decline in Student Growth

Reasons for Decline in Student Growth

Hire the best, most experienced and qualified teachers, and administrators regardless of sex, race, religion, age, or sexual orientation.

Research indicates highly qualified teachers can raise student achievement level by as much as two years

End patronage, cronyism, niche compliance hiring, and internal hiring of lesser qualified friends and supporters of Board and Administration.

Initiate Board Committee that reviews applications of new

staff and those seeking tenure to affirm that D219

hire and retain best teachers and administrators available.

ISSUE #2-Financial Responsibility and Trust

D219 budget of almost 200 million dollars

D219 spends almost $23,000 per pupil

State average spending is about $12,000 per student

District 219 pay among the top salaries in Illinois

Former Superintendent Neil Codell retired early with the highest pension in the state valued at 26 million dollars and Codell receives an annual pension of more than $614,000

D219 performance not commensurate with dollars spent

Board /administration excessive spending lead to public mistrust.

Solutions and Initiatives

Initiate independent forensic audit of all spending in D219

Audit spending of Board members and administrators

Send audit results of cost savings found to taxpayers

Eliminate all non-essential spending

End 26 million dollar comittment to District 69

Eliminate school based health clinics.

Examine each line of the budget for cost savings.

Eliminate and Consolidate Administrator positions

End agreements with Ecra Group and any other entity with D219 connections