'I Apologize For My Face': Suburban School Board Bickers

SUMMIT, IL – An Argo Community High School board member accused a colleague of condescension, while the other vowed she would not "hurt your feelings with my face."

Ten minutes of bickering occurred during a Sept. 25, 2024, closed meeting. Other members listened.

Patch obtained the closed-meeting recording from the school. The first part of the session was about the then-superintendent's credit card use, which led to his exit more than a year later.

It was unclear whether board members could legally discuss their personal beefs behind closed doors under state law.

The Open Meetings Act only allows closed meetings for limited purposes, such as discussions of specific personnel, legal matters and issues involving particular students.

But the board appears to have an occasional item in such meetings called "Board Time to Talk," a title that indicates something of a free-for-all.

And a free-for-all it was.

Near the end of the closed meeting, member Catherine Jozwiak said her colleagues should be careful what they say to other board members when they are out in public.

Member Luz Rangel Raymond asked Jozwiak for an example.

Jozwiak replied, "The way you acted at homecoming. That's what I'm saying."

The women disputed some facts, but they agreed on others.

They spoke about some sort of incident in which Principal Brandon Cotter (now the interim superintendent) and teachers were present. They were discussing a trip to a park for a homecoming-related event.

Jozwiak was taking people in a car, but couldn't take Raymond's son because she didn't have enough space.

Raymond suggested her son sit on the car's floor, but Jozwiak said that wouldn't be safe.

In the closed meeting, Raymond said she was joking about her son going on the floor.

"Please don't ever say I don't care about my son's safety," Raymond told Jozwiak, who denied saying that.

Jozwiak denied she said that. She also told Raymond, "The look on your face didn't look like you were kidding."

"I'm sorry my face told you something different," Raymond said. "I apologize for my face."

Jozwiak said Raymond got huffy during the incident.

"It was kind of embarrassing how you acted," Jozwiak said. "You acted like you were 15 years old, a kid who wasn't getting her way."

Raymond said Jozwiak yanked a box from her hand, while Jozwiak said, "You were yanking it back."

"I don't appreciate the way you talked to me," Jozwiak said.

Raymond replied, "I don't appreciate the way you treated me."

At one point in the discussion, Raymond said, "I promise from now on, I will try to stay away from you, so I don't hurt your feelings with my face."

Later, Raymond suggested another approach.

"I think we can agree that we will stay away from each other, and we will stay respectful in the way we talk and the way we communicate with each other."

Jozwiak shot back, "I don't need you to be condescending."

Jozwiak did not return Patch's message for comment on Wednesday.

In a statement, Raymond said things have changed on the board after member Jennifer Grenier became board president last spring.

"Those kinds of exchanges were once common, but since our new president took office, things have greatly improved and the meetings stay focused on public issues," she said.

Patch asked Grenier about the argument. At the time, Dan Kozal was president.

Grenier, who was selected president in the spring, said she ensures that closed-door discussions fit within exceptions under state law.

"I’m not able to speak to the intent of prior board members or to characterize past discussions, but I can confirm that since becoming Board President, I have implemented a strict, structured agenda for every meeting," Grenier said in an email. "Each board member receives this agenda in closed session, and I direct all discussion to ensure it remains focused on the listed items and aligned with (Open Meetings Act) requirements."

In Illinois, members of public bodies are required to receive Open Meetings Act training.