Let's talk...about the 2023 Proviso D209 school board election 🤫

In the prior blog post, we saw how admin colluded with D209 Together Party for the re-election of Theresa Kelly.

Today, let's talk and delve deeper with accompanying evidence, of course! We got the receipts!!

Della played a pivotal role in orchestrating and managing the content Henderson created. Here we can observe that Henderson is prepping campaign materials for then-board member Theresa Kelly. One can only wonder what was discussed 🤔😈

Not surprisingly, the content here will be refined and later reflected in the reviled Proviso Points of Pride, which will be the topic of another post.

A full PDF print-out is available for your convenience as well.

But what we really should be talking about is:

• Chat-and-chews cost the district nearly $10k
• Unapproved trips for both the superintendent and board members charged to the district credit card
• Teacher strike happened under the leadership of H5

Let's cut a deal 💵🤝

Corruption plagues the D209 school board. In 2023, the D209 Together Slate was formed to re-elect then-school board member Theresa Kelly.

What you may not know is that two sitting board members, Della Patterson and Rodney Alexander, formed and led the D209 Together Political Party, financially supporting her campaign. 

What if I told you that then-superintendent Henderson was instrumental in financing their campaign by utilizing district resources? On Illinois Sunshine, you can see all campaign contributors. I direct your attention specifically to two donors, Metropolitan Corp and Unique Products.

Why is this significant? Those two organizations are actually school vendors, as in they provide goods and services to D209. So what, you may think, vendors always contribute to campaigns - nothing wrong there.

Well, the issue here is how they were contacted. You see, then-superintendent Henderson provided them a list of school vendors to contact. He leveraged district resources and labor to compile a list of vendors. 

Say what?! The superintendent colluding with board members to influence an election? What they were promised, no-bid contracts, preferential treatment? One can only wonder...

Corruption has no place in any government body, let alone a board of education. You're dealing with the educational formation of future generations - generations that will continue to call Proviso home. The community will provide a huge disservice if we continue to undermine their educational outcomes. 

Christmas In Proviso 🎄🎁

When Christmastime rolls around, we typically think about spending time with family and friends, making memories and gift giving.

In D209, it's Christmastime all the time with all gifts the board gives itself. From crystal gavels and travel to succulent meals, the board surely knows how to live large. 

Let's take a deep dive into what the board spent on that's focused on anything but the students. 

Theresa received the most adulation, not surprisingly. 

I guess having a stadium named after her wasn't sufficient, so Henderson awarded her a letterman jacket ($464), a crystal gavel ($296.50) and an edible arrangement for her birthday ($241.71) - total of $1002.21. Board members Alexander and Patterson received crystal gavels as well.

Board member Wagner received a decanter set and an edible arrangement, which was intended for Sweetest Day.

Let's not forget the time the board wined and dined on an extravagant Gibson's meal at the Nov 2022 board meeting. The meal was not only $744.71, but the decorations purchased for a fancy meal were $454.84, for a grand total of $1199.55. 

On top of that, they kept the community waiting for hours only for the board meeting to end prematurely under the leadership of Della Patterson.

That crystal gavel she received certainly reflects her ability to govern with transparency and impartiality. I can't think of a more deserving individual that exemplifies such ideals.

The gravy train ended, fortunately, with the departure of Henderson. Henderson, in Oprah-like fashion, handed out gifts like they were going out of style. Moving forward, the board should reform its practices to prevent this waste that Nate Booker requested the board to investigate.

POWER to the people, NOT the politicians

We, as a community, are tired of the politicians meddling within our schools. The people should no longer cower to their demands, but rise up and remind them whom they serve.

Take a look at who's supporting Della Patterson and her corruption. Remember these names the next time you vote!