LTHS Leader Resigns Effective Immediately

LA GRANGE, IL – Lyons Township High School's board president resigned effective immediately Tuesday morning.

Dawn Aubert, who took the helm last spring, was elected to the board in 2021. She is leaving because she plans to move out of state, according to a school news release.

Replacing Aubert is the board's vice president, Jill Grech, who also joined the board in 2021. Two weeks ago, Grech presided over a board meeting in Aubert's absence.

"Dawn has been a dedicated and student-centered Board member since her election in 2021," Grech said in the news release. "Along with the rest of her fellow board members, she has been instrumental in making important decisions to benefit our entire LT community."

A week and a half ago, Patch emailed Aubert about reports that she planned to depart. She did not respond.

At that time, Patch also submitted a public records request for any correspondence about Aubert's pending departure. That request came just before spring break. The school has extended its response time by another five business days.

Aubert avoided the route of former board member Julie Swinehart, who kept her plan to resign secret from the public for months.

Once word seeped out in February 2023, Patch started emailing Swinehart about her resignation, but those inquiries went unanswered. She had taken a job on the East Coast and put her house on the market. Swinehart resigned shortly after the school's graduation ceremony in May.

If Swinehart had resigned in time for deadlines before last April's election, the voters could have filled her seat. Instead, the board did so, choosing Elvia Nava.

Now, the board is looking for someone to fill Aubert's seat until next April's election. Information on how to apply is on the school's website. The deadline to apply is 3 p.m. April 19.

Applicants must be 18, have lived in the school district for at least one year and be registered to vote.

In Illinois, school board members are unpaid.