|
 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.” The congressional model ensures that no township
is over-represented.
The school board voted July 24th to put the question to school
district voters in the November election, changing from a
congressional district to an “at-large” district. By becoming an
at-large district, it would allow the township restriction to be
lifted when filling vacant seats on the board, meaning anyone
residing within the school district boundaries would be eligible to
be a board member regardless of what township they live in.
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 and three from Oran, so the last seat
under the current restrictions has to be filled by someone from one
of the other townships, Irwin said.
Through consolidation the CEL School District covers East Lincoln,
Oran, Aetna, Atlanta, Eminence, West Lincoln and Chester Townships. [to
top of second column] |
 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 also recently changed
to at-large election of board members.
If the voters approve it, board
members will be elected at-large without any township restriction.
The CEL board encourages voters in the school district to vote, and
asks them to approve this ballot question.
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]
 |
