The first check for $180,000 was cut in November. (Photo courtesy of Bellwood Watch Facebook). She is collecting a pension and, under the teachers' retirement system rules, can work up to 100 days, or 500 hours, and continue reaping full benefits. It's rare that the public would cover the costs. Between March and November 2015, Hendricks and various school board members spent more than $20,000 on trips to Las Vegas; Nashville; Savannah, Georgia; Phoenix; and Washington D.C., according to the news report. Youre able to go into a school and the Administration Center [but] You have to check in with the receptionist. Superintendent Michael Robey has led Maywood-Melrose Park-Broadview School District 89 for three years, during which time the district was pulled off the state's financial watch list. School board President Marilyn Thurman declined to comment, referring questions to the district's attorney. Each of our seven campuses employ highly qualified teachers and staff who genuinely care for the students in our charge. The school board settled that case in 2014 and agreed to cut Hendricks a $45,000 check to curb related legal expenses. We are the dream team within the board, but we are still the dream team and we are going to deliver what the community voted us in to deliver, she said. To establish a complete pre-employment file, please , Url: https://schoolslearning.info/bellwood-school-district-88-employment/ Go Now, Schools Details: WebBellwood School District #88 Welcome! They were also reimbursed a combined $8,300 for various food and travel expenses that were not related to those trips, and spent thousands of dollars at nearby Chicago hotels and restaurants, according to the Tribune. Designed & Developed by Precision Creations, By subscribing, you agree to receive emails from EAGNews.org, occasional offers from our partners and that you've read and agree to our, Bellwood, IL school board enables superintendent's wild spending -- despite deep debt, Know These Before Moving From Cyprus To The UK. You select the schools, and this tool provides comparisons of Fast Facts, Academic Progress, and School Environment. At $70,000 a year, her salary was higher than those of 87 percent of teachers in the district. School board members often ink settlement deals in an attempt to avoid legal backlash for pushing out a superintendent early. Until then, Hendricks will work under an existing contract that set her pay at $750 a day. Bellwood School District 88 (SD88) is a pre-kindergarten through eighth grade school district located in the western suburbs of the Chicago metropolitan area. Bellwood School District 88 welcomed staff back with a week full of profession development, staff appreciation and invigorating speakers with a Keynote speech from new Superintendent Dr. Victoria Hansen! You cant just walk through the building. Murphy, who is also a Bellwood village trustee, declined to comment on the settlement, which explicitly prohibits her and school officials from speaking with the media. Contact Us 300 Martin Street, bellwood area school district, Url: https://www.blwd.k12.pa.us/ Go Now, Get more: Bellwood area school districtView Schools, Schools Details: WebBellwood School District 88. Since then, Hendricks has had an on-again, off-again relationship with Bellwood District 88 where she's been hired as superintendent on three separate occasions. Now we are moving towards our exciting future thats getting ready to happen here in Bellwood school district 88. . Tablets or new textbooks are just a dream. McClendon, who was seated in 2015, said the board had not made a determination about a superintendent search., Were not going to have a witch hunt, Giles said. "And our kids are going to pay.". "For candidates it says there are red flags or cautions," Leahy said. Administration Dr. Victoria Hansen Superintendent (708) 410-3028 vhansen@sd88.org Patricia Walton Executive Assistant to Superintendent (708) 410-3028 pwalton@sd88.org Dr. Dawniel Clark-Hamlin Director of Teaching and Learning (708) 410-3016 dclarkhamlin@sd88.org Karen Mitchell Director of Assessments & Innovation (708) 410-3003 kmitchell@sd88.org There is, understandably, hurt and anger that remains for the victims, their families, and the larger community. Board members and Superintendent. Victoria Hansen has been working as a Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum and Instruction at Bellwood School District 88 for 14 years. She was given a $75,000 settlement on the way out the door. Only time will tell if the people of Bellwood will stand up and demand radical change and reform. To establish a complete pre-employment file, please complete the online application. Please click (here) to access the facilities scheduling application. Giles and Dorothy Smith both also ran for library board as well as school board, and won both offices. BELLWOOD, Ill. - Illinois' Bellwood School District 88 has some really serious financial problems. Facebook Page; Twitter Feed; Youtube Channel; These numbers are calculated by using the sum of all teachers' salaries divided by the number of FTE teachers. The school board approved a $360,000 settlement, which includes two years of pay. You select schools with similar factors and then see comparisons on several measures of School Characteristics, Test Performance, Demographics, and Finance. The Bellwood School District 88 board quietly diverted more than $105,000 from an education fund to replenish a retirement account Superintendent Rosemary Hendricks drained years ago.. Hendricks did not return phone messages and emails seeking a comment on being place on leave. The District stands with victims of sexual assault, including the minor victims in our community. Bellwood School District 88 SECTION 1 - SCHOOL DISTRICT ORGANIZATION 1:10 School District Legal Status 1:20 District Organization, Operations, and Cooperative Agreements . GENERAL RESPONSIBILITIES. High turnover can also make it difficult to attract high-caliber administrators, he said. Beard. The board voted in June, 2016 to contribute an extra $105,000 to buy 20 years to fill up Hendrickss pension with the Teachers Retirement System. Local tax revenue has been flat in Bellwood, and last year the state sent additional aid to the district, which has spent nearly twice as much on administration than the average district in Illinois, state records show. Spanish Speaking (fluent) 2. (Chuck Berman, Chicago Tribune). As the Chicago Tribune put it, "the district is steeped in debt, and many of the students come from low-income homes. She coined her core philosophical beliefs in education as the 3-E Platform. According to Atkinsons job application with the district, she has a bachelors degree in communications disorders from Saint Xavier University and one year of experience as a teachers aide and special education assistant. Internal district documents obtained by the Tribune don't clarify the circumstances of her exit. BELLWOOD, Ill. Illinois Bellwood School District 88 has some really serious financial problems. "This is embarrassing," said April Falco, who has a first-grader in the district. However, it comes with a 6 percent annual penalty that compounds over time. Im thankful that hes here and Im looking forward to our continued working relationship in Bellwood School District 88., Superintendent Mark Anthony Holder was nominated as one of Illinois Most Outstanding Men, by Children and Youth Services, Inc. and CAT [Continuing Academic Training] There have been a lot of great things that have happened to me in the year 2017 Superintendent Mark Holder stated. The nonprofit conducts dozens of superintendent searches across Illinois each year. We want you out! Dream Team member Deborah Giles told the superintendent during public comments at a spring board meeting. Jeninne M. Hixson served as the executive assistant of the superintendent from September 2011 through October 2014. She was dismissed from the job two years later, sued the district and received a $132,000 settlement check, which could not be applied to her pension under TRS rules. Hendricks withdrew all the cash $39,563 from her TRS account in 1998, effectively wiping out the roughly 20 years she paid into the system. Learn More. Please click (. Join to connect Bellwood School District 88 . I consider us the new Bellwood School District on the rise, providing great educational opportunities for our students to excel and be prepared to meet the global world. Said Mark Holder, Interim Superintendent of Bellwood School District 88. The annual salary for public school teachers varies greatly depending on location, years of experience, level of education, and financial resources of the district. Quentin Heady kept thinking about two things. Schools Details: WebBellwood Sd 88 spends $15,280 per student each year.It has an annual revenue of $44,922,000. Hendricks caused bad blood with Perez after sending a letter blocking her from setting foot on school district property after Perez argued with board member Annie Copeland. Click (here). Mark Holder Superintendent Jan Baptist Director of Finance . Starting May 9, 2017, Mark Anthony Holder went into the plan of action to move his district forward with a new Board of elected individuals who aim to develop good educators, support parent involvement, and create a partnership between the school district and community. Illinois' new online school report card goes beyond test scores to present a complete view of your schools. Records from 2001 to 2012, the most recent years available, show a dozen districts in the Chicago region hired permanent or interim superintendents five times. Perez has children in the district and had volunteered with the PTO. Bellwood School District 88 Cook County, Illinois Latest News Superintendent's Scoop Greetings Bellwood School District 88 Community: As your superintendent, it is indeed an honor and privilege to introduce you to my new publication, The Superintendent's Scoop. But as it turns out, the management of resources may be at the root of the problem. Hendricks declined to comment on her taxpayer-funded compensation. This particular Board that we have now is comprised of a group of fine citizens who were elected They have given me all the support that any superintendent could ever want., Interim Superintendent Mark Holder is approaching 30 years of service to Bellwood School District 88. If she leaves the district, or is not rehired next year, there is no recourse for recouping the money., MORE NEWS: How to prepare for face-to-face classes. She sued the district on June 26, 2015, accusing it of firing her for siding with some politicians . You may download the plan (, Use of Facilities requests are now handled by an online scheduling process. The settlements can be costly particularly for districts with high turnover like Bellwood. Bellwood School District 88 voted Thursday to give Superintendent Rosemary Hendricks a new two-year contract. Hendricks, 66, is now eligible to retire with the pension benefits of someone who has paid into the system for 25 years, though, as of last year, she had paid into it for only 4 1/2 years, the Tribune wrote. The agreement would take effect July 1. The stint with former Superintendent Rosemary Hendricks aroused suspicion around her business practices including alleged fiscal mismanagement. President Sondra McClendon announced that an investigation would be undertaken, although she did not specify by whom or about what. Most people would assume that means the Bellwood district lacks resources. Last month, the school board agreed to keep her on over the summer as well at a cost of $48 an hour., When asked about the hires, Hendricks told the Tribune, There is no nepotism policy not that I know of. The added pension contribution from the school district will increase Hendricks annual retirement benefit from about $14,000 per year to about $77,000 under the state formula, the news report said. Springfield, IL 62777, Download Historical District Report Cards. Hendricks and other school board members referred questions to school board President Daisy Allen, who didn't return calls for comment. In Hendricks' case, it cost more than $105,000 to replenish the money she withdrew. As of last year, Hendricks had only 4.5 years of TRS service credits. Taxpayers are stuck with the bill. The Tribune also revealed last summer that several children of Hendricks and school board President Marilyn Thurman were recently given jobs in the district and several of them make a lot of money. Ms. Hendricks was officially dismissed from the position at a regular Board meeting for Bellwood School District 88 on September 5, 2017. Im just happy to serve as the Interim Superintendent for right now. Bellwood School District 88 (SD88) is a school district headquartered in Bellwood, Illinois in the Chicago metropolitan area. Bellwood School District 88 Cook County, Illinois Our District Located just west of Chicago on Interstate 290, our district is committed to providing a quality educational program for the families of Cook County. The Bellwood School District 88 board quietly diverted more than $105,000 from an education fund to replenish a retirement account Superintendent Rosemary Hendricks drained years ago. Superintendent Greater Chicago Area 27 connections. Special Education Director - Carol A. Monday's vote, however,. We join in celebrating our school counselors during National School Counseling Week! Quentin Heady kept thinking about two things. At that rate, and with no interest, it would take nearly three years to settle the debt. Bellwood School District 88 voted Thursday to give Superintendent Rosemary Hendricks a new two-year contract. By his count, he's the ninth superintendent since 1976. We understand that significant healing must occur within our community in the wake of these events. It has an annual revenue of $44,922,000. "If the board is paying their salary and the new superintendent and maybe even a previous superintendent, that's a big hit," said Donald Hackmann, a University of Illinois education professor. Murphy, the district's chief operating officer at the time, as well as a Bellwood trustee, hired Hixson, and a few months later became acting superintendent. The classroom basics such as paper and calculators are often paid for by teachers or through fundraisers, said PTA leader Maria Perez. We have had some struggles in the past, and were putting our struggles behind us. This data is collected annually directly from State Education Agencies , Url: https://nces.ed.gov/ccd/districtsearch/district_detail.asp?ID2=1705760&details= Go Now, Schools Details: WebDistrict Name: Bellwood SD 88 schools for this district: NCES District ID: 1705760: State District ID: IL-06-016-0880-02: Mailing Address: 640 Eastern Ave Bellwood, IL , Url: https://nces.ed.gov/ccd/districtsearch/district_detail.asp?ID2=1705760&details=5 Go Now, Schools Details: WebBellwood School District 88 640 Eastern Ave Bellwood, IL 60104 -1878 ( District boundaries shown in map) Rating : 10/ 10 Top 10% Tel: (708) 410-3029 www.sd88.org , Url: https://www.publicschoolreview.com/illinois/bellwood-school-district-88/1705760-school-district Go Now, Url: https://nces.ed.gov/ccd/districtsearch/district_detail.asp?details=2&ID2=1705760 Go Now, Schools Details: WebBellwood School District 88, located in the Chicago metropolitan area of Bellwood, Illinois, serves over 2,400 students in kindergarten through 8th grade. "You don't give someone two chances and then give them a third chance. The [2] It operates seven schools that serve the bellwood school district employment, Url: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bellwood_School_District_88 Go Now, Get more: Bellwood school district employmentView Schools, Schools Details: WebUse of Facilities requests are now handled by an online scheduling process. The suit and other documents don't offer more details about the alleged misconduct. Hes a leader that Im sure the parents and community would speak proudly of. Ms. Hendricks was officially dismissed from the position at a . While Hendricks has 36 months to repay the district for the $105,000, there are only 12 months left in her $175,000-a-year contract. FINANCIAL SECTION. The Bellwood district hasn't demonstrated the same progress. The Bellwood School District 88 board quietly diverted more than $105,000 from an education fund to replenish a retirement account Superintendent Rosemary Hendricks drained years ago. Details: WebBellwood School District 88 Cook County, Illinois Latest News Superintendent's Scoop Greetings Bellwood School District 88 Community: As your bellwood area school district Verified 1 days ago When Hendricks cashed out her TRS account, she left to work for Chicago Public Schools. My focus was always to create an environment for educators who have endured the system and have been a part of the system, to give them the opportunity to serve and work along with me. Mr. Holder Stated. As the Chicago Tribune put it, the district is steeped in debt, and many of the students come from low-income homes. Documents obtained by the Tribune show that district finance officials initially paid the pension system with money that was earmarked for maintenance and supplies. We join in celebrating the women who have impacted our schools, communities and nation! BELLWOOD | As the soil of rumored corruption from the previous superintendent lay at rest the seeds of inspiration are sprouting under the new leadership of Mark Anthony Holder, Interim Superintendent of Bellwood School District 88. Bellwood District 88 Superintendent Rosemary Hendricks speaks to a district attorney at a board meeting. Dr. Hansen is a transformational educational leader with over 13 years of experience in Bellwood School District 88. In November, Bellwood School District 88 put Rosemary Hendricks on the payroll for a third time, giving her $750 a day to lead the district on an interim basis. Please click ( here) to access the facilities scheduling application. The average tenure for a superintendent statewide is six years, according to his organization's research. She referred questions to the district's attorney. In Winnetka, the turnover began when the superintendent who led the district for more than a decade retired. The move is another example of an Illinois school board diverting funds to help administrators land more lucrative retirement packages. MORE NEWS: Know These Before Moving From Cyprus To The UK, District officials made enough budget cuts over the past couple years to get off the states financial watch list, but the district is still mired in nearly $30 million worth of bond debt and has exceeded a state-imposed borrowing cap.. A west suburban school district hired and removed the same superintendent twice in five years, giving her a combined $120,000 package on the way out. Change at the superintendent level can be expensive. As far as security is concerned we have surveillance cameras and all that we need right now Weve come a long way due to the new Board, due to the new Interim Superintendent Mr. Holder [hes] doing a great job!, Hes doing a wonderful job in turning the district around through all the obstacles and hurdles he had to endure, hes done it with professionalism,endurance, and dedication.Said Patricia Walton, Executive Assistant to the Interim Superintendent Mark Holder. That amounted to more turnover in the superintendent's office than any other district across Chicago's suburbs over a 14-year period, an Tribune investigation published last year found. The school board brought back Hendricks in 2010, and she was fired in 2012. Thurman was the only nay vote on the decision to place Hendricks on administrative leave. As of May, Hendricks had repaid $7,300. Not with my child's education. Hendricks held various teaching and administrative jobs in the Chicago area before she was hired as superintendent by Bellwood District 88 in 2007. Infinite Campus Documents and Instructions, Seat Yourself (Online Ticket Sales for Events), Parent and Guardian Guide to the Internet, Assistant Athletic Director - John T. Garritano, Athletic Director's School Contact Information, Buildings and Grounds Supervisor - Thomas C. Kovac, Secretary to the Superintendent - Susan Grassmyer, Financial Administrative Assistant - Sandra L. Beach, Administive Assitant for Business / Human Resources - Lisa R. Kephart, Central Office Secretary - Athletic Secretary AR/AP - Denise E. Thompson, Director of Instructional Technology - Jamie L. Forshey, Technology Coordinator - Michael W. Lingenfelter, Bellwood-Antis FFA Documents and Resources, Bellwood-Antis Monthly Meeting (Live Link), Special Education Director - Carol A. A year later, she was placed on administrative leave and then resigned. The Bellwood district's repeated changes in leadership are unusual, said Thomas Leahy, a consultant with the executive search department of the Illinois Association of School Boards. But documents obtained by the Tribune last week show Hendricks is six months behind on the repayment agreement, which was adopted in September 2015 when District 88 paid the Illinois Teachers Retirement System on her behalf. The information here will help you to work with your child's school . Board members hung their heads as they voted to approve the contract among a room full of angry parents who called for a professional search before settling on a new hire. "I'm fine with bringing Ms. Hendricks back," Thurman said. As candidates, members of the "Bellwood 88 Dream Team" were vocal before the April 4 election that they wanted accountability from controversial Superintendent Rosemary Hendricks. There is, understandably, hurt and anger that remains for the victims, their families, and the larger community. It operates seven schools that educate over 2,000 students from the municipalities of Bellwood, Broadview, Hillside, Melrose Park, and Stone Park. Dorothy Clark-Smith, who was named president during a divided vote, declined to comment on the details of Hendricks' contract. Hendricks other daughter, Jocelyn Hendricks, who has an associate degree and is a licensed practical nurse according to her job application, was hired to fill a $78,500-a-year job as a district nurse. (James Svehla / for the Chicago Tribune). Make your selections and click "Generate Report", The display shows the average salary for teachers over the past 5 years. Overall, the district spends $7,038.2 million on instruction, $6,492.8 million bellwood illinois school district, Url: https://www.usnews.com/education/k12/illinois/districts/bellwood-sd-88-115595 Go Now, Get more: Bellwood illinois school districtView Schools, Schools Details: WebBellwood School District 88 ( SD88) is a school district headquartered in Bellwood, Illinois in the Chicago metropolitan area. That marked the ninth time the top administrator's job has been filled since 2001, more superintendent turnover than any other school district in the six-county Chicago area, according to state education records analyzed by the Tribune. Edlio Login Powered by Edlio. Sondra McClendon, a parent in the Bellwood district who is running for a seat on the school board said she's afraid that the board has set up the district for "a repeat" of what's happened in recent years. We and our Administrators and other employees have cooperated fully with law enforcement, including with the state and local police and the District Attorney, throughout this investigation and the criminal trial of the former wrestling coach. We and our Administrators and other employees have cooperated fully with law enforcement, including with the state and local police and the District Attorney, throughout this investigation and the criminal trial of the former wrestling coach. Its ethically and morally wrong to see a problem you know you can help solve and not do it., Read the current issue of the Cook County Chronicle, Free subscription to the digital edition of the Cook County Chronicle, Bellwood D88 Board places Superintendent on leave for investigation, Subscribe to Cook County Chronicle digital edition. He has held a Superintendent license since 2007. A slate of community members and parents are hoping to unseat long-term board members, including President Marilyn Thurman, and have pledged to replace the superintendent. School Board Information and Meetings (here). On five occasions since 2001, ousted officials walked away from the cash-strapped district with checks for time they never worked. "I don't have anything against Ms. Hendricks," said Joe Madrid, who was on medical leave when his fellow Bellwood school board members approved Hendricks' newest contract in November. Bellwoods taxi bills far outpace those of surrounding districts, state education records show.. Student achievement lags far behind statewide averages as well. Combined with a third settlement this one for $132,000 that Hendricks received from the south suburban Hoover-Shrum Memorial School District 157 in 2009, she has received more through payouts than her combined full-time superintendent salaries since the 2008-09 school year, records maintained by the Teachers' Retirement System of the State of Illinois show. District Census22-23: Are you looking to complete the District Census online? Responsible for providing physical screening to students; maintaining and operating a student medical records under the direct Supervision of the School Nurse and Director of Special Education; preparing and maintaining student records. 640 Eastern Avenue, Bellwood, IL 60104 Phone: (708) 410-3000 Fax: (708) 493-0390 . School board members wouldn't disclose the terms of the contract but documents obtained by the Tribune show that the board was set to vote on a two-year deal that would give Hendricks $170,000 during the first year and $175,000 in the following school year. In many cases, board members ink the deals in an attempt to save money and avoid legal backlash. Thats what the community wants us to do.. In suburbs across the region, school board members have approved six-figure separation checks, hefty credits for unused vacation days and other perks that have cost taxpayers millions during the past decade. ESSENTIAL DUTIES. Outgoing Superintendent Phylistine Murphy, the district's eighth hire since 2001, was bought out of her contract this fall after two years on the job. You may download the report (here). She would have to delay retirement to take the job permanently. How many school books could have been bought?". "I hope this time they will let her stay. But getting that money back could be a problem. She acknowledged that she used the district's credit card to buy her husband plane tickets to Las Vegas and California but said that she paid back the money. Dr. Phylistine Murphy, Superintendent Bellwood School District 88 640 Eastern Avenue Bellwood, IL 60104 Dear Superintendent Murphy: On December 9-10, 2014 the Division of English Language Learning (DELL) of the Illinois State Board of Education conducted an on-site monitoring review of Bellwood School District's 2:140-E Exhibit - Guidance for Board Member Communications, Including Email Use . According to the settlement, obtainedby the Tribune, the board was on the verge of trying to fire Murphy. Bellwood School District 88 Cook County, Illinois Latest News Superintendent's Scoop Greetings Bellwood School District 88 Community: As your superintendent, it is indeed an honor and privilege to introduce you to my new publication, The Superintendent's Scoop. Thurman, along with Annie Copeland, also voted nay on Holders appointment. Start each day with Chicago Tribune editors' top story picks, delivered to your inbox. The school , Url: https://www.energysystemsgroup.com/bellwood/ Go Now, Schools Details: WebFor questions regarding position qualifications or application procedures, please contact Bellwood School District #88 directly. Schools Details: WebBellwood School District 88 Cook County, Illinois Latest News Superintendent's Scoop Greetings Bellwood School District 88 Community: As your bellwood il school district 88, Get more: Bellwood il school district 88View Schools, Schools Details: WebThe mission of Bellwood School District 88 is to provide students with applicable educational experiences that contribute to their achievement of competency in all bellwood district 88 pay stubs, Url: https://www.sd88.org/Our-District Go Now, Get more: Bellwood district 88 pay stubsView Schools, Schools Details: WebBellwood Sd 88 spends $15,280 per student each year. We are here to make policy for the children and community of District 88. District 88 also paid an additional $6,000 in penalties to TRS in 2013 and 2014 for granting Hendricks previous pay hikes that exceeded the 6 percent cap that lawmakers put in place to deter districts from pre-retirement pension boosts. Is my daughter not qualified?, The newspaper wrote that Hendricks declined to comment on whether anyone else applied for the positions.. Members of the public also disapproved of the district hiring Hendricks two daughters as a school nurse and teacher. "Search for Public School Districts District Detail for Bellwood Sd 88", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Bellwood_School_District_88&oldid=1132578046, This page was last edited on 9 January 2023, at 15:05. Things started falling into place and I realized I can make a difference both individually within a group. In 2017, he was appointed to the Bellwood School District 88 governing board to fill a vacancy, and was elected to the position earlier this month, even though state law bars convicted felons from .