Victor Casini Takes Over as District 86's Board President

The new District 86 Board of Education took its first actions Monday night and among them was the appointment of a new board president.

Victor Casini was elected by a unanimous board vote to take over the body’s leading role that for the last six years has been filled by Dennis Brennan, whose four-year term ended Monday night along with those of DeeDee Gorgol and Dianne Barrett.

Casini, a Hinsdale South parent and Burr Ridge resident, is among the three new board members elected along with incumbent Kay Gallo on April 9.

The attorney and former Gower School District 62 board member said he does not see himself as above the other six board members, and one of his main goals as president will be to make board meetings more efficient.

“I like to move things along,” Casini told his fellow board members.

Casini became known last year for his curriculum objection over the showing of the R-rated movies American Beauty and Brokeback Mountain in a Hinsdale South Film as Literature course open to juniors and seniors, which sparked a series of contentious meetings. Ultimately, District 86’s administration rejected Casini’s objection, and his appeal failed before the board.

The new president, however, does not want to be defined by the movie objection.

“Only time and my actions on this board will show people I’m committed to the district and I’m not a one-issue board member,” Casini said.

Ed Corcoran, another one of the new members on the board, nominated Casini. He said Casini’s experience as a general counsel for LKQ Corporation and his past school board experience qualifies him for the president’s post.

“Victor will be a good leader,” Corcoran said. “He is balanced and challenging.”

No other board members were nominated to be president.

The duties of the board president, according to District 86 Board Policy 2:110, include working with the superintendent to write meeting agendas, calling special board meetings, serving as the board’s official media spokesperson, making board committee appointments, and signing official district documents such as board minutes and the tax levy.

The board selects a president once a year.

Claudia Manley will be the board's vice president. She and Jennifer Planson were both nominated for the role, and Manley won a 4-3 decision. She got the support of Casini, Corcoran, Richard Skoda and herself, while Planson received votes from Gallo, Michael Kuhn and herself.

Monday’s was the first meeting of the new board after a contentious campaign season led up to the April election.

Casini, Corcoran and Claudia Manley were all voted onto the board last month after campaigning together as the “Friends for District 86” slate. The slate’s clean sweep left only one seat available, which was won by Gallo of the “Building on Excellence” slate.

Gallo’s slate also featured Brennan, Gorgol and Roseanne Rosenthal.

After being elected, the three “Friends” candidates said in a letter to Patch they aim to increase the board’s collaboration with the community as well as its accountability and transparency.

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