Eight vie for four seats on District 205 School Board
By Dee Longfellow
For The Elmhurst Independent
On the afternoon of Sunday, Feb. 10, about 100 people were in and out of Council Chambers at Elmhurst City Hall, where the Elmhurst League of Women Voters (LWV-Elmhurst) was hosting a Candidate’s Forum for the upcoming Consolidated General Election to be held Tuesday, Apr. 2.
The forum can be viewed in its entirety beginning in March, continuing to Election Day on Comcast Channel 6, AT&T Channel 99, ElmhurstTV.com and at the League’s web site at lwvelmhurst.org.
Following a welcome from League President Sue Whitworth, the candidates running for Elmhurst Park District were introduced. They were Nora Wernette Baxtrom, James M. Colbert, Claire Kubiesa, Vince Spaeth and Liz White. Voters will select two of the five candidates.
The League posed questions to the Park Board candidates on three main topics: 1) taking the Park District’s environmental sustainability efforts to the next level, in terms of energy, waste, transportation, and/or protecting the ecosystem; 2) the plans for the medical office property on Palmer Drive now owned by the Park District; and 3) whether or not there will be a need for a Park District referendum in the near future.
School Board candidates square off
Eight candidates seeking one of four seats open on the District 205 School Board took the dais following a short break. They included: Bojana Ozegovic Carey, Paul DeMichele, Elizabeth Hosler, Christopher Kocinski, Stephan Schlesinger, Gordon Snyder, Karen Stuefen and Courtenae Trautmann. Stuefen is the only incumbent, seeking her third term.
The School Board candidates were asked by the League their thoughts on implementing all-day kindergarten; addressing the ongoing concern about increased class sizes; and, equitable distribution among all District 205 schools in the case of donations exceeding a certain amount.
The public posed a question about student safety and security and whether school entrances are well enough equipped to keep out intruders.
Another topic from the public was “Save the Summer,” an initiative to have fall classes begin following Labor Day, rather late August. One person pointed out that starting the semester in late August allowed students to complete final exams before the winter break, which some saw as a beneficial thing.
A question from the audience prompted a discussion about allowing mathematic tests to be taken home by students for review, reflection and to learn from their mistakes. One candidate noted that children who bring their work home give parents a way to engage in their learning.
The next topic brought a conversation about working with the Teachers Union, their contract, future salary increases and the state’s fledgling pension system.
The School Board candidates were dismissed and those running in the two contested races for Alderman in the First and Fourth Wards were invited forward.
Ed. note: Space does not allow coverage of the aldermanic candidates in this issue, but it will be reported in a future edition of the Elmhurst Independent.
