The board has not determined a succession plan for board President Chris Welch, said Kevin McDermott. Welch won the Democratic nomination for the 7th District Illinois State Representative seat. There is no Republican challenger in the race. He has publicly said that he would not run again to remain on the D209 school board, but he has not made clear whether he would step down before his term ends. The school board elections take place in April.
If Welch chooses to step down in December, presuming he is elected to the state legislature, the board presidency would likely shift to Vice President Daniel Adams.
Adams, of Melrose Park, was elected with Welch in 2001. He is a longtime political figure and at one time was allied with ex-school board President Michael Manzo, but reportedly shifted allegiance in 2004 after Manzo opposed Melrose Park Mayor Ron Serpico. At the time, he told Manzo he could not support his mayoral challenge for fear that his father would lose a job working for the village of Melrose Park, according to Chicago Tribune articles at the time.
Even though the district has a no-nepotism policy, Adams’ wife, Deanna, was hired by the district on Jan. 30 as a front office secretary at Proviso East High School. Her salary is $39,297.
The board members up for re-election in the April 2013 elections are Welch, Adams, Cross and McDermott.
