Inspired by the fact that three candidates running for four open seats on the Park Ridge-Niles District 64 Board of Education this April are married to teachers employed by the district, the board’s elected officials approved a policy revision last week to encourage board members to recuse themselves from voting on matters that may benefit their spouses or other family members.
The policy change was adopted at the board’s March 13 meeting after it was initially presented last month. Prior to the addition of new language, the board’s conflict of interest policy read, “No school board member shall have a beneficial interest directly or indirectly in any contract, work, or business of the District unless permitted by State law.”
The policy revision approved by the board this month adds this sentence: “However, even when permitted by State law, a School Board member is strongly encouraged to recuse him- or her-self from discussions, deliberation and voting on any item(s) to which the School Board member has a personal or family connection in order to avoid the appearance of impropriety.”
Three of seven candidates, Michael Schaab, Norman Dziedzic and Greg Bublitz, are married to teachers working in the district. The board and district administrators are responsible for negotiating a contract that covers the salaries and benefits of district teachers with its teachers union. Salary costs also comprise the largest portion of the district’s expenses.
Board President Anthony Borrelli said the additional language aims to ensure that board members “think twice” before voting on a matter in which the outcome that may somehow benefit their spouse or another relative. He said “it’s a voluntary thing,” meaning the board cannot compel someone to recuse themselves from a vote.
At the Feb. 21 meeting, board member Tom Sotos questioned whether the first statement indicating no board member shall have a direct of indirect beneficial interest in any contract or business of the district contradicts the newly added language.
Borrelli said that legal counsel informed him that a spouse of a board member, even if the spouse is a teacher covered under a contract negotiated by the board, is considered “a separate entity.”
Because the board cannot force members to recuse themselves from a vote or bar anyone married to someone within the district from serving on the board, Sotos said it’s up to the voters of the district to decide if they want to elect someone with a spouse employed by the district. He said that “if they could get four spouses of teachers on the board, and if they are doing it for the purpose of voting what is best for teachers, they could do a hostile takeover of this board.”
But Sotos also said he didn’t think the individuals running for school board seats were doing so for that reason. He said he knows one of the candidates personally and would trust him not to discuss sensitive board business with his spouse.
Schaab, Dziedzic and Bublitz all fielded a question about a possible conflict of interest during a candidate forum held last week at Roosevelt Elementary School.
Dziedzic said during the forum that he does not view his wife’s employment in the district as a conflict of interest. Bublitz said he would recuse himself “where appropriate.” Schaab said no one individual on the board can make a decision, and that there are six other individuals whose opinions and votes are weighed.
The current contract with the district’s teachers union, the Park Ridge Education Association, is valid through 2020. Those elected to the board April 4 will serve four-year terms.
Lee V. Gaines is a freelance reporter for Pioneer Press. Jennifer Johnson contributed to this report.
