West Aurora to host school board, mayoral forum Wednesday

In partnership with Aurora University and Mikva Challenge, West Aurora Unit District 129 will host a District 129 School Board and Aurora Mayoral Candidate Forum at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, March 15, in the Crimi Auditorium at Aurora University, 1347 Prairie St., Aurora.

West Aurora students, along with other area high school students, will moderate the school board candidate portion of the forum. The school board portion will focus on youth issues in West Aurora School District 129. Students from government classes will be generating a list of questions for the candidates.

There are four candidates running for three open seats on the school board. All four candidates have committed to participate. The four candidates are Valerie Dykstra, Joe Grisson III, Rich Kerns, and Christopher Sparks.

The mayoral portion of the forum will begin at approximately 7:30 p.m. Steven McFarland, vice president for University Communications at Aurora University, will be the moderator. The mayoral portion will focus on questions which were collected from students, parents, and members of the community.

Mayoral candidates, Rick Guzman and Richard Irvin have committed to participate.

The forum is free and open to the public. Simultaneous interpretation in Spanish will be available.

Forum attendees are welcome to use the parking lots on the Aurora University campus. As a courtesy, Aurora University parking enforcement will not issue citations for parking in school permit parking for the evening.