O’FALLON – The Illinois Education Association (IEA) Board of Directors (BOD) unanimously voted Saturday to pass a resolution calling for O’Fallon School District 90 Board member Steve Springer to resign. The IEA stands in solidarity with the Illinois Federation of Teachers (IFT), which is also calling for Springer’s resignation.
The IEA resolution comes after Springer criticized a children’s program at the O’Fallon Public Library. The program featured a book called, “Justice Makes a Difference: The Story of Miss Freedom Fighter, Esquire.” The book teaches young children about social justice, including historical figures such as Ida B. Wells. Springer said the program “provided a platform for social indoctrination.” Subsequently released emails revealed Springer also made derogatory comments about a transgender student.
In response to Springer’s comments, the IEA BOD adopted the following resolution:
Whereas, O’Fallon School District 90 Board member Steve Springer has made derogatory comments based on students’ religious and racial backgrounds and disparaged a transgender student; and
Whereas, the IFT local O’Fallon Classroom Federation of Teachers Local 628 and community members and organizations are calling on Steve Springer to resign from his elected position and he has so far refused to resign; and
Whereas, the Illinois Education Association’s mission is to effect excellence and equity in education and we stand in solidarity with efforts to support all students regardless of racial, religious or sexual identity; and
Whereas, no school board member in Illinois should target children because of their racial, religious or sexual identity;
Therefore, we the IEA Board of Directors hereby resolves that we stand in solidarity with the efforts of Local 628.
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The 135,000 member Illinois Education Association (IEA-NEA) is the state’s largest education employee’s organization. IEA represents preK-12 teachers outside of the city of Chicago and education support staff, higher education faculty, retired education employees and students preparing to become teachers, statewide.
