Oakton Elementary School is slated to get a new principal.
A little more than three weeks after receiving a letter of no-confidence in Oakton Principal Barbara Hines, the Evanston/Skokie District 65 Board of Education on Wednesday night shut itself behind closed doors to decide her fate.
After 2 1/2 hours, board members emerged and with no discussion voted 6-0 in public session to appoint Hines to another district position, that of educational foundation and grants coordinator. The board also voted to appoint longtime Chute School teacher and administrator, Q.T. Carter, as interim principal at Oakton.
Dozens of Oakton School staff members and parents have spoken out at board meetings in support of and against the controversial principal since mid-June when 30 Oakton staff members and teachers gave the board a letter stating their displeasure with Hines.
During a special board meeting Monday night, the board was given a second letter of no-confidence in Hines. This one was signed by 54 parents of students in the school, which has an enrollment of 450.
The Monday and the Wednesday meetings were special sessions called to deal with several personnel matters, including the appointment of a new principal at Dewey School, Andrew Krugly from Willow Creek Elementary School in Woodridge.
But clearly most of the 60 people in attendance at the Wednesday meeting were there because of concern about the Oakton School situation, which had included the recommended transfer of three popular teachers from the school. The board rescinded those transfers Wednesday.
Although some of the parents have characterized the Oakton rift as racially motivated against the African-American principal, Hines’ supporters and detractors have not split along racial lines.
Those who have rallied to her defense said Hines is a caring educator who has dared to implement innovative educational and health care programs.
They said Hines has helped to get more African-American parents involved with their children’s education. “If we lose her as principal, I think it’s a real injustice to children at Oakton School,” said Kimberly Frazier, who has one child enrolled in the school.
Hines came under fire from those who said she ran the school like a dictator. They complained about a lack of safety and security on school grounds. The critics also charged that Hines has implemented programs that only benefit a small number of students, and wonder why she called police to a meeting with parents to discuss educational issues in June.
Hines was not at Wednesday night’s meeting and could not be reached for comment.
