Endorsements: Gentry, Maiorino, Policheri and Buchs for Huntley District 158 school board

This endorsement is a consensus opinion of the Daily Herald Editorial Board.

Bullying, and how the school district addresses it, a tax levy increase and falling test scores are issues facing candidates for two- and four-year terms on the Huntley District 158 school board.

The three candidates running for one two-year seat on the board are incumbent Kevin Gentry and challengers Andrew Fekete and Michael Thompson.

The nine candidates running for three four-year seats on the board are incumbents William Geheren Jonathan Dailey and Melissa Maiorino along with challengers Katherine Policheri, Stephen Buchs, Laura Murray, Andrew Bittman, Gina Galligar and Paula Yensen.

When the board voted for a tax levy increase, all but one incumbent voted for it, Melissa Maiorino voted no. Challengers say the board needs to curb spending in every possible place before raising taxes.

Bullying and other social issues are also complex problems facing the board.

One challenger, Kate Policheri says the schools need to be proactive about bullying and that bullying issues should never get to the school board. Andrew Bittman, another challenger says the current board does not follow up on issues brought to it.

Michael Thompson thinks the district needs to take stricter disciplinary action against those bullying their fellow students.

All candidates agree test scores have fallen to unacceptable levels since the COVID pandemic, but they don't all agree on how to address it.

With several complex issues on the table for the new school board,

Huntley District 158 is very fortunate to have 12 very capable and passionate people in the race for four seats.

In the two-year race, our selection is incumbent Kevin Gentry.

In the four-year race, we prefer incumbent Melissa Maiorino and challengers Katherine Policheri and Stephen Buchs.