Testing the Memory of Past MCC Board President George Lowe

The following article form Feb. 3, 2008, might give current readers an idea of the past service of McHenry County College Board candidate George Lowe. Lowe seeks to return to the Board for a six-year term. The Daily Herald seems … Continue reading

Jr. College Golden Parachutes Limited

Spurred by the outrageous Golden Parachute given by the outgoing Trustees to the outgoing College of DuPage President, the Illinois General Assembly has sent a bill limited such rewards to one year’s salary. Ex- President Walt Packard’s Golden Parachute came … Continue reading

$1,875 and Good-Bye

I attended the meeting of the McHenry County College Board tonight because of the following agenda item: ACCEPT AND APPROVE DR. SMITH’S NOTICE OF INTENT TO RETIRE AS OF DECEMBER 31, 2015, AND GRANT DR. SMITH A POST RETIREMENT STIPEND … Continue reading

Bill to Stop Junior College Presidents’ Golden Parchutes

An email from newly-elected State Rep. Peter Breen of DuPage County: We’ve watched over the past year as the College of DuPage Board of Trustees has taken a beating in the press for scandal after scandal, and the public outcry … Continue reading

Is McHenry County College More Likely or Less Likely to Improve Its Image Tuesday Night?

The Northwest Herald’s Kevin Craver has been a busy guy. He just posted a scathing piece on his blog, “Opening Doors.” The subject is the very “special” meeting of the McHenry County College Board to extend the contract of President … Continue reading

A Month and a Half Until Walt Packard and Spouse Off MCC Taxpayers’ Health Insurance

Walt Packard and his golden parachute. Three and a half years was the health insurance part of the $200,000 (maybe the health insurance was not included in that figure) golden parachute that McHenry County College Trustees gave outgoing (don’t let … Continue reading

McHenry County College Retirees Don’t Make BGA’s Attrocity List

The Better Government Association, following in Jim Tobin’s footsteps, has revealed large pension payouts to those who have retired from community colleges in the Chicago area. Mercifully, McHenry County College is not mentioned in the expose. Lake County College comes … Continue reading

MCC Taxpayers “Only” on the Hook for Walt Packard’s and Wife’s Health Benefits for Another Year

From a press release about the retirement package provided McHenry County College President Walt Packard by the MCC Board of Trustees: Dr. Packard will also continue to be enrolled in the College’s medical, dental, and vision insurance plans through June … Continue reading

Gordie Tebo Campaign Makes MCC Board Pitch

A note from McHenry County College Trustee candidate Gordie Tebo: McHenry County College Voters: Gordie Tebo is running for MCC Board Trustee. Gordie worked for Woodstock School District 200 as a math teacher at Woodstock High School.  During his 34 … Continue reading

Senate Says Public Officials Can Keep Performance Evaluations Secret

House Bill 5154, the bill that would allow McHenry County College to keep ex-President Walt Packard’s performance standards secret, passed the Illinois Senate overwhelmingly on December 1st. The vote was 48-3. The only local state senator who voted against this … Continue reading

Beaubien Joins 76 Others Voting to Hide MCC Ex-President Walt Packard’s Performance Evaluations

Here’s the 77-36 roll call that was taken yesterday: McHenry County’s other state representatives, Mike Tryon and Jack Franks voted on the side of openness. When the bill was first up, Beaubien voted against it. The bill now will be … Continue reading

McHenry County College Continues Stalling Tactics in Attempt to Keep Ex-President Walt Packard’s Performance Evaluations Secret

The title of this article could have been “Blogger Sued,“ but there’s enough drama without bringing that up. Or the headline could have been “MCC Sues MCC Founder.” I even have a ribbon from the dedication of the current campus … Continue reading

McHenry County College Continues Stonewalling on Release of Walt Packard’s Performance Evaluations

Why should I be surprised that the local government that has been least transparent—even to the point of ejecting press and taxpayers from its building during a secret meeting, being sued by the McHenry County State’s Attorney and being admonished … Continue reading

Attorney General Rules McHenry County College May Reveal Walt Packard Percformance Evaluation

The stalling tactics of McHenry County College didn’t work. You may remember that I filed a Freedom of Information request for the performance evaluations of ex-President Walt Packard. You remember him. The one sent packing Feb. 26, 2009 with no … Continue reading

Beaubien, Duffy, Franks and Tryon Vote Against Stripping Employee Performance Standards from Freedom of Information Act

Yesterday I frothed about our local very junior college’s playing games with the Freedom of Information Act. Two weeks ago I requested the performance evaluations for former McHenry County College President Walt Packard. I was told there was only one, … Continue reading

Freedom of Information Request for Walt Packard Performance Evaluations Hits MCC Nerve

Remember how the teachers’ unions got the performance evaluation part of the Attorney General Lisa Madigan’s Freedom of Information Act reform law repealed earlier this year. I figured that there was one performance evaluation that a lot of people in … Continue reading

New County Ethics Commission Members Proposed

The current McHenry County Ethics Commission has three members whose terms are expiring: Walter J. Packard, former McHenry County College President, who is now retired with a golden parachute Robert Blaizer, recently retired Crystal Lake Chamber of Commerce Exec and … Continue reading