Greater transparency requires effort

If we've learned anything about improving transparency in local government, it's that it doesn't happen easily.

And, it most certainly doesn't happen without residents getting involved, sometimes emphatically demanding change and showing up again, and again and again, until it occurs.

Such change is taking place in Grayslake Elementary District 46, where officials are making strides to be more transparent thanks to some not-so-gentle pushes of local residents.

It started with a call from citizens to schedule public forum nights so they could ask pointed questions and receive answers on a variety of topics, such as the budget and expenses.

Next, residents contacted Joseph Calomino, director of the Americans for Prosperity Illinois chapter, who began prodding District 46 officials in late 2009 to create an online ledger of checks written. That feature now provides specifics such as amounts, individuals or vendors paid, and business purposes.

Most recently, district officials began considering ideas to make it easier for taxpayers to find documents on the school system's website.

Last week, the Daily Herald's Bob Susnjara reported the details of a presentation by board members Michael Carbone and Susan Facklam, who studied which additional documents should be posted on the district site.

They said they were surprised by the amount of information available but determined the website needed to be reorganized and streamlined to make it "a little more friendly" to find a variety of financial documents, such as the teachers' contract.

New suggestions the board will study include adding a link to financial information on the school board page and providing a list of lobbying organizations and vendors that have a relationship with District 46.

Now we're talking about a level of transparency that is useful to residents and fosters the kind of give-and-take that should exist.

In this space during the past year, we've urged voters and taxpayers to demand accountability and transparency in all government operations.

Our editorial series "Cleaning up corruption" continues to spotlight problems in areas such as campaign financing, government structure and a corrupt culture. One aspect of those problems involves citizens too often being unable to easily access public documents and meetings that allow them to judge their governments.

Citizens are demanding that change in Grayslake Elementary District 46, and elected officials are responding.

That gives us hope it can happen in other local governments as well.