North Cook News

In November 2014, Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner received 44 percent of the vote in Niles Township, while 86 percent of the local high school district’s board voted Democrat, according to the Cook County Clerk’s Office.

The district in question, Niles Township School District 219, includes such suburbs as Morton Grove, Niles, Skokie and Lincolnwood. The district’s budget for the school year 2015-16 was slightly more than $163 million, approximately 10 percent more than the previous year. At the same time, school programs were cut across the board.

To fund the increased spending, the school board approved a 3 percent increase in the school district’s portion of property tax bills.

The district’s school board is comprised of seven members, six of whom vote Democrat. Only one voted Republican in the most recent primary election.

The district comprises three high schools: Niles North, Niles West and Niles Central. Its board recently hired Steven Isoye, also a Democratic voter, as superintendent at a salary of $250,000 plus benefits. His contract runs through June 2019.

Democrats hope to maintain majorities on school boards in Republican districts like District 219 in the upcoming election, scheduled for April 4, 2017. The election results will determine who controls curriculum, union contracts and budgets funded by property taxes.

Elections for local school boards garner less interest and attention than presidential and congressional elections but may have a greater effect on the bottom line for the average taxpayer.