District 220 hopefuls tout their credentials

Five candidates are competing for three open seats on the Barrington Area Unit District 220 board, but just one of them - Angela Wilcox - has any experience on the panel.

Newcomers Leah Collister-Lazzari, Mathew Gray, Eva Cole and Barry Altshuler are joining Wilcox on the ballot seeking 4-year terms in April 2 election.

Veteran board members Brian Battle and Joseph Ruffolo are not seeking re-election.

All five candidates participated in a group interview with the Daily Herald. As part of the discussion, the candidates were asked to give a "pitch" on why they should be on the school board.

Wilcox, 44, an intellectual property attorney who is president of her own firm, said she has a track record for being fiscally responsible since she was elected to the board in 2015. She said she's been focused on maintaining and growing an educational environment that allows students to thrive academically, socially and emotionally.

"I have voted many times on matters that directly influenced my family in a negative way," she said. "And I think part of being a board member is being able to set your own feelings and thoughts and emotions aside and listen to facts, listen to research, listen to administrators and their educated discussions. And then also listen to the community at large."

Altshuler, a 61-year-old pediatrician, said he'd add a "kid-first" perspective on the board. He said he's followed issues and has experienced District 220 through his children attending its schools.

"I don't want to shy away from the fact that running a (medical) practice, I have experience in business balancing budgets, hiring and making sure I have a successful business," Altshuler said. "But I'm emphasizing more the let's take care of the kids and the stresses that they're under and making sure that they feel safe."

Collister-Lazzari, 53, is an attorney who also is a real estate broker and family-business owner. She said there will be much work to be done if voters approve the district's $185 million borrowing request in April and that she would be valuable in that area if elected to the school board.

"And with my real estate background, I think I can add those skills and help with the board," Collister-Lazzari said.

Cole, 56, a senior financial analyst, said she brings her knowledge from running large corporate budgets to the school board, along with her personal experience with District 220.

"I am also an alum of Barrington High School, so I've been in the district for 56 years," Cole said. "I've gone through raising my children in the school district. And, also, my son's got ADD and ADHD. And with that, he's run the gamut of help needs and school support. And so for me, looking at that social and emotional component is important."

Gray, 41, said his experience of owning his own business would be a benefit in areas such as managing and being a good steward of the community's financial resources. He added that he believes in incremental change.

"I have no problem working together as a team for the benefit of all the stakeholders," Gray said.