The West Aurora School District board is accepting letters of interest from applicants interested in filling a vacancy on the board created by the resignation of Thomas St. Jules.
St. Jules stepped down from the West Aurora school board in March after being appointed as an associate judge in the 16th Judicial Circuit Court in St. Charles.
St. Jules was midway through his second four-year term on the school board. He was originally elected to the board in 2019.
“My time as a member of the West Aurora School District 129 Board of Education has been one of the most rewarding endeavors of my life,” St. Jules said in a district statement. “I am truly grateful for the opportunity to have served with such dedicated people.”
The person selected to fill the vacancy on the school board will serve the remainder of St. Jules’ unexpired term, beginning May 5, 2025, and ending May 2027.
Individuals interested in serving on the West Aurora school board can submit a letter of interest to board Secretary Joy Engfer at jengfer@sd129.org through 4 p.m. Wednesday, April 16. Applicants will receive a candidate questionnaire and additional information about the role of a board member.
Basic eligibility requirements apply, including age, residency and voter registration. Details on board member qualifications can be found in the district’s board policy document, district officials said. For information, go to the district’s website at https://www.sd129.org/.
The school board will interview prospective candidates at 5:30 p.m. April 22. The person chosen to fill the open spot on the board will be sworn-in May 5, as will two incumbents successful in the April 1 election – board President Richard Kerns II was re-elected to his third term and board member Julie Stone was elected to her second term – and newcomer Erika Garcia, who was elected to the board as well.
The 16th Circuit Court announced the appointment of St. Jules as its newest associate judge on March 13. His appointment became effective March 31, according to the announcement.
St. Jules is a graduate of John Marshall Law School in Chicago. He began practicing law in 2008. In addition to being a partner in a law firm, St. Jules previously served as an assistant state’s attorney in the Criminal Division of the Kane County State’s Attorney’s Office, according to the announcement from the court.
Linda Girardi is a freelance reporter for The Beacon-News.