Community Voices Opinion of Superintendent's Performance

Joliet Public Schools Superintendent, Clark Begger, will be evaluated in a closed executive session, by the Joliet Board of Trustees, during the regularly scheduled January meeting on Tuesday, January 21, 2025.

Mr. Begger was asked at November Coffee with the Superintendent how stakeholders could provide feedback concerning his evaluation. He stated that people could speak at the board meeting that evening, despite there not being an opportunity for public comment listed on the agenda.

As the Joliet Board of Trustees has delegated a significant share of its responsibilities to the superintendent, it is valid to consider stakeholder feedback for his evaluation. The below summary reflects the survey published by the Joliet Observer on January 8th. 54 people responded to the survey.

The survey questions directly reflect, in its entirety, the Superintendent Evaluation Tool that was provided to the public in the November Board Packet.

Goal Area #1: Enhanced Opportunities for Each Student

Many of the respondents in this section felt that enhanced opportunities are available to Joliet students. The CNA and early childhood education and woods classes were cited as examples, as well as online learning opportunities and work study programs.

Concerns were repeatedly expressed concerning the district providing these opportunities equally for all students, however. Respondents also expressed concerns about the lack of a guidance counseling program, sexual misconduct and failures to enforce disciplinary measures for students.

A selection of survey comments from Goal Area #1:

"The students have a lot of hands on learning. There are lots of field trips. There are classroom presentations and school assemblies from people in the community to broaden their world. AP classes, etc."

"I think that the school is doing an average job, some things are over looked but overall when discussing better or new opportunities that they listen and take your input seriously."

"We are concerned about the safety at the school. There has been several accusations of sexual misconduct and there has been very little, if not nothing conveyed to the public regarding these accusations. This is concerning when it comes to the "strategies and programs" that have supposedly been put into place to enhance learning. This is a major issue that will hinder the learning environment for all students and staff. It needs to be addressed and cleaned up."

"Joliet does provide enhanced opportunities for some of their students, but you have to know to ask for those opportunities. There is no guidance program to help students decide what opportunities would be best for them either. The questionable use of grant funding for teacher salaries also factors into the below expectations rating."

"If the school would enforce policies and rules the environment would be better for learning. My perception from my kids input and a few teachers, is that the kids run the show with little consequences for misbehavior."

Goal Area #2: Quality Staff

Responses to this section of the survey, concerning quality staff, were mostly critical of the superintendent's performance. Views expressed were also polarized extremes, with respondents either whole-heartedly supporting the superintendent or expressing a significant amount of criticism.

A selection of survey comments from Goal Area #2:

"How can staff feel valued and supported when they voice concerns about other staff's inappropriate behavior towards students and are reprimanded for doing so."

"Mr. Begger has cultivated a work environment that supports collaboration between staff and administration. This allows teachers to support students and help them succeed."

"Retaining staff is difficult with the lack of discipline in the school. Policies and rules are not respected. The cell phone policy is a joke. Why are we losing middle school teachers before even Christmas every single year? I will give credit on the daycare efforts to retain. However when space becomes a problem it doesn't make good sense to rent modulars to provide daycare essentially."

"The majority of staff I have spoken with do not feel valued or supported. There seems to be a clear line between those the superintendent deems worthy of his leadership and those he does not. The ones he supports are not required to fulfill the basic duties of their jobs and receive a pass when they violate policies. The ones he does not are left to navigate on their own, undermined and unsupported, as long as they keep their head down and avoid attention or success. If they start to achieve either of those things, they then find themselves in a chess game with the superintendent and his cronies just to keep their jobs."

"This is so below expectations! Staff are not valued and supported at all! Some staff are bullied, manipulated, intimidated as well as punished for doing what is right and best for the students. The school has not even tried to retain good teachers or tried to recruit qualified teachers! They hire who is cheapest and not qualified. They don't care if the teachers are working towards certification. Some staffs wrong doing is shoved under the rug and other good teachers are punished for doing the right thing. So wrong."

"As a new educator at Joliet Schools, I have felt exceptionally welcome and supported by administration and staff. I feel that my concerns are always heard by Superintendent Clark Begger and acted upon. He makes it a point to stop in and offer encouragement and positive feedback. This is a feat that I feel is unique to Joliet Schools (based on my observations from practicum hours that I have completed at numerous Billings schools). He is always there when I need to troubleshoot an idea for the classroom. As a new teacher, there is no other Administration I'd rather be working for."

Goal Area #3: Improved Facilities

This was a bright spot for survey responses. Respondents seem to be generally pleased with the facilities. The lowered ratings were mostly due to concerns with the administration's management of financial and personnel resources.

A selection of survey comments from Goal Area #3:

"The facilities and updated proposed improvements are more than adequate. With all the personnel concerns in the last 24 months I worry the improvements may be putting the cart before the horse. I'd rather we recruit and pay for better quality teachers than build additional classrooms."

"The school looks better in recent years. It's clean. The grounds are kept up. Wish they had better parking though."

"The school is well kept. The expansion is good vision but completely not needed at this time."

"At this time the facilities seem to be safe and usable for the demand. If not, please send a detailed report out for the parents and public to decide if it needs improvements."

"He has trouble even keeping the existing structures maintained, yet thinks the tax payers should build a new school? Take better care of what the taxpayers have already paid for."

"The focus on maintaining the buildings is there. Unfortunately, the lack of concern and non-response to ongoing vandalism, theft, intentional toilet plugging and flooding, the smearing of feces, the urinating everywhere, and constant vaping in the bathrooms is enraging. The public, as a whole, should be disgusted and demanding the admin start suspending and/or expelling those responsible immediately."

Goal Area #4: Board Relations

Many respondents struggled with providing response to this area because they felt that they did not have enough information to adequately respond. Respondents that did comment worry that the superintendent is not fully transparent with the staff and that the board is not exercising adequate oversight over the superintendent. Those in support of the superintendent feel he is open and responsive.

A selection of survey comments from Goal Area #4:

"The superintendent only communicates what he wants the board to hear, not what is really going on with students and staff."

"I wish the board would challenge admin more. Ask harder questions at meetings. Board meetings are more of a listen to the admin sessions. I can appreciate the board backing their staff but it seems like too much of a partnership rather than an oversight."

"This area would receive an abysmal rating if that was an option. The board seems to have delegated all decision making to the superintendent and he appears to be incapable of honesty. Community members have to tell Board members what is going on and even then the superintendent will not be forthright, choosing instead to manipulate situations so that community members are always lying or causing issues and he is above reproach."

"I believe him to be honest and transparent in his communications. He is responsive to other's thoughts and inputs."

"Begger only works with certain board members, he needs to move past personal issues he has."

"I have been to multiple board meetings and I believe the Board respects our superintendent."

Goal Area #5: Community Relations

In general, the community appears to be displeased with the superintendent's performance of Goal Area #5. Supporters cite his attendance at community events and greeting people in the mornings as positive actions toward community relations, as well as his implementation of the monthly coffee sessions. Others are concerned about the lack of communication to parents when impactful events occur at the school and mismanagement of resources.

A selection of survey comments from Goal Area #5:

"Enjoy visiting with the superintendent at community events and glad he attends lunches and club meetings."

"I think the new coffee with the superintendent is a nice way for the public to have the opportunity to comment and feel heard."

"The school could do a better job of providing updates to parents and the community on the "rumors" I realize privacy outweighs our right to know but a very vague updates would be nice. A press release approved by legal would be better than allowing rumors to perpetuate. When our kids have a teacher leave in the middle of the year it would at least be nice to know what the plan is going forward."

"There have been several accusations of sexual misconduct. As a concerned parent, we feel that all of this, including the investigations have been withheld from parents and the public. This is very concerning and is coming to a point that many of the parents we know are looking to legal action regarding this accusations and the investigations that occurred. The parents and public are upset about the situation and it is past time for some major clarity on these issues."

"Another abysmal rating, if it were possible. The superintendent cares more about appearance than substance or action. Standing outside and greeting people or standing in the hallways for a majority of the day does nothing to make sure the district is running efficiently and people are starting to notice. Coffee sessions have become extremely tense and the superintendent continues to lie right to parents' faces in those sessions. He does not welcome honest questions and requests for information from stakeholders either. He seems to treat stakeholders the same as staff. If he likes you and you have a useful purpose to him, you're voice will be respected."

"Always supporting our Community and it's small businesses!"

"Can and should do more."

Additional Feedback

A selection of survey comments from the additional feedback area:

"Has lied repeatedly and covers up for individuals that are important to his success. Does not really care about our school or our students' futures. He only cares about number one himself and his career." *Editor's Note: This comment was included because the sentiment was repeated frequently by many respondents throughout the survey.

"The J-Hawks are a tight-knit community of dedicated staff that work towards the success of every student and this is made possible by the leadership of the superintendent Clark Begger."

"Please step up and take care of girls not feeling safe in our school."

"I think much of the problems in our school are not unique to our school. Our leadership at the board level doesn't seem interested in challenging our admin. Overall I think Mr. Begger does an adequate job but needs to work on school discipline together with the principals. Teachers are frustrated as they feel like they do not have support to bring their concerns forward. Admins need to be less worried about the kids liking them. The principals office should be a place to avoid rather than come get candy."

"I do not understand why there is not an area concerning budget on this evaluation form. The superintendent has been fiscally irresponsible in multiple areas throughout the past year. It is disappointing he does not write grants (his words from a committee meeting), as well. Does this evaluation align with his job description? It's very strange and doesn't appear to be very useful."

"While I do not agree with how things have been handled in the last twenty years with the teacher and student relationships, not all of it has been during Begger's time. I feel like besides the most recent issue and how that was handled, I proudly stand behind Begger on everything else."

"I believe that Begger is absolutely unfit for the superintendent position and as a young community member I believe that I need to stand up for the Joliet student body who doesn't always get a say. I have been through the Joliet school system and still know many students within the body, and I cannot say that I believe in the future success of our school. Begger has ruined a lot of things in the Joliet student body, staff, and community. He does not want our school to be agricultural based. He is not for the safety of the students. He is not for the staff of Joliet Schools. He is not for the better of the Joliet Community. He is not fit to be superintendent."

Survey results, in their entirety, have been provided to the Joliet Board of Trustees via email, with the following note, "It is my sincere hope that you take this opportunity to receive and analyze current community sentiment, both the positive and the negative.  Far too often you are isolated from what stakeholders are actually saying and thinking. This is an honest attempt to mitigate the problem."

No personally identifying information was collected by Joliet Observer, nor was any personally identifying information provided to the Trustees.