 Board members present were Kenny Golden; Ben Roland; Jeff
Brooks, board president; Lori Birnbaum, vice president; Tish
Podunajec, secretary; Randy Wolf; and Jason Toft. Superintendent
Jennifer Hamm was present and around 50 guests.Before the public
comments began, Jeff Brooks said it was great to see so many people
in attendance for the meeting. Brooks also said that he and the four
other new members were chosen by the voters, and the election
results overwhelmingly indicated that people wanted to see change
happen at the school.
Following Brooks' comments, the public hearing portion of the
meeting began. All of the speakers resumed their seats to the sound
of applause.
The first guest to speak was former board member Kenda Kitner.
Kitner apologized in advance if she spoke too long, as there was a
five-minute limit per guest. Kitner hoped the board would
understand, as the previous board had made the same considerations
for Brooks prior to his election.
"These are my thoughts. I have not been told what to say or how
to say it," said Kitner. Kitner said that during her time on the
board, she learned a lot about how the school works, and she learned
information she would not have had access to as a member of the
public. Kitner said she also learned that not everything one hears
is true: "more like rumors."
Kitner spoke of the meeting on Friday and what she witnessed that
night. Kitner told Brooks and the new members that the way they
treated Larry Dirks on Friday was very disrespectful. Kitner also
said it was clear to her that the new board members "with their
already typed-up special agenda, have been meeting, planning and
having conversations which are Open Meeting Act violations."
Kitner said that she has spoken with an attorney since Friday,
and the attorney, who was not named, told Kitner that such an action
was a violation of the Open Meetings Act. Kitner intends to speak to
Attorney General Lisa Madigan about this issue.
Kitner also spoke on the agenda itself, telling the board members
that the school does not have a credit card -- it has a debit card
linked to a checking account -- and that money from the bonds has
already been placed in the bank. Kitner said that breaching a
contract surrounding these bonds will create greater legal expenses
that would raise property taxes.
Kitner also mentioned the history Brooks and Lori Birnbaum have
with the board. Both were previously members, and "the district
continued to deficit spend at times when state revenues to schools
were at the highest levels in history." Furthermore, Brooks
previously approved working cash bonds in his previous time on the
board.
Kitner said the last item on the agenda, which read "Other items
not known at agenda preparation time," is too vague to be listed on
a school board meeting agenda, and it is an Open Meetings Act
violation.
Former member Leslie Starasta spoke after Kitner. Starasta spoke
on her experiences working with Superintendent Jennifer Hamm.
Starasta said that the board at the time of Hamm's appointment was
frustrated with the state of the school, and Hamm was directed to
improve the curriculum, the technology level of the school and the
condition of the building itself.
Starasta said that since then, the technology level and
curriculum of the school has greatly improved, with the building
improvements coming in the near future. Furthermore, Starasta said
that Hamm has managed to work on these issues while facing pressure
from the state government and helping the school administration to
recover from previous administrators (who could not be named).
"Mrs. Hamm is the best superintendent I have worked with, as a
student, as a teacher, a parent and a board member, and I have
worked with many," said Starasta.
Finally, Starasta added that while the new board members ran on a
platform of change, they have not said what they would like to
change. "There have been many innuendos, and even outright claims,
particularly on Facebook, that your platform of change is based
solely on removing Mrs. Hamm as superintendent," said Starasta.
Starasta's husband, Mike, spoke next. Starasta echoed his wife's
statements concerning Hamm. Starasta also asked why an agenda for a
meeting was posted on the school's front door Friday night for a
Sunday meeting.
Starasta also added that while the voters did elect new members,
only 13 percent of the eligible population voted, "and that doesn't
meet any definition of a mandate," and that he has been troubled by
the tone of CEL meetings surrounding the election.
Valorie Cecil, a teacher's aide at the school, spoke next.
"People should stop slamming CEL and everyone associated with it on
Facebook," Cecil said. "We are only making ourselves look uneducated
and teaching our children that cyberbullying is OK." Cecil also said
that paying for an early termination of Hamm's contract, in addition
to paying a new official's salary, would only drive the school into
further financial distress.
Heather Murphy, a sixth-grade teacher at CEL, spoke next. Murphy,
hired in 2008, said that the first few years were very difficult due
to low technology services at the school. Murphy said that since
Hamm has been appointed, every class has received up-to-date
computers, iPads and Smart Boards.
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Glenda Roland spoke after Murphy. Roland said she had chosen not
to "rip into" the board members, but she told the board that the
previous members took every comment made in their direction, and
while they could not respond due to regulations, she could see the
emotions that they were feeling.
"Unfortunately, I don't see any reactions from your faces," said
Roland, and she addressed the former board members present, saying
that there were people around who support them.
Maria Houpt spoke after Roland. Houpt said she has three children
at the school, and she echoed the statements made by other guests.
Houpt also said that those people who do not view Hamm favorably
"should try to really get to know her."
Houpt also said that the behavior exhibited by some people
lately, especially online, will only teach children how to be
bullies toward others.
Rob Hoefs, a local parent, spoke next. Hoefs said he remembers
when he learned the school was getting Smart Boards, and now he can
watch his daughter's lessons online with her when she reviews them
for her homework.
Hoefs used pieces of artwork (paintings of cupcakes) made by the
students as a metaphor for his feelings on the school's
technological progress. "I got the same recipe year after year. …
Mrs. Hamm stirred up the recipe; she's changing things, and that's
good."
Hoefs also praised Hamm for her dedication, saying that she can
be found anywhere for a school function, or even for a personal
matter. Hoefs cited a time when he saw her in Springfield at a
funeral for a student's parent. "If that's not commitment, if that's
not love for each individual student, I don't know what is," said
Hoefs.
Mark Shew spoke next. Shew said that his daughter is dyslexic,
and a few years ago she was really behind academically. Shew said
that thanks to Hamm's help, his daughter is earning scores among the
highest in her class.
Shew also said that he was at Friday's meeting, and he feels that
"rather than treating us like you need to give an excuse such as
farming on a day when it's been raining, treat us with respect and
tell us the truth. … Don't tell us you're going to go farming on
Friday night."
Shew was referring to the removal of Larry Dirks' presentation
from Friday's agenda after Dirks was ready to begin. On Friday,
Brooks had claimed farm duties were keeping some of the new board
members too busy to see the presentation.
Craig Strampp quickly spoke to the board. Strampp said he wants
to see if the board "has the guts to look my son in the eye tonight
and tell him you're getting rid of his superintendent. She (Hamm)
needs to stay."
After the public comments, the board spent over two hours in
closed session. The board returned to open session, where it was
revealed that the board would be taking no action on the items
listed on the agenda, and the first four were not addressed in the
open session.
The board members asked Hamm to give them a summary of the
renovation projects and an estimate on the timeline of work to be
done. One of the larger concerns of the board members was the
asbestos abatement and the safety of those in the school when it is
being removed.
Hamm, with the help of Mark Graves of CTS, told the board that
the area of the school being cleared of asbestos will be completely
shut off from the rest of the school. The work on the flooring was
scheduled to begin on May 14, but the board members wish to postpone
that date until after the students are gone. A new date was not
decided on, and Graves said CTS is more than willing to work with
the school to set a new date.
The new secure entrance to the school was also brought into
question. Hamm said the security of the school is not the best. As
it is now, if someone dangerous gains access through the main door,
they have access to the entire school. Hamm said the new entrance
will provide more security measures, keeping people at the office
until they are approved.
The cafeteria was also a concern. As it stands, the current
cafeteria is too small for the number of children who have to go
through at lunch. Furthermore, Hamm would like to see the old
cafeteria used as a new pantry and record storage space in the
future; the latter of which would save the school money on outside
storage.
Hamm said that the $2.7 million needed for the remodel was in the
bank and that the project is looking to come in at $30,000 under the
original planned budget.
At the end of the meeting, as Brooks called for adjournment,
several in the audience asked about Hamm's employment status. Brooks
said there was no action to take; the board was not responsible for
the rumors of Hamm's termination; and the comments made to the board
were the decision of the public.
[By DEREK HURLEY]
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