Parting shots on both sides

Itasca School District 10's longest-serving and, arguably, most controversial school board member announced his resignation Tuesday.

Jim McCann stepped down three weeks after a surprise retirement announcement by Superintendent Ken Cull, who McCann helped bring to the district from Schaumburg in 2003.

McCann, who served from 1999 to 2003 and 2005 through Tuesday, said he took several weeks to make the decision.

However, he said his desire to leave was sparked by the tension that's engulfed the district's boardroom since this spring. It's tension that, McCann claims, was caused by board President Nancy DiCiolla and several trustees aligned with her.

"I've just become so disgusted with the obvious agenda that Nancy and her friends are stream-rolling through here," McCann said Tuesday. "I'm watching them dismantle the District 10 organization that I and so many other people worked so hard to put together."

McCann said he believes the dismantling started when most of the seven-member board forced Cull's announcement that he's retiring at end of the school year.

"I just don't want to be associated with them anymore," he said.

But DiCiolla said McCann was the source of the tension.

"Maybe now we will stop hearing the complaints from the public about Jim losing his temper at the dais and using valuable board time to engage in name-calling and bashing," DiCiolla said. "He was very unproductive and never showed the ability to use constructive means to solve problems."

DiCiolla said McCann's resignation was long overdue, based on his lack of enthusiasm for searching for Cull's replacement and unwillingness to work with other board members.

Trustee Fred Maier said the district will miss McCann's experience and wisdom.

"I'm disappointed to lose Jim's views on many things, but he didn't always present those views in ways the board was interested in hearing," Maier said. "Jim's points were usually valid but, at times, came across as antagonistic and that can wear on people."

Kathryn Miller, one of two new trustees elected in May and McCann's neighbor on the dais had already grown tired of McCann's attitude.

"His antics and derisive behavior will not be missed," she said. "Him leaving will not interfere in any way with us moving forward.

Cull disagreed, saying he will always feel a bond with the members who hired him.

"It'll have an impact," Cull said. "I, for one, will miss his passion and candor about what he thinks is right for the district. But we go on."

In the meantime, McCann said he will reflect on the positive impact he believes he helped foster in Itasca during his six years of service. He'll also get reacquainted with his wife and three children.

"I've reached the point in my life where spending my free time with them is more important," McCann said. "I'm proud of my service to this community but now it's my family's time."