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
Elizabeth Packard: The Woman Who Wouldn’t Be Silenced
Spread the loveJoin Laura Keyes, as Elizabeth Packard, for this informative and inspiring presentation on “Elizabeth Parsons Ware Packard – The Woman Who Wouldn’t Be Silenced,” on Saturday, April 20, from 2 – 3:30 p.m., at the Kankakee County Museum in Small Memorial Park, 801 South Eighth Avenue in Kankakee. Tickets are $10 for general…
Manhattan-Elwood Quilt Group ‘Rescue ME’ Crafters’ Resale
Spread the loveMark your calendars – we are back for our 10th “Rescue ME Resale.” The Manhattan-Elwood Quilt Group is hosting its Rescue ME Crafters’ Resale on Saturday, April 13, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., at the Manhattan Township Office, 230 Wabash Street, in Manhattan. This resale will feature quilting, sewing, and needlework supplies.…
Manteno Announces ‘Spring Showcase: Garden and Arts Festival’
Spread the loveSpring is in the air, and the Village of Manteno is proud to announce its first ever “Spring Showcase: A Garden and Arts Festival” set for Sunday, May 5, from 11 a.m. – 5 p.m. The Spring Showcase, an all-day community celebration of spring and the arts, was created with the intent to…
Beecher Police Blotter: March 12 – 16
Spread the loveDisclaimer: Charges against each defendant are merely accusations, with all defendants presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law. March 12, Samuel Atchison, 21, of the 200 block of E. 124th Avenue, Crown Point, was stopped at 435 W. Indiana Avenue for speeding. He was issued citations for speeding 26-34 mph…
Holy Week Services at St. Paul the Apostle Catholic Church
Spread the loveEaster Triduum March 28: Holy Thursday, no 7:15 a.m. Mass; Morning Prayer at 8 a.m.; Mass of the Lord’s Supper, 7 p.m., includong the washing of feet, procession, and transfer of the Holy Eucharist to the altar of repose and silent adoration until 10 p.m. March 29: Good Friday, no 7:15 a.m. Mass;…
Manteno’s Veterans Home Hosting Volunteer Fair
Spread the loveYour help is needed! As part of National Volunteer Week, the Illinois Veterans Home at Manteno is inviting veteran service providers, community organizations, and individuals to a volunteer fair to learn more about volunteer opportunities, while enjoying refreshments from local food trucks. The fair will include volunteer representatives and volunteers to share their…
Beecher Community Library News
Spread the loveCall the library at 708-946-9090 for programs that require registration. The library will be closed on Friday, March 29, for Good Friday. Pick-up a pair of free solar eclipse glasses beginning March 27, for the solar eclipse on April 8. Supplies are limited. Thursday, April 4, at 6:30 p.m., Team Puzzle Competition: Teams…
200-U Tackling Truancy Head On
Spread the loveBy Jeff Vorva Beecher’s schools are going to take an active approach to truancy. At the District 200-U Board of Education meeting on March 11, Superintendent Jack Gaham said the State of Illinois considers any student with 14 absences as truant, regardless if they are excused or unexcused. That included days used as…
Beecher Police Blotter: March 4 – 7
Spread the loveDisclaimer: Charges against each defendant are merely accusations, with all defendants presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law. March 5, Malcom Kyle, 37, of the 13100 block of E. 2500S Road, Pembroke Township, was stopped at 311 Dixie Highway for vehicle equipment violations and found to have a revoked driver’s…
Beecher Community Library News
Spread the loveCall the library at 708-946-9090 for programs that require registration. On Wednesday, March 27, the library will have free solar eclipse viewers for the partial solar eclipse on April 8. Supplies are limited. The library will be closed on Friday, March 29, for Good Friday. Youth Services A new hot air balloon make-and-take…
Semi-Annual Craft Show at Veteran’s Home May 3-4
Spread the loveMark your calendars now for the semi-annual Manteno Illinois Veterans’ Home Craft Show on Friday and Saturday, May 3 – 4, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., in Veterans Hall at the home. There will be craft and décor items for all seasons, patriotic, beach, and holiday items, wreaths, garden and yard décor,…
Joyce: Rural Communities Deserve High-Speed Internet, Too!
Spread the loveIn order to allow all Illinois residents to have access to high-speed internet, State Sen. Patrick Joyce has played an essential role in ensuring federal funding from the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Program is being used efficiently. “Access to high-speed internet isn’t just a luxury, it’s a necessity in today’s digital…
Beecher Police Blotter: February 16 – March 1
Spread the loveDisclaimer: Charges against each defendant are merely accusations, with all defendants presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law. February 16, Jasmin Reynoso, 23, of the 4200 block of Talman Avenue, Chicago, was stopped in the 300 block of Dixie Highway for a vehicle equipment violation and found to have no…