Lake Forest, IL – Superintendent Dr. Matthew Montgomery is under fire after refusing to record and share his upcoming School District Update, blocking access for working parents and those with childcare obligations. Instead of addressing their concerns, Montgomery dismissed them outright—accusing Parents Care of "creating an issue where none exists."
His refusal has sparked outrage among several parents, who argue that this is a deliberate attempt to limit transparency and prevent families from accessing key district updates.
Superintendent Dismisses Parents’ Concerns
Parents Care, a school oversight organization advocating for transparency and student achievement, formally requested that the district record and share the presentation. Montgomery rejected the request outright, claiming that because the event is hosted by two private nonprofits—the District 67 APT and Spirit of 67 Foundation—the district has no obligation to make it accessible.
He went even further, suggesting that the push for transparency was an attempt to stir up controversy rather than a legitimate concern for parents.
"I wonder if you, as the representative of Parents Care, are attempting to create an issue where none exists." —Dr. Matthew Montgomery, Superintendent
That comment did not sit well with parents.
"The issue 'exists' for every working parent who can’t make it to this meeting but still deserves to hear directly from the superintendent," said Emily, a District 67 parent. "It’s insulting that instead of addressing the problem, he’s pretending it doesn’t matter. It matters to us."
Parents Care strongly rejected Montgomery’s attempt to downplay the issue.
"This isn’t about me or Parents Care," said Frank McCormick, Executive Director of Parents Care. "This is about working parents, single parents, at-home parents with young children—anyone who can’t attend a mid-day meeting but still deserves access to school updates. Dr. Montgomery is acting as if these concerns don’t count. That’s unacceptable."
Rebutting Montgomery’s Excuse: Private Hosts, Public Information
While Montgomery insists that the meeting is private because two nonprofit organizations host it, Parents Care argues that it doesn’t hold up.
The event is:
Publicly advertised by the district as an opportunity for community members to hear from the superintendent
Held on district property, where Montgomery regularly provides updates to parent groups.
Presented by a public official (Montgomery) on school matters that impact all parents and taxpayers.
"The idea that this meeting is ‘private’ is laughable," said Parents Care President Jeff Brincat. "Dr. Montgomery is speaking as superintendent, updating parents on district issues, on school property. That’s public business, and parents have a right to hear it—whether they can be in the room or not."
Additionally, Montgomery’s own statements contradict his defense. He acknowledges that he provides regular updates to parent groups like APT, Spirit of 67, and the LFHS Foundation, making these meetings functionally indistinguishable from official school briefings.
"If this update isn’t important, why is he giving it?" Brincat continued. "If it is important, why is the district refusing to record it? He can’t have it both ways."
Throwing Volunteer Moms Under the Bus
Parents Care is also expressing disappointment that the head of the school district is trying to shift responsibility onto volunteer moms instead of taking ownership of the decision.
"Montgomery is happy to use these meetings when it benefits him, but the moment he faces pressure, he hides behind APT and Spirit of 67, letting them take the heat," McCormick said. "These are volunteers—moms who give their time to help the schools. Why is the superintendent making them the scapegoat for his refusal to allow a recording?"
Parents Care argued that a superintendent making over $300,000 per year, with a full communications team at his disposal, should not be placing this burden on parent volunteers. The district has the means, the resources, and the responsibility to ensure transparency—yet it refuses.
Transparency Shouldn’t Be Optional in 2025
While Montgomery claimed that parents could access meeting notes afterward, Parents Care argues that secondhand notes are no substitute for direct access. The group also dismissed Montgomery’s suggestion that parents attend a Coffee with Matt event instead—a casual Q&A format that does not guarantee the same information will be shared.
"Parents were told this was an important district update," Brincat said. "Now that we’re asking for accessibility, Montgomery is suddenly saying it’s not that important. Which is it?"
"This is 2025," Brincat continued. "With all the taxpayer resources the district spends on communications, there is no excuse for refusing to record this meeting. It’s not a matter of ‘can’t’—it’s a matter of ‘won’t.’ And parents should be asking why."
Final Call for Transparency
Parents Care has urged the district to reconsider and take a simple, commonsense step toward transparency by making the presentation fully accessible.
"Every parent—whether they’re working, taking care of young kids, or otherwise unable to attend—deserves the same access to information as those in the room," Brincat said. "That should be non-negotiable."
Stay Updated
Parents Care will provide further updates as the situation develops. For more information, visit www.parentscare.org or follow @ParentsCareLFLB on Instagram.
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