Choice is clear in Gavin Dist. 37

In some school districts, ballots will be filled with the names of qualified candidates, meaning voters can't go terribly wrong. Sadly, that's not the case in Gavin Elementary District 37, a district rocked by serious school safety issues and illegal business practices.

It's time to move forward, to expect more. For that reason, we endorse recently appointed board members Deborah Boness and Sherry Florian, former board member Stan Pasiewicz and newcomer Chanyn Winfrey. All four would like to see the district make academic strides. All four understand the thorny financial situation facing Gavin. And all four offer the chance for a stronger, less contentious, more responsible future.

We cannot say the same for either incumbent Steve Moulis or candidate Roy Gundelach. In 2006, Moulis approved payments to a moving company that were split into two invoices to circumvent rules regarding the bidding process. The contract was later declared illegal, and the vote to approve it was deemed a violation of the Open Meetings Act. Yet, Moulis continued to defend the action - which cost former board President Barb Mende her position and tarnished the reputation of the district. Recently, he refused to fill out an online candidate questionnaire saying he was "computer illiterate." Is this someone who should be setting school policy in today's high-tech world? We say no. Gundelach, meanwhile, is quick to say he wants to see Gavin's schools ranked among the state's best. But he has no ideas for how to improve the curriculum or how the board should react to current financial challenges. Students and taxpayers deserve better.