'We Do Hear You': District 135 Reacts To Controversy Over Hiring, Removal Of Staff, Promises Transparency

ORLAND PARK, IL — As uproar over one new hire and two ousted leaders continues in Orland District 135, its board members on Monday attempted to tackle some of the community's concerns, some speaking up for the first time.

At the Committee of the Whole meeting and preceding the board's regular meeting, members held a discussion on hiring, workplace culture and transparency—all pain points triggered among parents, staff and residents in the community.

Board members and district leaders have come under fire for perceived negligence in the hiring of Century Junior High Assistant Principal Tremaine Harris, with allegations of poor vetting, lack of experience and oversight of content some found offensive on Harris' social media. Harris was hired in July, and though the public called for his job offer to be rescinded at a July 28 special meeting, Harris remains in place and was introduced via the district's social media Wednesday, alongside new Principal Jeana Naujokas.

The board this week openly mulled its role in the hiring decision moving forward, the district's ability to retain staff and encourage internal ascension into leadership roles, and the board's transparency with the public.

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In the weeks since the special meeting that included a five-hour long closed session, parents have continued to express discontent as the board has attempted to ride out the storm, distancing itself from the hiring process in a public statement.

On Monday, though, several board members spoke out, acknowledging—some would say for the first time—the legitimacy of the public's concerns.

"The community is asking for change, begging for change," said board member Patti Thanos. "... How did we get here? I’m sorry to hear there are members of this district who feel unloved, unsupported and fearful. … One can assume if the culture of this district is unhealthy, it will lead to a loss of trust and respect, and ultimately negatively impact student performance. Our mission states we are stronger together, and I believe that to be true. It’s time to break down the walls of ‘we’ve always done it this way.’ As a result of massive feedback, I think we need to start having healthy, open conversations as to how we can improve. Let’s think outside the box and be as transparent as we are allowed to be. … I recognize people are hurt, I do not want to ignore this...."

Board member Ray Morandi agreed with Thanos.

"I know we fall on contentious times, but man, I feel like we have a community filled with passion," Morandi said. "A community that deeply cares about their children. I think we have teachers that love what they do, and I think there's a love for this district, as well.

"Unfortunately, I believe the consensus lately is that people show up and nothing ever gets done, like their voices aren’t being heard. I know we sit here with straight faces, but I can assure you that all of your voices are being heard. And that’s a consensus I think you’ll see change in.”

'A community filled with passion'

Following the July 28 meeting, some speakers indicated that Harris' hiring—and the outrage around it—is indicative of more deep-rooted leadership issues within the district. Some parents noted that their upset was compounded by the shock around position changes of beloved former Century administrators Dr. Brian Horn and Dr. Heather Conrad.

Both were shifted out of their principal and assistant principal roles, respectively, at the end of the school year and with no public explanation, one parent told Patch. Horn had served as principal at Century since 2012, according to his LinkedIn, and Conrad became assistant principal in 2019.

Some have since called for the resignations or removals of Bryk, Associate Superintendent Dave Snyder and HR Director Suzanne Owens. A parent group this week started a petition to stir up community support for the removals.

The public has demanded more accountability from the board moving forward.

"We do hear you," said Board President Nichole Browner on Monday, "and we all have a lot of feelings here, and they don’t fall on deaf ears."

Parents call for transparency

Prior to the board's discussion, commenters took to the podium to air concerns about leadership changes, workplace culture and alleged procedural deficiencies.

"Two eminently qualified administrators have been dismissed," said Diane Forystek, a longtime teacher at Century Junior High, until her retirement in 2022. "It appears no one took the time to properly vet those who replaced them."

That vetting, Forystek said, is the responsibility of Bryk, Owens and Snyder.

"The hiring of administrators and staff isn’t just about filling positions. It’s about shaping the educational environment of District 135. It's about our community. What should be considered. Qualifications, experience, pedagogical approach, values, ethics and district’s cultures. Most importantly, our children," she said.

"As an educator, I am left to wonder: if they could not take the time to vet administrators who would have daily contact with the children of 135—who will lead our children and shape our district—if this task was not worth their time, what is?"

At the board's second meeting that night, Century parent Kim Domagala also pressed the members for deeper transparency in the hiring process, pointing to perceived distrust in the HR department. She also applauded the board for its efforts at conversation "about important things," during the meeting.

"... What we want is a very clear-cut, decent hiring process," Domagala said. "What we want is teacher retention. We want our teachers—our most important asset—to feel confident in our administration.

"I am not hearing that. I have not heard that all spring and summer. We want them to feel supported by our school board. I'm starting to feel some school board support, and for that I am grateful. I do not think this is too much to ask. ... All the negativity I’ve heard since my son started kindergarten has been this year, 2025, and that hurts. I hope the board please do something to make the necessary changes."

Working toward 'rebuilding that trust'

Discussing the board's role in the hiring process at the committee of the whole meeting, the board weighed the ways in which it might be involved moving forward.

"I personally, I probably don't have the requirements to hire a principal or a vice principal," Morandi said. "I don't know that I got voted on (to the board) to hire a principal or a vice principal. But I do think we have to have people in place that can make those decisions, and we feel confident in those decisions.

"... As it stands, we have to look at what comes in, what the qualifications are, and unfortunately be a little more involved than we should be, as things stand. As it stands, I do think there’s got to be more involvement."

One idea proposed would involve rotating board members to review finalists for leadership positions, or sitting in on final interviews. Most seemed in agreement they'd be most comfortable participating in the process for administrative hires only.

"Start there, see how it goes," Browner said.

Thanos said she thought it might not be a permanent change.

"I’m hoping that this is temporary," she said. "I think the number one goal here is to try to rebuild that trust. Once we get that going, people can try to fall off of this. ... We can just do it temporarily."

Browner said she envisioned it as a longer-term move.

"I would probably argue, that the board switches every two years," she said. "And like you said, trust [rebuilding]—people may take two weeks, people might take two years. ... In some districts, it’s totally normal for a board to be part of it [the hiring process] ... I think if we're going to do it, we should really stick with it...."

Board member Alan Kastengren agreed.

"I think this is probably a long-term shift in how we do things," he said.

"... It's definitely fluid ... This will be learning for me, too, but I’m willing to sit there ... put the effort in," Browner said, "I’m willing to volunteer and put the time in. ... I think this should be something that we do, and then teach new board members as they get elected, how to do it.... So everybody’s transparent and informed.”

The board stopped short of finalizing any official update to its policies.

"I do want to give it a run and a go before we give it ink," Browner said. "Wait at least two months of actually being involved in doing it. Start this process, and then if we feel it’s something we want future boards to do, keep it going, I think we should definitely have an open conversation, make some policy around that to let future boards know, to set a precedent."

Kastengen worried that with potential time between administrative hires, the board might lose sight of its discussion.

"The risk is that administrative hires, it could be several months before we’re doing that again," he said. "... We may forget this conversation..."

"I don't think we're ever going to be able to forget," Browner interjected.

Illinois Association School Board principles outline that while an individual board approves all contracts, hiring responsibilities typically fall on the superintendent.

"Although the board is legally required to approve all employment contracts, the board delegates authority to the superintendent to select and evaluate all district staff within the standards established in written board policy," the principles read.

Board involvement in hiring

Speaking with Patch after the meeting, Browner said the board had previously discussed how its role in hiring could be adapted. Kastengren, specifically, was passionate about examining possibilities for change.

Browner said it wouldn't be completely unusual for the board to play a part.

"Once a candidate made it through to the end and was considered a finalist, you do often see other districts having board members, in some capacity, weighing in before that person is presented to the board for a vote," Browner said.

Initial discussions pre-dated the April 1 election, Browner said, with the board opting to revisit it once new members were seated.

"It's a revisited discussion," Browner said. "It seems like the board has a consensus to have more involvement in that process. What that looks like, has yet to be confirmed."

The board, Browner said, has typically received a personnel report prior to the vote, and has access to a database to review a hire's information.

"That's dependent on a board member doing their due diligence," Browner said. "We aren’t rubber-stamping, but at the same time, we do feel a need expressed prior to this recent community uproar, that we want to be more involved."

Browner was happy to see board members speak to the community and each other throughout the meetings.

"I feel like it was a wonderful conversation," she said. "Everybody finally felt comfortable to offer their insight and their questions to have that healthy discussion. … The community appreciated that openness.

"We’re definitely not qualified to go through resumés and all that. But to have all that information presented to us in a closed session prior to a vote, I’m really supportive of. And I would think that the community would be very supportive of that, as well.

"We do need to stay in our lane, but we also need to be informed voters, to be able to cast our vote."

'What is it about that job?'

In other discussion, Kastengren broached the district's lack of promotion from within for the assistant principal role. Since 2020, he said, the district has hired 16 assistant principals—only four have been internal hires.

"We don’t have a very good strategy to make sure we have teachers ready to step up," he said. "Other problem: lack of retention for assistant principals. The assistant principal with the longest tenure right now was hired in 2022.

".. Our APs are great, they just don’t stick around long enough. And it wasn't always this way. ... We need to figure out, why don't our assistant principals want to stay in the district? We're having trouble getting our own staff leaders to want to take that role, we're having trouble having assistant principals want to stay longterm. We need to figure out why that is—what is it about that job, that people don’t want it?"

"... We’ve heard a lot about the culture here in 135," said board member Kelly Chmielewski, "and I suspect that the culture is related to the staff not wanting to move up."

'People in power have covered their tracks well'

Retired District 135 teacher Jackie Ripoli shared her insight into the district's culture.

"I have no political interest and nothing to gain—I can’t sit quiet anymore," Ripoli said. "It was an honor when I was hired in 1991. It was a time of all sides of education. We were a machine—we worked together for the community, and for the children.

"In 2016, something changed," she said. "The leadership came in with hidden agendas. In 2019, that was a difficult year—the district office became more of a business only. ... Staff voices were consistently shut down. It's personally humbling experience to discussed and assumed dishonest before proven otherwise. Parents have complained to the district office, which results in a one-sided professional conduct investigations without a district employee being asked for an explanation or request for video ... There’s a silent anxiety throughout this district. Don’t make waves. Keep your head down Stay on good sides."

Ripoli also pointed to Bryk, Snyder and Owens at the center of the district's issues, alluding to Conrad and Horn as targeted by the three.

"Bryk, Owens and Snyder are well-versed in the medialities of contracts and timing," she said. "I am confident that these people in power have covered their tracks well and will be difficult to investigate without having to pay them off. They have been very good at finding ways to make experienced, impressively dedicated teachers and building staff look suspect. They're unified in ways to recover funds by harassing hardworking, caring certified and noncertified staff into early exits to save the district money. They've used their power and insinuations to create a constant feeling of job insecurity, and good reptuations have suffered. It saddened me the way Dr. Horn and Dr. Conrad have been treated with disregard and such disrespect.

"I’m not angry, I’m not a whiner. I do not want our district to decline. The people who believe in education and what's best for the children deserve the respect they've earned. We're in a business of educating children in a caring environment, not tearing down an institution deserved to serve them. We need some changes, it needs to be safer here for all of us."

Public comments to be kept in

In response to the community's call for transparency, the board discussed the possibility of public comments being kept in live-stream recordings once meetings have ended. With 40 minutes of public comments from the July 28 meeting later removed, and minimal board action before and after a five-hour closed session, video from that meeting is only four minutes long.

Community members have criticized the recordings being redacted to remove the public comment portions. Board members debated giving commenters the chance to opt out of being recorded, their comments to remain in perpetuity.

"... I would ask that we ask the person who's speaking if they feel comfortable with (their comments being recorded," Browner said. "... I wouldn't want to decide for someone, I would want them to decide for themselves. ... I would want them to have that choice."

Chmielewski said members of the community should have the freedom to opt out of being recorded, but reminded the board of its promise for transparency to constituents.

"I feel that removing citizens' remarks from our videos is not transparent," she said. "Citizens' remarks are part of the meeting and should remain in the video. I think it takes a lot of courage to get up and speak before a packed auditorium, and in a way it feels like we're trying to erase the comments and erase the concerns."

Board member Linda Peckham-Dodge said the board initially began stripping out public comment after employees spoke of being maligned publicly during a meeting, followed by private apologies afterward.

"How do we protect them?" Peckham-Dodge questioned. "... as far as protecting our staff, that's where I have a concern. Because you can get up and say anything. ... That's why we did what we did. So, that's the piece I'd like to try to figure out—how we can protect people when something like that happens."

There are some people, Browner said, who come to speak and "want their voice to be heard forever."

Board newcomer Aisha Zayyad echoed Browner's thoughts.

"I think it's a good idea to give people the option, and let people know in advance that if they are making a comment about another individual—whether it's a student or staff member—that that would be removed from the recording, because we have to ensure the safety of our staff and students," Zayyad said.

Browner noted the board would have to explore the legalities around editing someone's recorded comments.

"Legally, we’re just normal people, we’re going to see if policy needs to be updated," Browner told Patch Tuesday. "We need to make sure we’re following the law. Respect the wishes of our community members."

Thanos stressed reminding speakers about maintaining decorum.

"I would add that everyone speaking should be respectful," Thanos said. "I believe there's an outline of what's appropriate, and what's not appropriate. Because we don't want to blow this. Everyone deserves respect, whether you agree with them, like them or not, so we just want to focus on respect."

By a consensus reached Monday, the board meeting videos will remain published and unredacted for 60 days. The length could be revisited at a later time.

Video of Monday's meetings still remains published in its entirety.

Browner on Tuesday said she hopes this week's discussions have helped clarify the board's intentions.

"This board doesn’t want to come across robotic or heartless," Browner said. "We care just as much as anyone else does. All while learning and navigating the scope that as a board member you’re confined to."

The next Orland District 135 Board of Education meeting is scheduled for 7 p.m. on Sept. 8 at High Point School, 14825 West Ave., Orland Park.