Incumbent U-46 board members outline priorities at CAC candidate forum

Three incumbent School District U-46 board members — Melissa Owens, Veronica Noland and Dawn Martin — appeared at a Citizens’ Advisory Council candidate forum on March 13 to summarize their backgrounds, explain their priorities for the next four years and answer community questions about enrollment, boundary changes and district policies.

The forum, moderated by Melanie Meadell and convened by CAC secretary Veronica Betts, brought district leaders and parents together for about an hour to discuss the district’s strategic plan, facilities work funded by a 2023 bond, and classroom policy issues. Board members emphasized continuity on several initiatives: finishing facilities projects, implementing a strategic plan, expanding career and technical education and protecting students’ safety and access to services.

“All means all,” Dawn Martin, a member of the board since 2021, said when asked about priorities for students, summarizing her pledge to maintain services and access. Melissa Owens, the current board president, highlighted the district’s shift from a prolonged period of underfunding to a steadier financial position and said the board has been able to advance long‑deferred facility and program goals. Veronica Noland, a long‑serving board member running for re‑election, said protecting students — including vulnerable groups — is her central focus.

The three candidates each described their background in the district and why they are seeking another term. Owens noted she has served since 2017 and has a background in nonprofit management; Noland said she first joined the board after frustrations as a parent and emphasized access and equity; Martin cited years of volunteering in U-46 schools and experience with facilities and construction projects.

On the district’s strategic plan and a slate of facilities projects enabled by a $180 million bond approved in 2023, candidates framed completion of construction and boundary work as priorities. Owens called the middle‑school model and renovated classrooms “incredibly exciting,” saying the upgrades will include hands‑on labs and expanded extracurriculars. Martin said she is “insanely excited” about the construction work and also wants to press state legislators to reduce what she described as an increasing number of mandates on school districts.

When asked how they would respond to families required to change schools because of boundary adjustments, all three urged parents to engage proactively with new schools and school leaders. Noland and Martin described outreach and welcoming teams at schools; Owens noted the district has discussed strategies to help students transition and cited resilience among children while acknowledging parental concern.

The forum also included discussion of proposed statewide policy: Governor J.B. Pritzker’s classroom cell‑phone ban. All three said they have seen preliminary results from district pilot programs and expressed support for limiting device use during instructional time, while preferring local flexibility. “I would rather us be able to handle this in the way we want to,” Martin said, adding that she prefers fewer top‑down mandates. Noland said she was “all for” restricting device use during the day but emphasized following expert guidance and local data. Owens said presentations from principals who have piloted bans provided “compelling evidence” and that she wants to study the data further.

The forum closed with short statements from each candidate summarizing their priorities: Martin said she wants to finish much of the facilities work and press for fewer legislative mandates; Owens said she will focus on implementing the strategic plan, expanding CTE and finalizing the middle‑school model; Noland emphasized protecting students and maintaining access and support for vulnerable populations.

No votes or policy decisions were taken at the event, which was a candidate forum and public information session. A procedural motion to adjourn that preceded the forum was taken without a named mover and the meeting moved to the candidate forum at 7:15 p.m.

The CAC announced future meetings and reminded residents that early voting begins March 17 and the April 1 election day was upcoming.