Endorsements: DeLaRosa, Ozog, Trefilek for Glenbard Dist. 87
Six candidates are seeking three, 4-year terms on the Glenbard High School District 87 board. They include incumbents Mary Ozog and Tom Trefilek and newcomers Margaret DeLaRosa, Brian Loftus, Martha Mueller and L.J. Spasovski.
Ozog, seeking her second term, is an engaged, articulate and knowledgeable board member who points out District 87 is the rare school district in Illinois that operates in the black, all while facing the challenges of a rapidly changing student population. She is endorsed.
DeLaRosa is so well-versed on district matters that she sounds like an incumbent. Her background and expertise no doubt comes from having served as a community member of the district finance committee. A business analyst, DeLaRosa also comes with experience in PTA presidencies with District 41 and Hadley Junior High School. She, too is endorsed.
For the third spot, we recommend Trefilek, a two-time board member who has seen the district through its toughest times wrought by the Great Recession several years ago. A medical distributor, he recognizes the importance of working with the district's feeder schools so incoming freshmen will hit the ground running when they enter one of the district's four high schools.
The other candidates are well-versed in district matters, and bring an array of backgrounds to the race. Loftus, a sales manager, brings a solid business experience to the table and would keep a sharp eye on finances. Mueller is a bus driver for the company that contracts with the district and would bring a different perspective to the board. Spasovski, who works in information technology, suggests student achievement has slipped in recent years and is in need of improvement.
We find, though, that the best combination of experience, passion and commitment is found in Ozog, DeLaRosa and Trefilek.