A District 117 board member is defending her decision to abstain from voting on the decision whether to renew a contract with 8 Points Charter School.
Corinne Wagner didn’t vote “yes” or “no” on the issue on Wednesday. The school board voted 4-2 in favor of the non-renewal with 8 Points. This was the second time the board voted to not renew the contract. The vote was the same the first time around in October; Wagner abstained then, too.
Wagner declined to go on tape, but in an email provided to WLDS-WEAI News, she said, “For professional reasons, I felt I had a conflict of interest and was therefore unable to provide an impartial vote. I have remained consistent in my abstention in order to be fair to all parties involved, both those at 8 Points and the community at large.
“In the last eight months, I have taken my role as an elected school board member very seriously and very much to heart, and I plan to continue to do so by ensuring that I only take part in votes on which I can provide a completely impartial opinion, as is the expectation of my role.”
Wagner was elected to her first term in April. She works as a career counselor and student employment advisor at Illinois College.
It’s worth noting Cheryl Ballard, one of the District 117 board members to vote “no”, is a former member of the 8 Points school board.
8 Points now has 30 days to file an appeal following the school board’s decision.