Tired of status quo on District 15 board

Last year was the final straw. I've lost all trust in our school district here in District 15. And based on the fact that their $130 million referendum lost by over 40 percent, I am clearly not the only one.

We need new blood and fresh perspectives on this board, and with five seats up this year we have a unique opportunity to make it happen.

While there are a number of challengers running, I am voting for a team of five candidates that have come together to enact this change. Frank Annerino, Mike Smolka, Anthony Wang, Lisa Szczupaj and Barb Kain are all very different, with different backgrounds and talents which complement each other well.

They discuss and debate issues, aligning on their core principles but always weighing the merits of each argument and approaching discussions openly and objectively. Wouldn't that be a breath of fresh air on the District 15 school board?

We've had District 15 elections over the past five or six years where the community has risen up to say "Enough!" and yet the problems persist. I believe that is because each time we've elected only a couple "change" candidates, but putting them on a board full of people who refuse to change isn't moving the needle. We need a wholesale change, and this year we can elect an entire team of change candidates who are dedicated to working together to move us in a new direction.

We have a special opportunity this year, and I urge my neighbors not to waste it. It's time for an accountable, transparent, open, honest and engaging school board that welcomes, even actively solicits, our input, and will work to rebuild our trust in District 15.

Manjit (Mana) Bhasin

Palatine