Wrong decision that sends wrong message

Naperville Unit District 203 Superintendent Alan Leis and its board had a golden opportunity to set an example for Naperville, DuPage County, the great state of Illinois, and the entire nation - but failed when they reassigned principal Jim Caudill for plagiarizing a speech.

Jim Caudill had several opportunities to inform everyone that he was using a former student's speech. He failed to do so in crunch time. Alan Leis could have set a shining example for students by stating "If you make a mistake of this magnitude you must suffer the consequences and you are being fired for your actions -no matter how good your past work record is."

This reassignment sets a wrong tone for the very students at Central who are looking to their supervisors for the right and wrong ways to do things during their journey through life.

Superintendent Leis could have been a leader but instead followed major league baseball who, mistakenly, gave Pitcher Steve Howe, eight, yes eight, chances after being found guilty of drug abuse. Sadly, the Miami Hurricanes recruited and admitted top-rated linebacker Willie Williams, even though he had a long arrest record and some criminal convictions during his high school career.

One wonders if Central students will ask for the same type ofˆ  "reassignment" punishment if they are found guilty of violating academic integrity. Will the parents of these students file future lawsuits because of the gutless precedent set by the District 203 board? Wouldn't a harsh sentence have set a tone for students and others that improper behavior will not be tolerated at any level of higher education? Instead, will students think, "if the principal can get away with it - then I will also."

What were the superintendent and the board thinking? When will the proper governing powers act appropriately when academic integrity is compromised - in the highly-rated town of Naperville - that lacks the proper discipline at its schools.

Jim Lentz

Wheaton