Our look today at Moments We Remember, 2023; takes us back to a Monday night in February at the Fischer Theater, and things that happened prior to that. There was a lot of controversy surrounding Schlarman Academy, especially at the North Campus for the older students. In the eyes of many, some people had been recently wrongly dismissed or forced out.
Those no longer at Schlarman Academy at that time were former principal Mark Janesky, who had come out of retirement to offer assistance; Dean of Students Courtney Hemker; and Dean of Students Mark Croy.
There were rumors at the time about whether or not the Peoria Diocese wanted Schlarman Academy to stay open. Schlarman Academy principal Barb Rew had given Neuhoff Media the number for the Diocese and told us to call them for a comment or information, but they were not returning our calls. And Barb Rew had given that number to Neuhoff Media during a North Campus student walkout on Ash Wednesday, February 22nd. Students and parents were both protesting about the overall atmosphere, saying students and teachers would both be leaving the North Campus in droves if the situation did not improve.
But at a “Save Schlarman Rally” at the Fischer on February 27th, different sides were heard.
One point that came up was the involvement of the high school students on the North Campus in the Ash Wednesday walkout. Mary Patt Thomas, at that time, had three daughters at Schlarman Academy; in 9th grade, sixth grade, and fourth grade. So with connections to both campuses, Thomas told Neuhoff Media that night that she did not want to pick a side, but that she cared about what she called “the third side,” the children. Thomas stated that things at the South Campus with the younger kids were going just fine, but not at the North Campus.
ABOVE: Panel Assembled on the Fischer stage during February 27th Save Schlarman Rally with moderator State Rep Mike Marron; Schlarman Academy parent Mary Patt Thomas questioned teachers using students as pawns; North Campus Religion teacher Ann Underwood later stated that the stresses the students were having had already existed, and the teachers were being there for them.
AUDIO: North campus has been in an upheaval for multiple years. With a lack of discipline, lack of communication, and disrespect. Disrespect and refusal of teachers to teach. There are teachers that are crying; and using our children during instruction time as their therapists. That is not okay. And to me that is using our students as pawns.
But North Campus religion teacher Ann Underwood, who served on the panel on the Fischer stage that evening, stated “not so.” Underwood said the students had already been made upset by all the turmoil, and that the teachers were being there for them.
FIRST PICTURE: Former Dean of Students Mark Croy, along with Mark Janesky, both received standing ovations after speaking at the Save Schlarman Rally. LAST PICTURE: Jonathan Myers from SA Consultative Board expressed concern about the amount of Schlarman Academy teachers who may go elsewhere.
AUDIO: And yes, I absolutely will talk to my students about their stresses. Have we brought them into it? No. Are we reacting to the stresses that they bring to us? Yes. The stress of not knowing what administration is going to criticize them for today. The fact that when administration comes in the building, (it) doesn’t know the students by name. It’s administration that’s causing the stress, and yet teachers are being blamed for it.
Recently departed employee and former principal Mark Janesky stated the night of the rally that this kind of disagreement was exactly what the Peoria Diocese wanted at the time as they governed, in his words, “the wrong way, from a distance.” Janesky stated that even if the Diocese had claimed in a recent letter that they did not say “that’s Danville’s problem,” Janesky stated that; yes, they did say that to him, twice.
AUDIO: I’m just looking for the school to stay open. I just want to save this school. Schlarman Academy has a place in Vermilion County. And it serves a lot of kids; and it deserves to stay open and it needs to stay open.
And now, at the end of 2023; despite some students coming and going and some faculty coming and going; Schlarman Academy has indeed stayed open.
