Public Comments BOE Meeting 8.17.2021

Please reference the attached flyer for information on the D219 lunch program options. Note the Summer Food Service program has ended as of August 3rd. Starting August 11th, the schools will be returning to their normal café services. If you have any questions please contact your food service director or District office for free & reduced pricing information. Lastly, we will continue to offer free breakfast to all students. Please come to the café each morning to pick up your meal.

Public Comments BOE Meeting 8.3.2021

Good news!

D219 and the Board of Education have decided that the 2021-22 school year fees for current students will be waived. No standard school year fees will be collected from current year students at this time. Other additional fees such as Driver’s Education “Behind the Wheel;” before and after school bus transportation, for students that live less than 1.5 miles from their home school building; student parking; food consumption; and loss/damage to D219 property remain payable to the school district.

Please note, according to Board Policy 4:140,  Student Fees and Fines; Fee Waivers, all prior school year fees are considered outstanding and require payment as soon as possible. If additional assistance is needed on payment arrangement please reach out to the building bookkeeper for assistance.

Please beware, Student ID cards or textbooks may be withheld until fees/fee arrangements have been made with the bookkeeper/online. Students may be excluded from athletics; prom and graduation tickets; and other extracurricular activities if balance remains outstanding.

We appreciate your attention to this important matter and look forward to a great school year!

Niles Township High School District 219 is accepting applications from qualified candidates who would like to be appointed to the D219 Board of Education. The vacancy has opened due to the resignation of Ms. Rebecca Abraham, who stepped down as a Board Member on July 28.

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, and compliance with Board policies regarding conflict of interest, ethics, and the gift ban.  The Board’s policies are available on the District website.  Qualification requirements and application instructions are detailed in this online application. 

Applications are due no later than 4 p.m. on Friday, August 13, 2021.

Skokie, IL  – The Niles Township High School District 219 Board of Education has announced the appointment of Dr. Mateo Mohammad Farzaneh to fill the vacancy created by the resignation of James Specker in June 2021. Dr. Farzaneh will serve the remainder of Mr. Specker’s term, which expires in April 2023.

“I am humbled, honored, and proud to have been appointed to serve as a Board Member for D219 Niles Township High Schools” said Dr. Faranzeh.  “Serving a district that is as colorful and diverse as our beautiful community will give me an opportunity to give back in my humble ways that all responsible citizens strive to seize. Thank you, Board of Education for putting your trust in me. I pledge through hard work, collaboration, communication, civility, and humility to serve D219’s students and their families without exception.”

An Iranian native, Mateo Farzaneh attended high school and college in southern California.  After spending seven years in nursing and health care industries, his curiosity led him to pursue a higher education in history.  He is quadrilingual, speaking Persian, English, Spanish, and Arabic.  Recipient of a number of prestigious awards and fellowships, he taught world and Middle Eastern history at Santa Barbara City College and California State Fullerton before joining NEIU’s History faculty in 2010.  Dr. Farzaneh and his family reside in Lincolnwood.

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

Public Comments BOE Special Meeting 7.27.2021

Please be advised that the Special Board meeting scheduled for tonight at 6:30pm has been cancelled.