A community group has passed over the La Grange Elementary District 102 Board president and another incumbent in endorsing four of nine candidates for the April 7 election.
The Delegate Assembly, a nonpartisan slating group, endorsed Matthew Scotty, seeking his second term, and newcomers Jason Kowalczyk, Brian Anderson and Amanda Jandris.
School Board President Dave May, elected in 2003, and former District 102 teacher Joyce Fitch, elected in 2007, weren’t endorsed following interviews Dec. 8 and 10.
Fitch said she will run as an independent. May has not yet responded to requests for comment.
Dawn Aubert, a board member since 2007, said she decided not to run again to spend more time with her family.
Other candidates not slated by the Delegate Assembly were Jenna Buckholtz, Linda Walls and Edward Campbell.
“We had nine really solid candidates for four spots, and that shows a huge interest in serving on the School Board,” said Delegate Assembly President Steve Knipstein.
Thirty of the group’s 55 members representing six district schools voted to slate the candidates after reviewing their responses to a number of issues.
“When we looked at all the different schools represented, the constant conversation went back to looking for new voices on the board and changes in communicating back to the community,” Knipstein said.
“The big issue was communication, how the board and the administration could do a better job of communicating back to parents and members of the community who no longer have students in the district,” Knipstein added.
Other issues included the district’s financial crunch and upcoming tax increase referendum and changes to the district’s foreign language program, which prompted parent protest. A date for the referendum and other specifics has not been set, likely until a new board is seated and a new superintendent takes over July 1 from Warren Shillingburg.
Knipstein said members of the Delegate Assembly acknowledged the contributions of May and Fitch.
“Their accomplishments are significant. We are grateful for everything they did,” Knipstein said. “Unfortunately, Dave and Joyce were not able to get the majority required to get the endorsement. Their record stands for itself.”
Knipstein said the slating group was looking for fresh perspectives and a diverse combination of skills. Kowalczyk, a stay-at-home dad from the Forest Road School neighborhood, has a background in social work. Anderson, also from the Forest Road area, has a background in strategic planning and execution, and Jandris, representing Cossitt School, offers communication skills, Knipstein said.
“Not that the current board is failing,” Knipstein said. “It’s more a matter of moving forward with the best combination of skills and personality to enable a vibrant board to connect with the community in a different way.”
In 2011, the Delegate Assembly didn’t endorse Aubert, who ran as an independent in a coalition with May, Fitch and Donald Sands for four four-year terms. Sands was endorsed by the delegate assembly for a two-year term but opted to run for a four-year term. Incumbent Pete Tiemeyer was passed over for endorsement of a two-year term but ran as an independent with the coalition.
Scotty was endorsed by the Delegate Assembly and was elected over Sands. May, Fitch, Aubert and Tiemeyer also were elected.
Candidates may choose to run as independents by submitting nominating petitions between Dec. 15 and 22. For the first time, petitions must be filed this year with the Cook County Clerk’s office, rather than at the District 102 administration center.
Details are on the county clerk’s website.