A special thank you for board members

The District 30 community honored five people on Monday night who give countless hours to the schools. To mark Board of Education Recognition Week, the PTA recognized the top district’s top decision-makers — Ken Cummings, Elise Antonelli, Maria Fletcher, Cristobal Stewart and Carolyn Pean.

Clear Stream Avenue School PTA President Monique Sampson said she and her colleagues appreciate all that board members do. “As volunteers, we know how hard it is to set aside the time it takes to support our schools,” she said.

Clear Stream’s second-graders sang three songs under the direction of music teacher Stephanie Cooke — “Happiness,” “Thank You” and “My Heart is Home.”

Superintendent Dr. Elaine Kanas gave the audience an “inside look” at what the Board of Education does. She explained that they have 24 meetings a year to attend, and twice as many if they sit on the high school board. They also have fiscal oversight training, board retreats, conferences and legal workshops. “They have to go school,” she said, adding that the board also gets a lot of homework.

Sampson presented each board member with a gift. Then, after some refreshments, the board did its thing, holding its monthly business meeting.