Member Steve Funk proposed at Monday’s D58 school board meeting to remove maverick Scott O’Connell from participation on the board’s legislative committee, of which he has been a member since 2007.
“Being on a committee is a privilege when you’re a member of the of the board,” Funk said.
“He shouldn’t be part of a committee because he has been disruptive from day one,” he said. “It’s totally within our realm to take him off a committee and let him sit over there by himself. He can be a member of the board, but can’t be part of the legislative process. I feel strongly about that.”
O’Connell “owes” the district $100,000 in litigation costs stemming from his repeated attempts to block the recent sale of life safety bonds, Funk said. The district has received “hundreds of e-mails asking for him to resign.”
“Be careful what you say when you throw out facts,” O’Connell replied.
While expressing empathy for Funk’s concerns,” legislative committee chairman Gary Lester said the committee works well together.
“We really have not had any kind of contentious proceedings or anything like that,” he said. “I certainly feel what Steve feels as far as concerns for what we’ve been put through as a school board. But as far as directly relating to legislation, I haven’t seen any of that thing on the legislative committee. ”
Lester suggested the best response is for the board to take the high road, adding that he understands O’Connell’s viewpoint on some matters.
“I’m a little leery if we don’t take the high road,” Lester said, while acknowledging that committee assignments are up to the discretion of Board President Elizabeth Davis.
Funk pressed his case, saying the community “has spoken tremendously” about O’Connell’s actions and expects the board to do something in response.
“There is no reason why we can’t make that decision,” he said. “He needs to be put on little island over there. He can be part of board, but not part of any other process.”
John Miller, the board’s newest member, questioned how Funk’s proposal would solve members’ frustrations with O’Connell — or even whether it was within the board’s responsibility to ostracize him.
“Scott, I wish you would be more considerate of others’ opinions,” Miller said. “Usually I can figure out someone’s agenda, but I have no clue what what you’re trying to accomplish. If you want to sit down and have a cup of coffee some day and talk about what you’re trying to accomplish, let me know.”
O’Connell accepted the invitation.
Davis said she would take the comments under advisement and asked for the item to be placed on the March agenda for follow up.
I am glad to see BOE member Lester setting the tone and leading the call for taking the high road regarding BOE member O’Connell. This is long overdue. Thank you BOE President Davis for keeping the comments in this last meeting more focused on actual business at hand. BOE member Funk needs to drop his personal vendetta against O’Connell and start adding to the meetings. These meetings have been unprofessionally conducted for months now. I attend organized meetings and listen to many meetings on pod cast every week. The board needs to move on and conduct the peoples business. I will not accept the O‘Connell excuse anymore.
I would like to address BOE member O’Connell…
I understand where you are coming from and I think you bring up many valid concerns. Your methods are out of line. If you have information, share it and let your fellow members ponder it. If they don’t listen and it hurts the district then it is they whom will have to answer to the tax payers and voters come election time.
I would also like to ask my fellow Downers Grove residents to stop going to meetings just to ask for BOE member O’Connell to resign. He is not going to gang! I know your upset, but you are only empowering him more. I applaud the fact that there are more interested parents going to meetings or listening to the pod cast. Maybe Mr. O’Connell hasn’t been that bad after all. He got our attention…food for thought!
Well said Chad. Hats off to Lester and Martin for their tact and willingness to work with the facts. There is a lot that could be gained when members work together and share information in order to oversee an effective and efficient school district. Although I am not an O’Connell fan, his tactics have broken down some of the apathy that exists in the community.
Board member Funk got only one thing right. “The people have spoken” -Yes they have, when the public voted O’Connell onto the board.
Mr. Miller actually appears to have a head on his shoulders in trying to figure out the objectives of an opposing view point. I commend you in trying to get into the head of someone with an opposite view, rather than trying to put them in a corner and tell them their views don’t count. Hopefully, Miller can get OConnell to “connect” with others on the board in a new fresh start. Play nice people.
Nice work Mr. Funk!
Its interesting to me that Mr. O’Connell made such a big deal about not taking the local School Board oath, yet he continues to disregard the state version of the oath he did swear to.
Here is an excerpt from the oath he took:
” I shall recognize that a board member has no legal authority as an individual and that decisions can be made only by a majority vote at a public board meeting; and
I shall abide by majority decisions of the board, while retaining the right to seek changes in such decisions through ethical and constructive channels…”
Does it seem that by his actions that has been abiding by his oath????
Check here for the full text of the State oath: http://bit.ly/92JFuU