GOP names Dal Santo its choice for regional superintendent

A longtime employee in the Kane County Regional Office of Education received the Republican nomination to become the office’s next superintendent this week.

Pat Dal Santo pledged transparency and responsiveness in winning the hearts of the Kane County GOP at the party’s convention Wednesday. But she didn’t win the votes of the precinct committeemen until they vetted her views on two hot button political issues.

Asked where she stands on government-funded school vouchers to pay for tuition at private schools, Dal Santo spoke in favor.

“I think it’s a matter of personal choice as to where you send your students to school,” Dal Santo said. “And if there’s something that can be done to support that personal choice, then I think we should do it.”

Party members then asked Dal Santo a more loaded question about how she feels about Planned Parenthood injecting its programs into local schools.

“I believe that’s a parental responsibility,” Dal Santo said about sex education. “It’s up to parents to do that.”

Dal Santo was applauded for her responses and won the party’s nomination.

On Thursday, she also received the blessing of acting Superintendent Harrison Schneider. Schneider is filling the role of the recently retired Doug Johnson until the November general election.

“We’re very pleased she is the nominee,” Schneider said. “She’s very experienced, very talented and hardworking.”

Dal Santo has been with the regional office for 18 years. She is the director of alternative programs, which address truancy and dropouts. She’s spent 40 years total in education and has taught at the elementary and middle school levels.

Kane County Democrats did not slate an opponent for Dal Santo at their county convention Wednesday. Party members re-elected Mark Guethle to another term as chairman at the convention.

New Second Vice Chairman David Reece said the party is seeking a candidate to run for regional superintendent. They have until June 4.