Committed to engagement

I am writing to express my support for four candidates in the upcoming District 41 school board election, Abigail Emerson, Adam Collins, Millie Sessions and Jodee Dunham, the Middle 4 candidates on the ballot.

After meeting with all eight candidates, I believe the Middle 4 will provide the most student-focused school board. Each brings their own perspectives and diverse thoughts to the board.

As a parent of children in the district, I feel it is imperative in the current environment to have open-minded, proactive parents of D41 students on the board so they can see direct effects of their decisions.

The current school board, including two incumbents, approved a schedule where one-third of the grades (third through fifth grades) in D41 never have math and literacy on the same day (while they do have Spanish and PE every day). This is a gross oversight in the education of our children. The incumbents and other two aligned candidates chose to approve of this lackluster approach. We cannot allow decisions like a partial curriculum to be not only approved but applauded.

Additionally, the Middle 4 have used all of their limited resources to try to attain feedback by putting out a community survey. A cornerstone of the Middle 4 platform is community engagement and I am impressed that, even before elected, they are doing all they can to gauge the community. By contrast, the current board has not once engaged with parents through surveys during this entire school year. A year in which many experimental procedures were put in place, such as only 2.5 hours of in person school and math and literacy on alternating days.

In conclusion, I believe the Middle 4 is the only way for the community to regain a voice in District 41. Our children deserve their support.

Jackie Adams

Glen Ellyn