As enrollment continues to climb at North compared to South, the District 225 Board of Education took a measured but focused approach in discussing how to manage growth at their meeting on Feb. 9. Behind the routine reports and statistics, the discussion highlighted the careful planning that shape the daily experiences of students.
The District 225 Board is elected by residents of Glenview and Northbrook, Principal Dr. Barbara Georges said. Meetings are held every second and fourth Monday of the month at the district office and livestreamed on YouTube, according to the District 225 website. The board sets school policies and approves funding for South’s projects, Georges added.
“The policies by which I function come from the Board of Education,” Georges said. “Every thing about my job is directed by the Board.”
Each meeting includes routine elements such as the superintendent and board reports, Superintendent Dr. RJ Gravel said. Community members are invited to speak before votes are taken, after which items move to a consent agenda to vote on decisions, Gravel added. Gravel works closely with board members ahead of time to ensure discussions align with district goals.
“We work together to be efficient in our time, and we always challenge each other to make sure that the things we’re talking about and doing are tied to our strategic plan,” Gravel said.
To serve on the board, members must be at least 18 years old, live in the district for at least a year, secure a place on the ballot, and earn community votes; although unpaid, the role requires significant time commitment, Gravel said.
“Our board members are volunteers,” Gravel said. “They are community members who are interested in education, who want to give back. These are individuals who are devoting a lot of time. They do it because they’re passionate about the schools.”
Once el, members are expected to keep learning, Smith said. They are required to attend an Open Meetings Act training, which limits how many members can gather to maintain transparency, and the Illinois Association of School Boards, School Business Officials, and School Administrators yearly conference, Carol Smith, Executive Director of Communication and Board Secretary, said.
“Board members attend sessions, talk to board members and administrators from other districts, and bring ideas back to our district,” Smith said. “They are very present, they’re very interested in making our district as good as it can be, and they’re a very dedicated group.”
To keep students at the center of the board’s work, Gravel shifted student praise to the very start of each meeting.
“Without students, we wouldn’t be here,” Gravel said. “At the beginning of every board meeting, we try to recognize students for different accomplishments.”