Comments on: Who’s running for school board? http://stopillinoisfoca.com/2009-0331/schoolboard/ Coalition To Defeat HB2354 Wed, 10 Mar 2010 13:01:30 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.7.1 hourly 1 By: Jessica http://stopillinoisfoca.com/2009-0331/schoolboard/comment-page-1/#comment-93 Jessica Wed, 08 Apr 2009 17:03:49 +0000 http://stopillinoisfoca.com/?p=300#comment-93 Thank you to the group from St. Elizabeth Seton! The information they were able to get from their research was very helpful to us. Thank you to the group from St. Elizabeth Seton! The information they were able to get from their research was very helpful to us.

]]> By: Shawn Green http://stopillinoisfoca.com/2009-0331/schoolboard/comment-page-1/#comment-92 Shawn Green Wed, 08 Apr 2009 14:27:21 +0000 http://stopillinoisfoca.com/?p=300#comment-92 Wow. Notice how the liberal school board member immediately inserts religion, despite the fact the parent did not mention religion at all! Could that be because the "right" to have an abortion IS a religion to some people? You folks have your hands full in D203. I'm still trying to figure out who thought it would be a good idea to have William Ayers speak at the high school. Good luck, and keep fighting the good fight! sgreen@district158.org Wow. Notice how the liberal school board member immediately inserts religion, despite the fact the parent did not mention religion at all! Could that be because the “right” to have an abortion IS a religion to some people? You folks have your hands full in D203. I’m still trying to figure out who thought it would be a good idea to have William Ayers speak at the high school.
Good luck, and keep fighting the good fight!

sgreen@district158.org

]]> By: Phyllis http://stopillinoisfoca.com/2009-0331/schoolboard/comment-page-1/#comment-90 Phyllis Wed, 08 Apr 2009 03:15:06 +0000 http://stopillinoisfoca.com/?p=300#comment-90 I appreciate this forum very much. The entries are very informative. Below I am copying an email exchange that I had with District 203 Board member, Susan Crotty, in 2007 concerning a text book that I felt was inappropriate. I was very surprised by her response. From: Phyllis Sent: Mon 2/19/2007 11:17 PM To: Susan Crotty; Dean Reschke; James Caulfield; Suzyn Price; Debra Shipley; Mike Davitt; Gerry Cassioppi; Alan Leis Subject: Essentials of Human Anatomy & Physiology Dear District 203 board members As the mother of five children, four of whom are currently District 203 students, I am writing concerning the upcoming debate and vote on textbook adoption for school year 2007-2008, especially concerning the textbook, Essentials of Human Anatomy & Physiology. Researching the contents of this textbook, and following the public comments made on the issue, I have come to the decision that public monies should not be used to purchase this textbook, nor should this textbook be used in any of our classrooms, since it contains materials and opinions not in conformity with accepted scientific language and because important sections of its material and tone are not politically neutral, but rather are politically biased on very sensitive issues. I strongly urge you not to approve this text and to allow further time and input for finding a scientifically careful and exact text, one that does not mix the teaching of science with that of political agenda. As example of material which uses improper and incorrect scientific terms, the sections referring to the “fertilized egg” would apply. This term is not scientifically correct and is politically charged. In the current reproductive and genetic debates this term detracts from anyone who would hold that from conception there is a new human life, a human in the embryonic stage, one that should be afforded the same protection and rights as all other human persons. In another section, the text presents contraception in a politically charged tone. It confuses abortifacients with contraceptives, it publicizes the very controversial Planned Parenthood and it incorrectly reports that there are no side effects to the RU486 abortion pill. First of all, many consider that there is always a complication with RU486…that of the death of an unborn baby, secondly, there have been adult deaths associated with the pill as well as fears of long term effects on the reproductive futures of the women using RU486. Please see the <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2006/04/01/health/01abort.html?ex=1301547600&en=77067caf1ced3fd2&ei=5088&" rel="nofollow">New York Times article</a> on this issue. Important to note is that the three page section on contraception affords only three lines to abstinence. This is interesting considering that District 203 prides itself on teaching an abstinence based curriculum in its sexual education curriculum. This three page section also repeatedly refers to Natural Family Planning Methods as Rhythm Methods. This is not a scientifically accurate term, but rather is a very outdated and politically loaded term. Again I urge you to not approve the text, Essentials of Human Anatomy & Physiology, and I urge you to allow community input on finding a text that is scientifically accurate and politically neutral. I thank you for your time and for all you do for our world class school district. Sincerely Phyllis From: Susan Crotty [mailto:scrotty@naperville203.org] Sent: Tuesday, February 20, 2007 10:42 AM To: Phyllis Subject: RE: Essentials of Human Anatomy & Physiology Phyllis, Sorry about that I have been trying to respond to all my emails as I feel it is part of my elected duties wherever possible. Your reasoning for voting no on the text book is flawed - the right is a granted as a 1st Amendment Right - RU486 and Abortion are not illegal. This is a science class not religion. Are you going to stop riding in cars because over 45,000 people died last year in car accidents? Should our kids not be allowed to drive cars to school or have access to drivers ed??? Where does it end??? Susan Susan Crotty Board of Education Naperville District 203 630-778-7002 scrotty@naperville203.org www.naperville203.org From: Phyllis Sent: Tuesday, February 20, 2007 1:06 PM Subject: RE: Essentials of Human Anatomy & Physiology Dear Ms Crotty Thank you again for your time in answering my email from this morning. I can only imagine how much time this takes in responding to all the issues facing the board. I do want to respond, though to your comments, so that I can clarify my position on the approval of the Essentials of Human Anatomy & Physiology. It was not clear from your response if my initial email had been understood. For this reason I am also copying the other board members on this reply. I am not asking for a discussion on the legality of RU 486 or abortion, I am asking that the text not be approved “since it contains materials and opinions not in conformity with accepted scientific language and because important sections of its material and tone are not politically neutral, but rather are politically biased on very sensitive issues.” I am not sure how being scientifically accurate involves a discussion on the First Amendment, teen drivers or accident fatalities. Again, thank you for your time in listening to the voters and tax payers on this issue. Phyllis I appreciate this forum very much. The entries are very informative.
Below I am copying an email exchange that I had with District 203 Board member, Susan Crotty, in 2007 concerning a text book that I felt was inappropriate. I was very surprised by her response.

From: Phyllis Sent: Mon 2/19/2007 11:17 PM
To: Susan Crotty; Dean Reschke; James Caulfield; Suzyn Price; Debra Shipley; Mike Davitt; Gerry Cassioppi; Alan Leis
Subject: Essentials of Human Anatomy & Physiology

Dear District 203 board members
As the mother of five children, four of whom are currently District 203 students, I am writing concerning the upcoming debate and vote on textbook adoption for school year 2007-2008, especially concerning the textbook, Essentials of Human Anatomy & Physiology.
Researching the contents of this textbook, and following the public comments made on the issue, I have come to the decision that public monies should not be used to purchase this textbook, nor should this textbook be used in any of our classrooms, since it contains materials and opinions not in conformity with accepted scientific language and because important sections of its material and tone are not politically neutral, but rather are politically biased on very sensitive issues.
I strongly urge you not to approve this text and to allow further time and input for finding a scientifically careful and exact text, one that does not mix the teaching of science with that of political agenda.
As example of material which uses improper and incorrect scientific terms, the sections referring to the “fertilized egg” would apply. This term is not scientifically correct and is politically charged. In the current reproductive and genetic debates this term detracts from anyone who would hold that from conception there is a new human life, a human in the embryonic stage, one that should be afforded the same protection and rights as all other human persons.
In another section, the text presents contraception in a politically charged tone. It confuses abortifacients with contraceptives, it publicizes the very controversial Planned Parenthood and it incorrectly reports that there are no side effects to the RU486 abortion pill. First of all, many consider that there is always a complication with RU486…that of the death of an unborn baby, secondly, there have been adult deaths associated with the pill as well as fears of long term effects on the reproductive futures of the women using RU486. Please see the New York Times article on this issue.
Important to note is that the three page section on contraception affords only three lines to abstinence. This is interesting considering that District 203 prides itself on teaching an abstinence based curriculum in its sexual education curriculum. This three page section also repeatedly refers to Natural Family Planning Methods as Rhythm Methods. This is not a scientifically accurate term, but rather is a very outdated and politically loaded term.
Again I urge you to not approve the text, Essentials of Human Anatomy & Physiology, and I urge you to allow community input on finding a text that is scientifically accurate and politically neutral.
I thank you for your time and for all you do for our world class school district.
Sincerely
Phyllis

From: Susan Crotty [mailto:scrotty@naperville203.org]
Sent: Tuesday, February 20, 2007 10:42 AM
To: Phyllis
Subject: RE: Essentials of Human Anatomy & Physiology

Phyllis,

Sorry about that I have been trying to respond to all my emails as I feel it is part of my elected duties wherever possible.
Your reasoning for voting no on the text book is flawed - the right is a granted as a 1st Amendment Right - RU486 and Abortion are not illegal. This is a science class not religion. Are you going to stop riding in cars because over 45,000 people died last year in car accidents? Should our kids not be allowed to drive cars to school or have access to drivers ed??? Where does it end???

Susan

Susan Crotty
Board of Education
Naperville District 203
630-778-7002
scrotty@naperville203.org
http://www.naperville203.org

From: Phyllis
Sent: Tuesday, February 20, 2007 1:06 PM
Subject: RE: Essentials of Human Anatomy & Physiology

Dear Ms Crotty
Thank you again for your time in answering my email from this morning. I can only imagine how much time this takes in responding to all the issues facing the board.
I do want to respond, though to your comments, so that I can clarify my position on the approval of the Essentials of Human Anatomy & Physiology. It was not clear from your response if my initial email had been understood. For this reason I am also copying the other board members on this reply.
I am not asking for a discussion on the legality of RU 486 or abortion, I am asking that the text not be approved “since it contains materials and opinions not in conformity with accepted scientific language and because important sections of its material and tone are not politically neutral, but rather are politically biased on very sensitive issues.”
I am not sure how being scientifically accurate involves a discussion on the First Amendment, teen drivers or accident fatalities.
Again, thank you for your time in listening to the voters and tax payers on this issue.
Phyllis

]]> By: Becky Olsen http://stopillinoisfoca.com/2009-0331/schoolboard/comment-page-1/#comment-88 Becky Olsen Tue, 07 Apr 2009 20:19:46 +0000 http://stopillinoisfoca.com/?p=300#comment-88 The League of Women Voters, with which some Illinois candidates are affliated, has fought against overturning Roe V. Wade, and has also fought against parental notification laws. See the link: http://www.lwv.org/AM/Template.cfm?Section=Home&TEMPLATE=/CM/ContentDisplay.cfm&CONTENTID=10000 The League of Women Voters, with which some Illinois candidates are affliated, has fought against overturning Roe V. Wade, and has also fought against parental notification laws. See the link: http://www.lwv.org/AM/Template.cfm?Section=Home&TEMPLATE=/CM/ContentDisplay.cfm&CONTENTID=10000

]]> By: Rose Case http://stopillinoisfoca.com/2009-0331/schoolboard/comment-page-1/#comment-87 Rose Case Tue, 07 Apr 2009 15:59:41 +0000 http://stopillinoisfoca.com/?p=300#comment-87 Last Friday night, I spoke to Judith Brodhead, running for Naperville City Council. She said that she is pro-choice. Last Friday night, I spoke to Judith Brodhead, running for Naperville City Council. She said that she is pro-choice.

]]> By: April Dowd http://stopillinoisfoca.com/2009-0331/schoolboard/comment-page-1/#comment-83 April Dowd Mon, 06 Apr 2009 22:09:55 +0000 http://stopillinoisfoca.com/?p=300#comment-83 Thank you to Linda for supplying so much information regarding Naperville 203 and 204 districts. It has been extremely helpful and enlightening. I think it is time for me to start attending these school board meetings so that I can hear what is really going on and to be even more informed for the next election. Thank you to Linda for supplying so much information regarding Naperville 203 and 204 districts. It has been extremely helpful and enlightening. I think it is time for me to start attending these school board meetings so that I can hear what is really going on and to be even more informed for the next election.

]]> By: Wm Bird http://stopillinoisfoca.com/2009-0331/schoolboard/comment-page-1/#comment-82 Wm Bird Mon, 06 Apr 2009 02:18:49 +0000 http://stopillinoisfoca.com/?p=300#comment-82 Any guidance on School District #308 candidates: Julie Mueller Laurie Pasteris Eric Strong David Behrens Sue Bertrand Lynn Cullick Paul Hoekstra Mike Scaramuzzi Any guidance on School District #308 candidates:
Julie Mueller
Laurie Pasteris
Eric Strong
David Behrens
Sue Bertrand
Lynn Cullick
Paul Hoekstra
Mike Scaramuzzi

]]> By: Shawn Green http://stopillinoisfoca.com/2009-0331/schoolboard/comment-page-1/#comment-77 Shawn Green Sat, 04 Apr 2009 15:41:52 +0000 http://stopillinoisfoca.com/?p=300#comment-77 I drafted a resolution, which passed the committee level and is on the consent agenda for formal approval later this month, calling on my K-12 board to take a public stance in opposition to HB 2354. Rep. Franks, a co-sponsor of the bill, has a small number of constituents in my district. As a Conservative on a public school board I often feel like I'm inside the belly of the Liberal beast. But the defeat (if only temporary) of HB 2354, and my board's approval of this resolution, are examples of what can be accomplished when we stand up for what's right and provide respectful and articulate arguments. Here is the resolution: "The Board of Education for Consolidated School District #158 opposes HB 2354. We believe the provisions in this bill amending the School Code by removing the teaching of “sexual abstinence until marriage”, and adding the requirement for school districts to provide “comprehensive sexual health education” are wholly inappropriate. These requirements take critical local control authority away from school districts, and the District 158 Board of Education strongly encourages our legislators to vote against passage of this bill." Keep up the good work everyone! Shawn Green BOE President CSD#158 sgreen@district158.org I drafted a resolution, which passed the committee level and is on the consent agenda for formal approval later this month, calling on my K-12 board to take a public stance in opposition to HB 2354. Rep. Franks, a co-sponsor of the bill, has a small number of constituents in my district. As a Conservative on a public school board I often feel like I’m inside the belly of the Liberal beast. But the defeat (if only temporary) of HB 2354, and my board’s approval of this resolution, are examples of what can be accomplished when we stand up for what’s right and provide respectful and articulate arguments. Here is the resolution:

“The Board of Education for Consolidated School District #158 opposes HB 2354. We believe the provisions in this bill amending the School Code by removing the teaching of “sexual abstinence until marriage”, and adding the requirement for school districts to provide “comprehensive sexual health education” are wholly inappropriate. These requirements take critical local control authority away from school districts, and the District 158 Board of Education strongly encourages our legislators to vote against passage of this bill.”

Keep up the good work everyone!

Shawn Green
BOE President CSD#158
sgreen@district158.org

]]> By: Linda http://stopillinoisfoca.com/2009-0331/schoolboard/comment-page-1/#comment-74 Linda Sat, 04 Apr 2009 05:13:52 +0000 http://stopillinoisfoca.com/?p=300#comment-74 Friday, April 03, 2009 Because of the lack of information in our local media in regards to the candidates’ opinion on the life issues, a group of us from Saint Elizabeth Seton decided to perform our own survey. Following is the results of that survey. Naperville City Council: Pro life candidates: Ken Bochenski Paul Hinderlong Charles Schneider Bill Eagan Kevin Lynch Pro choice Candidates: Raj Durga Kamala Martinez Candidates who didn’t respond: Judith Brodhead James DerKacy Patti Gustin Doug Kurse PP supported him when he ran for state representative. Timothy Messer Kenn Miller Joe McElroy Janet Trowbridge Jim Boyajian School District 203: Pro life candidates: Dave Weeks Jim Dennison Pro choice Candidates: Lynn Hodak Candidates who didn’t respond: Susan Crotty Incumbent Board VP voted for current sex education program. Jackie Romberg Apt. to board when only pro-life member who voted against sex program resigned. Michael DelCiello Nancy Drapalik Steve Deutsch Patti Mathesewson Merle Siefken School District 204: No candidate responded: Naperville Park Board: Pro choice Candidates: Jim Ensign No other candidates responded The following information in regards to the election of College of Dupage Trustees was not part of our survey it was sent to us. It is worth reading. NOTICE TO DUPAGE COUNTY In the upcoming local election, there will be the chance to vote for College of DuPage Trustees . As you may know, there is a very active group of liberals who are trying to get into COD and institute a more liberal agenda on campus. When you vote, there will not be a "R" or "D" next to the candidates names so you will not know who to pick. The York Township Republicans have given the following pick list of conservatives: Mark J Nowak, Allison O'Donnell, Michael E McKinnon, Michael V. Ledonne. What you can do: Take a cheat sheet to the polling place so you are sure to vote for the correct candidates. Friday, April 03, 2009

Because of the lack of information in our local media in regards to the candidates’ opinion on the life issues, a group of us from Saint Elizabeth Seton decided to perform our own survey. Following is the results of that survey.

Naperville City Council:

Pro life candidates:

Ken Bochenski
Paul Hinderlong
Charles Schneider
Bill Eagan
Kevin Lynch

Pro choice Candidates:

Raj Durga
Kamala Martinez

Candidates who didn’t respond:

Judith Brodhead
James DerKacy
Patti Gustin
Doug Kurse PP supported him when he ran for state representative.
Timothy Messer
Kenn Miller
Joe McElroy
Janet Trowbridge
Jim Boyajian

School District 203:

Pro life candidates:

Dave Weeks
Jim Dennison

Pro choice Candidates:

Lynn Hodak

Candidates who didn’t respond:

Susan Crotty Incumbent Board VP voted for current sex education program.
Jackie Romberg Apt. to board when only pro-life member who voted against sex program resigned.
Michael DelCiello
Nancy Drapalik
Steve Deutsch
Patti Mathesewson
Merle Siefken

School District 204:

No candidate responded:

Naperville Park Board:

Pro choice Candidates:

Jim Ensign

No other candidates responded

The following information in regards to the election of College of Dupage Trustees was not part of our survey it was sent to us. It is worth reading.

NOTICE TO DUPAGE COUNTY

In the upcoming local election, there will be the chance to vote for College of DuPage Trustees . As you may know, there is a very active group of liberals who are trying to get into COD and institute a more liberal agenda on campus. When you vote, there will not be a “R” or “D” next to the candidates names so you will not know who to pick.

The York Township Republicans have given the following pick list of conservatives: Mark J Nowak, Allison O’Donnell, Michael E McKinnon, Michael V. Ledonne.

What you can do: Take a cheat sheet to the polling place so you are sure to vote for the correct candidates.

]]> By: Trisha http://stopillinoisfoca.com/2009-0331/schoolboard/comment-page-1/#comment-71 Trisha Fri, 03 Apr 2009 21:51:38 +0000 http://stopillinoisfoca.com/?p=300#comment-71 Kathi, I live in district 204 too but haven't had time to get the information. Let us know if you find out anymore info. I don't have kids because I'm single but I'm a concern aunt of a 10 and 12 year old but they live in Indiana. Kathi, I live in district 204 too but haven’t had time to get the information. Let us know if you find out anymore info. I don’t have kids because I’m single but I’m a concern aunt of a 10 and 12 year old but they live in Indiana.

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