Our school board choices for Butler Elementary District 53

Parents of schoolchildren everywhere would love to enjoy the small class sizes afforded to students in Butler Elementary District 53. It is why many people choose to move here or stay here, and the end result is a school district with committed parents and an educational system recognized throughout the state and across the country for its high test scores and standards.

That does not mean this district is without any worries, however. Indeed, all five candidates seeking one of the four, 4-year spots on the board have expressed an awareness of the financial strain within the district as enrollment continues to decline and the need for fiscal restraint heightens in these challenging times.

With all five candidates having impressive backgrounds and levels of experience that will be helpful to the board, perhaps one deciding factor could be commitment. While current board member Henry Fuentes should be commended for stepping up to fill a vacancy last June, we support the candidacies of four challengers - Alan Hanzlik, Alan Kumar, Todd Rusteberg and Hitesh Patel. They have already displayed an impressive level of commitment, sound knowledge of the issues facing the district, and a healthy respect for the diversity of their ideas and expertise. We expect they will mesh well with current board members and meet the challenges ahead for District 53's most precious resource, its students.