In Kaneland, change is a bad idea

In Kaneland, change is a bad idea

I endorse these candidates for the Kaneland School Board election April 7: Tony Valente, Peter Lopatin, Gale Pavlak and Teresa Witt. I urge you to vote for these candidates because sometimes change is a bad idea.

At the candidate forum, we asked whether the board was "dysfunctional" and most candidates agreed, regardless of any spin, that something was dysfunctional about the board. The idea that grown adults act out in a public body when their charge is to do what is best for the students, teachers, administrators and taxpayers of this district, should anger all of us.

Ms. Witt, during the forum, added when board members "lose our cool, we don't get the work done." She said the public doesn't get to see board members at their best, which she said was in closed session, when reporters are not there. "We are not always dysfunctional," she said.

I think it is sad for any board member to admit that their best work is not visible to the public. Why would that be? Is the dysfunction all for show? Is it not real? Then stop it. Pretend you are always in closed session. Pretend the audience is loaded with your children, your families, your parents, and do what you are supposed to do. Debate the issues? Sure. Disagree? OK. Be mature and disagree like adults.

Give me reasonable, practical, and cost effective solutions to the many problems facing this district. What do you want your legacy to be? Considering this "dysfunction" makes it hard to endorse this board; however, sometimes change is a bad idea. Immediately after the forum, I clearly knew who had earned my vote. The challengers, although well-intentioned, are certainly not ready to sit on a school board.

Patrick J. Crimmins

Elburn