KNOW YOUR CANDIDATES- Meet Sharon Archie-Davenport

(This is the third in a series of profiles for candidates for School District 168.  All candidates were asked to submit their own profile and a photo.  Some did, some did not.  We will provide you a look at each candidate during this week.)

SHARON ARCHIE-DAVENPORT

Candidate for:  4 Year Board Member


EDITOR'S NOTE:
Sharon Archie-Davenport has been an active member of the community previously having been elected to School District 168 School Board in 2011 where she served as Board Secretary and following the 2013 election and reorganization of the Board, Archie-Davenport was elected President.

THE FOLLOWING IS THE CANDIDATE'S PROFILE. (Note:  This information was provided by the candidate.  We do not endorse or necessarily agree with the views of the candidate which are their own):

Sharon Archie-Davenport was named President of the Community Consolidated School District 168 in May 2013.  Previously, Mrs. Davenport served as District 168 School Board Secretary from 2011-2013.

She is an Illinois Association of School Boards (IASB) Master Board Member. She has received several awards and certificates of appreciation, member on the 2014 Illinois Joint Annual Conference Proposal Review Committee, and serves on the IASB Governing and Executive Board as Director At Large for the South Cook County Region and she is a former member of School District 168 Parent Advisory Committee. School District 168 received its first ever State of Illinois Good Governance Recognition Award during her tenure as President.

Sharon also serves on several civic and charitable committees including: SV Trustee Derrick Burgess Intergovernmental Committee and Trustee Lynda Washington Citizens for Informative Dialogue. She is a former Chair of CEDA Head-Start Parent Committee at the Yates location.

Sharon has led major efforts resulting in increased student achievement and significant improvements in teaching, learning, staff professional development, and school status. Her central work focused on equity and rigor by establishing Data Coordinators to help assess students and curriculum delivery, increase students test scores by implementing Stride Academy, a reformed school dress code to place more emphasis on education and connecting with local, state, and federal officials to bring additional computers and laptops into the school district.

She has worked to upgrade the sound system to increase participation in performing arts, supported growth of school choirs, safe access to amenities and standard procedures for special need students, new uniforms for sports teams, replaced single district nurse with a nurse at each school, and installing the Raptor security system helping to provide every student, staff, and stakeholder safety when attending school or activities.

Sharon was instrumental in the transition to newly appointed Superintendent Dr. Donna S. Leak with former Superintendent Al Travaglini; as they, administration, and staff shared their experiences on sensitive topics relevant to the school and community, while keeping in mind their representation of Every Child, Every Day.

Sharon is looking forward to being re-elected to continue working with the Board, Superintendent, Local and State Officials to move the District forward in a well-rounded academic, social, and healthy future.  She supports education being driven using technology and state common core standards, enhancing performing arts and sports divisions, work hard to ensure students are getting a foundational educational experience that will increase test scores, healthy but edible food choices, the health safety of our buildings and providing the necessary tools needed by students and staff to promote all around success for all, while remaining financially sound. 

Sharon has been actively involved in the community since her family's arrival more than ten years ago. Sharon, a licensed minister and caterer regularly connecting with various community, state organizations and leaders to support growth and expansion for District 168 and Sauk Village. Sharon and Law Davenport have three children, one at each school Lawton, Laela, and Logan.

CONTROVERSIAL VOTE AND A RESIGNATION! THANKS FOR THE MEMORIES...

Aisha El-Amin, Ed.D.
School Board Member D#168

OPINION EDITORIAL
By Joseph Wiszowaty

The phrase “cut and run” sounded good in the political debate of the 2004 re-election of George Bush.  Something that reminded me of the phrase were the events of this last week when Aisha El-Amin resigned her seat on the Board of Education for District 168.

First let me say School District is solvent, no thanks to the efforts of El-Amin, after all they were solvent before she got there.  This was truly attributed to the efforts of Dr. Rudy Williams and continued under Al Travaglini and the board under Arleta Bazile, Suzzanne Arnold and Sharon Davenport.  Balancing the budget, well we’ll see what Leak can do with that!

So how did I draw the comparison of cut and run with El-Amin?  Well consider the fact that El-Amin was a staunch supporter of Dr. Donna Simpson-Leak the incoming Superintendent of Schools and was in fact a “swing” vote in the split 4 to 3 decision.  El-Amin stated she was “enthusiastic to have Leak as head of the school district” according to published reports.  I don’t know Dr. Leak, I look forward to getting to know her better and seeing what she’s got, but the controversy surrounding her previous employer just smells of Henrietta Turner and Robert Fox.

El-Amin allied herself with board members Jimmo Kasali, Mary (Hanks) Howard and Delores Green to vote for Leak’s contract.  Let’s face it folks, anyone who has been to a School Board meeting knows Kasali seems to have been out in right field in the sun all day.  He rambles on and on about whatever his mind seems to want to discuss.  Anyone who would ally themselves with Kasali is worthy of serious examination!  Taxpayers, residents and all should be asking these individuals some serious questions on where their minds are?

El-Amin has been rumored to be moving from Sauk Village for months now according to some close to her, so her resignation came to me as no big surprise. 

What El-Amin has left the taxpayers with is the legacy of a split board of education and a controversial vote for a Superintendent of Schools for the next two years.

Sauk Village is no stranger to controversy!  If people remember, the late former School Board President Patricia Hasse said in November, 1989 that one of the best things she did while she served on the School Board was to hire the disgraced School Superintendent of School Thomas Ryan.  One person voted against him, Marion Rauner!  In the end who was on the right side of history?  In the end, some may soon forget El-Amin making the controversial vote and resigning quickly after, but history will never forget… thanks for the memories!

I called Dr. Leak to welcome her to her new job on what was to be her first day May 27^th… she hadn’t made it in for her first day of work yet.  That was at 2pm! 

4 TO 3 VOTE HIRES CONTROVERSIAL SUPERINTENDENT

Dr. Donna Simpson-Leak
Sauk Village's new Superintendent of Schools

By Joseph Wiszowaty
SAUK VILLAGE |  School District 168 School Board approved hiring the controversial candidate for Superintendent of Schools Dr. Donna Simpson-Leak to replace retiring Superintendent Al Travaglini.  Travaglini took over as Superintendent in 2011.

The vote to hire Leak was 4 to 3 voting yes were Mary Howard sister to Sauk Village Mayor David Hanks, Aisa El-Amin, Deloris Green and Jimo Kasali and voting no were School Board President Sharon Davenport, Tammy Jones and Melvin Stevenson.

The fact that Leak is a woman didn’t matter to a school board dominated by women.  “It’s not about gender, it’s about what’s best for the children, and it’s about the chemistry of the staff” Davenport said of her NO vote of Leak as Superintendent.  “The most important thing that we (the school board) can do is hire a Superintendent.  As a board, out of all the people we had to choose from, I feel like we should have been able to have more of a consensus on a candidate for the position” Davenport said.  Davenport pledged to work with the incoming Superintendent and respects the decision of the Board.

The $800,000 lawsuit filed by Leak against her former employer, Rich Township School District 227 did not weigh on their decision to vote yes according to Green.  “The lawsuit has not been settled yet.  I read about some of what they accused her of it did not happen” Green said following the board meeting.   “I feel good about my decision” Green said.  As for the board’s split decision Green said “I think it says we’re individuals and we vote our conscience”.

Long-time resident Rose Langston, who attended Monday night’s meeting doesn’t feel that Leak was the right decision.  “I think she is carrying too much baggage” Langston said.  “I wish her well and hope we don’t run into the same problems we had before” Langston said referring to the scandal of former imprisoned Superintendent Thomas Ryan.  Several residents who attended did not speak out but were not happy with the board’s decision, one long-time resident saying as he left the building “this summed up their sorry political career by voting yes for her (Leak)”.

Leak will transition into the position starting May 27^th until June 30^th and receive $693.87 per day and will work 10 days during this period according to her employment agreement.  Her employment agreement is for a two year period.  Leak will be paid $170,000 per year, only $1,000 less than Travaglini.  She will receive retirement contributions into the State’s retirement fund;  $500 per month in “expenses”;  $200,000 in paid life insurance;  100% paid health insurance benefits for herself and her family in addition $1,500 per month in any health related expenses; paid long-term disability;  $15,000 per year paid by the district into a 403(b);  20 paid vacation days commencing on day one;  15 sick days; $400 per month auto allowance; plus a paid cell phone and other expense reimbursements.

“I feel honored and privileged to be working in Sauk Village” Leak said following the meeting.  As for the split decision of the Board “I am going to continue the great things that he (Travaglini) has had going, but we have a lot of changes in education coming down the pike” Leaks said.  As far as staff changes Leak has no immediate plans “we have to look at budgets and really roll my sleeves up and get a look at it.  Al and I have some transition time so we’ll look at it” Leak said.

DISTRICT 168 MAY HIRE CONTROVERSIAL SUPERINTENDENT

Donna Simpson-Leak

By Joseph Wiszowaty

SAUK VILLAGE |  Community Consolidated School District #168 has been searching for a new Superintendent of School since Al Travaglini announced his retirement last year and apparently the search maybe over.  There were numerous applicants and 2 finalists.

 

The Board members are apparently split in their decision over a controversial candidate Dr. Donna Simpson-Leak the former Superintendent of Schools for Rich Township School District 227.  The Rich Township school board fired Simpson-Leak in June, 2013 by a 4-3 vote citing "gross improprieties in the process of student expulsions" and allegedly locking a school board member out of a meeting, according to a published newspaper report.   Leak is suing the Rich Township district for alleged civil conspiracy, breach of contract and infliction of emotional distress, seeking $800,000 in damages.

 

According to Cook County Circuit Court records, Simpson-Leak had hired in her suit against Rich Township the same legal team as the former temporary Chief of Police Robert Fox had that sued Sauk Village,  Ancel Glink Diamond Murphy & Cope, a powerhouse law firm in the State of Illinois.  The firm has, however, since withdrawn from the case as of April 8^th of this year according to court documents.

 

Sauk Village was the center of controversy statewide and in the news media when the former criminal Superintendent of School Thomas Ryan ripped the district off of cash while he ran the district like a dictator with a puppet School Board.  Ryan pled guilty and served time in prison for what prosecutors said was "stealing kids milk money".

 

Simpson-Leak, of Flossmoor, was a finalist for the Superintendent position for Kankakee School District 111 in January of this year, however, she lost out to another candidate for the position.  Simpson-Leak lost out most recently for a position in Crete Monee School District to an out of state candidate.

 

Village residents may remember when the Sauk Village Board took a chance on a “controversial” hiring pick, Henrietta Turner, for Village Manager in 2011.  Turner was suing her former employer, Country Club Hills following her dismissal and ended up suing the Village of Sauk Village as well. 

 

“I do not have and cannot comment at this time” Sharon Davenport, Board President said.  “The board will take formal action on the matter Monday, April 28^th at the meeting at 6pm” Davenport said.

 

Attempts to reach School Board Member Mary Howard for comment were unsuccessful.  School Board Vice President Tammy Jones could not comment beyond saying "please come to the board meeting on Monday night that is when action would be taken" Jones said.  Board Member Deloris Green had no comment on the matter.  Calls to Board Secretary Melvin Stevenson not returned at the time of publication.

Retiring Superintendent of Schools Al Travaglini echoed Davenport.  “At the Board’s request, I was instructed not to comment on any questions regarding the selection of the next Superintendent of Schools.  The Board will announce their selection April 28^th, which is a regular meeting” Travaglini said.

 

HELPFUL LINKS: 

 FORMER SUPERINTENDENT SUES DISTRICT

 

VIDEO:  SD227 DISMISSES SUPERINTENDENT LEAK

 

KANKAKEE SUPT SEARCH

 

SUPERINTENDENT PLANS LEGAL ACTION