D113 Appears Ready to Move On, Set to Hold Special Board Meeting

At the last District 113 school board meeting, over a dozen teachers criticized District 113 Superintendent Dr. Dignam for his leadership during his time with District 113. This has been an ongoing issue in the district, as a recent survey put out by the District 113 Education Association (DEA) found that 87% of respondents did not believe there was "mutual trust" in the district between the educators and administration.

In wake of this controversy, it now appears the school board is prepared to part ways with the superintendent and head a different direction. A newly released agenda for a special meeting for Tuesday May 22 now appears on the school board's website. Included on the agenda, "Approval of Separation Agreement between Township High School District 113 Board of Education and Superintendent."

Prior to this vote, the board is scheduled to move into closed session to discuss the "appointment, employment, compensation, discipline, performance, or dismissal of specific employees of the District or legal counsel for the District, including hearing testimony on a complaint lodged against an employee of the public body or against legal counsel for the public body to determine its validity." In essence, it appears the board is scheduled to consider the termination of the contract, and then to vote on it in open session, while specific discussions take place in closed session. This is standard procedure for school boards in Illinois.

School board members are not authorized to comment on the employment of specific personnel in public. However last week newly elected board President Elizabeth Garlovsky told the Chicago Tribune, “To all of our stakeholders, we are listening and we hear you. All of the comments we have heard are being taken very seriously.”

The meeting is open to the public, however public comment for the meeting will be limited to just one hour. It will be held at the District 113 Administrative building at 1040 Park Ave West, Highland Park, IL 60035.

View the meeting's agenda here.

What do you think? Should the district move a different direction with its leadership? Let us know in the comments.