Lincolnwood SD 74 Gets Third Board President in 2 Months

Lincolnwood School District 74 has seen three different board presidents in as little as two months.

Former board president David and board member Amy Frankel filled his position. On Monday,   Several people familiar with the matter told Skokie Patch the resignation was “unexpected.”

Now, recently reelected board member Darlene Fourkas is president. Fourkas has worked for the school board for nine years and served the PTA prior to that.

“The immediate goal is to ratify the votes needed for an interim superintendent and assistant superintendent,” Fourkas said. “Right now, we are really focusing on the crisis the district is in. The super isn’t in place. We lost another board member – second in six months - I would say there are some urgencies that we have to work through first.”

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Last week, several potential candidates to fill the interim position  during a school board meeting.

Filing in the vacant seat

Several controversial meassures voted by the school board have been consistently defeated 4-to-3. Some of those votes included the extension of Klainer’s contract, the reelection of board member Frankel and Fourkas. In all those instances, board members Frankel, Koder, Fourkas and Davros voted for the initiatives. Despite their reelection or new contract, Superintendent Klaisner is no longer superintendent and Frankel has since resigned.

Fourkas said filling the vacant board seat is among the district’s top priorities.

“We will advertise, solicit and interview for this position,” Fourkas said. “There will also be something up on the website.

“I’m hoping a candidate comes forward,” she added. “Someone who wants to apply to the school board for good reasons.”

What led to all the changes?

Many residents said the turmoil began when the school district decided to build a new administration office at 6950 East Prairie Road. The project was supposed to cost about $700,000, but ultimately exceeded that. The parking lot– which can hold about 30 cars – cost $1.6 million alone.

The school district By building a hallway connecting neighboring Rutledge Hall to Lincoln Hall the district would have only been building an “extension.” Technically, the district wouldn’t have had to go to referendum had they gone this route, despite the fact they were planning on building a brand new Lincoln Hall.

The community, however, responded by filing a lawsuit against the school district, which eventually led to the $25-million measure going to referendum.

Residents who were already frustrated with the cost of the new administration building began asking questions and filing Freedom of Information Acts. Before long, residents

Soon after, former board member Richard Ruderman resigned, citing unethical behavior by the board as his reason for leaving. Koder would also step down from his position as president.

After a $25-million referendum that even the mayor opposed was defeated 9-to1, superintendent Mark Klaisner resigned and assistant superintendent Susan Brandt retired. Assistant superintendent for business, Kevin Nohelty, is also on administrative leave for unknown reasons.

Read more: See our previous coverage regarding SD 74

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