Birkett, Thomas, Kelly for Community Unit District 300

Voters in Algonquin-based Community Unit District 300 have a good problem to face when they cast their ballots this spring — twice as many qualified candidates as open seats on the board of education.

Six candidates are seeking the three open seats on the school board in the April 1 election: incumbents Christine Birkett and Emmanuel Thomas; and newcomers Aaron Kelly, Alisa “Lisa” Lindmark, Patrick Malia Jr. and Gianena Winkler.

Each can make a compelling argument for election, and each has convinced us they have the knowledge, attitude and communication skills we expect from our elected officials.

When faced with such a choice, we ultimately lean on experience, and those who have proven they are, or are mostly likely, up to the task.

Birkett, a West Dundee resident who works for an educational publisher, first was elected to the board in 2021, and has since dove headfirst into the work. She serves as the board’s secretary and leads its operations committee, where she’s helped boost transparency by livestreaming its meetings.

While she, like her fellow candidates, generally opposes students having access to cellphones in the classroom, we appreciate her nuanced approach, noting that phones can feel like a security blanket for students and their voices should be included in the discussion.

Thomas, who was appointed to the board in 2020 and won election the next year, has an impressive background that includes more than three decades of public service.

We like his approach to curriculum that emphasizes that every student learns differently and has different needs. And we agree with him that there’s a benefit for students in a school system as diverse as District 300 to see a person of color among its elected leaders.

Among the non-incumbents, Kelly stands out as the most ready to step right in and serve effectively. He has experience as an elected official — he’s been a Hampshire village trustee and Hampshire Park District trustee — and can easily rattle off facts and figures about the district’s finances, test scores and more.

We also appreciate that while he emphasizes the importance of fiscal discipline, he advocates for the district to enhance its support for teachers and school staff who, he rightly notes, should not have to fundraise to acquire classroom essentials.

We endorse Birkett, Thomas and Kelly.