Niles Township High School District 219 regrets announcing the resignation of Ms. Rebecca Abraham from the Board of Education. Notice of her resignation was received this morning. The District thanks Ms. Rebecca Abraham for her service to the District’s students, staff, and community. A statement from Ms. Abraham is included in this notice.
The Board will fill the vacancy resulting from Ms. Abraham’s resignation within the next two months. The individual selected will serve on the Board for the remainder of Ms. Abraham’s term, which ends in 2023. Applicants should show familiarity with the Board’s policies regarding general duties and responsibilities of a Board and a Board member, including fiduciary responsibilities, conflict of interest, ethics, and the gift ban. The Board’s policies are available on the District website. The application will be available on our website and will close at 5:00 PM on August 13, 2021.
STATEMENT FROM MS. ABRAHAM:
Dear D219 Board of Education, Dr. Isoye, Staff, Administration, Parents, Students, and Community Members,
After weeks of contemplation, I have decided that it is best for my family and Niles Township District 219 that I resign from my position as Board Member. COVID19 and the events of 2020 have had a profound effect on both my family life and public life. When I ran for this seat in 2019, I couldn’t have imagined how my life would change in one short year. This is not a decision I take lightly, but after interviewing passionate community members for the recently open board seat, I see that there are many qualified, passionate, and intelligent people in our community ready to contribute their time to public service.
I have always felt that when a public servant can’t give 100% to a position, it is their ethical duty to resign their seat. I have no interest in holding onto my seat and not being able to give it the 100% attention I feel it deserves. This is something that deeply upset me throughout the COVID19 pandemic—that I couldn’t give more time to the needs of the District 219 community due to my career as a nurse amidst the pandemic and family needs. We are living in extraordinary times that highlight the lack of safety nets for families during a crisis.
2020, and still evident today, showed glaring gaps in our society: the racial justice system, economic inequality, and most obviously in healthcare. I am still committed to serving my community and fighting for an equitable society; it will just be in a different capacity moving forward. I will be focusing on growing a new nursing specialty, helping patients, and obtaining a doctorate in nursing to ensure what happened to at-risk communities, essential workers, and teachers never happens again.
I want to make it clear that I am resigning due to unforeseen family and career obligations, especially as a healthcare worker family, drastically changing due to COVID since my election. My resignation is in no way connected to district business, dynamics, or Mr. Specker’s prior resignation.
I was proud to serve District 219. I want to thank the district and those who voted to gave me an opportunity to serve in this capacity. Our community has bright and passionate students and educators. Lastly, I want to thank my fellow board members and everyone at D219, Dr. Isoye, administrators, and staff for their hard work and friendship over the last few years. It was an honor to serve with you.
Sincerely,
Rebecca Abraham