Letter: All will benefit

In Community Unit School District 200 Wheaton-Warrenville, it's school board election time again, and we are fortunate to have five well-qualified candidates who stepped up to run for these four positions. They have track records of successful service in the school district and community, especially Anjali Bharadwa.

A vote for Anjali is a vote for independent advocacy, academic excellence and a DEI lens that is based in research, leadership and lived experience, with an eye for integration belonging in our schools, not just on a project basis.

As the founder and leader of DEI200, Anjali and the team engage with the community to give a voice to underrepresented members of our community, and as a candidate, she aims to bring that voice to the board. According to research, having just one member representing a minority population on a board increases investment in our minority students.

With nearly 40% minority enrollment in CUSD200, it's long past time to have visible representation on the board. Anjali is more than qualified to be considered the right person for the job.

She has also influenced policy change, has served on district committees and hosted a virtual series with the Wheaton Public Library on DEI topics among other ways she's given back to our community.

In contrast, there's a "Green Slate" who, despite the position being nonpartisan, have been endorsed by Illinois Republicans who consistently vote against the interest of students and teachers, especially those who are marginalized. They attend training with controversial groups who advocate for restrictions in education. They limit their interaction with members of the community and our teachers, often have declined to participate in forums that educate voters.

Say yes to all of our students. Say yes to our teachers and their expertise. Say yes to Anjali Bharadwa.

Maggie Romanovich

Wheaton