Monday, May 6, 2013
The man who was picked to replace Dennis Brennan as board president Monday night said efficiency is one of his top priorities and that he's not a "one-issue board member" defined by last year's Hinsdale South movie controversy.
The new District 86 Board of Education took its first actions Monday night and among them was the appointment of a new board president. Victor Casini was elected by a unanimous board vote to take over the body’s leading role that for the last six years has been filled by Dennis Brennan, whose four-year term ended Monday night along with those of DeeDee Gorgol and Dianne Barrett. Casini, a Hinsdale South parent and Burr Ridge resident, is among the three new board members elected along with incumbent Kay Gallo on April 9. The attorney and former Gower School District 62 board member said he does not see himself as above the other six board members, and one of his main goals as president will be to make board meetings more efficient. “I like…
Monday, April 15, 2013
The slate that placed three winners in last week's election reemphasized its promise for board accountability and transparency in a letter to the editor.
- ELECTIONS
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Monday, April 15
The following is a letter to the editor submitted by the "Friends for District 86" candidate slate: Victor Casini, Ed Corcoran and Claudia Manley, who ran as "Friends for District 86" would like to thank our supporters and volunteers for all their hard work and dedication during the District 86 school board campaign. We are humbled and honored to be able to serve the citizens of District 86 and will do our best to live up to community expectations. We will promote educational excellence within the district. In addition, we also desire to activate the board committee structure to bring skills and expertise from the community into the district. We will reach out again to all community members in the spirit of collaboration to volunteer for …
Thursday, April 11, 2013
Challengers Victor Casini, Ed Corcoran and Claudia Manley all won spots on the District 86 Board of Education Tuesday after a contentious campaign.
Claudia Manley called it “unbelievable.” Ed Corcoran was “elated.” Victor Casini said it was “a pleasant surprise.” Following the election of all three “Friends for District 86” candidates Tuesday in the race for District 86 school board, Manley, Corcoran and Casini all said the sweep was unexpected, but also symbolic. “I think it sends a message that the platform that we ran on resonated with District 86 citizens,” Casini said. “Namely, fiscal responsibility, transparency and community involvement.” Corcoran agreed that the community showed its support for the substance of the “Friends” slate’s platform. He also said he thought voters reacted to the group’s campaign approach. “We tried to have a positive campaign, talking about what we’re…
Thursday, April 4, 2013
The following letter was sent to Patch by Willowbrook resident George Logan.
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Thursday, April 4
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 District 86 board member are apparent. They have advanced degrees from excellent universities and a lot of work experience in finance, law, engineering…
Monday, April 1, 2013
The following letter to the editor was sent to Patch by Darien resident Rich Brandeis.
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Monday, April 1
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 might have on two excellent high schools if they bring their extreme partisan views into the board of education. One of the strengths of our schools …
Sunday, March 31, 2013
The following letter to the editor was sent to Patch by Darien resident and former District 86 school board candidate Jennifer Babbington.
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Sunday, March 31
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, serving the community better. A school's purpose is to provide curriculum and competent teaching staff so the school's customers—the students—achieve …
Friday, March 15, 2013
Robert O'Hare of Hinsdale wrote to Patch in support of the Friends for District 86 slate of candidates.
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Friday, March 15
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 turf project are just two examples. Mr. Brennan continually uses loopholes to push bonds and no-bid contracts without any accountability to residents…
Tuesday, February 12, 2013
Victor Casini, Ed Corcoran and Claudia Manley make up the slate, which has a website detailing its candidates backgrounds and its pledge to the community.
Three would-be newcomers to the District 86 Board of Education have joined together as a slate for this spring's municipal election. Victor Casini, Claudia Manley and Ed Corcoran make up the "Friends for District 86" slate that has launched FriendsforDistrict86.com, which Corcran listed as the slate's campaign website in a Patch candidate questionnaire, detailing the candidates' backgrounds, skills, and pledge to the community. According to its pledge, the slate's primary goals are to "maintain and improve" the educational excellence, "revitalize" the board, consider future tax levies publicly, and promote fiscal responsibility. Additional goals include increased community access to board documents online, and improved communications. …
Steve Woodward
10:15 am on Tuesday, May 7, 2013
Finally, stewardship and accountability in District 86. What a concept! more ›