New Board Member Sworn in; Former Member Thanks D161 Community

It was about hellos and goodbyes for some of Wednesday's board meeting.

Denise Wildeveld was approved by the board and sworn in as its new member, replacing Dee Molinare, .

The board voted 5-1 to appoint Wideveld, with board member Sean William Doyle dissenting. Doyle said after the meeting that his objection to the appointment was over the process and not Wildeveld's qualifications. . . Doyle said the fair and objective approach would have been for the board should have interviewed all the applicants, not just a select few.

At the beginning of the meeting, the board and Superintendent Barb Rains recognized Molinare's 10 years of service on the D161 board and presented her with a plaque and a nameplate.

"On behalf of the board and administration, thank you for your work and dedication to the students and family of 161," Rains said.

Molinare also took time to express her gratitude to the parents and district residents in attendance.

"I just wanted to thank the community for supporting me," she said. "It's been a privilege and an honor to serve on the 161 board. ... We accomplished so much. It has been a terrific journey, and I thank you all, and I feel like I've worked with the best of the best, and it's truly been a privilege."