Endorsements: Edmier, Manzo,Taylor for DuPage High School Dist. 88 board

Seven candidates are on the April 6 ballot to fill three open seats on the DuPage High School District 88 School Board. Incumbent Bianca Jessen is joined by challengers Christine Poirier, Andrew Edmier, Al Manzo, Diana Stout, Jean Taylor and Tina Haralambopoulos.

The district, made up of Addison Trail High School and Willowbrook High School, will seat a school board tasked with placing a new superintendent following the death of Scott Helton in December. District 88 Assistant Superintendent Jean Barbanente was named interim superintendent.

Poirier, a longtime resident of the district, has a child attending Willowbrook and another who graduated from the high school. She works as a director of global benefits and has experience in corporate finance and human resources. She supports sports and arts programs in the schools.

Edmier and Manzo, both graduates of Addison Trail, have somewhat formed a partnership and are supporting each other's campaigns. Edmier, whose father Thomas is retiring from the District 88 School Board, said he and Manzo are running to ensure Addison is represented. He works as a political consultant and served on a citizens advisory committee and said he has an idea of how districts receive funding from the state.

He said the district needs to invest and work the budget to be ready for any financial shortfalls down the road.

Manzo said he remembers Helton as the principal when he was in school and knows what the district is looking for in a new superintendent. He feels it's important to keep the community involved. Manzo is a restaurant owner who said he deals with a new problem every day, which has made him able to adapt to changes. Having a family member with special needs has made him aware of problems with those programs in the schools. He said he would work to expand and redirect those programs.

Edmier and Manzo are strong individual candidates and work well together as a team. They should be elected.

Taylor, an alumna of District 88, is a first-time candidate. As a District 88 mother, she has been involved with the schools and has served as chair for community organizations. She said it's important to help the community and keep the schools at a high level. She said in a diverse community, it's important to teach students to respect each other. Taylor would be a fresh voice on the school board. She should be elected.

Jessen, Stout and Haralambopoulos did not respond to requests to discuss their campaigns making it impossible to endorse them. We endorse Edmier, Manzo and Taylor.