On Monday, Huntley School District 158 board member Jim Carlin sent the email at the bottom of this story to Superintendent John Burkey.
But, first some background.
In it, Jim Carlin criticizes Aileen Seedorf, the woman who beat him in the April school board election, for pointing out a lack of precision in the school board’s agenda. I have added paragraphing to the email to make the message easier to read.
Seedorf, who insists upon accuracy from district administrators, spoke about the May 17th minutes, which were originally scheduled to have no discussion.
She pointed out that the very date of the meeting was incorrect.
“There are an awful lot of mistakes,” she observed. She pointed out that board actions are “put in the ‘Board Bits” before they are approved. I don’t know what “Board Bits” are, but I presume it is some publication.
She also was concerned about the confusion between references about the board’s Finance Committee and the Financial Advisory Committee.
Carlin suggested that her concern would be better placed elsewhere.
“I’m in a $60 million entity,” Seedorf replied. “I’m really uncomfortable with the minutes. I am uncomfortable about voting for any minutes.”
Board President Shawn Green pointed out that minutes were “supposed to be a general overview and not intended to get into the detail some board members require.”
Seedorf explained that what she had said at the podium (during the public comment period) was “going out wrong.”
“At one meeting (where) I spoke there’s no (report) of what I said.”
Board Secretary and longest serving board member Kim Skaja, who defeated Seedorf for secretary, explained that she was not putting content into the minutes concerning public comment.
I think she said that public comments don’t interact with the comment person at the time that the info doesn’t make the minutes.
And, as I was taking pictures of her, said,
“It’s not a good day to take my picture. I have a bad complexion.”
[I thought she looked fine.]
She apparently read my article about the May 17th board meeting, which no other reporter attended, because she referred to my having pointed out that the meeting’s recording ended at 10:44 and that she had to leave at midnight.
Kevin Gentry seemed to be willing to be more accommodating: “It strikes me as a process that works,” he said referring to the “opportunity to edit.”
Superintendent John Burkey then got involved in the discussion:
”What you’re asking for is a court reporter. If you want a word-for-word of what we’re doing, that’s what you’re talking about.”
There’s more that didn’t seem to relate too closely to the topic of minutes. Perhaps more of that in another article.
Here’s the email that Seedorf sent:
Sent: Thu 6/21/2007 12:54 AM
Subject: FAC name
NOTE: With regard to any and all emails, please do not reply in any way that would violate the OMA. [Open Meetings Act]
This is intended to disseminate information not encourage a discussion.
RE: FAC
There is an ? issue ? with the actual name of the committee which requires someone’s attention. Please determine what the legal name is so that the site, minutes, agendas, etc. are consistent.
1. The site shows Financial Advisory Committee on the left side (and in that link) and in the body of http://www.d158.k12.il.us/fiscal/
2. Finance Advisory Committee (FAC) – 2006-2007 is shown here at the top http://www.district158.org/boe/ComFinancAdvis07.htm with Financial in the body.
3. Under Committee Agendas and minutes on the left it says Finance.
4. On the top of the April 26, 2007 minutes it says Finance, however, in the 2nd line down from the heading it says Financial.
5. On the June 21, 2007 agenda (yellow packet copy) it says Finance under Minutes, Finance under Finance Committee, and Finance at the end under Upcoming Meetings.
Please notify everyone on the FAC committee as well.
Note: Not trying to give anyone a hard time – just want it settled and properly shown – and, please double check me, the hour is late.
Thanks.
Aileen
Here’s Carlin’s Monday email about Seedorf’s email:
From: Carlin, Jim
Sent: Mon 6/25/2007 2:05 PM
To: Burkey, John; BOE Members
Cc: ‘Zornow, Eric’Subject: RE: FAC name
Thank Zeus this confusion has been cleared up.
I’ve been so worried about this that I haven’t slept in 4 nights. People have been calling and asking me what the difference is between Finance and Financial and what in Pegasus name is a FAC?
We should fire all FAC’s and reprimand the Administration for not dropping everything they were doing and resolving this sooner.
I mean, what could be more important? After all, if a Bored member is sending an email at 1pm it has got to be disastrous, doesn’t it?
Thank Pices that we have such diligent bored members.
Jim Carlin
I have asked for all of the emails concerning the minutes for the May 17th meeting. That’s the meeting when the video and audio recording stopped at 10:44 PM.
There were numerous comments about the minutes at the June 25th board meeting prior to their approval by what I remember as a 5-2 vote.