Student Panel Quizzes School Board Hopefuls At District 219 Forum

SKOKIE, IL — Six candidates seeking four seats on the Niles Township High School District 219 board met Tuesday for a forum at Niles West High School. The event, sponsored by the parent advisory councils at Niles West and Niles North, was moderated by students and featured questions submitted by community members.

The prospective school board members include one incumbent, two independent candidates and a slate of four candidates chosen by the newly formed Community 219 caucus. The caucus' committee of 17 community members chose Board President David Ko, Rebecca Abraham, Jill Manrique and James Specker. Robert General and Nashra Mohammed are running as independent candidates in the April 2, 2019, consolidated election.

The student moderators asked the candidates about the biggest challenges and opportunities facing the district, the ideal relationship between a school board and superintendent, how to manage staff turnover and retain top teachers and the board's role in supporting the needs of District 219's feeder districts.

Watch full video of Feb. 19 forum courtesy District 219 TV
Read more from Pioneer Press