WHD SD147 board member bribed woman to drop out of school board race, parent alleges

A Latino candidate in the upcoming West Harvey-Dixmoor School District 147 school board accused a board member of bribing her to leave the race.

“Kenneth Henderson basically offered me a job so I wouldn’t run [for school board]. My question is, how does he have the right to do that?” said Lizzie Welch-Aguinga, who is running for the board election in April, at the board’s regular meeting, Dec. 11, 2024. “He has two felonies; he shouldn’t be sitting on that seat,” Welch-Aguinga said.

Henderson, an appointed member who has two felony convictions for controlled substance possession and aggravated weapon use which legally bar him from holding local office, was not present that evening to defend himself against the allegations.

“He told me, ‘I’ll give you a stipend and make sure you stick to your people and your people only,’” Welch-Aguinga said. “What does that even mean? What is ‘my people’?”

The comment came one week after Henderson abruptly withdrew legal objections he filed to Welch’s petitions, along with other candidates who have formed a Black-Latino political alliance. 

The board, exclusively Black, has received criticism that some of its members are thwarting efforts to diversify leadership while the district’s Latino population grows.

“Look at this board,” said candidate Asucena Gutierrez during her public comment. “Is there any Hispanic representation?”

Gutierrez also brought up district challenges around fiscal management. In 2014, former superintendent Alex Boyd plead guilty to two counts of felony theft and was sentenced to two years probation after he stole $78,000. Secretary Mable Chapman faced felony theft and misconduct charges for allegedly assisting former superintendent Alex Boyd embezzle funds, while also securing jobs and benefits for her family at the district’s expense. 

Charges against her were dropped, Chapman retorted, visibly frustrated by Gutierrez’s comments.

The district’s interim superintendents, Jerry Jordan and Creg E. Williams, also found themselves on the receiving end of criticism.

“Why are you paying for two interim superintendents? That is not right, and how much are they making, and why are they interim?” said Ryan Sinwelski, currently running for the Harvey School District 152 school board.

Restraint allegation

In November 2024, parents criticized the district for a poor response to bullying incidents, particularly those involving student victims with special needs.

The district held a bullying symposium days prior to the board’s December meeting, Chapman noted, adding it was well received from engaged students.

But bullying once again took the stage after one parent accused teachers of targeting her son.

Rozener Swarn, who’s son is a fifth grader at Rosa L. Parks Middle School, accused teachers of improperly physically restraining her son, prompting physical bruises on his back.  

Williams said Swarn was embarrassing her son by discussing the matter during the open meeting instead of closed session.

“I discussed it in closed session and y’all feel like if he protects himself or defends itself,” Swarn said, “then it’s not considered bullying.”

“How is it not considered bullying if he’s being bullied by the same kids since third grade,” Swarn said, “and I also feel like some of the teachers are bullying him because he has [an] IEP.”