Center Cass Backs Off Effort To Build Ties

DARIEN, IL – Last fall, the leader of the Center Cass School District 66 board said members formed a new committee to build ties to the community.

Now, the board has ended that formal connection.

In the September statement, board President Liane Raso spoke about the district's financial troubles.

"We recognize that we need to work on establishing deeper and more meaningful connections with our community and ensure all voices are heard," Raso said. "To address this concern, the Board has formed the Community Engagement Forum, which is made of diverse cross-sections of our community that represent different interests."

At last week's school board meeting, members revealed the committee would no longer be board-run.

"It's a community group that administration and members of the board will be invited to," member Chris Esposito said. "But we are not running it. I chaired it previously. I will not be chairing it."

He spoke after forum member Melinda Nowak said the last meeting was before the November election and that the meeting after the election was canceled.

"Our intent is to continue community engagement," Nowak said.

In the election, a narrow majority of Center Cass voters approved a nearly 20 percent increase in the district's part of the tax bill.

In August, the board solicited and reviewed applications from those interested in joining the committee.

The forum was promoted in a district newsletter sent to residents before the election. According to the district, the forum was designed to have residents work with district officials to help build a foundation of trust and collaboration.