North Cook News

Katherine David’s proposed policies for the Township High School District 211 School Board are of such a common-sense nature she’s easily been able to join forces with other candidates in advancing them as part of an official platform.

David is running for a spot on the board as part of a slate that also includes Ralph Bonatz and Jean Forrest.

To hear each of them articulate their views is to realize just how joined at the hip they are when it comes to their beliefs about what’s truly best for township students.  

Each has signed off on a platform that includes a pledge to freeze taxes without hampering the quality of education for area students and a vow to enact a district-wide locker room and restroom policy that honors the privacy and rights of all children. Their policy would  replace the district’s practice of allowing locker room and restroom access to students of the opposite biological sex who are dealing with gender identity issues.

“District 211’s school board will have several significant decisions in the near future, including how to handle undeveloped property owned for over 40 years as well as the upcoming union contract renewals,” David told the North Cook News. “As a parent and a taxpayer, I want to make sure that we have leaders on the board who have strong analytical abilities, effective communication skills, and a strong sense of responsibility in representing the community.”

And the senior-level marketing director and mother of three young children, two of whom have are already products of District 211, is confident she fits the bill for what's needed.

She resides in Palatine, where she also made the time to serve in various children’s programs and has volunteered on her church’s building project committee. She’s confident that her longtime commitment to being active in her community has gone a long way in helping her stay abreast of the greatest needs and concerns of its citizens.

Ditto for Schaumburg’s Bonatz, who brings a background of working with large budgets and in the area of conflict resolution to the table.

“As a parent of two D211 students, I have attended many D211 board meetings and activities, not to mention numerous high school events,” he said. “Through these experiences, I have gained a good understanding of the breadth of responsibilities and issues the board faces, and I have acquired a good sense of taxpayer values, concerns, and circumstances. This fuels my enthusiasm for our slate of well-qualified candidates. We would bring diverse skills and backgrounds to the board, while having unified positions that represent our constituency.”

Residing in nearby Rolling Meadows, Forrest rounds out the team, adding more than 10 years of financial management experience to the equation.

“With two in D211, I am passionate about continuing the excellence of our school district,” she said. “My strong financial background as an actuary will enable me to apply my expertise to sound fiscal decision making. I am committed to bringing the best resources to our children and helping them receive the best possible education in a safe and supportive environment.”