May 13: Relay for Life Paints the Town Purple, Readers Weigh in on Possible Closing of Central School

Here at Lemont Patch, Facebook is a big deal.

Not only does Facebook allow me to share stories and quick updates, but it allows me to interact with readers, answer questions and see what the community thinks about some of the biggest issues in town.

This week, we welcomed a handful of new fans to climb to 670 likes! We love and appreciate all the support, so we hope you'll continue to share our Facebook page with friends.

Every Friday, we'll highlight some of the comments on our page, and we'll even share some of our community pages.

Possible Closing of Central School

On Thursday, the Board of Education met to discuss the possible closing of Central School — among other things. While the conversation elicited passionate reactions from school board members and administrators, parents and community members took to our Facebook page to share their thoughts on the situation:

• Robyn Rehor Horn: Boo!! I hate this. Ok, I love Central and Yes, I would rather keep teachers but it's such a part of Lemont from way back when. So sad...

• Leslie Kane: It really is sad. It's the original Lemont High School and is a piece of History. I went there when I was in elementary school. It's just sad.

• Rich Rinchich: Sitting here...seeing how classrooms that are vacant could be used across the district...closing Central School makes sound fiscal sense. I don't like it...but it is what needs to be done. Tough choices to be made by the school board next Monday night.

• Marcus Hebda: The whole thing makes me sick to my stomach.

• Robyn Rehor Horn: The dedicated teachers and principals are the ONLY thing keeping us at the public schools. We revisit the public/private debate weekly (husband was a private school boy) and I just have to go back to the fact I KNOW we have great teachers and dont know the teachers at the private schools. Class size stinks...but I have faith our teachers will overcome it, I really do.. or else I'd have my kids pulled.

• Lynn Phelan Kroll: It is a building that we cannot afford. Ms. Rodewald's statements tonight were well thought out. I commend her for her honesty. It was her intelligent insight at tonight's meeting that really made me realize what a fine leader this distri...ct has lost. This community will overcome closing Central. Really, the children will be OK. It simply comes down to efficiency and keeping Central open is not efficient at this time.

• Molly Hebda: Even knowing this was going to be the outcome, after not passing the referendum, it still saddens me. It is going to be difficult to stay possitive when I tell our son he has to go to, yet another school. I hope people will finally see tha...t this needs to be fixed. Our schools need more money. Our kids deserve better than being hearded together like cattle in the hallways and in the classrooms. They deserve smaller class sizes and they deserve a better more well rounded education. I give praise to those teachers that stay, trying to make a difference, but do not blame any who want to go elsewhere. So very very sad.

• Chris Rinchich: Sad thing is that the heartbeat of Central School is leaving. Saying goodbye to our beloved and respected leader, Principal Gina Rodewald, is like losing a dear friend. Her attention to individual students, their families, and staff paire...d with her dedication to excellence in education is unparalleled in this district. Closing Central School is going to be sad, but continuing without Mrs. Rodewald is the true heartbreak. When it all comes down to the simplest elements, a building a just a place; it does not define a student body.
  
  What we need to do, as a unified community, is dedicate ourselves to providing the best education our taxes can pay for and offer 100% support to those teachers and staff who we entrust with our children. If we don't come together on this, we will surely lose more quality educators and not be able to attract effective, dedicated educational leaders to fill those vacancies.

Another Janet Hughes Lawsuit

On Monday, news broke that by former District 113A Board Member Janet Hughes over closed meeting recordings and financial statements.

• Jamie Bean McGrath: Sounds like peeps are trying to cover their butts!!

• Molly Hebda: Will this EVER end?

• Robyn Rehor Horn: For the love of God, now you're just taking money from all the kids education (including your own). Please Janet Hughes, I'm begging you to stop!

• Marilou Purpura: Until Ricker quits, there will be no rest....he did the same thing at his last school, and we are the ones to suffer. How many more jobs has to be lost with this man in power, I heard my son's teacher may loss his job, and that just makes me sick, he has hurt this school district more than any other person, and I might add, more than Janet Hughes...

This week's Facebook Page of the Week goes to Relay for Life Lemont-Homer Glen. The group's week-long "Paint the Town Purple" initiative will begin Sunday to spread cancer awareness. Follow the page for more information as they prepare for the July 8 event.