Suburban School Board To Seek Member's Ouster Over Comments On Gays

CHICAGO (CBS) -- The board for Warren Township High School District 121 planned to ask board member Liz Biondi to resign Tuesday night, a week after she said the district should not hire a homosexual superintendent.

Biondi apologized after publicly suggesting a gay superintendent might have to deal with more personal issues than school issues.

"I have very good friends who are gay or lesbian, and I'm concerned that if we hired someone that we were not aware of that background, that they may be fighting more personal fires than superintendent fires," she said at last week's board meeting.

Her comments came as the board was discussing qualities they want to see in a successor to Supt. Mary Perry Bates, who is retiring. Biondi did not mention anyone in particular, and said she had no personal objection to hiring a homosexual superintendent.

"I would have no problem with it, but I know that members of our community would, and that's why I bring it up," she said.

Biondi's outburst prompted Gurnee Mayor Kristina Kovarik and District 121 board president John Anderson to call for her resignation, though Biondi has said she won't step down.

"She's an embarrassment to this community. The comments are outrageous, horrible, and she does not represent our community. That's what's most important," Kovarik said last week.

State law prohibits discriminating against anyone in employment matters, on the basis of sexual orientation.

At Tuesday night's meeting, the board will ask for a public apology and resignation. If it doesn't happen, Anderson said he expects the board to pass a resolution asking the regional superintendent to remove Biondi – an elected official – and he said the regional superintendent has that authority.

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• Mike Krauser