Endorsements: Lange, Frangidakis, Finizio, Bollig for Addison Dist. 4 school board

DuPage County voters will choose from a field of eight candidates to fill four 4-year seats on the Addison District 4 school board.

On the April 6 ballot are incumbents Jeremiah Lange, Rudy Aranda and Zack Frangidakis, along with Taso Triantafillos, who previously served on the District 4 school board, and challengers Eduardo Castillo Perez, Daniel Alexander Medina, Ellen M. Finizio and Christen Bollig.

Lange, who has been on the board since 2013, said he continues to learn as a board member. As part of the Buildings & Grounds Committee, he was involved in the building of the Addison Early Learning Center and the implementation of secure vestibules in district schools. Having a child in a district school marks four generations of his family involved with District 4.

Aranda was involved with the PTA before he became a board member in 2016. He serves on the Budget, Intergovernmental and Policy committees. Aranda, a graduate of District 4, has two children who attend district schools.

Frangidakis, who also has children in District 4 schools, is seeking his second term. He has worked in school administration and said that as a board member, he has worked to get the community involved. Looking forward, he wants to make sure students' social and emotional, along with educational, needs are met.

Triantafillos served a term on the board that ended in 2017. He has two children in district schools. He said the pandemic has exposed some of the problems with virtual learning and he hopes to use his knowledge of technology to further the use of tech in schools.

Castillo Perez is on the ballot for the first time. He has children in the district and, as a law enforcement officer, he has done work in the community. He said the district should emphasize multi-language communication to break down barriers that exist in the district.

Medina, a licensed paramedic and inspector with the Addison Fire Department, said he could bring his knowledge of safety to the district. With children in district schools, he feels he can improve the communication between parents and the school board.

First-time candidate Finizio is a graduate of District 4 with a third-grader in a district school. She works as a warehouse specialist and said she would strive to improve transparency and communication to ensure that every parent has a voice in the district.

Bollig, running for the first time, has children in the district. She works as a business executive and serves on the board of directors for a nonprofit. She said Addison is a diverse community and she would work to provide a society of inclusion.

This is a group of strong candidates and each is concerned with the safety of students and a good relationship with the school community. Lange and Frangidakis should be reelected to continue the work they have done for the district. Finizio and Bollig should be elected to work toward better communication and inclusion.

We endorse Lange, Frangidakis, Finizio and Bollig.