Fly on the Wall: BJHS
Flying around I think I heard a teacher got a concussion from a student who wasn’t expelled. Dr. Mouser will never provide real news, can anyone confirm?
Category: schools
“Hopeful”?
By: Diane Benjamin Are you “hopeful” knowing this guy teaches at Unit 5 and serves on the County Board? Are you “hopeful” knowing his wife was just elected to the Bloomington City Council? . Woke and mad is a winning message? Are you “hopeful” seeing this? Diversity is just a talking point. The 2 Wards […]
2 Things You Need to Know
By: Diane Benjamin 1) The Vidette finally published a story late yesterday on Charlie Kirk’s ISU rally: https://www.videtteonline.com Charlie Kirk Creates a Stir at Illinois State University with Open Discussion The reporter included comments from students who attended as well as Kirk’s opening remarks. Also included was the proverbial “racists” label that gets thrown at […]
Vidette Fail
By: Diane Benjamin According to the Vidette website: https://www.videtteonline.com/ The “Student Voice” has written NOTHING about the massive gathering on their campus yesterday. These are the top 2 stories under NEWS: The Vidette has joined the ranks of FAKE NEWS. Congrats Maybe the staff doesn’t get out of bed until mid afternoon. Keep in mind […]
Oppose HomeSchool regulations: SB 2827
By: Diane Benjamin Many thousands of people signed Witness Slips when the original bill to regulate homeschooling was heard by committee. It was passed anyway. Since rules are immaterial, the original sponsor added an amendment that could be voted on anytime. The amendment pretends truancy officers have time to access educational portfolios and refer charges […]
Sterilizing your kids (updated)
By: Diane Benjamin This note was circulating on social media yesterday: . If you child goes to Pride Club meetings at Normal West you need to know what medical professionals are talking to your kids and what they are being told. MOST kids with gender dysphoria outgrow it. “Gender Affirming” drugs sterilize your kids before […]
Illinois Schools: Racial Disparities in Discipline Post-Senate Bill 100
By: Diane Benjamin h/t a reader for calling this to my attention In 2015 Illinois passed a law (Senate Bill 100) that was supposed to end discriminatory student discipline policies. How is it working? See this report from 2024: https://ieanea.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Impact-of-Student-Discipline-Policy-Reform-on-Illinois-Educators-1-17-2024_Final.pdf Go to the bottom of page 5 to see what teachers think of this bill: […]
What ISU Faculty wants: mediocracy
By: Diane Benjamin If you didn’t know, enrollment at ISU increased this year because many students received tuition breaks. ISU knows future enrollment will decrease because birth rates have declined, which means fewer kids will be available to fill seats. That doesn’t stop the faculty union from demanding more money. There’s an online video of […]
Election Results Part 1
By: Diane Benjamin Numbers can overwhelm people, so start with a few: Bloomington results: https://results.enr.clarityelections.com/IL/Bloomington/123382/web.345435/#/summary County results: https://countyclerk.mcleancountyil.gov/eresults/results-1.html Last November Voter Turnout in Bloomington was 72.19% https://results.enr.clarityelections.com/IL/Bloomington/122759/web.345435/#/summary County turnout was 79.67 https://mcleancountyil.gov/DocumentCenter/View/28200/2024-General-Election-Official-Summary The Sales Tax question was put on this ballot because the people behind it knew it has a better chance of passing when […]
Election Shenanigans
By Diane Benjamin Krystle Able wants to win with the ISU vote. Those voters don’t have to live under the radicals they elect. Normal needs to outvote them. Signs on public property: District 87 is texting voters, of course directing them to the sales tax website. Desperate for your money!
How many people know tomorrow is election day?
By: Diane Benjamin The Bloomington Election Commission only handles elections. They have full-time staff dedicated solely to elections. County taxpayers are forced to fund this office—not the taxpayers of the City of Bloomington. In the County you can enter your address and see your ballot before you vote: https://www.mcleancountyil.gov/1600/Ballots In Bloomington you can’t. Their full […]
Who Marched with the Union at ISU
By: Diane Benjamin https://www.wglt.org/local-news/2025-03-27/photos-faculty-demonstrate-on-isu-quad-ahead-of-possible-strike A strike is threatened by tenured and tenure-track facility at ISU. Do you know what ISU costs (before any financial aid)? The cost per year goes up from here – click on other majors: https://financialaid.illinoisstate.edu/paying/2024-2025-undergraduate/index.php Remember the lady with a Masters Degree in Communications who can’t afford rent? Does she have […]
I just got a tip . .
By: Diane Benjamin School Administrators are so desperate to rake in pots of gold from the 1% Sales Tax ballet question they are going to nursing homes to “educate” the residents. If you have relatives in a local nursing home, it’s time for a visit. How many “English as a 2nd language” students are in […]
Assessed values going up again
By: Diane Benjamin I heard from a reliable source yesterday Assessed Values will increase another 8-9% this year. Your property taxes will increase even if the 1% sales tax passes. Schools drool over rising property values, as does every taxing body listed on your property tax bill. The assessor will be blamed instead of the […]
What Unit 5 teaches teachers
By: Diane Benjamin Part 1 Grooming. Click on Hormone Therapy. Infertility is a side effect.
Ballot Harvesting on University Campuses
Below are two documents. The first one is a press release that was just issued. The second is a complaint that was filed with the US Department of Education. It accuses Universities, including ISU, of violating students Rights to Privacy. Personal information was released to NGO’s who use that data to increase voter participation on […]
DEI – Unit 5 (Diversity Equity Inclusion)
By: Diane Benjamin Illinois must not care if it loses federal funding. The state pushes DEI in schools, and Unit 5 is happy to comply. I have a lot more information, thanks to a FOIA request. Remember when teachers taught the basics and we were number one in the world for education? Looking at these […]
A New Low for Tri-Valley
By: Diane Benjamin No activities used to be scheduled on Wednesday nights at Tri-Valley because many kids and their parents had church activities. That night was reserved out of respect. The new low is scheduling this event on a Wednesday night during LENT. Superintendent Ben Derges also knows candidate Casey Misch can not attend tomorrow […]
Abby Scott’s Husband
By: Diane Benjamin Abby Scott is running for Bloomington Council Ward 9: . This is her husband and County Board memeber: . Fascists don’t cut the size of government. A teacher should know that one! I hope his list has some better choices, he missed great singers like Ray Charles and Stevie Wonder. He could […]
Electioneering is alive and well
By: Diane Benjamin The 1% Sales Tax increase is on the April 1st election ballet because it has a better chance of passing when few people bother to vote. If Tri-Valley really wanted your property taxes to go down, they wouldn’t propose a new bond for the exact amount of the one being paid off. […]
Normal – find your ballot
By: Diane Benjamin The County elections site allows you to see your ballot:. This is everywhere but Bloomington because County taxpayers are forced to fund their election commission: https://mcleancountyil.gov/2023/Sample-Ballots-Normal Normal also has few choices except for mayor. You can’t chose your At-Large Trustees because 3 are on the ballot to fill 3 seats. Your don’t […]
Schools that continue DEI will lose federal funding
By: Diane Benjamin H/T Two readers who have been sending information. I’ve got a LOT more information, but start here. Executive Order on Education: https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/01/ending-radical-indoctrination-in-k-12-schooling/ Indoctrination funded by the Department of Education – Over $1 billion: https://defendinged.org/investigations/granted/ This is what the money was used for, not education: Illinois Schools listed as receiving funds, The Regional […]
Update: 3 Things You Need to Know
See #2. Sharon Chung thinks Illinois corruption is over. She’s funny: https://www.nprillinois.org/illinois/2025-02-13/central-illinois-lawmakers-react-to-former-house-speaker-madigans-guilty-verdict By: Diane Benjamin 1) Continuation of this story: https://blnnews.com/2025/02/13/unit-5-staff-only-meetings-1-sales-tax/ Video of the “staff only” meetings concerning the 1% Salters Tax increase will not exist. I received the response below to that part of a FOIA request: Diane, There are no public records responsive […]
Investigations don’t usually lead to justice in McLean County
By: Diane Benjamin No wonder trust in government is at an all time low among people who expect Public Servants to actually work for the public. Oaths of office are now meaningless. Did you know the County isn’t going to produce a report on the fundraising at the County to abolish the Auditor until March? […]
McLean County Schools: Tax Increases vs. Enrollment Declines
By: Diane Benjamin Few people probably know the McLean County Treasurer’s website has years of payments to every taxing district they collect property taxes for: https://www.mcleancountyil.gov/590/Taxing-Dist-Distribution-Settlement-Shee Someday if I really want a huge project I could compile tax payments to EVERY unit of government on your tax bill. If someone wants this project, or at […]
Somebody tried to legalize the schools
By: Diane Benjamin This is the original verbiage on the April1cent.info website that most of the McLean County schools linked to from their school websites: “Asking” voters to approve is a violation of law as stated in this story: https://blnnews.com/2025/02/09/since-election-interference-isnt-prosecuted/ This is what it says now: . Whoever tipped them off and whoever changed the […]
Since Election Interference Isn’t Prosecuted . . .
By: Diane Benjamin Nobody is afraid of consequences for breaking election law and misuse of public funds. How long is it going to take McLean County to investigate Lizzy Johnston’s alleged soliciting money on County property to abolish the County Auditor? Another year? Why did Lizzy lawyer up for a State Board of Elections investigation? […]
Vote NO – 1% Sales Tax
By: Diane Benjamin https://april1cent.info/ That URL is linked from the District 87 website. Probably other area schools linked it too. It claims 35% of the new tax will be paid by people who visit or commute to McLean County. It DOES NOT promise lower property taxes. It says the new revenue can be used for: […]
Unit 5 hands out instructions for if ICE shows up.
By: Diane Benjamin I wouldn’t know anything was sent out at Unit 5 if this guy had kept his mouth shut: (County Board member and music teacher) . Beirne must not know the administration is picking up CRIMINAL illegals. They aren’t interested in kids. Is Unit 5 harboring criminal kids Corey? In a follow-up post […]
The rest of Bloomington: Throwing money to developers
By: Diane Benjamin I was notified last night that Surena Fish died. Surena was on the PSCRB Board and West Side neighbors. She was a voice for downtown business owners and a frequent Public Commentor. This story has a video of one of her comments: https://blnnews.com/2024/07/16/two-public-comments-last-night-you-need-to-see/ Bloomington lost one of it’s champions and I lost […]
3 things you need to know
By: Diane Benjamin 1) . 2) Beside massive inflation, high interest rates and minimum wage increases, anybody want to help Krystle understand the housing shortage? Anyone? She’s probably never heard of supply side economics. 3) The below was received by FOIA. They are excerpts from a Daily Activity report by the Bloomington police. All of […]
Remember Carol Rofstad? Jennifer Lockmiller?
By: Diane Benjamin ISU has two unsolved campus murders. Is anyone trying to solve Jennifer Lockmiller’s murder in 1993 after Alan Beaman was declared innocent? Crickets. The Normal police haven’t solved the 49 year old murder of Carol Rofstad either. Was this a jab at Normal police? https://www.25newsnow.com/video/2024/12/23/normal-police-rigorously-working-solve-49-year-old-cold-case-killing/ Last year CI Proud and News 25 […]
Almost Every Unit of Local Government plans to steal from you
By: Diane Benjamin Most local units of government will be on the April 1st ballot. Most of registered voters won’t both to vote. That makes theft easy. How are they stealing your money? By taxing you on unrealized gains through property taxes. The value of your house has increased but you will never see that […]
Unit 5’s Youth Build Redacts Data
By: Diane Benjamin If you read the 2023 Youth Build Annual Report this Charter School is fantastic: https://static1.squarespace.com/static/55bb8525e4b0a459046e6739/t/65b9afabb435b867dbf069cd/1706667953249/2023+Annual+Report.pdf Now see the Illinois School Report Card for YBMC: https://irc.isbe.net/School.aspx?source=profile&Schoolid=17064005026001C Chronic Absenteeism is 87%. The Academic Progress is redacted for Proficiency in English Language Arts, Math, and Science. Science Assessment shows 0% proficient. Graduation rate is redacted. […]
Unit 5 bought 5 Electric buses
By: Diane Benjamin While ZERO of Connect transit electric buses are operational, last night Unit 5 bough 5 electric buses and 5 charging stations with $2,076,015 of your money. Austin Texas has 46 electric buses parked. Same manufacturer as Connect’s: https://www.fox7austin.com/news/capmetro-new-electric-buses-shelved Central States isn’t the manufacturer. Usually the Feds hand out grants to buy electric, […]
Unit 5 property taxes ↑
By: Diane Benjamin This slide is on the Unit 5 video from last night: See 3:33:59 https://vimeo.com/event/4378038 . What they are trying to say is the RATE of increase has slowed down while making it look like the actual increase isn’t happening. This slide is at 3:39:37 . The EAV growth amounts to an increase […]
Taxing you out of Illinois
By: Diane Benjamin Board candidate Casey Misch reported he was the only person running April 1st to actually attend the Tri-Valley Board meeting last night. Yes your property taxes got a massive increase because they can. Meetings aren’t on video and few people stand up to the Tax Class. You will get your property tax […]
Tri Valley: Need some laughs?
By: Diane Benjamin Read this story: https://www.wglt.org/local-news/2024-11-18/tri-valley-district-will-have-contested-school-board-races?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=facebook Excerpt: Maybe this Ben: https://blnnews.com/2024/09/20/tri-valley-incident/ Numerous kids report they saw a gun. The way this incident was handled had 6 parents speak at the September Board meeting according to the minutes. Other parents present didn’t speak. Maybe transparency is a better option than Mouser’s “don’t tell your parents”? […]
Unit 5 agenda is back, see this item
By: Diane Benjamin Even though the agenda reappeared tonight’s meeting will not be legal. 48 hours means 48 continuous hours. Unit 5 is violating the Open Meetings Act. https://meetings.boardbook.org/Public/Agenda/1482?meeting=660148 File: Exhibit 7.10-E3 Name or Gender Identity Change Request (revised 10-16-24) Your child can change their gender at school without you being notified. How many parents […]
How Low Will Educators Go to ‘Better’ Grades?
By: Diane Benjamin Read this story: https://www.realclearinvestigations.com/articles/2024/11/12/schoolhouse_limbo_how_low_will_educators_go_to_better_grades_1070484.html?mc_cid=ac0e6166c0&mc_eid=a903ff179f Did you know some states are lowering standards to make assessments look better? The story mentions Oklahoma and Wisconsin are doing just that to combat declining test scores. It also mentions the new head of Maryland schools, Carey Wright, who is refusing to lower expectations for students. She […]