D218 Board of Education elects new leadership, swears in new member

The Community High School District 218 Board of Education has new leadership and a new member.

The board voted on Tuesday to elect Carol Kats as president and Thomas Kosowski as vice president. Sheila Wilson-Collier will continue serving as secretary.

Kosowski had served as board president since May 2015 and previously held the position from 2009 to 2011. He said it was time for a change after running in nine elections and serving on the board for 32 years.

“Sometimes when you are in this position, there is a need for somebody else to take over,” Kosowski said. “Mrs. Kats is very qualified to take over this position.”

Kats has served on the board for 10 years as a member, secretary, and vice president. This will be her first term as president.

“This is a very well-working board,” said Kats, an English learners teacher for Chicago Ridge School District 127.5. “We listen to each other. We take everyone's opinion into consideration. We all respect each other. I look forward to what we’ll do in the future.”

Kats also welcomed the board’s newest member, Jennifer Bednarczyk, a former principal and teacher who was sworn in on Tuesday, along with three re-elected board members: Kosowski, Steve Radice, and Candice Cantelo. Bednarczyk succeeds Sarah Kailiski-Roll, whose four-year term ended on Tuesday.

Bednarczyk attended the former Polaris School for Individual Education in Oak Lawn and taught at Eisenhower High School in Blue Island.

“I’m really excited to be a part of this, being back where I went to school,” Bednarczyk said.

The newly seated board’s first regular meeting will be held at 6:30 p.m. on May 15 at the Delta & Summit Learning Center, 3940 W. Midlothian Turnpike, Crestwood.