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

CARES Calls for Leadership Change at 201

April 18, 2012 (Berwyn, IL) Recent reporting by the Chicago Sun Times brings ‘yet more controversy to the District 201 (Morton) School Board’ and reinforces the reasons that the current Board of Education has lost the confidence of the community, support that is critical to improving some of the lowest performing schools in the state.

Berwyn CARES shares the outrage of students, teachers and residents in learning about racist posts on the Facebook page of Board Member Michael Iniquez. “These comments are offensive and call into question his ability to serve District 201. While we are encouraged to hear that Cicero President Larry Dominick has called on the town’s inspector general to investigate inappropriate behavior by leaders at Morton, we expect him to inform the community on the investigation’s outcome and to take appropriate action if the allegations are true,” said CARES President Robert Pauly.

The Sun Times additionally reported that Board President, Jeff Pesek was listed in a recently unsealed federal court document as among at least nine people intercepted by the FBI in a Cicero pawnshop as “having been part of criminal activities” with the shop’s owner.

“The National Center for Public Education guidelines on qualifications for school board members asks ‘Does the person inspire confidence in the local public schools?’ By their own actions, these individuals demonstrate they lack the qualities and qualifications that local students need,” said Mr. Pauly.

When asked, the quality of education provided by this District is the single greatest concern expressed by our membership. CARES encourages all residents to attend the next scheduled District 201 Board Meeting on Wednesday, May 9th at 5:00 PM at the Morton Freshmen Center (1801 South 55th Avenue, Cicero) and to contact the District Office at 708-222-5700 (or district201@jsmorton.org) to comment on the leadership of our schools.

Source: 
Group blasts racist post on school board member’s Facebook page
http://www.suntimes.com/news/metro/1201 ... -page.html
Racist Facebook post on Cicero school board member’s page 
http://www.suntimes.com/news/metro/1196 ... -page.html

Berwyn C.A.R.E.S. (Citizens Aligned to Renew Education for Students) is a community based organization dedicated to fostering collaboration among students, educators, parents and community members with a goal of providing an exceptional learning environment for our children. We are united to promote stronger community involvement in Berwyn's District 98, 100, & 201 schools. More information is available online athttp://www.berwyncares.org.

The Center for Public Education (Center) is a national resource for accurate, timely, and credible information about public education and its importance to the well-being of our nation. Their publication ‘Eight characteristics of effective school boards’ offers best practices from successful districts.
http://www.centerforpubliceducation.org ... fault.aspx

Overcoming Obstacles

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THANKS.

Students Thank Berwyn CARES

Here is one of the many thank you notes we have received from Berwyn students for the Donors Choose Berwyn Challenge.