A Knight in Dragonland

There were two pieces written in the Nov. 24 Daily Times relating to Pekin Grade School District 108 that provide starkly contrasting views of the situation in the district. I’d like to use this post to compare these views. There was also a letter to the editor by Karin Howland of Pekin urging caution regarding consolidation in the same issue, but I won’t have any further discussion of it.

The first article, on the front page, is entitled “Teachers served by District 108 officials.” As a way of thanking the staff of Broadmoor Junior High School for their generosity in more than doubling their contribution to the United Way this year, District 108 administrators including Don White, Chuck Bowen and Matt Wilkinson served the staff a lunch donated by Aramark. Overall, the district raised $14,170, up 2% over last year. Broadmoor staff raised $1096, up from $508 last year.

What qualities of District 108 staff, teachers and administrators does this article show us? Dedication to service, dedication to community, humility and generosity.

The second piece I’d like to discuss offers a distinctly different tone, and unfortunately I can’t provide a link. For some reason the special opinion piece in question is not available on the Daily Times website.

Just as I predicted after the 108 school board voted to table further discussion of a consolidation study on Monday, a typical Jim Mangan rant appeared on the Opinions page of the Nov. 24 Daily Times (he apparently survived his cranial detonation). Here are some lowlights, starting with the very first line:

Ultra egos, lust for power and character flaws found in those using counterfeit reasoning to keep from doing the right thing – such is the case with officials at District 108 on the issue of consolidation.

As usual, Mr. Mangan picks Don White, District 108 superintendent, for special slander:

But now, fearing the truth of an independent study, he [Don White] claims he has read hundreds of reports proving consolidation is a bad idea. [...] I have no doubt one can find hundreds of reports claiming to know of life on other planets, but no proof, just hot air.

Well, according to the Nov. 21 article by Nick Vogel, what Don White actually said is that he hasn’t found any evidence that consolidation will be helpful, not that he’s found hundreds of reports saying it’s a bad idea:

[Don White] has not yet found any positive information concerning the hybrid consolidation of 303 with its feeder schools.

White presented the information he had collected to the board. He also advised the board regarding his difficulty in finding a consultant since no districts in Illinois have ever done what Mangan & Company are proposing. He also warned that as many as five different studies might be necessary to explore all the facets of district taxation and logistics affected by consolidation. The board then voted to table the issue.

Now, I wasn’t at the meeting, so I can’t vouch for what else might have been said there … but somehow I think that Mr. Mangan’s version is his usual hyperbole.

Mr. White also said this at the school board meeting on Monday:

If it came back that it [consolidation] was a good deal, I’d share the information with the board. [...] If anyone has any information other than what I was able to find, please bring it forward.

That sounds like an open invitation to me, Mr. Mangan. Please … bring forward your evidence that consolidation will improve the finances and academic performance of District 108 schools.

[Forlorn sound of crickets chirping]

Mr. Mangan also has extra venom reserved for 108 school board president Richard Root:

Mr. Root claims not to have any answers to consolidation positives. This seems to be proof that he doesn’t understand state report cards, and also ignores 108 and county financial records that are full of official documentation for open minds. Mr. Root’s denial of facts would indicate he is in that group who still believes the Earth is flat.

Later in the letter, Mangan states as a given that taxpayers will save “big dollars” and students will have a better education with consolidation.

Mr. Mangan, how do PAST financial records tell us anything about what would happen if school districts were consolidated? They tell us nothing, because if consolidation went through, then new tax rates would be established. Tax rates might go up, down or stay the same – and that could vary across the new district. Maybe tax rates would go down in the 108 feeder area, but other feeder districts would see their tax rates rise. NOBODY KNOWS until careful studies are performed.

Examination of past state report cards reveals the exact opposite of Mangan’s contentions. Pekin schools perform well above the state average and compare well to schools with similar demographics. They continue to make adequate yearly progress, and test scores continue to improve. Several district 108 schools have won awards from the state.

Thus Jim Mangan continues to slam District 108 by exaggerating claims of low test scores and failing schools, without providing any positive evidence for his position.

Mangan goes on to claim that consolidation would provide bonuses for all employees of 108. I presume he’s referring to the alignment of pay scales as required by the statute governing district consolidations. Since District 303 has a higher average salary, District 108 staff would see an increase in pay to match 303’s. Now he’s a friend to the teachers, apparently. I think it’s a little late for that, Mr. Mangan. The stunt with Mark Sattazahn’s letter of resignation (see here and here) ensured that your group will never have sympathy among the 108 staff.

[SIGH]

So which version of District 108 do you find to be the more accurate one? I think actions speak louder than words, so the answer is clear to me. District 108 is full of humble, hard-working, dedicated and generous people who are doing the best job that they can to educate the children of Pekin. Let’s find ways to help them make the district even better, not insult them and offer “magic wand” solutions that only serve to distract us from the real issues at hand.

I echo James Drainer and the commenter “Rick” – let’s stop the negativity.