Community forum set in Grayslake District 46

Responding to a request from several parents, Grayslake Elementary District 46 officials will hold a community forum next week to address a variety of issues.

District 46 board members have agreed to hold the event at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, June 17 at Grayslake Middle School, which is off Route 83 north of Center Street. Officials made the decision at a meeting Monday night.

Concerns about budget cuts and spending are two of the reasons some parents say the informal discussion with elected District 46 board members is necessary. The format for formal board meetings prevents such give-and-take.

Similar to how other governmental agencies operate, visitors who speak during public comment time at District 46 meetings don't receive immediate board feedback. Each speaker gets about three minutes of microphone time.

District 46 board President Mary Garcia said the first hour of the forum June 17 will be devoted to written questions submitted to officials in advance. So far, she said, the questions have been mostly about finance and technology.

Garcia said she expects about 30 minutes to be set aside at the forum for questions that pop up that night. She said the questions posed in advance, particularly for financial issues, will allow officials to do proper research.

District 46 Superintendent Ellen Correll, Chief School Business Official Brad Goldstein and Assistant Superintendent of Teaching, Learning and Assessment Lynn Barkley are among the administrators expected to be in attendance.