West Cook News

A woman caught on videotape Oct. 26 taking down signs of a grassroots movement working to defeat the school’s $166 million referendum will not face charges.

Burr Ridge resident Zach Mottl, chairman of the “No” movement Do Better D86, told West Cook News that his group will not press charges against “a Darien woman who very closely resembles Joan Brandeis,” one of the leaders of the Vote Yes For D86 campaign. 

Others in the district identified the woman as Brandeis as well, Mottl said. The video also caught the license plate of the alleged sign stealer’s car.

The woman was filmed by a “No” volunteer who noticed signs missing just 15 minutes after putting them up.

Brandeis did not return a request for comment.

The battle over the referendum has inflamed emotions in the district, with the “Yes” side saying the money is needed to make critical repairs and upgrades to the district’s two high schools, Central and South. The “No” side says the district doesn’t deserve more money, given its history of over spending and favoritism toward Central over South.

Those opposing the referendum are also charging that the district is overstepping its bounds in pushing for its approval.

In one instance, a flyer sent out by Vote Yes For D86 said that the district will give National Honor Society (NHS) students credit for community service hours if they volunteer.

“We will be looking for 3 students at a time the weekends of Oct 20/21, Oct 27/28 and Nov 3/4,” the flyer said. “They will be armed with brochures, yard signs, car magnets, etc. Shifts will be 2 hours from 10 am - 4 pm. AYSO [American Youth Soccer Association] hours will be more flexible and open mornings. Hours volunteered are eligible towards the National Honor Society service hour requirement of 20 hours.”

Mottl wrote in an email that “it’s bad enough the district is spending our tax dollars marketing the referendum so they can raise our taxes. Now they’re bribing children with National Honor Society credit if they help promote this to their parents?”

Karen Warner, spokesperson for D86, said she did not know whether the district has allowed NHS to get credit for the volunteer work on the referendum, but wrote that “students have First Amendment rights, and they can choose the organization(s) at which they earn their service hours.”

A spokesman for the NHS said that the membership in the society does require community service, and that it's left to the local chapter to determine the volunteer work that qualifies. 

"There is precedent for students to receive service hours for their own voluntary work on political campaigns," said Bob Farrace, director of public affairs for the National Association of Secondary School Principals, which administers the NHS. "The district’s directing that work, however, adds another layer for consideration,” 

With interest, the $166 million referendum, would cost taxpayers nearly a quarter of a billion dollars.