Change of Guard, Walk Down Memory Lane Highlight Tuesday's School Board Meeting

As the votes were tallied on March 21, 2000, and Elmhurst District 205 School Board members could see that the $77 million referendum to rebuild York High School was about to pass, jubilation took over.

Board members and their spouses jumped in their cars—some headed over to Dominick's to pick up supplies—and they all eventually met at York High School. They then proceeded to "TP" the trees along the old circle drive. Superintendent Joel Morris stayed back long enough to notify police that it was the Board of Education that was out of control on York property and not to worry.

One of those board members was Susan DeRonne, and she recalled the incident with fondness in her prepared, final statement to the School Board Tuesday night.

School Board and community members heaped praise and gratitude on DeRonne and Maria Hirsch, who decided not to seek another term on the School Board. Both helped to guide the district through a big transition two years ago, when four of the seven board members, the superintendent and cabinet members were brand new to the district.

DeRonne, with 20 years of service to the board, worked with 20 board members and four superintendents. She served multiple terms as president, vice president and secretary, help rewrite the policy manual—twice—and served on many board committees. She also is a founding board member of the District 205 Foundation.

But she said the board's greatest accomplishment during her tenure was the passage of that referendum in 2000, as well as the 2006 referendum, which provided for multiple large-scale building projects.

Board member John McDonough said it will be "a little scary" without DeRonne on the board.

"I don't think anyone in this room can imagine the board without you," he said. "I will be calling you. I will be listening to the history. It's incredibly valuable."

Board member Chris Blum said DeRonne's job as president when he and three other board members came on board two years ago, was like "herding cats."

"You bring context, and all of a sudden stuff starts to make sense," he said. "Your ability to warn us of that cliff that we're fast approaching will be sorely missed."

Her advice to the new board? Among other things, never put anything in an email that you do not want to read as a headline in the local media, and learn parliamentary procedure. "Someday you may need it to protect democracy," she said.

"You are here to reflect the values of the community and help shape change," she said. "Everything is more complicated than you can imagine right now. Take a deep breath and give yourself a good long time to learn about the complex workings of this great institution. Get to know all of its thoughtful, intelligent, people who work so long and hard to create the best possible education for our children. No one wants us to succeed more than they do."

And, she advised the board to stay strong, especially when making difficult decisions.

"With all decisions, particularly the tough ones, you are always going to make somebody unhappy," she said. "And those unhappy people will let you know.

"Suddenly you have this room full of angry people queuing up to the microphone. You have people writing letters to the editor, someone mentions you by name on a news blog and you find yourself in a grocery store in a neighboring town because you don't want to run into anyone you know. ... You were elected for your values and to do the hard work to get to the hard decisions. Stand by those decisions. Someone is always going to disagree with them."

Hirsch had been on the board since 2009, accomplishing a great deal in only four years, board members said. She served as board vice president, on multiple board committees and was the board's representative to legislative and special education organizations. The board and community are grateful for her "commitment, passion, countless hours and enthusiasm," board President Jim Collins said.

"Thank you for your time and dedication over the past four years," he said. "Our children and community are much better off because of your service."

McDonough said Hirsch inspired him to run for the board two years ago.

"I remember how I met you," he said to Hirsch. "You were teaching religious education to my kids, and you got through to them."

Board member Chris Blum said her depth of knowledge is something for which he strives.

"Every time I think I've got my arms around something, you're 20 feet deeper than I am," he said. "I can only hope to have a fraction of your knowledge by the time I'm done. The board is losing an incredible resource."

Hirsch said the board's greatest accomplishment during her tenure is having made "great strides in restoring a professional environment and putting elements in place in order to measure and improve the overall performance of the district."

She is most proud of helping to bring on four new board members two years ago. She said sometimes the board gets off track, but they are "blessed to have a strong leadership team in place."

The teachers deserve the most recognition, she said. The job of the board is to "figure out how to make that teacher in the classroom, that teacher's aide, better so kids can have a better outcome.

"The whole team working together makes us successful."

Her advice is simple: "Listen carefully, find your voice and remember that you have been elected to serve all of the students as well as the taxpayer."

A number of residents, including former School Board members David Carlquist and Marta Davy, took to the podium to thank DeRonne and Hirsch. Superintendent David Pruneau said the job of School Board member is difficult and often thankless.

"(Board members) sacrifice time away from home, away from their families because of the greater service to the community," he said. "All in a volunteer position that pays nothing more than an occasional 'thank you,' and they get that very seldom.

"You have touched a lot of lives, and I don't think that's truly appreciated by the public."

In With the New

Sworn in Tuesday night were returning board member Jim Collins, who also was re-elected president of the board, and Margaret Harrell and Emily Bastedo. Collins is now the longest-serving board member, having served one term.

Shannon Ebner was elected vice president, Karen Stuefen was elected secretary, and the board committees were assigned as follows:

• Policy Committee: McDonough (chairman), Bastedo, Harrell
• Board Improvement Committee: Collins (chairman), Shannon Ebner and Karen Stuefen
• Curriculum Committee: Ebner (chairman), McDonough and Bastedo
• Finance Committee: Blum (chairman), Ebner and Stuefen
• Performance Management Committee: Stuefen (chairman), Blum, Harrell