I fully endorse Nate Mellman and Josh Gertz for the District 200 school board. The board needs them. Some critics of Josh and Nate say they come with an agenda. I’m certain that most, if not all, board candidates decide to run because they are concerned about something the board is dealing with. No one comes to the board totally neutral. What you want is a board member informed by personal experience, who can listen openly to the experience of all and ask good questions. Such a board member will contribute to the board making better decisions.
Nate and Josh will, for one thing, bring to the board the voices of students who feel shaken by their experiences at school and feel they have not been heard. Years ago, with the documentary film America to Me, the school was exposed to the experience of its students of color, and faced the need to repair those relationships. The board must again learn how to better navigate and respond to all voices at school and make sure none are negated or dismissed. None! The high school should be a safe place for all sides to express their experience. Once views are expressed, the board then needs to listen and, if necessary, take action.
To achieve this, the board must be able to recognize when student or faculty views cross a line and threaten the legitimacy of other perspectives. This must be called out.
To those voting, please read the new book, Our Nazi, by former OPRF teacher Michael Soffer. He writes of a time, not very long ago, when our high school board did not listen and respond to the pain of its Jewish neighbors. This should not be a pattern for Oak Park and River Forest. We should learn from our mistakes and take seriously when students say they feel unsafe. Nate and Josh will strive to help the board do just that for all students. Do not allow history to repeat itself by blaming those who raise an issue that makes some uncomfortable. We need to be better than that.
Phyllis Rubin
River Forest