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Recently Peoria Mayor Jim Ardis spoke of the Peoria School system saying , The quality of our

education system is the number one factor influencing our ability to grow Peoria, and we're not going in

the right direction."

In a subsequent interview, the Mayor stated regarding education: "We have to do more and we have to

do it better,"...right now Peoria's public school system is holding the city back."..."Make no mistake

about it, we're not going in the right direction,...People are not coming int o our city because they

think it's a good education system. You can't put lipstick on the pig."

The Mayor does at least two things with what I consider to be incendiary statements. First, he blames

local educators, administrators and vicariously the children and families of the district themselves for

the problems in and with the education system as he perceives them, and second, our Mayor blames

the lack of community economic growth and development on the same set of individuals. In essence, it

seems that the Mayors opinion is that if all persons associated with the education system were better,

or if the education process were better, then the City could advance economically and become more

attractive to new families, talent and individuals considering relocation.

I would ask, could someone please wake this Mayor up? He seems to have reached paradoxical sleep,

otherwise known as REM.

Although the Mayor tried to clean up his statements by saying that the teachers do their work without

applause and that the board has had many things laid at its feet for years , the Mayors reconciliation

of the economic advancement or non-advancement of Peoria is revealed to be nothing more that the

blame game played out openly. I and we wont simply allow him to place the economic failure of large

segments of Peoria upon District 150 s educators and administrators many of whom are performing up

and above the call of duty every day in order to impact our children and vicariously uplift this

community.

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First, the education system in Peoria is not authorized, implemented or born within a vacuum. The

District follows guidelines, procedures and standards outlined by the Illinois State Board as well as the

National Education Association (NEA). So if the district is going in the wrong direction because of any

of these things, which are not the districts fault, but the fault of the system itself. The Mayor could

hardly change any of those things himself.

Secondly, and more importantly, if this city is unattractive to individuals and businesses considering

relocation, the apprehension would more likely be due to the Cit ys lack of policies for growth and

failure to create a sustainable economic environment for all of its citizens.

What do I mean? Peoria District 150 is comprised of over 60% Black student population. Many of the

students graduate and go on to live their adult lives in this community. On the other side of the school

and education experience , we should ask, when has the City Of Peoria ever seriously undertook the

task of fostering the growth, and development of Black owned business in Peoria? In other words, what

has the City specifically done to provide opportunity to Black individuals and families in Peoria through

the advancement of business and business models?

Certainly we are blessed with a Peoria Black Chamber of Commerce and leadership of the Illinois Black

Chamber which runs through the heart of Peoria by its leader Larry Ivory. However, what has the City

done through any initiative to serve, invigorate or energize such a large, underserved segment of our

community?

Black education and economic advancement through business growth and development is a highly

interrelated and interconnected issue. There is no excuse that the City cannot foster better

opportunities and deliver a more vigorous effort. According to a recent report by Site Selection

Magazine , Illinois ranks 5 th in the nation for placement of corporate location and business expansion.

It seems that Illinois is ripe and ready for growth, expansion and business opportunities across the

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board. The question is how many businesses that expanded into Illinois were Black owned businesses

and how many of them expanded into Peoria? In fact what has Peoria done to grow its current base of

Black and minority owned businesses outside of individuals who work road and highway construction?

If the Mayor wishes to talk about the education system being factors influencing our ability to grow

Peoria let him begin with City policy towards the growth and development of the Black community and

Black business within the community. Let our Mayor explain why the heart of the Black community,

61605 zip code, continues to suffer 47% poverty and nearly 30% unemployment with a median annual

income of its citizens of $12,000 or less without a City sponsored emergency economic growth and

development plan to address the issues? Statistics are more than 3 to 4 times that of the national

average. Yet, our Mayor blames the suffering of our city on those going into the city every day

attending to one of the Citys most urgent needs , our childrens education.

Does our Mayor not know that within the heart of the City, kids of all ages can get at least 2 meals a day,

that they may not otherwise receive, from the schools district? Does the Mayor not know that in inner

city high schools such as Peoria Manual for example, kids can (and do) arrive as early as 6:45 AM for

tutoring and leave as late as 5:00 PM most days for additional after school tutoring help from teachers

dedicated to the academic success of District 150 students?

Is this Mayor unfamiliar with the efforts of the school District in providing technical and vocational

training and education opportunities through the revamped Woodruff Career And Training Center? Does

this Mayor not realize that in many District 150 schools, administrators, staff and community partners

network together, without the assistance of the City, to find ways, methods, means and resources for

the children of poor families in order to help them stay engaged in education through the provision of

uniforms, and other necessary items?

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Does this Mayor not know that there are scores of District 150 children, many of whom live under dire

circumstances, such as no lights and or heat and in some cases, not even a home, who continue to make

A and A -B honor rolls due to persistent and consistent efforts and encouragements of teachers and

opportunities sought out and secured by District 150 administrators?

As both a parent and one actively engaged within Peoria Public school System at nearly every level, I am

appalled at the Mayors statements and suggestions that this city is going in the wrong direction

because of its education system or that the current efforts of nearly everyone connected to that system

can be associated with being a pig with lipstic .

I would recommend that the Mayor not simply use emotive critical words, but begin to facilitate the

healing process by formulating plans to address the economic blight and emotional disparity that has

occurred within Peoria resulting from poverty and the impoverished condition of its people.

The Mayor and Council can begin by committing the necessary TIFF dollars to District 150 for facility

improvement within the most devastated areas of our community. Our children deserve to be educated

in modern environments and under conditions which reflect that ALL of our children are of concern and

thought of by the leaders of this community.

Simply put, Mayor Ardis, put your money where your mouth is!

Pastor Harvey Burnett

New Bethel COGIC

Peoria Assn. Of Pastors