LW 210 Board Member Resigns

Lincoln-Way District 210 Board of Education member Christopher McFadden has resigned abruptly, effective immediately.

McFadden, a federal attorney, won his spot on the board in the April 2015 election. He declined to provide a reason for his departure.

Superintendent Dr. Scott Tingley received McFadden’s resignation letter by email Thursday evening.

“Chris is very intelligent and obviously brought experience to the table, from being a board member at Frankfort District 157-C,” Tingley said.

Public reaction to McFadden’s decision has been mixed. Since the board’s decision to close Lincoln-Way North, parents and residents have called for board members’ resignations, citing concern about financial mismanagement, transparency, and misconduct. Critics have called the push to close North to save $5.2 million a year and take a step to get off the state’s financial watch list rash and destructive to the community. A group of parents representing the area as Lincoln-Way Area Taxpayers Unite last month filed a lawsuit against the district to try to stop the closing. Parents have demanded the board revisit its finances and strategies, calling for an audit by someone other than the district’s longtime provider of said services.

We have to get to the bottom of this, they say—and fast.

The public’s affections for McFadden were fickle, flickering once as anger as he enumerated the reasons he believed North should be the school to close. Later they applauded him, as he pressed for more options, more answers to previous administration’s shifted funds and basic procedures.

“I would like to thank all the people who stirred up this controversy—because this is what is going to happen—the LWHS board will dissolve, and we will be left with a mess,” wrote one New Lenox Patch commenter. “Mr. McFadden was a very qualified candidate, and possibly could have affected some major changes that could have benefitted our school district.”

“He was the good guy. I think he knows something isn’t right,” wrote another.

Still others see the resignation as the first proverbial domino to fall.

“I don’t blame him,” another commenter wrote. “These lawsuits and accusations are damaging.”

With emotions and blame bubbling over, it’s a tough time to be a board member, Tingley told the Daily Southtown. He applauded McFadden’s efforts during his short time with the board.

“We thank him for his time and service to the students of the district.”

The district now has five days to notify the Regional Office of Education about the board vacancy, and 45 days to appoint someone to the seat. Within that time, the board will draft questions and interview all candidates. The opening will be posted on the district website, hopefully by the middle of next week, Tingley said.

Read On:

• ‘I‘m Pissed ... This is B.S.’ Lincoln-Way Parents Explain Lawsuit
• Lincoln-Way Parents Sue to Stop LW North High from Closing
• L-W 210 Board Selects New Auditors