Beecher School Board Candidate: Todd Gregory
I decided to go to my first School board meeting during covid when I thought the decision were hurting the kids. I thought I could have conversation and rationally explain, and they would make changes. But the Government system was in place and the following months and years things did not get better. My friends convinced me to run for school board, and here I am. Below is a little history.
My family moved back to Beecher in 2010, just before my oldest child entered kindergarten. I worked construction; building new houses around Chicagoland. We have two special needs daughters. As a family, we discussed our future, and we decided that I would “retire” and stay home as full-time caregiver to our children. This has been my life and career for the last two decades. Growing up, I never thought I could feel so fulfilled, but here I am.
We have been very involved in our local church; it’s my wife’s family church and it goes back 150 years. I’m afraid I haven’t had much time to seek out accolades or awards, between raising my girls and rehabbing our home, which we bought as an abandoned foreclosure.
At one point, we felt the need to pull our children out of the local schools and homeschool them. The first time was when our oldest was having issues that were affecting her education. We pulled her out, and found a Christian curriculum that helped her thrive. We engaged her in the local JHS sports, but we homeschooled her. She re-enrolled in Beecher High full time her junior year (would have been earlier but lockdowns). She has been on honour roll and captained the varsity golf team. I see parenting and education as primarily the responsibility of the parents, not the government. In our case, this has been born out with successful results. Who knows their kids better than their parents, and who will fight for your kid more than their parents/family?
It seems as though the school board, district, and educational system are filled with people who possess masters degrees in education, and yet, our children have suffered. At this point, it feels like the schools are against the taxpayers and parents. I see the responsibility of the school board as representing the students against the bureaucracy of the district.
It will be my job to keep the district in line, and fight for the education of our children. It will be my job to defend the economic interests of the taxpayers against the tax and spend policies of the big government education system. Every year, more and more is spent on education, and every year, our students’ math and reading scores drop. Test scores show a very narrow band of a child’s development, but it is showing that Beecher students can’t read. The last board spent enormous sums on building maintenance, infrastructure, and increasing the staff. We can debate on how much was absolutely necessary and all at once. It feels good to have the latest facilities, but our children’s education is lagging.
Illinois News
Classifieds
Rev-Up Summer at Tractor Discovery Day!
Spread the loveGet ready for an exciting journey into America’s farming past at Tractor Discovery Day, on June 15, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., at Tractor Supply Co., 2161 E Laraway Road in New Lenox. Join the Will County Threshermen’s Association (WCTA) for a fascinating exploration of vintage tractors that will ignite your passion…
Lady Bobcats Take Soccer Regional Championship!
Spread the loveBy Jim Piacentini In playoff action on Tuesday, May 14, the Lady Bobcats and Coalers started with a tight back-and forth game, as both teams had good shots on goal, BUT none of them hit. At the 37:00-minute mark, the Lady Bobcats scored, on a goal by sophomore Grace Durante. The lead held…
Beecher Community Library News
Spread the loveCall the library at 708-946-9090 for programs that require registration. The library will be closed for Memorial Day. May 2 – May 30: Visit the library for its gallery of tiny art from more than 100 Beecher patrons! Outdoor Used Book Sale: A number of used books are for sale on the front…
Will County – Sharefest Hosting Free Food Giveaway May 25
Spread the loveWill County Executive Jennifer Bertino-Tarrant and ShareFest Will County will host a free food giveaway event on Saturday, May 25, from 9 a.m. until noon, or while supplies last, at the Will County Office Building, 302 N. Chicago Street, Joliet. “This event is open to anyone in need of assistance with fresh food…
‘Catch the Twain’ Mark Twain Performance, May 19
Spread the loveWarren Brown, a former Park Forest resident, will portray Mark Twain in his award-winning Chautauqua-style program, “Catch the Twain” for the Park Forest Historical Society, on Sunday, May 19, at 2:30 p.m., in Park Forest Village Hall, 350 Victory Drive. The meeting also will include an Ice Cream Social to thank members, donors,…
Local Farmers Markets
Spread the loveTo help our readers, here are some Farmers Markets that are or will soon be available for your shopping convenience. If you know of a particularly good one that we’ve not listed, please feel free to email “The Vedette,” at newsdesk@thevedette.com, so we can add it to our weekly list. Happy shopping! •Beecher:…
Beecher Police Blotter: April 19
Spread the loveDisclaimer: Charges against each defendant are merely accusations, with all defendants presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law. On April 19, Sergejus Patasovas, 25, of the 11100 block of S. 84th Avenue, Palos Hills, was stopped at 730 Dixie Highway for having only one Illinois license plate and also found…
Beecher Community Library News
Spread the loveCall the library at 708-946-9090 for programs that require registration. Through May 30, visit the library to view its gallery of tiny art from more than 100 Beecher patrons! Outdoor Used Book Sale: A number of used books are for sale for $1 each, and are on the front veranda, including those for…
Bobcat Baseball 4-1 for Week
Spread the loveMonday, May 6, the Beecher Bobcat baseball team began their week with a 15-3 victory over Gardner-South Wilmington. With a little help from GSW, who racked-up 7 errors, along with allowing the Bobcats 8 free passes to first, Beecher managed to score 15 runs, on only 8 hits. A.J. Snell earned the victory…
34th Annual Rhubarb Festival May 19
Spread the loveThe Kankakee County Museum at Small Memorial Park, 801 S. Eighth Avenue in Kankakee, will host their 34th annual Rhubarb Festival on Sunday, May 19, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. This year’s festivities include a wide variety of vendors, a dime toss, kids’ zone, pie-eating contest, live entertainment, plus tours of the…
Bike Safety Rodeo June 1
Spread the loveRain or shine, the Beecher Police Department will host it annual free Bike Safety Rodeo for children 13 years and younger, on Saturday, June 1, in the fire department parking lot. Registration is from 8:30 to 9 a.m., with the rodeo beginning at 9 a.m. (No registration after 9:15 a.m.) Come and join…
Board Authorizes Ordinance to Better Serve Farming Community
Spread the loveOn April 18, the Will County Board authorized an ordinance change to better serve its farming community. This change assists farm truck drivers by making permits available that allow for the movement of agricultural commodities, without being subject to fines they may otherwise incur. Prior to the change of this ordinance, drivers faced…
FHOF Cardiology Hosting Free Smoking Cessation Meetings
Spread the loveFranciscan Health Cardiology Olympia Fields is hosting free weekly smoking cessation group meetings aimed at helping smokers kick the habit. Meetings help smokers learn proven strategies for success in quitting for good, develop a personal plan for quitting, minimize withdrawal symptoms, and begin living a new, healthy lifestyle. The group meetings are held…
Police Chiefs Association Holding Law Enforcement Memorial Day May 9
Spread the loveThe 43rd annual Law Enforcement Memorial Day, sponsored by the Police Chiefs Association of Will County, is scheduled for Thursday, May 9. Details of the event were announced by Tracy Chapman, president of the Association and deputy director of the Forest Preserve District of Will County. The event will begin with a 10:30…
Collection Event to be Held May 11 in Beecher
Spread the love The Will County Land Use Department’s Resource Recovery and Energy Division will host a collection event from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., on Saturday, May 11, in Beecher. Electronics, hazardous waste, and liquids, including motor oil and paint, will be collected. A maximum of two TVs and 15 gallons of paint will…