Tentative teacher contract.

Superintendent shuffle.

Bam, Bam bam----------current board gets iheir way.

Melanie Walsh hanging out to dry. Is there a lawsuit? a lawyer fund? support group?

I want her to win and wait for the next ELECTIONS.

<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

TWO Superintendent salaries, TWO Special Education Director salaries, a pending labor dispute that could go to litigation and cost $100,000....Just who is giving this school board advise to persue this path of distruction?

Is it the same person that advises against spending money on new technology? Is it the same person that orchestrated the teacher stand off until the community got upset?

How much money will this board continue to waste?.... money that could be better spent on District 135 students.

Diane Leib

This is outrageous. How can this school board throw all this money around? Why couldn't Dr. Howell finish the school year in the supt. position and save the Orland taxpayers some money? Will this result in a tax increase that will then be blamed on the teachers? Exactly how much will Mr. Soustek be paid to "help out"?

Doesn't anyone else see the writing on the wall?? Obviously Dr. Howell is being demoted immediately by the board. Since the district once again is in turmoil so they feel they have to bring in Dennis Soustek again like they did after Dr. Linda Anast-May.

"pending the school board's formal approval." Whatever THAT is supposed to mean! Where have we heard it before...approved and then....? . So next week is the "formal approval," of Dr. Howell's move back to Curriculum Director. OH.... but stay tuned folks! The following week the majority of the Board will decide to offer Dr. Howell his "old job" of Superintendent back - on a take it or leave it basis. And the following week, they will "formally approve" the Centennial principal is forced into the Supt. position, (since at this point, no one will want it!) THEN since there is an opening at Centennial, Dr. Howell will apply for principal seat and with "Board's formal approval" he will have his older, and more former position back --- that IS until one of the board's majority remembers that she has a distant relative who would like to "give being a principal a whirl" so with "formal approval" Dr. Howell is bought out of his superintendent contract. Sound ridiculous? YES! But the sad thing is, that while some snicker at this incredulous scenario-- the ones who should "get it" - DON'T get it!
Btw, Dennis - you are a SAINT to take on this job! And Paul, sorry you have had this burden to bear!

Taxpayers in Orland District 135 should be very concerned about the actions of their school board. It is worth your time to get to know what board members are about. They are here to represent you, but the decisions of this board have been questionable. They have the power to switch positions around or to demote or to dismiss. Lately, they seem to be acting as though they have the money of professional sports teams with their switcheroos. They will be choosing your next superintendent. You will not have a choice in the matter. But, you do have a choice in who you elect to the school board. We need a top-notch superintendent in this school district, not more of the same. How does replacing Dr. Howell with Dr. Soustek create a positive impact in the district? What was the reason for this change? Will we ever know? We need a leader who commands the respect of the board, the community, and the teachers. The board should not have the role of administration. Their focus should be on managing funding so that the children of Orland Park have what they deserve. Updated technology and top-notch staff development should be at the core of their spending. By choosing a leader who is a strong educational leader, who is experienced in leading such a large district, and who is committed to building strong relationships, the district can move forward. But right now we are in a decline. The concern isn't about spending money; it is about spending money wisely. Pay attention.

I'm nervous about Soustek coming back. He's John Reinich's buddy. He's the Supt. who recommended (to a Board dominated by Reinich friends) that Reinich be promoted to Assistant Superintendent (with a Supt. salary and long term contract). If Reinich becomes Supt., I'm moving. The guy already has too much power. The wizard is creating his own OZ because no one is watching the man behind the curtain.

Ann, you do have a point. I still think what John Reniche did with the baseball fields is horrendous. In my opinion, he should have resigned or been fired. What he did was unethical, yet John Carmody benefited from it so nothing was said or done. He should have admitted publically that the two of them did that together. I am proud to say that I never voted for Carmody in the last two elections.

@kathy Qulity did you take money from the teachers' union and then sat in the teacher's negotiations?

Yes I received a donation from the teacher's union. In fact, every sitting board member received some type of finiancial donation when they ran for election except for Carol Baker. The last time for the negotiations it was Mike Hastings, Pat O'Sullivan, Frank Grabowski (whose daughter is a teacher at Stagg) and myself. We negotiated a pretty good contact for all. Teachers realized how the times are and received a 1.4% raise each year of the contact.

How unethical that you take donations from the same organization that you negotiated with. And be honest too!! The 1.4% only represents the base increase and not step or lane changes. I hope you recused yourself from the vote. If not, maybe you should resign!!!!

I am not unethical at all. We negotiated very well. It was a good financial deal for both sides. If you think I should resign, then the entire board should resign. Teachers have always supported candidates for as long as I can remember.

Kathy Quilty 100% ethical. She is so upfront that she is using her true identity on this forum.

@Terri someone that takes money from the Union and then forces her way onto the negotiation's team and votes on the contract after taking money is UNETHICAL. Do you think they gave the money to her because they like her... NO! They expected something in return. That is how it works. She should resign!

Let's focus on what this article is about and back off the personal attacks. District 135 and 230 are two separate animals.

You scratch my back and I'll scratch yours. Nothing at all about our kids......just plain old school politics. Ugly and slippery, all of it!!

I've read the union contract. It gives a 90 day review period for hires at new positions. If the board found out there were circumstances that were not disclosed, the board could have decided to remove the person. Look at the teachers with the same last names that have relatives in the district, it is waaaaay more than any board relatives and friends. The union thinks that they get to pick the teachers and the one time a board member wants a friend, they have a hissy fit. 2 wrongs don't make a right, but the teachers are whiners. They want more money with a bad economy and threaten our kids education. Now they want to cost the taxpayers more money because the board finally stood up to their cronysim.

Our tax money should be spent to lower student /teacher ratios. Of course we must spend on staff salaries and building maintenance. Curriculum? Technology? Computers? Ask the teachers what they need PERIOD. Tax money should not be spent for 2 Superintendents, 2 Special Education Directors, 2 Curriculum Directors and a legal battle about a secretary position. Hundreds of thousands of dollars wasted. GET RID of SCHOOL BOARDS. We can't afford them. Gone are the days of dedicated volunteers who just wanted to improve their communities educational system.

John Paul is right. It just doesn't make sense and this is all on the Board. The Board hired Ms. Walsh with a process they were fine with, then approved her hiring and let her work for three months. Not a comment ir complaint was filed, until SOMEONE came up with the crazy excuse to fire her. And everyone agreed because SOMEONE convinced them it was an infringement of Civil Rights. Well, THAT'S BUNK! To treat anyone like they treated Ms Walsh--- there is nothing civil about it!))