New Faces, New Roles: SD161 Board Goes Through a Changing of the Guard

After the tumult of the past , Monday's special session of the Summit Hill School District 161 board of education was an easygoing affair highlighted by the installation of a new board. 

Newly elected members Stacey Borgens, Sean William Doyle and George Perros were sworn in--along with the returning members--as part of a meeting that set the face of SD161's board for at least the next two years. 

"I do want to personally congratulate Geroge and Stacey to the board," said Doyle, the only board incumbent to . "I'm honored to have you on the board."

The new board's first order of business was to elect new officers. Mary Kenny, who has been a member since 1985, was unanimously approved as the new board president, replacing Doyle, who held the position previously. In her 26 years on the board, Kenny has never served as president, and her election was met with applause from those in attendance.

"Thank you for your confidence in electing me," Kenny said. "I'll try to do a good job. I have a lot of years invested in this board. I think we're a great school district, and I think we can be better."

The other unanimously elected officers included:

• Vice president: Joy Murphy
• Secretary: Denise Lenz

Kenny also appointed herself as the SD161 representative to the Lincoln-Way Special Education District 843 board, reclaiming the position she held four years ago. Murphy was appointed as her alternate. 

The other board appointments were delayed until the May 11 meeting, so that the board members could tell Kenny if they had interests in a specific area.