Dist. 158 board may be headed to a school near you

The Huntley Unit District 158 school board turned a critical eye on itself Thursday night as board members debated how to make meetings more efficient and effective.

The most visible change proposed Thursday would have the board conduct some of its meetings in schools at each of the district's three campuses.

This is done at other school districts in the state, including neighboring Community Unit District 300, where meetings held at the schools are often well-attended and allow the board to interact with teachers and parents from that school.

Board members and Superintendent John Burkey used the same rationale to support holding some meetings at District 158 schools -- although they noted potential difficulties with the concept.

"I think there's a lot of logistics problems with that, but it can be done," Burkey said.

Burkey proposed the idea in response to board member Larry Snow's suggestion that the board hold one-third of its meetings at Del Webb's Sun City -- in rough proportion to the amount of property taxes the Huntley community contributes to the district, according to Snow.

Snow's board colleagues rejected his idea of holding board meetings in Sun City -- seen as a base of Snow's support -- in favor of meeting at District 158 schools.

Residents throughout the district could view board meetings live if an idea floated by board President Shawn Green comes to pass.

Green suggested that the district broadcast school board meetings online, possibly in real time using streaming video.

The board president also proposed going paperless, meaning board members would get laptops and be able to access documents on the computer instead of sifting through the hundreds of pages printed for monthly board meetings.

Burkey said he supported most of the board's ideas and would explore whether they are feasible.