Mundelein High board postpones discussion of posting memos online

The documents the Mundelein High School District 120 board reviews at its twice-monthly meetings will go back up on the school's Web site - at least temporarily.

Those memos - typically covering purchases, contracts, financial reports and other matters - traditionally had been posted on the Web site a day or two before each meeting. The step, initiated in 2005, allowed community members to educate themselves about the issues before the board's discussions.

After the school's Web site was revamped July 1, however, school administrators opted to stop putting them online.

For the board's meeting Tuesday night, the agenda was posted on the Web site - but supporting documents were not.

That didn't sit well with board President Edwin Specht or Vice President Vicky Kennedy. Three board members were absent Tuesday night, and Specht and Kennedy both said they want the memos for future meetings available online until the full board can debate the matter.

The discussion was postponed until the board's second meeting in August, which is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Aug. 25.

Superintendent Jody Ware defended the documents' removal, saying she's concerned about publicizing confidential information such as proposed personnel changes or students' names that might appear on financial reports.

Specht offered a compromise: Posting everything but the bill lists and personnel reports until the full board's discussion. No one objected.