







by BRIAN NADIG

Three residents are running for two community member positions on the Taft High School Local School Council, while the six incumbent parents are running unopposed.

LSC elections for high schools will be held from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. Thursday, April 14, and the elections for elementary schools will be held from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. Wednesday, April 13.

Parents and residents who live in Taft’s attendance area are eligible to vote for up to five parent or community member candidates. In addition, staff members elect two teachers and one non-teaching staff member to the council, and a separate election is held for students to choose their representative.

Incumbent community members Goran Davidovac and Nick Savich are both running for re-election, and Munevver Karaasian is seeking her first term.

Three-term member Davidovac, who also was a student representative on the LSC when he attended Taft in the mid-1990s, said that his motivation to serve as on the council stems from his hope that his children will attend Taft some day and that the school has undergone great improvement from the time he was a student there. “We’ve come a long way,” he said. “I’m a proud Eagle.”

Savich, who joined the LSC in 2013, said that he has helped communicate to residents the “major milestones” that Taft has achieved in recent years. “These are exciting times at Taft H.S.,” he said in his candidate statement. “Even with the recent financial hardships within the CPS, we continue to proper by setting goals, understanding and working with all involved in ensuring the success of our student body for the many years to come.”

Karaasian said in her candidate statement that the school council members should monitor school funds. “Good stewardship of those funds at a time when CPS is cutting budgets is essential,” she said. “Taft needs a local school council that will make the most of the limited resources and members who are willing to say ‘no’ when difficult choices need to be made.”

The parent members running for the six slots are Anita Bernacchi, Lisa Collyer, Kathleen Fern, George Wilson, Lisa Schwieger and Joe McFeely.

The five teachers running for two positions are incumbents Samuel Duarte and Leslie Plewa, and Chad Nishibayashi, Sharon Marjack and Barbara Lynch. Incumbent Mary Kay Cobb and Deborah Ruetsche are running for the non-teaching staff position.

Principals also serve on their school’s LSC. Council duties include selecting and evaluating principals and approving discretionary expenditures.

Those who vote in the election are required to present two forums of identification. Those voting for the parent must provide documentation that they are the parent, legal guardian or temporary custodian of a student enrolled at the school.

A forum for Taft LSC candidates was held March 29.