School Board justified in holding closed session
In an April 29 article and May 6 editorial, the “Downers Grove Reporter” addressed the Community High School District 99 Board of Education’s consideration of its nepotism policy in closed session.

As the Reporter correctly pointed out, the board went into closed session under the “employment of an employee” exception in the Illinois Open Meetings Act. The Reporter failed to note that the reasons identified for going into closed session also included the discussion of “collective bargaining matters” as permitted by the Open Meetings Act.

The Reporter also correctly pointed out that one of the employees potentially impacted by the nepotism policy is John Wander, a teacher and head football coach at Downers Grove North High School, who is also the brother of then-incoming board member Deborah Boyle. The Reporter was apparently unaware the School District also employs Ms. Boyle’s father as an equipment manager. Ms. Boyle’s relationship to both employees is covered by the board’s nepotism policy, and her brother is covered by the board’s collective bargaining agreement with the Downers Grove Education Association.

The board and its attorney went into closed session at its meeting of April 27 to receive and discuss the attorney’s advice on the application of the policy to these two employees and Ms. Boyle and related collective bargaining matters. The board agrees with the Reporter that discussion of policies as a general matter must be done in open session.

However, where the application of the policy impacts, or potentially impacts, specific employees and collective bargaining matters, it agrees with the advice of its attorney that such discussion may take place in closed session. This is particularly the case where the board is engaging in attorney-client privileged communications with its attorney on these topics.

The Reporter may disagree with board’s decision to receive and discuss these communications in closed session April 27, but that does not mean it was improper, illegal or in violation of the Open Meetings Act, as the April 29 article implied and May 6 editorial stated. While the board retains its closed-session rights as discussed above, I can assure the Reporter that discussion of the policy, and its application to employees and board members generally, will take place in open session at future meetings.

Julia Kennedy Beckman, District 99 School Board president

Don’t let radical groups hijack schools
Write on, Jerry Moore. “Groups shouldn’t bring their political agendas into the classroom.” Any students who refuse to take part in the educational system by, for example, refusing to answer teachers’ questions, like some well-intentioned but misguided students do on the pro-homosexual Day of Silence, should not be pandered to.

They should either be sent to detention or suspended.

We need to nip this whole politicization-of-the-schools thing in the bud. If we don’t, one can foresee a time when every day at school some students will choose to remain silent for the day for all kinds of odd reasons. And schools that cater to silent pro-homosexual students will find it hard to justify “discriminating” against students who are silent for other causes, no matter how strange or controversial or immoral.

Let’s not let extremist groups like (Gay, Lesbian & Straight Education Network), the radical organization behind the Day of Silence, to hijack our schools.

Wayne Lela, Woodridge

Residents deserve thanks for vote of confidence
Thank you to the Downers Grove Grade School District 58 community for your vote of confidence.
I am prepared to serve as a member of the Board of Education. I look forward to bringing together the community and the schools.

Sallie Ann Moutvic Lupescu, Downers Grove Grade School District 58 board member

Learn practical steps to prevent disease
The recent concern about swine flu is getting much media attention toward the prevention of infection. There is much that we can do to prevent this and other illnesses throughout the year.

The single most important strategy in preventing infection in ourselves and others is frequent hand washing with soap and water or an alcohol-based hand sanitizer. There are many misconceptions about these portable hand sanitizers, but cleaning hands throughout the day kills germs instantly and they do not cause antibiotic resistance.

Other ways to decrease the chance of illness include eating nutritious food, getting adequate sleep, daily exercise and avoiding crowds where illness may easily be spread. The old adage “An ounce of prevention is worth pound of cure” has never been more important than it is today.

Janis Corcoran Bartel, Westmont, infection preventionist MSN, RN