Letter: Keep excellence in school district

With early voting under way in the D211 school board election and Election Day Tuesday, April 4, we need to acknowledge the importance of this race.

D211 has been recognized as a school district that puts students first, provides outstanding education and extracurricular activities across seven high schools throughout the Schaumburg, Hoffman Estates, Hanover Park, Inverness and Palatine communities. Schools are the cornerstone of any community. As former members of the D211 Board of education, we felt compelled to share that if you are looking for your schools to continue to be excellent, inclusive, opportunity driven and future forward, please vote. Do not let all of the divisive behavior distract you from the goals of a community you are proud to live in.

These four open seats on the D211 Board of Education represent the majority and can control the vote of every decision put forward. Being former board members, we know how a school board functions and what makes a strong team. We recognize candidates that can be objective, listen to the community, not only members that align with their personal beliefs, conduct themselves in a professional manner, put the needs of students first and truly care about the community we live in.

We support two current board members, Kimberly Cavill and Steven Rosenblum for reelection. They have demonstrated the skills needed to continue steering this district in the right direction. In addition to these two, Jane Russell and Michelle Barron would be excellent additions to this board.

Jane Russell has worked on both sides of the fence as a teacher as well as an administrator. Ms. Russell's knowledge and experience would lend a perspective that is not currently present.

Michelle Barron is a graduate from Hoffman Estates High School. Not only being an alumnus of D211 school, Ms. Barron works for the Kenneth Young Foundation which caters to the mental health of our young people in our community. Ms. Barron's voice within the mental health realm would truly support the student's voice that has been shared over the years for this need.

Our community deserves a strong board of education that is willing to work in a collaborative manner that puts students and community first. Please vote and keep our students in the forefront of this election.

Ed Yung, Inverness

Mucia Gonzalez, Palatine