6 candidates for 3 seats on New Trier District 203 School Board

Six candidates are running for a seat on the New Trier High School Board of Education, but only three of them participated in The Record‘s candidate interviews.

Board Vice President Jean Hahn, Sally Pofcher and Courtney McDonough, the three of whom participated in an interview together, make up the slate recommended by the New Trier School Board Caucus.

Challenging the caucus slate are: Bernadine Hossfeld, of Wilmette, Blanca Zaragoza-Kaufman, of Glencoe, and Jennifer Yeo, of Glencoe. Kaufman and Yeo did not respond to multiple messages from The Record. Hossfeld indicated she would participate in an interview but did not follow through.

Hossfeld, Kaufman and Yeo — along with the caucus candidates — did participate in an in-person League of Women Voters Candidate Forum on Saturday, March 18. The event was recorded and is available online. All the candidates also responded to LWV’s written questions; their answers are posted HERE.

Hahn, Pofcher and McDonough were interviewed by The Record Editor in Chief Joe Coughlin and their responses were recorded and are available below. Questions appear in the order they were asked, and the candidates are listed in the order they will appear on the ballot. You can use the navigation tools below to skip to specific question that interests you. To listen to a candidate’s answers in order, click here: Sally Pofcher | Jean Hahn (incumbent) | Courtney McDonough

JUMP TO: Introductions | Community Accomplishments | Campaign Funding | Campaign Spending | Addressing Race in Classroom | Removing Books | Mental Health | Other Important Issues | Closing Statement

Why are you running for New Trier School Board?

Describe one or two things you are proud of from your time in public and/or community service

How much have you raised in campaign funding and from how many donors?

How are your campaign funds being spent? Are you or have you accepted money from donors pushing partisan interests?

What do you think of how race and racial issues are addressed in New Trier High School classrooms? What should be the board’s role in that discussion?

As a board member, would you take proactive steps to remove books from the school — whether from the curriculum or student resources (libraries)?

With child, especially adolescent, mental health a growing concern, how is the district addressing student mental health and what more can be done?

What is another big issue or two facing the district and how will you help address it? 

Closing statements

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