D208 board members tune up band teacher over past comments
Officials still smarting over faculty rally that drew TV coverage
By Bob Skolnik
At last week's District 208 school board meeting, Riverside-Brookfield High School music teacher and band director James Baum took the opportunity to recognize the accomplishments of music students and praise the local arts community for keeping the arts alive and active during the coronavirus pandemic.
At the end of his comment, he asked the board to make an exception to board policy and give a round of applause to the arts community. He got the applause, but then he got a lot more than he had expected.
Three school board members -- President Wes Smithing, Laura Hruska and Ramona Towner -- pushed Baum to say that he agreed with them about having students come back to school at least twice a week.
"So, you're in favor of coming back to school then, because that was a powerful statement about you're really here for the kids," Smithing said.
Before Baum could answer, Towner also jumped in.
"We want the kids here to make art, for you to teach them how to make art, and how do you feel about that?" Towner said with emphasis on the word "that."
Baum didn't give the answer the board members wanted.
"Well, I'm going to disappoint you. I'm in favor of full remote, because that's where my students can actually participate in rehearsal," Baum said. "When they're in person they can't."
Baum noted that because of social distancing requirements he cannot fit all his band students in the music room.
Smithing noted that during band camp this summer he had seen Baum on the football field with the band.
Baum replied that was when the students were just practicing their halftime marching routine without instruments.
Many are worried that blowing on brass instruments, as well as singing, transmit the novel coronavirus.
"I think that you're asking me to respond for the whole faculty and I'm not prepared to do that," Baum said. "I can only talk about the music department and the music department. We've done the math on our rooms, we know that playing inside would be not safe."
That really set Smithing and Towner off, as they noted that Baum was featured in a WBBM-TV News report in August, when teachers held a rally in front of the school protesting a hybrid plan to start the school year.
A few days later, after the teachers deliberately staged a slow entry to the school during an Institute Day, Superintendent Kevin Skinkis changed course and started the school year remotely, a move that Smithing, Hruska, and Towner are still unhappy about.
Smithing and Towner let Baum have it.
"So, you can speak on Channel 2 News for the entire staff, but you can't speak here at the board meeting for the entire staff, is that what you're telling me?" Smithing asked.
"I spoke out of turn for Channel 2 News," replied Baum, who is not part the teacher union leadership.
Towner had a quick response.
"But we all heard it and the last thing that anybody wants is for their school to be on the 5 o'clock news, because their teachers called for some big rally because they don't want kids around," Towner said.
Baum noted that it was board policy not to respond to public comment. But both Superintendent Kevin Skinkis and Towner noted that Baum had just asked for an exception to that rule to applaud the arts community.
"You opened up the door, and here you sit," Towner said.
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Doug Pawlik from Chicago
Facebook Verified
Posted: November 25th, 2020 8:50 PM
As a former student who has publicly commented before this board in the past, and has watched the misguided and often arrogant viewpoints of Superintendent Skinkis and the other board members, this is sadly unsurprising. It's obvious staying out of the News spotlight is more important to them than the safety of the RBHS teachers and students as the state's Covid cases continue to rise. It's obvious that they came to this meeting with an agenda to leap at the chance to use Mr. Baum as an example, but in doing so their comments show that they simply do not understand the science behind how the virus can spread through the use of instruments and a room full of musicians. Trust the science. And believe your teachers when they tell you what they need.
Amy Landahl Hill from Riverside,
Facebook Verified
Posted: November 23rd, 2020 8:33 AM
I'm an RB parent dismayed with the attacks on RB teachers. The personal attacks of school board members to an individual faculty member is not remotely helpful nor does it reflect well on the D208 board in general. While my RB student is not in the band (she plays in the orchestra), I was so impressed by the amazing holiday concert last year. I think it would be wise to remember that talented teachers, as Mr. Baum clearly is, can move to districts where they are not attacked by the school board when presenting positive things at a meeting. As COVID cases keep rising, I hope we can all remember to tone down the attacks and rhetoric and remember that everyone is just trying to stay safe and healthy.