Grafton Twp. plans in judge's hands

The fate of Grafton Township's plan to build new offices in Lake in the Hills could be in the hands of a McHenry County judge.

Jude Michael Caldwell is scheduled to rule Monday on whether to grant an injunction that would bar the township board from building the offices before voters weigh in on the matter at the next general election.

If Caldwell sides with supporters of the new township hall, who have argued the board can proceed without voter approval, the board will be able to award bids for the construction of the building - as it planned to do last month, before opponents obtained a temporary restraining order.

Because the township board seems intent to proceed despite a petition that seeks to put the issue on the ballot, the legal option seems to be the last recourse for Supervisor-elect Linda Moore and her supporters.

If the legal option fails, it is difficult to see how Moore, who will not have a majority on the board, can stop the construction of the new building - as she promised to do if elected.

At the most recent Grafton Township board meeting, trustees approved a procedural change that allows trustees, instead of only the supervisor, to place items on board meeting agendas.

That means that even if Moore, once she becomes supervisor, refuses to put the construction contracts on the agenda, one of the trustees who supports the new building can.

Trustee Rob LaPorta, who supported the change in meeting procedure, said it was in the works even before controversy erupted over the township hall.

"It wasn't because of Linda specifically," LaPorta said. "We would have done it even if Rossi was re-elected."

District 300 off to feisty start:

Community Unit District 300 board President Joe Stevens got what he asked for Monday.

After the "new" board was seated (the one "new" member had served on the board before), Stevens encouraged the board to engage in more lively debate for the benefit of the public.

Lively debate is what he got when board member Monica Clark said a proposal for more teacher training was just a way for teachers to get out of class.

The comment that elicited the biggest reaction was when Clark said, "I don't think it has to do with professional development. I think it has to do with professionalism toward their career. There is no professionalism."

Teachers in the audience, principals of the district's three high schools and fellow board members interpreted Clark's remarks as characterizing the district's teachers as unprofessional - which Clark denied.

All too often, as Stevens noted, the school board will vote on an issue without much debate, leaving parents and residents confused about why a decision was made.

While comments made Monday left some with a bitter taste, residents who attended the meeting gained a better understanding of where their elected representatives stand on the issues.

And this understanding is vital to making sure your school board members work for you.