The Evanston Township High School District 202 Board of Education re-elected President Pat Savage-Williams and Vice President Monique Parsons and swore in its new student member, Rachel Durango-Cohen, at its meeting on Monday, May 13.
The board also heard recommendations from the school’s business services department for adjustments to the student fee system, which pays for resources like textbooks and gym equipment. The board has not raised these fees in 10 years.
During this meeting, the board voted unanimously to reinstate Savage-Williams and Parsons as president and vice president, respectively, for another year. Savage-Williams has served as president since May 2015, and this upcoming one-year term will be her 10th consecutive year leading the eight-person school board. Parsons, president and chief executive of the McGaw YMCA, was also elected to the board for the first time in 2015.
Kudos for Yao
The board also recognized outgoing student member Nicole Yao for her work as a representative the last two years. Board members praised her compassion, preparation and conscientiousness in representing students.
“You’ve not shied away from some difficult conversations,” Savage-Williams said. “You’ve been right here at the board table when we’ve been trying to figure out and navigate some pretty complex issues.”
Besides her role on the board, Yao also won the Outstanding Senior Award this year, which the board recognized at Monday’s meeting. The award, voted by students, recognizes a senior who exhibits exceptional intellectual ability, leadership, responsibility and service to the school.
Yao plans to attend Carleton College in Minnesota this fall, and is entering as both pre-law and pre-med.
“I think that this, and you all, have shaped a lot of my high school experience,” Yao said of her time on the board.
After Yao’s recognition, new student board member Rachel Durango-Cohen repeated the oath to take her position. Durango-Cohen won the student election for this position with 342 votes. She will serve until May 2025.
Student fee changes
ETHS currently charges students fees each year to cover personal use items, including textbooks and physical education equipment like heart rate monitors and uniforms.
In a presentation to the board Monday night, Chief Financial Officer Kendra Williams and Director of Business Services Rudy Meo suggested new annual fees of $365 for every grade.
Under the existing system, incoming freshmen pay $380, which includes uniform and equipment costs. The remaining grades pay $340.
The changes will increase the overall funds available and simplify the annual payment structure. The increases are partially due to inflation and expanded program offerings.
ETHS also plans to start using smart watches instead of heart rate monitors with students. The cost is included in their student fees. It will replace the heart monitor equipment they already purchase for phys ed. Meo said the business team hopes this will provide a more equitable fitness assessment for all students.
Eligible students who receive free or reduced-price lunch pay $25 a year in fees, and there will be no cost increase for them.
Board members did not vote on the fee changes Monday night, but they likely will at their meeting next month.
ETHS board reinstates top officers, recognizes new student representative is from Evanston RoundTable, Evanston's most trusted source for unbiased, in-depth journalism.