We all know that you have to break a few eggs to make an omelet. So if your cause seems righteous, what does it matter if you have to break a few laws to speak out on issues of public policy using public school resources in your official capacity as a public school superintendent? That’s the case when it comes Michael Simek, the Superintendent of Schools for the Deerfield, IL School District #109.
A few days ago, in a blatant violation of Illinois law, Superintendent Simek wrote a miserable screed attacking gun rights of all Americans. He emailed it to the parents of students of the Deerfield Public School District 109.
Here’s the email:
From: Michael Simeck <msimeck@dps109.org>
Date: Thu, Feb 23, 2023, 5:04 PM
Subject: Call To Action on Gun Violence
To: Deerfield 109 Recipients <recipients@dps109.parentlink.net >
Here’s the relevant Illinois statute:
(50 ILCS 135/) Local Governmental Employees Political Rights Act.
(50 ILCS 135/1) (from Ch. 85, par. 7601) Sec. 1. Short title. This Act may be cited as the Local Governmental Employees Political Rights Act.(Source: P.A. 87-385.) |
(50 ILCS 135/5) (from Ch. 85, par. 7605) Sec. 5. Definition; political rights. "Political rights" include, without limitation, the following political activities: to petition, to make public speeches, to campaign for or against political candidates, to speak out on questions of public policy, to distribute political literature, to make campaign contributions, and to seek public office.(Source: P.A. 87-385.) |
(50 ILCS 135/10) (from Ch. 85, par. 7610) Sec. 10. Political rights protected. (a) No unit of local government or school district may make or enforce any rule or ordinance that in any way inhibits or prohibits any of its employees from exercising the employee's political rights. (b) No employee of a unit of local government or school district may (i) use his or her official position of employment to coerce or inhibit others in the free exercise of their political rights or (ii) engage in political activities while at work or on duty.(Source: P.A. 87-385.) |
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(50 ILCS 135/12) Sec. 12. Elective and appointed office. (a) A member of any fire department or fire protection district may: (1) be a candidate for elective public office and |
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(2) be appointed to any public office and serve in |
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(3) as long as the member is not in uniform and not |
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(b) A firefighter who is elected to the Illinois General Assembly shall, upon written application to the employer, be granted a leave of absence without compensation during his or her term of office.(Source: P.A. 94-316, eff. 7-25-05; 95-142, eff. 8-13-07.) |
(50 ILCS 135/15) (from Ch. 85, par. 7615) Sec. 15. Home rule. A home rule unit may not regulate employee political rights in a manner inconsistent with this Act. This Section is a limitation under subsection (i) of Section 6 of Article VII of the Illinois Constitution on the concurrent exercise by home rule units of powers and functions exercised by the State.(Source: P.A. 87-385.) |
(50 ILCS 135/105) (from Ch. 85, par. 7649) Sec. 105. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon becoming law.(Source: P.A. 87-385.) |
We all know that you have to break a few eggs to make an omelet. So if your cause seems righteous, what does it matter if you have to break a few laws to speak out on issues of public policy using public school resources in your official capacity as a public school superintendent? That’s the case when it comes Michael Simek, the Superintendent of Schools for the Deerfield, IL School District #109.
A few days ago, in a blatant violation of Illinois law, Superintendent Simek wrote a miserable screed attacking gun rights of all Americans. He emailed it to the parents of students of the Deerfield Public School District 109.
Here’s the email:
From: Michael Simeck <msimeck@dps109.org>
Date: Thu, Feb 23, 2023, 5:04 PM
Subject: Call To Action on Gun Violence
To: Deerfield 109 Recipients <recipients@dps109.parentlink.net>
Here’s the relevant Illinois statute:
(50 ILCS 135/) Local Governmental Employees Political Rights Act.
(50 ILCS 135/1) (from Ch. 85, par. 7601) Sec. 1. Short title. This Act may be cited as the Local Governmental Employees Political Rights Act.(Source: P.A. 87-385.) |
(50 ILCS 135/5) (from Ch. 85, par. 7605) Sec. 5. Definition; political rights. "Political rights" include, without limitation, the following political activities: to petition, to make public speeches, to campaign for or against political candidates, to speak out on questions of public policy, to distribute political literature, to make campaign contributions, and to seek public office.(Source: P.A. 87-385.) |
(50 ILCS 135/10) (from Ch. 85, par. 7610) Sec. 10. Political rights protected. (a) No unit of local government or school district may make or enforce any rule or ordinance that in any way inhibits or prohibits any of its employees from exercising the employee's political rights. (b) No employee of a unit of local government or school district may (i) use his or her official position of employment to coerce or inhibit others in the free exercise of their political rights or (ii) engage in political activities while at work or on duty.(Source: P.A. 87-385.) |
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(50 ILCS 135/12) Sec. 12. Elective and appointed office. (a) A member of any fire department or fire protection district may: (1) be a candidate for elective public office and |
||
|
||
(2) be appointed to any public office and serve in |
||
|
||
(3) as long as the member is not in uniform and not |
||
|
||
(b) A firefighter who is elected to the Illinois General Assembly shall, upon written application to the employer, be granted a leave of absence without compensation during his or her term of office.(Source: P.A. 94-316, eff. 7-25-05; 95-142, eff. 8-13-07.) |
(50 ILCS 135/15) (from Ch. 85, par. 7615) Sec. 15. Home rule. A home rule unit may not regulate employee political rights in a manner inconsistent with this Act. This Section is a limitation under subsection (i) of Section 6 of Article VII of the Illinois Constitution on the concurrent exercise by home rule units of powers and functions exercised by the State.(Source: P.A. 87-385.) |
(50 ILCS 135/105) (from Ch. 85, par. 7649) Sec. 105. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon becoming law.(Source: P.A. 87-385.) |
So is someone punishing this uneducated super by law suit or not ? The said person ,so untouchable that he/she can’t be held accountable for breaking a state law ??
In Illinois? Surely you jest. Laws are for little people and Conservatives.
Pretty certain that we taxpayers pay the salary of this nitwit. I would like him fired.