D122 Board Chastises Members Broderick, Smith at Packed Meeting

NLSD122 board members attacked the legitimacy of a Jan. 11 hearing that resulted in removing incumbent Kathy Miller from the April ballot.

Since New Lenox School District 122 Board incumbent, Kathleen Miller, was kicked off the April ballot by a 2-1 vote of the Electoral Board that found her petition faulty due to a notary error, tempers have flared. Seated Wednesday night before a packed room at the Haven Administration Center, Board President Nick DiSandro chastised the actions of Secretary Maureen Broderick for actions he deemed unprofessional. At a press conference Tuesday, he referred to her actions as "dirty" politics on a non-partisan board in an effort to remove Miller from the ballot. At the press conference, he revealed that he had asked the Will County State's Attorney's Office to look into the matter and notified the Illinois State Board of Education as well as …

•  44 Comments
• Photos (3)

David H

2:48 pm on Friday, January 18, 2013

I'm sorry Grace, I should have stated that Cheryl only said "It is frequently difficult for little minds to separate reality from fantasy" and compared this to her children. So only people with little minds use IF, that does sound better. And the FACTS are that the secretary did her JOB regardless of politics.   more ›

D122 Board President Says Fellow Member Was Behind Kathy Miller Objection

New Lenox school board President Nick DiSandro said board member Maureen Broderick had a hand in filing the objection to incumbent Kathy Miller's petition for the April election.

New Lenox school board President Nick DiSandro said Monday that board member Maureen Broderick's involvement in objecting to fellow member Kathy Miller's election petition, then voting to kick Miller off the ballot, was politically motivated and embarrassing.  In a press conference Monday afternoon at the District 122 administrative office, DiSandro said that on behalf of New Lenox School District 122 Board of Education that he has contacted the Will County State's Attorney's Office, the Will County Regional Superintendent's Office and the Illinois State Board of Education in regard to a matter he refers to as "dirty" on Broderick's part.  "Kathy's right to due process was taken away from her," DiSandro said. "She didn't get a right to a …

•  27 Comments
• Photos (3)

Lea Bowes

9:06 pm on Wednesday, January 23, 2013

Broderick is also the town gossip. Do some research look at all the problems she has caused. She alone has made a mockery of our district. When is she on the ballot again?????   more ›

NLSD122 Board Member Kathy Miller Gets Kicked Off April Ballot

D122 member Kathy Miller's petition was found faulty.

Teachers Dominate List of D122 Board Candidates

The New Lenox school board interviewed candidates to replace Sue Gillooley on Wednesday after she resigned last month following stalking accusations. Key issues discussed were fiscal responsibility and quality education.

The New Lenox School District 122 board Wednesday interviewed eight candidates to fill the position of Sue Gillooley, who resigned last month after accusations for stalking. The board is expected to review the candidates' qualifications and an announcement of the selection is expected soon. The New Lenox residents vying to fill-in until the April 2013 elections are: Susan Bultman, Rhonda Starklauf, Michael Burke, Phil Adair, Therese Barrett, Amy Zale, Bill Pender and Nikki Kline. A ninth candidate withdrew an earlier submitted application.   Interviews conducted in executive session ran from 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. Board President Nick DiSandro stepped out to welcome each of the candidates as they arrived. What at least half of the candidates …

•  10 Comments
• Photos (1)

D122 Board President: 'We're Trying to Make Decisions That Will Help People'

School board President Nick DiSandro answered five questions about the priorities this academic year and what he's learned during his time on the board.

Editor's note: Every day this week, we'll publish a new Q&A with someone involved in New Lenox School District 122. Check back each day for a new interview. Nick DiSandro was elected to the District 122 school board in April, and was surprisingly chosen as board president by his peers later that month. As he heads into his first full academic year on the school board, DiSandro talks about what he's learned so far and what will be important in the year to come. What is the biggest priority for the school board heading into this year? My instant reaction to that is money. The board is focused now on truly making sure we’re making the right decisions and making sure we’re not affecting our children poorly. We'll address our bond debt, tax …

• Photos (1)

VIDEO: Cancer Survivors an 'Inspiration' to Us All at Relay for Life

Hundreds turned out for the 2011 Relay for Life event in New Lenox on Friday, led by the DiSandro family, who lost 14-year-old Alicia to cancer in 2000.

In one way or another, we're all affected by cancer. That's the too-true message that rang through the speakers of Lincoln-Way West's football field Friday night as hundreds of survivors and their loved ones turned out to remember those who have died from the disease and to raise money for a cure. Nick and April DiSandro, who lost their daughter Alicia to cancer when she was 14, were in charge of the event, which offered food, games and raffle prizes. While those events raised money, as did team members who walked for about 12 hours, the most touching moments were those that honored the hundred or so cancer survivors in attendance and the people we've lost to the disease. Cancer survivors were called by name before taking the survivor's …

• Videos (1)

Board Etiquette, Public Comments Addressed During D122 Meeting

Following a year in which school board members were criticized by the public and each other, they're looking at policies to limit public comments and encourage etiquette during meetings.

Following a year in which school board members were criticized by the public and each other, they're looking at policies to limit public comments and encourage etiquette during meetings. During a strategic planning session on Monday night, the New Lenox School District 122 board talked about policies that regard how they interact with each other, district administrators and the public. Dialogue With the Board  Some who spoke during previous meetings wished for more of a dialogue with the school board, which previously would listen but not respond to public comments. New board President Nick DiSandro also said he was interested in seeing more dialogue, and a new policy the board read Monday states that the board president would act as a …

• Photos (1)