Saturday Soapbox: Cook County
Life in Train City, USA
Spend a little time in Des Plaines during the late morning and you get a pretty good idea of what terrifies Barrington about the proposed EJ&E/CN merger. Two tractors doing work on the UP tracks near the downtown train station Thursday morning effectively kept the gates down at all four downtown crossings for 10 to 15 minutes. But Des Plaines residents live with trains, as they have for more than a century. As any Maine West student -- or alum -- can tell you, if you want to be in your seat by first bell you better give yourself an extra 20 minutes.
You go, girl
"I'm excited about the opportunity to have a positive impact in a district I care about so deeply," Nancy Robb said last week, when she was publicly announced as the next superintendent of District 211. After 28 years in the state's largest high school district, the words ring sincere. Probably best known as the former principal of Palatine High School, Robb is liked and widely respected -- and has brought accolades onto District 211 and herself over her career. This is an exciting choice and a welcome one.
New superintendent, new rules
Elgin Area School District U-46 board members Monday voted to destroy tapes of closed meeting sessions from 18 months ago. The actions are legal and the timing impeccable. June will be 18 months since ex-superintendent Connie Neale began negotiating an extensive contract deal, one that still riles taxpayers. June will also be time to approve a new contract for incoming superintendent Jose Torres. The public was kept in the dark too long with the Neale debacle, only inciting anger and mistrust. To start things off right, the board should seriously consider making the new superintendent's contract public information.
Congratulations, Academic Team
The Daily Herald Academic Team, announced this past week, is so amazing that there are kids with perfect ACTs who are "only" Honorable Mention. "Only," our foot. Take a look at these kids. It isn't just about how smart they are -- but seriously, they're very smart. It's about the challenges they've undertaken to educate themselves, their clear-eyed goals, their dedication to the world around them. Be happy, Northwest suburbs -- these are our kids and they are doing us proud.
Best paying part-time job
How does the DuPage County Forest Preserve board prove their dedication to fiscal responsibility? They vote to give themselves a 3 percent raise every year for the next four years. With a salary of more than $50,000 a year for what is defined as a part-time job, perhaps the board should start accounting for the time they're spending doing their part.