D158 Board of Education seeking applications to fill vacant spot left by resigning member
HUNTLEY — It was announced at the Sept. 21 Huntley Community School District 158 (D158) Board of Education (BOE) meeting that Board Member Gina Galligar had submitted her resignation, which became effective Sept. 22.
“She will be moving to the sunny state of Florida with her husband,” said BOE President Andy Bittman. “We will let the regional office of education know that this opening is available which is something we need to do and then we will be looking for folks who would like to be on the board, and similar to the past openings, we’ll do a round of interviews.”
Galligar, a Huntley resident who worked as a speech-language pathologist in Community Unit District 300 before her move, ran for a four-year seat on the BOE in the 2023 Consolidation Elections this past April. She, alongside other D158 BOE election winners Michael Thompson (two-year term), Laura Murray, and Bittman ran as the “Common Sense Candidates,” who were endorsed by a group that calls itself McHenry County Citizens for Lower Taxes.
Following the announcement of Galligar’s resignation, some BOE members took the time to share final comments regarding Galligar.
“I’ve known Gina for probably actually a little bit less than a year and we got to know each other through running for the board this year. She brought great insight in the special education world for myself. My eyes were opened quite a bit by the different discussions we had,” said Bittman. “We did not always see eye to eye, but she absolutely had my respect from that first moment.”
He continued, “It is important to agree or disagree agreeably and that’s something that we’re trying to push on this board as we go through this. There are a lot of opinions, but truly through the campaign and this time on the board, I can say with certainty we have argued, prayed together, shared tears together, and we have laughed a lot together. In her time on the board, she has taken the chair of the Special Education Committee into something that wasn’t there into something which I believe is important to keep here in this district.”
BOE member Murray was next to express her gratefulness for the work Galligar did on the board, despite being short-lived.
“It is not often that we come across individuals who embody such a unique combination of qualities: passion, fearlessness, loyalty, [a] caring nature, and an unwavering commitment. As you step down from your role as a school board member, please know that your impact will be felt long after you leave,” stated Murray. “We are grateful for your service and we miss you, miss your presence purely. Thank you, Gina, for being a true champion of education and for your commitment of making our schools a better place.”
Following Murray’s comments, Galligar then addressed attendees in her role as a BOE member for the final time.
“When I was elected to the D158 school board, I never dreamed my time would be so short. Moving was never on the agenda when I decided to run, but we have to go where we’re called. Even though my time has been so short on the board, I’ve accomplished much. I’ve brought awareness to the need to focus on academics like reading, writing, math, science, and social studies to increase student achievement,” said Galligar. “We now have a Special Education Committee focusing on the great things that our special education department is doing. I’m so proud of that. I’m so proud of the department. I’ve not wavered in my support of the teachers and the staff. I’m confident that negotiations will go well and teachers will finally be paid in line with neighboring districts. While I wish my time here was longer to meet with more parents and community members, I’ve been a voice, I hope, for all that have come to me.”
Individuals interested in applying for a spot on the D158 BOE should submit a cover letter explaining their interest, including any potential conflicts of interest, and a resume to the BOE and superintendent’s office by emailing their materials to [email protected].
It is important to note that applicants must reside within the school district’s boundaries. Applications will remain open until 3 p.m. on Oct. 6. All applicants can expect a follow-up communication from the board after the review of applications.
In-person interviews will be conducted for selected individuals during a meeting with the date and time to be determined. Any questions about this process should be directed to the superintendent’s office at 847-659-6103 or [email protected].
