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Immediately following the Pledge of Allegiance by members of the Julesburg Town Board and the evening's guests Monday, June 5, the next order of business was to swear in Donna Wall as trustee. During the May regular meeting, Wall was appointed to fill the board's vacancy due to the resignation of Jessica Hanna.
Appearing as a guest for the second month in a row, Dane Mollendor, owner of Great Western Building and Home Center asked the board if they had decided if he would be eligible for as a new business for tax incentives. The town has a history of offering 3 to 5 year plans that include tax incentives and waiving of building permit fees.
As the board discussed amongst themselves the possibilities, they were reminded of the decision that they made in the November 7, 2016 meeting. At that meeting, Tasha and Joseph Harris owners of D&J Cafe had come in to ask for incentives. At the time, they had not opened their doors for business. A second business, Platte Valley Inn (PVI), was on the agenda the same evening. Owners of the PVI had been asked to return to the November meeting after first asking for incentive help in October. That night the board awarded the standard incentive to D&J Cafe, and denied a similar award to PVI on the basis that PVI was asking for assistance after they had already opened their doors for business.
Trustee Donna Wall asked how a business would know that the town offered incentives? "I believe it is EDC's (Economic Development Corporation's) job to say something, " responded Trustee Todd Blochowitz.
Mollendor purchased the lumberyard in 2016. "Economic Development has not spoken one word to me since I have been over there," he said.
"If EDC isn't doing their job, that's not their (Great Western Building and Home Center) fault," said Trustee Paula Fraker. "PVI did not come back," stated Fraker, although they had been asked to return the following month.
Mollendor said the total property taxes were $1,750, but of that only $715 were city taxes. In the past when the Julesburg board has approved a tax incentive, it would pay 100% of the tax amount for years 1-3, 80% for year 4 and 50% for year 5.
A question that the board was not ready to answer was, "When does the time frame begin and when does it stop?" Blochowitz asked Fraker how long had she been in business? Fraker who owns Sedwick County Title responded that she had owned her company for 23 years. Blochowitz then asked if she had sought incentives for her business, and would she now? Fraker said she never knew of any incentives before joining the town board and. "no", she would not request them at this time.
Town Attorney, Glenn Pelster cautioned the board in making their decisions, saying that they could potentially open "flood gates," with their wording and true intent.
The board chose to table the matter for another month when they may have more information to hold discussion.
Cat Ryden introduced herself, stating that she is the sister of Mike Ryden and that she had recently moved to Julesburg. She heads up the Grey Feather Therapy Center. She told the board that she has background of owning and managing a variety of businesses throughout the years, including working with riding and boarding stables. She told the board that she has been working with Richard Lapp of Slick Spot Farm, Truck and Auto to sublease property to erect fencing and a facility to work from. At this time she is looking for 3 board members to add her board of directors.
Guest Dale Pfau told the board that he had received a letter threatening legal action if his property located on 9th and Pine Streets was not in compliance by July 1st. He told the board that due to his age, and family health related problems he would not be able to meet that date. Pfau told the board that he has worked to clean up the property, adding a metal roof to stabilize the structure, and said, "Ugly isn't illegal."
Trustee Chad Hoschouer asked Pfau what his intentions were for the property. Pfau said he wanted to see the house removed as much as anyone else. The board offered an extension to September 1st, 2017.
In Sheriff Larry Neugebauer's report, he said his department had answered 590 calls during the month of May, with 380 of those calls in Julesburg. Neugebauer told the board that all of his officers now have body camera's. Such cameras not only covers the officer and suspect, but hold the deputies accountable. The cameras have the ability to video tape with audio as well as take still photos of a crime scene or accident.
Before the evening's meeting adjourned, Trustee Scott Sherman asked that Wall be made the alternate trustee to NECALG. The request was approved.
A second topic of discussion was brought up by Trustee Fraker. Fraker told the board that she would like to resign as the board's representative on the EDC board. "We're not getting our monies worth," she stated. Speaking about EDC Director Mike Sullivan, she told the board that he had started "Youth Engagement. "
"We haven't seen anything coming into Julesburg," said Fraker. "There's no support for Julesburg, He has huge connections to the west end, but Julesburg doesn't see the same representation. Are you getting your bucks worth?" she questioned. Fraker said she also felt there was a conflict of interest with Sullivan heading up the EDC board and sitting as a trustee for the Town of Ovid board.
Mayor Ken Berges was reluctant to accept Fraker's resignation stating that the board needed someone who was outspoken and would tell the trustees the truth.
Currently, the Town of Julesburg offers office space and utilities at a value of $10,000 plus $10,000 in donation to EDC. Currently the Sedgwick County commissioners pay $25,000 to EDC.
As a reminder the Julesburg Town Hall and Public Library will be closed on July 4th. The board will meet again in regular session on Monday, July 10 at 7 p.m. in the Julesburg Town Hall.


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Diagnosed with ADHD? Don't forget the eye exam!
Jun 10, 2015
ADHD-affected individuals often have trouble reading for long periods. Many report trouble concentrating, experience headaches, sleepiness, and restlessness while attempting to read. The problem is then conceived and tackled solely on a cognitive or brain-based dimension. Interestingly, the condition of "convergence insufficiency", which denotes drifting of the eyes inward or outward, can be a contributing factor. The effort it takes for the ocular muscles to correct this problem leads to strain, tiredness, restlessness, and headaches. The solution lies either in in-office vision therapy or prism glasses. You can look into this by first discussing it with an optometrist or ophthalmologist who is familiar with this underdiagnosed condition. I found a skilled optometrist in the Cleveland who has a special interest in this area, Dr. Phillip Skovira. The wonder never ends with ADHD-related issues!
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subset: commoncrawl


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Check out Web Design Survivalist: webdesignsurvivalist.com/
This is a growing index of free web design resources- Free HTML/CSS Templates, Free WordPress Themes, Free Photoshop Brushes, Free Photoshop Tutorials, Free Fonts, CSS resources & more.
Bookmark and check back often, the site is updated daily. Follow on Twitter for updates on new resources: twitter.com/websurvivalist


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It was on this day in 1957 that Rocket Richard scored his 500th career goal, assisted by Jean Beliveau and Dickie Moore, against netminder Glenn Hall of the Chicago Blackhawks at 15:52 of the First period during a 3-1 Montreal win.Richard is the First NHL player to reach that mark; does so in his 863rd career regular-season game. Montreal, Québec.
A native of Montreal, he played 18 season with the Montreal Canadiens. During that time he was the first player in NHL history to score 50 goals in one season. He also played in 13 all star games.
Richard was noted as an aggressive player, and teams would often try and provoke him in order to get him suspended. In late 1954 he was fined $250 for slapping a linesman in the face. On March 13, of the next year, he was involved in another altercation, knocking an opponent unconscious. Boston police attempted to arrest him after the game and were only dissuaded by a promise the league would take action. After a hearing on March 16, he was suspended for the balance of the season. In Montreal, fans and demonstrators at the next game got out of control, vandalizing and looting stores and overturning cars. The riot continued until 3 a.m., leaving 12 policeman and 25 members of the public with injuries.
In 1960 he retired, after helping his team win five consecutive Stanley Cups. At that time he was the leagues all time leader in goals, with 544.
In 2005, Richard was honoured on a Canadian 50-cent coin, part of a four coin series showing famous Canadiens. Other players honoured included Jean Beliveau, Guy Lafleur, and Jaques Plante. A total of 25,000 sets were struck on sterling silver blanks.


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Sometimes, I just detest the look of backstitching. My auto backstitch feature is usually my best buddy, but sometimes on visible seams such as a hem, backstitching is unsightly.
This is how I finish those seams.
- Sew the seam without backstitching, starting and stopping as close together as you can. Dont worry if you are about a stitch length away, it wont be noticable. Make sure you leave nice long tail threads.
- Once securely knotted, thread the needle with the tails.
- Getting as close as you can to the knot, even just underneath it with the needle, go in between the two layers of the hem and come up a few inches away.
- Gently tug the knot, so it pulls under the fabric.
- Cut the thread, close to the fabric.
- Wriggle it a bit, and the tiny bit of thread will disappear. Leaving you with a beautifully invisible seam start/finish.
I'm certain this little trick has been around FOREVER, and many of you already know it. But you guys realise I am writing for the few that don't, right? :)


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|Warm colours are now calling to me...not sure if that's due to the approach of summer or merely as a break from working with all those blues! I figured that it would be smart to broaden my choices of colour for quilting thread (I love this collection of brights from Connecting Threads!) and to try a charm square sampling of colour (another great buy from Connecting Threads)
|I never knew I would have so much fun sewing with just solids or that the results would please me so much!
|1. My'>http://www.flickr.com/photos/58545519@N05/7031847211/in/faves-sewmesomethinggood/">My Beautiful Mini Package, 2. solids'>http://www.flickr.com/photos/alittlegray/6150882575/in/faves-sewmesomethinggood/">solids 2, 3. for'>http://www.flickr.com/photos/56674622@N08/7028393873/in/faves-sewmesomethinggood/">for the love of solids. sent., 4. DQS'>http://www.flickr.com/photos/swimbikequilt/5588954290/in/faves-sewmesomethinggood/">DQS 10
I'm undecided on what I will sew next, using only solids, but I'm certainly caught up in the power and possibilities of solids on their own.


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My field is the theory and practice of public legal education which is an interdisciplinary field that draws on the insights of law, education, library science, communications, and public health. I have been involved in public legal education since 1968 and have seen the field become an accepted component of the Canadian justice system. Public legal education is spreading throughout the world, particularly as an aspect of legal aid services.
I am particularly interested in theories of law that promote or inhibit the promotion of social justice. Public legal education was initially grounded in legal positivism which has constrained it from engaging the public in more fundamental justice issues confronting our societies. It also inhibits critical analysis of the role law plays in preferencing certain interests and in perpetuating injustices. I am currently involved in two research projects that explore the role of law in the lives of women experiencing domestic violence. These projects were grounded in earlier research reported in The Hidden Homeless: Residential Tenancies Issues of Victims of Domestic Violence at http://www.cplea.ca/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/FINAL-Report-The-Hidden-Homeless.2014Jun05.pdf.
My teaching consists primarily on non-formal and informal legal education events in community settings and in the development of educational resources. However, I am also involved in the development of the curriculum and teaching of a clinical law course on public legal education offered by the School of Law, Birkbeck College, University of London, UK.


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An adoptive mother's journey of learning to love deeper and growing in her faith through missions
October 11, 2011
Faith and Works
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The works of late author Philip K. Dick have served as the basis of many films over the years, including BLADE RUNNER, TOTAL RECALL, MINORITY REPORT, A SCANNER DARKLY, and THE ADJUSTMENT BUREAU, and some of his stories have received television adaptations as well - most notably the Amazon series The Man in the High Castle, the pilot for which broke records for the streaming service.
Amazon is having so much success with The Man in the High Castle, it makes sense that they would want to expand their Philip K. Dick association by picking up the anthology series Electric Dreams. Coming from Sony Pictures TV and executive producers Ronald D. Moore, Michael Dinner, and Breaking Bad's Bryan Cranston, the first season of Electric Dreams will consist of ten stand-alone episodes, each based on one of Dick's short stories.
Moore and Dinner are writing the series with Tony Grisoni, Jack Thorne, Matthew Graham, David Farr, Dee Rees, and Travis Beacham.
Cranston (pictured above) will be starring in one of the episodes, and he has been joined in the cast by Greg Kinnear, Mireille Enos (below), Steve Buscemi, Timothy Spall, Jack Reynor, Benedict Wong, Geraldine Chaplin, Jack Gore, Rebecca Manley, Anthony Boyle, Rudi Dharmalingam, Tuppence Middleton, Anne Reid, Ann Akin, Hayley Squires, Tom Brooke, Nicole Agada, Marko Leht, Matthew Raymond, Naveed Khan, Justin Butcher, Georgina Campbell, Bekka Bowling, Christopher Staines, and Malik Ibheis.
Kinnear leads the cast of the episode Father Thing, written and directed by Dinner, which
explores a world under attack by aliens. Enos will star opposite Kinnear as a mother who is being protected by son Charlie (Gore), who is the first to realize that humans are being replaced by dangerous monsters.
Buscemi stars in the episode Crazy Diamond, written by Grisoni, which centers on a man who
gets wrapped up in an illegal plan with an attractive but synthetic woman.
Written by Thorne and directed by Tom Harper, the episode called The Commuter will feature Spall as
an unassuming employee at a train station who is alarmed to discover that a number of daily commuters are taking the train to a town that shouldn't exist. When he investigates for himself, he comes face to face with an alternate reality that forces him to confront his own struggles around his relationship with his wife Mary (Manley) and his very troubled son Sam (Boyle).
Reynor and Wong star in writer/director Farr's episode Impossible Planet as
two disillusioned, disenchanted and indifferent space tourism employees who take up an elderly woman's (Chaplin) request for a trip back to Earth, the existence of which is a long-debunked myth. She appears easily confused, plus she's rich – so, for the right payment, what's the harm in indulging her fantasies? However, as their journey unfolds, their scam begins to eat away at them and they ultimately find themselves dealt a bittersweet surprise.
Maril Davis, James Degus, Isa Dick Hackett, Kalen Egan, Christopher Tricarico, David Kanter, Matt DeRoss, Lila Rawlings, Marigo Kehoe, and Kate DiMento are also executive producing Electric Dreams alongside Moore, Dinner, and Cranston.
The series is expected to air on Channel 4 in the UK later this year, and will presumably be available for viewing on Amazon around the same time.


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Some of the links on this site are affiliate links. This means if you click on a link and purchase something, I'll receive a small affiliate commission at no cost to you. Thanks so much for supporting my efforts with this blog!
Welcome back to Latticed Learning! This year, we're continuing to learn while we play - repeating many of our favorites from last year while adding in all sorts of new activities as well.
This day's post is devoted to our weekly Bible stories - some weeks have more activities than others, but each lesson will help your little one grow closer to God!
Read the BiblePages 92-97 in this Bible and 71-77 in this one
Read a Little More
We think books are the best around here, so it's always fun to discover great new titles. I wasn't familiar with any specific books for this week's lesson, but I did find these:
Sing Some Songs
I couldn't come up with any songs for this week, but I did think this idea was pretty cute.
Watch Some VideosThis video matched up with our Bible lesson (and served as a preview for next week, too).
This short one was also helpful:
And this video provided some background on Egypt:
Play and CreateWe repeated lots of things we did last year to learn about Moses, then added in a few new activities.
We first made a baby Moses in a paper plate basket (Gv insisted on calling the reeds his hair!):
|This takes two plates - cut them both in half, color the outsides and then staple them together. Then, cut out a baby Moses from construction paper and slip him inside the paper plate basket. Add some reeds behind him (or, as Gv says, "hair.")
I then printed out the first page of this cute Moses set, then Gv cut it out, colored it and went glue-stick crazy placing it onto a sheet of blue construction paper.
Then I traced two sets of her hand prints onto green construction paper and we glued down just the bottoms below the picture to be the reeds.
Gv loved uncovering the baby and shouting, "Peek-a-boo!"
I found a mini book to print out for this story (page 2 of this pack). It was great for sequencing and review throughout the week!
Finally, we dumped Gv's markers out of their storage box, nestled one of her swaddled "babies" in it, then sent it floating down the river (blue yoga mat) amongst all the reeds (construction paper scraps).
For a little something new this year, we created a baby Moses in a jar - which Gv loved.
First, we gathered the materials:
|A baby food jar, some broken blue crayons, green & brown pipe cleaners, a bit of tissue paper and some little bit or bob to use as a baby (we had a little wooden bottle).
Next, we melted the crayons in the bottom of the jar. I just stuck it in the microwave and heated it for 20 seconds at a time, until it formed a nice, flowing river.
I wound the brown pipe cleaner into a little basket shape, then Gv drew the features onto a tiny wooden bottle and wrapped the "baby" in some tissue paper before setting him adrift in his basket in the jar.
We carefully inserted some green pipe cleaner reeds and then screwed the top on.
When the wax had completely cooled, the scene was solid and Gv has been playing with it every since.
We also did a bit of paper weaving to create another basket.
I used my paper cutter to cut 1-inch-wide strips of construction paper in two different colors.
We layered the yellow pieces down in a wheel shape, then glued them into place in the center.
I set one of Gv's toy plates down on top of this and we folded all of the strips up (leave the plate there until you're finished).
We then took the orange strips and wove them through the yellow, creating a basket, and just used tape to stick them all down at the end.
Now we could remove the plate, fold a washcloth up inside, and wrap a decorated clothespin in tissue paper to set within the basket.
Looking for all the great posts associated with this concept in one place? Check out my Latticed Learning page here!
What's your favorite thing that we did this week? I'd love to hear! Either leave a comment below or email me at lisahealy (at) outlook (dot) com.
Also, if you don't want to miss a single minute of great tips like this and all the fun around here, be sure to sign up for free updates and then look forward to having each post delivered straight to your inbox!
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Table of Contents
Bristol Open Technology Lab
Bristol Open Technology Lab (or BOTLab for short) is a not-for-profit company (PRI/LBG/NSC (Private, Limited by guarantee, no share capital, use of 'Limited' exemption)) set up as an "umbrella" for technology-related community projects in Bristol. Currently our projects are Bristol Hackspace and Bristol Dorkbot, but in principle we could take on others. It was set up to be a legal "person" able to sign in place of an individual on rental agreements, to open bank accounts, obtain insurance etc. It is registered in England and Wales (company number 07071572, incorporated 10 November 2009) as a Company Limited by Guarantee, and thus has no shareholders - instead we have a cooperative constitution giving all members a right to vote on the running of the organisation, and a committee of (currently) 5 directors, elected by the members at the AGM, who oversee day-to-day activities and are legally the Board of Directors of the company.
Anyone may become a member of BOTLab by filling out the membership application form which will lead to their name being recorded on the register of members. BOTLab membership is distinct from Hackspace membership - you can be a member of either one without the other, though we would recommend that all Hackspace members become members of BOTLab in order to have their say. In the event of the company going into administration, each member may be liable for a sum of up to £1.
Important documents
Hackspace Committee Members (BOTLab Directors)
2017 - 2018
- Ian Abbott-Stratford
- Matt Glasspole (Membership secretary)
- Russell Couper
- Dr Nick Gover (Treasurer)
- Toby Seely (Secretary)
Next Meeting Agenda (Committee Meeting Wed 13 Feb 2019, 7:00pm)
See meeting page.
Financial statements:
- Finances 2018-2019 (ongoing)
How-to guides
Some notes on the space we occupy
Admin jobs to do with the running of the Hackspace and BOTLab etc.
Health and safety - the different aspects that apply to the Hackspace and how we address them
Membership numbers and subscriptions (currently Feb 2011 to Jan 2013)
Other links
Avon Coop Development Association - our constitution was put together with help from Hilary Sudbury here
Accounts: accountant John Lyon, contact Richard Higgs at Bristol Wireless


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|Carrie obtained both a Bachelor of Laws and a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Adelaide.
|Carrie joined the firm back when it was Lipson Street Chambers and located in Port Adelaide. Carrie has been instrumental in the growth and development of the firm including the name change to Lipson Chambers and the move to city.Carrie's dedication, experience and long history with the firm has enabled her to build up the excellent reputation both she and Lipson Chambers' holds within the community and the profession.


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Initial Right to Rent Rules were rolled out on 1st of February 2016 across England, with plans next year to expand this right across all of the UK.
The Home Office announced on the 2nd of November that as of December the 1st it will be a criminal offence as a landlord or letting agent to knowingly rent to people without the right to remain in the UK.
The main updates of the Right-to-Rent rules are:
- Landlords may be charged with a criminal offence if they know, or have reasonable cause to believe, that they are letting to an illegal migrant.
- Landlords can end tenancies for occupants with no right to rent.
At Letslivehere as part of our Let Only and Full Management services we ensure we accurately perform all Right to Rent checks and all potential tenants are fully vetted before tenancy agreements are signed.
What is Right to Rent?
- Landlords or Agent must routinely take I.D before letting a property to ensure the occupier has the legal right to live in the UK before the start of the tenancy
- Must conduct checks on all adult occupiers – not just those named on the tenancy
- The check must be made with the document and physical person present, this is a legal requirement
- Retain records for 12 months from end of tenancy
- If the following checks are not made landlords can civil penalties of up to £3000 per illegal occupiers
How to conduct checks:
- Establish who will live in the property
- Obtain original versions of acceptable documents
- Check the documents in the presence of the holder
- Make a copy and retain with a record of the date that the check was conducted
- Retain copies of documents for 12 months after the end of the tenancy
What is acceptable evidence?
Permanent right to stay in the UK:
- Current or expired British Passports
- Current or expired passports or national identity card showing the holder is a national of EEA or Switzerland
- A combination of 2 documents: UK birth cert or driving licence or letter from a UK police force confirming the holder has been a victim of crime and ID has been stolen.
Limited time to stay in the UK:
- Visa: Check the Residence Permit Visa which will either be as a card or a stamp/page within their passport. You must check and take copies of the identity page as well as the visa. Check the date the visa expires, as if necessary you must perform a follow up check at the end of the expiry. As long as there is one day after the start of the tenancy on the visa, you have the right to let to the person. You must perform follow up checks 12 months after initial check.
Checks must be done before you grant the tenancy – this is before you sign the contract with the tenancy, not when you hand over keys or tenants move in.
If you don't check you'll be liable to the full penalty. If you discover a tenant no longer has the right to remain in the UK, you must report to the Home Office.
When to request a Home Office check if:
- The occupier has a current application or appeal with the Home Office – e.g. extending visas.
You must request a Home Office reference number from the potential occupier, then you will receive a response within 48 hours. For further assistant call the Immigration Act helpline on:0300 069 9799.
Need more guidance? Speak to us, we are always up to date with new legislation and regulations.


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It is nearly the weekend, the week has just flown by. Can you tell me where it went?
I hope you all have a creative weekend doing something you love.
Happy days.
Bev C
Your "petal" crochet is beautiful Bev and I love that it is two toned. Your garden is amazing and I love to come for a visit.
what lovely work Bev and i love it being two toned,beautiful garden,lucky you.
beautiful work Bev I do like it a lot.
Perhaps your week is hiding in the same place as mine;o)
Your garden is amazing Bev! Very beautiful.
your doily is just gorgeous!
Love the red poppies spread through the garden they are lovely.
Your Milk Jug cover is lovely and your garden is just gorgeous.
Petal is very pretty. I think the pink and white works very well together. You do a lovely job!
Great seeing the balloons.
Your garden is looking wonderful. The Flanders poppies are very striking.
OOh! Such a gorgeous doily! Crocheting is not really my 'thing', but I have a 'granny squares' project going on... so I'm not completely zero! :) Lovely garden, I love poppies.
Beautiful crochet, beautiful garden!
Your Petal is so Pretty & I Love your Garden...Great View.
Petal looks fabulous!!! WOW so good. You'd never know that you used different brand threads and i think the white centre looks perfect!
Love your outdoors photos. Just beautiful. And I really love your crochet petal. That is very lovely. I am taking some crochet lessons as it has always been something I've wanted to learn to do.
My mother tried teaching me when I was a kid, but she's a lefty and I'm a righty and things just didn't work out!
Great view of your garden Bev and oh so pretty!
Love your crochet work and the two tones adds to it I think... so well done.
The garden is looking very beautiful. I love it when things pop up in unexpected places. I must get some poppies in my garden, yours are wonderful.
Petal is exquisite.
Oh Bev, your crochet is beautiful!
Makes we want to pick up my hooks straight away!
Your garden is looking fabulous.. I ened to weed.. so much rain here.
What do you do about aphids?
beautiful day at your blog today! your crochet project is so precious and lovely. I adore the scenes in your garden, especially those poppies. Such a charming flower!
golly gossh woman that is a lot of work well done it looks totally stunning.Lovelt to view your garden ,cheers Vickie
Hi Bev...your crochet is very pretty, something I can't do!!! Just as well Mum had some matching cotton, you can't tell the difference...How exciting to have a hot air balloon so close!!! Dzintra
Your garden is magnificent. "Petal" is very pretty too - the pink and white look great.
My Flanders got pulled out by an over enthusiastic hubby who thought the seeds I planted were weeds coming up, but a few have survived. The red is so good in the garden
Your garden is looking lovely. How exciting to have a hot air balloon in your neighbours patch! Thanks for the tip regarding the citric acid. We will be needing a good tile cleaner soon so might have to buy some!
Hi Bev,
I just love the petal crochet. What a beautiful job you did. Your garden is amazing.
That is a great photo of the hot air ballon too. I was amazing the first time I saw one up close. The are colorful to see. I will not be taking a ballon ride anytime soon. I will watch from below. : )


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Editor: Please tell our readers about your background. How did you come to know Weil Gotshal?
Xiang: After finishing college in Beijing, I moved to California in 1985 to complete my graduate studies. I worked for two years as a journalist in San Diego, and then attended Vanderbilt University Law School. After graduation, I began my practice in New York with the firm that became Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pitman. During that time I was sent to Winthrop's Hong Kong office and ultimately became the partner in charge of that office.
I moved to Clifford Chance in 2002, and was there for about three years as one of the two partners who ran the Shanghai office of the firm. In 2004, I helped Weil Gotshal to establish its Shanghai office.
Editor: Are you able to practice in PRC courts?
Xiang: I am qualified in both New York and Hong Kong but I do not hold myself out as a Hong Kong lawyer because I do not practice in that jurisdiction.
International firms are not allowed to practice Chinese law, which generally means that we cannot issue a formal Chinese legal opinion or appear in Chinese courts as counsel. We are allowed to appear in arbitration proceedings or serve as an arbitrator. On the Chinese law side, we can give advice on the "impact of the Chinese legal environment" on a transaction. We may issue a memo to our clients on the impact of the Chinese law with respect to a transaction but that memo cannot be considered a Chinese legal opinion.
Editor: Why did Weil Gotshal decide to open an office in China, and specifically in Shanghai?
Xiang: On the macro level, the country has become increasingly important on the global stage. The transactions here are growing in scale and in number. I came back to Asia in 1996 and spent six years in Hong Kong. Five years ago if you were looking to open an office in Shanghai, I would have questioned that strategy. Most of the deals at the time were taking place in other Asian locations. Now many multinational corporations, investment funds and banks are moving their operations to China, particularly Shanghai.
As a firm, Weil Gotshal has been expanding impressively in Europe in the last ten years. We have built up leading practices in various financial centers in that continent, so Asia is the next step in our global strategy.
Editor: Please describe your staff and their backgrounds.
Xiang: The Shanghai office has 15 lawyers. Bill Sievers and I are partners; we have one counsel and the rest are associates. The majority of our attorneys are New York or U.K. qualified with international experience. Some of them have backgrounds similar to mine and others are American lawyers who can speak Mandarin.
Editor: What are the key practice areas of the office?
Xiang: Our practice areas mirror Weil Gotshal's strength worldwide. About thirty to forty percent of our transactions are for clients that Weil Gotshal has represented elsewhere those investing or operating in China. The majority of our clients are multinational corporations. The balance are local clients. For example, we represent Lenovo and other Chinese companies that are expanding internationally.
The largest practice area for our China practice is cross border M&A. For instance, we are working on one of the largest M&A transactions taking place in China this year. We are also representing clients in auction sales with multiple bidders of assets in China. A transaction of this nature requires negotiations that include many aspects of an international M&A deal, such as purchase agreements, intellectual property and transitional arrangements.
The second major component of our practice is private equity - from fund formations to fund executions. We represent investment funds that are investing in different industries. We also represent companies that are raising financing. We are currently working on two China-specific fund formation projects. The investors are both Chinese and international investors. In the past, most of these investments were venture investments that focused on the technology sector in China. In recent years, larger private equity investors started to enter China. Financial services, consumer oriented companies, and strong manufacturing enterprises are now the primary targets for strategic investors and private equity funds. I expect activities in these areas to continue to grow rapidly in the coming years.
The third component of our practice is in the capital markets area. Our practice includes both debt and equity offerings. For instance, we represented the issuer in one of the largest high-yield placements of this year.
The fourth area of our practice is a growing area - our intellectual property practice. Since the laws and regulations are changing in this area, our clients, which are primarily multinationals, are looking to review their IP strategies in China. Some of them have tied up arrangements with Chinese partners with respect to research and development because a lot of R&D are being shifted to China. This practice complements our global strength in IP.
Editor: What about the high tech and biotech areas?
Xiang: In many cities, the government has opened high tech zones that give incentives to startups, including tax and other incentives. A lot of investment funds have done well in investing in startups in the last few years. We represent clients who are active in these areas.
Editor: I understand that you counseled Lenovo in their acquisition of IBM's Global PC Business. Describe that transaction - the numerous approvals required, the time involved, other regulatory hurdles, the capital structure.
Xiang: We represent clients such as Lenovo which want to expand or acquire businesses internationally, and we also represent those who want to sell to international buyers.
The regulatory environment in China for this type of transaction is complex. The transaction was further complicated by the fact that Lenovo is partly owned by a government institution, the Chinese Academy of Sciences, which is a state-owned body. Lenovo Group Limited is listed and incorporated in Hong Kong, and is one of the blue chip companies on that stock exchange. The company has a presence in both Hong Kong and China, making for a very complex transaction. We had to navigate through Chinese regulatory approvals and the Hong Kong stock exchange process.
As the largest acquisition to date by a Chinese company of assets held by a U.S. company, the deal was a pleasant surprise because it demonstrated how the Chinese government stayed on the sidelines to allow the business people to make the decisions. When the deal was signed, the company sent in the necessary applications for government approvals, including an antitrust filing.
For many Chinese companies such as Lenovo, they have less experience with such large transactions compared to their U.S. counterparts, and realize they need good advice. That is why it is important to have an international firm with people on the ground who speak the language and have their trust.
Editor: What was the size of that transaction?
Xiang: It was $1.25 billion plus certain assumed debt.
Editor: Another major transaction was the sale of Lenovo's IT service business to AsiaInfo Holding. Perhaps, you would like to describe the parties and the nature of this transaction.
Xiang: Although a relatively small transaction, it was no less complex. It was an all-stock transaction in exchange for a line of business. Lenovo is a Hong Kong incorporated company and listed in Hong Kong with almost all of its business in China. AsiaInfo is a Delaware company listed on Nasdaq with almost all of its business in China. You need U.S. securities and cross-border M&A skills because it involves different jurisdictions and Nasdaq stocks; you need Chinese regulatory expertise because you move assets and employees in China; you need employment and employee benefit expertise because employee incentive plans involving listed stock were part of the transaction. The transaction involves three jurisdictions: Hong Kong, U.S. and China, and reflects the increasing complexity of Chinese M&A work.
Editor: To what extent is there certainty with respect to transactions guaranteed in China?
Xiang: The legal environment in China continues to improve, particularly on the legislative side. For example, the new M&A regulation which went into effect in 2003 was one important reason for the increase in M&A activities. However, we still have serious issues with respect to enforcement. The quality of the court system and the decisions still vary significantly depending on different locations. As a result, arbitration is still the preferred choice for dispute resolution for multinationals because it is perceived to be more adept at dealing with issues involving foreign parties.
In business transactions in China, the importance of written contracts is now widely recognized. In the past, I have seen a U.S. $200 million deal documented by a two-page contract. Chinese companies have since become more sophisticated. For multinationals, it is essential to have contracts that are thoroughly thought through and well drafted because, as I often advise my clients, a good contract may not give you 100 percent protection in China, a bad one will guarantee you have none.
Editor: How do you plan to expand the office? Do you see extensive growth potential in China?
Xiang: After opening for a year and half, our office is running out of space. We are looking to expand. I continue to think that there are a lot of opportunities here. It is only the beginning of the trend for major, complex transactions in China or involving Chinese companies. We are pursuing a focused strategy - in the areas of M&A, private equity, capital markets and IP.
To grow our practice, we need more good people to add to the strong team that we already have. We prefer to hire lawyers who are committed to Asia and already have some international practice experience in the U.S. or elsewhere.
Published December 1, 2005.


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Established in 1995 NCRI strives :
To study rural society and rural economy through higher educational institutions in order to address the development needs and challenges through participatory mechanisms and appropriate technological responses basing on local resources.
To work with higher educational institutions covering Natural and Social Sciences, Management Sciences and Engineering for developing curricula addressing challenges of rural communities for finding appropriate technology options to promote a just and equitable economic and social development
To adopt interdisciplinary approach and work with faculty members and Post Doctoral Fellows, through workshops for addressing challenges of the rural communities in finding appropriate social and economic responses as per the local and global opportunities in livelihoods.
To develop a pool of researchers and academics across the disciplines interested in and working for rural communities leveraging academic inputs for higher education.
To enable studies on issues and impediments in human resouce development initiatives of the Government of India focused on rural India, studying failure and success stories and fine tuning the programmes and their implementation through curriculum interventions in higher education.
To network with educational institutions of higher learning, local governments, development agencies, Local Governments, gram sabhas and Industry in order to develop synergic convergence of human resources which are socially and economically just and inclusive for the vulnerable sections of rural India


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Another day, another beautiful, fun family to photograph. Denise, you have two very cute, very funny kids. (It was ALMOST like uncle Andrew rubbed off a little, especially on Mr. Hayden. Too funny, that kid is!) These portrait of love sessions are so much fun, and again, such an honor to do. But there is no denying that something is missing. And that something is Dad. Nate, please come home safe so we can do a complete family portrait!
Denise, Maddie and Hayden, thanks for being so good about pictures in the drizzle today!
Be sure to leave some love for the Thompson Family (add a comment below) to help them win a free 8×10!
If you are interested in booking a session with Mandi McDougall Photography, e-mail me at email@example.com. If you are a friend of the Thompson Family's and mention that when you book, you receive a $20 print credit.


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So, Rodwell starts for City. Find it strange how someone can get into the champion's first 11 yet I'm fairly sure if he was still here he would not have started tomorrow.
I'm more trusting of fellas when they have my cock in their mouth
Rodwell just making simple passes.
He's a complete passenger, just strolls about, trying to generally be as far away from action as possible and passing to the nearest player when he can't avoid the ball.But he's reliable and City are working fine. Plus he's one more player towards the home-grown quota in the CL squad.
Ouch. Nothing against the lad, but he's a shite centre back, always has been.
Looking forward to the 2 la lugs games more than anything.Real v Valencia ought to be a cracker!
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It's as much library as it is archive. But that's the way things are these days – archives becoming interactive and living bodies of culture and memory. In this case, it is music we are remembering and sharing in a collaborative and innovative way outside the intellectual property box.
The Free Music Archive is an interactive archive-cum-library with high-quality free legal music downloads. From the website: "Every mp3 you discover on The Free Music Archive is pre-cleared for certain types of uses that would otherwise be prohibited by outdated copyright law. Are you a podcaster looking for pod-safe audio? A radio or video producer searching for instrumental bed music that won't put your audience to sleep? A remix artist looking for pre-cleared samples? Or are you simply looking for some new sounds to add to your next playlist? The Free Music Archive is a resource for all that and more, and unlike other websites, all of the audio has been hand-picked by established audio curators."
The Arcive was created by WFMU, one of the longest running freeform radio stations in the US (freeform being where the on-air DJs have creative control over the music they play). Located in Jersey City, New Jersey, WFMU is a non-profit listener-supported broadcaster (90.1 fm) with a long history of supporting independent artists and providing a fecund alternative to commercial radio's cultural wasteland.
The range of music that airs on WFMU is remarkable: psychedelia, experimental, obscure 50s-60s blues, unpopular jazz, R&B, soul, reggae, garage rock, hot-rod music, 78's, 8-tracks, twee, indie pop, schlock-a-billy, hip-hop, electronica, hand-cranked wax cylinders, punk rock, exotica, downtown art music, radio improvisation, cooking instructions, Old Noise, classic radio airchecks, found sound, off-kilter kids' music … the list is only partial.
They also have a little spoken word – comedy, call-in shows, anti-fascist lectures, interviews with obscure radio personalities, interviews with notable science-world luminaries, spoken word mish-mashes. In 2001, they teamed up with Amy Goodman and Democracy Now to challenge a hostile takeover at WBAI that resulted in Democracy Now being temporarily "banished" from WBAI and the Pacifica Radio Network.
The Free Music Archive was created from a grant from the New York State Music Fund and opened its streaming doors on April 10, 2009. The music housed in the archive is curated by WFMU in collaboration with curatorial partners – KEXP, dublab, KBOO, halas.am, among others. One of the curatorial streams is called: phoning it in, where listeners are encouraged to call their favourite artists and record them performing on the telephone.
Downloads are free, but listeners can "tip" artists they like with a quick click.
Hats off to the folks at WFMU for such a great cultural resource – keeping it in the cultural commons.


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For Christmas, James gave me a girl's trip to New York City with my best friend Marcie. With a brand new baby at home and a newly sick mom, I thought I'd have to cancel. Fortunately, Mom was secure and stable, and James felt confident he could take care of all four kids by himself (with some meals and help from friends popping in). He and Mom both insisted I go, so I went. I'm very glad I did.
Life was super busy for both Marcie and I all the way up to the day of departure. Last night, we were still texting each other about what we were packing. She even texted this morning before she boarded the plane in Tulsa to make sure I was still boarding in Dallas -- ha! We had some ideas of things we wanted to see and do, but we had no specific itinerary. Fortunately, James also gave me a Frommer's guide to New York City, so on the plane, we decided to loosely follow the "NYC in Three Days" plan found inside. We eliminated a few things from the suggested itinerary and filled in the open spots with things that were more important to us (like visiting the Central Library and scoping out the best bagels).
Our Hotel -- The Waldorf Astoria
Grand Central Terminal
The New York Public Library
Day One: Street Scenes


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It's hanging basket season! They can be a source of delight but also a source of stress. It's easy for a hanging basket to fail badly. Too sparsely filled and they look bedraggled. Too little water and death is swift!
The secret to growing a successful basket lays both in the way it's planted but also in sensible aftercare.
Plant the basket with bedding plants at the beginning of May but don't plant them out for a couple of weeks, especially if you live in a more exposed area. Instead give them some shelter in a porch, or unheated greenhouse, or even under polythene at the side of the house. This allows the new plants to grow and toughen up a little before they are hung in their final position.
Check your bracket and chains for signs of rust and also check that the bracket is securely fixed to the wall. Hanging baskets are extremely heavy, especially when they are wet and you really don't want your lovingly-planted orb of flowers to be deposited unceremoniously all over the floor!
Planting is easiest if you balance the basket on a large flowerpot or bucket. Fibrous liners help to retain water and look nicer than polythene. For extra moisture retention place a circle of polythene in the base of the basket before filling with soil.
The best planting medium is soilless multi-purpose compost, mixed with water-retaining granules. Place a layer of compost in the base of the basket and push the first layer of plants through. Trailing plants such as lobelia, bidens and ivy-leafed pelargoniums look lovely but you can be as creative as you like. Water the plants in their containers before planting them and squeeze the rootball firmly to make it small enough to push through the mesh from the outside. Plant quite densely and gradually build up layers of plants and soil. When it's full within 3cm of the rim you can plant up the top with more upright, compact bushy plants like begonias, petunias and pelargoniums.
Make sure your basket never dries out. It will be reliant on you for all water and nutrition. If you water it at least once a day and feed with dilute tomato fertilizer once a week I promise it will be a blooming basket in the best possible way. Happy gardening!
By Rachael Leverton


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Parents should be able to observe D97 classrooms
One View
Opinion: Columns
The District 97 board recently amended policy 9150, which governs classroom visitations by parents and other adults [Visitation policy does not follow law: District 97 board, News, April 20]. Unfortunately these changes are a step backward from current, less-restrictive trends that are taking place across the country, and they further restrict parents from visiting their school's classrooms.
Last week I asked the district to allow me to sit in for 40 minutes in a fourth-grade teacher's class at Mann Elementary School. My daughter currently is in third grade and I expressed an interest to visit a fourth-grade class as part of my preparation for my daughter's next school year.
District 97 denied this request. I requested them to cite a specific section of 9150, but they failed to. I replied stating that my request was in accordance of the policy, specifically the section that states: "Parents/guardians of current students visit the schools for various reasons, including: Observing an educational placement or program that has or may be proposed for their child." But my request was still denied. There "no" language in the policy that restricts parents from visiting classrooms other than the one that their child is enrolled in.
Furthermore the district insinuated that the purpose of my request was to visit the fourth-grade classes in order to "shop for the best teacher" for my daughter. Then they had the audacity to make vague references that my presence in the classroom may affect the safety of their staff. As a last resort I have filed a complaint with the Illinois State Board of Education and the Illinois Attorney General's Office.
Parents are the first teachers to their children and they spend the other 17 hours of the day with their children, when they are not in class. Recognizing this, many school systems across the country embrace parental visitation to their schools, knowing that an informed parent is a parent who can most influence their children's educational outcomes.
Here's the typical language used by open schools, such as the one in Charles County Maryland (www.ccobe.com):
Parents/guardians are encouraged to come to their child's school during normal operating hours. Parents/guardians may either visit the classroom (including the playground) at the teacher's/school's invitation or request a formal observation of a classroom.
Plain and simple, No ifs or buts!
It seems that the current board is making it harder for 80 percent of the parents to access school classrooms. If you're a parent of a special ed student or a parent of a student in a program funded by Title I funds, then the school bends over backwards to accommodate school visitation.
Increasingly, parents like me, who are passionate about our children's elementary education, are being restricted, and the changes in the visitation policy are a reflection of this. In this day and age when many school districts have a hard time getting their parents involved, District 97 chooses to put more road blocks in the path of interested parents.
It's time that parents send a clear message to this board; what is required is more transparency and less restriction for parents who want to visit a school classroom. District 97's board should embrace parent visitation as part of our children's learning process and emphatically welcome it. It's time to do what is right and change the restrictive visitation language.
Noel Kuriakos is an 11-year Oak Park resident, parent of two kids attending District 97 schools and founder of Students First of Oak Park, a new organization for parents and citizens that "promotes educational reform and excellence for 21st century learners."
Reader Comments
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Vanessa from Destin
Posted: February 27th, 2012 6:00 PM
If you want to prepare for fourth grade then read your states standard course of study goals for fourth graders. Your current classroom teacher will probably be happy to tell you how to find this online. Classroom observations are extremely stressful for teachers. Keep them to a minimum, or teachers will dread having your child in their classroom. Not a recipe for a good year for your child.
Carol from Oak Park
Posted: May 3rd, 2011 10:38 AM
I am just so confused about what purpose you think would be served by having parents observe the classrooms of teachers who aren't teaching their kids, because it seems only to be for the purpose of intimidation of those teachers and of the district. Parents do not have hiring or firing authority, nor do most of them have any training in evaluating teacher performance or efficiency. As someone else mentioned below, my kids' classrooms are not your personal goldfish bowl.
Carol from Oak Park
Posted: May 3rd, 2011 10:35 AM
Mary Ellen - you do realize that teachers go through a hiring process, right? And that accredited schools have standards that the teachers have to meet, right? And that process is a portion of what our tax money goes to pay for? Everything else you are suggesting is back-seat driving. There are already processes in place for teacher evaluations. If you are not happy with those processes, then get yourself to the school board meetings to discuss where you think they could be improved.
Mary Ellen Eads from Oak Park
Posted: May 3rd, 2011 9:32 AM
(cont'd) teachers' unions, education bureacrats, and risk-averse school boards are going to fight increased transparency and accountability with all of their considerable resources. That is why even minor battles with these stakeholders take so long and are frequently unsuccessful.
Mary Ellen Eads from Oak Park
Posted: May 3rd, 2011 9:28 AM
A reasonable solution would be to find out if other schools in the area (or in the country-given our extraordinary property taxes, we should be nationally ranked) allow parents of prospective students to observe teachers in their classrooms. How did it work out for them. In the meantime, perhaps allowing prospective parents to observe a video of teacher presenting a topic would be helpful. You can learn a lot from how a topic is presented. And the kids wouldn't have to be in the video. Alas
Posted: May 2nd, 2011 10:07 PM
Roger, I realize you had a difficult time at Beye, but do you realize that Noel (not Neal) wanted to observe a class that wasn't his kid's? I have a feeling you wouldn't have gone for him observing your kid.
Roger from North Shore
Posted: May 2nd, 2011 9:26 PM
Neal K You made a fatal mistake. You admitted that you wanted to observe a teacher's performance. No wonder the outrage. You should have said you wanted to throw a class party with a chocolate fountain, or a surprise birthday party or baby shower for a teacher that would squander class time. The doors of the school would be thrown open. The moms at Beye School have learned this. And always be sure to say how warm and wonderful the teachers are to let them know you are drinking the koolaid.
epic lulz
Posted: April 29th, 2011 1:25 PM
"I would encourage you to come out in defense of civil discourse for everyone, and not just on behalf of those with whom you agree." This is the kind of patronizing BS that causes people not to take anything you say seriously. Look at this thread. There are a dozen examples of people insulting NK. Not a single one insulting the other side. There is no symmetry, and for you to pretend otherwise is just a further insult.
OP mom
Posted: April 29th, 2011 12:14 PM
I am on the SEA mailing list, so this ia an issue I've given some thought to and asked some questions. As a d97 parent, I really want observers to have a good reason and to be under a confidentiality agreement. I know how gossip spreads and personally, if I knew my child was going to possibly be fodder for some out of town right-wing tax hating group's research, I'd keep him home from school that day. Our kids have the right to privacy and non-disrupted classrooms. I support the policy.
OP to OP
Posted: April 28th, 2011 4:12 PM
OP love the comment. But I am right. This is about his 15 minutes. Noel is not nearly as combative in person as he is in his post or letters, when you meet him. He is truly enjoying this. Remember why spanking is bad, it can re-enforce bad behavior. Let's stop the the verbal spanking.
Just Say No(el) from Oak Park
Posted: April 28th, 2011 4:01 PM
Exactly right. This Noel dude is all about creating his own 15 minutes. Hard to decide what's more annoying: his increasingly boring act or the parents expressing outrage about the D97 Tasty Dog fundraiser. Please pass the bourbon!
Posted: April 28th, 2011 3:10 PM
@OP to OP, oh, sure, you just want me to quit posting so you can be the only OP. :-) Seriously, though, yeah, you are probably right.
OP to OP
Posted: April 28th, 2011 2:47 PM
OP I totally agree with you. Noel enjoys the spotlight. He is enjoying the attention, good and bad, that he has received during the referendum. Now, if we stopped posting, he would not receive "high" that he's looking for. He loves this. It's sick and twisted but he loves it.
Posted: April 28th, 2011 1:34 PM
Ms. Eads, with all due respect, I don't see the virulence you are talking about. I don't see a lot of agreement with Mr. Kuriakos, or any love of his spotlight hogging, even from many of the people who voted No. Even now, he is crowing on his FB page about how there are four (4!) articles about him in the paper. Two are about actions he took, one was written by him, and another is an op ed piece. I am surprised he is surprised (and am pretty sure he isn't surprised or unhappy about it.)
Mary Ellen Eads from Oak Park
Posted: April 28th, 2011 1:24 PM
Research (anon research, that is). Read the post. I said what if. The US has spent billions in educational research. We must have some idea of the factors which contribute to successful teaching. Ms. Song-I think the attacks on Mr. Kuriakos have been exceptionally virulent, that's why I commented. Again, comment moderation is fairly widespread in media. I think the WJ should consider it with respect to nasty personal attacks.
Violet Aura
Posted: April 28th, 2011 12:57 PM
Ugh, what a nightmare! I pray not to have parents like you when I get certified. If you are so "passionate" about your precious angel's edumucation, may I suggest homeschooling and not hovering like a helicopter parent? I mean, if you have the time to spare during the day and that burning passion for book learnin', then please do all OP teachers a huge favor and pull your kidlet out and let the teachers teach!
Research from Oak Park
Posted: April 28th, 2011 12:45 PM
@Ms. Eads, I find it laughable that you would find a test that a high school junior/senior takes could be a predictor of his/her potential classroom teaching abilities. I've listened to you, I've tried to reply with civility, but this is just ridiculous. I agree that knowing teachers' educational history, GPAs, etc., is worthwhile. I know I look for that when I see a doctor. But the ACT? Really?
Carollina Song from Oak Park
Posted: April 28th, 2011 12:22 PM
@Ms. Eads-As to the need for civil discourse, you and I agree again (see my post dated Wednesday, April 27th, 2011 03:40 PM). I would encourage you to come out in defense of civil discourse for everyone, and not just on behalf of those with whom you agree.
Carol from Oak Park
Posted: April 28th, 2011 12:18 PM
Well, as far as the resources actually available for Ms. Eads and Mr. Kuriakos' proposals of CCTV and/or Skype connections, they can surely follow their own recommendations to "make more out of less." I'm sure that a two tin cans connected by a string should suffice for Ms. Eads and Mr. Kuriakos' needs, right?
Carollina Song from Oak Park
Posted: April 28th, 2011 12:16 PM
Posting video of lessons online is something that would be a boon educationally; I (& others) have been advocating that, but D97 didn't have the infrastructure needed to make that possible, again due to budget cuts. Now that the referendum has passed, it gives us the means and creates the atmosphere where we can all work collaboratively to improve education (assuming no distraction from costly lawsuits).
Carollina Song
Posted: April 28th, 2011 12:06 PM
@Ms. Eads-As for closed-circuit TV, putting aside legitimate concerns about privacy, which investments D97 should defer to make that happen? As for using dist laptops to simulate cctv, that may become feasible in the future now that the referendum has passed. Currently though, D97 doesn't have nearly enough computers for educational purposes. As has been noted at board meetings, student/computer ratios should not exceed 3/1. Due to yrs of budget-cutting, ratios in the schools are closer to 6/1.
Carollina Song from Oak Park
Posted: April 28th, 2011 11:42 AM
the words of an ed researcher (who was talking about college ed) are applicable here: "This seemingly reasonable request is like most high level educational principles: dramatic and simple in general and remarkably complicated and difficult in specific." I think you and I would both love to see, for example, merit-based pay. However, research "suggests that "value added" methods for determining the effectiveness of classroom teachers are built on some shaky assumptions and may be misleading".
Carollina Song from Oak Park
Posted: April 28th, 2011 11:10 AM
@Ms. Eads-The quality of education in the public schools is a critical concern regardless of whether or not one currently has children in the public schools, so your interest is commendable. I would encourage you to attend school board mtgs and/or look at the school board mtg packets, which are available online. As to some of your specific ideas, such as "value-added scores for each class previously taught", (see next comment)
Mary Ellen Eads from Oak Park
Posted: April 28th, 2011 11:01 AM
Research (or perhaps I should say Anon Research), what if research findings suggested that ACT scores were the best predictor of successful teaching performance. Or maybe not being a graduate of a school of education. I'm not saying they are. But if they were, wouldn't you want to know? Or would you still want to rely on the neighbors and/or your first grader in assessing the quality of the education you are paying (lots) for.
Posted: April 28th, 2011 10:44 AM
Closed circuit tv in the classroom sounds like the puppycam to me. Except with humans. And creepier.
Research from Oak Park
Posted: April 28th, 2011 9:33 AM
@Mary Ellen, your suggestions are frighteningly Orwellian and seem to deny the basic rights to privacy that all Americans are entitled to enjoy. ACT scores of teachers? Skyping on demand for parents interested in "personal research"? Will a teacher be fired if he discreetly picks his nose while the kids take a test? Why would anyone choose to be a teacher with these inhuman expectations?
Michael Nevins from Oak Park
Posted: April 28th, 2011 9:17 AM
@OP. I seem to recall that there was one specific day that we could sit in the classroom of our kids - because I remember "threatening" them that I'd do it! But I also recall that you could sit in a class when your child is in 8th grade - and thus review the HS. I'm hopeful that an OPRF person could provide better info - I just know that there is a OPRF policy with allows/encourages parent visits of/in the classroom.
Posted: April 28th, 2011 9:06 AM
Carol sums up my thoughts exactly.
Posted: April 28th, 2011 9:02 AM
Mary Ellen, I can only assume you haven't seen Mr. K in action at the information meetings, or received any of his PTO council missives. Or, for that matter read a lot of what he posts here.
Mary Ellen Eads from Oak Park
Posted: April 28th, 2011 8:32 AM
I'd like to add that I don't know Mr. Kuriakos although, as I've said, I appreciate his efforts in opposing the ref. However, I've been truly amazed by some of the (anonymous, of course) posts assaulting his character, his motives, his work history and so on. These are Oak Parkers posting? Oak Park, home of liberalism, tolerance diversity and so on? Or maybe reps of the teachers' union or ed bureaucracy? Who knows. Maybe the WJ should start moderating comments.
Mary Ellen Eads from Oak Park
Posted: April 28th, 2011 8:19 AM
I still think the best solution is closed circuit cameras allowing observation without disrupting the classroom. But if that doesn't fly, how about a videotaped lesson parents could watch on site. It's not perfect because it's pre-scripted but it's something. And along with that, a full bio including majors, ACT scores,GPA, other ed and certific. info, and, most important, value-added scores for each class previously taught. Much more instructive than asking the neighbors.
Carol from Oak Park
Posted: April 28th, 2011 7:42 AM
...contd...Finally, you don't help your case in terms of trustworthiness and credibility when you respond to your critics with veiled threats of violence; ie, wanting to meet them personally to give them "special" hugs, as you have done here and in another thread. It kind of confirms the impression that you have bad intentions. If you wanted access to my children's classrooms, based on how you operate here, I would object strongly.
Carol from Oak Park
Posted: April 28th, 2011 7:39 AM
..contd..It does not appear that you meet those standards. Further, people are rightfully questioning your intent. Other parents have the right to know that the school is protecting their children from bad actors, and appears that many parents are suspicious of you. Even a 40 minute observation via Skype gives someone a lot of information about the children in a classroom. Who knows what you plan on doing with that information? ....contd
Carol from Oak Park
Posted: April 28th, 2011 7:37 AM
Noel - one thing that you might want to consider is that when you're demanding access to classrooms, you are demanding access to other people's children. Those other people also have rights, like the right to know that the school is a place that protects their children's privacy and security. Generally, as someone observed below, "observers" who are there to research have been through an extensive vetting, including background checks and TB tests, and who are part of an accredited program...
Posted: April 28th, 2011 7:10 AM
Oops, that should read: "Parents of CHILDREN with special needs." But you probably already knew that.
Posted: April 28th, 2011 6:30 AM
Just to clarify: Here is the Board policy: https://v3.boardbook.org/Public/PublicItemDownload.aspx?ik=31138322
Posted: April 28th, 2011 6:07 AM
OPer, parents with special needs are still allowed in classrooms (besides their own children's) , they are just supposed to give notice.
Posted: April 28th, 2011 6:04 AM
@Michael, is that OPRF HS policy about parents/guardians sitting in on their child's classroom, or other classrooms? Mr. K wanted to sit in on a 4th grade classroom, and his child is in 3rd grade. IOW, not his child's classroom.
Posted: April 28th, 2011 6:04 AM
@TanyaC - the visitation issue is a hot topic among parents with children with special needs because their IEP's are not followed or their child is literally being tied to chairs. A parent should have the right to visit their child's class with proper notification. I am less sure about visiting other classrooms. LOVE the idea of closed circuit TV.
Posted: April 28th, 2011 6:02 AM
Noel, your last post makes no sense to me. First off, if I am denied access to a class that isn't my child's, it's because I am "creepy" (and where you are getting that, I don't know, I am guess The Voices In Your Head are telling you that.) But if you are denied access, it is because the Powers That Be don't like you because you were against the referendum. Okaaay...
Research??? from Oak Park
Posted: April 27th, 2011 10:37 PM
@Noel, aren't you part of a lawsuit pertaining to clarity of the written word? Now you're saying that you can call an observation "research or intelligence-gathering or whatever" and then demand that D97 allow you to do your "research" whenever you want? Teachers might not mind your presence, but even parent classroom volunteers must receive training to protect students' privacy. Get real.
Michael Nevins from Oak Park
Posted: April 27th, 2011 10:33 PM
FWIW, although I never participated, OPRFHS has some sort of policy which allows a parent/guardian to sit in on classrooms. Someone might want to check up on that.
Noel Kuriakos
Posted: April 27th, 2011 10:15 PM
OP, Kids say the darnedest things. There is not need for folks like you to spread the rumors. From your posts, I am glad the Principal had good intuition to restrict you. You my friend sound creepy. I know of parents (good) who were allowed, INCLUDING me. You must not have made a good impression. I am sorry if you are semantically challenged. But I see you make up for it with your hebetudinous posts. You are are real asset to OP and D97. I would love to hug someday. Keep posting!!
Posted: April 27th, 2011 10:07 PM
And you were the one who tripped over that "research" wire. You had to know that wouldn't be permitted without more disclosures. And "intelligence gathering..." Man, you are getting creepier by the minute.
Posted: April 27th, 2011 10:04 PM
As a new parent, I was not allowed to sit in on classrooms before my child attended the schools. I was a bit miffed, but now I realize why the policy is in place. It's distracting to kids and teachers, and parents gossip. I don't need for it to get around that my son isn't being nice to Nancy or is pretty stupid in math. And nothing would stop a parent from doing that. As for information-gathering, do that on your own time and leave my kid out of it.
Noel Kuriakos
Posted: April 27th, 2011 9:56 PM
The operative word is 'observation' for 40 minutes (new district policy). I can call it research or I can call it intelligence gathering or what ever. Any K-8 administrator knows that academic research involves more than 40 min of observation. What about new parents who sit in on class rooms. They don't have kids, yet they are allowed to 'observe' or their own 'research'. It just does not add up. The GOOD teachers that I have talked to at Mann don't give a damn about me being in their cls.
research??? from Oak Park
Posted: April 27th, 2011 9:51 PM
I believe that "research" refers to those people who are working on undergraduate/graduate degrees or those who currently work in the field of education. Those people who observe for qualified research must go through a vetting process in order to protect the privacy of all students. Teachers are used to being observed by other teachers, adminis, etc., so of course they are not averse to it. However, it would be unsettling if any parent could sit in on any class in the name of "research".
Posted: April 27th, 2011 9:46 PM
Noel, were you offering to help out in the classrooms? I doubt the green dot parent project is successful because the parents sit in the back and smirk while they write notes.
Posted: April 27th, 2011 9:43 PM
First off, if there is any research being done in the classroom, you have to inform the parents of the type of research and how data is going to be gathered and used; Then you have them sign permission slips in order for the children to participate. And allow them to opt out. At least that's been my experience in d97. I think it takes a bit more forethought than was evident here.
Noel Kuriakos
Posted: April 27th, 2011 9:42 PM
Carolina Song, One can easily have a district laptop running Skype placed in the class room and then have the parent view the stream in another room. There is no need for any expensive equipment. The other option is just to have the teacher record a 40 minute time span and allow the parent to view it, with the teacher or anyone else from the district. Parents are the #1 reason why schools are successful. That is why schools run by Green Dot require parents to be in classrooms.
Noel Kuriakos
Posted: April 27th, 2011 9:38 PM
Yes I have heard from several parents about being denied class room visits. In fact Board Member Gates requested specifically that denials be logged and submitted to the Board because of complaints from parents. You should pursue the conversation with him. I have read the dist policy and there is NO mention of restriction on 'research'. The district clearly is paranoid when this word is mentioned. What are they afraid of? I have spoken to some teachers candidly & they don't have an issue.
Noel Kuriakos
Posted: April 27th, 2011 9:34 PM
I see we have a very friendly group of posters. I would love to meet each and everyone of you at some point. @Libby Paul, as a PTO member you of all people should know that parents cannot request their kids placed with a particular teacher. I have NEVER asked Ms. Kumar or Ms. Young before her to place my 2 daughters with any particular teacher. You probably are a good parent & teach you kids not to prejudge others. I don't think your parents taught you to do the same. You are good example..
NO WAY! because of who he has shown us he is
Posted: April 27th, 2011 8:00 PM
My child attends the same school as one of Noels kids. I would be extremely upset if this unstable and vindictive person were allowed to "observe" the teachers/students. In fact, any teacher would be put in an unreasonable position to have a person who has shown such malicious behavior to his entire community and school district be allowed to "observe" them. We all know he is just looking for more things to complain about. Maybe he'll try to sue the teacher next for being paid too much!
Carollina Song from Oak Park
Posted: April 27th, 2011 3:40 PM
One can take issue with Noel's representation or misrepresentation of the issues surrounding D97's visitation policy without bringing his employment history into it. We need to have conversation in the civic arena without the personal attacks.
EndLes Kuriakos from Oak Park from Oak Park
Posted: April 27th, 2011 12:41 PM
My previous post included a link to NK's profile on Linkedin dot com. My point about NK's lack of ability to focus attention to an effort for any extended period is supported by his job history.
john murtagh from oak park
Posted: April 27th, 2011 12:08 PM
For 25 years, I volunteered in my school district. I was a board member, chairperson of many events activities including several millage and bond referendums, and was in schools as much as I was at home. During all those years I was in an active classroom on one occasion - I went to school for my daughter on Parent/Student Exchange Day. Unless approved to do volunteer work by the principal, parents have no right or role in a classroom. They need you to encourage them, not live their lives.
EndLes Kuriakos from Oak Park
Posted: April 27th, 2011 10:37 AM
The citizens of Oak Park can only hope that NK's interest in his latest passion will end with the same frequency and short duration that has been his history:
Posted: April 27th, 2011 10:26 AM
This does go beyond Mr. K, though. If I need to come into my kid's classroom to help with math games or a party, that is one thing. I am there for a purpose, and (I hope) the teacher has spoken to me about the need to maintain the privacy of the kids in the classroom. To show up in someone else's classroom to check up on whether a teacher is suitable for my kid? Unless my kid has a special need, that smacks of helicoptering at best.
Posted: April 27th, 2011 10:23 AM
Research, huh? If Mr. K was coming to observe my kid's class, I would expect the school to let me know so I could pull the kid out for the day. Not to mention any "research" he might do.
Carol from Oak Park
Posted: April 27th, 2011 10:14 AM
You are reading it right, OP, to the extent Mr. Kuriakos chose to tell the truth. According to the TribLocal article on this very topic, he originally told the school that his purpose was to "conduct research into teaching effectiveness."
Posted: April 27th, 2011 9:38 AM
If I am reading this right, Noel wasn't denied access to his child's classroom. His child is in 3rd grade, and he wanted access to a fourth grade classroom.
Posted: April 27th, 2011 9:34 AM
I'm curious, how many other parents have been denied access to their child's classroom. Anyone know? Noel paints with such a broad brush, "more parents are being denied..." Has he talked to "more parents" or is he generalizing his experience?
Posted: April 27th, 2011 9:15 AM
Hm, wonder if there might be a profit motive in privatizing public education.
Posted: April 27th, 2011 8:49 AM
I noticed Students First National Organization has 18 job openings. This is a great way for someone truly concerned about education to make a difference.
Posted: April 27th, 2011 8:43 AM
Noel forgot to include the following passage from the ccboe policy--which looks remarkably similar to Dist. 97's policy application: "Principals retain the authority to deny access to the school for any individual who may disrupt or disturb the learning environment or who lacks a valid or legal purpose for entering the school." Noel is that person who may disrupt or disturb and lacks legal purpose (or clue based on the complaints he files).
Posted: April 27th, 2011 8:40 AM
Closed circuit tv system! Imagine the outrage if schools paid for something like this, particularly given the resistance to supporting stuff like art, music, foreign language.
Posted: April 27th, 2011 8:40 AM
As a stay at home mom, I spend a lot of time in the school. I know the teachers and the teachers know me. If he truly wanted to find the perfect the fit for his child, he could help out in the school. 40 minutes to observe is not enough time to "research" the teacher, but hours helping goes a long way.
Carollina Song from Oak Park
Posted: April 27th, 2011 8:21 AM
@ Ms. Eads-I remember the careful discussions that were needed about putting in cameras in the middle school hallways. Let's set aside legitimate parental concerns about privacy for a moment. How much would it cost to install and maintain a closed-circuit television system throughout the district? What D97 expense should be deferred to make this happen? Should D97 for example delay classroom tech that has an impact on learning? Wouldn't this be derided as "wasteful non-educational spending"?
Who believes
Posted: April 27th, 2011 8:10 AM
Who believes that any of this is about picking a teacher. Most of us just talk to other parents. Reading his previous blog posts, he wants the world to listen to him. He found a little voice during the referendum debate and now refuses to let it go. Next week, it will be something else.
Libbey Paul from Oak Park
Posted: April 27th, 2011 8:01 AM
I can see no other reason for Noel to visit a 4th-grade classroom for his 3rd-grade daughter than to "shop for a teacher." If this became the norm for parents to attend each classroom of the next grade level for their child, classrooms would be overrun with observing parents in the spring of each year. I have a problem with that policy, and don't believe it serves the majority of students. Add in Noel's litigious tendencies and paranoia, and I say "hell, no!"
Mary Ellen Eads from Oak Park
Posted: April 27th, 2011 8:01 AM
As I've said before, the disruption problem could be solved by using a closed circuit tv system which would permit parents to observe teachers in action without disrupting the classroom. Apparently Dist 97 parents (except a favored few) have limited say in the placement of their children in classrooms. Powerful teachers' unions and reform-averse school bureaucracies are a good part of the problem, no doubt. Despite its progressive leanings, OP has shown little interest in challenging them.
Also confused
Posted: April 27th, 2011 7:52 AM
Why does this guy want to "observe" the classrooms of kids who don't belong to him? Frankly, I think D97 is doing the right thing here, and protecting the kids' privacy and security from an adult male who is showing way too much interest in spending time with other people's kids for no good reason.
Posted: April 27th, 2011 7:45 AM
"Students First" isn't that Michelle Rhee's org. Is this how she expects to make change by harassing the school board.
Posted: April 27th, 2011 7:13 AM
My child's classroom is not your goldfish bowl.
Posted: April 27th, 2011 2:11 AM
From the article "Parents/guardians are encouraged to come to their child's school during normal operating hours. Parents/guardians may either visit the classroom (including the playground) at the teacher's/school's invitation or request a formal observation of a classroom." Isn't that D97's policy, "invitation" or "request"
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