Latest News and Comment from Education

Tuesday, March 11, 2014

3-11-14 Fred Klonsky | Daily posts from a retired public school teacher

Fred Klonsky | Daily posts from a retired public school teacher who is just looking at the data.:







Developing story. AFSCME’s Henry Bayer denies Dillard dump.
Earlier today both Greg Hinz at Craine’s and Rich Miller at CapitolFax reported that Illinois Freedom PAC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Illinois public and private sector unions had withdrawn funding for TV ads or the Dillard campaign. I interpreted this change in spending to a recognition on the part of the union leaders that Dillard was a lost cause. I still do. But there has been some dancing s



Breaking: Union PAC dumps Dillard. No more good money after bad.
Crain’s Greg Hinz is reporting: In a critical development in the GOP race for governor, a union-backed group that had spent millions of dollars on TV ads blasting front-runner Bruce Rauner has decided to end its campaign, just as the race enters the crucial last week. Michael Murray, a spokesman for the Illinois Freedom PAC, said the group has spent $3.1 million so far ripping Mr. Rauner but will
Breaking: Pension suit assigned to a judge.
A few days ago the fifth and probably last law suit was filed against Senate Bill 1, Michael Madigan’s pension theft. It was filed by the University of Illinois and Parkland College employees in Champaign County Circuit Court.  It also involves the State Universities Annuitants Association. The four other suits have been ordered consolidated and will be heard in Sangamon County, which is Springfie


Classroom teachers will be heard.
For years leaders of the American Federation of Teachers and the National Education Association have claimed that their members support Common Core State Standards. There never was much evidence provided for the claim. Yet they continued. At last year’s NEA Representative Assembly delegates refrained from resolutions opposing CCSS. But they did vote on ones that condemned the misuse of Common Core
Politics is complicated.
Illinois Retired Teachers Association Executive Director Jim Bachman yesterday. Early voting has already begun and election day is one week away. I received a request to repost the vote on Senate Bill 1. It is down below. My good friend Glen Brown sent a reminder: Unfortunately, many legislators voted “No” because they are political opportunists. It is important to remember that only a few legisl
The Illinois Pension Black List.
Fred, Will you repost how the current incumbents voted on SB1?   In the House: Dec 03, 2013 62 YEAS 53 NAYS Y Acevedo Y Andrade Y Anthony Y Arroyo N Beiser Y Bellock N Bost Y Bradley N Brady N Brauer N Brown N Rosenthal Y Sandack N Scherer Y Schmitz Y Senger Y Sente N Sims N Smiddy N Smith N Sommer N Sosnowski Y Soto N Stewa


3-10-14 Fred Klonsky | Daily posts from a retired public school teacher
Fred Klonsky | Daily posts from a retired public school teacher who is just looking at the data.: Monday morning with pensions on my mind.J Jay Travis is running for the Illinois House in the 26th District. Daylight savings time means it is dark at 7AM as I head out the door. I won’t be doing much posting today since I will be at the Area II meeting of the Illinois Retired Teachers Association. I’