Two new board members joined Olympia Fields District 227 recently as two members bid farewell to their colleagues.
New board member Celeste Caldwell teaches math and science at Independence High School in Flossmoor. Caldwell became interested in joining the school board after noticing students could benefit from longer tutoring periods, as well as more reading and math.
“I felt there was a need for a lot of improvement for students academically, as well as athletically,” Caldwell said. “I felt I could help with the decision-making to be sure schools get better.”
The other new board member, Otis White, has been a chaplain at the Cook County House of Corrections for 23 years. He said he would like to see students who are suspended from school for behavior problems receive more counseling.
“I can see students being suspended for a couple of days,” White said. “But educators should be trying to put things into their heads instead of expelling them (for a year),” he added.
The school board bade farewell to 10-year board member Burdell Chapman and JoAnn Wade, a board member for 4 1/2 years.
