Grayslake Dist. 46 leaders talk about bus behavior

Student behavior on buses was a prime topic addressed at a community forum Wednesday night hosted by Grayslake Elementary District 46.

District 46 Superintendent Ellen Correll moderated the informal gathering in which she and other officials answered general questions for an hour. The district launched the periodic forums in June 2009.

Children's behavior on buses was one of the first issues to arise. Correll told the roughly dozen parents in attendance that pupils can be removed from a bus if deemed necessary.

I know there are multiple times this (removal) has happened this year," Correll said.

Correll added that parents have been brought in to view video of their misbehaving children. However, she said, not all District 46 buses are equipped with recording systems.

Lynn Barkley, principal at Avon Center School in Round Lake Beach, said she tries to ensure order is maintained on student buses.

"Speaking for the other principals, we all take busing very seriously," Barkley said.

Parent Shannon Smigielski asked several questions on behalf of other residents that were submitted to her through a Yahoo message board she operates that's dedicated to District 46 issues. One of the questions asked what District 46 considers to be deficit spending.

"It's not allowed," District 46 board member Michael Linder quickly replied.

Board member Susan Facklam said the district simply views deficit spending as expenditures outpacing revenue.

Smigielski also asked about Edward Towle, who bested about 40 candidates to become chief school business official. Towle is contracted to start July 1, but District 46 officials say they learned he's been on paid leave from a suburban Milwaukee school system since February 2009. He resigned from Brown Deer School District effective July 1, but he'll stay on paid leave and receive his full $107,449 salary until then.

Neither Towle nor Brown Deer District Administrator Deb Kerr said he was on paid leave during the hiring process, according to Grayslake officials. Towle met with the District 46 school board earlier this week to provide his side of the story in a closed-door meeting.

Correll said Towle's job status is on the District 46 board agenda for a meeting Wednesday, May 19. The session will be at Grayslake Middle School on Library Lane, just west of Route 83.