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Teachers and staff urge support for administrators, textbook donations and improved communications at Proviso West
Summary
Multiple teachers and staff used public comment to urge the board to retain an assistant principal, support textbook donations to Scarce, raise concerns about nonrenewals and request improved communication and safety procedures. A translator also requested reconsideration of a student's application to a selective program.
During the public-comment portion of the April 8, 2025 Proviso Township High School District 209 board meeting, multiple teachers, staff and parents raised personnel concerns, supported a textbook donation and asked the district to improve communications and safety procedures.
Savannah Ireland, a social-studies teacher at Proviso West, spoke in support of Assistant Principal Dr. Gottlieb and also urged the board to approve the donation of used textbooks to the nonprofit Scarce. Ireland said Dr. Gottlieb is “approachable” and “works to build trust with her staff,” and described Scarce as “an excellent organization” that provides donated materials to teachers. Administration later confirmed the district identified about 6,772 books for donation and that moving them would require contracting an outside mover at an estimated small financial impact of about $1,600 for transportation.
A teacher who identified himself as Dan Stanger addressed the board about his proposed nonrenewal and described prior positive performance references provided by colleagues and district staff. Another veteran teacher, Kirsty Gillespie, thanked the superintendent for accountability and support in classrooms while urging continued attention to instructional quality.
A staff member identified as Patricia Powell raised safety and communication concerns at a school building, saying security and administrators need a clearer chain of communication and faster response in safety situations. The speaker asked for better coordination between security and administration and said staff often learned of testing schedules and other changes at the last minute.
A translator spoke on behalf of two Spanish-speaking parents whose daughter, Simone Paris, applied to a selective program (referred to as the MSC program) and was told her application was incomplete because a submission button was not selected. The parents said they were referred to the meeting by State Rep. Hernandez and requested board help with reconsideration or guidance; they provided an email address on their public-comment form for follow-up.
The district’s administration acknowledged the Scarce donation effort, citing inventory figures and the need to hire movers for transport. The superintendent’s team also announced the district is considering a K12 communications system to improve response times and record requests.
The public-comment period concluded before the board moved to the formal agenda items.
