October 2, 2009

Playing Dress-Up!


'Romeo, Oh Romeo'
By: Sara Butcher-Burrier --
warrior princess dream

William Shakespeare once asked, "What's in a name?"

As it turns out, quite a bit. And if you are the Park Ridge - Niles School District 64 Administration and School Board, you make sure that you call at least one of your meetings a "retreat," because then you have a reason to play dress-up!

And if you just became flush with taxpayer cash, you can play dress-up for at least half of your meeting retreat at The Glen Club! Because you know, it's not as if Park Ridge or Niles has any meeting space...or catering services.

If anyone would like to play dress-up and join the District 64 Administration and School Board for the first half of their open meeting retreat (.pdf), you can join them at The Glen Club tonight -- beginning at 6:00 pm, 2901 W. Lake Ave., Glenview IL.

If you're busy tonight, you may want to join the District 64 Administration and School Board for the second half (.pdf) of their open meeting retreat at the Emerson Middle School LRC tomorrow -- beginning at 9:00 am, 8101 N. Cumberland, Niles IL.

It probably won't be as fancy, but it does appear to offer a free lunch!

Have a good weekend!

24 comments:

Anonymous said...

Excellent catch and points PRU.

This is why I opposed the school referendum.

You give these jokers more money and they spend it like water on fancy meetings and more top heavy administrators.

When will the taxpayers wake up and start demanding these jokers start acting responsible.

Bean said...

Anonymous @ 10:41,

There is something patently offensive about spending taxpayer dollars out of town...especailly when doing so isn't absolutely necessary.

There ARE plenty of venus available...and there are plenty of local restaurants that could provide a very nice catered meal or two...

...keeping the taxpayer dollars collected by the district circulating right back here in town.

I guess the district didn't get the "shop local" message the Chamber of Commerce has been promoting...

Sad, really.

MIKE said...

Yeah. It's all pretty unfortunate.

Anyway I thought I'd type this up from this week's H-A.


http://www.pioneerlocal.com/parkridge/news/1794494,park-ridge-ridealong-100109-s1.article

Notice the picture of Jenifer Johnson trying to be cute sitting in back of a police car.

Anonymous said...

Mike, that is one creepy photo.

Hoover said...

Well done, PRU.

Is it even legal for a local governmental body to have a "public meeting" outside that body's boundaries?

Should district residents have to travel 12.4 miles and 28 minutes, roundtrip (per Expedia.com), for the "6:00-6:05 p.m." window the Board is setting aside for "Public Comments"?

Can Board president Heyde, vice-president Taddeo, secretary Uhlig, and board members Fioretto, Gentile, Lawson and Smart explain the difference between "retreat" and "boondoggle"?

Anonymous said...

Between D64 and St. Paul my family could get three free meals this weekend!

ParkRidgeUnderground said...

PRU readers, give a big hello wave to Mr. Fioretto! How's things in the legal biz, Pasquale?

Anonymous said...

I must have missed the papers reporting on this retreat. I can't find an article or a calendar notice anywhere.

Maybe they'll get their acts together in time for next weeks National News Paper Week.

Anonymous said...

Bean,

I agree they should be holding this meeting locally and they should be spending the money for this meeting locally.

In these difficult economic conditions I think even our elected bodies have to be aware of where and how they are spending money.

I don't mind if they have to have a special retreat or whatever. I do think that holding it out of town is inconvenient if not inconsiderate of the taxpayers.

Anonymous said...

In answer to the person who asked if it's legal to hold public meetings outside the district boundaries, the answer is yes. Regular meetings are to be held in a place convenient to the public.

Anonymous said...

I like what anonymous 1041 said...but the problem is how does one do that? You can stiffen the back of Board Members temporarily, but the administration is relentless and the top officials look after their friends at the children's expense. The result is that the system works just fine for the people who are employed by it but not for the children who are supposed to learn in it.

Anonymous said...

4:52:

One of your comments concerned me. You said, "top officials look after their friends at the children's expense". May I ask you to elaborate? What exactly do you mean by this? Can you please give examples?

Anonymous said...

I'm not the anonymous that said the administration protects their friends, but I think I get where taht statement comes from.

The administration protects their jobs and their salaries and benefits and fattens their own ranks instead of spending on the kids and programs in the classrooms. That's what I see.

gypsy said...

How nice to see so many residents come out for the Maine South Homecoming parade this morning (and the sun came out too!). Even the Mayor showed up, and he wasn't in the parade!

Of course, the folks at Dist 64, which feeds into Maine South, were probably on the "think tank" portion of their weekend...and weren't able to attend because they are so far away from Park Ridge at this time!

SHOP/EAT/DRINK LOCALLY

gypsy said...

p.s. and of course, don't drink and drive...

Anonymous said...

Interesting comments on this thread. I was thinking about them yesterday as I drove with my family to Old Orchard. After shopping we had a wonderful meal at The Cheesecake Factory. Perhaps we should think about them as we take our kids to the movies at the fancy new theaters in Skokie or Rosemont rather than the Pickwick. Maybe we should think about it as we order Pizzas or have a beer down at Moretti's.

ParkRidgeUnderground said...

Anon@11:32 --

When you spend taxpayer money to do all those things, we will be the first to encourage you to think about them, those taxpayer dollars that is.

Anonymous said...

so what's wrong with going to the movies at the Pickwick and then afterwards going to UncleDan's or Houihan's or Jerry's Deli or Noodles?!!!
puzzling.

Anonymous said...

Anon 1221,

What's so puzzling? There is nothing wrong with wanting to try a new place or a new taste outside of PR. I think PRU is pointing out a govt. body should not be doing that or should think about it alot before they do because they are not spending their own money. They are spending our money.

Anonymous said...

12:21 is obviously one of thoes idiots who think the Earth ends at the borders of Park Ridge.

Anonymous said...

225--thanks for bringin your black cloud around. Its always nice to see your negativity. Some people here believe that you need to promote the town, and that's it.

I realize that someone like you who thinks everything is done to work with your gloom and doom scenario, cannot believe that this is the case.

For those of you who want to help the community, please continue to shop Park Ridge.

Anonymous said...

2:56 call a WHAAAAAAMBULANCE for yourself. They can rush you to the happy land at the local psych ward.

ParkRidgeUnderground said...

WHAAAMBULANCE!!!

Love it! That is funny!

Anonymous said...

Public bodies spending public dollars should whine, wine and dine locally, at the very few establishments -- aside from private residences -- from whence their largesse comes. If we had a decent-sized meeting hall with food that was edible and that could accept a time delimited dram shop license for a particular event....if, if, if.
On a happier note, try Affresco on Northwest Highway across from TA2 (aka Uptown's newest development). Affresco is easily as delicious as any of the favorites on Edison Park's restaurant row (although equally conversation-challenged) and there is parking in the rear.