Thirteen candidates vie for Lincoln-Way education board | Courtesy of Shutterstock
Thirteen candidates vie for Lincoln-Way education board | Courtesy of Shutterstock
The Will County consolidated election on April 4 will see 13 candidates vying for seats on the embattled Lincoln-Way Community High School District No. 210 Board of Education.
The school district is facing numerous fiscal and legal challenges. It is on the Illinois financial watch list. The state took note of the district's financial picture in spring 2015. The district built two new schools and renovated older buildings after pushing through a $225 million referendum in 2006.
One of the new schools, Lincoln-Way North, opened in 2008 and was closed at the end of the 2015-2016 school year amid public criticism.
Probes by the FBI and the Securities and Exchange Commission are ongoing.
Five of the board candidates have banded together as the "Citizens for 210" slate. They are running on a platform of student success, district transparency and accountability. Among their goals are implementing a system of checks and balances to prevent further financial abuse of district funds and hiring an independent accounting firm to conduct a forensic audit of the district budget.
The Citizens for 210 slate did not participate in the recent forum organized by Lincoln-Way Area Taxpayers Unite. The second forum will be held at 7 p.m. on March 8 at Lincoln-Way Central. It is hosted by the Lincoln-Way Education Association. The public is invited to attend, and questions may be submitted in advance to lwea210@gmail.com.
Two unexpired two-year terms are on the ballot. Beth Janus-Doyle, Joseph Kirkeeng, Robert Ripp and two Citizens for 210 candidates -- Lee Talley and Karen Town -- are running for those positions.
Candidates running for the three four-year terms are Aaron Janik, Chris Kosel, Joseph Kosteck, Christopher Lucchetti, Dee Molinare and the Citizens for 210 slate -- Catherine Vasilakis Pleasant, Gus Yiakos and Ben Yomtoob.
Alerts Sign-up