Palatine Patch, 1/26/11 - D15 evaluates its progress toward a 21st century education
Palatine Patch, 1/29/11 - Lower than forecasted CPI brings even bigger deficits in D15

PalatinePatch, 12/15/10 - D15 must get students on path for college
PalatinePatch, 12/8/10 - D211's Academic Initiatives for Struggling Freshmen

PalatinePatch, 12/2/10 - Part II: Are D15 Students on Track for College?
                          Past 8th grade EXPLORE scores reveal more than 40% not fully prepared
PalatinePatch, 11/24/10 - Are District 15 Students on  Track for College?
                                         Eighth graders to take high school entrance exams Dec. 4

Personal Vendetta or Just a Difference in Opinion

Time to separate truth from hysteria in District 15 

Think about it.  If you have enough sense to say “maybe I shouldn’t say this” before accusing someone of a personal vendetta and playing politics – then maybe you shouldn’t say it.  If you are an elected school board member who has pledged to behave in an ethical and businesslike manner – you really shouldn’t say it. 

Nevertheless, that’s what happened at the CCSD15 Nov. 10 school board meeting. On the agenda was a discussion of the role of the Board president in reviewing meeting minutes.  Rather boring on the surface until you realize that the issue has a direct connection to the district’s recent failed $27 million dollar working cash bond referendum.

Truth is that back in March when the school board majority was voting to issue these bonds – one member Sue Quinn offered a compromise.  She proposed that the district issue a lesser amount of bonds, an amount that would not require refunding old debt.  Without a word of discussion, that compromise proposal was voted down. 

Since that time it has come to light that the exact wording of her official motion (or proposal) was altered to reflect how Board President Gerald Chapman wanted it to read.  An email exchange (Update:  This email exchange was altered to remove references to Dr. Chapman.  See original unedited email exchange below)  obtained through a Freedom of Information Act request this summer revealed that and much more. 
(Original UNEDITED email exchange, note references to Chapman omitted in above emails.)   

And that’s the truth.  The board president did not deny it.  The emails prove it. 

But rather than address the issue at hand and move forward with a clear expectation for the future, Board member Peggy Babcock chose to change the subject.  She accused Quinn of having a personal vendetta against Chapman and that she was “after the President” and didn’t like him.  Babcock brought along emails that Quinn sent out to her constituents to prove her point and threatened to read them.   (January and March 2010) 

So much for the District 15 Board Member Ethics pledge to encourage and respect the free expression of opinion by their fellow Board members.  Guess it depends on whose opinion it is. 

Now it seems ironic to me that just a few years ago, as an involved citizen, Babcock herself publicly commented on tensions among board members.  She advocated that they welcome input and encourage frank discussions without recrimination.  She once argued for the need to restore ethics and an end micromanagement by board members.   

What’s so different now?  Why accept the micro-managing of district staff now?  Shouldn’t the Board president be held accountable for his actions? Why is it necessary to suppress board members with differing opinions than one’s own?   How does that ease tensions among board members and promote board unity?   

This isn’t about personal vendettas or political agendas – it’s simply a difference of opinion.  And it is also about board member ethics and the proper use of authority. 

And that’s the truth.

November 16, 2010
Jennifer Mondy 

NOTE:  Spotlight Editorial delivers opinions and analysis of issues discussed at Board of Education meetings.  The perspectives expressed are strictly those of the editor and are not endorsed by any PTA, parent organization, District 15 or 211 employee or Board of Education.