7 hours Ago
Another one bites the dust. Champaign school board members continue to drop like flies, recent appointee Sam Banks being the latest to throw in the towel and say “no mas.” Banks now will join former members Jamar Brown and Mark Thies on the sidelines.
The board’s discord exacted too high a personal price to continue their service. Meanwhile, remaining board members continue to feud like the Hatfields and McCoys. It’s ironic, to say the least, that Banks, a widely respected member of the Champaign-Urbana community, was appointed to the school board just six months ago with the idea that he could bring some calm to the sometimes fiery board proceedings.
In announcing his decision, Banks expressed his regret that he was “unable to have any meaningful impact on the important work that is so needed on behalf of the students, faculty and staff of the district.” “It is my hope and prayer that at some point, there will be a change for the better in the current board environment,” he said. God works in wondrous ways, but no one should hold their breath on that one.
Doubters need only take a look at the video from the latest board meeting to conclude that peace in the current board members’ time is a fantasy. Peace will only come when voters, if they choose wisely, elect new board members in April. Some personality conflicts can only be resolved when the conflicted personalities are parted on a permanent basis.
Board President Gianina Baker and members Heather Vasquez and Bruce Brown are leaving. If ever there was a time for voters to carefully scrutinize the candidates and make their choices, at least partly, based on the candidates’ ability to work with others, this is it. Unfortunately, if past is prologue, there will be the usual pathetic spring voter turnout and those elected will be chosen by a small percentage of the voters.
Public education matters, and those in charge of it — school board members and administrators — must work together to best serve the community. That doesn’t mean they have to agree on everything. That doesn’t mean board members shouldn’t make strong arguments to support their position of the day.
It does mean that a certain level of professionalism and personal restraint is required to assure that all sides are heard and decisions are made without the kind of rancor that breeds dysfunction. For now, there is far more rancor than restrain, and this cannot be allowed to continue. Voters must remember that if and when they cast their ballots.
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