The school board at Proviso Township high schools got it right — finally — when it still narrowly approved the hiring of its superintendent’s choice for the lead post in personnel and hiring.
We’ve made this point before. We’ll repeat it. When a reform-focused school board hires a superintendent and attaches the word “transformative” to his job description, it ought to be assumed that, over the course of his first two years, he gets to hire the top staffers he believes can further that transformation.
But when Supt. Jesse Rodriquez brought Anthony Brazouski forward in April, his hiring was turned back by a split board acting more like the politicized school boards of Proviso’s past than any group intending to send signals of support to their one and only employee, the superintendent.
Was there miscommunication over internal processes the first time around? Possibly. But better boards figure out how to smooth confusion, gain clarity rather than leave its superintendent hanging.
We’re happy that Sam Valtierrez, the board’s vice-president, switched his vote and supported Rodriguez’s choice. We’re perplexed that Theresa Kelley, Della Patterson and Amanda Grant did not make this unanimous during the vote in May.
Forest Park’s hub
The Community Center needs a new kitchen. The last time it was updated was some 30 years back, says Karen Dylewski, director of this community hub.
So with a can-do attitude, leadership from volunteers, including Michael Thompson, cooperation from the village government, which urged add-on contributions from residents via this year’s vehicle sticker renewals, and, on June 1, a hometown fundraiser at the American Legion hall, the center has now raised the $20,000 it needs.
Let the update begin.
The American Legion fundraiser was pure Forest Park — a combination fundraiser and feel-good session. With food donated by local eateries, the support of the Legion, a performance by the Redmonds, and a strong turnout by the many friends of the Community Center, there was genuine camaraderie and good will.
10 years of Juneteenths
Ten years. That’s the milestone anniversary of our village’s Juneteenth celebration. It will be celebrated this Saturday evening at the Forest Park Aquatic Center at the park.
We’ll admit that a decade ago, Rory Hoskins, a former Forest Park Village Council member and the founder of this celebration, had to explain to us just what Juneteenth was actually celebrating.
We learned it is the momentous day when enslaved black Americans in Texas were officially freed with the arrival of Union troops in Galveston. This was two months after Lee’s surrender at Appomattox.
In Forest Park, our Juneteenth commemoration is a celebratory and happy party at the pool. Everyone is welcome, everything from pool admission to plenty of food and prizes, is free.
