Endorsements: McCormick, Breugelmans and Saxton for Geneva School District 304

A single incumbent is among nine candidates vying for three open seats on the Geneva Community District 304 board of education.

Two-term board member Michael McCormick joins Jessica Breugelmans, Jill Johnson, Katherine Frye, Alicia Saxton, Robert Cabeen, Kim Edwards, Al Gaston and Prerak Patel on the April 2 ballot. Board Vice President Kelly Nowak and board member Mary Stith are not running.

Geneva teachers went on strike late last year. Nearly 6,000 students missed five days of school before the district and the Geneva Education Association reached an agreement. Some of the challengers cited the board's handling of the situation as a reason for getting involved.

McCormick, who was part of the negotiations, has referred to the strike as a dark time for the district. The tax attorney has been instrumental in guiding the district through refinancing of the bond debt. His group has worked through the budget to keep increased costs away from the taxpayers. He deserves to continue that work.

The challengers make up a strong group.

Air Force veteran Cabeen and former teacher Frye are campaigning on bringing trust back to the board after negotiations with teachers left the two sides divided.

Johnson, who went through the Geneva school system and has a child in District 304, says she is concerned with making sure officials manage the debt.

Former teacher Edwards is focused on improving communication between the board and the Geneva Education Association.

Gaston, who manages a local restaurant, interacts with the community. And Patel, a computer engineer, wants to focus on online safety for students.

But Breugelmans and Saxton stand out from the crowd.

Breugelmans, a tutor and education coordinator for the Chicago Steel Hockey Team, is a product of Geneva schools and has children in the system. She says she is satisfied with the preparation the students receive but has an eye on areas that could improve. She has an interest in keeping the schools on track by learning from other successful districts.

Former teacher Saxton says lack of communication is what led to the teacher's strike. She feels she can bring the teacher's perspective to the board. Her experience in the classroom and knowledge of the district's history can benefit the relationship between the two sides as both move forward.

We endorse McCormick, Breugelmans and Saxton.