The District 58 Board of Education's Legislative Committee hosted its annual Legislative Breakfast on Friday, March 15 at O'Neill Middle School.
The event opened with a casual breakfast, during which time guests could interact with Sen. John Curran (41st District), Rep. Terra Costa Howard (48th District), and Ms. Hilary Denk (district director to 11th District U.S. Congressman Bill Foster). The O'Neill Jazz Workshop provided entertainment.
Board of Education Member and Legislative Committee Chair Kirat Doshi provided welcoming remarks, and the O'Neill and Herrick Student Council led the audience in the Pledge of Allegiance and formally introduced Rep. Costa Howard and Ms. Denk, who each participated on a legislative panel. (Sen. Curran had a scheduling conflict with the panel portion of the event.)
Rep. Costa Howard and Ms. Denk answered questions relating to legislative education priorities, school district engagement, the federal education budget, property tax freezes, state-dictated educational practices and pension shifts.
The Legislative Breakfast annually invites the District 58 Board of Education, staff, middle school student council, PTA representatives, village/community leaders and residents to learn about elected officials’ insights on current education issues affecting District 58. About 80 guests attended this year’s event. Herrick Principal Matt Neustadt, as well as Herrick and O’Neill Student Council members, introduced the legislators.