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6 | March 21, 2019 | The Northbrook tower Election 2019 northbrooktower.com Northbrook/Glenview D30 Board of Education (4-Year term, vote for 4) Name: Zivit Blonder Age: 44 Residence: Northbrook Occupation: Travel Consultant Past local government/relative experience: I served as president of the Wescott PTO for two years. In connection with the successful referendum and community efforts to build a new Maple school, I served on the Maple Task Force and the campaign leadership committee. More recently, I served as a member of the district task force created to assess food service in the district. Name: Nancy A. Artz Age: Editor’s Note: Ms. Artz did not disclose her age Residence: Northbrook Occupation: Marketing Consultant Past local government/relative experience: I have served as a school board member for Northbrook/Glenview School District 30 for the past 4 years (elected in 2015). During my first term on the Board of Education, I have been actively What do you think is the biggest issue facing your coverage area and how do you plan to approach it to improve your constituents’ quality of life? From my vantage point, the biggest issues confronting District 30 relate to space and diversity. The school population in District 30 has been growing significantly in recent years as a result of demographic trends which are likely to continue. At Maple, the issue is being addressed with the building of a new school. The next challenge will be ensuring a smooth transition as we move into the new building. Meanwhile, Wescott is bursting at the seams, and Willowbrook presents parking and transportation challenges. As the number of children that we are educating continues to rise, these problems will only be exacerbated. But the situation presents challenges, as well as opportunities. The schools must engage the entire community in addressing solutions to these issues in a fiscallyresponsible manner. Because of the tremendous diversity within District 30, we need to build bridges to all groups within the community, as everyone should have a voice. We need to come together as a community, which is something in which I strongly believe. The bridges need to be built across demographic lines, as well as geographic and school boundaries. It is important for us to consider the fate of our schools in a thoughtful way. Our schools are reflective of our community, and vice versa. Who we are is reflected in our schools, and the ideas taught in our schools and the standards to which we hold our schools are reflective of involved in many key issues, most notably the decision to finance and build the new Maple School. I have served on the board’s policy committee, food service management committee, and the D30 family dinner committee. I was appointed as the District’s representative to the Northern Suburban Special Education District (NSSED) Leadership Council in 2017. I earned the Master Board Member recognition from the Illinois Association of School Boards (IASB) in 2018. In addition to my experience as a D30 School Board member, I our communal values. As we address our space needs, we also need to expand the connections between our three schools so that our children can truly engage with one another, whether they are students at Willowbrook, Wescott or Maple. By talking with one another and listening to each other, we can accomplish this; as a district, we can focus on meeting each student where he or she is at to further foster individual learning. What makes you the best/a top candidate for this position? For the past nine years, I have been a constant presence in all of District 30’s schools, volunteering at every opportunity. In 2015, I was elected president of the Wescott PTO, a position that I held for two years. In that role, I spearheaded the inclusion of social responsibility and volunteer opportunities into all PTO programs, led the outreach efforts to make the PTO accessible to all families, and developed events to build a stronger sense of community. Since then, I have remained an active leader in the PTO Helping Hands program and community outreach activities. serve as a board member of a foundation that awards grants to deserving non-profit organizations. I also have served as president and board member for professional marketing associations. I have served on multiple district-wide task forces. In connection with the efforts to build a new Maple School, I served on the Maple Task Force and the campaign leadership committee. More recently, I have served as a member of the district task force created to assess food service in the district. These roles underscored the importance of having high quality facilities in District 30 and the unique partnership that exists between the school administration, teachers, parents, and the community at large. As a school board member, I will be a good teammate, able to work with all of these constituencies to propel the district forward. Having not grown up in the area, I am not wedded to historical practices, and instead bring fresh ideas and different insights to the process. And in doing so, I am fully cognizant of the role of a board member. My undergraduate degree is in education and environmental studies, and I presently work as a travel consultant in a family business. Our school district is a wonderful place. My goal is to keep it that way, with our children receiving a top-notch education while learning the importance of good character. What do you think is the biggest issue facing your coverage area and how do you plan to approach it to improve your constituents’ quality of life? District 30 is fortunate to be a financially stable school district with talented and dedicated teachers, administrators and staff who provide a high-quality education to our elementary and middle school children. This is demonstrated through consistently high scores on standardized tests, excellent staff retention rates and surveys which indicate parental satisfaction. One of the biggest challenges facing District 30 in the next few years will be the successful completion and opening of the new Maple School. In addition, our two district elementary schools, Wescott and Willowbrook, will receive upgrades which will Please see artz, 7 Name: Danielle Pollack Age: 39 Residence: Glenview Occupation: Legal Assistant Past local government/relative experience: I have been active in the Willowbrook PTO since my oldest child started Kindergarten in 2013. I served for 2 years on the PTO Board as co-Vice President of Membership and I continue to be co-chair of various committees including Ice Cream Wednesday and Box Tops for Education. In addition, I have assisted as a Room Parent, Lunch Volunteer, and Book Fair Volunteer. I enjoy and regularly attend events at our school, and district-wide, that celebrate and support our students. I was also involved in advocating for full-day kindergarten, speaking often with the previous Superintendent and attending board meetings to advance the issue. Last year my husband and I led the push for more transparency in the math differentiation process, communicating with school and district administration regarding the issue, which resulted in a published matrix. What do you think is the biggest issue facing your coverage area and how do you plan to approach it to improve your constituents’ quality of life? As enrollment in District 30 increases, we must make sure we provide high-quality, student-focused education in a safe environment, while also ensuring the District has the financial resources to meet those needs. With the upcoming completion of the new Maple School, we will need to shift our focus to making sure Wescott and Willowbrook can accommodate their growing enrollment. The Board will need to be diligent in preparing for this growth with prudent financial foresight. What makes you the best/a top candidate for this position? I have a vested interest in the success of District 30 as both a parent of a 5th and 2nd grader, and as a resident. I am passionate about our schools and I believe parents should feel they have a voice in their district. I am an accessible, INDEPENDE<strong>NT</strong> candidate, open to considering issues our district faces from multiple angles. I am committed to finding creative and sound solutions with input from the families that I want to represent. As an independent candidate, I do not have a predetermined agenda. It is my goal to serve the District 30 community and be the community’s voice on the Board.
northbrooktower.com Election 2019 the northbrook tower | March 21, 2019 | 7 Northbrook/Glenview D30 Board of Education (4-Year term, vote for 4) Name: Daniel it to improve your constituents’ terested in making sure our district is doing its best to promote Levin quality of life? Age: Editor’s The role of a board member tolerance and civil discourse. Note: Mr. Levin is to exercise oversight over the did not disclose his management and direction of the What makes you the best/a top age. school district. District 30 does candidate for this position? Residence: Glenview have some challenges we know I will draw on my 20+ years about. If the Glenbrook high of experience of evaluating technology vendors, products, and Occupation: IT Security Analyst at the American College of schools adopt what is known as the “college” calendar, will contracts and work to ensure Surgeons District 30 change its school the technology readiness of our Past local government/relative sessions to follow suit? Enrollment has grown at Willowbrook, lyst, I am responsible for review- schools. As a cyber security ana- experience: • Americorps volunteer (aka, Wescott, and Maple. We will ing and writing security and end the domestic Peace Corps) City need to decide how to accommodate this growth with regard litical Science and a law degree user policies. I have a B.A. in Po- of Elkhart, Indiana. We provided environmental education to space and resources. so I am familiar with deciphering in the public schools and in the There will be other issues that regulations and policies which is community. will come up that we might not something that would come in • President of Morningside be able to anticipate. During handy as a school board member. Although I am a “tech guy,” I Place Condominiums in Skokie. this campaign I have talked with During the mortgage crisis and I many parents and residents and also appreciate the importance of had to deal with issues of foreclosures. I also oversaw projects have heard what some of your literature, art, and music. concerns are. They have mentioned their thoughts about gifted many educational topics and I am already familiar with to replace all the windows in our building and our elevator. student programs, mental health lingo. My wife and my brother • Member, Board of Trustees programs, taxes, school safety, are teachers. My mom was a of Temple Beth Israel in Skokie. renovating the playgrounds at classroom and library aide in We we reviewed monthly and Willowbrook and Wescott, and our hometown of Hammond, annual budgets. possibly realigning grades between Wescott and Willowbrook between jobs, I worked as a sub- Indiana. Years ago, when I was What do you think is the biggest schools. If elected, I plan to explore all these concerns. Five years ago I attended a stitute teacher. issue facing your coverage area and how do you plan to approach One subject that I am very in- number of school board meetings and my wife and I advocated for successful adoption of full-day kindergarten. My wife and I have pushed for improvements to before and after school care programming. I have worked at a couple of prominent non-profit organizations such as the MacArthur Foundation and the American College of Surgeons that have educational missions. I can bring the dedication and professionalism I have demonstrated at these two Chicago institutions as a member of the District 30 school board. I care about our kids. I coach girls’ softball and co-ed baseball in Glenview and Northbrook and I have enjoyed it a lot. I have a good knack for analyzing situations and coming up with practical solutions. I have been endorsed by the Northbrook/ Glenview District 30 Caucus. After undergoing an extensive interview, I believe that the District 30 Caucus is confident that I possess the right temperament for working as a team member and would make a valuable contribution of my energy and perspectives to the school board. Northbrook/Glenview D30 Board of Education (4-Year term, vote for 4) Name: Ammar 4. Committee Member – Cook is not going away anytime soon. Rizki County Employee Deferred Having a well thought out resource Age: 42 Residence: Northbrook Occupation: Government Administration Past local government/relative experience: 1. Cook County Government • Chief Financial Officer – Compensation Plan Committee – 2017 to present 5. Member Parent Teacher Organization Lower Board – Wescott Elementary – 2016 through 2018 6. Director of Marketing – University of Chicago Student/ Alumni Pakistan Club – June 2006 through February 2010 allocation plan will allow District 30 to attract and retain top educational talent, and provide state of art facilities and technology for our students. Using data based decision making we can identify gaps in programing and invest accordingly. My professional and educational experience has given me the skills 2017 to current needed to develop strategic plans • Deputy Chief Financial Officer – 2013 to 2017 What do you think is the biggest that involve collaboration, analysis and sponsorship. The same issue facing your coverage area • Deputy Director Revenue – skills will allow me to provide 2010 to 2012 and how do you plan to approach strategic value add to the District 2. Treasurer and Board Member – Salceda Manor Homeown- quality of life? mentioned areas. it to improve your constituents’ 30’s Board in each of the aboveers’ Association (Northbrook) – 2016 to present 3. Chairperson – Cook County Asset Marketing Committee – 2017 to present Funding continues to the biggest issue that all governments in Illinois continue to face. While District 30 is fortunate to be in good fiscal health, this challenge Specific areas of focus I would highlight for the Board to consider would be additional mental wellness programs, positive technology interactions, experience based programs, financial literacy and vocational training programs. What makes you the best/a top candidate for this position? I have always been passionate about education, which led me to volunteer for Working in the Schools, which provides mentors to the Chicago Public School students. I have been active in the Wescott School PTO and served as a room parent. I also lead the camping committee for Cub Scout Pack 182. Additionally, I have over 18 years of diverse professional experience in finance and investments; and I have an MBA from the University of Chicago. Although, I am an investment professional Please see rizki, 14 artz From Page 6 be funded through money raised from the successful facility bond referendum in 2017. The district is actively tracking the projected number of elementary and middle school age children residing in the district, and will be poised to accommodate any changes in enrollment both in terms of facilities and staff. As a member of the District 30 School Board, I will actively work with our superintendent and administrative staff to support and fund what will be needed to continue to provide the high-quality education that our community expects and deserves for all of our children. What makes you the best/a top candidate for this position? I am completing my first term as an elected member of the District 30 School Board and am seeking the opportunity to serve the community another 4 years. As an incumbent candidate, I have gained valuable knowledge and insight from my service on the school board. It takes a year or two to understand the district’s processes and policies in order to become an effective school board member. During the past 4 years, I have developed excellent working relationships with my fellow board members and with our superintendent, Dr. Brian Wegley, and his administrative staff. I prepare carefully for board and committee meetings and actively participate and listen to others. I understand and value the importance of working toward consensus. In addition to my board service, I have been a resident of District 30 for 16 years, and understand what community members desire and expect from their public schools. My husband Tom and I have 2 sons who attend Wescott School and Maple School, and I am an active parent volunteer at both. As an elected official, I consider it an honor and privilege to serve my community and take seriously my responsibility to act as a good steward of our community’s resources.
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