On 6/17/2008 Adam Andrzejewski said:

Ironic that you comment without even leaving your full name… All of these questions I have answered within this website. I am a private citizen that self funds that entire organization. I have not taken outside money for the site to date. ForTheGoodOfIllinois is not a political action group, but a social welfare organization. We are a non-partisan organization, working on openness and transparency- which is a bi-partisan issue. I work completely without pay. ForTheGoodOfIllinois is not a public body or government entity, but since you are asking for our financials, I assume you would advocate all churches, civic organizations, all social service organizations, civic organizations, etc. to post all their financials. If that’s truly your position, then let’s first agree to have our government- at all levels- post theirs!

On 6/17/2008 Upton said:

How ironic that you don't live up to the same standards of openness and transparency that you require of everyone else. Where is your "About" page that clearly shows who you are, what your affiliations are and where your funding is coming from? How much is For the Good of Illinois spending and on what? Where is your check register? You are a non-profit political action group, how about publishing your financials? What office

On 6/12/2008 Adam Andrzejewski said:

My role was to help COD pass the ‘open book’ test. Carlin and the board passed swiftly and even extended: they posted their entire board packet including their check register, audio (next is video) of the meetings, etc. They are the most transparent education entity over $100 million is the state of Illinois! This board didn’t have to do any of this- they choose to do it. State law doesn’t mandate audio from meetings be posted on the internet, they choose that highly transparent option! I’m not answering on the “reassignment” of administration, because I can’t give a qualified opinion. However, the Daily Herald said that the reassignment was mutual! All the construction contracts and revisions are subject to Freedom of Information Act and open meetings act- so you can get the details. With the payments to those vendors however, the board has chosen transparency so you don’t even have to ask. Should they also post all contracts, bids, revisions, etc also? I think that we can agree that this would be a great next step! And Trustee David Carlin would most likely be the guy to make the proposal! You, I and every taxpayer in DuPage has a friend in Dave Carlin.

On 6/12/2008 Jackie McGrath said:

Adam, you haven't answered my questions--and neither has Carlin or his fellow trustees! It's pretty clear that Carlin is only *selectively* pushing for transparency. On issues that really impact the school, he's keeping very, very quiet. Believe me--we're asking these questions at COD, but the Board doesn't answer them. Unfortunately, the teachers at COD have very little opportunity to contribute any advice or commentary about the decisions this Board keeps making behind closed doors. In fact, the Board has often reiterated that they do not respond to public comments made during the Board meetings (and since COD teachers can only make comments at that time, when are we supposed to ask questions?). That's the opposite of transparency to me! Plus, I think a year on the Board is plenty of time to learn the ropes, and I don't think I'm "attacking" so much as merely critiquing the secrecy and selective transparency of Carlin and this Board. Frankly, I think Carlin could be doing a lot better on that account, if he really wants to make a difference and institute reform at the school. We're waiting to see real leadership from this board, instead of micromanaging and "carefully choreographed" adherence to state laws. -Jackie McGrath

On 6/11/2008 Jesse said:

Carlin is not "just adhering", he has proactively moved the board. By posting their check register, COD is demonstrating respect for the taxpayer and its students. (We can see where COD spends it's money.) If you have specific questions about construction projects or personnel issues, those are also questions for your own education establishment (of which you are a part of!). The establishment runs the projects, the trustees review and issue approvals. One good reason to post the register is to make sure that people running projects and reviewing projects are performing. My suggestion is to ask questions of both! But, Carlin has been a trustee for one year and is showing leadership. From what I understand, the trustees have been working through a backlog of issues. And as they have been doing their work, they've been saving taxpayers real money: on health insurance ($300,000), administrative cost cutting ($2.5 million annually), maintenance contracts going in-house ($300,000 annually), re-negotiating their Pepsi contract (nearly $1 million annually). Are there other issues? Probably. But, through posting the check register, these trustees are inviting community dialogue. If you have a problem with expenses, tell them about it. That is the purpose the register is up there!

On 6/11/2008 Adam Andrzejewski said:

Not only does Carlin advocate audio taping meetings, but also video taping meetings. This will be implemented shortly. I must ask if you read the Illinois headlines of your local newspapers every day regarding the waste, excesses, and abuse of the public treasury? Carlin pushed forward a policy that sheds light on 'all vendors and spending'. Why do you attack a first year trustee that is helping move his board in the right direction? His sunshine proposal shows simple respect for the taxpayer and students who fund the school.

On 6/11/2008 Jackie McGrath said:

Hmmm. If David Carlin is so interested in being open and transparent, why does he refuse to explain the expensive and frequent change orders for some massive construction projects currently underway at COD? And why is he keeping mum about the decision to "reassign" COD President Sunil Chand? Plus, audio recording Board meetings is required by law (see the Illinois Open Meetings Act). Merely adhering to the law doesn't seem like some sort of heroic act to me! Jackie McGrath Associate Professor of English College of DuPage