I'm hoping that this selection process was the equivalent of a hasty 3 point shot in a basketball game that still goes in. I absolutely hate the decision making by the board - keeping everyone in the dark, presenting the whole thing as a fait accompli, zero interest in public feedback - but Turner's seemed pretty on the ball since she took over. Just hoping she keeps it up now that she's not in her prove it phase. And there simply isn't much to say about the CPS/AUSL issues, they look awful and will simply never be sufficiently addressed by this purportedly public body that clearly views its constituents with disdain, suspicion and derision.
Thank you so much for speaking at the meeting. In case you weren't aware, Horton's late payments made the news in Atlanta. It was covered by Decaturish.com and the Atlanta Journal Constitution.
It is irritating that Horton is pushing back and saying he is paid up. He isn't paid up until his late fees are paid and of course the board is in agreement since they aren't making him pay them. It is so mind boggling when they are charging for summer school, that money could cover a lot of summer school fees.
She looks good because the bar is so low thanks to Horton. She doesn’t appear to be running a patronage shop —oh wait, her sister is on the payroll as a concierge for subs making over 100k. Never mind….out with old in with the new. Just another day in a failing school district. And yet, this appears to be exactly what most Evanstonians want or think the kids here deserve. Maybe once multiple schools are on the chopping block people will start to wake up. Maybe.
I don’t think it’s accurate to say “most Evanstonians” want this. My guess is that a minority disapprove of the school board, another minority approve of the school board, and the rest of the voters are largely ambivalent.
Not surprised by the choice. I'm not expecting this, but the Board really needs to do more than just say that 40 people applied. How many applicants had experience as a Superintendent?
Was there anyone in the pool with more than the 7 months experience as an interim superintendent that Turner has?
Just searching around the internet on finalists for public superintendent searches you see candidates at cities smaller than Evanston with much more experience than Turner.
I could go on. Turner was a Horton hire. She has done nothing as far as I can tell to improve student learning.
She gets credit by some Board critics for reporting the financial misery of the new school in a sobering way. But so what? She hasn't shown any leadership in terms of questioning the new school expenditure in the first place and the way she has handled the Bessie Rhodes situation hasn't been anything extraordinary.
Let's also disabuse ourselves of the idea that the newest board member, Omar Salem, is any different than Sergio, Biz and the rest of the gang. He was apparently totally cool with a closed superintendent search process along with the rest of them. [Please correct me if I'm wrong]
We need a wholesale electoral purging of the board.
And the craziness continues... she will be an extension of Dr. Horton. Not much will change, the district will continue to be in shambles and the results of poor leadership will be on the backs of the young people... test scores will still be in the toilet, staff will be disgruntled, and finances will be to the point where the state will take over... then, and only then ,will we see some type of positive change. So unfortunate.
I want to know who else was interviewed for the job, or was Dr. Turner the only person left standing? Honestly, who would want the Superintendent job? You have to work with a school board that acts in their own interests, not the citizens'. You have to build a school that there isn't enough money for. The district is in financial shambles and you're going to have to close multiple schools. I hope they gave Dr. Turner a big broom and a mop with her contract because she's going to have to clean up a huge mess.
Thanks Tom. I can echo your sense that it’s difficult to speak in public, perhaps especially to D 65 board. Think the last time, i and others spoke for strengthening civic education. And yes, absolutely no response and no changes.
I hope the new superintendent does well; she has enormous challenges. I might add these are self- influcted by Horton and board.
Thank you for your efforts, Mr Hayden. My guess is that like myself, you no longer have children attending D65, although, of course you continue to pay taxes to them. My kids are reasonably happy at ETHS, and I hope to wait a few years before finding a more pleasant place to live. But providing continuous money to Horton-like supporters forever will not be my destiny. I suspect I am not alone.
Do the various schools usually send representatives to the board meetings to share the good work their school is doing? I've watched a few meetings and don't recall that in the past.
Regardless, I was touched and saddened by their words -- I felt like the speakers were pleading for the continued life of their communities in front of heartless executioners. But I might have been projecting since I've literally had nightmares about our neighborhood school being the next to close (in the dream I discovered it was because of a shady deal the board had made with a land developer).
Somewhat related question -- is there a way to find out how much the developer who bought Aire Crown in Skokie paid? Seemed like the number I heard for the expected sale of Bessie Rhodes was really low and thought the sale of Aire Crown might make a good comparison.
I'm hoping that this selection process was the equivalent of a hasty 3 point shot in a basketball game that still goes in. I absolutely hate the decision making by the board - keeping everyone in the dark, presenting the whole thing as a fait accompli, zero interest in public feedback - but Turner's seemed pretty on the ball since she took over. Just hoping she keeps it up now that she's not in her prove it phase. And there simply isn't much to say about the CPS/AUSL issues, they look awful and will simply never be sufficiently addressed by this purportedly public body that clearly views its constituents with disdain, suspicion and derision.
Thank you again for all you do. As I learned last night its much harder than it looks. You are doing the good work and so many appreciate all you do!
Thank you so much for speaking at the meeting. In case you weren't aware, Horton's late payments made the news in Atlanta. It was covered by Decaturish.com and the Atlanta Journal Constitution.
The former sites your blog as a source. https://decaturish.com/2024/03/dekalb-schools-superintendent-pushes-back-on-report-hes-late-paying-former-district/ Make sure the read the comments.
It is irritating that Horton is pushing back and saying he is paid up. He isn't paid up until his late fees are paid and of course the board is in agreement since they aren't making him pay them. It is so mind boggling when they are charging for summer school, that money could cover a lot of summer school fees.
She looks good because the bar is so low thanks to Horton. She doesn’t appear to be running a patronage shop —oh wait, her sister is on the payroll as a concierge for subs making over 100k. Never mind….out with old in with the new. Just another day in a failing school district. And yet, this appears to be exactly what most Evanstonians want or think the kids here deserve. Maybe once multiple schools are on the chopping block people will start to wake up. Maybe.
I don’t think it’s accurate to say “most Evanstonians” want this. My guess is that a minority disapprove of the school board, another minority approve of the school board, and the rest of the voters are largely ambivalent.
Not surprised by the choice. I'm not expecting this, but the Board really needs to do more than just say that 40 people applied. How many applicants had experience as a Superintendent?
Was there anyone in the pool with more than the 7 months experience as an interim superintendent that Turner has?
Just searching around the internet on finalists for public superintendent searches you see candidates at cities smaller than Evanston with much more experience than Turner.
For example, look at Monona WI (suburb of Madison). Each one of them has more experience than Turner: https://www.mononagrove.org/district/supt-search-updates
How about Racine? https://rusd.org/sites/default/files/District%20Documents/RUSD%20Superintendent%20Finalists%20March%202024.pdf
Forest Hills Michigan? Two superintendents are finalists: https://www.mlive.com/news/grand-rapids/2024/03/2-finalists-named-for-forest-hills-public-schools-superintendent-job.html
I could go on. Turner was a Horton hire. She has done nothing as far as I can tell to improve student learning.
She gets credit by some Board critics for reporting the financial misery of the new school in a sobering way. But so what? She hasn't shown any leadership in terms of questioning the new school expenditure in the first place and the way she has handled the Bessie Rhodes situation hasn't been anything extraordinary.
Let's also disabuse ourselves of the idea that the newest board member, Omar Salem, is any different than Sergio, Biz and the rest of the gang. He was apparently totally cool with a closed superintendent search process along with the rest of them. [Please correct me if I'm wrong]
We need a wholesale electoral purging of the board.
And the craziness continues... she will be an extension of Dr. Horton. Not much will change, the district will continue to be in shambles and the results of poor leadership will be on the backs of the young people... test scores will still be in the toilet, staff will be disgruntled, and finances will be to the point where the state will take over... then, and only then ,will we see some type of positive change. So unfortunate.
I want to know who else was interviewed for the job, or was Dr. Turner the only person left standing? Honestly, who would want the Superintendent job? You have to work with a school board that acts in their own interests, not the citizens'. You have to build a school that there isn't enough money for. The district is in financial shambles and you're going to have to close multiple schools. I hope they gave Dr. Turner a big broom and a mop with her contract because she's going to have to clean up a huge mess.
Thanks Tom. I can echo your sense that it’s difficult to speak in public, perhaps especially to D 65 board. Think the last time, i and others spoke for strengthening civic education. And yes, absolutely no response and no changes.
I hope the new superintendent does well; she has enormous challenges. I might add these are self- influcted by Horton and board.
Thank you for your efforts, Mr Hayden. My guess is that like myself, you no longer have children attending D65, although, of course you continue to pay taxes to them. My kids are reasonably happy at ETHS, and I hope to wait a few years before finding a more pleasant place to live. But providing continuous money to Horton-like supporters forever will not be my destiny. I suspect I am not alone.
For nostalgia's sake, see what the finalist pool looked like from the search before Horton. Back when we had a transparent school board:
https://evanstonnow.com/d65-superintendent-search-is-down-to-5/
Each one of them had more experience than either Turner or Horton.
Why are our candidate pools getting worse?
Do the various schools usually send representatives to the board meetings to share the good work their school is doing? I've watched a few meetings and don't recall that in the past.
Regardless, I was touched and saddened by their words -- I felt like the speakers were pleading for the continued life of their communities in front of heartless executioners. But I might have been projecting since I've literally had nightmares about our neighborhood school being the next to close (in the dream I discovered it was because of a shady deal the board had made with a land developer).
Somewhat related question -- is there a way to find out how much the developer who bought Aire Crown in Skokie paid? Seemed like the number I heard for the expected sale of Bessie Rhodes was really low and thought the sale of Aire Crown might make a good comparison.
I'm not trying to spam your page, but this is funny.
Turner's consultancy Facebook page quoting Ivanka/Donald Trump falsely quoting John Adams.
Turner: https://www.facebook.com/HelpingAllLeaders/posts/pfbid0UyeBES6yFYVnC5EwiVXzLrTc7Zy9NdhL6Z82zjMXAeUUzyZQVukrkwuH1qJDxVz6l
Ivanka/Donald: https://www.politifact.com/factchecks/2017/may/05/ivanka-trump/book-john-quincy-adams-quote/
Lolz!