I was saddened to learn that the rumors regarding Don White’s resignation as District 108 superintendent were indeed true. In my opinion, Pekin students are losing a quality advocate. My exposure to Dr. White was very limited, but I found him to be extremely intelligent and hard-working. He truly seems to have the best interests of the kids at heart. I wish him well, but it will be hard to fill his shoes.
I hope that White’s departure has nothing to do with his constant haranguing by certain forces within our community … most notably Jim Mangan. However, I find it difficult to believe that such frequent and vehement criticism didn’t play at least some role in White’s decision to leave. I’m sure superintendents face frequent criticism wherever they may be, but the unfounded personal attacks against White were way over the top. Why put up with that if you have a good offer elsewhere?
I suppose we can chalk up one “victory” for Jim Mangan and the Citizens for Pekin School Consolidation and a big loss for the teachers and students of District 108. I hope Don White knows that at least SOME people in the community have not been swayed by Mangan’s venom and thank him for his service to Pekin public schools.
24 responses so far ↓
1
Mitch Mitchell
// Feb 14, 2007 at 6:27 am
If you ask very nicely, I bet Ken Hinton would be interested in the job. I understand that would be close to his home and he could spend more time at work.
2
knightindragonland
// Feb 14, 2007 at 9:33 am
Ummmm … NO.
3
Ms. Teacher
// Feb 14, 2007 at 11:06 am
I don’t even want to think about what this means for our district. I can only hope that someone worthy will be chosen to take his place. We still need someone who will fight for what is right for our district. I guess all we can do now is cross our fingers and hope for the best.
4
Tom
// Feb 14, 2007 at 12:18 pm
I still would like to know who Pekin Dragon is since we are so into expecting Knight to use his name. The question still lingers as to who was Pekin Dragon’s source of info as to Dr. White’s leaving. This was confidential to only 11 people, 7 of those being board members and the other 4 being administrative staff. if you are not a board member then you must know one well enough to get info from him or her. If they tell someone, it should be with the understanding that it is kept confidential, unless of course that is their way of being able to say they did not leak it in the first place. We all remember the teacher’s letter that was leaked. I’m sure the person who leaked it to the paper was not someone on the board, but someone who was told by a board member. this way the member that leaked it can deny telling the paper, with a straight face no less.
There is evil in this town, but there are many good people, who see through all the evil and are not swayed by the intimidating and personal attacks. You have succeeded in running a quality person out of town who cared about the quality of our kid’s education, more than can be said for some of these “made up groups” out on a crusade to save the taxpayers. Spare me. I do not need saving. The kids in this district already pay for any extra school activities. I for one do not expect something for nothing.
5
Shannon
// Feb 14, 2007 at 2:02 pm
Just wanted to say that as I have covered the consolidation issue for the paper, I have had many occasions to work with Dr. White. He has been the perfect “official” from my standpoint… always taking my calls when he could and returning them promptly when he couldn’t. He’s never shied away from any question I have asked and often times even surprised me with the candor he was willing to use on the record.
As the mother of a student in a Dist. 108 school, I see firsthand the successes Dr. White has spoken so proudly of in our district, and I too am sad to see him go.
I don’t know if consolidation would be right or wrong for our districts (and as long as I’m covering the issue I will try hard not to form an opinion) but it saddens me to think it could be the reason he is leaving.
6
Kate
// Feb 14, 2007 at 2:09 pm
Uhm… Tom? I believe he just reads the newspaper.
7
Tom
// Feb 14, 2007 at 3:23 pm
Uhm… Kate? If you are referring to my question of who leaked the info to this blog, then you should check the date of the original leak to the blog. I believe it was Saturday shortly after Dr White told the board members. the newspaper found out on Monday. So now how do you think he found out?
Now I’m hearing that it was me who leaked it. Nice try guilty party. I have so much to gain from that. Maybe it was the tooth fairy.
8
knightindragonland
// Feb 14, 2007 at 4:18 pm
An anonymous commenter calling him/herself Pekin Dragon mentioned Dr. White leaving the district on the evening of February 10th (my dates and times have been off by 6 hours since the blog was created … that’s been fixed now), several days before the information appeared in the Journal Star and the Times. I have no knowledge of any connection between this commenter and District 108, the Citizens for Pekin School Consolidation or the now defunct pro-consolidation blogs Pekin, My Home or Pekin Dragons Calling.
9
Kate
// Feb 14, 2007 at 4:40 pm
Ohhhh… yep, my bad.
10
Rick Wade
// Feb 15, 2007 at 5:14 am
Once again, an anonymous person reveals information that was not intended to be revealed as yet. Once again, this makes my point about the need for people to take personal responsibility for their words and actions.
11
Tom
// Feb 15, 2007 at 7:41 am
Unfortunately Rick, that will not happen if someone is leaking something he or she knows is not supposed to be leaked. Just a game they play. They can’t be held accountable if they own up to it. I won’t compare this to your dispute with Knight because I feel this is different. It is highly unethical, and just plain wrong. Dr. White should have been given the chance to tell all the staff before it surfaced on this blog. I voiced my opinion about the teacher’s letter, to the paper. This is no different.
12
knightindragonland
// Feb 15, 2007 at 1:12 pm
Interesting point of view, Rick. I guess you didn’t have any editorial authority over Mike Noyes when he published his infamous November 1 column containing a leaked letter from AN ANONYMOUS SOURCE. I guess that didn’t bother you.
You just like to fire off at bloggers that criticize your paper. My anonymity is just a convenient excuse to act righteous about it. What a hypocrite!!!
13
Dr. Dragon
// Feb 16, 2007 at 4:27 pm
Who has read the “latest” INTERGOVERNMENT AGREEMENT between 108 & Pekin Park District and prepared by 108’s lawyer, Tibbs? It’s riddle with James Field can sell down the road—uh, sooner than 40 years too. If you read, carefully, you will “see” White, Roots & Tibbs inc. knows PCHS are owners of James Field too. Go on, read it, then, comment.
Dr. Dragon
14
knightindragonland
// Feb 16, 2007 at 5:21 pm
Dr. Dragon returns. What happened to your blog?
The height of the James Field controversy predated my arrival in Pekin. I don’t know enough of the details to make an argument, but I do know that the Pekin, My Home blog and the defunct Pekin Dragons Calling blog that Dr. Dragon contributed to were home to rampant anti-White paranoia.
15
Anti- Dr. Dragon
// Feb 16, 2007 at 11:34 pm
You, Dr. Dragon must see something that is not there, because I see nothing saying PCHS owns any of James Field. You sound like some of the other Mangan lovers who have written your broken up sentences, crafted like someone in the 2nd grade.
Go ahead and quote from the agreement where PCHS owns any of it. If they do then why aren’t they coming forward?
As far as the option to end the agreement, it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to understand why that clause is in there. Just a little incentive to move forward with the improvements. I guess the 108 BOE will never be able to do anything right in some eyes. I’m sure you could do a much better job.
16
Tom
// Feb 17, 2007 at 3:44 pm
Where do we find such information? Is this matter of record, the agreement you are talking about? I can’t seem to find it anywhere. You must have some inside source that tells all. Is it the same source that leaked the letter? The same source that leaked Dr. white’s leaving. Does this source know that you are letting this information out. of course they do, that would be why it was told to you.
17
jj
// Feb 20, 2007 at 12:56 pm
I just received email–as did 50 others in Pekin.
This is one reason why Dirty White needs to leave:
108 w/ Pekin Park Dist. RE: James Field
Page 1. Tibbs does not say ANYWHERE in the Agreement that 108 owns James Field. He simply states in Paragraph A that 108 “purchased it”. That’s a bit unusual for any Agreement. I suspect he knows that at least one title company and an outside lawyer have agreed with Pekin folks that the title is clouded and 108 or Park Dist will need 303’s, Schramm, and Rankin schools Quit Claim Deed before anything is done with that ground (lease or sale)–if they are smart. 108 shouldn’t lease land unless they have FEE TITLE squared away. There is a question as to whether 108 has fee title. My opinion is that Tibbs should have included 303 in the Agreement to clean that up, or at minimum, get 303’s Deed before he records this lease. Otherwise, we could go through the same wragling if James Field is never developed and is sold to Walgreen’s in 2013.
Page 2. Why only a 40 year lease? Stature provides for up to 50 year leases: See 50 ILCS 605/3.1
Page 3. Paragraph 2.5 add the word “promptly” in front of “undertake”.
What happens to money in development fund if lease is terminated without development? (Public can’t raise the money or parties don’t fund it adequately?) Did anyone miss this in the Agreement or is it silent on this point?
Page 4. Paragraph 2.7. Why not extend the Temination date til 2020 or 2025? June 30, 2012 is right around the corner.
May be more….
18
The Other Tom
// Feb 20, 2007 at 5:25 pm
Who are these privileged 50 people who received this email? Who sent it to them? Where did he/she get the information? Why is it only sent to the priviliged 50? It sounds like a group of “good old boys” to me.
19
jj
// Feb 20, 2007 at 6:16 pm
Tom, How were you so privy as to know only 11 people were told about White moving on? Perhaps you told “someone”? Look into White’s last town where he was Superintendent. All towns have old newspapers and the Internet makes it all so convenient.
The big question is: Who is going to fill White’s spot?
20
Tom
// Feb 20, 2007 at 6:53 pm
I read about Dr White leaving on this blog. that is how I found out. I then let a board member know that this information was made public on this blog. I was told that only 11 people had the information.
What would I have to gain by leaking this? I guess I must have leaked the teacher letter too. Get a clue. only certain people have the information. Someone with it conveniently tells someone they know will leak it and the deed is done. who knows what they have to gain by it but they sure seem to enjoy themselves by doing so.
And why does the contents of the agreement that you have shared with us prove that Dr White should leave? And since you have this info, why, if others have claim to this property, are they not coming forward to make such claims? Sounds like a whole lot of hogwash to me. By the way, Walgreens will be locating up the block.
I fail to see what the big deal is. The public did not want this land to sell. It isn’t being sold. the park district will be maintaining it. the only problem I see with it is that we are worrying about some property that now sits across the street from the newest eyesore that was sold for a mere 60,000 only to sit and become a vandals target. Kudos to 303 for that one. maybe we should let them have a say about what happens to James Field.
As far as who will fill his spot, be careful what you wish for, it may just happen.
21
knightindragonland
// Feb 20, 2007 at 7:54 pm
“JJ” … “Dr. Dragon” … “Pekin Dragon” … “Denise Snakard” … what’s up with the schizophrenic multiple personalities? Some may criticize me for blogging anonymously, but at least I stick with one pseudonym. I don’t assume multiple identities to create the illusion that many people hold my singular opinion. Pick one pseudonym and stick with it. You’re not fooling me, and I’m sure many others on this blog could easily pick out your characteristic rambling inarticulate babble no matter what name you tack on to it.
If you have such damning information about Dr. White, why don’t you just come out and say it? Please … reveal to us your hidden “knowledge.” I’m tired of the melodramatic innuendo.
You also never answered my question, Dr. JJ Dragon Snakard … what happened to the Pekin Dragons Calling blog?
22
Tom
// Feb 20, 2007 at 8:33 pm
no real questions are answered, because they do not have the answers. Just like the so-called co ownership of James field. I like how they are tossing the blame my way for the leaks.
23
knightindragonland
// Feb 20, 2007 at 8:41 pm
That is strange that you get the blame, Tom … especially since Dr. JJ Dragon Snakard was the source of the leak, posting as “Pekin Dragon.”
24
Tom
// Feb 20, 2007 at 9:30 pm
I must be what is called in the criminal courts as “Plan B”. Blame someone else to create reasonable doubt. reasonable people know better.
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