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Published in the Northwest herald on June 26, 2025
By MICHELLE MEYER
mmeyer@shawmedia.com
Recent actions by the Crystal Lake Park District board, with three newly elected members, have caused tension in the community, with many residents speaking out against a series of swift changes.
Dozens of residents attended a park board meeting last week, with the crowd overflowing into two other rooms to view the meeting on TV screens. Some spoke in favor of the recent board actions, but many more criticized how the board speedily passed agenda items such as the removal of the diversity, equity and inclusion policy, claiming the board violated the Illinois Open Meetings Act.
Other issues prompting criticism include the hiring of a previous board member as the new park district attorney for a substantially higher price than the previous attorney and replacing the members of a volunteer lake advisory committee with a lakeside homeowners association.
Earlier this month, the board voted to end the park district's DEI policy in a 4-3 vote, which left many residents upset with the change that came during a Committee of the Whole meeting - a meeting usually reserved for discussion items and no votes.
But Crystal Lake resident Fred Wickham read resolutions of support for the recent board action made by the Grafton Township Republican Central Committee and the McHenry County Republican Executive Committee.
Since the new board members took office in May, many of the board's actions were made in 4-3 votes, with the majority being newcomers Frederick Tiesenga, Keith Nisenson and Richard Hickey, along with Jason Heisler.
Tiesenga - whom the new board majority chose as board president at their first meeting - declined to comment on questions asked by the Northwest Herald on Friday, but said the other side of the story should be shared too.
Lakewood resident Jim Rocheford showed support for the board at last week's meeting, saying the new members need time to show their actions will be a positive change.
"Put down your pitchforks and your torches and relax," he said.
Open Meetings Act criticisms
Crystal Lake resident David Bradburn asserted that violations of the Open Meetings Act occurred during the June 5 meeting that included limited ability for commissioners to speak, limited dialogue on agenda items, the addition of agenda items without proper public notice, and "gross overstep of policy changes and procedure." He said if violations were made, they were done to push an agenda.
"If this proves to be the case, it means that the must-have attorney is either incompetent or complicit, and therefore the board's legal counsel should step down immediately and return all compensation to the park district's general fund," Bradburn said.
Others called for the board to reverse last meeting's votes.
Crystal Lake Mayor Haig Haleblian shared his own concerns during a City Council meeting about being denied a chance to speak during the public comment period at the June 5 park board meeting. He urged anyone who feels as though the Open Meetings Act was violated to report a complaint to the Illinois Attorney General's Office.
"That meeting was anything but a meeting," the mayor said. "I was really disappointed. We as elected officials are serving the residents of Crystal Lake. We are entrusted with the responsibility of representing the entire community, and not just a few select individuals or any special interest group."
Park board hires former member as its attorney at rate almost 60% higher
A former board president who served two terms on the park board, Eric Anderson, did not seek reelection this spring. But he still serves the board, as he took over as the district's new attorney the same day his parks commissioner seat expired.
The quick decision happened during the first board meeting with the newly elected members, again in a 4-3 vote, and again with board members Cathy Cagle, Michael Jacobson and Karen Johnson in the minority.
In a letter sent by Anderson to the board in May, he said that his services do not have a term agreement nor a retainer, but that he will charge the district a rate of $425 an hour, which he called "a reduced rate."
Previous attorney Scott Puma of Ancel Glink had a rate of $270 an hour, according to Crystal Lake Park District Executive Director Jason Herbster.
"The mere act of nominating one of your friends who just left the board to serve as law firm kind of reeks of old boys school club," Cagle said at the May 15 meeting.
Crystal Lake resident Michelle Thimios said she was concerned that Anderson was voted in as the attorney without discussion or information on his rates.
"It's shameful to commit taxpayer dollars to something without knowing the full cost," she said. "It's even more shameful that the rate ended up being twice the cost of the last attorney's hourly rate."
New board boots Lake Ecology Committee
Another contentious move by the highly divided new board was its swift decision June 5 to replace the park district's Lake Ecology Committee volunteer members with the Shoreline Property Owners Association, a homeowners association of people who live along the lake. Anderson also serves as the HOA's attorney, according to Illinois Secretary of State records.
Cagle said Anderson's dual representation is a conflict of interest and called for Anderson to "resign immediately." Anderson told the Northwest Herald on Friday that he will resign if a majority of the board seeks his removal.
"The board is ruled by majority," he said. "If the board wants me to step down, I will."
Tiesenga said at the June 5 meeting that the main people doing the work on the ecology committee were already association members, and they are the ones with "intel" on the lake.
Cagle took issue with that, saying "the lake belongs to all of the residents," not merely those who live on the lake, and should be representative of all residents in the park district. The district includes Crystal Lake, Lakewood, parts of Lake in the Hills and some unincorporated area.
Gregg Kobelinski already was chairman of the Crystal Lake Ecology Committee and is president of the homeowners association that's taking it over. He said that "combining forces" is his aim, and he sought to reassure detractors that the all-volunteer ecology committee is not being dissolved.
Kobelinski also addressed another controversial decision of the new board, which was a vote to exit the Lake Ecology Intergovernmental Agreement with the village of Lakewood and the city of Crystal Lake that put the responsibility of boat sticker sales on the park district that included a tiered system based on horsepower.
A portion from boat stickers income goes into an ecology fund to pay for the weed harvester, weed treatment and other lake maintenance costs. How these costs will be paid is now unclear given the park district's exit from the intergovernmental agreement.
Addressing the board last week, Kobelinski said: "I think that it's very important that the boaters are the ones paying for the maintenance of the lake. I hope whatever the objection was that you guys had with that, I hope you can resolve it. We're here to help."
Changes in the agenda policy give more power to president
In another 4-3 vote at the previous Committee of the Whole meeting, the board enacted an agenda preparation policy reversing the roles of the president and executive director.
"It feels like it's an attempt by the three new board members and Mr. Heisler to control what can be added to the agenda," Cagle said.
Now, the policy reads that the board president will prepare all meeting agendas with the assistance of the executive director. Another change added is that now two commissioners, rather than one, are required to request additional agenda items.
Anderson, the freshly appointed park board attorney, said that the board "can't get things done" unless the items are on agenda.
"To have a nonelected person preparing your agenda - that doesn't make sense to me at all," Anderson said.
Board appoints member to secretary position
Last month during the first board meeting with the newly elected members, the board voted on the role of board secretary. The role typically was given to a nonelected staff member and was previously held by Herbster for 15 years.
Hickey, one of the newly elected commissioners, now holds the position after a 4-3 vote. Commissioners updated the language to say that some responsibilities could be delegated to the executive director.
Some secretary responsibilities include distributing election materials and certifying to the county clerk the list of candidates who have fulfilled the legal requirements to be placed on the ballot.
"What we're now doing is now asking an elected official to oversee the election process. That is so unclean," Cagle said. "It reeks of a power grab, and it reeks of disrespect for staff."
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: November 11, 2025 Contact Information: Cadeala Troublefield, project manager Griffin & Strong Ph: (678) 364-2962 ext. 111 cadeala@gspclaw.com Courtney Clark, deputy project manager Griffin & Strong Ph: (404) 348-0690 ext. 113 courtney@gspclaw.com
VIRTUAL INFORMATIONAL MEETING DETAILS DATE(TENTATIVE): Wednesday, November 19, 2025 6 PM CST/7 PM EST Interested Participants Can Register Here: https://gspclaw.zoom.us/meeting/register/ytfUEAagQzqnrQE8eO8mSQ#/registration
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: November 6, 2025 Contact Information: Kara Kienzler, associate executive director - communications Illinois Association of School Boards (IASB) Ph: (217) 528-9688
SPRINGFIELD — November 15 of each year is designated as School Board Members Day. The day of recognition is an occasion to build community awareness about the important role school board members play in a representative democracy by providing a local voice for community education decisions. In 2007, the Illinois House of Representatives declared November 15 as School Board Members Day in the State of Illinois. The resolution states the annual recognition is “a way to honor those citizens who devote so much of their time and energy for the education of our children.” “School board members serve as our local, volunteer education advocates striving for quality learning opportunities for every student. They take on this immense responsibility not for a paycheck, but because they are committed to their communities and the belief that every child deserves a quality education,” said IASB Executive Director Kimberly A. Small, J.D. “Our school board members wear many hats; beyond their educational leadership, they are policy-makers, contract negotiators, and budgeteers. They are also our neighbors, our friends, and our schools’ biggest fans. On November 15 –– School Board Members Day — it is our chance to say, ‘Thank You.’” IASB encourages school districts, communities, businesses, and others to thank local school board members and recognize them for their dedication to providing successful education opportunities for all students. Resources and images to recognize school board members on November 15 are available at www.iasb.com/thankaboardmember.
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: November 6, 2025 Media Contact Illinois Principals Association Alison Maley, government and public relations director PH: 217-299-3122 alison@ilprincipals.org
SPRINGFIELD – In a direct response to the growing school leadership shortage across Illinois, the Illinois Principals Association, through its Ed Leaders Network (ELN), has teamed up with Aurora University to launch an exciting and streamlined Alternative Principal Endorsement Program. This endorsement pathway enables educators who already have five years of experience and hold a master’s degree in education to earn their Principal Endorsement in just one year – without completing an additional graduate degree. Approved by the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) and aligned with National Educational Leadership Preparation (NELP) standards, the program blends an immersive one-year internship with micro‑credentials tailored to school leadership practice. Eligible educators can earn licensure‑approved endorsement within one calendar year. This program is significantly less expensive than a full master’s degree and delivered on a fully remote platform. Participants in the program have appreciated the flexibility and experience the program provides as they enter or continue their school leadership journey. “Having already completed my master's degree, I knew I wanted to add the Principals Endorsement to my license, but I did not want to enroll in another full master's program. I was able to pull from previous leadership experience as I worked through the micro-credentials while still gaining valuable experience during my internship activities. The program is challenging but rewarding as it offers a way to reflect on previous experiences while building new skills as an educational leader."
- Jon Pieper, division head for Career & Technical Education, Physical Education, Drivers Education, and Health Education at Elk Grove High School
“The Alternative Principal Endorsement program was a great fit because everything was online, and I could work at my own pace. The flexibility allowed me to balance professional responsibilities while advancing my leadership skills. I would highly recommend this program to aspiring leaders.”
- Dr. Maribel Guerrero, director of language acquisition, Naperville CUSD 203
Dr. Ed Howerton, director of graduate education programs at Aurora University and former district administrator, shared: "Our program leans heavily into a ‘learning by doing’ framework that is extremely self-driven. It provides flexibility for professionals and ownership in the learning process. Many of our completers have moved into administrative roles sooner than if they had gone through a master’s degree program, and filling leadership voids in our schools is key to promoting student success.” Dr. Jason Leahy, executive director of the Illinois Principals Association, also shared: “When compared to a little over a decade ago, the State of Illinois has experienced an almost 60% reduction in the number of individuals who earn their principal endorsement each year. This alternative pathway provides a rigorous, cost effective, and expedited opportunity for quality educators to demonstrate they possess the skills necessary to be effective school leaders.” Eligible candidates must hold a current Illinois Professional Educator License (PEL), possess a master’s degree in education, have completed five years of teaching or school support experience, are employed in a full‑time, permanent educational position before program start, and complete required evaluation training and principal content exams to qualify for endorsement. Currently, 81 students are enrolled at various stages of the program at Aurora University, including 30 students that began this fall semester. Twenty-four students have completed the program since its inception, with 12 individuals working in leadership positions. Aurora University Accredited by the Higher Learning Commission, Aurora University is committed to preparing leaders for the future of education. For a full overview of the program’s structure and registration information, visit the Alternative Principal Endorsement at https://aurora.edu/academics/graduate/principal-endorsement/index.html. Illinois Principals Association The Illinois Principals Association is a leadership organization which serves more than 6,900 educational leaders throughout the state of Illinois and whose mission is to develop, support, and advocate for innovative educational leaders. For more information about the IPA, please visit www.ilprincipals.org. Program Contacts Aurora University – Ed Howerton, director of Graduate Education Programs, ehowerton@aurora.edu, 630-844-5626 Ed Leaders Network / Illinois Principals Association – Arlin Peebles, Ed Leaders Network director, arlin.peebles@ilprincipals.org, 217-241-0598
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: November 5, 2025 Contact Illinois Bar Foundation Jessie Reeves, director of events & administration Ph: 312-920-4681 jreeves@illinoisbarfoundation.org
CHICAGO, November 5, 2025 - Mark D. Hassakis, a personal injury and workers' compensation attorney at Hassakis & Hassakis, P.C. of Mount Vernon, Illinois, was recently honored with the Illinois Bar Foundation’s Distinguished Award for Excellence on Oct. 17 at the Four Seasons Hotel in Chicago. Mark D. Hassakis has the legal advocacy of Illinois victims in his blood. Born and raised in Mount Vernon, Mark followed in the footsteps of his father, Demetri, a lifelong Mount Vernon attorney, to practice law at Hassakis & Hassakis, P.C, now celebrating 75 years. Mark has dedicated his professional life to helping his fellow Illinois citizens and the community at large. In addition to his exceptional career representing individuals’ needs in the areas of personal injury and workers’ compensation, professional malpractice, and general tort injury cases, Mark is a true leader with unparalleled dedication to giving back to the community. The Illinois Bar Foundation’s Distinguished Award for Excellence, the organization’s highest honor, is awarded annually to individuals whose career and personal life exemplify their ongoing commitment to the law and legal community. “The selection of Mark Hassakis for this year's Distinguished Award of Excellence reflects our belief in the principle that legal excellence and community service go hand in hand. His career demonstrates how individual attorneys can make a lasting impact not just through their practice, but through their commitment to strengthening the legal profession and ensuring access to justice for all Illinois residents.”
Lauren N. Tuckey, Tuckey Law Illinois Bar Foundation President 2025-26
Bar leadership and community impact Mark's commitment to the legal profession extends far beyond his practice. As president of the Illinois State Bar Association (2010-11), he championed juvenile justice reform, established young attorney mentorship programs, and highlighted the vital role lawyers play in strengthening their communities. His passion for juvenile justice led to the establishment of the Illinois Bar Foundation's M. Denny Hassakis Fund, which focuses on improving Illinois' juvenile justice system through public policy changes and programs supporting vulnerable youth. Mark served as president of the Illinois Bar Foundation from 2000 to 2002, during which time he was instrumental in creating the organization's signature fundraising events, including the Gala and Lawyers Rock concert. Mark has held numerous other leadership positions, including chairman of the ISBA Mutual Insurance Company; president of the Jefferson County Bar Association; and board member of the Hellenic Bar Association, the Lawyers' Trust Fund of Illinois, and the Juvenile Justice Initiative. Beyond his legal work, Mark has been a driving force in Mount Vernon and Southern Illinois development. He has spearheaded projects focused on downtown development, historical building restoration, and the support of community parks and arts initiatives. Notable achievements include bringing nationally acclaimed jazz artists to teach area grade school students and commissioning an "Abraham Lincoln as a Lawyer" sculpture for the 5th Appellate Court grounds in Mount Vernon. A proud Northwestern University alumnus, Mark continues to serve as an alumni regent and member of the Northwestern University Leadership Circle since 2012, acting as an ambassador for the university. Mark's extensive community involvement includes leadership roles with the Downtown Development Corporation of Mt. Vernon, Jefferson County Historical Society, Lincoln Park Foundation, Vernon West Rotary Club (Paul Harris Fellow), and numerous other local organizations dedicated to enriching Southern Illinois. Bar Admissions