Too Many Lawyers In District 205 'Pot'?

Elmhurst IL

17 June, 2021

10:28 AM

Description

ELMHURST, IL — The Elmhurst school board this week approved a policy requiring that residents who email the school district to abide by its policy on access to electronic networks. The policy also requires residents, to the extent possible, to limit their communication to relevant employees and officials. Board member Jim Collins opposed it. "I can't imagine anything more frustrating to a community member than to get a response back that their email to the school board or whoever within the school district violated board policy 6:235, whatever that may be," Collins said. "I think we're frustrating people who may have unintentionally violated a policy they don't know about. I just think we should be doing everything we can to be responsive and attentive to our community." Member Courtenae Trautmann defended the policy, which was drafted by the Illinois Association of School Boards. "It's really trying to make an efficient communication system. All it is asking is that the goal should be to contact the appropriate district personnel and not send an email" to a lot of employees at once, Trautmann said. Collins said the policy "just reeks of too many lawyers in the pot." Member Karen Stuefen also had problems with the proposal, saying Elmhurst School District 205 is big and some people are new to it. "They have no idea who to go to. This says I'm really going to whack you if it goes to the wrong person. You can read it that way," she said. Member Chris Kocinski said the policy just allows emails to be forwarded to the right people. He said the board would be unhappy if anyone used the policy to respond with "nasty grams." Collins said the policy is bad for those just trying to seek help. "Is it making life easier for people who pay taxes who want to communicate with us?" he said. Others said the policy would not make it harder. During public input, resident Jan Dorner urged the board to reject the proposal. "I don't know how you expect any parent or community member to be aware of this policy," she said. She also questioned whether violators' email addresses would be blocked from the district's system. The board voted 5-2 for the policy, with Collins and Stuefen dissenting. Emails have become an issue in other districts. In early 2020, Kevin Camden, then a board member for Hinsdale High School District 86, announced he would no longer respond to constituents' emails. He did so after becoming upset with emails about controversial changes to the science curriculum. Camden, who became board president a few months later, reversed his email policy. In April, he lost in his bid for re-election.