ELECTION UPDATE: SCHOOL BOARD CHALLENGES FAIL & NEW BOARD MEMBER EXPECTED

By Joseph Wiszowaty
SAUK VILLAGE |  The School Board election for District 168 has taken a twist of events the last few weeks.  One Candidate has withdrawn 3 others successfully fought off challenges which would have removed them from the ballot.

Incumbents Board members Sharon Davenport, Tammy Jones and Sene Garrett along with newcomer Latonya West filed petitions to have their names on the April 7th ballot on the first day December 15^th.  West is seeking a 2 year unexpired term following the resignation of Melvin Stevenson in November.   Davenport, Jones, Garrett and West's petitions were not challenged but all other candidates faced unsucessful challenges.

Board members failed to make an appointment to replace Stevenson by December 30th.  West’s name was the only name put forth for appointment following the unexpected resignation of Stevenson.  Actions to block West’s appointment were successfully carried out by Board Members Jimo Kasali, Deloris Green and Mary Howard, who is the sister to Mayor David Hanks.   The Executive Director of South Cook Intermediate Service Center Dr. Vanessa Kinder has the legal authority to appoint a “temporary” replacement to the seat vacated by Stevenson since the School Board failed to appoint a replacement.  The only issue is that the vacancy is only until the election outcome is determined so the person may only be there on a temporary basis.

"I am preparing to interview candidates for the vacant seat and I intend on making the appointment by the end of this month" Kinder said.  Kinder admitted that she is not mandated to appoint but it is her legal duty to do so.  "It would not be fair to the people of the district to have the seat vacant and decisions by the board not getting made" Kinder said.

Kinder did not identify who she would be interviewing for the vacancy but said "it is disappointing that the local board could not make a decision and that I am forced to appoint.  Decisions such as these should be made at the local level, but there is a provision when it can't be that it falls upon the person in this position" Kinder said.

Resident Larry Stewart filed objections to candidates which included Rachel Eastman, Phillip Bazile, husband of former School Board President and current McConathy Library Trustee Arleta Bazile and Sandra Isom who are seeking the 4 year terms.  Former Village Clerk Candidate Marva Campbell-Pruitt who is seeking the 2 year unexpired term was also considered to replace Aisa El-Amin who resigned last year.  Campbell-Pruitt put her name into consideration for the appointment to El-Amin’s vacant seat, however, was passed over for Garrett.

Stewart said he filed objections to ensure that those candidates who filed did so correctly.  “Look, when you run for office you’ve got to make sure you start out right.  It begins by making sure your papers work is in order” Stewart said.  “This is not politically motivated.  I know each of the people who are running.  It’s about following the rules” Stewart said.

Since the objections were filed, Eastman withdrew her name as a candidate and will not be on the ballot in April.  Eastman had obtained well over 100 signatures of registered voters to get her name on the ballot, only 50 are required.  “I just wanted to make a difference for the kids of the Village” Eastman said following her withdrawal.  “It seems that no matter what you do someone is going to be mad at you for doing something.  I had no idea that people would get so personal” Eastman said.  Eastman serves on the Neighborhood Watch Committee.

The electoral board, which use to rest with the local school boards has been moved to the jurisdiction of Cook County to expedite the handling of hearings and save the financially struggling school districts tens  of thousands of taxpayer dollars.  The Cook County Hearing Officer tossed out all challenges made by Stewart ensuring that all candidates, except Eastman who withdrew, will be on the ballot.

In the Village Trustees race, for the first time in many years no objections were filed.  The seats of Trustees Derrick Burgess, Jeff Morden and John Poskin are up for grabs in April.  Burgess, Morden and Poskin all filed nomination petitions seeking their old seats.  Poskin has never faced election for his seat but was appointed  twice by Hanks in 2012 and is currently the longest serving unelected Village Trustee.  Hoping to unseat them are controversial Housing Commission Chairman Gary Holcomb, and former School Board President and Retired Lieutenant Colonel Cecil Tates, Kelvin Jones and Danny Hammond, Jr.

"People of Sauk Village want change.  They are tired of this administration and the lack of direction" Hammond said. 

The two seats up for the Nancy L. McConathy Public Library are uncontested.

Hats Off to Dr. Leak and Davenport working together for kids

OPINION EDITORIAL
by Joseph Wiszowaty

Dr. Donna Leak came in as Superintendent of District 168 under a shadow of controversy but it seems that sunlight has been shining down on Sauk Village schools and Leak.

Seeing Board President Sharon Davenport working alongside Leak during the recent Back to School Bash this week spoke volumes!  Davenport was cookin it up at the grill along with a host of volunteers from the school district.  As the lines stretched on and on, they kept cooking!  Leak was engaging parents and children the entire time.  Also good to see other board members Sene Garrett, Tammy Jones and Mary Howard there as well.

Leak has been working hard kicking off the school year along with at least some of her board members.  Noticeably absent from the Back to School event were the two board members who actually voted for Leak, Deloris Green and Jimo Kasali.  In fact, where were you both?  Being a school board or any elected official requires you to participate in the community besides attending board meetings. 

 

Also this week, Dr. Leak honored some old school alumi from the 1960s.  Kerry Pardue came to Sauk Village and spoke at his old Junior High School.  No not Rickover, it wasn’t even there when he graduated 8^th grade in 1962, although he did speak to the kids at Rickover too.  Pardue donated 2 oil paintings on behalf of the class of 1962 from Strassburg Junior High School.

Thus far I’m impressed with the actions of Dr. Donna Leak, honoring our past and working hard toward engaging the children and the parents of the future.  Good job Dr. Leak and to Board President Sharon Davenport who clearly are focused on the children of the district.  Keep up the good work! 

I would be remiss if I didn't mention the hard work and contributions of so many behind the scenes who contributed to the success of the Back to School Bash including Jeremiah Johnson and the host of teachers and volunteers who came out to help.  This was about our School District giving back to the community and it was a great success!  Can't wait to see what they cook up next year!  PS.... the RIBS were awesome!

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.