The policy police
The Downers Grove Reporter today published an op-ed piece in which an Illinois Press Association attorney opines about the D99 nepotism policy and recently enacted guidelines for dealing with member Deborah Boyle, who has a brother employed by the district.
The attorney, Don Craven also suggests the board’s April closed session meeting was a violation of the state Open Meetings Act.
The Reporter’s view?
“These guidelines create new restrictions not found in the policy, and they’re being used to unfairly exclude a board member from certain discussions.
The paper invites readers to register their responses to this question: “Should the District 99 School Board revoke these guidelines and allow Deborah Boyle to attend all close sessions?
The Reporter article is the latest in a series of editorials, including one in the Chicago Tribune and several others on this blog, critical of the policy and/or the guidelines, which the district spent as much as $10,000 in legal fees to develop.
Given what the Reporter’s IPA legal counsel has stated, the district is on shaky ground with the guidelines. The paper asks the board to “revoke these guidelines and stick to enforcing their nepotism policy, nothing more.”
Now for the big question: Will the board respond to the numerous voices arrayed against its highly debatable actions? Or will it attempt to ride out the controversy?
Poor little board of education. Nobody loves them. Boo hoo. Hey wait a minit, these liars are Advocates? OMG check out their website it’s still there. Daniels the prez raving out how Boyle’s not qualified- and Beckman and Schroeder are members. So’s DiCola.
You couldn’t make this stuff up if you had to.
The problem with this is that the 99 Board is precluding Ms. Boyle from attending closed sessions on matters that the voters selected her to weigh in on. Attending these sessions is one thing voting on these issues is another matter.
I’d suggest reading an IASB FAQ on Nepotism and Conflicts of Interest published in April of 2009 to gain a better understanding:
http://www.iasb.com/law/FAQsConflictofInterestIncompatibleOffices.pdf.
Upon reading this material it is this authors humble opinion that, again, the 99 board appears to be in deep waters.
To Sideline Observer:
Do you have a link to the Web site you referenced in your post you could provice me? I would like seeing what these District 99 board members had to say about Deborah Boyle before she was elected to the board. You can post it online here or e-mail it directly to me at jmoore@mysuburbanlife.com. Thank you.
Jerry Moore
Opinions editor
Suburban Life Publications
Sorry to butt in, Jerry, but just in case Sideline Observer doesn’t check back today, here’s the referenced link to the Downers Grove Community Advocates:
http://www.dgcadvocates.net/