New Trier Board Of Education Feb. 20 Meeting: As It Happened

NORTHFIELD, IL — New Trier Township District 203 held its February board meeting Monday night, with a capacity crowd of 777 in attendance and more outside.

» VIDEO: Feb. 20 NTHS Board of Education Meeting

UPDATE: The following statement, written by Board of Education President Greg Robitaille, was released Tuesday morning:

Some residents addressed recent opposition to the upcoming All-School Seminar Day at NTHS.

(UPDATES FROM MONDAY NIGHT, ALL TIMES CENTRAL)

11:08 p.m. Board agrees to adjourn.

11:03 p.m. Board unanimously approves the bill list.

11:00 p.m. Board unanimously agrees to consent agenda, including a variety of resolutions, policies, budget items and meeting calendars.

10:58 p.m. Motion unanimously agreed to approve a separation agreement.

10:57 p.m. Motion unanimously agreed to approve raising school fees.

10:52 p.m. Discussion of how bus fees are determined.

10:45 p.m. Student fees presented.

10:44 p.m. Motion unanimously approved to allocate money for scholarships.

10:40 p.m. Scholarship allocation presented.

10:39 p.m. Motion unanimously approved for sale of General Debt Certificates for Summer construction.

10:38 p.m. Treasurer's report presented.

10:31 p.m. Presentation of the Kasarda Demographic Report. Mention of an aging community, fewer students enrolling from private schools.

10:30 p.m. Construction report concludes.

10:20 p.m. Discussion of construction contingency financing.

10:12 p.m. Discussion of flooding, draining, the definition of "bootstrapping" vis a vis reliance on drain tiles and sump pumps.

9:56 p.m. Discussion of construction projects.

9:54 p.m. Mr. Miller discusses FOIA requests. 30 have been received since last board meeting, all but two concern the Seminar Day. Three are still pending.

9:40 p.m. Board Pres. Robitaille says the board has determined it "is balanced," with "no evidence" of a political or ideological bias. He says NTHS alumni have high levels of college readiness, and the school's high performance will not be affected by one day. Recommends a five minute recess.

9:37 p.m. Supt. Yonke says she values the practice of NTHS seminar days as well as parent feedback about it. "How lucky we are to have two National Book Award winners," to speak to students. "Majority doesn't rule all the time," she says parents' concerns are being taken in consideration.

9:33 p.m. Mr. Harris expresses his support for the seminar and mentions how impressed he has been with the student speakers.

9:30 p.m. O'Donoghue says "if you want to pass your values on to your children," you should get involved. This "one day," can be read anyway you want. But "what's important is that parents are interested" in their kids lives.

9:27 p.m. O'Donoghue asks about other speakers, whether Hayes has considered adding speakers. Hayes says every session has at least 10 or more kids in it, with the list of people that have been invited being pretty long. "Ultimately you want to be able to look through that list," but also mentions logistical concerns. Hayes mentions most speakers from community are receiving only $200 honorariums.

9:23 p.m. O'Donoghue asks about source of data for "readiness of graduates for racial diversity." Hayes says surveys have shown many graduates have told him they wish they had such an event, with many saying conversations about race are important to their lives as professionals now.

9:22 p.m. Hayes says it's important for people to have accurate information. He says he's learned a lot from talking with people who have called concerned about the event. Says calls about perceived outside influence are actually flattering to the organizers of the event.

9:18 p.m. Mr. O’Donoghue asks what happens if parents or students don't want to participate. Hayes says they can have a study day. O'Donoghue says, "Obviously," people are excited. Asks Hayes if he knows why.

9:17 p.m. Ms. Albrecht mentions feedback from alumni has mentioned how culturally unprepared students are who graduate from NTHS, despite extensive academic preparation. She says the event is a credit to the faculty

9:14 p.m. Goldstein says there's no social or political agenda. "We've looked deeply into this," and says she is "very proud of New Trier for pursuing this event." Says future events should include some parents on the planning committee.

9:11 p.m. Ms. Goldstein says the board has learned the importance of "open-minded," having "compassion and empathy," and "agreeing to disagree." Says the board listens, learns and respectfully disagrees. "We are not a rubber stamp...I think we all have our separate viewpoints." Wants everyone to keep the focus on the students. "We're all human beings, it's so important to have relationships and be good people." Says the board has heard from many community members and students. Message from students is "let us handle it ourselves," she says. Alumni say "they are not prepared as global citizens, they need to get out of the bubble and learn about the other things going on in the world."

9:08 p.m. Mr. Myefski recalls how the day began with last year's shortened schedule. Regrets the day couldn't have been held closer to MLK Day this year. Mentions the board doesn't hear about something controversial until the last minute. "I don't want to see anything changed from what's already been planned...they're not bigots, the people we're talking to," just people with different opinions, he says. Says he has a hard time telling people that "some of the rational conversations" that have been mentioned cannot be part of the event.

9:05 p.m. Public comment period ends. Board begins internal discussion by thanking public.

9:01 p.m. New Trier student says people need to "use their own minds," and "for this day to work, people need to come to this day with an open mind." If people can do that, he says, "I believe this day can be very successful." He says responsibility is on attendees to make the day a success. Asks people to come with an open mind and ask a lot of questions.

8:57 p.m. Mr. Evanson, a NTHS alum who is currently attending Northwestern University, says he doesn't remember having one black schoolmate. He (graphically) describes offensive jokes left unchallenged because of what he describes lacking black friends who "inspire decency." "Without exposure to racial difference," he says, New Trier fails to prepare students. He says students are exposed to but do not embrace a real diversity of opinion, says this is the first time he's spoken publicly on behalf of any issue. He calls on board to "reject the censorship efforts" of parentsofnewtrier.org.

8:55 p.m. Resident of Highland Park discusses the "surplus" of administrators in area public school districts.

8:51 p.m. A senior NTHS student says it's "inaccurate and demeaning" to assume students are "susceptible to brainwashing." Says one of his favorite aspects of his New Trier education is exposure to critical thinks. "Every day I come to school with teachers and students who are engaged, passionate and curious." He says "intellectual curiosity is what makes New Trier New Trier."

8:51 p.m. Ms. Hauser attempts to speak a second time after Ms. Roehl defers to her. She is not allowed a second opportunity to speak.

8:48 p.m. Ms. Campbell describes her experience as an Asian-American in the community, says she wants her graduating senior daughter to be ready to engage outside of New Trier.

8:44 p.m. A Northfield resident, Mr. Soare, describes his experience saving the Northfield campus via an advisory referendum which led to 2/3 rejection. "My reward is I live a block from the campus," and every year he sees a thousand new students. "I personally support the Seminar Day as conceived," but is unable to complete his point within the allotted time.

8:42 p.m. A parent discusses feeling a discomfort with raising a mixed race family in the community.

8:38 p.m. New Trier sophomore discusses his experience from last year's seminar.

8:36 p.m. Mr. Duncan explains how his children have experienced racism in North Shore communities. "Race is not a partisan issue, civil rights is not a partisan issue." Says he supports Seminar Day but suggests that voices have been excluded from the day.

8:32 p.m. NTHS junior, a member of Student Voices in Equity, says "it's upsetting to see adults in the community engage in ad hominem attacks." She says she wants clear up some misconceptions, says the most outspoken people don't understand what the actual seminars contain. "Every single New Trier student was provided the same opportunity to lead a seminar as I was." She says she's thrilled to see a large turnout, and says she wants to ensure ideological balance and a safe environment for students to share their beliefs.

8:30 p.m. "I am struck by the irony," she says, of her group being accused of "denying" civil rights. Says people are trying to "shut us down." "They're great kids," she says, "That's awesome. What we want is other worldviews too." Says it's "a real irony" that "we shouldn't be excited about," that new speakers are not being added.

8:28 p.m. Ms. Hart is very thrilled to have such a huge crowd, "this whole debate...the robust idea of sharing different ideas...there are voices like Corey Brooks, there are people who bring freshness to this." Says "Parents of New Trier" wanted this robust engagement all along. "You don't have to end up at a college safe space because you come up against a worldview that's different from your own."

8:27 p.m. Ms. Stoller, a New Trier alumna who is currently a teacher at Boston Public Schools, says she felt woefully uninformed after graduating because of growing up in such a homogeneous. Says that gives the school a special responsibility to educate about race.

8:25 p.m. Mr. Weyermuller, a local conservative citizen journalist, says he would rather focus more on "the people," and "freedom, liberty and opportunity... rather than profiling people."

8:24 p.m. Rodman and company present a printout of their petition, asks everyone in support of Seminar Day to stand. Most of the room appears to stand.

8:21 p.m. Ms. Rodman, who began a petition in support of Seminar Day says the whole conversation has not been easy but has been important. "It's a privilege and a duty to engage," in civic institutions. "The minority voice matters," she says. She mentions the merits of Seminar Day is luxury debate, compared to communities threatened by violence.

8:17 p.m. Student who says "she gets so much backlash," says racial discrimination is "not one of the most major problems at New Trier." She says "no one should ever feel guilty for being who they are or where they come from," referencing the idea of "white guilt" and a seminar from 2016.

8:16 p.m. He describes a class of people who have professionalized their racial grievances.

8:15 p.m. "To assign a minority group to a quota just marginalizes them even more." Pastor Brooks mentions Clarence Thomas's law degree. "Poverty not race," is the real dividing line, he says.

8:13 p.m. Ms. Hauser turns over the microphone to Pastor Corey Brooks of New Beginnings Church of Chicago.

8:12 p.m. "The goal of our time together on February 28th cannot be to achieve closure...the struggle for racial civil rights is not over, we don't live in a post-racial society now...we can prepare students to take part" in the discussions they'll face in their adult lives, Vargas says.

8:10 p.m. Mr. Vargas of the New Trier Educational Association discusses the history of past all-school seminar days at NTHS.

8:09 p.m. They praise the day as a "safe environment to better navigate the conversation outside of these walls...even when they seem uncomfortable." They also "embrace the opportunity to engage in this important dialogue with our peers."

8:07 p.m. Public comment begins with two students, co-heads of Amnesty International at NTHS. They say the views of Seminar Day align with theirs.

8:05 p.m. There is a reminder of everyone's best intentions to keep NTHS a high-performing school.

8:02 p.m. Public comment has been extended from 30 to 60 minutes.

7:59 p.m. There is a brief explanation of the public comment format. There have been 100 requests to speak.

7:58 p.m. Hayes explains the planned evaluation, which will include surveys of students and staff.

7:54 p.m. Two members of Student Voices in Equity discuss their presentation about cultural appropriation and appreciation. "As students of this community we see a strong need to diversify our homogeneous community and perspectives."

7:50 p.m. Hayes discusses examples seminars discussing pros/cons of athletes taking political stands, as well as another discussing the history and evolution of enfranchisement in American history, providing context for contemporary discussions of the Voting Rights Act. He mentions a case study regarding North Carolina's Voter ID legislation and its legal challenges.

7:45 p.m. Sally goes through the program, beginning with the keynote speakers. That portion will be followed by a "Common Lesson," gives example of a pro/con discussion about the Dakota Access Pipeline.

7:43 p.m. Hayes presents a series of slides, including ways the Seminar Day opens "Minds of Inquiry, Hearts to Compassion." Sally emphasizes importance of critical thinking. "Not understanding what's underneath what we believe is very limiting," he says. He said he wants students to think in a "broad and fair-minded manner," and "look for assumptions and biases," in theirs and others' thinking.

Slides that were presented are included below:

7:39 p.m. Paul Sally and Tim Hayes present update on Seminar Day.

7:36 p.m. Performance of a selection from the NTHS production of Guys & Dolls.

7:34 p.m. The choir presentation (VI (B)) is rescheduled to open the meeting.

7:33 p.m. The roll is called. Minutes are approved.

7:31 p.m. Doors have been closed, with an overflow crowd chanting, according to reports texted from outside the meeting.

7:19 p.m. The room is completely packed, with dozens in pre-made green t-shirts in support of the day.

6:35 p.m.: The board entered closed session. Public comment is set to begin at 7:30 p.m.

The agenda is included below:

(All photography by Brian Kroll. All documents via New Trier School Board.)