Monday, May 14, 2012

Berwyn CARES Buys Books for Boys.




Berwyn CARES received several Thank You notes from students after donating to the Donors Choose project Books for Boys.  It looks like the girls are enjoying the books just as much!


Friday, May 11, 2012

CARES Speaks Out Against District 201 Board of Education


Contact: communications@berwyncares.org
BERWYN CARES STATEMENT TO DISTRICT 201 BOARD OF EDUCATION
May 9, 2012 (Berwyn, IL) 

My name is Robert Pauly. I am the President of Berwyn CARES. CARES is a non-profit organization dedicated to fostering collaboration among students, educators, parents and community members with a goal of providing an exceptional learning environment for our children.

First, I would like to take this opportunity to applaud District 201 students, their parents and teachers for their diligence in continuing to chase the promise of a good education, in spite of glaringly clear obstacles.

I am here tonight representing our membership and our community, thousands of parents and residents who have contacted CARES over the last several weeks about the leadership shortfalls that confront our high schools. We share your outrage and stand with you in demanding higher standards.

According to the National Center for Public Education, effective school boards are accountability driven, focused on policies to improve student achievement, not continually focused on personal scandals. Reporting by the Chicago Sun Times has conclusively implicated Board Member Michael Iniquez for racially charged Internet posts and Board Member Jeffrey Pesek for “having been part of criminal activities”.

By their own actions Mr. Iniquez and Mr. Pesek have brought shameful controversy to our high schools and to our towns, controversy that makes them both categorically unfit to serve.  Moreover, by failing to publicly condemn them in this public forum tonight, and demand their resignation, the entire District 201 Board of Education is culpable for the staggering loss of confidence the community feels in your judgment and your ability to oversee a budget that exceeds $90 million dollars. 

These individuals do not reflect the values or the character of our communities and it is time for you to stand up and say so.

Additionally, with one year until municipal elections, we plan to hold our elected officials in Berwyn, Cicero, Lyons, Stickney and Forest View accountable for aiding our community in selecting and electing the best qualified candidates for school board, not the best connected.

It is time for school leaders to go beyond acknowledging bad judgment and to take responsibility for their actions. It is time for Mr. Pesek and Mr. Iniquez to resign. Only then, can we as a community move forward with the business of educating our children.


Sources:
Racist Facebook post on Cicero school board member’s page: http://www.suntimes.com/11966877-
417/racist-facebook-post-on-cicero-school-board-members-page.html
School board member suspended from Cicero job over racist post on Facebook: http://www.suntimes.com/12091901-417/school-board-member-suspended-from-cicero-job-over-racist- post-on-facebook.html
Eight characteristics of effective school boards: http://www.centerforpubliceducation.org/Main- Menu/Public-education/Eight-characteristics-of-effective-school-boards