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Board member conflict in District U-46 rages on

By Seth Hancock
  The events of the Monday, Feb. 8 Board of Education meeting in School District U-46 can raise a question of leadership, and while some board members have continued to be transparent others appear to refuse to be held accountable.
  At that meeting, 37 people came out to speak on a Facebook post on a board member’s page: Jeanette Ward, U-46 School Board Member. That post was an excerpt from conservative black author Jason L. Riley’s book “Please Stop Helping Us: How Liberals Make It Harder for Blacks to Succeed” where he promotes self reliance and moving away from a victimhood mentality.
  Although some came to support Ward’s view and her First Amendment rights, the majority excoriated her calling her a “racist” and appeared to try and intimidate those who disagree with them into being silent.
  “In any organization, when there is a colossal and epic failure in leadership, such as we experienced this past week in U-46, the people of that organization find themselves in a moment of decision,” the board’s vice president Traci Ellis said that evening.
  Donna Smith, the board’s president, said: “These issues are causing distractions to the work of the staff, which will ultimately negatively impact our students. This board should not be the news. It is incumbent upon each of us to learn the needs of all of our constituents, not just those who put us in these seats… We need to be flexible, open and respectful and not let our personal values and beliefs impact our ability to govern on behalf of our students and our staff.”
  However, who is causing the distraction? The facts point clearly to Ellis, but she refuses to answer questions.
  Ellis sent an email out to her supporters, some being U-46 teachers during school hours, trying to get people out to reprimand Ward.
  While Ward has offered her opinions, often in contrast to the board’s majority, she has not personally attacked anyone on the board while her intelligence has been questioned at a meeting by Ellis who has also personally attacked members of the public during her time on the board during meetings without any reprimand from the leadership. 
  Ellis has used her Facebook page, Traci O’Neal Ellis, U-46 School Board Member, to publicly reveal an email address and phone number of a member of the public who disagrees with her.
  These events raise the question of leadership and the entire board was given a chance to respond as well as to questions regarding who is “causing distractions,” what is appropriate use of social media by board members and should students or members of the public who dissent feel free to do so without a board member personally attacking them?
  Ellis did not respond to the questions but rather posted the emailed questions on her Facebook page and added: “This is why I do not ever respond to the multiple inquiries from Examiner Publication’s staff.”
  Those other inquiries have dealt with bonds, possible Open Meetings Act violations by the board, transparency issues and state legislation that would give U-46 a carve out to not meet state mandates on hiring a superintendent.
  While refusing to respond on issues directly related to U-46, Ellis did speak to other media outlets before the Feb. 8 meeting trying to get people out to the meeting to reprimand Ward.
  Smith, Sue Kerr and Veronica Noland also did not respond but Ward, Phil Costello and Cody Holt did.
  “My quote of outstanding African-American Jason L. Riley, on a Facebook page I created to communicate with the public as a U-46 Board of Education member, would not have garnered the attention it did without someone initially contacting the press,” Ward said in response to The Examiner’s questions. “I did not.”
  Ward added: “I do not believe my quoting Mr. Riley was disrespectful or insulting. Since diversity of thought should be a hallmark of education, I fail to understand why another board member felt it necessary to rally the public to attend a board meeting and occupy hours of time with non-board business when she, and the public, were free to post their concerns on my public page.”
  Holt said the divide on the board is “perceived” and does “not believe that the divide is worse on the account of leadership. Though sometimes I share differing opinions with those who are in leadership roles, I stand behind our board president, vice president and secretary pro-temp (Costello).”
  Some board members asked that a social media policy be put in place which would, by definition, lead to censorship.
  Holt said: “The rights that are enumerated within our First Amendment are the most fundamental to our country. I believe this is why the founding fathers made sure that those rights were the first we see within our Constitution. With that being said, I will not infringe on any of my fellow board members’ right to freedom of speech. This includes those who I disagree with. Furthermore, I believe in the freedom of press and will not encroach on the right of the media to be able to express their opinions or provide the people with accurate information.”
  Costello said the divide is “artificial” and “each board member is responsible and individually accountable to our agreed-upon code of ethics.” He added that “students of U-46 would be better served if board members and the public would frame issues in terms of priorities and rationale instead of personalities and philosophies” and “the public should always be encouraged to express their points of view.”
  Costello called Ellis’ posting personal information on social media “petty at best and a waste of time” and regarding media “the board should not question the news media or public about whether a question is appropriate or drawn inferences are legitimate–that is up to the reader.”
  “Unfortunately, the U-46 Board now needs to create a U-46 policy on inappropriate content instead of conducting our highest priority business focused on governing our school district,” Costello said.
  Holt laid blame on the divide on the Elgin Teacher’s Association and said: “The main factor [is] the information and rhetoric that comes from special interest organized labor bosses that wish to retain the status quo. Though they will say they wish to work together collaboratively, their actions and rhetoric run contrary to their words. These groups prop up shadowy social media accounts to rile up their membership and have their political operatives do their bidding to gain attention of the main stream media… While these tactics are meant to be distractions to further their political narrative and ends, I will continue to refuse to play their political game. I will continue to govern and put the interests of the students, parents and taxpayers first.”
  Kathryn Castle, the ETA’s president, posted on the union’s website a reprimand of Ward and was given an opportunity to respond to questions from The Examiner.
  Castle wrote Ward might be “putting politics ahead of the best interest of our public schools,” called her “uninformed and disconnected” while claiming the ETA does “all we can” to work with board members and that “there seems to be endless questioning of each legitimate expense.”
  Since the ETA endorsed Ellis and not Ward, is Castle the one playing politics? Does insulting a board member show a willingness to work with them? Should taxpayers not expect their elected board members to question how their dollars are spent? Several teachers called Ward’s posting of a mere opinion racist, so are students who hold Ward’s values free to express them in those classes?
  Those questions went unanswered.

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