GEA Negotiator's Appointment to School Board Finance Committee Stirs Debate

Geneva School District 304's decision to appoint a teacher's union negotiator to the board's Finance Committee stirred some conversation Monday night.

At the regular board meeting, school officials unanimously selected Tom Anderson to join the committee, which is an advisory body previously comprised of three School Board members. The committee deals with policy issues regarding school finances—everything from debt reduction to teachers' salaries.

And that's one of the reasons School Board President Mark Grosso wanted Anderson on the committee.

"Tom Anderson was part of the (Geneva Education Association) negotiating team," Grosso said. "I felt, and the reason I brought his name forward, was that Tom was very innovative in some of our discussions. I pushed for this because of the whole process we went through during the teacher negotiations and the fact the board and GEA did agree to begin some talks about the future direction compensation is going to take."

One part of the negotiated settlement was an agreement to establish a joint Salary Schedule Study Group, comprised of School Board members, administrators and GEA members, which will address the issue of future compensation for teachers.

"But that wasn’t by only reason," Grosso said. "He’s a property owner and a taxpayer and a parent. He’s also a small-business owner, so he has some unique insights."

The appointment drew some criticism from TaxFACTS member Sandra Ellis, who said she was "upset" by the appointment, in part because the group had been asking for at least a year to have a non-voting citizen representative added to the committee.

Ellis asked that the board take some time to consider the appointment, especially since the first notification that a vote was pending came with the School Board agenda posted on the School District 304 website.

"What's the hurry?" Ellis asked. "There has been no urgency up to this point ... There could be two to four new members of this board (after the April 9 School Board election), and I think a new board should make this decision."

Ellis also was concerned about a potential conflict of interest, since the Finance Committee is involved in budget decisions that include compensation. 

"I’m concerned about the choice of an employee of the School District," she said. "It’s hard to perceive that a person in that position could provide unbiased input."

Her concerns were acknowledged by School Board member Tim Moran, who is not seeking re-election but who did vote in favor of Anderson's appointment.

"I don’t know Mr. Anderson, but he certainly seems like a quality person," Moran said. "To Ms. Ellis’ point, it does sound like there’s manifest self-interest, but I think that is offset by the fact that he does own his own busiess. I would encourage the board to continue to think about at least one other person, one community member, to continue the transparency."

Grosso, who is up for re-election on April 9, said the push for the appointment came from him, and he is willing to let voters decide whether it was a good decision.

"Whether I continue with this board or not, I hope the board (also) considers members of the community—at least one, maybe two," he said.

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