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6
WINTER
2011
Perhaps it suddenly dawned on many par-
ents to become involved or maybe more
parents have become interested. Either
way, the result was a continuous flow of
parents walking through IC’s alumni
office for one week filling out nomination
sheets for the Parents Committee elec-
tions to be held on October 26.
“I’ve never seen so much interest,” said
Sana Yamout, from the Alumni Office
who has been running the elections for
the past 12 years. “I’m not really sure
what’s happening this year.”
Electoral lobbying was at an all-time high
with emails and texts circulating among
parents. One of the candidates, Brigitte
Khoury, a mother of three, didn’t hesitate
to run when she heard about the upcom-
ing elections. “I am trusting IC with my
most precious possessions, my children,”
she said. “But I do see some things that
need to be changed and I think a voice is
louder from inside then from outside. I
have formed and headed other committees
before so I feel I have the necessary skills.”
The Parents Committee is made up of
17 members. In the past, 17 or 18 people
would run.This year 25 candidates have
registered (two have since withdrawn).
This year marks the end of the Commit-
tee that held office from 2008 until 2011.
Members can only run for two consecu-
tive terms every three years.
“It’s a new team and new ideas,” said Ser-
een Jawhari, an elementary school mother
who is also running for the elections. “I
would like to contribute more actively to
IC, help other parents communicate bet-
ter with the school and I have ideas that
can make a difference.”
Finally the big day arrives. Ballots were
not yet opened when parents began
streaming in the IC cafeteria (where
elections were being held).The number
was much bigger than the alumni office
anticipated and more copies of the ballot
sheets had to be printed in a rush. Hope-
ful candidates mingled cheerfully hoping
to sway last minute voters. Much like
Lebanese-style elections, some parents
were giving out their own electoral lists.
“This is an amazing turnout,” said Marina
Kettaneh, a mother of three. “I wish the
American elections were like this.”
The government representative sat quietly
in a corner looking bewildered. “It certain-
ly wasn’t like this last time,” he muttered.
For her part, Nadine Mazboudi Itani,
mother of two, seemed to know exactly
who she wanted to vote for. “Some of the
candidates are IC alumni and they really
care about their school,” she said. “They
want to make a difference.”
In the midst, outgoing Parents Commit-
tee President Maha Shair looked around
in amazement. “I actually feel relieved I’m
not running,” she said.
Adhering to bylaws, all members can only
run for two consecutive terms. Shair has
been presiding over the Parents Commit-
tee since 2006.
The allotted election time was from 2 to
3pm. But well after 3pm, the cafeteria was
still full of parents.
Finally, the ballots closed and the count-
ing began.The exhausted alumni office
staff finally returned to their office.
The new Parents Committee has now
officially been elected. It is up to them to
vote for their own president. For Shair, it
is a bittersweet moment.
“This was my life for six years,” she said.
“I have achieved most of my promises
to the parents and I think IC has moved
forward. We pushed for high-tech like
whiteboards, blogs, sms and we got them.
There are more students attending Ivy
League universities. I see a lot of im-
provement in the facilities, especially in
preschool and elementary. Everything
was grey, now it’s more child friendly. But
there is still a lot more to be done.”
A New Parent’s Committee
The old parents committee handing their last fundraising cheque to President John
Johnson and Vice President for Alumni and Development, Moufid Beydoun ‘64
Old parents committee
New parents committee