Four chances to meet 13 school board candidates

Having a hard time keeping up with your 13 candidates for Indian Prairie Unit District 204?

Several of the district's parent organizations, along with the League of Women Voters and homeowners' groups, are teaming to hold a series of candidate forums and meet and greets to help you get acquainted, beginning March 3.

The election to fill four 4-year terms on the school board is April 7.

The first forum, sponsored by the umbrella organization for all local PTA and PTSA units in District 204 and the League, is at 7 p.m. March 3 at Waubonsie Valley High School, 2590 Ogden Ave., Aurora.

Council President Robin Church said pre-selected questions will be posed to candidates by a moderator chosen by the League along with written questions submitted by those in attendance.

Church said on Friday she had confirmations from 12 of the 13 candidates that they will attend.

The forum also will be streamed live online at mms://media.ipsd.org/ipsd_live and will be aired in later broadcasts on local cable channels.

The Naperville Area Homeowners Confederation will sponsor a similar forum from 7 to 9 p.m. March 11 at Naperville city hall, 400 S. Eagle St.

Two district Parent Teacher Associations also have scheduled less formal meet-and-greet sessions with candidates leading up to the April 7 election.

"We applaud these autonomous units for opening up their spaces to the public and giving voters four chances to hear from our candidates," Church said Friday.

At the May Watts PTA event scheduled from 7 to 8 p.m. March 16, community members can meet and ask questions of the candidates and gather campaign literature. An activity area also will be provided for children.

The Steck Elementary School PTA is playing host to a similar session from 7 to 8 p.m. March 19 at Steck, 460 Inverness Drive, Aurora.

Event coordinator Tasha Heidenrich said each candidate will have a table with campaign materials as a way for attendees to gather information.

Meet the candidates

Thirteen candidates, including two incumbents, are battling in the April 7 election for four open seats in Indian Prairie Unit District 204. They are:

• Michael Crockett

• Dawn DeSart

• Doug DiFusco

• Eric Hepburn

• Jerry Huang

• Yuming Huang

• Donald Moscato III

• Cathy Piehl (incumbent)

• Susan Rasmus

• Mark Rising

• Michael Strick

• Christine Vickers (incumbent)

• Janey Wagner