Social Media Post Against School Board Member Draws Backlash

SKOKIE, IL — A former Niles Township High School District 219 school board member faced online scrutiny Wednesday over a Facebook post criticizing a current school board member who attended a virtual board meeting via Zoom from her bedroom. Rebecca Abraham, the current school board member in question, defended her actions by saying she was trying to self-quarantine herself from her family after working roughly 60 hours a week between two community hospitals.

Former board member Linda Lampert posted on Facebook Wednesday that Abraham's participation in the meeting was "disturbing" and that sick board members should excuse themselves from board meetings.

"The lack of professionalism is stunning," Lampert's post, which has since been removed, read. "My kid goes to a school in the district and you are disrespecting him and everyone else."

Abraham said she is a critical care nurse working roughly 60 hours a day between two community hospitals while trying to maintain her civic duty without pause. In addition, Abraham said she has been taking extra shifts each week because she feels she has an obligation to do so.

"I take everything I do seriously because there's very serious things going on," Abraham said.
In a separate Facebook post, Abraham said the decision was made to isolate herself to protect her husband, a front-line physician, and her 3- and 6-year-old children.

"I felt fatigued that night and tried to [self-isolate] (as much as I could) until my exhaustion resolved, which thankfully it has," Abraham wrote in a Facebook post. "So yes, I was indeed was zooming into a school board meeting from my bedroom to protect my family from me. Keeping myself and my family healthy so we can continue to help our colleagues and patients is my priority right now."

Lampert's post received a number of replies defending Abraham and calls for Lampert to apologize.

"This post is unfair, unkind and we all owe Rebecca a big thank you for even attending this meeting while she [is] helping to battle this crisis," one commenter said. "Rebecca Abraham, thank you for everything you do."

"The lack of professionalism and disrespect shown by this post bullying a wonderful and hardworking nurse like Rebecca Abraham is more disturbing and should be removed from social media altogether," another commenter said.

Niles Township High School District 219 currently serves more than 4,600 students from Lincolnwood, Skokie and portions of Morton Grove and Niles.

In 2016, Lampert criticized community members who "apparently feel it's appropriate to bully, shame and threaten members of this board of education for their own agenda regarding board positions."

Lampert could not be reached for comment Wednesday.

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