Angela Wilcox, Leah Collister-Lazzari and Barry Altshuler
Angela Wilcox, current and second longest serving 220 Board of Education member, recently withdrew from the race for another term on the board. This week, the district’s superintendent, Dr. Robert Hunt, announced his departure only eighteen (18) after his installment (as an aside, the BOE under former President Kazmier and then VP Ficke-Bradford spent nearly a year and Lord knows how much in taxpayer dollars searching for Hunt in 2020).
In light of these two recent events, we think it’s time to take a good look at the candidates running for 220 Board of Education in the upcoming April election.
Incumbent Barry Altshuler, a pediatrician who espouses on his professional website to believing in ‘holistic’ care, routinely advocated for vaccination of students, to keep students remote and masked. Altshuler voted to keep Gender Queer in the District’s libraries, saying, “kids need the book,” and he “wished that book was around when (he) was in middle school.” For reference, the book is recommended for ages 16 and up.
Altshuler was also heard violating the doctor/patient HIPPA confidentiality when he discussed his patient, Alex Strobl, publicly during BOE meetings surrounding the controversy of Strobl dropping from the 2021 BOE election.
Incumbent Leah Collister-Lazzari voted to keep students remote and masked. Collister-Lazzari also wrote emails micro-managing Dr. Hunt, such as asking him to tell BHS basketball coaches to make sure the kids were properly masked while playing sports.
In December, Collister-Lazzari voted remotely for an increase in the levy while on a purported ‘business meeting’ in New Zealand, yet also advocated in favor of the District increasing the parental cost of kindergarten enrichment and voted against keeping the fees at their current rate in favor of raising them.
During the D220 strategic planning meetings she brought a 3×5 card with Ficke-Bradford’s equity statement written on it and advocated to have the equity statement put into the D220 mission statement.
Most egregiously, in the opinion of the Observer, in 2021 when three new members of the current Board were sworn in for their first BOE meeting, Altshuler and Collister-Lazzari colluded with Sandra Ficke-Bradford and Erin Chan Ding to oust Member Wilcox from any position as a Board Officer. Wilcox was 6 years into the position, to Altshuler’s and Collister-Lazzari’s 2, and had an exemplary record as the Treasurer of the Board in preceding years.
In addition, the public had made it clear to the BOE Board that Wilcox was preferred to succeed to the position of President surrounding controversial actions of Ficke-Bradford and Kazmierz and their treatment of Alex Strobl who withdrew as a candidate in the 2021 election following their strong-arm tactics.
For these reasons, and more to come, we urge voters NOT to vote for Barry Altshuler and Leah Collister-Lazzari. They do not deserve to continue on our 220 school board.
Agreed on a big NO to these two. It is imperative to break the stranglehold Ficke-Bradford, Altshuler & Collister-Lazarri have on the BOE. The damage they’ve done with Ding by their side is incalculable. I’d love to hear the Hunt & Wilcox exit interviews.
Last month, Lazzari was the only board member to access the annual budget meeting remotely as well as the only board member to vote for an increase on EVERY proposed tax and school fee increase across the board. Six of the seven board members voted “yes” to suspending an increase in fees for full day kindergarten families, yet Lazzari voted to implement the increase. You can enjoy more fees and taxes with less goods and services for another four years with her.
Over 500 families have left D220. That should speak volumes to Altshuler and collisterlazzari needing to go. Not to mention our falling school ratings. They are a disgrace to our schools.
Has Altshuler come clean on the Leah New Zealand vacation thing? It’s clear from his reaction on the tape he knew it wasn’t business.
Poker Face – Altshuler clearly knows more than he’s saying, you could seem him squirming. But, of course, they’re going to take it up outside of the view of the public in the ‘Policy’ meeting. Problem is, D220 ‘Policy’ Committee doesn’t set these rules, the Open Meetings Act is a state statute, the intent of which is “to protect the citizen’s right to know,” the “Attorney General may issue a subpoena to any person … having knowledge of … an alleged violation of this Act” and the violation of which is a Class C misdemeanor. The ‘Policy’ committee doesn’t get to override state law.
Interesting observations. It is apparent from public comments at the last meeting that at least one person has brought a complaint for an open meetings act violation. If people have information regarding it, including Barry or any of the other board of education members, they should contact the public access counselor and let the attorney general handle it. That would be the ethical thing to do and certainly go a long way toward restoring some of the public’s trust.
Public Access Counselor
Office of the Attorney General
500 S. 2nd Street
Springfield, Illinois 62701
Phone:
1-877-299-FOIA
(1-877-299-3642)
Fax: (217) 782-1396
public.access@ilag.gov
Taxpayers, did you know that Cuba Township, helemd by one of the current BoE members spouse, pays an annual sallary to their elected trustees? $1000/yr each. Seems a waste of taxpayer dollars, and the only local government unit thatndoes this in the area.
John – Did you know that minimal research proves this to be an inaccurate statement. For example, posted on their online publicly available records:
ALGONQUIN TOWNSHIP-PUBLIC DISCLOSURE OF “TOTAL COMPENSATION” Illinois Public Act 97-0609
As per Public Act the total Compensation Package consists of: salary, health insurance, housing allowance, vehicle allowance, clothing allowance, bonuses, loans, vacation days, & sick days.
Year ending 03/31/2022
Trustee Teresa Sharpe Decker $ 1,948.94
Trustee Theresa Fronczak $ 1,948.94
Trustee Millie Medendorp $ 1,948.94
Trustee Edward J. Zimel, Jr. $ 1,948.94
TOWNSHIP OF BARRINGTON BARRINGTON, ILLINOIS
ANNUAL FINANCIAL REPORT
FOR THE YEAR ENDED FEBRUARY 28, 2021
Board of Trustees (4) $4,200.00 (each position / each year of service for four years)
Upon due consideration and a thorough review by the
Board, Trustee Gohl moved to adopt the proposed salaries for the … Trustee positions beginning in May 2021 through May 2025 as presented. Trustee Post seconded. Roll Call Vote. Supervisor Nykasa – Aye; Trustee Collins – Aye; Trustee Fitzgerald – Aye; Trustee Gohl – Aye; Trustee Post – Aye. All in favor. Motion to set salaries for the next elected officials for Barrington Township carried.
Accuracy matters when you’re trying to make a point.
A little research goes a long way. Putting aside the inane comment has nothing to do with the subject of the article, Illinois Statutory Law sets forth the manner in which the compensation of Township Elected Officials, including their board members (also known as trustees), are determined. You can look through the records of Cuba, Barrington & Algonquin Townships and find a lengthy history of compensation for these positions that existed decades before the current Cuba Township board was elected.
My point is, for such tax hawks at both Cuba Township, Barrington Township (and likely others), WHY do these positions demand a salary? Seems that money would be better returned to the taxpayers. Seems rather hypocritical going to other government organizations demanding no tax increases and then paying their trustees for 1 board meeting per month. Can you imagine the “outcry” if D220 or others paid their trustees? lol