Board president resigns post citing health problems 

Daily Herald, April 26, 2001

By C.L. WALLER
Daily Herald Staff Writer

A contentious public discussion over curriculum in Grayslake Elementary District 46 has taken a toll on 38-year-old school board President John Karol, who announced this week he is resigning.

Karol said Wednesday he suffers from rheumatoid arthritis.

"This is an extremely important volunteer position, but my health and my family come first," said Karol, who has three children attending District 46 schools.

Diagnosed with the chronic illness four years ago, Karol said it has flared up in the past three or four months and stress has much to do with it.

The stress of late is coming from District 46's strategic curriculum plan. Controversy over the plan centers around the hiring last fall of consultant William Spady at a cost not to exceed $23,000.

Spady is internationally known as an education reformer and has written three books about changing education for the American Association of School Administrators. Spady has drawn criticism for his ideas, which he calls outcome-based education.

School board meetings, including one this week with Spady, has drawn hundreds of concerned residents.

"It was never the board's intention to make wholesale changes," Karol said, adding that the last strategic plan dates back to 1990 when District 46 was much different.

Developing the plan is in Superintendent Kurt Anderson's contract and Anderson suggested Spady after hearing him speak at a superintendent's conference, Karol said.

The plan will be a road map of where the district wants to go with finances and facilities as well as curriculum, Karol said, adding that the plan will transcend boards, superintendents and residents as it is updated to meet the needs of district students.

The board accepted Karol's resignation, and he said it has 30 days to appoint someone to fill the vacancy . 

In the past three and a half years, Karol has helped hire a new school superintendent and planned for construction of two new schools.

"It truly has been an amazing three and a half years for me," he said.