Endorsements: Neault, Ben-Yoseph, Cao and Tyer for Stevenson school board

This endorsement is a consensus opinion of the Daily Herald Editorial Board.

As he seeks to break onto the Stevenson High School District 125 school board, candidate Nathan Libbey expresses an understandable frustration.

He notes that all four incumbents seeking election in April - more than half the current seven-member board - ascended to their positions through appointment. Only one of them has previously stood for election, and he complains that the advantage of incumbency gives them all a leg up at election time.

It's a concern that has been raised in previous campaigns for the District 125 board, which seems to have an unusual tendency for board members to resign in the middle of a term.

The confounding issue in determining whether to vote for such incumbents, however, is that their board experience is indeed valuable, especially for strong, productive members who are just starting to hit their stride. And that's where we find ourselves as we evaluate the six candidates seeking four open positions on the Stevenson board.

Amy Neault, a former college admissions officer appointed in 2018, was elected to a full term the following year and clearly has detailed understanding of the factors that have made Stevenson one of the most successful school systems, financially as well as academically, in the state.

Roni S. Ben-Yoseph, appointed last June, has a broad range of education experience, including at Lake Forest College, and has worked on a variety of initiatives in other districts that add to her impressive grasp of the issues facing a school board member generally and the Stevenson board specifically.

Shu (Grace) Cao and Donald Tyer also were appointed in 2022, and both bring compelling backgrounds to the board. Cao has a long history of volunteer experience with Stevenson and other school districts. More than two decades of professional experience in finance and data processing strengthen her resume, and as an Asian American in an increasingly diverse district, she offers a cultural perspective that is particularly valuable. Tyer, currently working as a prosecuting attorney, has prior professional teaching experience and has served as a consultant to school districts in the U.S. and abroad.

Voters who may share Libbey's concerns about appointment will find good alternatives in both newcomers to this race, Libbey especially. With a doctorate in public policy, he has studied public health issues in schools, works as an adjunct professor at Aurora University and is completing a term as an elected board member in Aptakisic-Tripp School District 102. Aaron Glenn is owner of his own residential remodeling company who understands and appreciates the qualities that make Stevenson successful but also worries that board members aren't representing all stakeholders in the district as well as they could.

It is an impressive field, and we can understand why a service-oriented parent might feel frustrated by the challenge of breaking out of such a group to serve on the board. But, we also cannot discount the varied advantages that the incumbents bring to this race, and we would point out that there are numerous additional ways to serve on District 125 committees and initiatives. With all that in mind, we confidently endorse Neault, Ben-Yoseph, Cao and Tyer.