5 Candidates Make Final Push For W Northfield D31 Board: Election 2023

NORTHBROOK, IL — With Election Day here, the five candidates on the ballot for the West Northfield District 31 Board of Education are jockeying for position and a four-year seat.

Voters in Northbrook and Glenview will decide on the future of the board. Current board members Daphne Frank and Melissa Choo Valentinas are not running for reelection, with their terms ending this month. The candidates on the ballot are:

• Maria Vasilopoulos, current member (terms ends in 2023)
• Noah Frank
• Elizabeth Kim (official write-in candidate)
• Meghan McMillin
• Nick Parfitt

Last month, following a resignation, the district approved Darrin Stern to fill a seat on an interim basis starting April 27. He replaces Meredith Estes, who resigned from her seat last month. This seat is not on Tuesday's ballot, and Stern will serve through April 2025.

RELATED: Stern Selected As Interim School Board Member For District 31

In February, Patch sent out election questionnaires to the candidate on a variety of topics including Black Lives Matter, sex education, COVID-19 and fiscal policy. Patch published all responses submitted by candidates verbatim. Click on the links above to see each candidate's full questionnaire. Patel did not participate.

Vasilopoulos has been a member of the board of education for the past four years. She is currently a high school administrator and has been in education for 27 years. Vasilopoulos and her husband are the parents of two children.

"I believe trust is earned. I've worked hard these last four years to serve our community as part of a team of seven board members," Vasilopoulos said. "Working as a team of board members and school leadership, I helped to navigate our District through one of the most trying times in education. The recent pandemic has challenged us all, but I hope that my support of our community and District through this pandemic and beyond, has earned the trust of our stakeholders."

Frank, 40, has been an attorney for 15 years. HE has a Juris Doctor from University of Illinois College of Law. M.H.R.I.R, Institute of Labor & Industrial Relations. B.A. in history and B.A. in economics, UIUC. The Northbrook resident and his wife, Molly, have two sons attending Winkelman Elementary School in Glenview.

"I am a champion for diversity and inclusivity, advocating for all students," Frank said. "My family and I celebrate the uniqueness that unites District 31 and believe our district will be most successful when we provide equitable opportunities for all students in a culturally responsive, diverse, and inclusive environment."

Kim, 37, a stay-at-home parent, is an official write-in candidate for a seat on the board. She has a BFA in graphic design from the Rhode Island School of Design. Kim and her husband, Tom, are parents to three children.

"The most pressing issue facing our district is addressing the individual learning needs of our incredibly diverse student population," Kim said. "While this variety is a gift, it does, however, require a more nuanced approach to meeting student needs than say a more homogenous student body would. If elected, I intend to work cooperatively and respectfully with fellow board members and other key stakeholders to better understand individual student needs, teacher pain points and other roadblocks as outlined in the Strategic Plan."

McMillin, 43, has been the West Northfield District 31 PTO co-president for the past two years. She has a master's degree in nutrition and currently owns a private practice in maternal and child health. McMillin and her husband, Bill, have a son and daughter at Winkelman, along with two step-children in college.

"I believe the most pressing issue facing our district in the near future is staffing — both teachers and support staff. With an incredibly diverse community, comes additional needs and the responsibility to be able to meet those needs," McMillin said. "As of the fall of 2022, 25 percent of our student population identified as English Learners. Additionally, 14 percent of our students have an IEP, a 504 plan or both. Providing all of our students with quality teachers, staff and support services is essential to their academic success, and the future success of our district."

Parfitt, 42, is a chief financial officer at a manufacturing company. He is a graduate of Kelly School of Business at Indiana University and The Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University. Parfitt has a daughter, who started at Winkelman and is now a freshman at Glenbrook North. He also has two sons currently at Winkelman.

"My goal as a board member is to build on the progress made by the current board and work towards a bright and successful future for all students in the district," Parfitt said. "I am committed to the continued navigation of complex issues such as COVID, funding, and management to ensure that our students receive the best possible education and support."