After school board meeting videos were removed, Superintendent Dr. Leah Gauthier said Elmwood Park Community Unit School District 401 will no longer maintain a public video archive of meetings
Once again, I thank the Advocate for their transparent reporting. The Board's commitment to avoiding transparency, accountability and liability at all costs is astounding. But we're watching and parents aren't going to let it stand without a fight.
I do have to ask if you were warned then why make the move to town?
I will say I lived and was I school during the 90's were we had one of the worst issues in out school boards history. So maybe I am a bit less concerned over these what I feel are minor things.
According to Illinois State Board of Education the meeting minutes, which need to include EVERY spoken word, should be made available no later than 10 days after a meeting. As well as they need to post agenda before the meeting. Dr. G thinks the stakeholders and parents are not as educated as her and her sidekick Dr. O. But they both make job altering mistakes and you can call them out and nothing will happen. Good luck.
I would hold the same opinion to be honest no madder what the reason. This is a towns school board meeting and out side of the people in town outside opinions are nothing more then noise.
If those groups were not allowed to speak at public comment during the meeting that would be a different story. But having access to these school board meeting for folks who make a living off creating click bait online content does not make it a need or good use of resources. This sadly is what has been happening over the last decade on both sides of the political spectrum.
But from what you choose as your talking points your tying to sensesulize something that is not even happening here. I will be completely honest I do not care nor is it in any way any of my business what another school district does or does not decide is appropriate for it student body. I am not and have not been a fan of a standardized system like the department of education. I really feel a curriculum should be completly localized and decided alone by the school board who is elected by the residents.
I am not upset. I just comment as the other side of this is also needed. Drama and sensationalized titles bring readers I get it.
I do worry as you say about things ruining mayberry. I only wish the town was still that simple and drama free. But sadly unless we are fortunate enough to have a emp knock out the power grid and put us back to a time were these devices did not run our lives it is just not possible.
It really was much more Mayberry-like before the whole online mayhem began two decades ago. We did not have to hear about this or that drama from other towns, and kept to ourselves and our own issues. It was a lot nicer IMO at that point.
It was one of the things I really enjoyed about it here when my mom and I moved here after she married my stepdad, whose family had been here since 68. I came from the Chicago garbage school system to EP, which was much more like Glenview's school system, which I had been fortunate enough to enjoy for a few years when my mom could get base housing before we had to relocate back to my grandparents on Oleander and Belmont.
This area has always been a nice, isolated town with problems, yes, but at least it is our problems. Folks have chosen to make a go of it multigenerationally for a reason here. My wife's family has been here since the 60s, also.
What is it about EP that bothers you so much? I have asked, where is it you moved from that was so much better than here, yet you choose to come here?
To be honest it would be better if they just stopped filming them completely. If folks are concerned they should show up in person. I am not a 100% sure when the live streaming began but i do know that historically there was much more presence at these meeting prior to the online distribution.
When I went through the district in the 90's you were forced to be there to make a change. The same can be said when my sister went through In the 00's. Prior to my kids starting in the district about 6 years ago I started going when the new business was relevant or concerning.
I personally feel withsome of the circuses the online broadcasting of these meetings across our country in the last decade maybe it be best to just completely remove this element.
I do believe that you can look at the last meeting muinetes to get a the info on What will be discussed at a upcoming meeting.
I always appreciate your uncanny ability to invent justifications for government actions that sidestep the stated reasons for specific decisions. It also is a mystery to me, and maybe you can help. Is there some part of the village's bylaws, policies, or history that says as technology advances let's make sure not to use it to enhance civic participation? I find it crotchety to say back in my day we didn't have livestreamed meetings so parents, students, and others in the village must be present if they want to follow meetings. —Kevin Gosztola
Not sure if there is a law that says that they do not want to use technology. It is more a case of a majority of folks do not see the point of it. It is not so much a back in my day deal as a statement of allot of these platforms or avenues just creat more issues then they do benefit people. This is a small town when things go south that effect folks things tend to change with out the need for the platforms or extra media.
I also enjoy you uncanny ability to make a mountain out of mole hills on here which is why I enjoy giving a alternative as you put it crotchety perspective.
We have seen in this town were these "advancements" have led other towns over the years and losts of folks are ok with things staying pretty anolog.
If you have attend or watched these videos you will see people do attend them and do make public comment in attempts to change things. The value of posting these videos (and keeping an archive) is for the people who can’t attend for a variety of reasons. So they can see the people that do.
The videos are important for accountability and transparency. I myself went to watch one of them because I could not make it last time and wanted to see what was said and guess what it was gone!
Parents and tax payers in this district deserve to be able to access this information. They deserve transparency. There is zero reason to remove the videos.
I just personally thing these online meeting and not just in our town but as a general rule have become a feeding ground for click bait propaganda. I do understand not everyone feels it is important enough to take time off to make the meetings. But I will say parents I. Town when there is a issue that is coming up will do so from my experience. Really the online content is a added cost that could be put to better use.
Would you be saying that if this was motivated by an effort to suppress a small group of people upset by LGBTQ+ acceptance and teachings in the classroom? Or if there were parents objecting to particular books that were promoted by teachers or available in school libraries for students to read? You can act as if people upset about secretive local officials are trying to ruin Mayberry, but really, I don't think it's hard to unravel what you're saying. —Kevin Gosztola
This is not happening do not try to sensesulize what is happening by tying it to some politically charged items in a dead news cycle.
I live here and do not have any any concern or should I in what the other school districts. I do not need comments from people who do not like here on our school district or what they are or are not doing.
Online videos lead to people thinking they have some right to show up and try to change anarea they do not live in nor contribute to the tax base. So for me this is a good reason to remove the online content.
Maybe a alternative is put it online in a area were current residents only can access it so they can if they are un able to make it out get the info. People could show a proof of residency and get added to a mailing list with a secure
I speak up as I do feel there is a group of folks who moved here and must have had good reasons for it. Yet now have buyers remorse. Feel the town is some how wronging them and are being attacked. You sometimes yourself comment back in this way. This is small town people are not just going to be kind and ignore you with out comment. But also people will not mess with you if you leave them alone. One of the best comments I read from the last community conversation was the point brought up that a nieboor had a trump flag flying yet they did not bother the person. That is this town In a nutshell. As long as you not a pedo most people do not care what your doing or what you believe in your household.
You act as if they cannot access information Or attend the meeting. You also act like there is some secret society in the woods here. You are living in a small town this is not Chicago were I believe you relocated from. I believe this is we're you disconnect is.
You are no longer a grain of sand on a beach. Your now a marble in the jar. You now live in a town were people will and do know who you are and when you cry wolf to much you going to loose the ear of the people. If you keep crying wolf in this town it will eventually lead to things such as you are starting to see as people just do not want the silly drama we see in other towns. I am not sure if you have kids. But it will also lead to issues for them if you do as they start to age up and kids know they are the kids of this guy or that girl. Every basically knows everyone by junior high. you get a name for yourself and that name carries on to your kids good or bad.
When you come in and start trying to change what does not need to be changed. Which we can say because people did not vote to change it. We can look at the last three elections in town and see what happened to those candidates and how far they moved forward.
The community engagement is a good thing. But the political grand standing which I would catorgorize the village, school board, and library drama as can be off putting. Especially to long term residents and multigenerational ones who stayed here for the status quo.
It would be one thing if you all were gathering to talk about the actual issue in our school district and town such as the literacy and mathmatic levels of our kids. Things that actually matter in academics. This could be a great thing for the advocate to start pushing for change wise at both the library and school boards.
The thing to remember which is something you will learn the longer you stay here is that folks like this isolated small town. Which for the most part is free of the drama of many of the surrounding townships who choose to engage in the political hot topics of the day. Mayberry it is not we lost that years ago.
Once again, I thank the Advocate for their transparent reporting. The Board's commitment to avoiding transparency, accountability and liability at all costs is astounding. But we're watching and parents aren't going to let it stand without a fight.
What an outrage and disappointment. I was warned about Elmwood Park and now I’m seeing it with my own eyes.😱
The regime is getting exposed, expect things to get worse before they get better… but they will. There are so many good people here ❤️🩹🥹
From what I’m learning, many locals accept the status quo because they’re not looking for conflict.
I do have to ask if you were warned then why make the move to town?
I will say I lived and was I school during the 90's were we had one of the worst issues in out school boards history. So maybe I am a bit less concerned over these what I feel are minor things.
I actually was warned, but I couldn’t believe it.
So what type of warnings did you get and out of curiosity what area did you move from that you were getting the warnings?
According to Illinois State Board of Education the meeting minutes, which need to include EVERY spoken word, should be made available no later than 10 days after a meeting. As well as they need to post agenda before the meeting. Dr. G thinks the stakeholders and parents are not as educated as her and her sidekick Dr. O. But they both make job altering mistakes and you can call them out and nothing will happen. Good luck.
I would hold the same opinion to be honest no madder what the reason. This is a towns school board meeting and out side of the people in town outside opinions are nothing more then noise.
If those groups were not allowed to speak at public comment during the meeting that would be a different story. But having access to these school board meeting for folks who make a living off creating click bait online content does not make it a need or good use of resources. This sadly is what has been happening over the last decade on both sides of the political spectrum.
But from what you choose as your talking points your tying to sensesulize something that is not even happening here. I will be completely honest I do not care nor is it in any way any of my business what another school district does or does not decide is appropriate for it student body. I am not and have not been a fan of a standardized system like the department of education. I really feel a curriculum should be completly localized and decided alone by the school board who is elected by the residents.
I am not upset. I just comment as the other side of this is also needed. Drama and sensationalized titles bring readers I get it.
I do worry as you say about things ruining mayberry. I only wish the town was still that simple and drama free. But sadly unless we are fortunate enough to have a emp knock out the power grid and put us back to a time were these devices did not run our lives it is just not possible.
Trust me. Elmwood Park is not Mayberry.
It really was much more Mayberry-like before the whole online mayhem began two decades ago. We did not have to hear about this or that drama from other towns, and kept to ourselves and our own issues. It was a lot nicer IMO at that point.
It was one of the things I really enjoyed about it here when my mom and I moved here after she married my stepdad, whose family had been here since 68. I came from the Chicago garbage school system to EP, which was much more like Glenview's school system, which I had been fortunate enough to enjoy for a few years when my mom could get base housing before we had to relocate back to my grandparents on Oleander and Belmont.
This area has always been a nice, isolated town with problems, yes, but at least it is our problems. Folks have chosen to make a go of it multigenerationally for a reason here. My wife's family has been here since the 60s, also.
What is it about EP that bothers you so much? I have asked, where is it you moved from that was so much better than here, yet you choose to come here?
To be honest it would be better if they just stopped filming them completely. If folks are concerned they should show up in person. I am not a 100% sure when the live streaming began but i do know that historically there was much more presence at these meeting prior to the online distribution.
When I went through the district in the 90's you were forced to be there to make a change. The same can be said when my sister went through In the 00's. Prior to my kids starting in the district about 6 years ago I started going when the new business was relevant or concerning.
I personally feel withsome of the circuses the online broadcasting of these meetings across our country in the last decade maybe it be best to just completely remove this element.
I do believe that you can look at the last meeting muinetes to get a the info on What will be discussed at a upcoming meeting.
I always appreciate your uncanny ability to invent justifications for government actions that sidestep the stated reasons for specific decisions. It also is a mystery to me, and maybe you can help. Is there some part of the village's bylaws, policies, or history that says as technology advances let's make sure not to use it to enhance civic participation? I find it crotchety to say back in my day we didn't have livestreamed meetings so parents, students, and others in the village must be present if they want to follow meetings. —Kevin Gosztola
Not sure if there is a law that says that they do not want to use technology. It is more a case of a majority of folks do not see the point of it. It is not so much a back in my day deal as a statement of allot of these platforms or avenues just creat more issues then they do benefit people. This is a small town when things go south that effect folks things tend to change with out the need for the platforms or extra media.
I also enjoy you uncanny ability to make a mountain out of mole hills on here which is why I enjoy giving a alternative as you put it crotchety perspective.
We have seen in this town were these "advancements" have led other towns over the years and losts of folks are ok with things staying pretty anolog.
If you have attend or watched these videos you will see people do attend them and do make public comment in attempts to change things. The value of posting these videos (and keeping an archive) is for the people who can’t attend for a variety of reasons. So they can see the people that do.
The videos are important for accountability and transparency. I myself went to watch one of them because I could not make it last time and wanted to see what was said and guess what it was gone!
Parents and tax payers in this district deserve to be able to access this information. They deserve transparency. There is zero reason to remove the videos.
I just personally thing these online meeting and not just in our town but as a general rule have become a feeding ground for click bait propaganda. I do understand not everyone feels it is important enough to take time off to make the meetings. But I will say parents I. Town when there is a issue that is coming up will do so from my experience. Really the online content is a added cost that could be put to better use.
Would you be saying that if this was motivated by an effort to suppress a small group of people upset by LGBTQ+ acceptance and teachings in the classroom? Or if there were parents objecting to particular books that were promoted by teachers or available in school libraries for students to read? You can act as if people upset about secretive local officials are trying to ruin Mayberry, but really, I don't think it's hard to unravel what you're saying. —Kevin Gosztola
This is not happening do not try to sensesulize what is happening by tying it to some politically charged items in a dead news cycle.
I live here and do not have any any concern or should I in what the other school districts. I do not need comments from people who do not like here on our school district or what they are or are not doing.
Online videos lead to people thinking they have some right to show up and try to change anarea they do not live in nor contribute to the tax base. So for me this is a good reason to remove the online content.
Maybe a alternative is put it online in a area were current residents only can access it so they can if they are un able to make it out get the info. People could show a proof of residency and get added to a mailing list with a secure
I speak up as I do feel there is a group of folks who moved here and must have had good reasons for it. Yet now have buyers remorse. Feel the town is some how wronging them and are being attacked. You sometimes yourself comment back in this way. This is small town people are not just going to be kind and ignore you with out comment. But also people will not mess with you if you leave them alone. One of the best comments I read from the last community conversation was the point brought up that a nieboor had a trump flag flying yet they did not bother the person. That is this town In a nutshell. As long as you not a pedo most people do not care what your doing or what you believe in your household.
You act as if they cannot access information Or attend the meeting. You also act like there is some secret society in the woods here. You are living in a small town this is not Chicago were I believe you relocated from. I believe this is we're you disconnect is.
You are no longer a grain of sand on a beach. Your now a marble in the jar. You now live in a town were people will and do know who you are and when you cry wolf to much you going to loose the ear of the people. If you keep crying wolf in this town it will eventually lead to things such as you are starting to see as people just do not want the silly drama we see in other towns. I am not sure if you have kids. But it will also lead to issues for them if you do as they start to age up and kids know they are the kids of this guy or that girl. Every basically knows everyone by junior high. you get a name for yourself and that name carries on to your kids good or bad.
When you come in and start trying to change what does not need to be changed. Which we can say because people did not vote to change it. We can look at the last three elections in town and see what happened to those candidates and how far they moved forward.
The community engagement is a good thing. But the political grand standing which I would catorgorize the village, school board, and library drama as can be off putting. Especially to long term residents and multigenerational ones who stayed here for the status quo.
It would be one thing if you all were gathering to talk about the actual issue in our school district and town such as the literacy and mathmatic levels of our kids. Things that actually matter in academics. This could be a great thing for the advocate to start pushing for change wise at both the library and school boards.
The thing to remember which is something you will learn the longer you stay here is that folks like this isolated small town. Which for the most part is free of the drama of many of the surrounding townships who choose to engage in the political hot topics of the day. Mayberry it is not we lost that years ago.