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Resident raises FOIA concerns and urges district to protect preschool spots at Flossmoor SD 161
Summary
A resident, identified as Miss Trapp, used public comment to say she did not receive adequate responses to a Freedom of Information Act request and to urge the board to preserve preschool seats for district families rather than placing teachers' children in the program.
At the Flossmoor SD 161 Board of Education meeting, a resident who identified herself as Miss Trapp criticized the district’s handling of a Freedom of Information Act request and asked the board to consider resident access when filling all-day preschool slots.
Miss Trapp said she filed a request and sent documents to Superintendent Dr. Smith on March 20 and said the district’s response arrived on March 27 with attachments she regarded as incorrect. She said she replied on March 28 and that the only substantive response she received from Dr. Smith was a direction to pursue the next administrative step if she remained dissatisfied. "All I want is answers. I don't want any confidential information," she said, adding that locked documents were not an adequate response.
Miss Trapp also urged the board to consider preserving all-day preschool seats for district families rather than placing teachers' children in the program. She listed several existing local preschool options she said have certified teachers and low tuition: the program at Western Avenue (associated with Flossmoor Community Church), a Montessori program, and an early childhood program at the Erwin Center in Homewood. She cautioned the board to consider the full range of student abilities — "average and above average and gifted" — when planning mathematics coursework at Parker Junior High School.
She said she had communicated her concerns through district channels (to Dr. Smith and staff), the regional office of education (ROE) and the Illinois State Board of Education and that she had shared documents with the board so trustees would be aware of her concerns.
Miss Trapp also thanked the board and congratulated reelected board members; she asked speakers at the dais to speak loudly so meeting attendees could hear.
The remarks appeared during the meeting's public-comment period; no board action on her requests was recorded in open session during this meeting.
