 Current bylaws dictate that CEL can only have three
board members per township (an election type called
'congressional'). CEL Administrator Laura Irwin said, “We can have
less but not more,” in board members per township. The congressional
model ensures that no township is over-represented.
In recent years the congressional model has hampered the school
district from obtaining its full number of school board members. For
the last year, Chester-East Lincoln has been functioning as a six
member board instead of seven because they have been unable to fill
the last seat due to the restriction imposed by
board-seats-per-township.
Irwin said, “CEL has had interested people call, but usually they
aren’t in the correct township.”
Currently, CEL has its full quota of three from East Lincoln & three
from Oran, so the last seat under the current restrictions has to be
filled by someone from one of the other townships.
Through consolidation the CEL School District #61 now covers East
Lincoln, Oran, Aetna, Atlanta, Eminence, West Lincoln, and Chester
Townships.
The vote Tuesday night would be to change from a congressional
district to an at-large district. By becoming an at-large district,
it would allow the township restriction to no longer be an issue
when filling vacant seats on the board. It would essentially mean
anyone residing within the school district boundaries would be
eligible to be a board member regardless of what township they live
in.
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The first step is for the CEL School Board to approve the change
to at-large, and if the resolution is passed by the board, a public question
will be place on the ballot in November for school district voters. If the
voters approve it, board members will be elected at-large without any township
restriction.
Irwin said, “The school district at Leroy voted to change to
at-large 10 years ago and it has gone well for them.” Irwin also mentioned that
Lexington recently changed to at-large election of board members.
If the November vote is in favor of at-large board member election, CEL may
appoint a board member to fill the empty seat. Irwin said, “We’ve had interest,
so it’s very possible.” The next opportunity to place a board member by public
election would be in the April 2019 election.
CEL’s school board members voluntarily serve the community with terms varying
between two and four years without any kind of compensation. Administrator Irwin
was full of praise for what she called “a fantastic, hard working board,” and
looks forward to working with a full school board of seven members.
[Jim Youngquist]
See Letter to the Editor
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