DeLacey decision more complex than 7-0 vote

Deadlines are a necessary but sometimes frustrating part of journalism.

On Monday, owing to my early deadline, I could not provide as much context as I would have liked in a story about the demolition of the old deLacey Family Education Center.

While the Community Unit District 300 school board unanimously backed the administration's plan to tear down the building and add practice fields for Dundee-Crown High School, the decision-making process was a bit more complex than the 7-0 vote would seem to indicate.

Board members questioned whether the district should spend almost $1 million to complete an optional project when there may be more pressing needs.

"We have other things in the district that need to be done versus this," board member Monica Clark said.

District administrators, however, forcefully advocated for the renovation plan, which will install practice fields, parking, lighting and sidewalks on the former deLacey site next to Dundee-Crown.

"Dundee-Crown is landlocked, they have Perry (Elementary School) there and they have a ravine running right through campus," District 300 Director of School Operations Mike Prombo said. "They really need this space."

The administration's argument won out, although board members reserved the right to reject bids for the deLacey work if they decide the district has higher priorities.

Little ado about something:

After last month's vigorous debate over a proposal to increase training for teachers at District 300's three high schools, I was a bit surprised that the plan generated little discussion on Monday.

The board simply voted 6-1 to approve the proposal, which would more than double staff development time for high school teachers.

The sole 'no' vote was Monica Clark, who sparked the debate last month when she said the proposal was an excuse for teachers to spend less time in the classroom.

Board member Karen Roeckner did, however, ask administrators to provide a report on the effectiveness of the increased training after one semester.

Dundee-Crown staffer wins big: The spotlight at last week's Kane County Educator Awards Banquet shone brightly on Deb Perryman, an Elgin High School teacher who was named Kane County Educator of the Year.

But Perryman had to share the spotlight with many other educators who impressed the Kane County Regional Office of Education with their commitment to their profession.

One of these educators was Dave Hatcher. Hatcher works at the media center at Dundee-Crown High School and was praised by his colleagues for the way he has integrated the media center's resources into the school's curriculum.

I spoke with Hatcher after the ceremony. He seemed floored by the honor and genuinely humbled to be recognized after 30 years in education.