D123 Board of Education Approves Jonathon Truhlar to fill Board Vacancy

At the August 5, 2026 meeting of the Oak Lawn-Hometown School District 123 Board of Education, Mr. Jonathon Truhlar was appointed as its newest Board of Education member. This appointment comes in the wake of a vacancy left by outgoing member Dr. Peter DeRousse, who resigned in July after 13 years of service, and is in adherence with Board Policy 2:70.

Upon publicizing the vacancy, the Board began accepting and reviewing applications from District residents interested in the position. Following an interview process conducted on July 28, 2026, as prescribed by Board Policy, Jonathon Truhlar, a Hometown resident and father of three D123 students, one graduate and two currently enrolled, emerged as the preferred candidate. Truhlar brings a professional background in benefits administration to the role, along with years of experience coaching and working alongside local children and families.

Truhlar serves as a Pension Analyst with the Chicago & Vicinity Laborers Pension & Welfare Fund, where he has worked since 2022 supporting members, retirees, and their families. He studied Healthcare Leadership at Lewis University in Romeoville and completed general education coursework at DeVry Institute of Technology in Chicago Ridge.

His connection to the District runs through his family and his years volunteering as a coach for young people in the Oak Lawn-Hometown community. That service shaped both his understanding of local families and his decision to seek the seat.

In his new role, Truhlar is committed to supporting teachers and staff, strengthening student well-being and mental health resources, and ensuring responsible stewardship of taxpayer dollars. Because of when the vacancy occurred, he will serve the Oak Lawn-Hometown learning community from the date of his appointment until the April 6, 2027 consolidated election, when voters will elect a successor to serve the balance of the unexpired term.

Speaking about his appointment, Mr. Truhlar said, "My goal as a board member is to listen, learn, and make well thought out decisions that keep our students at the center." He went on to say that he wants "to make sure our families and community members feel that their voices are heard."

We warmly welcome Jonathon Truhlar and look forward to his contributions to our learning community and our students' futures.