The Orland Park High School District 230 board voted Wednesday to appoint Moe Hammad, a supporter of the Arabic language curriculum, to the board seat vacated by Mohammad Jaber in March.
Hammad will serve the remainder of Jaber’s term, which runs through April 2027.
Hammad, an Orland Park resident since 2019, is a member of the District 230 Building and Finance Advisory Committee, according to a district news release. He has a graduate degree in education and a decade of entrepreneurial experience as owner of one dozen companies, according to the district.
He is also the father of two daughters, one of whom graduated from Sandburg in 2023 and another who is set to attend Sandburg this fall. He said it’s important for parent perspectives to have a voice on the board, as they can see how policies directly affect students firsthand.
“I’m here to try and do the best for as many students as possible,” he said. “At the end of the day, we are a board of volunteers who genuinely care about public education and the local community.”
Hammad said he supports adding Arabic as a world language, a proposal that Jaber championed. Jaber cited frustration over resistance to the proposal in his resignation but said he hoped the person who filled the vacancy supported it.
“I support the Arabic language, and that’s going to be something I push forward, but I don’t want that to be the definitive singular thing that people bring up,” Hammad said.
He said he also aims to use his business background to help with financial questions, along with helping create a more cohesive relationship between the schools, school board and community.
He said the language proposal could have been handled differently, and he wants to help the community understand that the board listens to the community and has to take time to follow a process.
He also said his experience on the Building and Finance Committee taught him to build relationships with the community and have productive conversations even in disagreement.
“By listening more than I speak, by not being married to any idea or narrative, being open-minded and willing to hear what other perspectives are,” he said. “When you know the people individually, you can kind of express yourself in a way that does not come across as confrontational, and people can actually hear what you’re saying.”
The district has faced controversy over the language proposal. Many proponents have expressed frustration with the school board and administration as multiyear efforts to bring Arabic language instruction to District 230 appeared to stall, but the district has stated the process involves multiple steps, review and research.
Hammad said in April he wants to help the community and district administration work together on the Arabic proposal, as he speaks the language himself and has noticed a high number of involved, Arabic speaking families and people who would like to learn more about the language.
He also said that as a longtime business consultant, he has noticed a trend of companies investing in the Middle East, and it was helpful for him to speak Arabic in his work.
“We have a large contingency of Arabic speaking individuals, and I think there are a lot of individuals who would like to know more about the Arabic language,” he said in April. “It’s, you know, an ever increasingly important language on the worldwide stage.”
Jaber said the board made a good choice in appointing Hammad.
“He did a good job on the committee, and he’s going to be a good advocate for the community, the students and their education,” Jaber said. “I look forward for him to continue that proposal I initiated. It’s (the proposal) good for the students and it’s good for the community and district.”
The board welcomed Hammad Wednesday night, highlighting the educational focus and business leadership he brings to the board.
“As a dedicated parent and proven business leader, he brings a uniquely valuable perspective — combining educational insight with entrepreneurial experience,” said board President Lynn Zeder in a statement. “We are confident he will be a tremendous asset to our students, staff, and entire community.”
Eighteen applicants applied for the vacancy, and Zeder encouraged those applicants and other people interested in getting involved with the district to apply for committees. Three committees are accepting new members: Education, Student Support and Development, and Building and Finance.
“It’s always hard when you have that many people apply, but it’s a good problem to have,” she said. “We still are so pleased and proud of all the contributions people make. Your voices are heard everyday, and we want you to feel that you have a voice, and that is a way for anyone to do so.”
awright@chicagotribune.com
