Endorsements: Gonzalez, Lathan, Saperston, Renz for West Aurora District 129 board

Eight candidates are running for four seats on the West Aurora School District 129 board of education.

Incumbents Robert Gonzalez, Ira Lathan and Melody Saperston will be challenged by Joe Grisson, Daniel Renz, Thomas St. Jules, James Buzzard and James Leslie on the April 2 ballot. Twenty-year board member Allyson Herget is not running for re-election.

The school board has dealt with a variety of issues in recent years and the district teachers' contract expires later this year. Mobile classrooms have been eliminated while new facilities have opened. Dealing with unpredictable state funding, the group increased the amount held in reserve with a plan to improve on that total.

Gonzalez, Lathan and Saperston have kept the district on budget and avoided a property tax increase. When forced to make financial cuts, the board did so judiciously. Board President Gonzalez, seeking a third term, and board members Lathan, completing his first full term, and Saperston, who was appointed last year, should continue on the board.

The challengers make up a strong group. Buzzard is a retired Aurora resident, Aurora Housing Authority Chairman Grisson has worked with a variety of groups in Kane County and the Fox Valley, St. Jules is an attorney who attended West Aurora High School and Leslie is a firefighter paramedic who lives in Aurora.

Any of the challengers would make a fine board member, but North Aurora resident and Batavia High School teacher Renz would be the best fit at this time. Renz, who has two children in the West Aurora schools, gained experience with school finances working with his district. He will bring a different perspective to negotiations for a new teachers' contact this year. And he will complement the different personalities on the board.

We endorse Gonzalez, Lathan, Saperston and Renz for West Aurora District 129 board.