The District 202 Board on May 3 elected its previous year’s officers to another term: Pat Savage-Williams, President; Monique Parsons, Vice President; Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum and Instruction Pete Bavis, Secretary; and Chief Financial Officer Mary Rodino, Treasurer.
The Evanston Township High School student body elected Barbara Tomaradze as the new Student Board representative and Eleanor Jones as alternate.
The meeting was called as an in-person meeting, but Board member Gretchen Livingston attended the meeting remotely. Not being fully vaccinated, she was unable to attend in person.
Board members recognized their colleague Jude Laude, who chose not to seek re-election and will become director of the Youth Job Center of Evanston.
Pat Maunsell said, “I want to say how much I enjoyed working with you, how much we appreciate your voice. You bring so many perspectives to the table – as an educator, a parent, and a Black man. You pushed us, but always in a good way.”
Attending the meeting remotely, Ms. Livingston said, “Thank you for what I think has been a quiet but persistent voice for those who need it most.”
Ms. Parsons said, “We wish you well as director of the Youth Job Center. We are losing that voice, and we have to pick that up.”
“Courageous, compassionate and determined,” said Ms. Savage-Williams, “are words that come to mind when I think of my friend Jude Laude. You tried to give voice to the students at the school who need it. … I feel a little better that you’ll be in Evanston.”
Mr. Laude thanked Evanston “for allowing me to serve my community. To my colleagues on the Board, I have tremendous respect for you. Often, they’re advocating for groups of people, and they don’t know it.”
He added, “We need to catch every child that comes out of ETHS, so they can become productive members of the community.”
Board members also said farewell to Carmiya Bady, who served as student Board representative this past year.
“You persisted throughout the pandemic and rose above it,” said Ms. Livingston. “You brought a fresh perspective; you brought grace. Your wisdom and maturity were much appreciated.”
Ms. Maunsell said, “I wish that we’d spent a lot more time together. The student representative is really important to us.”
Ms. Parsons said, “What I appreciate about you is that you’re able to show up. And you find the perfect words to disagree with us.”
“This year was the most difficult to be a student representative,” said Ms. Savage-Williams. “We needed your voice so much. We needed this link between us and the student body.”
Carmiya said she, too, had had a difficult year but added she had learned a lot about the political process. “I learned a lot about how things go, and I’ve learned about how to speak to people in a way to get things done.”
Ms. Savage-Williams said the Board is seeking applications to fill the vacancy, and information about how to apply will be posted on the District’s website, eths.k12.il.us, by 9 a.m. on May 4. The Board will conduct interviews in June and the plan is to have the new Board member selected by June 28.