Anne Neumann Appointed To Fill Vacant Seat On District 113 Board

HIGHLAND PARK, IL — A new member has been appointed to the school board responsible for Highland Park and Deerfield high schools.

The Township High School District 113 board Monday voted to select Anne Neumann to fill the vacancy left April's resignation of Mike Perlman.

Neumann, a recent co-president of the parent-teacher organization at Deerfield High School, will serve out the remainder of Perlman's term, which runs through April 2023.

“I am thrilled and grateful for the opportunity to serve my community,” Neumann said in a statement.

Neumann is also a board member and treasurer for the family mental health nonprofit Community Action Together for Children’s Health.

“As a parent of a recent DHS graduate, as well as a rising junior, and rising sophomore, I’m well aware of the pandemic’s impact on our children. We’ve all experienced learning gaps and mental health challenges," she added. "I am ready to get to work with the other members of the Board to respond to these most immediate needs while also focusing on the Board’s long-term goals."

Neumann has also served as a co-president of the Walden Elementary School PTO and spent more than a decade as a District 109 Destination Imagination Team Manager.

Board President Jodi Shapiro said in a statement that the board spent a week after announcing Perlman's resignation actively looking for applicants before conducting closed-door interviews people on June 7. According to a district spokesperson, there were nine applicants for the position.

"While there were many candidates who applied who could have filled this seat, it was clear to this Board that the skillset Anne brings will help us as we grapple with the academic and social-emotional impact of the pandemic on our families," Shapiro said.

"Anne has been very involved in the schools as a parent and as a volunteer, serving as PTO Co-President at the high school and elementary school level," she added. "She has also volunteered her time in non-profit organizations dedicated to education and children’s mental health so she understands many of the issues we are facing and she will be able to contribute that perspective to our work.”