Letter: PAC seeks to force its agenda on school district

Barrington voters, it's time to do our homework. We are facing a slate of candidates organized and financed by a far-rightwing PAC that seeks to force an extremist agenda on our school district. If the Barrington Action PAC elects just two candidates supported by the PAC on April 4, they will control the CUSD 220 board and execute their backers' goals for severe budget cuts, book bans and a culture war on curriculum.

Your vote for independent candidates Barry Altschuler, Leah Collister-Lazzari and Diana Clopton will help preserve our excellent schools and keep them places where all students are welcome.

The Action PAC candidates, Leonard Munson, Katey Baldassano and Matt Sheriff stealthily hide behind vague rhetoric about collaboration, fiscal efficiency and listening to parents. In reality, they are supported by extremist groups, including Moms for Liberty, a group nationally known for advocating book bans, classroom censorship and bans on teaching about slavery, race, racism and LGBTQ people and history.

The radical New York-based 1776 PAC also endorsed them. On Facebook, the candidates welcomed endorsement by the Parents' Rights in Education PAC, whose website offers tool kits for banning books and lists the recent Charlie Kirk appearance under its events.

If elected, this is who they would serve.

Why won't they say this in their campaign materials? Because they know Barrington is not an extremist community. But if enough of us don't look beyond their facade, extremism is exactly what we are going to get.

Our village has a stellar school system, with involved parents, excellent test scores, 26 years of balanced budgets, a AAA bond rating and teachers and staff who care about all children. Please vote for Altschuler, Collister-Lazzari and Clopton to fight to keep it that way.

Robin Ross-Henning

Barrington