Uneasy Transition for Orland School District 135 Board of Education

This past election day I had an interesting conversation with Susan Dalton, who was campaigning for a position on the board of Consolidated School District 230.  I have known Susan through her many years of parent involvement in Orland District 135.  She was always ready to lend a helping hand whether it be at book fairs, classroom activities, really anything that was needed.  She was also a Girl Scout leader, and her troop met after school at High Point School.  I remember how she and her scouts would plant flowers in front of the school and around the trees in the spring.  It was a gesture of gratefulness for the use of the building. It wasn't expected, but it was certainly appreciated.  Sue quietly did a lot to enhance both the learning and environment where her children attended school.

Now the Dalton kids are older, and Sue decided to run for school board of District 230.  I had to ask.  "Why did you decide to do this, Sue? "  I was thinking, "The chicks are out of the nest.  You could spend time doing things you'd like to do."  She said, "Because I'd like to give back.  My kids had lots of good experiences here at Sandburg.  But, there are things I think we could do a little better."  She mentioned a few initiatives she'd like to present.  She explained how her insights as a parent have influenced her possible contributions as a board member.

You might wonder why I'd feel a need to mention this quick interaction. It moved me.  This is the kind of thing that I wanted to hear from a prospective school board member.  She didn't mention any anger toward current board members.  administration, or teachers.  She didn't give me the impression that she was out to right any wrongs, or force a personal agenda.  She simply wants to do what she can: listen to parents, students, and administration,  support efforts to advance academic achievement and improve an already good school district. 

Sadly, Orland District 135 is enmeshed in the ongoing saga of a dysfunctional school board.  We see a current board who shows little respect for each other, let alone the community it claims to serve. We have a board that has been besieged by teachers and community members to listen.  The board room has been packed several times as people tried to speak intelligently, reasonably, and rationally.  Yet they left feeling that this board did little more than sit impassively with closed ears and minds. We have watched the erosion of formerly positive relationships between school board, administration, teachers, and this community. Taxpayers are watching their money be squandered on legal costs, while hearing that little had been spent keeping up with technology in our schools.  (Notably, rumbles of technology updates were mentioned at a board meeting just prior to school board elections.)  

As frustration with the school board mounted, several members of the community decided to run for the school board in hopes of getting it back on track.  Some current school board members saw that as an attempt by the teachers' union to take over the school board.  Some don't think teachers have a place on a school board.  I would beg to differ.  Teachers have the same degree of investment and insight as anyone else who cares about children and schools.  That should go without saying. Orland Park had candidates who presented themselves to the community through forums, interviews, and newspaper articles.  The voters chose the candidates they felt would best serve them.  The winners won by a significant margin. They are to be installed to the school board on May 6th.  They have the opportunity to make a difference.

The current board, however, could not leave without a few more surprises for the voters.

First, the current president resigned this week.  Secondly, a hurried meeting has been scheduled for Tuesday night to quickly appoint a replacement before the new board members are installed in just one week.  Third, part of the agenda is to "waive policy or practice" and to appoint a new member to fill the vacancy left by the recent resignation of the board president.

It sounds to me like the voters have been betrayed once again. Once again, we are witnessing a school board who closes its ears to its constituency.  This is an imposition of authority rather than a dignified transition of one board to the next.

I'll wrap it up by saying that I'd like to have a school board filled with people like Sue Dalton "who want to give back".  A school board invested in putting kids first.  The community can insist upon it by supporting those people for whom they voted.

Considering all the times that board members have entered the district office through its front doors, I wonder how many times they've stopped to look at the sculpture out front.  The sculpture of children was dedicated to former superintendent, Pete Yuska.  It has a simple quote, "Play nice!".  Something to ponder.