Local: D150 board member ducks the primary school question
Linda Butler managed to duck out of this month’s Peoria School Board meeting, thus avoiding having to cast a vote on whether to cut 45 minutes of instructional time for primary school students not lucky enough to go one of District 150’s pet schools.
But the fine folks at Word on the Street cornered Butler to ask her how she should have voted. Her reply:
“I am not against the proposal, I will say that,” Butler said.
So we asked, “If you’re not against, wouldn’t that mean you’re for it?”
“It could be interpreted as that. What had been presented by Mr. (Ken) Hinton and the administration, it was perceived as a win-win situation. Overall, it was sounding very positive.”
That said, Butler insisted she hadn’t made up her mind on how she would have voted. She always wants to take audience comments (and there were a lot of them) into consideration.
In other words: ‘You must be crazy to think I’m going to be honest with the voters.’
As you may recall, Linda Butler was elected to the board by defeating, among others, incumbent Alicia Butler, who was vilified by the Journal Star for not being completely forthcoming about whether she had college degrees she claimed she had.
So, we were rid of a school board member who may not have been completely forthcoming. But I will say this about Alicia: She would be completely on the side of the parents. No question. As would have Beth Akeson.
And both of them would have been completely forthcoming with parents about this issue. Unlike the woman who got the job.
Also, kudos to the new PJStar.com, for getting the column online hours before the dead tree edition hits the streets.
May 26th, 2008 at 11:36 am
The reason given for Butler’s absence seems absolutely legit. Why the implication of duplicity here and at the PJS?
May 26th, 2008 at 11:55 am
I don’t question her reasons for being absent. I question her refusal to state her opinion on a matter in which she is required to have an opinion. She missed the vote legitimately, but she’s ducking the question.
May 26th, 2008 at 12:16 pm
“Simply let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes,’ and your’No,’ ‘No’; anything beyond this comes from the evil one.” Matthew 5:37
May 26th, 2008 at 1:53 pm
I understand why she wasn’t at the meeting etc. However, she is a public official and this issue is controversial. I would like to know if she would have voted “yes” or “no” also. Not only would I like to know, but I feel that it is our right to know. After she listens to the public comments, which it appears she has not and that is her reason for not having made up her mind, I will be asking for an answer AND why. Why would I ask for the “Why”? My reason for this is that this is not in the best interests of the children and that we all now know that the real issue is cutting the budget after years of reckless spending. The group involved in this issue have shown different ways to cut the budget, yet leave the length of the day where it is. STOP STEALING EDUCATION FROM THE FOUNDATION OF PRIMARY CHILDREN’S EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATION! This is not going to promote families to move to Peoria, but they will seek private education for their children or move. This is going to effect the entire city and whether you are a parent, grandparent, city hall or taxpayer, you should be involved and concerned. Hold the ENTIRE board accountable, including Linda Butler.
May 26th, 2008 at 10:39 pm
Sounds hauntingly familiar when she was asked what her vote would be on building the school in the park …… leopards have spots and changing leopards to tigers is near impossible. I voted for Beth Akeson who would never have participated in such nonsense and backwards thinking.