Central Times adviser not planning to resign

Naperville Central High School newspaper adviser Linda Kane says administrators are threatening to fire her from her Central Times post if she does not resign by Friday.

The two sides clashed last week over a package of articles her students published in the Central Times newspaper that administrators feel glorifies drug use and also included profanity.

Principal Jim Caudill would not discuss specific disciplinary action the district may take against Kane.

"We're still discussing exactly where we're going to go with this situation," Caudill said, but he added that Kane would at least be finishing out the rest of the current school year as adviser of the newspaper.

Kane said Tuesday she has no intention of resigning from the newspaper she helped start nearly two decades ago and is exploring her legal options.

"I have fought for 19 years for these kids' First Amendment rights, and I will fight for my own rights," she said. "That's not going to change now. If they think they're going to get a resignation letter from me, they don't know me."

Caudill said activity sponsorships are one-year assignments.

"There is not a (long-term) contract on those, so we have the opportunity to replace people anytime we feel necessary," he said. "Especially if we feel we have justification."

The disciplinary action Kane says she faces would affect her role with the newspaper only, not her teaching position at the school.

The articles that created the stir appeared in the Feb. 28 edition of the newspaper and included a column against drug use, a first-person account of using and selling marijuana, and an article presenting both sides of the issue.

The paper's editor in chief has said the staff does not condone drug use and felt having all three stories made the package balanced.

The articles also included quotes with several explicit words, some spelled out completely and others only partially. The newspaper's policy allows these words only if they are "part of a direct quote and are imperative to the content or meaning of that quote."

Caudill said he doesn't believe the words are appropriate for a high school newspaper, or any newspaper. But Kane argues they are no worse than some of the words students read in literature or hear in the hallways.

Caudill and district administrators are exploring their options for changing this policy, but the Central Times staff has threatened to file a lawsuit if they do so, arguing their First Amendment rights are being violated.

Kane and Caudill have butted heads over Central Times stories several times over the years. One of the more recent cases was in 2005 when debate arose over whether Caudill could read stories in advance. At the time, Kane threatened to resign, but the two sides reached a compromise that editors would give Caudill a list of headlines and add an assistant adviser to the staff.

"They're just a phenomenal newspaper, and 99.9 (percent) of the time we're very pleased with what goes on," Caudill said. "But when we do have some concerns, we need to be able to talk to them regarding that. I need to hear something besides 'First Amendment rights say I can do what I want.' That's the way it's always been."

Last week, Kane accused Caudill of raising concerns about the articles because he is concerned about the image of the school and appeasing parents who are complaining.

Caudill said Tuesday he has granted numerous other interviews with the Central Times staff about controversial subjects.

"This is not about public relations at all," he said. "This is about the safety and welfare of our students."

Kane says she and her staff have had long talks about ethics, and she stands by the stories they published. Ideally, she said she would like to continue advising the newspaper until she retires in two years.

"That would be a blessing," she said. "This is my baby. I began it; I nurtured it. I love these kids. These kids are like my family."

Not advising the paper would also mean a reduction in retirement benefits, which are based on a teacher's last four years of salary and stipends. Last year, Kane said she was paid roughly $5,800 for overseeing the newspaper.