For Kaneland Dist. 302: Witt, Oberweis, Rivas, Valente

Kaneland Unit District 302’s teachers contract required mediation and has since been renegotiated to help stave off cuts. With that history, the four school board members elected in April will be called on to help negotiate the next pact. Incumbent Teresa Witt couples nearly a decade of volunteering in the district with nearly two years on the board, giving her a command of Kaneland history, an understanding of residents and a reasoned approach to board issues. Challenger Joe Oberweis is well-versed in details of the district, confident in decision-making and eager to expand negotiations beyond traditional contract issues to add value for sides. While Witt and Oberweis are endorsed, we offer cautious support for challengers Pedro Rivas and Tony Valente. Valente, a former Kaneland High School principal, pledges to use his education experience to shape his board work. We urge him not to micromanage. Rivas and Gale Pavlak have family employed by the district. If both were elected, a majority of board members would have such family ties, which could be concerning for taxpayers. Rivas says he would recuse himself from votes affecting his family; Pavlak would not. Incumbent Deborah Grant, a teacher in another district, did not participate in our endorsement process or complete a candidate questionnaire that could help voters better understand her candidacy. Challenger Patrick Denlinger is also running.