Daily Herald Editorial Board
Published: 6/15/2008 12:02 AM
:http://www.dailyherald.com/story/?id=207707
A school leader or village or city manager has lost his or her job.
The public wants to know why.
So the school board, village board or city council calls a special meeting and tells the curious crowd of taxpayers that Mr. Smith or Ms. Smith got fired. Plain and simple. And the reason why? Mismanagement of finances. Or a severe personality clash with the board and other employees. A conflict of interest in performance of duties. Failure to implement agreed-upon initiatives. Complaints of harassment.
And not only does the public get these explanations, but they are also told:
"They're out of a job. They're not hanging around on an interim basis. And no over-generous severance package. Two weeks' pay, whatever's left in vacation, is what they leave with and all they deserve. No lucrative taxpayer-funded deals for not doing your job. And we take some blame for this, too."
End of fairy tale.
Because that's not how it usually is when top-tier public officials are suddenly out of a job. There are usually no explanations why. And they aren't really fired, not when they are given some interim post or other position. They don't even suffer financial consequences, not when they fall gently onto their next spot in life under a golden parachute.
But the bill for the extravagant severance packages or the interims lands hard on taxpayers.
The latest example of this is what has happened at the College of DuPage.
The COD board removed former President Sunil Chand from his job. But not really. He was reassigned to the position of "president emeritus" presumably to focus on fundraising.
Meanwhile, the board brought back former President Harold McAninch to serve as "interim" president.
The cost for having a emeritus president and an interim president? Close to $400,000.
And the number of clear explanations the public has received from the college, as to exactly why Chand is not the for-real president anymore, and just why it needs two presidents, since this all went down on May 27?
Zero.
Now we can understand that the board may have its hands tied in discussing what happened without crossing the line into invasion of privacy. But then again, it be could acting on the overcautious or arrogant advice of lawyers. In any event, can't there even be a tidbit of clarification, such as "not performing up to expectations" or "not meeting objectives set forth in the last performance review" or "concern about quality of management" if indeed any of these were the case? Just something.
When most of us get fired, for cause, we get what little is coming to us financially and are shown the door the same day of dismissal. Not so for public officials.
Taxpayers did get one explanation, from COD Board Chairman Micheal McKinnon:
"Keep in mind all actions are done with the best interest of the taxpayers in mind."
If you were crying at having to pay out $400,000, that ought to get you laughing again.
Sunday, June 15, 2008
Thursday, June 5, 2008
End the Secrecy at College of DuPage
By Jackie McGrath
Associate Professor, English, College of DuPage
Daily Herald - June 5, 2008
As a teacher at College of DuPage, I am concerned about the recent decision by the board of trustees to reassign President Sunil Chand as "president emeritus" and appoint an interim president in his place. The board did not explain its abrupt decision, and appear to have reached it in a secretive and questionable manner.
Because the COD board of trustees has ignored the questions, advice and concerns of COD faculty and students regarding this most recent action, I would like to encourage DuPage County citizens to express their concerns and ask some important questions.
Namely, ask the COD board to explain the removal of President Chand and how it represents the best interests of the school (as the board will honor his contract through 2009, this means they are effectively paying "two" presidents - one interim and one emeritus).
While you're at it, ask the COD board to explain the other recent resignations tendered by members of the board and the COD administration (including board member Mary Mack in 2008, board member Jane Herron in 2007, and Facilities Management Director Gavin Tun in 2007). Ask the COD board to explain the frequent and expensive change orders they've approved this year for several massive construction projects at the Glen Ellyn campus. Ask the COD board to explain why so many important decisions are made in secret, off the public record.
The COD board keeps making decisions that raise questions about whether they have the best interests of the college at heart. But explanations have not been forthcoming. I am increasingly worried about the impact these decisions will have on the future of College of DuPage, and I hope this pattern of secrecy and haste does not continue.
Associate Professor, English, College of DuPage
Daily Herald - June 5, 2008
As a teacher at College of DuPage, I am concerned about the recent decision by the board of trustees to reassign President Sunil Chand as "president emeritus" and appoint an interim president in his place. The board did not explain its abrupt decision, and appear to have reached it in a secretive and questionable manner.
Because the COD board of trustees has ignored the questions, advice and concerns of COD faculty and students regarding this most recent action, I would like to encourage DuPage County citizens to express their concerns and ask some important questions.
Namely, ask the COD board to explain the removal of President Chand and how it represents the best interests of the school (as the board will honor his contract through 2009, this means they are effectively paying "two" presidents - one interim and one emeritus).
While you're at it, ask the COD board to explain the other recent resignations tendered by members of the board and the COD administration (including board member Mary Mack in 2008, board member Jane Herron in 2007, and Facilities Management Director Gavin Tun in 2007). Ask the COD board to explain the frequent and expensive change orders they've approved this year for several massive construction projects at the Glen Ellyn campus. Ask the COD board to explain why so many important decisions are made in secret, off the public record.
The COD board keeps making decisions that raise questions about whether they have the best interests of the college at heart. But explanations have not been forthcoming. I am increasingly worried about the impact these decisions will have on the future of College of DuPage, and I hope this pattern of secrecy and haste does not continue.
Tuesday, June 3, 2008
...The College's Board of Trustees has become, as a public official put it, 'an embarrassment.'
On February 22, 2000 a review team from James L. Fisher LTD released a comprehensive evaluation of the college. The evaluation contained a stunning condemnation of the Board of Trustees. Given the current operation of the Board, many of these criticisms apply today:
Starting on page 8 of the Fisher review (original emphasis):
"...The College's Board of Trustees has become, as a public official put it, 'an embarrassment.' Board meetings often are featured by public bickering between Board members, 'ad hominem rants by individual Board members,' adversarial letters and motions, inappropriate interference into the daily operational affairs of the campus, surprise introduction of topics for action by some Board members, and single issue politics that ignore the fundamental, long-term needs of the institution. Several Board members, despite having received votes from only about two percent of the citizens of District 502, regard themselves as having what one asserted to be 'a mandate to get involved in the College's affairs.' With this in mind, it was reported by many that they have become intimately involved in the daily operational affairs of the College and in numerous instances have gone well beyond any reasonable definition of the policy-making role they should occupy. This 'embarrassment' was mentioned often both on- and off-campus.'"
Starting on page 8 of the Fisher review (original emphasis):
"...The College's Board of Trustees has become, as a public official put it, 'an embarrassment.' Board meetings often are featured by public bickering between Board members, 'ad hominem rants by individual Board members,' adversarial letters and motions, inappropriate interference into the daily operational affairs of the campus, surprise introduction of topics for action by some Board members, and single issue politics that ignore the fundamental, long-term needs of the institution. Several Board members, despite having received votes from only about two percent of the citizens of District 502, regard themselves as having what one asserted to be 'a mandate to get involved in the College's affairs.' With this in mind, it was reported by many that they have become intimately involved in the daily operational affairs of the College and in numerous instances have gone well beyond any reasonable definition of the policy-making role they should occupy. This 'embarrassment' was mentioned often both on- and off-campus.'"
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