Soapbox: Cloudy forecast in District 203
Jackie Romberg has her work cut out for her as the newest member of the Naperville Unit District 203 school board. Appointed last week by the six other board members, the 23-year Naperville resident and former financial consultant has been a frequent and valued volunteer in the district who served on the Naperville Education Foundation and organized last fall's Yuks for Youth comedy show. Despite her strong resume, her appointment comes under a cloud because she worked on board President Suzyn Price's spring re-election campaign and urged voters to back two other successful candidates, Mike Jaensch and Terry Fielden. All three voted to add her to the board. It's a decision that raises sadly unpleasant questions about what was more important to board members: Romberg's resume or the role she helped play in getting them elected.
Where the board went wrong
The furor in some circles over Jackie Romberg's appointment to the District 203 school board never would have gained steam if board members had followed two simple rules. First, be open. The interviews with all 24 applicants should have been conducted in public so taxpayers could see which candidates deserved consideration, instead of leaving that decision solely in the hands of six people operating behind closed doors who may or may not have a vested interest in picking someone who backs them politically. Given Romberg's background, she surely would have been able to stand up under such scrutiny. Second, be up front. Any board member who had a personal relationship with any of the candidates should have made that public before the process began. That would have at least reduced the appearance -- however fair or unfair -- of political paybacks and secret agendas.
Itchy and scratchy
Gypsy moths. Asian longhorned beetles. Emerald ash borers. 17-year cicadas. What's next? A plague of locusts? Actually, it was the itch mite that became the most recent of the pests to plague our region. Numerous residents are clogging phone lines to the Cook and DuPage county health departments complaining of red, itchy lesions on their skin. While health experts say not to worry, those of us who are scratching away aren't so sanguine. Here's to the onset of winter. Frost bite doesn't look so bad.
Local rockers get national spotlight
With nothing more than a camcorder and desire to succeed, the Wood Dale-based rock group After Never entered a music video into a competition hosted by "The Early Show." Now that homemade video for the band's catchy song "Late Night Alibi" is a vote away from winning the CBS program's "Living Room … Live! Battle of the Bands" contest. For After Never's members, it could result in them performing live for a national television audience. We wish them good luck. No matter what happens, they've won us over as fans.
Hurray for stylish police vehicles
Congratulations to the Itasca Police Department for having such attractive squad cars. Public works and police staff spent time to research the look, feel and importance of spending tax dollars to ensure squad cars look good. We're sure it will contribute to a reduction in crime throughout the village. If only every police department had squad cars that were so attractive, it could mean the end of crime everywhere.
What's in the water?
Pet lovers and pool managers are shocked at health officials advice against doggy swims in public pools because they are, um, unsanitary. But why did anyone think such pool sharing was a good idea in the first place?