North Cook News

Glenbrook High School District 225 is going to limit public participation in meetings. 

The district noted its intent in a recent board agenda item updating meeting policy. Among the changes are the removal of a regular public comment period in the meetings and giving notice ahead of time if a parent wants to speak publicly at a meeting.  

"Individuals may be heard during the Public Comment Period portion of a board by indicating their intention to the Board Secretary upon arrival to the meeting," a removed section of the policy reads. 

D225 board member Joel Taub made national headlines after he cursed at a public participant and asked for him to be removed from the chamber.  Taub cursed at a community member who had a mask exemption in a meeting earlier this year.

"Wear the mask on your f------ balls!" Taub yelled at the man. Despite the outburst, Taub has indicated he will remain on the board.

The same board experienced "technical difficulties" that prevented the public comment period during another raucous board meeting to be posted online later. The missing part of the meeting was 30 minutes of public comment from parents condemning Glenbrook 225 board member Marcelo Sztainberg, who sought to prevent unvaccinated children from coming to school.

“If a student shows up (to school) with a knife, we won’t let them in,” Sztainberg said in the Jan. 10 meeting, North Cook News earlier reported. “If someone is intoxicated, we won’t let them in. Even if there are 20 students that show up under the influence, we won’t let them in. Why is it different with COVID? Why is the district pushing people to take a risk sitting with people who won’t take any mitigation? At what point do we say this is not safe?”

Glenbrook 225 is accountable for 5,132 pupils in Glenview, Northbrook, and unincorporated parts of Northfield Township.