Endorsements: Cerniglia, Filipek, Nierman for District 25 school board

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

The race for the Arlington Heights Elementary District 25 school board is worlds away from the contentious election battle two years ago and the heated disagreements over in-person vs. remote learning during the pandemic. Two incumbents and three newcomers are vying for seats on April 4, but they largely agree on the issues and even on the qualifications of their rivals. More than one voiced our own opinion: Voters have five strong candidates on the ballot.

All five are thoughtful, passionate about education and well-informed on the challenges ahead. Those include embarking on the largest construction program in the district's history to implement full-day kindergarten and other changes, even though the ballot question to fund the work passed by a narrow margin. The board will also be searching for a new superintendent.

It's an important time. And the experience and expertise that incumbents Brian Cerniglia, a marketing manager, and Scott Filipek, a police officer, offer to the board will be invaluable. They both deserve another term.

Still, we are impressed by all three of the challengers: Maria Zeller-Brauer, a nonprofit management consultant; Elizabeth “Liz” Nierman, a District 25 alum and former high school teacher; and Kevin Michael, an elementary school instructional technology coach. Any one of them would be an asset to the board, but we lean toward Nierman, an involved PTO leader with a background in education who served as a community representative on the district's strategic plan team.

Cerniglia, Filipek and Nierman have our endorsement.