The recent filing deadlines for upcoming school board races kept Cook County election officials busy. Here is a listing of area elementary school board races and who is running in the April 4 election.
La Grange District 102
Three candidates have filed to run for three open spots on the board of La Grange Elementary District 102 in April.
The candidates are Edward Campbell, Michael Melendez, and Michael Andre Thomas.
Campbell, who is a professor at the Stritch School of Medicine at Loyola, is running because he wants to get more people involved and feeling a part of the district.
“I think I can communicate ideas pretty effectively,” he said. “I think often there is a disconnect between the people who are making the decisions based on the realities that they encounter and the public’s view of those decisions and the ways that those decisions were made.”
He said he would like to see different events at the community level.
“I worked for the playground at Congress Park. I spent a lot of time trying to re-establish intramural sports for fifth- and sixth-graders,” he said.
Melendez is from Brookfield. He and his wife, Braulia, have three young children, two of whom are at Congress Park School. He is an in-house attorney for the University of Illinois.
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Melendez said the district needs to ensure that it is adequately funding programs that are needed to close the achievement gap between white and minority students.
“A lot hinges on what we can provide by use of our limited resources,” he said. “We have to address it, but no one has a magic pill.”
Thomas works in brand management at Smithfield Foods and has lived in La Grange Park for 14 years. He said when two-thirds of District 102 students meet or exceed standards on standardized tests, but only 25 percent of the district’s black students and 40 percent of its Hispanic students are getting passing grades on the test, something needs to be done.
“I just want to help to accelerate achievement for all students,” he said.
Western Springs District 101
Two incumbents and three newcomers have filed to run for four openings on the school board in Western Springs Elementary District 101, giving voters a choice on April 4.
The incumbents are Lisa Garvin and Julie A. O’Connor. The newcomers are Brett Lettiere, George “Gary” Gibbs and Caitlin J. Sendaydiego. All of the candidates live in Western Springs.
Garvin is a homemaker and mother of four. She worked previously in social services and as a counselor. She is the board’s education committee chairman.
O’Connor was elected in 2013 and is chairman of the board’s policy committee. She works as a general counsel for a local bank.
“I do not have a particular agenda of issues to pursue, but I would continue to be an engaged board member committed to helping our district do the best we can for our students, families, staff and community member and planning responsibly for the future,” O’Connor said.
Lettiere is a department chairman in the social studies, art and music department at Argo Community High School. His and his wife, Leslie, have two children.
“I hope to offer the board a perspective of an educator who also is a committed parent and taxpayer,” he said.
He also wants to help the district hire and retain the best teachers.
Gibbs is a cardiologist in Hinsdale. He is married to board president Karen Gibbs. They have four children.
“I would like to have the opportunity to listen to the community and make a positive difference, working as a team member in policy making, budget/staff issues, and resolving conflicts,” Gibbs said in an email. “We all pay significant taxes; being on the board would allow me to collaborate with other members to maintain accountability of the superintendent and staff in fulfilling stated goals/policies.”
Sendeydiego is a business consultant and former president of the Western Springs Newcomers and Neighbors Club.
La Grange District 105
Five people are running for four open spots on the La Grange Elementary District 105 Board.
They are Elyse Hoffenberg of La Grange, Julio B. DaSilva of Hodgkins, Eileen R. Tucker of Hodgkins, Kristine R. Lonsway of Countryside and David Herndon of La Grange.
The incumbents are Herndon who is the board president, Lonsway who is vice president and Tucker. Herndon and Tucker were elected in 2009. Lonsway was first appointed to the board in 2008.
Hoffenberg is an attorney. She was appointed in 2013 to serve on La Grange’s Board of Fire and Police Commissioners.
Tucker is director of recreation for the Hodgkins Park District. She has served on the board since 2009, but said there is still work to be done, such as hiring a new superintendent.
“I want to finish out some things that are still on the table,” she said.
Lonsway works as in executive coaching and organizational effectiveness.
She wants to continue on the board to help choose a superintendent to replace Glenn Schlichting, who is retiring.
“I want to help aid that transition of leadership,” she said.
La Grange Highlands District 106
There are three incumbents running for school board for four board openings in La Grange Highlands School District 106.
They are Natalie M. Watkins, John F. Corcoran, and Laurine Scheer, all from Indian Head Park. All three are incumbents.
Corcoran is vice president of the board. Watkins is secretary.
If nobody runs as a write-in candidate, the board will be able to appoint somebody to fill the vacancy after the election.
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Brookfield-La Grange Park District 95
Six candidates are running for six open seats on the school board in Brookfield-La Grange Park School District 95.
There are four, four-year slots and two, two-year slots open in April.
They are Brian G. Conry of Brookfield, Joseph P. Ivan of Brookfield, Rebecca K. Zoltoski of La Grange Park, Brian Pencak of La Grange Park, Michelle Maggos of La Grange Park and Barbara H. Garvey of Brookfield.
The incumbents are Conry, who serves as chairman of the board’s Building and Grounds Committee, Zoltoski, who is chairman of the Finance Committee, Pencak, who is chairman of the Superintendent Evaluation Committee, Maggos, who is chairman of the Negotiations/Communications Committee, and Garvey, who is chairman of the Technology Committee.
Conry, and his wife, Margaret, have lived in District 95 since October of 2000. Their son Michael and daughter Kira attend Brook Park Elementary School. Conry works for a manufacturer of retail fixtures and is responsible for sales to Chicago-based major retailers, as well as developing Latin American markets.
Maggos and her husband, Dean, have lived in La Grange Park for 12 years. They have three sons. Maggos is a first-grade teacher. She earned her bachelor’s degree. in business administration and master’s degree in teaching.
Pencak and his wife, Vicki, have lived in Brookfield for 15 years. They have two daughters. Pencak is an architect who specializes in K-12 education architecture.
Zoltoski has lived in the district since 1998. She has been involved in the schools as Market Day chairperson and in other volunteer activities including as a troop leader for the Girl Scouts.
Garvey is a lifelong resident of Brookfield. She and her husband, Mike, have three sons. Garvey is .an elementary school teacher in River Forest District 90 where she has taught for the last 15 years.
Ivan and his wife, Veronica, have lived in Brookfield for 5 years. They have two daughters. Ivan has a master’s degree in supply chain management and has been working in the clinical trial supply chain for a biotech company for the past 16 years.
Pleasantdale District 107
Pleasantdale Elementary District 107 also does not have enough candidates for open board seats come April. Only incumbent board member Kristin Violante of Willow Springs and Indian Head Park resident Jon Buralli have filed for the four seats that will be open on the board in April.
If there is no write-in candidate the board can appoint somebody after the election. For information on filing as a write-in candidate, contact Erika Sawosko at [email protected].