More Top Picks Best Leather Boots For Women For Plantar Fasciitis
player ready...Several Woodridge District 68 school board candidates say the transition to new common core learning standards and curriculum changes will be their main focus if elected to the board.
Five candidates, which include four incumbents, are seeking four open four-year seats on the school board. They are Patricia Cash, Scott Coley, Steve Gustis, Leslie Pollack and Scott Salerno. The election is April 7.
Incumbents Cash and Pollack could not be reached for comment.
Incumbent Scott Coley, 67, who lives in Bolingbrook with his wife, Mary, and three children, is concerned about the district following through with the implementation of common core.
“We have been transitioning into common core for several years, and I would like to see it complete,” Coley said.
He says the district is in good financial condition when compared to what some other districts are dealing with.
“While we have some short-term debt, we have some cash in reserves,” he said.
Coley has been a board member since 2007. He graduated in 1971 with a bachelor of arts in mathematics and sociology from Lycoming College in Williamsport, Penn., and in 1991, with an MBA with a concentration in management information systems from Benedictine University.
He initially worked in sales and marketing and founded the PC Learning Centre, where he is the CEO of the computer software training and consulting company.
Incumbent Scott Salerno said in an email that he is also concerned about curriculum issues.
“The district has been aggressively working to evaluate and improve virtually all aspects of education in District 68,” he said. “These efforts have been very effective so far, but there remains a significant amount of work yet to be done in connection with the transformation process.”
Salerno has been a board member since 2011. Salerno has a bachelor’s degree from Southern Illinois University and a juris doctorate from DePaul University. He is a commercial litigation attorney and partner with the law firm of Michaels & May, P.C., in Chicago. He has lived in Woodridge since 2002. He and his wife, Peggy, have two children.
Candidate Steve Gustis, 38, said he has never served on an elected board, but wants the chance to to give back to the community.
“I have a desire to be more involved in my community,” Gustis said. “I also have a strong desire for understanding the rationales and processes behind the decisions that are made by the board that affects each of our students.”
Gustis is also concerned about funding. “There are a lot of unknowns with state funding right now,” he said.
Gustis has lived in Woodridge for 12 years. Gustis is the career services manager at the College of DuPage. Gustis also serves on the boards of several nonprofit organizations. He is married and has two children.
According to the district website, Cash has been a board member since 2011 and is a small business marketing consultant who attended Northern Illinois University. Cash is an active volunteer in the community. She donates her time to her church as well as to special projects, school events, planning committees and efforts to end homelessness and social injustice. She and her husband, Larry, have three children.
Pollack has been a board member sine 1997. Pollack received her nursing degree from Michael Reese Hospital School of Nursing, University of Illinois. She is employed as a general pediatrics nurse. She lives with her husband, James, and has four children.
More Top Picks Best 13 14 Inch Laptops
Twitter: @TribLocal