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Letter to the Editor of the Grayslake Times from Debbie Bajgert
I was in attendance at last Monday’s open forum re: the Strategic Design Process for District 46. There is much concern and debate over this issue. Back in February, when a flyer was distributed announcing a meeting for this process, it never listed William Spady’s name, involvement, or credentials, as is the habit when inviting a speaker to our district, let alone someone we hired. Some of the people that attended that initial meeting had many questions and concerns when it ended, prompting them to look up William Spady. Since that point, many people have collectively logged hundreds of hours of research, gone to board meetings to express concern, and asked board members many questions. With very little response or satisfactory answers, we established a web site (www.watchd46schools.org) to share information we found and keep people informed of what’s going on in regard to this issue. The board insists that no changes have been made or will be made without community input. However, looking back at the many changes that have occurred in the past months sporadically throughout the district, I have to wonder how much of it is attributable to William Spady and/or his philosophies. The board also continues to insist that he will not have any influence on decisions made in the district. He was hired strictly to facilitate asking “the tough questions” in our community to find the direction that we want to follow. However, his book has been distributed to our teachers to read. He has been scheduled to speak during in-service days. He is the one guiding the questions being asked and “training” the people asking the questions. How can he NOT be an influence on the results?Return to Watch District 46 Schools Home PageAfter reading a lot of information, I have found that his basic principles of education are based on his “spheres of living”, which are more “life based” than “academic based”. There is much involved that indicates more attitudinal and subjective material than academic content. For a result of that first night’s meeting, see the district’s handout and see for yourself where the answers ended up. I did not see anything academically related at all. (For a copy of this and other information, please reference the web site listed above.)
I would just like to encourage members of the District 46 community to find out what’s happening and continue to seek answers to these questions that are raised before it’s too late. Please attend the next meeting, April 24 (see district site www.d46.k12.il.us for updates) and find out what’s going on. I, personally, feel that a lot of damage has already been done. Please, get some information and make your own decision as to the direction you want to go. I feel that we, as a community, need to make these decisions, not someone who is this controversial with his own agenda. Let the board know how you feel about this issue!
Debbie Bajgert