The Brookfield Times

Tumult at Riverside-Brookfield
These are some remarkable days at Riverside Brookfield High School.

In a decisive vote, taxpayers last week tossed two school board incumbents while electing a slate that promises significant change.

That vote came immediately on the heels of the resignation of Superintendent/Principal Jack Baldermann, who had to go. He took an option a new board would most certainly have demanded, possibly on less favorable exit terms.

What's next? There seems to be agreement among members of both the current and future boards that the school must choose interim administrators to run RB next year. Baldermann's departure this late in the school year, coupled with the inevitable learning curve of a new board majority, makes interim appointments as principal and, separately, as superintendent the wise course.

At issue is which board - old or new - makes the choices. The sitting board seems ready to argue that making the appointments quickly makes the most sense: School would be more stable for next year. Members of the new board argue that given the new direction demanded by voters, and that mandate seems real to us, such key choices as interim leaders must be made by the newly constituted school board.

We agree with the newcomers. Voters have chosen change. Picking interim administrators should be the new board's first notable choice.

A caution: Being elected to office by your neighbors is a heady experience. Being given a mandate is a particular trust offered only rarely by voters. The tendency, our experience tells us, is for newly elected officials with that powerful wind at their backs to overreach, to oversimplify. Riverside Brookfield is a fine high school, a place of accomplishment and tradition. Voters want you to fix its problems, not remake it. Take time to see the grays. RB is complex. Few issues there are black and white.

 

Thank God for Tony Peraica

Our elected officials are so darned smart. And they really have our interests at heart! So it is just fine with us that Tony Peraica, among other things the Lyons Township Republican committeeman, cut a deal with his Democratic counterpart to make sure there were just enough candidates on the ballot for the township race last week. A sprinkling of Republicans. A slightly heavier sprinkling of Democrats. And no pesky extra candidates for voters to have to worry their stupid little heads over. It was just so neat and tidy.

Just a few weeks ago, the race for the township was almost gaudy with a fine little dust-up between Peraica and his GOP nemesis Michael LaPidus. Their fight was confusing to us. Made our heads hurt. Luckily, the courts sided with LaPidus and tossed Peraica's slate. But Peraica came back and ditched four of his candidates, renominated three, cut a deal with the Dems on the other four seats.

That made it simple for voters. Seven candidates. Seven posts. Thanks, Uncle Tony.