Tuesday, April 30, 2013
CPS removes special-ed teacher after abuse complaints from parents - Chicago Sun-Times
CPS removes special-ed teacher after abuse complaints from parents - Chicago Sun-Times
A special-education teacher at Finkl Elementary School in the Little Village community has been removed from her classroom, Chicago Public Schools confirmed Tuesday — with the move coming after parents of her students complained of physical abuse against their children.
Luis Murillo said his 7-year-old autistic son had kept coming home from school with bruises on his body since early in the school year. The school told him it was from children fighting, Murillo said. The child also returned home with the knees of his pants ripped out, as if he had been pulled across the ground.
The boy cannot speak but started drawing this year, and he drew like crazy with colored markers on lined paper in a binder: Pictures of stick-figure children looking scared and sad, saying “no.” Tall stick figure women — three of them — with angry brows and giant teeth. A stick figure saying “help.”
“Every time he drew, we just thought he was drawing,” Murillo said.“He needs psychological help; not only him, but the other kids, too.”
Jessica Sanchez said her 8-year-old son, who has Down syndrome, came home with deep scratches on his face in early March, and the mark of what looked like an adult’s hand on his forearm last Thursday. An aide wrote a note that the boy scratched himself on a table, but the teacher told her the aide scratched him by accident.
Sanchez Picked him up early one day for a doctor’s appointment, and her son scurried behind her as soon as he saw her.
“He grabbed me, hid behind me and pointed at the teacher,” Sanchez said. “I was like, OK, what is the teacher doing that he’s pointing at her?”
She said she has been trying ever since to get answers from the principal, who told her he would contact the Department of Children and Family Services.
“All he said was he can’t get me any information until DCFS contacts me,” she said. He told her on Thursday that the teacher and aides had been removed from the classroom. She was at the school Monday when Chicago Police arrived.
None of the parents who contacted the Chicago Sun-Times knew who was to blame in the classroom for first-, second- and third-grade special-education students was to blame. They said the teacher had two aides working with her and the 13 children. They did not know what happened to the aides, but they didn’t want them around children.
The Sun-Times is not naming the teacher or aides because no one has been charged in connection with the matter.
CPS would not say why the teacher had been removed, nor would the district confirm what, if anything, had happened with the aides.
“The teacher has been removed from the classroom and has no contact with students. Appropriate further action will be taken pending the outcome of the investigation,” CPS spokesman David Miranda said in an email.
The Department of Children and Family Services would not confirm whether they had been called. Chicago Police had not made any arrests as of Monday afternoon, according to spokesman John Mirabelli.
CPS would not provide further information about the teacher, including how long she has worked for the district.
On her LinkedIn profile, she wrote that she has worked for CPS since March 2012 and is a special-education teacher.
None of the phone numbers listed for the teacher was in service. A message left for her on Twitter was not returned A woman identifying herself as the teacher’s mother said she would relay a message, but her daughter was told not to talk to anyone.
The teacher did not call back.
Thursday, April 25, 2013
Missouri Senators Bring Campaign to Stop Federal Education Standards to Chesterfield - Ladue-Frontenac, MO Patch
Missouri Senators Bring Campaign to Stop Federal Education Standards to Chesterfield - Ladue-Frontenac, MO Patch
Missouri Senators Bring Campaign to Stop Federal Education Standards to Chesterfield
Republican senators Brian Nieves and John Lamping will host an event tonight featuring several speakers on the "Common Core" standards--what they are calling a federal takeover of education.
Missouri Senators from West County are bringing their campaign to stop the implementation of national education standards in Missouri called “Common Core” to Chesterfield City Hall.
Republican Sen. Brian Nieves and John Lamping, both Republicans, are hosting an event at 7 p.m. Thursday that will also feature speakers fromCommon Core opposition groups.
Nieves represents Missouri’s 26th district, which covers parts of West St. Louis County, including Wildwood, Eureka and Chesterfield, and Franklin County. Lamping represents the 24th district, which covers parts of west-central St. Louis County, including Creve Coeur, Ladue, Frontenac, Olivette and Clayton.
Earlier this year, Lamping filed SB 210, a bill that would prohibit the state from putting the new standards in place. Lamping and other conservative groups opposed to the standards have decried them as a federal takeover of education.
The Common Core Standards Initiative has already been adopted in 45 states and is designed to create a rigorous set of consistent and clear expectations for what students are expected to learn.
Lamping told the St. Louis Beacon in March that he was also concerned with the way the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education is moving ahead in implementing the standards with what he said is little communication to the General Assembly.
The Beacon story also cites Chris Nicastro, commissioner for the department, as defending the standards, pointing out that they support the goals that her department has set for Missouri students.
She also notes that they simply inform districts as to what students should know but do not tell them how to teach. Control of curriculum and decisions on how the standards are taught will remain at the local level.
The standards have been developed over a number of years but are just now starting to generate public attention, both nationally and locally. West Newsmagazine reported that about a dozen protestors stood outside a Rockwood Board of Education meeting April 11 in Ellisville holding signs with anti-Common Core messages.
The protest was organized in part by the Missouri Coalition Against Common Core. The group’s co-founder is Anne Gassel, Wild Horse Township Republic Committeewoman and one of the speaker’s scheduled for Thursday’s event in Chesterfield.
Do you have an opinion on the Common Core Standards Initiative? Let us know in the comments section below.
A Vaccine for Vaccine Damage? | The Thinking Moms' Revolution
A Vaccine for Vaccine Damage? | The Thinking Moms' Revolution
You know, it takes a LOT to get me really fired up. I am pretty laid back (for the most part) and try to find something to smile about no matter what. Humor is my defense mechanism. I get stressed out or worried…I need to laugh. Maybe you’ve noticed that my blogs are usually aboutpoop cupcakes and beer bottle caps.
A Vaccine for Vaccine Damage?
You know, it takes a LOT to get me really fired up. I am pretty laid back (for the most part) and try to find something to smile about no matter what. Humor is my defense mechanism. I get stressed out or worried…I need to laugh. Maybe you’ve noticed that my blogs are usually aboutpoop cupcakes and beer bottle caps.Well, Mountain Mama posted an article yesterday that really pissed me off. I’m talking I wanted to punch a hole in the wall and scream at 
the top of my lungs. Perhaps you saw it in your news feed on Facebook. Science Daily published an article titled, “First Vaccine to Help Control Autism Symptoms.” Yes, you read that correctly…a vaccine to control autism symptoms. And guess what it targets??? BINGO. The bad gut bacteria that so many kids with autism have.
the top of my lungs. Perhaps you saw it in your news feed on Facebook. Science Daily published an article titled, “First Vaccine to Help Control Autism Symptoms.” Yes, you read that correctly…a vaccine to control autism symptoms. And guess what it targets??? BINGO. The bad gut bacteria that so many kids with autism have.Wait, what? Bad gut bacteria? Hold the phone…autism is genetic. We are just better at diagnosing it! Right? WRONG. Autism. Is. Medical. THINK.
I find this entire article, and the fact that researchers are looking for a vaccine to target fixing these kids’ guts, completely insulting. My son, at the hands of the medical community through unsafe vaccine practices, had his gut destroyed to the point that he stopped growing. STOPPED GROWING. He was loaded up with broad spectrum antibiotics for years for ear infections which led to an overgrowth of clostridium difficile among other bad bacteria. On top of this, he was 
given vaccines while he was taking these antibiotics, which even the CDC says shouldn’t happen. From the CDC’s vaccine guidelines: “Routine physical examinations and procedures (e.g., measuring temperatures) are not prerequisites for vaccinating persons who appear to be healthy. The provider should ask the parent or guardian if the child is ill. If the child has a moderate or severe illness, the vaccination should be postponed.“ But guess what? It still happens. Kids are still getting vaccinated while they are on antibiotics. I overheard a grandmother at preschool talking about how her granddaughter was grumpy because her tummy hurt from the antibiotics she was on, and in the very next breath she explained that it also could be because she got her MMR that day too. MMR and antibiotics. A recipe for disaster.
given vaccines while he was taking these antibiotics, which even the CDC says shouldn’t happen. From the CDC’s vaccine guidelines: “Routine physical examinations and procedures (e.g., measuring temperatures) are not prerequisites for vaccinating persons who appear to be healthy. The provider should ask the parent or guardian if the child is ill. If the child has a moderate or severe illness, the vaccination should be postponed.“ But guess what? It still happens. Kids are still getting vaccinated while they are on antibiotics. I overheard a grandmother at preschool talking about how her granddaughter was grumpy because her tummy hurt from the antibiotics she was on, and in the very next breath she explained that it also could be because she got her MMR that day too. MMR and antibiotics. A recipe for disaster.So rather than PREVENTING the destruction of a child’s digestive system, we are looking for a vaccine to help fix the damage. I am sorry, but this is just disgusting and is a great example of what is wrong with our medical system. Perhaps if the powers that be would take some time to look at WHY kids with autism have such bad gut bacteria and start working on reversing the practices that cause the gut damage in the first place, autism symptoms would be reduced without this new wonder vaccine.
Oh, wait…there is no money in that. No money in fewer antibiotic prescriptions. No money in reducing the number of vaccines that are
given at well visits. No money in spreading them out. No money in taking out the dangerous adjuvants that make the vaccines shelf-stable for years. No money in healthy people. You and your children are worth more money when you are sick than when you are well.
given at well visits. No money in spreading them out. No money in taking out the dangerous adjuvants that make the vaccines shelf-stable for years. No money in healthy people. You and your children are worth more money when you are sick than when you are well.I will leave you with something to think about. Since the beginning of March, my son has finally started to gain weight. We have been working on healing his gut for years and he is finally absorbing the nutrients from his expensive, organic diet. Guess what else is changing? He is becoming more social, more verbal, and he is having an easier time communicating and playing. His autism symptoms are lessening. Had we not wrecked his gut years ago, would he have autism today?
We will never know the answer to that question for my son, but just maybe if we start protecting the gut flora of our children NOW, we will see what happens to the autism rates. If only there was money to be made off of healthy children. Maybe then we would find out.
~(A Partly Cloudy) Sunshine ☼
Suzanne Perryman: 6 Secrets Special Needs Moms Know But Won't Tell You
Suzanne Perryman: 6 Secrets Special Needs Moms Know But Won't Tell You
I am a special needs mom. And I have secrets. Things I don't talk about and other moms don't know -- or maybe they just forgot about along the way. Here are six of them.
1. Special needs moms are lonely. I yearn for more time with friends and family. I have an authentically positive attitude and most often you see me smiling. I may even look like I have this SuperMom thing down, am super busy and have enough help. But I am lonely. Being a special needs mom doesn't leave me the time to nurture and maintain the relationships I really need. I could get super detailed here about the hands-on caring for my child. (Do you remember when your kids were toddlers? That hovering thing you had to do? It's that plus some.) The plus-some includes spreading my mom love around to my other child and my husband, who on a daily basis are put on hold, waiting for my attention. I don't have much time to call or email my friends and even family ... and if they don't call or email me, well then I feel massive guilt about the time that has passed. More negative stuff that I pile on my shoulders. Getting out is tough. I miss the days when I had playgroups with other moms, open-house style, dropping in and drinking coffee at a friend's kitchen table with my child playing nearby.
2. Special needs moms have to work extra hard to preserve their marriages. This work goes along with the high stress of special needs parenting and aims to combat the sky-high divorce rates for special needs families. I put extra pressure on my husband; he is my best friend, and sometimes I expect unrealistic BFF behavior from him at the end of the day (see no. 1). He is my hero: supportive, patient and loving -- and my kids would be totally lost without him. The success of our marriage will affect the health of our children. My husband and I haven't spent a night away from our kids for six years. We "date night" out of the house every few months, for a two-hour sushi date. Our marriage is a priority, so we "steal" our moments when we can.
3. Special needs moms are not easily offended. Despite what our social media status updates say, we are vulnerable, and life messes with us daily. So really, ask what you want to ask and it's OK to start with "I don't really know how to say this, how to ask you...." I am especially touched when someone cares enough to ask me how my child is feeling, or how to include my child in a social gathering, meal or other event, and am happy to collaborate on what will work for us.
4. Special needs moms worry about dying. We worry about our kids getting sick and dying; we worry about our husbands dying and leaving us alone; but most of all we worry a lot under the surface, and especially about being around to care for our children. We watch people we know grieve the loss of their children and try not to think about it. On the upside, we live life fully and don't take it for granted.
5. Special needs moms are fluent in the transforming body language of touch. This is the first language we learn, and sometimes the language our kids know best. This therapeutic natural language can relax, redirect and heal. This should be the first language "spoken" in every home.
6. Special needs moms know to savor the gift of a child saying "I love you." For the longest time I wasn't sure if my daughter Zoe would ever speak the words. When she was a newborn, it was her sighs of contentment as I held her against my breast that told me how much she loved me. When she was a baby, it was that peaceful calm that came over her when I carried her in my arms. The first time Zoe found her words, she was already a little girl, and every time she spoke them I cried. She is 10 now, and her words are even more tender and wise. I leaned into her at bedtime the other night, and as her hand reached up, caressing my cheek, she whispered... "I love you Mom, for taking such good care of me."
Wednesday, April 24, 2013
Marysville parent claims special ed student put in closet for 'timeout' - Marysville Globe
Marysville parent claims special ed student put in closet for 'timeout' - Marysville Globe
MARYSVILLE — A claim that a special education second-grader was put in a closet for a closed-door "timeout" earlier in April has resulted in two special education staff members, a teacher and an educational aide, being placed on paid administrative leave from Marshall Elementary until further notice.
Although Marysville School District Assistant Superintendent Gail Miller was unavailable for further comment as of April 23, she released a statement the same day explaining that the district is currently investigating a parent's allegation that a closet was used as a "timeout" room for a student in one of the self-contained classes at Marshall Elementary.
"Any use of a timeout room for students with an IEP requires that policy, procedures and the law must be followed," Miller said in her statement. "A behavior plan must be in place. An independent investigator assigned by the district's risk pool is currently looking into the allegation."
Marshall Elementary School Principal Kelly Sheward confirmed that parents of students in that special education class had received a letter on April 16 informing them that a substitute teacher had taken over the class.
The two staff members have been placed on paid administrative leave during the investigation, and their names will not be released by the district during the investigation. Miller noted that "it is not known at this time" when the investigation will be completed, and added that the district "takes this allegation very seriously" and will take disciplinary action "if it's warranted by the outcome of the investigation."
Angi Wilson informed The Daily Herald that her adopted second-grade daughter was placed in the closet, and that her daughter's teacher had told Wilson that the daughter, who has attention deficit disorder and fetal alcohol syndrome, had been getting out of control and throwing tantrums in class. According to Wilson, her daughter had not behaved this way at home or with other people at her school.
Check The Marysville Globe for further updates on this story.
Comment on this story.
Tuesday, April 23, 2013
Lee's Summit R-7 School District: Contact Your Legislators and Tell Them That Our Children Deserve an Education
Lee's Summit R-7 School District: Contact Your Legislators and Tell Them That Our Children Deserve an Education
Regardless of what our school district is saying I would like to see everyone contact their legislators and tell them that EVERY child DESERVES an education. This would include those that do not want to attend school at this district. It is harmful for some students to go to school and they should not be DENIED an education because this district doesn't want to lose money. Have they not ruined enough lives already? Do they believe that our legislators need to make a law to allow them to destroy more?
R-7 ADVOCACY April 22, 2013
Dear Friend of Lee's Summit R-7 schools,
We always hesitate to send two 'Advocacy' e-newsletters in one day but are sending a second issue tonight due to an urgent legislative update. The following comes from Dr. McGehee, R-7 superintendent, with a request to contact your Missouri representative RIGHT AWAY.
Please call your representative NOW and let him/her know that you want your elected rep to vote NO on House Bill 470 when it comes to the floor of the House of Representatives. In particular, contact House Assistant Majority Floor Leader Rep. Mike Cierpiot and let him know that the local taxpayers and the R-7 School District cannot afford this bill. Rep. Cierpiot's vote, as well as those of all of our representatives, is critical as he works with leadership to help determine which bills go to the floor for discussion and vote. We believe House Bill 470 could go to the floor for third and final reading anytime now!
Rep. Cierpiot may be reached at Mike.Cierpiot@house.mo.gov or (573) 751-0907.
Visit http://www.lsr7.org/district/2012-legislative-platform/ to view contact information for all elected officials.
House Bill 470 is a virtual charter school bill that will allow any resident student within the boundaries of the R-7 School District to enroll in a virtual charter school run by any other public school district or a private provider. We have already shared that this bill could cost almost $100 million in state aid for students who currently are not enrolled in public schools. MORE IMPORTANT is the local cost to the tax payer.
House Bill 470 will call for $6,862 to be paid to the virtual charter school by the local school district for each student who enrolls. The R-7 School District currently receives $3,414 per student from the State of Missouri for each full-time student. This leaves $3,448 for the local tax payer to contribute to the virtual charter school for each R-7 student who enrolls in one of these virtual charters while the State of Missouri refuses to fund its own Virtual School Program.
If you consider the percent of students that R-7's total enrollment makes up of the total public school students in Missouri, House Bill 470 has the potential to add over $1 million in costs to the tax payers of our school district. This brings up serious concerns regarding whether or not House Bill 470 may actually violate the Hancock Amendment, creating an unfunded state mandate.
CALL REP. CIERPIOT AND YOUR OWN REPRESENTATIVE NOW AND VOICE THESE CONCERNS. Our schools cannot afford to lose $1 million annually.
LINKS TO R-7 LEGISLATIVE PLATFORM AND ELECTED OFFICIALS
Visit http://www.lsr7.org/district/2012-legislative-platform/ to read the 2013 R-7 Legislative Platform and see a list of area elected officials. This web page also includes a Toolkit for Advocacy.
ABOUT 'R-7 ADVOCACY'
The 'R-7 Advocacy' newsletter is designed to provide you with relevant and timely information about legislative activities. Through this electronic communication, we will also occasionally ask subscribers to consider contacting their elected officials about specific proposed legislation that would impact our students.
Thank you for subscribing to 'R-7 Advocacy'!
UNSUBSCRIBE: To unsubscribe to this newsletter, please visit http://lists.leesummit.k12.mo.us/mailman/listinfo/r7advocacy, scroll down to "To unsubscribe from…," enter your e-mail and select "Unsubscribe or edit options." You may also e-mail Janice Phelan at Janice.phelan@leesummit.k12.mo.us with your request to be removed from the list.
INVITING OTHERS TO SUBSCRIBE: If you know others who would like to subscribe to this newsletter, please direct them to http://lists.leesummit.k12.mo.us/mailman/listinfo/r7advocacy or ask them to e-mail Janice Phelan at Janice.phelan@leesummit.k12.mo.us and ask to be added to the list.
WANT TO TRACK A BILL IN THE MISSOURI HOUSE OR SENATE?
To track a bill in the Missouri House of Representatives, visit www.house.mo.gov/billcentral.aspx?pid=26.
To track a bill in the Missouri Senate, visit www.senate.mo.gov/ and see "SEARCH FOR A BILL" on the left side of the web page.
Janice Phelan
Communications Executive Director
Lee's Summit R-7 School District
301 NE Tudor Road
Lee's Summit, Mo. 64086
(816) 986-1095www.lsr7.org
Keep up with LEE'S SUMMIT R-7 on FACEBOOK and TWITTER!
Regardless of what our school district is saying I would like to see everyone contact their legislators and tell them that EVERY child DESERVES an education. This would include those that do not want to attend school at this district. It is harmful for some students to go to school and they should not be DENIED an education because this district doesn't want to lose money. Have they not ruined enough lives already? Do they believe that our legislators need to make a law to allow them to destroy more?
R-7 ADVOCACY April 22, 2013
Dear Friend of Lee's Summit R-7 schools,
We always hesitate to send two 'Advocacy' e-newsletters in one day but are sending a second issue tonight due to an urgent legislative update. The following comes from Dr. McGehee, R-7 superintendent, with a request to contact your Missouri representative RIGHT AWAY.
Please call your representative NOW and let him/her know that you want your elected rep to vote NO on House Bill 470 when it comes to the floor of the House of Representatives. In particular, contact House Assistant Majority Floor Leader Rep. Mike Cierpiot and let him know that the local taxpayers and the R-7 School District cannot afford this bill. Rep. Cierpiot's vote, as well as those of all of our representatives, is critical as he works with leadership to help determine which bills go to the floor for discussion and vote. We believe House Bill 470 could go to the floor for third and final reading anytime now!
Rep. Cierpiot may be reached at Mike.Cierpiot@house.mo.gov or (573) 751-0907.
Visit http://www.lsr7.org/district/2012-legislative-platform/ to view contact information for all elected officials.
House Bill 470 is a virtual charter school bill that will allow any resident student within the boundaries of the R-7 School District to enroll in a virtual charter school run by any other public school district or a private provider. We have already shared that this bill could cost almost $100 million in state aid for students who currently are not enrolled in public schools. MORE IMPORTANT is the local cost to the tax payer.
House Bill 470 will call for $6,862 to be paid to the virtual charter school by the local school district for each student who enrolls. The R-7 School District currently receives $3,414 per student from the State of Missouri for each full-time student. This leaves $3,448 for the local tax payer to contribute to the virtual charter school for each R-7 student who enrolls in one of these virtual charters while the State of Missouri refuses to fund its own Virtual School Program.
If you consider the percent of students that R-7's total enrollment makes up of the total public school students in Missouri, House Bill 470 has the potential to add over $1 million in costs to the tax payers of our school district. This brings up serious concerns regarding whether or not House Bill 470 may actually violate the Hancock Amendment, creating an unfunded state mandate.
CALL REP. CIERPIOT AND YOUR OWN REPRESENTATIVE NOW AND VOICE THESE CONCERNS. Our schools cannot afford to lose $1 million annually.
LINKS TO R-7 LEGISLATIVE PLATFORM AND ELECTED OFFICIALS
Visit http://www.lsr7.org/district/2012-legislative-platform/ to read the 2013 R-7 Legislative Platform and see a list of area elected officials. This web page also includes a Toolkit for Advocacy.
ABOUT 'R-7 ADVOCACY'
The 'R-7 Advocacy' newsletter is designed to provide you with relevant and timely information about legislative activities. Through this electronic communication, we will also occasionally ask subscribers to consider contacting their elected officials about specific proposed legislation that would impact our students.
Thank you for subscribing to 'R-7 Advocacy'!
UNSUBSCRIBE: To unsubscribe to this newsletter, please visit http://lists.leesummit.k12.mo.us/mailman/listinfo/r7advocacy, scroll down to "To unsubscribe from…," enter your e-mail and select "Unsubscribe or edit options." You may also e-mail Janice Phelan at Janice.phelan@leesummit.k12.mo.us with your request to be removed from the list.
INVITING OTHERS TO SUBSCRIBE: If you know others who would like to subscribe to this newsletter, please direct them to http://lists.leesummit.k12.mo.us/mailman/listinfo/r7advocacy or ask them to e-mail Janice Phelan at Janice.phelan@leesummit.k12.mo.us and ask to be added to the list.
WANT TO TRACK A BILL IN THE MISSOURI HOUSE OR SENATE?
To track a bill in the Missouri House of Representatives, visit www.house.mo.gov/billcentral.aspx?pid=26.
To track a bill in the Missouri Senate, visit www.senate.mo.gov/ and see "SEARCH FOR A BILL" on the left side of the web page.
Janice Phelan
Communications Executive Director
Lee's Summit R-7 School District
301 NE Tudor Road
Lee's Summit, Mo. 64086
(816) 986-1095www.lsr7.org
Keep up with LEE'S SUMMIT R-7 on FACEBOOK and TWITTER!
Friday, April 19, 2013
Thursday, April 18, 2013
Many high school dropouts in Columbia lack food, shelter | KBIA
Many high school dropouts in Columbia lack food, shelter | KBIA
This week on Intersection, Douglass Principal Eryca Neville and Youth Empowerment Zone Director Lorenzo Lawson spoke about why students drop out. Many times it’s a lot simpler than you’d expect: Kids are lacking basic needs most take for granted, like housing and food.
In Missouri, the high school dropout rate averaged 3.2 percent in 2012, with Columbia a bit higher at 4 percent, according to the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education.
But these rates vary drastically between Columbia high schools. While dropout rates at Hickman and Rock Bridge hover near the state average, Douglass High School, an alternative school serving a smaller demographic of students, saw more than one-third of its students drop out in 2012.
Homelessness creates many hurdles for students struggling to finish school, Lawson said. Simply put: having nowhere permanent to live poses a challenge for getting homework done.
“Majority of these students, they are homeless,” Lawson said. “They stay with friends, they couch surf. How difficult is it to go home and do homework when the environment you’re staying in is a party environment with music and TVs blaring?”
Without a stable home environment, students lack support systems, he said.
“Some of them, their parents aren’t in their lives,” Lawson said. “They’re staying with aunts, uncles, friends.”
And these homeless students aren’t easy to pick out, he said. Even at the Youth Empowerment Zone, an organization that mentors at-risk students, Lawson said it’s sometimes hard to tell who is lacking basic needs.
“Most of them, if you meet them, you wouldn’t have a clue of what they’re going through,” he said. “They can carry on a conversation without letting you know, ‘Last night, I went hungry,’ ‘I need a place to wash my clothes.’”
Many students drop out because they find it too difficult to provide for themselves while spending so much time at school, Neville said. It’s too much to ask them to perform academically when they don’t have basic human necessities, she said.
“You have students who are economically in adverse situations, and you bring them in and say, ‘I want a higher test score out of you,’” Neville said.
However, there are students who can make it through school regardless of homelessness and hunger, Lawson said.
“I have one young lady who was sleeping in a car and still she was making a B average at Hickman High School and... the school system didn’t have a clue this child was homeless,” he said.
The Youth Empowerment Zone partners with local food banks to provide meals for students who come in for job training or a quiet place to study. Feeding kids is the first step to getting them on track in school, Lawson said.
“It’s hard for kids to concentrate when they’re hungry,” he said. “You have to take care of those basic needs first.”
Interested in helping at-risk teens? Visit the Youth Empowerment Zone website to see how you can get involved.
Lawson and Neville spoke with KBIA on Intersection earlier this week. View the program and follow us on Twitter.
Wednesday, April 17, 2013
Public Corruption
Public CorruptionWhy It’s Our #1 Criminal Priority
03/26/10
Public corruption is a breach of trust by federal, state, or local officials—often with the help of private sector accomplices. It’s also the FBI’s top criminal investigative priority. To explain why the Bureau takes public corruption so seriously and how we investigate, we talked with Special Agent Patrick Bohrer, assistant section chief of our Public Corruption/Civil Rights program at FBI Headquarters.
Public corruption is a breach of trust by federal, state, or local officials—often with the help of private sector accomplices. It’s also the FBI’s top criminal investigative priority. To explain why the Bureau takes public corruption so seriously and how we investigate, we talked with Special Agent Patrick Bohrer, assistant section chief of our Public Corruption/Civil Rights program at FBI Headquarters.
Question: Why is public corruption so high on the FBI’s list of investigative priorities?
Answer: Because of its impact. Corrupt public officials undermine our country’s national security, our overall safety, the public trust, and confidence in the U.S. government, wasting billions of dollars along the way. This corruption can tarnish virtually every aspect of society. For example, a border official might take a bribe, knowingly or unknowingly letting in a truck containing weapons of mass destruction. Or corrupt state legislators could cast deciding votes on a bill providing funding or other benefits to a company for the wrong reasons. Or at the local level, a building inspector might be paid to overlook some bad wiring, which could cause a deadly fire down the road.
Answer: Because of its impact. Corrupt public officials undermine our country’s national security, our overall safety, the public trust, and confidence in the U.S. government, wasting billions of dollars along the way. This corruption can tarnish virtually every aspect of society. For example, a border official might take a bribe, knowingly or unknowingly letting in a truck containing weapons of mass destruction. Or corrupt state legislators could cast deciding votes on a bill providing funding or other benefits to a company for the wrong reasons. Or at the local level, a building inspector might be paid to overlook some bad wiring, which could cause a deadly fire down the road.
Q: Can you describe the kinds of public corruption that the FBI investigates?
A: It really runs the gamut. Bribery is the most common. But there’s also extortion, embezzlement, racketeering, kickbacks, and money laundering, as well as wire, mail, bank, and tax fraud. Right now, based on our intelligence on emerging trends, we are focused specifically on several major issues: corruption along our national borders; corrupt officials who take advantage of natural disasters or economic crises to divert some of the government’s aid into their own pockets; and a myriad of officials who may personally benefit from the economic stimulus funding.
Q: Where do you find this corruption?
A: Just about everywhere—at the federal, state, and local levels throughout the country. And I should point out, the vast majority of our country’s public officials are honest and work hard to improve the lives of the American people. But a small number make decisions for the wrong reasons—usually, to line their own pockets or those of friends and family. These people can be found—and have been found—in legislatures, courts, city halls, law enforcement departments, school and zoning boards, government agencies of all kinds (including those that regulate elections and transportation), and even companies that do business with government.
Q: How does the FBI investigate public corruption?
A: We’re in a unique position to investigate allegations of public corruption. Our lawful use of sophisticated investigative tools and methods—like undercover operations, court-authorized electronic surveillance, and informants—often gives us a front-row seat to witness the actual exchange of bribe money or a backroom handshake that seals an illegal deal…and enough evidence to send the culprits to prison. But we have plenty of help. We often work in conjunction with the inspector general offices from various federal agencies, as well as with our state and local partners. And we depend greatly on assistance from the public. So let me end by saying, if anyone out there has any information about potential wrongdoing by a public official, please submit a tip online or contact your local FBI field office. Your help really makes a difference.
A: It really runs the gamut. Bribery is the most common. But there’s also extortion, embezzlement, racketeering, kickbacks, and money laundering, as well as wire, mail, bank, and tax fraud. Right now, based on our intelligence on emerging trends, we are focused specifically on several major issues: corruption along our national borders; corrupt officials who take advantage of natural disasters or economic crises to divert some of the government’s aid into their own pockets; and a myriad of officials who may personally benefit from the economic stimulus funding.
Q: Where do you find this corruption?
A: Just about everywhere—at the federal, state, and local levels throughout the country. And I should point out, the vast majority of our country’s public officials are honest and work hard to improve the lives of the American people. But a small number make decisions for the wrong reasons—usually, to line their own pockets or those of friends and family. These people can be found—and have been found—in legislatures, courts, city halls, law enforcement departments, school and zoning boards, government agencies of all kinds (including those that regulate elections and transportation), and even companies that do business with government.
Q: How does the FBI investigate public corruption?
A: We’re in a unique position to investigate allegations of public corruption. Our lawful use of sophisticated investigative tools and methods—like undercover operations, court-authorized electronic surveillance, and informants—often gives us a front-row seat to witness the actual exchange of bribe money or a backroom handshake that seals an illegal deal…and enough evidence to send the culprits to prison. But we have plenty of help. We often work in conjunction with the inspector general offices from various federal agencies, as well as with our state and local partners. And we depend greatly on assistance from the public. So let me end by saying, if anyone out there has any information about potential wrongdoing by a public official, please submit a tip online or contact your local FBI field office. Your help really makes a difference.
Resource:
- Public corruption
- Public corruption
Tuesday, April 16, 2013
District Opposes Virtual Schools
Too many of our students are dropping out of school, being home schooled, or are being sent to private schools because this district can not or will not provide the education and services that they need. Now they want to limit our students ability to get an education. It is all or nothing to them. We MUST send our children to their school or they do not deserve an education. I'd never send my children back to their schools and I am demanding that our legislators provide alternatives for our children.
"says nothing of the fact that it is bad for students to receive their entire education online without the interaction with other students, teachers and people." Interaction with other students and teachers nearly destroyed my son.
"says nothing of the fact that it is bad for students to receive their entire education online without the interaction with other students, teachers and people." Interaction with other students and teachers nearly destroyed my son.
Subject: [R7advocacy] Please
consider contacting your representative about House Bill 470 (open enrollment),
update on how our reps voted on House Bill 631 (teacher tenure and evaluations)
and request for assistance for House Bill 178
R-7 ADVOCACY April 16, 2013
Dear Friend of Lee's Summit R-7 schools,
We are asking for your help again with House Bill 470, providing an update on how our representatives voted on House Bill 631 and also asking for your assistance with a newer bill – House Bill 178. This week’s issue of “R-7 Advocacy” is coming to your mailbox a day earlier than usual since we do not know when the vote for House Bill 470 will be scheduled yet.
Please consider contacting your House rep THIS WEEK about House Bill 470 (open enrollment bill) which would send state aid to home-school students, reduce the amount of funding available for public schools
There's still time to defeat this bill in the House of Representatives
This bill, which is headed toward its third and final reading in the House, would allow any student to enroll full-time in a virtual charter school. While charter schools are currently limited to St. Louis, Kansas City and any unaccredited school district, House Bill 470 would allow students from across the state to enroll in a virtual charter school.
"Our district's stance has been that Missouri needs to fund its own virtual program and not create virtual charters that allow for open enrollment while diluting state education funding," said Dr. David McGehee, superintendent. "Supporters of this bill have indicated that the total cost would only be around $46 million and that, should the House budget pass, education would receive an additional $65 million dollars – therefore, it will not cost school districts. This rationale ignores the fact that we are already $680 million behind in funding the formula and that our state does not need to make new appropriations toward funding costly programming such as virtual charters."
Charter schools currently receive state aid payments equivalent to their local district’s state formula payment. It is expected that if House Bill 470 becomes law, the majority of students who would enroll in these virtual charter schools are students who are currently home schooled. This means the net effect of House Bill 470 is that it allows home-schooled students to receive state aid payments and further reduces the funds available for our Foundation Formula payments to public schools.
The funding aspect of House 470 says nothing of the fact that it is bad for students to receive their entire education online without the interaction with other students, teachers and people. We live in a global society where employers look for the ability to work well with others; an entirely online education withholds those skills from students.
Lee's Summit R-7 opposes 470. Please consider contacting your state representatives TODAY and urge him or her to oppose raiding the foundation formula to pay for virtual open enrollment.
House Bill 631 (teacher evaluation and tenure) defeated last week
Included are voting records for Lee's Summit area representatives on House Bill 631
Lee's Summit R-7 had opposed this bill which made changes to teacher evaluation and tenure, removing local control and making it more difficult to remove poor teachers from the classroom. House Bill 631 failed in the House by a vote of 102 to 55. Our district's representatives who voted "no" on the bill were Rep. Rick Brattin, Rep. Gary Cross, Rep. Jeff Grisamore, Rep. Donna Pfautsch, Rep. Joe Runions, Rep. Sheila Solon and Rep. Noel Torpey. R-7 representative Mike Cierpiot voted in favor of this bill.
Thank you to everyone who contacted their elected officials and to the seven representatives who voted against this bill, which would have hampered our district's ability to ensure that we have quality teachers in each classroom.
House Bill 178 restricts local school boards' control of election issues
Lee's Summit R-7 is opposed to House Bill 178, which restricts election decisions made by voter-elected boards. The bill specifies that a proposal by any political subdivision – including locally elected boards of education – to enact a tax for any purpose that is submitted to and rejected by the voters may be resubmitted at any time in the immediately following two years BUT the proposal will not become effective unless this second election question is approved by at least 60 percent of voters. If the proposal is re-submitted after the two-year period, it would become effective if a simple majority is in favor.
"There are numerous questions and interpretations regarding this bill and its impact," said Dr. David McGehee, superintendent. "We can definitely see problems for school districts. Although our district is not planning any ballot initiatives in the near future, it seems that communities should have the ability to make decisions about their school districts without this type of restriction.
Please consider contacting your House rep and sharing your concerns about House Bill 178.
LINKS TO R-7 LEGISLATIVE PLATFORM AND ELECTED OFFICIALS
Visit http://www.lsr7.org/district/2012-legislative-platform/ to read the 2013 R-7 Legislative Platform and see a list of area elected officials. This web page also includes a Toolkit for Advocacy.
ABOUT 'R-7 ADVOCACY'
The 'R-7 Advocacy' newsletter is designed to provide you with relevant and timely information about legislative activities. Through this electronic communication, we will also occasionally ask subscribers to consider contacting their elected officials about specific proposed legislation that would impact our students.
Thank you for subscribing to 'R-7 Advocacy'!
UNSUBSCRIBE: To unsubscribe to this newsletter, please visit http://lists.leesummit.k12.mo.us/mailman/listinfo/r7advocacy, scroll down to "To unsubscribe from…," enter your e-mail and select "Unsubscribe or edit options." You may also e-mail Janice Phelan at Janice.phelan@leesummit.k12.mo.us with your request to be removed from the list.
INVITING OTHERS TO SUBSCRIBE: If you know others who would like to subscribe to this newsletter, please direct them to http://lists.leesummit.k12.mo.us/mailman/listinfo/r7advocacy or ask them to e-mail Janice Phelan at Janice.phelan@leesummit.k12.mo.us and ask to be added to the list.
WANT TO TRACK A BILL IN THE MISSOURI HOUSE OR SENATE?
To track a bill in the Missouri House of Representatives, visit www.house.mo.gov/billcentral.aspx?pid=26.
To track a bill in the Missouri Senate, visit www.senate.mo.gov/ and see "SEARCH FOR A BILL" on the left side of the web page.
Dear Friend of Lee's Summit R-7 schools,
We are asking for your help again with House Bill 470, providing an update on how our representatives voted on House Bill 631 and also asking for your assistance with a newer bill – House Bill 178. This week’s issue of “R-7 Advocacy” is coming to your mailbox a day earlier than usual since we do not know when the vote for House Bill 470 will be scheduled yet.
Please consider contacting your House rep THIS WEEK about House Bill 470 (open enrollment bill) which would send state aid to home-school students, reduce the amount of funding available for public schools
There's still time to defeat this bill in the House of Representatives
This bill, which is headed toward its third and final reading in the House, would allow any student to enroll full-time in a virtual charter school. While charter schools are currently limited to St. Louis, Kansas City and any unaccredited school district, House Bill 470 would allow students from across the state to enroll in a virtual charter school.
"Our district's stance has been that Missouri needs to fund its own virtual program and not create virtual charters that allow for open enrollment while diluting state education funding," said Dr. David McGehee, superintendent. "Supporters of this bill have indicated that the total cost would only be around $46 million and that, should the House budget pass, education would receive an additional $65 million dollars – therefore, it will not cost school districts. This rationale ignores the fact that we are already $680 million behind in funding the formula and that our state does not need to make new appropriations toward funding costly programming such as virtual charters."
Charter schools currently receive state aid payments equivalent to their local district’s state formula payment. It is expected that if House Bill 470 becomes law, the majority of students who would enroll in these virtual charter schools are students who are currently home schooled. This means the net effect of House Bill 470 is that it allows home-schooled students to receive state aid payments and further reduces the funds available for our Foundation Formula payments to public schools.
The funding aspect of House 470 says nothing of the fact that it is bad for students to receive their entire education online without the interaction with other students, teachers and people. We live in a global society where employers look for the ability to work well with others; an entirely online education withholds those skills from students.
Lee's Summit R-7 opposes 470. Please consider contacting your state representatives TODAY and urge him or her to oppose raiding the foundation formula to pay for virtual open enrollment.
House Bill 631 (teacher evaluation and tenure) defeated last week
Included are voting records for Lee's Summit area representatives on House Bill 631
Lee's Summit R-7 had opposed this bill which made changes to teacher evaluation and tenure, removing local control and making it more difficult to remove poor teachers from the classroom. House Bill 631 failed in the House by a vote of 102 to 55. Our district's representatives who voted "no" on the bill were Rep. Rick Brattin, Rep. Gary Cross, Rep. Jeff Grisamore, Rep. Donna Pfautsch, Rep. Joe Runions, Rep. Sheila Solon and Rep. Noel Torpey. R-7 representative Mike Cierpiot voted in favor of this bill.
Thank you to everyone who contacted their elected officials and to the seven representatives who voted against this bill, which would have hampered our district's ability to ensure that we have quality teachers in each classroom.
House Bill 178 restricts local school boards' control of election issues
Lee's Summit R-7 is opposed to House Bill 178, which restricts election decisions made by voter-elected boards. The bill specifies that a proposal by any political subdivision – including locally elected boards of education – to enact a tax for any purpose that is submitted to and rejected by the voters may be resubmitted at any time in the immediately following two years BUT the proposal will not become effective unless this second election question is approved by at least 60 percent of voters. If the proposal is re-submitted after the two-year period, it would become effective if a simple majority is in favor.
"There are numerous questions and interpretations regarding this bill and its impact," said Dr. David McGehee, superintendent. "We can definitely see problems for school districts. Although our district is not planning any ballot initiatives in the near future, it seems that communities should have the ability to make decisions about their school districts without this type of restriction.
Please consider contacting your House rep and sharing your concerns about House Bill 178.
LINKS TO R-7 LEGISLATIVE PLATFORM AND ELECTED OFFICIALS
Visit http://www.lsr7.org/district/2012-legislative-platform/ to read the 2013 R-7 Legislative Platform and see a list of area elected officials. This web page also includes a Toolkit for Advocacy.
ABOUT 'R-7 ADVOCACY'
The 'R-7 Advocacy' newsletter is designed to provide you with relevant and timely information about legislative activities. Through this electronic communication, we will also occasionally ask subscribers to consider contacting their elected officials about specific proposed legislation that would impact our students.
Thank you for subscribing to 'R-7 Advocacy'!
UNSUBSCRIBE: To unsubscribe to this newsletter, please visit http://lists.leesummit.k12.mo.us/mailman/listinfo/r7advocacy, scroll down to "To unsubscribe from…," enter your e-mail and select "Unsubscribe or edit options." You may also e-mail Janice Phelan at Janice.phelan@leesummit.k12.mo.us with your request to be removed from the list.
INVITING OTHERS TO SUBSCRIBE: If you know others who would like to subscribe to this newsletter, please direct them to http://lists.leesummit.k12.mo.us/mailman/listinfo/r7advocacy or ask them to e-mail Janice Phelan at Janice.phelan@leesummit.k12.mo.us and ask to be added to the list.
WANT TO TRACK A BILL IN THE MISSOURI HOUSE OR SENATE?
To track a bill in the Missouri House of Representatives, visit www.house.mo.gov/billcentral.aspx?pid=26.
To track a bill in the Missouri Senate, visit www.senate.mo.gov/ and see "SEARCH FOR A BILL" on the left side of the web page.
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Janie
Rohlfing
R-7 School District Communications Department Stansberry Leadership Center 301 NE Tudor Road Lee's Summit, MO 64086-5702 (816) 986-1014 www.lsr7.org |
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