It is never a surprise when Forest Park finds a way.
And so it is with the flagpole. Forest Park at some point purchased a second flagpole to install in front of village hall. But when the time came, during a June 12 village council meeting, to appropriate the $3,000 to install the pole, it ended in a 2-2 tie with one member absent.
The second pole is needed so that Forest Park can have an overflow for the many flags it chooses to fly. Right now the single pole can display the American flag, the state flag, the county flag, the village flag and the POW-MIA flag under village ordinance.
This time of year the village also chooses to fly a Juneteenth and a Pride flag.
So Commissioner Michelle Melin-Rogovin, with encouragement from residents, launched a GoFundMe to raise the $3,000. As of July 2, $1,500 had been raised. The local American Legion pledged $500. And there is a plan being made to host a fundraiser to raise the rest.
This tale of local generosity is the least surprising story this week.
‘We are bleeding’ at D209
It sounds simple. Open the Proviso Township High Schools after Labor Day and have the buses run on time, a security staff hired and trained, teachers in every classroom with textbooks, class schedules that make sense.
But the dismal failings in opening school last year make these basic operational goals a stretch. We’re glad to hear Amanda Grant, the new president of the District 209 school board articulate clearly the board’s expectations that the school administration, headed by Supt. James Henderson, will accomplish these goals.
Parents and students, teachers and staff deserve a start to the school year that is not plagued by chaos, does not send the message that this Proviso community deserves less than competent leadership.
“We are not looking to do anything huge. But we are looking into doing the things we must do and do them well,” Grant told the Review’s Amaris Rodriguez. “I am not looking to do ginormous changes this year because I feel like, in so many ways, we are bleeding and I want to stop the bleeding.”
The right goal and an absolutely stunning statement from a school board president. Our views on Henderson are clear. He should be gone. Now.
Short of that — and we understand this new board majority exercising some patience, if only to make its case for dismissal for cause — making plain the fundamental expectations for a new school year is wise. Also making clear to Henderson that he actually works for this board and not the reverse is essential.
Two months to get things right. The board has set the goals. The superintendent must perform.
