District 200U’s search for new superintendent riles residents
Beecher School District 200U school board members voted Monday to start the search for a new superintendent as members of the public demanded an explanation from those opposed to extending Superintendent Brad Cox’s contract.
The 4-3 vote occurred amid continued public outcry for school board members to explain why they do not want to keep Cox, who is in the final year of his contract. He has been with the district since July 1, 2018, under a three-year contract, which concludes June 30, 2021. His salary is $149,128.40, according to public records.
The four school board members who voted in favor of seeking a replacement — Elizabeth Dousias, Juan Hernandez, Paul Goldrick and J. Karla Wcisel — declined to answer questions about why they want Cox replaced. Dousias and Hernandez said they would send statements to the Daily Southtown “shortly” but did not do so as of press time.
Resident Cindi Weishaar criticized the four board members and called for more transparency in their decisions.
“Transparency of a board should be automatic, not an exception,” she said. “You are a sitting board member. You answer to the taxpayers.”
Emotions ran high during the meeting, with one resident even being escorted away from the library after banging on a window from the hallway and shouting an expletive as the board cast its final vote to discontinue the district’s future employment relationship with Cox and move toward a new superintendent for the next fiscal year.
Board members Larry Hermen, Julie Papas and Ron Mazurek made up the contingent that opposed the measures to issue a request for proposals to hire a search firm to help find a new superintendent.
Hermen, the board president, several times had to call members of the audience to order for questioning or confronting the board during discussions. He noted following the designated time for public com
ment, the board needed to have its discussions uninterrupted.
“You will have a chance in March to change the outlook of the board,” he promised the crowd.
Members of the community since May have been lobbying for the School Board to at least consider an extension of Cox’s contract, praising the work he has done with the district. About 20 people spoke during the Monday meeting in an effort to sway the four who opposed extending the superintendent’s contract.
Jenny Biesterfeld said she has been trying to muster the “magic words” that might get some board members to change their minds about keeping Cox as the district’s superintendent. But having no
information on why four members are voting no, against the wishes of the community, has made it feel as though taxpayers’ opinions no longer matter.
“We are upset,” she said. “We are confused. We are frustrated. … You are losing our trust when you don’t hear us.”
She was not alone in her frustration.
“What are you thinking?” Crystal Johnson asked the board. “You obviously couldn’t care less about our students and our schools. … I have never been so disgusted.”
The votes occurred during a special meeting set up on Saturday and scheduled for five minutes before the regular Monday meeting was expected to begin. The three board members who opposed the effort to oust Cox questioned how it came together.
Group conversations between board members outside of an open meeting did not occur to put together the special meeting agenda, Dousias said.
“Discussions were had amongst individual board members, just like policy allows,” she said.
Dousias said board members were provided information in the board packet that everyone else received.
After the votes, Cox said he intends to spend the next 12 months focusing on what is best for the children and will see what happens next.
“It doesn’t change anything,” he said. “This is still a great community and a great organization to work for.”
Ashley Belt said she is concerned that 200U will not be able to find another superintendent as good as Cox after what happened at the special meeting.
“The reputation that this board is building for our district is pitiful,” she said. “This is shameful, and this is sad.” Some members of the board said following the meeting they could not help but feel the same way. “It’s quite obvious what the public wants,” Hermen said. Hermen said he also worries about how the board works together going forward. “If you were trying at all to work with other members — we can’t get them to talk to the other three members,” Hermen said. “They will not talk to us. We’ve asked them directly.”