Rich Township Coalition for Better Schools: YOU HAVE AN OBLIGATION TO SAVE OUR CHILDREN, APRIL 9, 2013-Helen Burleson

YOU HAVE AN OBLIGATION TO SAVE OUR CHILDREN, ON APRIL 9, 2013 - Helen Burleson

Get all your friends and neighbors out to VOTE, Tuesday, April 9. Don't let our children down! Because of our ancestors and the sacrifices they made, even with their lives, we owe it to them to make certain that we SAVE OUR CHILDREN. WITHOUT A GOOD EDUCATION, THEY ARE DOOMED AND THE DIE IS CAST AGAINST THEM! GO VOTE! VOTE FOR THEIR FUTURE! CIRCULATE TO ALL YOU KNOW IN RICHTON PARK, MATTESON, OLYMPIA FIELDS, COUNTRY CLUB HILLS, PARK FOREST, CHICAGO HEIGHTS, UNIVERSITY PARK AND TINLEY PARK. WE WILL LOSE ANOTHER GENERATION UNLESS YOU GET OUT TO VOTE FOR THE RIGHT 4: BASS, MORGAN, MNYOFU AND WOODS.

April 1, 2013

To All Voting Age Residents of Rich Township High School District 227,

First, let me briefly tell you who I am and why I'm writing to you. I am Helen Burleson, a 44 year resident of Olympia Fields; but as a landowner 45 years. I do not live in your school district; but, I am a former educator, a mother of a son who's a physician who holds both an M. D. and an M. B. A. and a daughter who holds both a B. A. and an M. A. with high honors.

I participated in the Chicago Public Schools boycott back in the '50's because our Black children were being neglected and mis-educated. To make certain that my own children, who were among a small number of Black students in School Districts 161 and 233 Flossmoor Schools, class of 1976 and 1985 respectively from Homewood-Flossmoor High School, were not victims of racism and neglect, I ran for school board in District 161, was endorsed by Vernon Meidell and Lester Sons as editors of the Star Publications each time I stood for election and re-election.

I was responsible for hiring the first Black teachers, Victor Scottie and Arthur Byrd, a current resident of Olympia Fields. Additionally, I was responsible for having learning centers installed in Serena Hills, Normandy Villa, Flossmoor Hills, Western Avenue and Leavitt Avenue schools in order to make all schools equal to Heather Hills School, the newest in the district with a learning center built in during construction. Leavitt, the oldest school in the district which could not be retrofitted with air conditioning, has been torn down and is the site of Leavitt Park in Flossmoor.

Also, because of fiscal responsibility, District 161 sent only one member of the Board of Education to conventions and conferences. We never sent all members and their spouses or family members. After 9 years, from 1972 to 1981, serving on the Flossmoor Board of Education, I was appointed to the IL State Board of Education by Republican Governor James Thompson, who also appointed me to the Illinois Humanities Council and the Governor's Task Force for Medical Malpractice. I also served as a contributor to the curriculum committee to revise the social studies curriculum for the State of IL.

My interest, my dedication, my commitment and involvement with education has been a passion starting at age 4 when I taught the children on my block in my own little play school on the steps of my home.

Now you can see that it is not unusual for me to be concerned about the children in District 227. My adult philosophy has always been that every Black mother is the mother of all Black children. It is up to us to save our children. We can't sit back and depend on disinterested people to save our children.

When you look at the disrespect shown our first Black president, then you must be able to see what's in store for your children. If Our President and his wife can succeed in some of the top tier, in other words, the best schools in the nation and they can be disrespected, then what about your children. I am trying to get you to see the larger picture, THE BIG PICTURE! Without a good, effective education what will become of them?

Currently the composition of this school board, 227 has members who have served for years and have been both educationally and fiscally irresponsible.

The two exceptions are the newest board member, Cheryl Coleman, who has fought for better education from the first day she became a member of the board and Dr. David Morgan, who has fought the good fight; but, has been disrespected and ignored in all he attempts to do to improve the quality of education of our children.

The rest of the members, Owens, Norwood, Hernandez and Imoukhuede have rubber stamped every ineffective decision, including the purchase of a white elephant administrative building to accommodate 20 - 30 administrators at the same time that the school district is facing a ten million dollar deficit. How does this building benefit the students or enhance their educational opportunities? Not at all!

We have four sincere and dedicated people who must be elected to give our children a chance to receive the educational opportunities that they deserve. Nasty, ugly practices, more like the machine politics of the Daley machine and Tammany Hall are being employed by people fighting to maintain the status quo which harms our children greatly.

It seems that someone fears the election of Komaa Mnyofu, who is one of the most qualified, well informed and dedicated people ever to seek to serve on that board. He is a no- nonsense, straight talker who can't be bamboozled, participate in cover ups and won't be walked on or over. He has fought injustice and unfair practices in this district. He has won! Doesn't that tell you something? He could not win in court unless he were right! That is a benefit and advantage for us for he will ferret out any wrongdoing and will take it to court to be settled by the RULE OF LAW! This is the kind of attribute we need in people who are the stewards of the destiny of our children.

Bringing all of my experiences to the issue, I wholeheartedly endorse and include their positions on the ballot, the following four candidates: David Morgan (161), Delores Woods (162), Antoine Bass (164) and Komaa Mnyofu (168). Give our children a chance for a great future by getting a great education. This you will do when you vote for these 4 candidates. Yours, in the struggle for freedom and justice for ALL,

Helen L. Burleson, Doctor of Public Administration