To The Editor:
Rich Township High School District 227 is very near and dear to my heart. I have spent many years there—first as a student and then as a long-time board member, so it should come as no surprise I wish to weigh in the important school board election April 9, 2013.
In all the time I served, I had one focus: what is best for the kids. My colleagues and I respected each other because we were equal and we all were there to set policy and a budget and, of course, hire a superintendent—a professional educator who made recommendations on improving the education of the youngsters we served.
I say all this because I don’t see much of that going on. It bothers me because I cannot condone negativity. People who are that unhappy cannot effectively govern impartially.
Having said all this, let me turn to my main reason for writing this letter: to support and encourage you to re-elect Betty J. Owens to the 227 school board. I respect Betty’s work on the board. Contrary to publicized criticism, Betty has attempted to allow the teachers to teach, the administrators to administer and the board members govern. Betty has achieved the status of Fellow in the Illinois Associate of School Boards, which means she understands the role of a board member and lives by those tenets.
Please join me in re-electing Betty J. Owens to the Rich Township School District 227 school board.
Judy Lohr
Park Forest
