Five residents are vying for the three open spots on the Western Springs District 101 School Board.
The candidates are Brett Lettiere, Todd McLawhorn, Jeanne Padgett, Jamie L. Secord and Thomas P. Simpson.
McLawhorn is the only incumbent running in the April 7 election. Board president Kathy Wennerstrum and board member Ellie Wackerman are not seeking re-election.
The candidates spoke about their experience and goals at a recent candidates night.
Lettiere
Brett Lettiere has been a teacher and administrator for 15 years. He said he is running because he cares a lot about education.
Lettiere said he has attended a handful of board meeting and has been impressed with the district’s operations.
“We do a lot of things right here,” Lettiere said.
He believes he will bring unique view to the School Board, noting he has rewritten curriculum and run summer school programs.
“I will bring an educator’s perspective to School Board collaboration, I will look for ways for the district to be better … I know the issues facing schools.”
McLawhorn
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Todd McLawhorn, an attorney, has been on the School Board for the past four years
“I will take credit for the things you like with the building expansions. The rest of the board takes the credit for the things you don’t like,” McLawhorn joked.
He said it is a trying time to be a school board member, with funding issues, including a possible shift in pension funding, needing to be addressed.
“Additional challenges will continue to come up,” he said.
McLawhorn said he will work to continue to make the school district “a special place” for students and teachers.
Padgett
Jeanne Padgett, a stay-at-home mom, said she is running because she cares about children and their education.
She said her 10 years of finance experience would be a benefit to the School Board.
“I am very familiar with budgets,” Padgett said. “I have experience as a controller at Microsoft.”
She said being able to volunteer as a room parent, help with the Great Books program and be PTA treasurer has given her a good sense of what is happening in classrooms.
“I see some great things being enacted, especially related to special education,” said Padgett, who has a child with autism.
Secord
Jamie L. Secord, a stay-at-home mom, said she is running because she believes in public service.
An attorney, Secord said she is very concerned about teachers and programs engaging students, including pupils in special education.
“Things are fantastic in District 101,” Secord said. “We have fantastic teachers.”
Secord said she helped create a second-grade science club at Laidlaw School to get kids interested in science, technology, engineering and math at an earlier age.
“No two children are alike,” Secord said. “We have to continue to find ways to connect with them … I want to help keep this a high-performing district.”
Simpson
Thomas P,. Simpson has been a lawyer for 16 years. He said his family moved out of Chicago right before his son entered elementary school.
“We moved into this area for the schools,” Simpson said.
He said he has been interested in School Board activities for quite some time and when Senate Bill 16, which would radically change the school-funding formula, was introduced, he felt a need to get involved.
“We are a well-performing district, but you can always be better at providing services,” Simpson said. “I am a financial watchdog.”
Kevin Beese is a freelancer reporter for Pioneer Press.