Skip to content
  • Subscribe
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Youtube
  • Instagram
  • Email
  • Home
  • News
  • Opinion
  • Entertainment
  • Features
  • Advertise
  • Subscribe to Ray’s Columns
Suburban Chicagoland

Suburban Chicagoland

Original News, Features & Opinion on Chicago, Illinois and America

  • About
    • About
    • Advertise
    • Our Writers
      • Ray Hanania
      • Bill Lipinski
      • Biography: Aaron Hanania
    • Terms of Service
    • Privacy Policy
    • Reach Out
  • Sections
    • Events
    • Opinion
    • News
    • Features
    • Seniors
    • Comic Strip
  • Library
    • “MIdnight Flight” Online Book
      • Midnight Flight Book Overview
      • Midnight Flight Introduction
      • Midnight Flight Chapter 1
      • Midnight Flight Chapter 2
      • Midnight Flight Chapter 3
      • Midnight Flight Chapter 4
      • Midnight Flight Chapter 5
      • Midnight Flight Chapter 6
      • Midnight Flight Chapter 7
      • Midnight Flight Chapter 8
      • Midnight Flight Chapter 9
      • Midnight Flight Chapter 10
      • Midnight Flight Chapter 11
      • Midnight Flight Chapter 12
      • Midnight Flight Chapter 13
    • Villages, Cities & Towns
    • Federal Office Holders
    • County Officials
    • Legislators
  • Subscribe to Ray’s Columns
  • Comment
  • Podcast
    • Ray Hanania on Politics
    • Two Guys on Politics
    • Hanania on Tiktok
  • News Wire
  • Archive 2004-2013
  • Toggle search form
  • Hastings insurance legislation
    Hastings announces legislation to ensure fair homeowners insurance rates for Illinois families Business
  • Mahnoor Ahmad campaign photo
    Mahnoor Ahmad runs for DuPage County Board seat Democrat
  • Sunday, October 26, the Village of Orland Park formally rededicated its Village Hall in honor of the late former Mayor Fredrick T. Owens
    Village of Orland Park Rededicates Village Hall in Honor of Late Former Mayor Fredrick T. Owens Government
  • Fire at townhome at 13900 block of Berkhansted Court in Orland Park, just before midnight on Monday, Oct. 27, 2025
    Firefighter treated for dehydration battling townhouse fire in Orland Park – no residents injured Fire
  • Firefighters with the Orland Fire Protection District who responded to a fire in an apartment at 15200 block of Al Camino Terrace on Saturday morning said the next day that they did find a kitten that needed respiratory aid that they saved.
    FIRE UPDATE: Fire District releases photos of kitten saved from Orland Park apartment fire Saturday Features
  • two-story apartment building on the 15200 block of El Camino Terrace in Orland Park
    Orland Park apartment fire Saturday morning, no injuries Fire
  • Illinois Senator Michael Hastings addressing the Orland Township Democratic Organization Wednesday Oct. 12, 2022
    Hastings calls for bipartisan action to protect Illinois families from SNAP benefit shutdown Baby Boomers
  • Illinios Industrial Energy Consumers, information ad
    Get information on the Illinois Energy Omnibus Bill in Springfield Business
  • State Senator Mike Porfirio secured over $20 million to support infrastructure improvements and construction in the 11th Senate District.
    Senator Porfirio applauds more than $20 million in infrastructure repairs coming to the 11th District News
  • Dad and daughter reunited Lebving Law firm photo
    Little Girl Recovered and Reunited with Dad After Long Separation Dads' Rights
  • 11-03-25 OFPD Coffee living alone
    Orland Fire hosts meeting on helping Seniors who live alone Nov. 5 Baby Boomers
  • State Senator Michael Hastings introduces law to revive long dormant and degraded Tinley Park Mental Health Center into a Sports Park for the community. Photo courtesy of the State Senate President Don Harmon
    Hastings secures $250,000 grant for Easterseals Academy’s Tinley Park campus Health
  • Chicago ranks as 161st worst city for crime in new national survey Chicago
  • Kat Abughazaleh 9th DIstrict Congress 2026 candidate democrat
    Kat Abughazaleh raises over $520,000 in Q2 of 2025 with more than $630,000 cash on hand for 2026 Democratic primary election elections
  • Silent Threat: The True Dangers of Lithium-Ion Batteries — How to Stay Safe and Respond to a Battery Fire Fire
State Senator Martin Sandoval, Lyons Mayor Chris Getty, McCook Mayor Jeff Tobolski, and District 103 Board member Jorge Torres denounced the failed leadership of the District 103 School Board majority led by Marge Hubacek.

Hubacek board scuttles voices of parents and public

Posted on November 6, 2018November 29, 2019 By Ray Hanania 1 Comment on Hubacek board scuttles voices of parents and public
SHARE THIS STORY
2           
 
  
2
Shares

Hubacek board scuttles voices of parents and public

The outrageous indifference to the needs of School District 103 by the dictatorial board majority led by Marge Hubacek prevented parents and taxpayers from expressing their concerns about the board majority’s poor decisions. Hubacek illegally blocked the parents from speaking limiting to only five the number who could address the board’s mismanagement and poor decisions

By Ray Hanania

Ray HananiaWhen some 200 parents attend a school board meeting concerned about the safety of their children, you would think board members would be humble, attentive and show compassion.

But we’re talking about the Lyons District 103 school board, which is none of those things. Over the past year, the board has shifted the focus from education to politics and financial waste.

Board Chairwoman Marge Hubacek, one of the most arrogant officials I have encountered in 42 years of covering Chicagoland, brushed off the parents telling them basically that their concerns were not important.

The first thing the Hubacek board did was to re-arrange the meeting agenda to avoid answering questions about their hiring as a 6th grade teacher Andres Rodriguez, charged with nine counts of attempted murder 13 months earlier.

After convening the board, Hubacek ordered the board into a closed “Executive Session,” normally conducted at the end of a meeting. Hubacek must have been hoping she could outlast parents’ anger. The closed-door meeting lasted 40 minutes.

But the parents waited patiently, while a handful of pro-Hubacek parents bullied them, scolding them because they “only attend board meetings when there is a controversy.”

State Senator Martin Sandoval, Lyons Mayor Chris Getty, McCook Mayor Jeff Tobolski, and District 103 Board member Jorge Torres denounced the failed leadership of the District 103 School Board majority led by Marge Hubacek.
State Senator Martin Sandoval, Lyons Mayor Chris Getty, McCook Mayor Jeff Tobolski, and District 103 Board member Jorge Torres denounced the failed leadership of the District 103 School Board majority led by Marge Hubacek.

When that didn’t work, Hubacek and her minions, like Board members Joanne Schaeffer and Sharon Anderson, who is related to board member Shannon Johnson, declared they would limit the number of people who could comment on the controversy to five people.

The restriction is a clear violation of the Open Meetings Act.

District 103 has six elementary schools serving students in Lyons, Stickney, Forest View, McCook and Brookfield. Three of the schools are in Lyons.

Several parents spoke denouncing the board for failing to do a basic background check to disclose the criminal charges against Andres Rodriguez, who the board hired two months ago along with nine other new teachers. Lyons Mayor Christopher Getty, to show support for the parents, also spoke denouncing Hubacek and the board majority, and the district’s two interim superintendents, Patrick Patt and Robert Madonia, who make an incredulous $100,00 each.

To show you how little they care about the interests of the students, just pick up a copy of the Landmark tabloid newspaper in Riverside, which publishes as if it is owned by Hubacek and Patt. The Landmark quoted Patt Sept. 18 making a series of political attacks against Getty, warning, “Getty better not mess with me because I’m ready for a full-scale war if that’s what he wants.”

The Landmark failed to mention Getty was born and raised in Lyons and graduated from District 103 schools. Patt, on the otherhand, is from the north suburbs of Chicago. A longtime bureaucrat, Patt already gets a $170,000 public school pension on top of his $100,000 “interim” District 103 salary.

State Senator Martin Sandoval, Lyons Mayor Chris Getty, McCook Mayor Jeff Tobolski, and District 103 Board member Jorge Torres denounced the failed leadership of the District 103 School Board majority led by Marge Hubacek.
State Senator Martin Sandoval, Lyons Mayor Chris Getty, McCook Mayor Jeff Tobolski, and District 103 Board member Jorge Torres denounced the failed leadership of the District 103 School Board majority led by Marge Hubacek.

State Senator Martin Sandoval spoke saying he would introduce a law requiring school employees to disclose if they are charged in a felony criminal case. Hubacek countered District 103 did a comprehensive background check on Rodriguez. That only discloses past convictions, not current court cases. But anyone watching the news over the past 13 months, or did a simple Google search, would know about the Rodriguez charges.

Rodriguez is of particular concern. He fled a bar where he was drinking without paying the bill and ran into the street where he bumped into a passing car. When the driver stopped to see if Rodriguez was ok, Rodriguez pulled out a gun and shot the driver seven times, according to court records.

Should a man like that be hired to teach 6th graders, parents were asking?

McCook Mayor and Cook County Commissioner Jeff Tobolski tried to speak but he was blocked by the Hubacek board, with Schaeffer and Johnson bullying parents in the audience who called for the board to allow him to speak.

Clearly, the sole purpose of Hubacek’s politically motivated board, and the suddenly silent Patt and Madonia, was to prevent parents from asking question about the board’s failure to ensure the safety of District 103 students because of the Rodriguez hiring debacle.

District 103 parents have a right to be angry, and they deserve to be heard.

(Ray Hanania is an award-winning former Chicago City Hall political reporter and columnist, and contractor with the Village of Lyons. Hanania can be reached on his personal website at www.Hanania.com and by email at [email protected]. This column is reprinted from the Des Plaines Valley News.)

newswire info
  • Author
  • Recent Posts
Ray Hanania
Ray Hanania
Ray Hanania is an award-winning opinion columnist, author & former Chicago City Hall reporter (1977-1992). A veteran who served during the Vietnam War and the recipient of four SPJ Peter Lisagor Awards for column writing, Hanania writes weekly opinion columns on mainstream American & Chicagoland topics for the Southwest News-Herald, Des Plaines Valley News, the Regional News, The Reporter Newspapers, and Suburban Chicagoland.  

His award winning columns can be found at www.HANANIA.COM Subscribe FREE today

Hanania also writes about Middle East issues for the Arab News, and The Arab Daily News criticizing government policies in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Hanania was named "Best Ethnic American Columnist" by the New America Media in November 2007, and is the 2009 recipient of the SPJ National Sigma Delta Chi Award for column writing.

Email Ray Hanania at [email protected].

Follow RayHanania at Twitter
Ray Hanania
Latest posts by Ray Hanania (see all)
  • Hastings announces legislation to ensure fair homeowners insurance rates for Illinois families - October 29, 2025
  • Mahnoor Ahmad runs for DuPage County Board seat - October 29, 2025
  • Village of Orland Park Rededicates Village Hall in Honor of Late Former Mayor Fredrick T. Owens - October 29, 2025
NPV: 79
  • Tweet

SHARE THIS STORY
2           
 
  
2
Shares
 
2
Shares
 
 
 2         
Blogger, Commentary, Editors Pick, Education, Government, Opinion, Politics, rayhanania, Taxes, Village of Lyons Tags:board majority, District 103 Board, Jorge Torres, Marge Hubacek, Mayor Chris Getty, Mayor Jeff Tobolski, prevent parents from speaking, school board, State Senator Martin Sandoval, violation of Open Meetings Act

Post navigation

Previous Post: Orland Veterans host care package collection
Next Post: Lipinski wins again

Related Posts

  • State Senator Iris Martinez
    Iris Martinez announces candidacy for Cook County Circuit Clerk Government
  • Illinois House Speaker Michael J. Madigan. Photo courtesy of Wikipedia
    Opinion: Federal judge tosses politically motivated lawsuit against Madigan Blogger
  • Buzz Aldrin walks on the moon, July 20, 1969 (Photo credit: Wikipedia) Was it staged using sophisticated video technology or real?
    It was more than just “Walking on the Moon” Blogger
  • Ian Conyers, a former Michigan legislator and nephew of longtime Congressman John Conyers. Photo courtesy of Ian Conyers.
    Michigan’s 13th Congressional battle topic on radio Friday with Ian Conyers breaking news
  • Orland Trustee Carole Ruzich hosts self-defense program for women Crime
  • Activist Mark Allen in studio
    Activist Mark Allen launches new internet radio show News

More Related Articles

Illinois Senator Michael Hastings, 19th Senate District Senator Hastings Golf Classic Monday July 18 Cook County
money $20 dollar bill, dollars, cash 8,500 Cook County homeowners are owed automatic refund for tax overpayments Chicago
Polish scholar Maciej Olchawa addresses Poland and the Ukraine War Oct. 2 Polish scholar Maciej Olchawa addresses Poland and the Ukraine War Oct. 2 Chicago
Unique Plumbing employees work Custer Avenue as they connect the Lyons and McCook water systems. Lyons Ditches Brookfield-North Riverside Water Commission For McCook Water Service General Topics
About 100 Residents of Orland Park filled the board meeting room Monday Oct. 17, 2016 to protest increasing Mayor Dan McLaughlin's pension and salary. The protests led to voters ousting McLaughlina nd replacing him with an unknown candidate, Keith Pekau. Photo courtesy of Ray Hanania Pekau continues his vicious personal attacks against Trustee Calandriello Blogger
DeYoung rocks Star Plaza Commentary

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.

Login with your Social ID
  • OPINION
  • Cook County Treasurer Maria Papas
    Your Mortgage Company May Pay Your Taxes — But You Still Need to Watch
    October 17, 2025
  • Mohammed Faheem The Lightning Strike Radio Show small
    The Politicization of the Nobel Peace Prize — and Trump’s Fury Over Losing Again
    October 11, 2025
  • 06-04-25 Two Guys on Politics Background Zoom LOGO with images
    Video Podcast: Trump Kimmel Kirk Great American Divide Illegal Aliens polling and Illegal Aliens and ICE
    September 20, 2025
  • Illinois House Speaker Emanuel "Chris" Welch speaking at a West Side affordable housing dedication
    Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch, one of the best candidates to become Illinois Governor
    September 7, 2025
  • Cook County Treasurer Maria Papas
    What You’re Missing on Your Property Tax Bill
    September 5, 2025
Subscribe to Ray Hanania's column graphic

Enter Your Email to Subscribe to Ray Hanania’s Columns

  • The-Kings-Pawn-Book-300-x-300.png

Mohammed Faheem The Lightning Strike Radio

  • NEWS
  • Hastings insurance legislation
    Hastings announces legislation to ensure fair homeowners insurance rates for Illinois families
    October 29, 2025
  • Mahnoor Ahmad campaign photo
    Mahnoor Ahmad runs for DuPage County Board seat
    October 29, 2025
  • Sunday, October 26, the Village of Orland Park formally rededicated its Village Hall in honor of the late former Mayor Fredrick T. Owens
    Village of Orland Park Rededicates Village Hall in Honor of Late Former Mayor Fredrick T. Owens
    October 29, 2025
  • Fire at townhome at 13900 block of Berkhansted Court in Orland Park, just before midnight on Monday, Oct. 27, 2025
    Firefighter treated for dehydration battling townhouse fire in Orland Park – no residents injured
    October 28, 2025
  • Firefighters with the Orland Fire Protection District who responded to a fire in an apartment at 15200 block of Al Camino Terrace on Saturday morning said the next day that they did find a kitten that needed respiratory aid that they saved.
    FIRE UPDATE: Fire District releases photos of kitten saved from Orland Park apartment fire Saturday
    October 26, 2025
John Kass Columns

Order the book PoweR PR; Ethnic Activists Guide to Strategic Communications

YOUTUBE VIDEOS

CLICK TO SUBSCRIBE TO RAY HANANIA'S YOUTUBE VIDEOS


Click here to view the video on YouTube or use the widget below.

Follow Ray Hanania at
Twitter
Facebook
TitkTok
BlueSky
RayHanania Columns

Creative Commons License
All works on this website is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. Do not edit original work. Give credit to the original source.

Categories

Copyright © 2022 Suburban Chicagoland & Urban Strategies Group

Powered by PressBook Premium theme