When President John Chatz came to Thursdaynight’s Evanston/Skokie School District 65 board meeting, he didsomething unusual — he brought two of his childrenalong.
Chatz, who is one of three District 65board members to relinquish his seat, presided over the meeting onelast time before handing control over to the new board.
On Tuesday, Evanston residents electedJonathan Baum, Julie Chernoff and Marianne Kountoures to replaceChatz, Greg Klaiber and Betsy Sagan.
Chatz and Klaiber stepped down withoutrunning for re-election. Sagan lost her seat in Tuesday’svote.
But Chatz said he has fond memories of hispresidency and wanted to celebrate the end of his term with hischildren.
Chatz said he has no regrets about histenure on the board, but he was still ready to stepdown.
“I’m really going to miss this,” hesaid.
At Thursday night’s meeting, the outgoingboard first verified election results, then administered the oathof office to the new members, who will each serve a four-yearterm.
Veteran board member Mary Rita Luecke waslater unanimously elected to replace Chatz. She will serve atwo-year term as president.
And in place of the normally action-filledagenda, the board paid tribute to outgoing board members andwelcomed the newcomers.
The old board highlighted their successeswhile outlining potential goals for the new board.
Klaiber said the board’s “exhaustive listof accomplishments” included the building of new early childhoodfacilities, the establishment of the district’s experimentalbilingual program and the improvement of the overall financialhealth of the district.
“Four years ago District 65 was arudder-less ship,” Klaiber said. “Overseeing all of what hastranspired has required great leadership.”
But there are still issues the board needsto address.
“I regret the failure (to establish) aFifth Ward school,” Chatz said. “I regret the student achievementgap that still exists.”
The Rev. John Norwood, Evanston resident,echoed Chatz’s sentiments when he addressed the board during publiccomment. Norwood challenged the new board to find a solution to thegrowing gap in minority student achievement.
During their campaigns, a majority of theeight candidates targeted student achievement as a top priority forthe new board.
Board collaboration and communicationbetween the district and the community were other pressingissues.
In response, the new board approved a codeof conduct that all members signed.
“Accountability starts at the top,” boardmember Bob Eder said.
Luecke also created a list of goals shesaid she wants to achieve as president. She said she hopes toimplement biweekly meetings between members and boardretreats.
Luecke said she wanted to draft agendasearlier in order to give members more time to prepare formeetings.
Another of her priorities was reducing thelength of board meetings, which have often lasted late into thenight.
Luecke added that despite the enthusiasmfor the district’s progress, the new board will have to work hardto bridge different viewpoints within the community.
“We are at a new beginning,” Lueckesaid.
Before he left, Klaiber reminded thecommunity that there is more to a board member’s job than meets theeye.
“It’s not just sitting up here every otherMonday night,” Klaiber said. “It’s the behind-the-scenes — servingon committees and visiting schools.”
