An important election campaign is now in progress for the District 86 school board. I would like to take this opportunity to complement candidates Claudia Manley, Victor Casini and Edward Corcoran for conducting a fair, clean and positive campaign. We can be proud of these three District 86 candidates. After reviewing articles in local newspapers, attending school board meetings, and hearing the candidates state their reasons for running and their platform, I believe these three candidates are well qualified. Their education, work history, leadership skills and desire to do a good job as a …

Hinsdale Township High School District 86 was the reason we moved here 20 years ago. We wanted a great public school system for our children. We have been delighted with the excellent education they have received. From academics to athletics to the arts, our schools are among the best in the country. Our high schools are the reason that well-educated, hard-working families want to move to this area. It’s why our communities prosper and it’s why our houses retain their value. For years there have been few changes to the facilities at Hinsdale Central. Last year was different. Last summer, …

I am most disturbed by a recent development in the campaign for Hinsdale Township High School District 86 Board of Education (Hinsdale South and Hinsdale Central). In recent campaign fliers the slate that bills themselves as “Friends for District 86” boast of being supported by the mayor of Darien and the Downers Grove Township Republican Organization.   While I am a long-time Republican and voted for the current mayor of Darien, I have always strongly felt that party politics has absolutely no place in local school elections or governance. I am fearful of the impact this group of candidates …

People are already talking about the Hinsdale Township High School District 86 school board election, and asking how a new slate such as Claudia Manley, Victor Casini and Ed Corcoran plan to change District 86. Why introduce conservative values into our "non-partisan" high school board?  Because we need to replace the current board and its in-fighting, overspending, and lack of basic project management. What is best for District 86 is a community-oriented board collaborating with students, parents, teachers and taxpayers, running the district efficiently and in a more transparent manner, …

As a 2012 graduate of District 86, and current college student who remains positively impacted by my education in the district, I am voicing my strong support for candidates Dennis Brennan, DeeDee Gorgol, Kay Gallo and Roseanne Rosenthal.  These candidates have a record that speaks for itself. During their combined time served on the board, District 86 has had seven balanced budgets, maintained a triple-A credit rating, continually increased ACT scores, continued cost containment measures, and built new science labs at both schools in the district. They continue to look ahead at promising and…

About one year ago, the District 86 board majority, including Dennis Brennan, Deirdre Gorgol, and Kay Gallo, chose to bypass the voting public, by issuing $18 million in bond debt. As a point of reference, the district had cash interest bearing reserves totaling $57.9 million as of June 30, 2011. Common sense questions were ignored: Why not use existing cash reserves to replace or supplement issuance $18 million in debt? Why add a tax burden of $7 million in interest, plus $209,000 in bond issuance costs just to borrow $18 million, a total tax bill of $25.2 million? Why borrow at 3.2 percent …

I strongly urge you to vote for Gerald R. "Jerry" Allen and Mary Ellen Young for the DuPage Regional Board of School Trustees on April 9.  They currently serve on this important Board, which deals with school boundary changes, and they have proven that they deserve to be retained.  Gerald R. "Jerry" Allen, a long time Wheaton resident, is a former DuPage Country school teacher.  A man of integrity, who has been active in the Wheaton community, he has a very strong background in insurance and finance.  Mary Ellen Young has impressive public educational credentials, having served for eight …

The following is a letter to the editor submitted by Robert O'Hare of Hinsdale: I reviewed the candidate profiles for the Hinsdale Township High School District 86 Board of Education published recently on Patch, and was surprised by the poor credentials of the incumbents. I have had significant experience with Mr. Dennis Brennan and the board, and like many District 86 residents, I am frustrated by his tactics. He has continually used bonds to fund his projects without substantive explanation. His refusal to be transparent on the $15 million air conditioning project and $4 million artificial …

The following is a statement Patch received from District 181 Superintendent Renée Schuster Monday morning: Our thoughts are with the students, staff and families of Sandy Hook Elementary and the town of Newtown, CT. These incidents are a devastating reminder that we must continue to be mindful of the need for strong safety protocols in our schools. We are fortunate to have a strong partnership with our area police and fire departments. We meet monthly to review our procedures and discuss how we can continually improve the security of our student learning environment. Our front office …

As superintendent for Community Consolidated School District 181, I am happy to welcome our students, staff, families, and community to the 2012-2013 school year. There is much to look forward to in the months ahead, including new curriculum, community engagement, and Year 2 of the @d181 Initiative. During this school year, our District Strategic Goals are focused on Student Growth, Common Core Curriculum, Opportunities for Community Engagement, Responsible Finances, and Employee Excellence. Visit our website to learn more about our SCORE Goals and how they will be put into action. Please …

I would like to extend my congratulations to Senator Kirk Dillard in his victory this past Tuesday. On account of redistricting, we all faced difficult decisions and very unfortunate contests. While the race was spirited, it has been decided by the voters and they have decided on Senator Dillard.  I welcome him into the new communities that I represent and ask that all of the people who supported me, welcome him as enthusiastically as I am. It's time to make sure that our party brings a unified voice to Springfield to accomplish the serious business of getting our state back on track. I …

The following letter regarding Hinsdale's electric aggregation referendum was sent to Patch by village trustee Laura LaPlaca. The referendum was first discussed in November and put on the ballot in December.  As a resident of Hinsdale, I plan to vote "Yes" on the March 20 electric aggregation referendum and encourage other residents to do the same. Approval of this referendum will allow the Village to develop an electric aggregation program under which they would be able to negotiate electricity rates below ComEd's current rate. ComEd would continue to maintain the electric infrastructure and…

For too long, politicians in Springfield have ignored fiscal realities and taken Illinois to the brink of financial ruin. Anything positive that has been accomplished pales in comparison to the financial neglect of our state. Politicians have focused on playing the game and protecting their turf, rather than serving Illinois and its citizens. Kirk Dillard has been in the Illinois Senate for nearly 20 years. Illinois needs a change, and as voters, we can make change happen. Chris Nybo is a hardworking parent who cares about his family and his state, as are I and many others. I met Chris after …

The following letter to the editor was submitted to Patch by Edward A. Corcoran: We must preserve the perennial charm and transparent politics Clarendon Hills nurtured for 88 years. A clear and simple “NO” message to our volunteer trustees will preserve the existing tax cap and keep our right to referenda. Please vote No!  Don’t believe the scare tactics and propaganda. There is no need for drastic cuts in services. We have capable and well paid managers and technology. We even have experts that volunteered to methodically control costs without creating chaos. Vote No.  No trustee was elected…

The following Letter to the Editor was submitted to Patch by Paul Pedersen: I am a long time resident of Clarendon Hills and a member of the Village Board. Our Village’s current fiscal condition is very solid, and in my opinion, our Village is the best place to live in the Chicagoland area. I want to keep it that way. In 2011 we asked residents to volunteer to join a committee to study whether Home Rule might be an appropriate form of government for Clarendon Hills. All 10 residents who volunteered served with two village trustees on the committee over a three-month period. After studying …

Editor's note: The following is a letter from executive director Natalie Potts of the Center for Open Government, the organization that provided counsel for District 86 board member Dianne Barrett in her records dispute with District 86. On Nov. 18, Barrett's complaint against the district was dismissed in DuPage County court after more than a year of litigation. The Center for Open Government exists to educate government bodies and citizens alike on issues of honest, transparent government, and to assist citizens in eliminating barriers to open government.  Our litigation in Dianne Barrett’s…

The following Letter to the Editor was submitted to Patch by District 181 Superintendant Dr. Renée Schuster: Community Consolidated School District 181 is looking forward to American Education Week, Nov. 13-19, and its theme, "American’s Great Public Schools: A Basic Right and Our Responsibility." We would like to invite the community to join us in recognizing the many individuals who support 4,000 students in the district’s seven elementary and two middle schools. These include the 340 members of our teaching staff, 222 full- and part-time support staff employees and our district …

The following letter was submitted to Patch by Jackie Frett: Thrown out; horrible home situations; mental health issues; economics.   These complicated situations leave 11,000 young people without homes, according to The Night Ministry, an estimated 40 percent of whom identify as GLBT (gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender). Rev. David Weasley of The Night Ministry came to Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG) Hinsdale on Oct. 2 to not only tell us of the “moments of terror and sadness” that he has witnessed, but also of the strength and resiliency of these young people and…

The following is a letter to the editor from District 181 parents Kristy Brindley and Rebecca Wear Robinson: On Monday night the District 181 Board of Education heard a recommendation regarding the hiring of an outside consultant to assess the existing gifted and talented program. The programs to be reviewed have been identified as the ACE program and the advanced courses for high-achieving students in math and language arts. An internal committee was formed that included two gifted specialists to prepare and review the Request For Proposal (RFP). The RFP specified that candidates must have a…

Welcome to the 2011-12 school year. Our principals and teachers have prepared for the first day of school for students Thursday. Last week we were in full gear-up mode in our nine buildings, with cleaning, summer maintenance projects, technology upgrades, curriculum committee work, new staff orientation sessions and deliveries of books and classroom supplies. While our preparations set the stage for a successful school year, the community’s support for excellence will ensure our students’ maximum achievement. We are partners whose shared commitment makes District 181 an exemplary place to …