Unit 5 School board swears in new members

Posted on April 27, 2023

NORMAL – It was an emotional evening at Wednesday’s Unit 5 School Board Meeting as new members took office.

It was the last meeting at the table for Board President Barry Hitchins and Alan Kalitzky. Mark Adams and Alex Williams took a seat at the table for the first time. Kelly Pyle and Amy Roser were incumbents from the April Consolidated Election.

History was made on Wednesday as Williams is the first African-American man to serve on the school board. This will also be the first time two African-Americans will serve on the board as Kentrica Coleman finishes her term.

Pyle will serve as the new board president with Jeremy DeHaai as vice-president and Stan Gozur as secretary.

Blogs

Labor Day – Expanding voting rights for all

By Mike Matejka Because of COVID, there is no Labor Day Parade this year. It’s always a great event for our everyday workers to march proudly down the street and enjoys the festive crowd. If there had been a parade, this year’s Labor Day theme was to be “150 years of struggle: your right to vote.” …

Is federal mobilization the answer?

By Mike Matejka As President Donald Trump threatens to send federal marshals into Chicago, over the objections of Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker, recall another Illinois Governor who protested the incursion of armed federal personnel into the city. Those federal troops, rather than calming, escalated the situation, leading to deaths and violence. Illinois poet Vachel Lindsay…

In these troubled times, to my fellow white Americans

By Mike Matejka Our nation is at a unique watershed in human relations. African-Americans have been killed too many times in the past before George Floyd, but the response to this man’s death is international and all-encompassing. I was a grade-schooler during the Civil Rights 1960s. I watched Birmingham demonstrators hosed and the Selma – Montgomery…

Workers’ Memorial Day – Remember those whose job took their life

Looking around our community, when we say employer, most will respond to State Farm, Country, or Illinois State University. We too often forget those who are building our roads, serving our food, or our public employees. COVID-19 has made us more aware of the risk. Going to work every day for some people means…