9 apply for vacant seat on Glen Ellyn District 89 board

The Glen Ellyn Elementary District 89 school board has its pick of nine candidates to fill a two-year, vacant seat left open by the resignation of board President Frank Zak.

Under a deadline set by Illinois School Code, the board has to make the appointment by Monday, Sept. 14, or 45 days from Zak's resignation. The Glen Ellyn father of two stepped down after a decade on the board because of personal and professional reasons.

But the six remaining board members likely will announce their choice even sooner and swear-in Zak's successor at a special meeting Saturday, Sept. 12, Superintendent John Perdue said Tuesday.

The nine candidates are: John Casey of Glen Ellyn; Nicholas Economos of Wheaton; Sam Jaber of Lombard; Andrew Keil of an unincorporated area near Glen Ellyn; Haydee Núñez of Wheaton; Kenneth Park of an unincorporated area near Glen Ellyn; Wendy Pawelski of Wheaton; Satya Sridhar of Glen Ellyn; and Amy Wenz of an unincorporated area near Glen Ellyn.

After receiving letters and completed forms from the nine (some sent resumes), the board will begin interviews in two closed-door meetings Friday, Sept. 4, and Tuesday, Sept. 8.

Whoever steps into the spot will serve the remainder of Zak's term until the April 2017 election. Zak's successor also will have to smoothly transition into finance talks in a district that hasn't had a voter-approved tax-rate increase in almost three decades.

For years, the district has considered asking voters for a rate increase to finance operation costs. Perdue said the district continues to face escalating health care, energy and supply expenses. The district is projected to spend about $16.3 million on employee salaries alone for the 2015-16 school year.

The board may take a closer look at seeking a tax-rate increase on the ballot with uncertainties around the state's budget impasse. If lawmakers freeze what agencies can charge in property taxes for two years, the district would lose an estimated $300,000 to $400,000 annually, Perdue said.

The new board member also will likely take stock of full-day kindergarten and a school day that's 30 minutes longer in the district's four elementary schools. Both debuted this school year.

First elected in 2005, Zak resigned Aug. 1. The board's selection must be at least 18, a U.S. citizen, a registered voter and a resident of both the state and the district for at least a year.