Ensuring a smooth transition as it replaces a superintendent will be a top issue for a new school board for La Grange-Countryside Elementary District 105.
Five people are running for four open, unpaid spots on the board in the April 4 election. The candidates are challenger Elyse Hoffenberg and Julio B. Da Silva, and incumbents Eileen R. Tucker, Kristine R. Lonsway and David Herndon.
“We have an iconic and very successful superintendent who is retiring in 2018,” Herndon said. “I want to help guide the new superintendent and administration and have a smooth transition.”
The next superintendent will replace Glenn Schlichting, who is retiring in 2018. Although the district has not yet finalized its choice, the board has named Steve Bahn, who had been principal of Ideal Elementary School, assistant superintendent, with the possibility that he will be named superintendent. The board expects to decide by the end of this year.
“Having experienced board leadership during a transition of a superintendent is critical,” Lonsway said.
She also said it’s important to have board members who represent each of the district’s schools: Ideal in Countryside, Gurrie Middle School in La Grange, Hodgkins Elementary School in Hodgkins, Seventh Avenue Elementary and Spring Avenue Elementary, both in La Grange.
Tucker said she thinks the district is doing a good job and wants to continue to be part of that.
“I just want to continue working on student progress,” she said.
Da Silva, who is Tucker’s brother-in-law, and has two young sons, said his early education in New Jersey was problematic and wants to make sure it is better in District 105 for his children and others.
“I don’t want them to have the same type of early education I had,” he said. “I was always designated as the problem child.”
He wants the district should review how students who are labeled as having behavioral problems or who need more academic stimulation are treated.
“I think there should be more of a review,” he said. “If you have child (being labeled) a distraction, does that child need more advanced work?”
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He said the board should present more programs and initiatives that could better address the needs of the child while not being costly.
“It’s looking at thing that won’t cost money, but time,” Da Silva said.
Hoffenberg is an attorney who said he wants to help the district when it negotiates a new teacher contract in 2018.
“My legal background is a great background for contract negotiations and disciplinary matters,” she said.
She wants to help students, including those displaced from their homes when the Lenzi Apartments were torn down in 2016 in Hodgkins, receive a superior education. Many of the students who attended Hodgkins Elementary School have moved out of the district.
“I think there may need to be a shuffling around of classes there (at Hodgkins),” she said.
She said the district is doing good work, and wants to see it continue.
“I want to be a steward to make sure our students feel safe, protected and challenged,” she said.
A candidate forum will be held at 7 p.m. March 22 at Gurrie Middle School, 1001 S. Spring Ave., La Grange.
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Meet the candidates
Kristine Lonsway
Age: 47
Residence: Countryside
Profession: Executive coach, organizational effectiveness consultant, and speaker for Lonsway Consulting, LLC
Education: Doctorate and master’s degree in industrial/organizational psychology from the University of Illinois; bachelor’s degree in psychology from Texas A&M University
Family: Spouse is Mark Lonsway. They have two children.
Civic involvement: Lonsway is a member of Community Memorial Foundation’s Regional Agenda Implementation Council to help transform the western suburbs into the healthiest region in the country. She is a member of the city of Countryside’s City Hall Design Committee to help design a new City Hall. She is a former board member of the Autism Society of Illinois and a pro bono coach to parents of kids with special needs and to adults and caregivers faced with Alzheimer’s to help them find resources, manage stress, and develop action plans for prevention and treatment.
Eileen Tucker
Age: 49
Residence: Hodgkins
Profession: Director of parks and recreation at Hodgkins Park District.
Education: Bachelor’s degree from Northern Arizona University
Family: Spouse is Ken Tucker. They have three children
Civic involvement: Served on the Hodgkins Library Board from 2004 to 2013.
Julio Da Silva
Age: 33
Residence: Hodgkins
Profession: Specialist for TruGreen Lawn Care in Lemont
Education: Johnson & Wales University in Rhode Island
Family: Spouse is Stephanie. They have two children
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Civic involvement: Mentored students in a mentoring program; former scoutmaster for Boy Scouts, both in New Jersey.
Elyse Hoffenberg
Age: 41
Residence: La Grange
Profession: Attorney, Law Offices of Elyse Hoffenberg
Education: DePaul University College of Law; undergraduate work at University of Illinois at Urbana/Champaign
Family: Spouse is Jeff.. They have three daughters.
Civic involvement: Member of the La Grange Board of Police and Fire Commissioners for three years; Girl Scout leader; former member of the La Grange 20/20 Task Force.
David Herndon
Age: 49
Residence: La Grange
Profession: Vice president of marketing at Nuveen
Education: Bachelors of arts in communications from the University of Illinois-Chicago
Family: Spouse is Katie. They have two daughters.
Civic involvement: Ruling elder and high school youth adviser at the First Presbyterian Church of La Grange; coach for church league basketball.