how to be better at our jobs.”

A vote on the agreements was sidetracked for a few months this year because of questions concerning Dombrowski.

In January, Dombrowski attended a meeting of the group District 211 Parents for Privacy, which recently filed a lawsuit against the district over a transgender student’s locker room and bathroom access. He didn’t volunteer that information to his fellow board members when indirectly asked about it.

However, when asked directly, Dombrowski readily admits having been at the meeting and says he was as surprised as any other board member when Parents for Privacy sued District 211.

Despite his reservations. Dombrowski said he ultimately voted in favor of the agreements, noting that the board has little ability to punish members deemed to have violated the policies.

“They said it themselves, censure is the worst you can do,” he said. “You give someone the cold shoulder and move on.”

Palatine Township Elementary District 15 Board President Peggy Babcock said her board has used similar agreements successfully for many years, tweaking them from time to time, such as when new members are elected.

Their objective is to emphasize respect, she said. Rather than censor different viewpoints, the agreements are meant to make sure everyone is comfortable stating their position, she added.

Barbara Toney, field services director for the Illinois Association of School Boards’ Lake, DuPage and North Cook divisions, worked with districts 15 and 211 in drafting their agreements. Clearing up misconceptions about them is part of the process, she said.

“We’re very, very careful to tell board members this is in no way muzzling,” Toney said.

“One of our big tenets that is misunderstood is to speak with one voice. Board members are obligated to speak their opinion and vote their opinion, but support the decision once it’s made. The agreements aren’t content-specific; they’re about how we work together.”

Illinois Municipal League Executive Director Brad Cole said his agency doesn’t advocate similar agreements for city and village boards.