District 15 School Board Moves Quickly To Fill Vacancy, But Online Petition Says Slow Down

PALATINE, IL — A member of the Community Consolidated School District 15 board announced late last week she was resigning her seat, and the school system is moving quickly to fill the spot. But some residents want the district to pump the breaks on the vacancy and wait until newly elected board members are sworn in at the end of April to address the opening.

Board member Jessica C. Morrison said Thursday she is giving up her post because she's moving from Palatine in the coming weeks, according to a district press release. She was elected in 2015, and her term ends April 2019. Morrison's resignation is effective immediately, and the board has 45 days to appoint a new member.

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As part of the announcement, the district said it would act swiftly to find Morrison's successor. Candidates interested in the seat have until 4 p.m. Wednesday, April 19, to submit a résumé and letter of application via email (sent to the board's recording secretary, June Becker, at beckerj@ccsd15.net) to the district. Applications also should include:

• length of District 15 residency
• knowledge of district issues
• children in the district, past and present
• details concerning education, professional experience and community service.

Candidates must be at least 18 years old and a registered voter who has lived in District 15 for at least a year. The new board member will be chosen and announced by Monday, April 24, and sworn in at the board's following meeting Wednesday, April 26.

“The District 15 Board of Education will move swiftly to fulfill our legal responsibility to appoint a qualified community member to the position created by Ms. Morrison’s resignation," Board President Peggy Babcock stated in the district's release Thursday, April 13. We encourage those who have an interest and commitment to quality public education in our community to submit their credentials for consideration.”

RELATED: Engage D15 Slate Captures Open Seats In School Board Election

A message concerning the board's timeline to fill Morrison's vacated seat was sent Monday to Babcock by Patch, but she has not responded to it.

Some District 15 residents, however, think the current board is moving too fast when it comes to the appointment. They don't think the decision should be made by the outgoing board and that the seat should be filled after the board's four newly elected members are sworn in April 26. That's why Palatine resident Meghan Haddad started an online petition asking the district to delay the appointment.

"Rushing what should be a thoughtful and measured vetting process is both ill-planned … as well as an affront to the hardworking taxpayers and stakeholders of District 15 who deserve a new school board member who is carefully considered," Haddad wrote in petition's explanation on Change.org.

"I believe this consideration should be made by individuals who were recently, and by a substantial number of D15 voters, approved to lead our school district," she added. "This is an appointment that should NOT be made by an existing school board that represents the following: three ousted incumbents who lost by considerable margins in the most recent election (Jim Ekeberg, Peggy Babcock and Gerald Chapman), in addition to two members who have not sought re-election, leaving only board member Zubair Khan who will remain on the school board."

Haddad believes the board should take advantage of the 45-day window to "interview, evaluate and truly vet the most qualified candidate" to fill Morrison's open seat. She started to petition to rally support from residents and urge board members to change their minds concerning the timeline for filling the vacancy. The petition has a target of 200 supporters, and it currently has 170 signatures.

A PTA member who has lived in the district for 18 years, Haddad has a child who attends Walter R. Sundling Jr. High School and one who goes to Stuart R. Paddock School. She also is a member of the district's newly created Community Engagement Committee.

District 15 residents interested in applying for the open seat can go to the school board's website for more information.

photo via Patch archive

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