Leane undecided about fourth term on Dist. 57 board

Joseph Leane, a longtime school board member in Mount Prospect Elementary District 57, said he's unsure whether he will run for another term in April.

Leane, finishing off his third term on the board, had not planned to run again. But the number of seats that will be up in the spring - five seats out of seven - have nudged him into "undecided" category.

"If it looks like we might not get enough people to fill those, I might take one of them," he said Thursday.

Three of the five seats that will be up in April carry 4-year terms. The other two are for two years each. Both of the 2-year seats were filled by appointment - one of them because no candidate ran for the seat in 2013, and the other because former board member Sann Knipple resigned in January.

Leane said if he does decide to run, it will probably be for a 2-year spot.

Leane was first elected to the board in 2003. He said that after nearly 12 years, he still finds the job rewarding.

"It's a challenging job, but it's a great way to give back to the community," he said.

During his tenure, the district reopened Westbrook School as a school for younger students and pulled itself through difficult financial conditions that necessitated a round of teacher layoffs.

"The district is in a very good position now, which I'm proud of," he said. "We're stable financially. We have a solid management team in place. And of course we have great teachers and high-achieving students."

Another incumbent, John Krupa, said he will definitely not run in April. Krupa was appointed to the board in 2013.

"My personal and professional situation has changed significantly since I was appointed," Krupa said in an email. "In 2015, I fear that I will not have the time available to do the job justice."

Krupa added that he hopes to return to the school board in the future, should he have the time.

The other incumbents - Jennifer Kobus, Joe Sonnefeldt and Dennis Composto ­- have indicated they will run again. Filing for all local offices will be held Dec. 15-22, and the Consolidated Election will be held on April 7.