Board candidates address Dist. 46 issues

Candidates for Grayslake Elementary District 46 school board recently addressed a variety of issues, such as whether the superintendent has too much control over elected officials.

Five candidates are running for three open, 4-year seats in the April 5 election. On the ballot are incumbents Mary Garcia and Susan Facklam, and newcomers Shannon Smigielski, Marchell Norris and Kip Evans.

All of the candidates addressed issues in Daily Herald questionnaires and in editorial board endorsement interviews.

One of the questions posed to the candidates pertained to whether District 46 is similar to some other school systems where it’s perceived superintendents hold too much sway over the elected board members.

Evans, 63, a retired teacher from Grayslake, said he’s “shocked” by the lack of input he’s seen from the District 46 board. Evans is taking his first shot at elected office.

Smigielski, 41, a school bus driver from Hainesville, said the superintendent’s role is to provide ideas and research so board members can decide an issue. She said District 46’s method of operation needs to change.

“The superintendent works for the board,” Smigielski said. “And that is a dynamic that has not been shown. And that needs to change.”

Garcia, 48, a teacher from Grayslake elected to her first term in 2007, said she doesn’t believe the current group of elected officials always agree with the superintendent’s requests.

Declining to reveal specifics, Garcia said there was a recent idea floated by Superintendent Ellen Correll that didn’t have backing from all board members.

“I don’t feel that our board is a rubber-stamping board,” Gracia said. “I think that we have enough good discussions at our board meetings. There is no hidden agenda.”

Facklam, 58, an on-hiatus registered nurse from Grayslake on the board since 2003, said how much direction elected officials take from a superintendent can depend on the level of homework they do before meetings. She said she and Garcia do much research before meetings.

“We do get a recommendation on most of the action that we take from the administration, but not always,” Facklam said. “Frequently, there are other options.”

Norris, a private business owner from Round Lake who declined to give her age, said the school board is supposed to set a direction for the superintendent to follow.

She said the superintendent should operate similar to a chief executive officer in private business who reports to a board of directors, who are accountable to shareholders. In the case of District 46, the shareholders are the taxpayers.