District 300 unions back teacher, board veterans

The teachers unions in Community Unit District 300 are backing one of their own for this year's school board election, as well as two candidates who already have served on the board.

The unions, which represent more than 1,300 teachers, teacher's aides, secretaries and custodians in the district, announced Monday their endorsement of Dave Alessio, Anne Miller and Dorota Jordan.

"We select people who we think are going to protect the district, the programs, as well as being fiscally responsible," said Kolleen Hanetho, president of LEAD 300, District 300's teachers union. "Anne and David have both been on the board. Their records there were part of our consideration."

The unions did not endorse the only other incumbent seeking re-election, Karen Roeckner. Instead, they decided to back a newcomer, Pingree Grove mother Dorota Jordan, a former teacher at the Cambridge Lakes Charter School and current substitute teacher.

"We've never had a candidate from Pingree Grove," Hanetho said. "We wanted to have a board that was representative of the district as a whole."

The candidates said they welcomed the endorsement.

"I'm proud to have the endorsement from the unions," Alessio said. "They know I would be fair in negotiations. I don't have any overriding agenda. I have the interests of the whole district in mind."

Miller also thanked the union but asserted the endorsement would not compromise her independence.

"I have always tried to have a good relationship with all our employees," Miller said, adding: "I don't want people to think that because I'm being endorsed by the union my votes will always be pro-union. My votes have always been independent."

Board candidate Tracey Perez, who was not endorsed, said the unions' endorsements made sense and that they would not hurt her campaign.

"I understand they chose two people that have board experience. That was prudent," Perez said. "They chose (Dorota) Jordan because she's a teacher."

Jordan said she did not think the unions' decision to back her was solely based on the fact that she is a teacher.

"I think that the union is a lot smarter than to just pick someone because they're a teacher," Jordan said. "I think they took the time to talk to the candidates and made their decision based on what they believed would be good for the students and the teachers of the district."

District 300's contract with its teachers union expires at the end of the 2009-10 school year.

The district's three unions are holding a forum for the school board candidates at 7 p.m. today at Jacobs High School.