I had to re-read the opening article of today’s Pekin Daily Times to make sure I was interpreting this correctly (bold emphasis is mine):
The District 303 board has three seats open – those of Larry Howard, Jim Mangan and Mark Rossi. All are for four-year terms. Howard is the only incumbent to file for re-election. Other candidates filing are Paul O’Neal and Ed Harr.
That coupled with this …
Districts 108 and 303 and the Pekin Park District officially closed their windows for filing petitions as of 5 p.m. Monday.
… means Jim Mangan is NOT seeking re-election to the 303 board!
Really?!?! I guess Mangan’s decided that he wants to wage war on 108 full time. I’m sure that also means we’re going to be hearing even MORE from Jim Mangan in the Times.
(SIGH)
The article also shows that we don’t really have much choice regarding who will sit on the 303 board – there are three open positions and three candidates running. The 108 and park board races at least have a few challengers to make it a contest.
15 responses so far ↓
1
Tom
// Feb 9, 2007 at 1:35 am
And yet another push for consolidation from Mr Reader. He still wants us all to believe that the school boards are out to get us. I guess they must be receiving some huge bonuses for doing this volunteer job.
2
knightindragonland
// Feb 9, 2007 at 2:45 am
Reader, Mangan and others need to quit complaining to the school boards. If they want consolidation to go forward, they either need to get the cooperation of the school boards for the other feeder school districts, elicit the necessary number of petition signatures from residents of the other feeder districts, or go down to Springfield and petition lawmakers to change the consolidation statute to simplify the process.
What they’re doing right now is the equivalent of going up to a turtle and demanding that it fly, then bitching to no end when the turtle “refuses.”
3
Tom
// Feb 9, 2007 at 3:01 am
All the while leading people to think that the boards are corrupt. You hit the nail on the head. It seems easier for them to just stir the pot and make others look bad. The facts are staring them in the face, I guess ignoring them makes them not fact.
4
kiki63
// Feb 10, 2007 at 12:30 pm
I had heard quite a few months ago that Mr. Mangan was not going to run. Unfortunately he has started a train in this town that is going no where fast and headed for derailment. I guess if his own board explained to him (at nausism) that consolidation is not going to work under the current law and he still DIDN’T get it, then it’s better for 303 that he’s not running. But I think your right in saying that now he’s going to focus on getting his “cronies” like Mr. Reader to start really pushing for consolidation. It just amazes me that they keep harping on the same things, instead of coming up with legit facts on how & why this WILL work. Oh what I’m I thinking…..it won’t so they keep using the same ol’ arguement so it “looks” as though the school baords are ignoring them. What a shame. They need to find better things to do!
5
Pekin Dragon
// Feb 11, 2007 at 12:11 am
Update: Is 108 Dr.White leaving Pekin end of this Spring due to Mangan’s efforts on Consolidation? I mean, what is going to be exposed about White if Consolidation happens? Is White getting out of the kitchen before it’s gets to heated?
Look for White to announce this Monday night’s meeting—O, did you know folks know who you are and where you live? So 108 is only because you have kids, eh?
6
Tom
// Feb 11, 2007 at 1:23 am
Superintendants are highly sought after professionals. If he is leaving, I would bet it’s because someone wants his services. Who could blame him. These clowns who have made it a mission to berate him are not qualified to make such claims. Ah yes, the so-called consperacies are running wild in Pekin. The school boards are out to get our tax dollars. You just keep believing that if you want to.
7
Tom
// Feb 11, 2007 at 1:29 am
why is it that Dr. White is the only one under the microscope here? Even Mrs. Davis can see that the hands are tied as far as consolidation is concerned, yet I’m not reading where she has something to gain by not seeing this through. All the theories about White protecting his job is absurd. obviously he had a job before he came here and guess what, someone must have a better offer for him elsewhere. Now what does he have to gain? Wake up people! Do your homework instead of listening to the so-called saviors of your taxes.
8
knightindragonland
// Feb 11, 2007 at 6:40 am
Pekin Dragon, What is going to be “exposed” if consolidation happens? What sort of insidious power do you think that Don White possesses?
Apparently there are some people with selective hearing / reading (Reader, Mangan, Pekin Dragon). Consolidation ISN’T going to happen unless the current consolidation statute changes or somehow the Citizens for Pekin School Consolidation drum up support in ALL the feeder districts – either from their boards or by resident petition.
Good luck getting anyone in those other feeder districts to sign that petition!
9
kiki63
// Feb 11, 2007 at 11:54 am
Do you really think they would be THAT truthful to the feeder communities when they can’t to their own community? I highly doubt it! All they want to do is get rid of Don White. That is the most evident piece in all of this. Get rid of the outsider because he’s making us look bad. This town has never “cottoned” to outsiders and unfortunately probably never will until the outsiders out number the locals. WAKE UP PEKIN! We all bring something to this community and just more than a taxing body! We are your neighbors, business owners, coworkers and friends. We all deserve a community with good school and a safe place to live. And the truth be told to us….not only what “locals” want us to hear. There are always 2 sides (sometimes 3) to every story.
10
knightindragonland
// Feb 11, 2007 at 9:07 pm
Kiki,
Of course Mangan and the Citizens for Pekin School Consolidation wouldn’t be truthful in eliciting signatures for a consolidation petition. You’re exactly right … they haven’t been truthful to this point, so why start now?
For the most part, people in Pekin have been very welcoming to me as an “outsider.” However, I think you’re right … there seems to be a core of old-timers who don’t want to see their territory invaded, and they especially don’t want to see any authority granted to someone from the “outside.”
It’s always seemed to me that there was something personal in the attacks on Don White by Mangan and his cronies, and the only reasonable explanation I’ve heard so far is xenophobia. If that’s what’s behind the venom … that’s very, very sad.
11
Sancho Panza
// Feb 12, 2007 at 2:04 am
As a newcomer (only since 2000) I feel the same type of xenophobic reaction from many people. Yet there are many good people here, but when you dig deeper into who they are, you find that they too are “outsiders,” having only lived here 20, 30 or 40 years. I have come to believe that there is something lurking here, some sort of evil thing that has a piece of the souls of every person born in pekin. If I were thinking of bearing children here, I would go to Peoria to have give birth! This town needs an exorcist.
12
Anonymous
// Feb 12, 2007 at 6:00 pm
Regarding Tom’s comment considering “so-called saviors of your taxes,” Why doesn’t everyone google Fred Reader and see what he is involved in. Perhaps one can make a case that he is in fact “sucking from the teat of the taxpayer.”
13
knightindragonland
// Feb 12, 2007 at 6:41 pm
Anon,
I didn’t find much other than his involvement in coaching Pekin girls softball, so I’m guessing he was employed by District 303 at one time.
Anyone know what his doctorate is in?
14
Tom
// Feb 12, 2007 at 10:02 pm
Bingo! Yes he was a teacher in 303. I’m sure that tax payer dollars have treated him well.
just a note to Pekin Dragon: since Dr White is supposed to announce this news on Monday then why are you spilling it here? I would thing that he should be allowed to tell his staff first. I’m sure that only the board members are privy, or supposed to be the only ones to have this info. Sound familiar folks? Seems that this has happened before. I think we have a mole with an agenda.
15
Anonymous
// Feb 12, 2007 at 11:08 pm
Softball is the right track. Teaching is not. Where is softball played in Pekin during the winter? Does he have a financial stake. I don’t know.
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