The man who filed an official grievance accusing three Oak Park and River Forest High School lecturers of anti-Semitism and the college administration of permitting a local weather of anti-Semitism to exist at OPRF has utilized to run for a place on the OPRF District 200 Board of Education.
River Forest resident Nate Mellman was one among six folks, together with two incumbents, who filed to run within the April 1 college board election. The six candidates are operating for 4 seats on the OPRF college board. Mellman, an administrative legislation decide with the Social Security Administration, is teaming with Josh Gertz, a 36-year-old legal professional from Oak Park, within the race.
“We’re operating on a whiteboard collectively,” Mellman mentioned. “We have comparable targets. He has an important background and expertise with worker advantages which might positively be useful.”
The different candidates within the operating are incumbents Fred Arkin and Audrey Williams-Lee and first-time candidates Kathleen Odell and Tania Mattera Haigh. Incumbents Mary Anne Mohanraj and college board president Tom Cofsky have determined to not run for re-election. Cofsky served on the OPRF college board for 12 years.
“I believe three phrases and 12 years is an enormous dedication; that is sufficient,” Cofsky mentioned. “It’s time to let others do the work.”
Mohanraj, who’s in his first time period on the college board, mentioned he has an excessive amount of else occurring in his life to hunt a second time period.
On June 30, Mellman and 110 different petitioners filed a proper grievance with the State Board of Education and the Illinois Attorney General’s Office for Civil Rights charging OPRF lecturers Anthony Clark, Daniel Cohen and Wafaa Alwawi of unprofessional conduct and anti-Semitic statements and acts. Cohen and Alwawi are co-sponsors of the college’s MENA membership, the college’s membership for college students of Middle Eastern or North African descent.
The grievance references a collection of tweets posted by Clark over time and alleges that Cohen and Alwawi supported Hamas’ assault on Israel on October 7, 2023. The grievance cites a picture of a bulldozer breaking by a fence that was posted on the MENA membership’s Instagram web page in late October and remained energetic for months. Over the previous yr, Mellman has repeatedly complained in writing to the college administration and college board about what he sees as an anti-Semitic environment on the college following controversy over the battle in Gaza.
It’s unclear what the legal professional common’s workplace or the ISBE did with the grievance.
On Nov. 20, Mellman obtained a letter from the Illinois Attorney General’s Office for Civil Rights stating that the workplace is “persevering with to evaluation the grievance.”
“At this time, we’re monitoring the problems described within the grievance for patterns and practices of discrimination or illegal contact and can contact you if our investigation strikes ahead,” wrote Alison Hill, the supervising legal professional for the Civil Rights Bureau.
An ISBE spokesperson mentioned he couldn’t touch upon the standing of the investigation and even whether or not an investigation is ongoing.
“State legislation prohibits the ISBE from commenting on and even confirming whether or not an investigation or case of educator misconduct is ongoing,” mentioned Jackie Matthews, government director of communications for the ISBE.
Mellman and Gertz each mentioned they weren’t one-issue candidates. Mellman mentioned he had three key causes for in search of a seat on the college board.
“One is to make sure that all youngsters obtain an training and are challenged to their full potential, two: I need to all the time be a wonderful steward of taxpayer cash, and three I need to be certain that youngsters are stored protected,” Mellman mentioned.
But Mellman does not conceal the problems raised within the grievance.
“I stand by the whole lot I’ve mentioned and written over the previous yr relating to anti-Semitism in school,” Mellman mentioned.
Clark, Cohen and Alwawi didn’t reply to requests for touch upon Mellman’s candidacy or allegations.
Gertz, who works as an worker advantages advisor for USI Insurance Services, can be involved about what he sees as anti-Semitism at OPRF.
“I’m alarmed by the rise in anti-Semitic actions and the shortage of response from the college board, however I additionally need to proceed and enhance how the college board is a steward and manages taxpayer funds,” Gertz mentioned.
Gertz additionally mentioned he was involved about college security.
“I believe there may be numerous room for enchancment in campus and college security,” Gertz mentioned.
Arkin, a business insurance coverage dealer, is operating for his third time period on the college board. He was initially elected in 2015, defeated when he ran for re-election in 2019 and was elected once more in 2021. He mentioned though the college board achieved rather a lot throughout his time period, he’s in search of one other time period as a result of he needs to see it accomplished a couple of extra instances. initiatives already began.
“We have made vital progress and there may be nonetheless numerous work to do,” mentioned Arkin, who graduated from OPRF in 1974 and is the college’s solely alumnus on the board. “I simply need to proceed to verify the work is shifting ahead. I’ve not solely a basis of board historical past since 2015, however by my decades-long relationship with the college, I’ve institutional information. It’s a perspective that lends itself to recommendation; some individuals who do not have this type of information can profit from it.
Williams-Lee, vice chairman of the board and the one Black member, was appointed in 2023 to fill a emptiness created when Kebreab Henry resigned as a result of he was shifting out of state.
Williams-Lee mentioned serving on the college board has been a great expertise.
“When I utilized to fill the board emptiness, I shared my need for the highschool to stay vibrant, dedicated to excellence and fairness, and to be radically inclusive, a spot the place all college students really feel they belong.” , Williams-Lee wrote in an electronic mail. “OPRF is a superb highschool and we’re making progress closing gaps. I shall be operating for a full time period to proceed to steer and assist all the great work occurring.”
Odell, affiliate provost and professor of economics at Dominican University, has served as a 2023 member of the OPRF Community Finance Committee, a bunch that advises the board on monetary issues. She has two daughters who attend OPRF and mentioned the current nationwide election impressed her to get extra concerned.
“I’ve a deep dedication to the significance of public training, and I believe that as a result of I work within the discipline myself and have expertise in training administration, it looks as if a great match for me,” Odell mentioned. “So I’ve an curiosity and I really feel like I’ve rather a lot to supply the board.”
As a member of the Community Finance Committee in 2023, Odell mentioned the college ought to maintain a referendum to promote bonds for the Project 2 building undertaking at the moment underway. The council didn’t observe his recommendation and as a substitute of holding a referendum as a substitute issued certificates of debt, which don’t require a referendum, to assist finance Project 2. Odell mentioned the distinction of opinion didn’t affect his resolution to use.
“I do not see a lot worth in questioning selections which have already been made,” Odell mentioned. “I believe the board made the most effective resolution they might with the data accessible to them and I’ve no intention of grinding this out, in any respect.”
Gertz mentioned he additionally thought the council ought to have held a referendum on Project 2.
“I believe it positively ought to have gone to a referendum,” Gertz mentioned. “An expense of that magnitude, it’s important to make certain the group is on board with it.”
Haigh is an Oak Park resident who’s the co-founder and government director of Kids Too, a nonprofit that, in response to its web site, advocates for insurance policies that shield youngsters from dangerous adults, acts and ideologies at school settings.
Haigh couldn’t instantly be reached for remark, however in response to her LinkedIn profile she is the founder and proprietor of Tania Haigh Productions and founder TedxOakPark who hosts occasions that includes audio system with compelling tales to inform.
From 2005 to 2014 Haigh labored in advertising for McDonald’s Corporation. According to the Kids Too web site, she at the moment works as an alternative trainer in space faculties.
Bob Skolnik is a contract reporter for Pioneer Press.
