District 15 school board candidates say what drives them to run for election

Palatine Township District 15 candidates weighed in on their priorities in an endorsement interview with the Daily Herald editorial board.

Newcomer Eric Bachmann and incumbents Frank J. Annerino, Lisa Beth Szczupaj, James J. Taylor and Anthony Wang are running for four, 4-year spots on the school board in the April 1 consolidated election.

Several candidates referenced Moving 15 Forward, a major improvement program that included modernizing schools, shifting from junior highs to middle schools, and offering full-day kindergarten.

Board Vice President Annerino, a mechanical engineer, is running for his third term. The district accomplished much under Moving 15 Forward and now “I’d like to focus on improving academic achievement,” the Palatine resident said.

“The kids really had a hard time with COVID-19 and they’re still recovering from that, and we need to adopt to new technologies that are being introduced, like artificial intelligence.”

Bachmann of Palatine said District 15 excelled at serving the varied academic abilities of his five children and “the No. 1 reason I’m running is to give all kids that kind of opportunity.”

The retired Park Ridge school band director plays in the Palatine Concert Band, and has been active in Scouts. “I’m really excited about the opportunity and hopefully being able to serve,” he said.

Board President Szczupaj of Palatine was first elected in 2017. The new board “laid the foundation to create a highly functional board of education that we all benefit from,” she said.

“We knew we had some issues at that time we needed to rectify.” With Move 15 Forward, “I believe that we have done an incredible amount of projects … and really made a big difference,” said Szczupaj, a manager at a construction chemicals company.

Occupational therapist Taylor was elected in 2021 and worked on the Move 15 Forward referendum. “We came under budget and on time. A lot of what we want to get going is just getting started. I want to be part of making that happen,” said the unincorporated Arlington Heights resident.

As a father of three, including an advanced learner and a special-needs child, “I felt I had a unique perspective to bring to the board.”

Wang, who was elected in 2017, is a head of a Montessori school and has two children attending the district. He was not able to attend the editorial board session because of jury duty.

“While the eight years on the board has felt productive and successful, I believe there is more work to be done. I want to see District 15 become a destination district in our state for families and staff alike,” Wang said in a questionnaire.

For voting information, go to cookcountyclerkil.gov/elections.