D-207 School Board Member Braam Resigns

Des Plaines resident Joann Braam has announced that she is resigning from the District 207 school board, the Daily Herald reported.

Braam, a board member since 2003, stated that she is moving out of the Maine Township High School District, the newspaper reported. Braam was re-elected to the school board in 2011.

Maine Township High School District, which include Maine South and Maine East High Schools in Park Ridge and Maine West High School in Des Plaines, released the following statement: 

Joann Braam has announced her resignation from the Maine Township High School District 207 Board of Education, creating a vacancy for qualified candidates who submit information to the District by November 12.

Braam, of Des Plaines, is moving out of District 207.  First elected to the Board in 2003 and most recently re-elected in 2011, she has been serving as Chair of the Board’s Community Relations Committee and as a member of the Education and Policy committees.  Before serving in District 207, Braam served one term on the Board of Education of Des Plaines Elementary School District 62.  She also has served as a member of the Parents Board of Directors for Bradley University.

District 207 Superintendent Dr. Ken Wallace said, “Joann Braam was model board member who truly looked out for the best interests of District 207.  She was keenly aware of and sensitive to the needs of all of our students, including our students with special needs as she is a parent of a special needs child.  An educator herself, she looked at the District in a global way and made decisions for the right reasons.  Joann is kind and sensitive, but also courageous.  As a superintendent you always want board members who make decisions based on what is best for students and the District, without personal or political considerations, and Joann modeled that as well as anyone can.  She will be greatly missed.”

Board President Sean Sullivan was also laudatory, saying,  “Joann Braam is an outstanding person, citizen and Board member.  It has been a privilege for me to serve with her on the 207 Board of Education, and I can honestly say that she always put ‘students first’ in all of her considerations on the Board.”

Sullivan said, “While Rules of Order and meeting management may be the skills that I brought with me to the board, what Joann demonstrated and taught us was service to the district’s constituents above all else and the paramount of that example showed in her dedication to students.  Joann was a fiscally responsible Board member, protecting the investment put forth by the taxpayers of the District.  Joann gave the Board of Education a unique view on Special Education, and her experiences allowed us fruitful discussions that I believe always led to the best decision. Joann never shied away from the difficult decisions, and her unique insights will not easily be replaced.. Joann Braam will be missed, and her new community is lucky to have her.”

Regarding the vacancy, Sullivan added that “District 207 is recognized as one of the leading high school districts in Illinois and indeed in the United States of America.  This opening is a unique opportunity for a motivated individual with an interest in education to have a positive impact on our 7,000 students and our communities.” 

A qualified candidate must be: a citizen of the United States; 18 years old or over; a resident of the State and the school district for at least one year; a registered voter; and may not be a school trustee or a school treasurer.  The Board consists of seven members who serve a diverse population of approximately 7,000 high school students who live in Des Plaines, Park Ridge, and portions of Niles, Morton Grove, Norwood Park, Harwood Heights, Norridge, Mount Prospect, Glenview and Rosemont.

Residents who live within District 207’s boundaries who meet those qualifications are invited to submit a letter of interest and one-page resume outlining their involvement in community affairs to Sean Sullivan, President, Board of Education, 1131 South Dee Road, Park Ridge, IL 60068 , by the 4:00 p.m. on Monday, November 12, 2012.  Letters of interest and resumes may be submitted in person during normal business hours at the address shown above or faxed to 847.696.3254, attn: Ginny Edwards or emailed to vedwards@maine207.org.

The School Board plans to meet with the selected candidates in November and plans to appoint the new Board member at the December 3 School Board meeting.  The appointed Board member will serve until April of 2013.   

A new board member will be elected at that time; the appointed board member has the option to run in the election.

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