Active parent joins District 2 school board

Bensenville Elementary District 2 has a new board member.

Jorge Sanchez of Bensenville has been appointed to fill the vacancy left by Chuck Erickson, who resigned in January.

"I think it was time for him to step up," board President Patty Reyes said. "Jorge has always worked behind the scenes, and he's shown an interest. I think he'll do a really good job."

Sanchez, who has two children attending school in the district, has been an active member of the community for many years. He's been involved with two referendum campaigns, served on the district's facility task force and his face is recognizable at various school events.

He's also a member of the comprehensive school committee at Chippewa Elementary School, where his son, Victor, is a fifth-grader.

In addition, Sanchez has been involved with the booster club for Blackhawk Middle School, where his other son, Mario, is a seventh-grader.

Another reason the school board appointed Sanchez to fill the open seat stems from his desire to increase the Latino community's involvement with the district.

Reyes said that the district -- which covers Bensenville, Wood Dale and Addison -- has a growing Latino population. Roughly 72 percent of the district's population is of Latino descent, she said.

"Being a school district with a lot of Spanish-speaking students, I thought I can get the people closer to the school," Sanchez said. "I will try to get the whole Spanish community more involved."

Sanchez, a machine operator for an excavation company, said the number of parents showing up at school events doesn't reflect the district's large Hispanic population.

"I think the key for the kids to do good in school is for the parents to get involved," he said. "It's my goal to get the Hispanic people to get together and involved."

Sanchez has lived in Bensenville with his wife, Soledad, for roughly 15 years.