A remarkable perk is that Terri is apparently not required to actually be present during the day to perform her job duties. (How could she with so many classes to attend?). As reported by the MDH,
Current District 54 Interim Superintendent Dr. Dennis Broniecki said he will continue to serve in his part-time position for the one year remaining on his contract, during which time he will mentor Shaw and continue to serve the district during the day.
Shaw's hours will be more flexible, he said, as she works to get her degree and certification. Her new position as district administrator will be full-time, but will be performance-based, rather than having set hours.
This is quite a generous arrangement for someone who has never held a job in school administration, and has no credentials for the job.
On the other hand, maybe a more business-like approach is just what the doctor ordered. Indeed, it appears that there have been substantial cost savings achieved under Shaw's leadership. It is, at the very least, refreshing that any elected official is conscious of the concept of fiscal responsibility, even when that means eliminating some desired services. Perhaps the board's action will be viewed as a shrewd move toward a more fiscally accountable school district.
I suspect however, that the public will view this decision as self-serving for Shaw, and very irresponsible by the board.
The cookie jar has again proven to be just too tempting.
MDH article
24 comments:
Boy, I am sure seeing something different here. I see a woman who is so passionate about our schools that she has left a good paying business to enter the school arena. She does finances for a living for Pete's sake. But from what I've witnesses the past three years, is that she has found her calling.
So what about the credentials. It sounds to me like she's been running things at Dist 54 for awhile now anyway. The accomlishments and repairs she's already put in place should be worth a heck of a lot more than helping her with the tuition. Finding $2 Mil and being $400K under budget, tax rate down, test scores up, morale up, off the state trouble list...unheard of.
All the stake holders are jubilant about this. Teachers, administrators, staff, the board, parents, everyone. The only ones who are not are some of the former board members and administrators. They have turned into internet trolls.
The cookie jar is up north of Route 80, in the burbs, where administrators make huge bucks. I don't see Shaw bailing on our schools. She's going to be there for a long time, and all I see is good things ahead. I see our schools heading onward and upward again. We need her and we want her.
Ying and Yang. Good to capitalize on such an asset, bad form to ignore people who have made a life goal to become a superintendent. Good to see some thinking out of the box, bad form to do it all quietly in the box. Good to see the fiscal management, bad form to act like it was only one person responsible. Good to see accomplishments are rewarded, bad form to be the one of the highest paid superintendents in Grundy.
A new precedent has been set. The school board chairman is now a stones throw away from the superintendent job.
I LOVE IT,
But taking a $110,000.00 a year of my tax dollars while attending college full time makes me want to scream and cry foul.
Teri Shaw is a crook
The whole situation smacks of impropriety. Terri should have stepped down as board president months ago if this was her intention. The negotiations of salary, college tuition and other benefits should have been made before she was brought to the table, not with her negotiating the best deal for herself.
So what's up with Wills leaving the board. Did he disagree with the appointment and this is his way out??
Twenty-three cars were vadalized last TUESDAY, and the Pulitzer Putz's at the MDH wait a week to report it? Absolutely inexcusable.
Sledge, people need to question why Morris citizens pay almost twice the tax to Morris schools compared to Coal City schools, for equivalent properties. The Morris Daily Fluff articles about "low tax rates" are propaganda.
My only hope is that the regional office of education looks into this situation as does the states attorney. Something needs to be done. My question to Ms. Shaw...why did you sit in on the executive sessions that were pertaining to the creation of a new administrator? Do you believe this was ethical? legal? May be Jeannie Milsap needs to ask her these questions. I for one would be curious as to what her response would be. Another thing that makes me curios.....WHERE did she find ALL this money?? Something sounds fishy!
Passionate about our schools? Mmore like passionate about herself (salary, pay, taking credit for the work of others).
Finances for a living? Selling insurance isn't the same as meeting state budgeting requirements nor is it the same as caring for the education of our children.
Tax rate down? Only because the EAV went up. What was the levy? My property taxes have only gone up since she has taken over.
All the stakeholders are jubiliant? I bet you couldn't find 5 people from the pool of personnel in the district who would "HONESTLY" claim they are happy about Shaw-Poundstone becomin self-proclaimed leader of the district.
"We" need her and "We" want her sounds like her family talking.
I have always wanted to be a teacher, would you pay for my education and I will work at your school and do a good job, JUST LIKE TERRI??????
Interesting website. I noticed another blog recently started at
http://grundyville.blogspot.com/
Why are the board members dropping like flies at D54?
According to the Attorney General’s guide to the Illinois Open Meetings Act at http://www.ag.state.il.us/publications/pdf/openmeet02.pdf public bodies may hold closed meetings (page 19) to consider the selection of a person to fill a public office including a vacancy in a public office, when the public body is given the power to appoint under law or ordinance. On page 20, the guide asserts that the selection of a president, chair or other officer, or the committee structure of the body cannot be discussed in a closed meeting.
Did the board have the power under law or ordinance to appoint a person , who attended and oversaw the meeting as a president, to a non-announced and newly created position?
Did the board discuss the replacement of the resigning president?
According to the Requirements of the Illinois Open Meetings Act for School Board Meetings by Terrence M. Barnicle and James P. Bartley, “When a public body fails to comply with the act, or if probable cause to believe that it failed to comply, any person, including the States Attorney, may, within 60 days of the alleged illegal meeting, institute a civil suit in the proper circuit court. The Act also extends this time limitation for the State’s Attorney by providing that, if facts concerning the meeting are not discovered within the 60 day period, action must be taken within 60 days of the discovery of a violation by the State’s Attorney.
I’m no attorney but I’d sure would like to see the minutes of the May closed session.
The District 54 Board has mislead the public and lost its trust by its actions during the May school board meeting. Ms. Shaw and the board have discredited past boards as being un-open and lacking financial prudence to garner the public trust. In May of this year, Ms. Shaw-Poundstone and the board did a 180 degree turn from all past board meetings and articles (see Morris Daily Herald article at http://morrisdailyherald.com/articles/2007/02/19/voice_of_the_people/95voice.txt).
Ms. Shaw-Poundstone, the acting president of the board at the beginning of the May meeting, resigned, and became the district’s new administrator after a closed session. Shaw has no background in education nor any school supervisory certifications. Many members of the community are outraged, and understandably so. Many were surprised by the board’s maneuaver and claim that Shaw manipulated laws and people in acquiring in the unannounced-newly-created administrator positon; especially, after 3 school board members resigned. Community members believe:
There was a violation of the Illinois Open Meeting Act by not informing the public of its intention of adding another administrative position; especially, since all past information from board members indicated they were going to get rid of the full-time supt. and hire a part-time supt. All of this was done during closed session(s) or during clandestine meetings. One community member put it like this: “The Illinois Open Meeting Act (IOMA) “is designed to ensure that public business is conducted in public view, by prohibiting secret deliberations and actions on matters that should be discussed in a public forum.” It is to help in ensuring open and honest government. Do community members believe that D54 acted openly and honestly? For certain, D54 board didn’t operate in the spirit of the this law.
There was a violation of the Illinois Human Rights Act and that D54 is no longer an equal opportunity employer because, due to the lack of announcing the position and not interviewing candidates, Shaw was the only person permitted to apply for the newly-created-undisclosed position. The law clearly states that employers are not permitted to decieve or obstruct anyone from competing for employment and giving an unauthorized preference or advantage to anyone so as to improve the employment prospects of any particular employee or applicant. Is this law null and void if the unqualified person being hired is the board president?
Ms. Shaw and the board only evolved into a political mechanism of double-speak and that is the only 180 degree turnaround with her.
Here are two Joliet Herald articles on the issue:
http://www.suburbanchicagonews.com/heraldnews/news/1037608,4_1_JO03_MORRISGRADE_S1.article
http://www.suburbanchicagonews.com/heraldnews/news/1029186,4_1_JO28_MORRISGRADE_S1.article
This has definitely been planned for awhile. Maybe that is why Shaw was critical of Rund and the former board. They were looking for a full-time superintendent while Shaw favored an interim superintendent. If a FT supt. was hired, Shaw wouldn't be in the position she is in now (earning a fat paycheck, benefits, and free education at our children's expense). Is this the role model we want leading a school?
Shaw also asserted "that you don't have to play fair, but you have to play by the rules." I wonder who she lawyered up with? No matter how you look at it, it is a "Con" job at our children's expense. I wonder if Lisa Madigan knows how Shaw and co. fabricated this.
I wonder what Sledge's take is on this?
The ShawSpin:
“And others seem to be forgetting that I'm walking away from a career. It was a soul-searching decision to walk away from that career and into this."
The No Spin:
Everyone knows that the current state of the economy has consumers purchasing less.
Experts believe that the current pace of layoffs within the financial services sector could be at its worst in post-World War Two history. Making cost-saving measures, Prudential and other financial service companies have reorganized and laid-off many. Definitely, not a time to have a career in the financial services industry and a good time to leave if another opportunity “presented” itself. Especially when many predict this downfall will continue at least another 3 to 5 years. Additionally, what risk is there when one could return to the “career” later if you have a brother that would return your accounts that he has maintained for you?
The ShawSpin:
“Saratoga School District Superintendent Kathy Perry was hired without teaching experience. She was Saratoga's former bookkeeper and Morris' former business manager.
Morris High School District Superintendent Pat Halloran was hired as assistant superintendent, a created position so he could train under Steve Fannin. "We're not reinventing the wheel here."
The No Spin:
Were Perry and Halloran presidents of the board that hired them? Did they have no education background? No credentials? The wheel was re-invented and it has a “ShawSpin” to it and is being inflated by all who support this wrong.
She is dedicated and passionate about the position she is in. She is industrious and smart. I don't think there is much anyone can do about the transparency issue of her appointment. Maybe we should be positive with the given situation and see what she can do.
From the "No Spin"
The opinion written on 7/6 at 8:31 is just an opinion.
I am disgusted by the crooked politics in this town, both at city hall and at district 54. The main priority for these people is filling their pockets with your cash.
When times are economically tough, people will seek out anyone or anything to blame. If a governmental body creates a position and fills that unannounced position behind closed doors, then public outcry should be expected - especially in tough times.
We went to the city of Morris to request a simple rezoning and got socked with a bill for $3,000 for the city attorney. We don't believe for one minute that Belt spent enough time on this to justify this bill. Is city hall full of crooks who just want to fill their pockets with our money?
Shaw sited that Peterson (saratoga) had no teaching background prior to becoming a principal. A recent article in the Joliet Herald says Peterson has 13 years of teaching experience. Who's lying?
http://www.suburbanchicagonews.com/heraldnews/news/1054083,4_1_JO14_PETERSON_S1.article
Cut and pasted from Joliet Herald Article on Morris School District's secret board meetings (http://www.suburbanchicagonews.com/heraldnews/news/opinions/1073792,4_4_JO25_EDIT_S1.article):
Title: Failing grade in Morris
Terri Shaw has an impressive professional background as a financial planner and partner in an insurance firm that probably would make her a good candidate for Morris Grade School superintendent.
But the Morris Grade School Board's coronation of Shaw is something that rightfully deserves scrutiny.
Shaw until May was the school board president. During a board meeting, she resigned. Moments later, the same board created a district administrative position, and promptly hired Shaw.
With that newly created job, Shaw will receive the training need to become superintendent. She has been hired for a three-year contract. In the first year, while finishing her education, she'll receive $65,000. By year two, she will have completed her certification and will be superintendent, with a $90,000 salary. In year three, she'll earn $135,000.
Shaw said that leaving her current financial planning job was difficult.
"It was a soul-searching decision to walk away from that career and into this," she said.
Really? How many other jobs more than double in salary in just three years?
One of the arguments for her hiring is that other school districts have hired people from positions tailored for them to become superintendents. True, and there have been other cases in which a superintendent had no teaching experience.
But let's remember that the Morris Grade School District is not a monarchy. Obviously, this deal came about out of public view, even though Shaw will be collecting $290,000 of public funds just in salaries in the next three years. Clearly, Shaw should have been forthright about her intentions prior to her abrupt resignation and immediate hiring.
If Shaw is such an outstanding candidate for superintendent, she should have gone through an interview process with other prospects. An expanded search for a superintendent should have been conducted. Even though previous searches and hiring of superintendents did not work, that does not mean that the school board can evade proper, ethical procedures just to hand off the most important job in the district. Morris school students would be chastised for taking the easy way out on essays and reports. Why should the school board be given a free pass with this decision?
We wish Shaw success in her endeavor, but we question the way she was hired. In this case, the means to which Shaw was hired did not justify the end result.
Give the Morris Grade School Board an A for creativity and an F for following acceptable rules and standards.
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