A few weeks back at a meeting of the Oak Park and River Forest High School board, one of its members had the temerity to launch an idea in public session that had not been vetted suitably enough for some colleagues. The result last week was a board advisory motion urging that the board president and superintendent eliminate board comments as an agenda item.
Good heavens, what a stultifying approach to public governance. That the motion passed by a 5-2 motion says nothing good about this school board.
We know, we know, Sharon Patchak-Layman’s school board colleagues wish the ground beneath her feet would just crack open and consume her. But there is a reason this newspaper keeps endorsing her and the public keeps electing her — two terms at District 97 and now a second term at the high school — and that is because she is a different voice who always pushes toward greater transparency.
Her great sin this time? In a moment when (see previous editorial) the parks and elementary schools were considering sharing headquarters space, she suggested OPRF might see if it had room in its million-square-foot building to house the grade school headquarters. Not a bad idea. And a perfectly appropriate idea to air in a public meeting.
Ease up, folks. Patchak-Layman is a duly elected school board member. Let her speak.