Hey Pleasant Dale Park District.....

Time to update your website!!

Good riddance to Katherine Parker and Joe Jura...  FINALLY!

Lots going on at the Pleasantdale Park District coming on the heels of the suspicious fire in the house on the Hess Property in Willow Springs.

They also got themselves in trouble with the Village of Burr Ridge by doing some construction without pulling permits and not according to code.

Not to mention the fiasco going on with their preschool program. Not only did they almost double the price, they let the long time director go, disposed of nearly everything in the classroom to buy all new, hired a relative of one of the commissioners to run the program, but they promised a new Jolly Phonics program to participants and are not delivering on this promise.

See what happens when no one is watching? Maybe we need to start attending those meetings again!

Speak the Truth!

Meg Pokorny"s Parting Words

We received some inquiries into Meg's speech to the board of education during her last board meeting at Pleasantdale. Since it was a trademark of just about everything that Meg wrote, we left the spelling, punctuation and grammar errors intact.

To:  Board of Education District 107 Pleasantdale

From:  Meg Pokorny -  Middle School Principal

I am addressing you tonight on the eve of my retirement out of expediency. I had hoped to be offered time for an exit interview with the Board, but since that was not requested,  I am taking this opportunity to share what I hope is a perspective that will be helpful to the district.

Exit interviews were something I did routinely as principal and the format I used was simple.  I asked the departing employee two questions.  What have you learned since you came here?  And, what problems do you see that if addressed would help us improve as a school?

I’ll start by answering the first question.  The short answer is that I learned a great many things about what it takes to be a good leader…to lead a school, or any organization.  There isn’t time to list every one , so I’ll focus on the three that standout most.  First, would be an idea I needed to keep in mind every day for past eleven years; “ You don’t know the whole story until you’ve heard it from both sides”.  If I hadn’t learned that, I would have regularly jumped to the wrong conclusion and ended up with “egg on my face” every day for the last eleven years. 

The second thing I’ve learned is that as the leader of the school, I set the tone.  If I filter out the negatives that aren’t serious and project a positive tone,  I create a more positive school.  By definition, the leader of any organization must be, publically and privately,  its biggest fan. 

And the third thing I’ve learned is that the often quoted advice, “trust but verify” is not permission to micro-manage.  I found I needed to remind myself that I don’t know and I can’t do everything .  Delegating is good for an organization.  It enhances trust and it increases motivation.

Now the second question:  What problems do I see that if addressed would help you improve as a District?   What I see is a newly formulated Board that isn’t clear what its job is and hasn’t learned and isn’t practicing the leadership qualities I just listed.  Some of you, instead of being this District’s greatest fans, encourage criticism of the district by the public on Face Book and/or a blog.  Instead of taking the time to hear both sides of a story, or to verify the accuracy of the information,  some of you make statements - in board meetings -  that if checked would be proven inaccurate.

Your most stunning lapse in judgment however, came with announcement of my retirement.  Mark, who clearly knows the most about the potential for loss when a school undergoes a transfer of leadership, recommended that our assistant principal, Joni Sherman, be appointed my replacement.  He knew that I had mentored her carefully and that with three years of experience here, she could ensure that the effect of my departure on students and on achievement would be minimal.  If the Board had considered his recommendation thoughtfully they would have seen that Joni’s one year contract would give them and the superintendent at least a semester’s time to decide whether, based on actual evidence, she was their choice to fill the position.  And if, based on this evidence,  they decided not to renew her contract for the following year,  a careful search could have been done in early spring, the most opportune time to attract viable candidates.

By exercising restraint, and good leadership, the Board could have ensured a seamless transition for Middle School staff, students and parents.  Because you as a Board rejected the superintendent’s recommendation and took the unprecedented step of taking on yourselves the direction of a principal search over the summer, you have also taken on that responsibility for results that will follow. 

This incident is one example of the trend toward micromanagement, or what could be described as “over reach”, that has characterized this newly elected Boards’ first two months in office.  The agenda of today’s Board meeting and the sheer size of the Board Packet supporting it is unprecedented.  Far from a sign that the Board is doing due diligence, it is a clear indication that this Board fails to recognize and accept its role as overseers and not implementers in the administration of this School District.  By delving into the day to day operations, such as teacher assignments and allocation of resources or  technology that are clearly the responsibility of the superintendent and principals, and by making unprecedented and time consuming requests for detailed information about these and other topics, the Board is making it harder for the staff who is responsible to do their jobs. 

Over the last ten years Pleasantdale has benefited from the accumulated wisdom and experience of a stable administrative team working with a highly effective Board in an atmosphere of mutual trust.   The results in terms of student achievement, financial security and staff and parent satisfaction have been the envy of many.  At this moment however, the District is at a crossroads. Whether or not this forward momentum continues depends upon the newly constituted Board understanding the responsibilities and the limitations of their role.  If the Board accepts its role as overseers and not implementers and acts accordingly, I can predict that the next ten years will see Pleasantdale students reaching new heights

 

I will end by stating that the decision to write and to read this letter tonight was entirely mine and that I am solely responsible for its contents.

Who's Next?

States are pulling out of the Common Core

An interesting read...

http://truthinamericaneducation.com/tag/parcc/

Gifts

It's the gift that keeps on giving...hallelujah!

Jen Hatmaker - Worst End of School Year Mom Ever

Jen Hatmaker - Worst End of School Year Mom Ever

OH HAPPY DAY!!!

All we can say is woohoo!

All Is Common-Core Aligned at Math Education Exhibit Hall, or Is It?

All Is Common-Core Aligned at Math Education Exhibit Hall, or Is It?

Parents May Opt Out of Testing

Parents May Opt Out of Testing

State test “puke” policy trumps parents refusal attempts.

APRIL 18, 2013 BY TIMOTHY D. SLEKAR 6 COMMENTS

http://atthechalkface.com/2013/04/18/state-test-puke-policy-trumps-parents-refusal-attempts/

After the first week of opt out or “refusals” across the country there have been some interesting stories emerging—one that is bit troubling. I won’t call it a trend but it is worth mentioning.

Principals and teachers are coercing children into taking state tests even after parents have made it clear that they do not want their children to take the tests.

Example: Last night I posted the following Facebook comment from @the chalkface’s Kris Nielsen.

Parents from all over the state are reporting more threats from school personnel, as children are told that if they refuse, their teachers will lose their jobs. First of all, that’s a lie. Second of all, it’s horribly unfair for anyone to try to place that type of stress and anxiety on any child.

This was followed up with:
Sue: I love educators, have the utmost respect and admiration for them. Most of them. I used to give all teachers the benefit of the doubt. Not after this.

Whether one thinks they are simply following the letter of the law or not, as a fellow human being and the adult charged with supporting the education and well-being of (often young) children, one ALWAYS has a choice. The teachers and staff “handling” my 8-year old child yesterday had a choice. They had my written refusal. They had no problem pushing this test on her through their smiles, in direct opposition of my express refusal, not request.

They pulled her to make up yesterday’s test as I had brought her to school after testing yesterday. She was seated at a conference table with two other kids testing and the ESE Specialist seated across from her…

She was given the test, and was told, “You can start the test now.” She held out for 5 minutes, in silence, as the ESE Specialist watched and smiled at her. Can you imagine how long that 5 minutes was for her? In her words, “She was watching me… so I took the test. I was mad when she gave me the test, and I was mad during the whole test.” Of course. She did exactly as they planned. She was disappointed in herself, until I told her that she did good, and did not let me down. I am FURIOUS! Should have seen it coming. She still does not want to test, and I won’t put her in that position again. So I’ll keep her home for the next 8 days of testing. Even after that, her innocent, but wise heart can still let her say, “I don’t think she wanted to make me take the test. I think the County makes her do it.”

What must it do to their psyche to force so young a child to do something they KNOW goes against the wishes of that child’s parents? What do they have to tell themselves to be able to look their own kids in the eye after that? I wonder how many consider how THEY might feel to have someone else force their own child to do something against their own wishes as a parent.

Maybe when I’m not so bitter and angry, I will think differently and can be more generous. Right now, I think their behavior was unconscionable, no matter what the Law says. Don’t we have enough examples in history where good people were doing horrible things, and they were simply following the Law? We have had many bad laws on the books. Not everyone followed them. There were many who were able to listen instead, to their conscience, and did the right thing, sometimes at great cost to themselves. Going along, not choosing, not looking, not seeing – are also choices.

I don’t make excuses for bad behavior anymore. Not anyone’s. They have poked the Momma Bear.

Riley: That is horrific! What test was she taking? Omg, I need to prep for this possibility.

Sue: We are in Florida, so we have the FCAT, or as my daughter wrote, “Florida’s Children Have Assessments that Torture them.” Lovely, isn’t it? See what I just posted on Mark Naison‘s page. Enough to make you vomit. Oh! Speaking of… We don’t have policy for opting out, but we do have actual policy for how to handle vomit on tests. Straight from our DOE.

Riley: We have a vomit policy in NJ, too. The state believes I should transcribe my student’s work from the vomit booklet in a clean booklet. Ummm, no.

How warped has this system of test and punish become? We have teachers and principals (probably being bullied from above) coercing students to take tests against the wishes of the students’ parents. And if the pressure on the student is just too much to take and they happen to puke on the test, we literally have “puke policies” on how to save the precious data.

Someone has to say it! How about civil disobedience through puking?

Follow Timothy D. Slekar on Twitter: www.twitter.com/slekar

Ladies Night Out!

Please support the Willow Springs Lioness Club this Thursday night! Details below or go to https://www.facebook.com/events/392474480830791/

A Parallel Truth

Thank You!!!

Congratulations to Kim Barker, Kristin Violante, Doug Gilman and Mark Mirabile....winners in the Pleasantdale School Board race!

Unofficial results are in

Kim 894
Kristen 877
Doug 783
Mark 729
Greg 704
Mike 589

It is very hard to beat an incumbent in numbers. Typically these races are decided by thirty or so votes. This speaks VOLUMES!

Congratulations to the biggest winners of all....our children, our teachers and our community! 

Another Endorsement for the Focus Cadidates!

Dear Friends,

I know some of you do not still have children in the district, however, a strong school system is the backbone of the future. Though progress has been made in several areas, many of the issues in District 107 remain the very much the same as when I was on the school board. Including

- Openness, two-way dialogue with the constituency and transparency
- Efficient use of data to inform instruction and curriculum changes in a timely manner
- Effectiveness of strategies to serve struggling students (identified or not)

Therefore, I am hoping you will find the time to vote tomorrow for Focus for the Future Candidates:

Kim Barker
Doug Gilman
Greg Sengpiel
Kristin Violante

Please do not hesitate to pass this email along to other concerned and interested voters within our District.

Sandra Hannan
Former Pleasantdale School Board Member

The reward of a job well done is to have done it...Ralph Waldo Emerson

K.I.S.S.

In keeping with our title, we'd like to point a few things out to some people that insist on sending loooooonnnnnngggg emails full of ridiculous verbiage.

The Kensington School is in ILLINOIS not VIRGINIA!! Doh! Nice job checking your sources.

A brief explanation of the rules for capitalizing words is linked below because it appears someone was absent the year it was taught.
The rules for using capital letters.

Everyone knows that plagiarizing is a no-no. Do you own research rather than stealing the hard work of others. Even our middle schoolers know that!

Finally, K.I.S.S., because in the words of Sweet Brown, "Ain't nobody got time for that!"

The Tories, every election, must have a bogy man. If you haven't got a programme, a bogy man will do. ~Aneurin Bevan

Endorsement for Pleasantdale D107 School Board

As a former elected District 107 School Board Member I feel confidant endorsing the following candidates: Kim Barker, Doug Gillman, Kristine Violante, and Greg Sengpiel for the District 107 School Board. After reviewing the focus4the future.com website, one can tell that they have spent a significant amount of time to understand where the district is today and where they would like to lead the district to. As a School Board member one must be willing to dedicate many hours to be prepared for their monthly meetings. Issues that appear simple on the surface are often complex and require rigorous review of detailed information in order to make critical decisions. Another key factor in my decision is the fact that this group can be cohesive in the direction they provide to the Superintendent. This is critically important, as in my opinion, past Boards have not been willing or able take control of the district and establish measurable objectives for the administration to achieve. Boards are not in place to simply rubber stamp the suggestions of the Superintendent. They have a duty to be stewards of the communities’ property (The School). They have the responsibility to insure the funds used to support this communal property are used appropriately and responsibly. Based on the higher level of spending per student of any of the surrounding LT feeder schools, our tax paying community should expect better. Its’ not necessarily wrong to spend more as long the value is greater. Pleasantdale District 107 can and should do better for our students. Please make time to vote. You may not have children in the district, but the children represent our future.

Respectfully,

Scot J. Orsic

D107 School Board Member 2005 - 2009

Focus 4 the Future Candidates Continue to Receive Endorsements

As I look back on the last four years, my departure from the Pleasantdale School Board is going to be, without a doubt, bittersweet. I will miss looking out for the best interests of not only the families and children of our district, but more importantly serving the taxpayers.

I am confident that the district will be in very capable hands with conscientious and dedicated people like Kim Barker, Doug Gilman, Greg Sengpiel and Kristin Violante ready and willing to fill the shoes of the outgoing board.

I have poured over their web site and realize that many of their concerns were my concerns... out of control spending, teacher turnover, excessive legal fees, lack of transparency, etc. I also attended the candidates' forum and left there greatly impressed with their knowledge, articulation and plans for the future of our school district.

So while I leave to focus on my future, please give them the opportunity to serve you while focusing on the future of our school district.

Please help continue the legacy I leave behind by supporting Kim, Doug, Greg and Kristin in the April 9th Pleasantdale School Board election.

Karen O'Halloran
Pleasantdale School District Board Member
Willow Springs


We would like to endorse Kim Barker, Doug Gilman, Greg Sengpiel and Kristin Violante.
We have been residents of Willow Springs since 2008. We moved to Willow Springs so our kids can go to the Pleasantdale schools. During last 4 years we attended several of the Pleasantdale School Board meetings, and we noticed that while our schools are still doing great there is definitely need for some improvements. We are confident Kim Barker, Doug Gilman, Greg Sengpiel and Kristin Violante will bring passion, energy, accountability, responsibility and their communication experience to the Pleasantdale School District.

Sincerely,
Beata Busza & Dariusz Ciucias
Willow Springs


I have known Kim Barker, who is the proud mother of two wonderful Pleasantdale boys, for the past six years. I have personally witnessed Kim’s commitment to the Pleasantdale school community, and her strong desire to positively impact the academic and social lives of all Pleasantdale children. She is a true professional and an effective communicator who understands the importance of providing kids all the resources and tools to be successful throughout their lives. Kim’s mission to further improve the “school experience” is nothing but genuine, and there’s no doubt her passion is real and heart is in the right place. I strongly support Kim Barker to become a member of the Pleasantdale School Board, and know that she will do an outstanding job.

Dave Dowd
Willow Springs


I can’t think of a better person to represent the interests of the entire community on the Pleasantdale School Board than Kim Barker.

Whenever there is a family in need Kim is quick to step in to organize whatever needs to be done. Some examples are orchestrating a recent meal drive, spearheading a sports equipment exchange, organizing a bake sale to raise money for a needy family or advancing a ribbon campaign to remind residents of a sick child. When crime was on the rise, she emailed all the neighbors to be mindful of their surroundings. She is not afraid to put herself out there or ask tough questions and does not go with the flow because it is the popular thing to do.

Kim spends many hours volunteering for school committees and sports teams. She rarely misses a school board meeting even though she isn’t on the school board. She is passionate about children and education.

Kim knows how important it is to be careful with tax dollars and mindful of wasteful spending since she too is a taxpayer in this community.

I think Kim Barker’s values represent what I would like to see in a school board member: kind, compassionate with good family values. I believe it takes a village to raise a child and she is the kind of person I am proud to have in my village. Kim and her running mates, Doug Gilman, Greg Sengpiel and Kristin Violante will make a strong addition to the board and will bring a clear focus for the future of District 107.

Jolene Carlson
Willow Springs

New Low

It is sad how low some people will stoop to get an endorsement for their candidates. Our eyes were really opened over the weekend. It goes to show your true character or lack thereof. Thanks JH!

Endorsements Galore!!

These are just a few of the many endorsements received by candidates for the Pleasantdale School Board.

We enthusastically support both Kim Barker and Kristin Violante for the Pleasantdale D107 school board.  My husband and I have been residents of Willow Springs for the past 4.5 years.  We have two young children, one who is currently in first grade at Pleasantdale Elementary, and one who will begin kindergarten in the fall.

We have known Kim Barker and her family since we moved to the area.  As a new family to District 107, Kim has gone out of her way to introduce us to other families in the area and make us feel part of the community.  She has made our transition into the District positive and enjoyable.  Kim's excitement for the school district and our community as a whole is both admirable and contagious. We admire her enthusiasm for the social and scholastic well-being for children of all ages.  We find her viewpoints and objectives very respectable, well-researched and accurate.  We fully support and respect Kim's principles for accountability, responsibility and transparancy on the school board.

We met Kristin Violante and her family a few years ago through school functions and community related activities.  Kristin's genuine dedication, passion and concern for our school district is inspiring.  Her desire to make our schools safer and promote fiscal accountability is something we support completely.  We feel that Kristin will bring a fresh prespective to the board, and she will work hard to set policies and promote/support programs that will make District 107 stronger for our children.

In closing, we couldn't pick two better occupants for the Pleasantdale School Board, District 107.

Sincerely,
Gary & Kristin Wojtulewicz

We have known Kim Barker since our boys started attending Pleasantdale Elementary School together six years ago. She and her family are deeply invested in and committed to this community. Kim has a passion for all the kids in our community; this passion manifests itself in her consistent attendance at school board meetings, as well as her pursuit of a greater depth of information (than our district regularly provides) to improve the school's services and standing. It manifests itself in her service as soccer coach and Little League board member.

I trust Kim's judgement because I see her willingness to serve. Pleasantdale School District 107 could benefit from Kim's service on the school board, as she can accurately assess and interpret information without losing sight of the big picture. I believe that Kim will follow through on her campaign's core commitments of accountability, responsibility, and transparency. I think that Kim is a rare individual who equally wants the best for all the kids in this district, not just her own. I believe she will speak for all taxpayers in the district, as well.

We endorse her candidacy for the Pleasantdale School Board, and hope that you will give her every consideration. Thank you,

Erik & Linda Thorell
Willow Springs

Kim Barker would serve the community well as a member of the school board for District 107. As an experienced professional in her field, a long time community volunteer and a parent of young teens Kim brings valuable quantitative skills, analytical abilities and valuable life experiences to the position. She is energetic, capable, and committed and will invest the time necessary to drill down, understand the issues and work through the data to arrive at the best possible decisions for both the children and the taxpayers of the district.

Rosaria Becker
Willow Springs

We have been residents of Willow Springs for over seventeen years. We have three children. Two have graduated from Pleasantdale Middle School and our youngest is in 5th grade at Pleasantdale Middle School.
We are writing this to offer our full support and endorsement for Kim Barker and Doug Gilman as school board members.

We believe that Doug and Kim have the right qualifications plus have a genuine concern for our school system. Both of these parents have childrent currently enrolled in our school system.
We believe these two parents would make a positive addition to the school board.

Best regards,
Jerry and Laura Heath
Willow Springs, IL

Kim Barker is not only the best candidate but the only candidate to fill one of the open spots on Pleasantdale School Board. We feel that she takes the time and effort to learn the issues that affect our children while attending Pleasantdale Elementary and Pleasantdale Middle School. I have known her to address and research many issues to make Pleasantdale a better school for all. She is a champion that has not only tried to make our community a better safer place for our children but a more educated one. I have seen her volunteer at our schools and at our park district year after year. Please do the best thing for our children and our community and place her on our school board. She will be an advocate for all of the family's in our school district. 

Sincerely,
The Kittle Family
Willow Springs

I endorse Kim Barker as a candidate for the Pleasantdale School Board. I moved into D107 10 years ago when my oldest (now 15) started kindergarten at Pleasantdale Elementary School. Although he now attends Lyons Township High School, I still have 3 other sons - 2 in Elementary School and 1 in Middle School. Kim Barker's passion for our schools and our children is unsurpassed. Her insight, her skills, her devotion and her outlook would be an incredible addition to our school district. With proud enthusiasm, I support her for this school board position.

Sincerely,
Renata Stankus
Burr Ridge

My relationship with Kim Barker started in 2006. Kim was my son's first soccer coach atPleasantdale Park District. My first impressions of Kim were just outstanding. She was dedicated, kind and extremely patient coaching Kindergarten soccer. Throughout the years, as a coach I witnessed first hand her enthusiasm for team sports and how she inspired the children to do their best no mater the results.

Throughout the years I have seen her continued dedication not only in coaching local sports, but being an active participate atPleasantdale Elementary and our local community. Kim and I both participated as parent volunteers in boards to help improve our kids educational experience and communication between the school and parents. I have been nothing but impressed with Kim Barker. She goes out of her way to become knowledgeable about topics related to the boards we represented and led the participates to fact based decisions/conclusions on our tasks. She is detailed oriented, organized and verypassionate about the best Pleasantdaleeducation system we could provide our children. I trust Kim and am extremelyconfident that she will represent our community, parents and children in District 107. I wholeheartedly recommend Kim Barker as a member of the Pleasantdale Board of Education.

Sincerely,
Jacqueline Mesec
LaGrange

I am writing in support of my friend and neighbor Kim Barker. Being neighbors, we have spent much time together since her family moved in about 13 years ago.

As a very active parent within the school and community myself, I have seen several friends come and go as School Board Members. In them, I have witnessed the passion and the stressors that come with such emotional viewpoints in dealing with the educational issues of children in our society. I see this same passion in Kim. Over the years, Kim has consistently shown interest in our school by making proactive contributions to facilitate the education of our children. Even before her children were old enough to be Pleasantdale students, Kim had always been curious regarding what and how my kids were learning at Pleasantdale.
Kim is a strong, confident, articulate, highly intelligent, trustworthy, and compassionate woman and professional. I truly believe Kim is the perfect person to support Pleasantdale’s Mission Statement in the development of young people who grow to make responsible choices and excel in life.

Please accept my endorsement that Kim Barker be elected to District 107 Board of Education. She is a unique person with unique life experiences and ideas that would prove an asset to the Board of Education.

Respectfully,
Dina L. Stone
Willow Springs

This note is to show my support for the endorsement of Kim Barker as a candidate for Pleasantdale District 107 School Board.

I believe Kim would be an excellent contributor to the Pleasantdale School Board. She is an advocate for children and education, she is not afraid to speak her mind, and she is clearly committed to volunteering and helping her community with her time. She has my full support as a candidate for the School Board.

Thank you.
Sincerely,
Sheila Gremer
Willow Springs

The Focus 4 the Future candidates are the right combination of what Pleasantdale School District 107 needs!

The current board has rested on its laurels long enough. Achievement levels are down, expenses are up & they lag behind their competitive set of feeder schools while clinging to an outdated strategic plan.
With sagging property values, it's time to rise to the challenges of a changing demographic, economy & world by providing an outstanding & well-rounded education for our children.

Kim Barker will bring passion, energy & communication experience that our school district desperately needs. Doug Gilman will add business, financial & global expertise as well as a level of fairness & balance to the board. Greg Sengpiel comes with a background in technology, an open mind & a fresh perspective. Kristen Violante will bring knowledge of local government, policy making, public service & a level head to the board.

These candidates are active in the community not just at school, but in sports programs, clubs & neighborhood watch groups. They are cognizant of the tax burden placed upon district residents & will work toward reducing that burden by lowering operating expenses while maintaining high expectations and ensuring a remarkable educational for all children.

Please join me in supporting these candidates & their vision of accountability, responsibility & transparency in order to move our school district forward to focus on the future!

Gina Scaletta Nelson

I am so excited that Focus 4 the Future is running. I know that these 4 can bring some MUCH NEEDED change to our district. Kim Barker, Doug Gilman, Greg Sengpiel, and Kristin Violante defiantly have my vote.

Lori Veroeven

I strongly encourage people to support Kristin Violante, candidate for the Elementary School District 107 Board.

In my role as a trustee with the village of Willowbrook, I have worked closely with Violante and seen firsthand the strong work ethic and professionalism she brings to the job. Since day one in her position as the superintendent of Parks and Recreation, Violante has been extremely motivated to do the best job she can.

As a Willowbrook resident myself, I can say she has listened to the feedback from local citizens and provided excellent programs that suit all ages and ability levels. As a village trustee, I am thankful for her ability to be fiscally conservative and adhere to all village policies and procedures. She is confident, well spoken and a wonderful addition to Willowbrook. I know she will be a valuable asset to the community’s School Board and to the students who attend Pleasantdale schools.

Sue Berglund

Willowbrook

I am confidently writing to you today about Kristin Violante who is running for the District 107 School Board. I know Violante through her work as the superintendent of Parks and Recreation for Willowbrook. She understands the financial constraints municipalities such as Willowbrook face and has therefore worked diligently to provide excellent programs and safe, enjoyable park facilities with an ever tightening budget.

As a resident of Willowbrook, I am happy she is spearheading an effort to create a comprehensive master plan for the Parks and Recreation Department that will guide the entire department through the next five years. I understand the importance of having ethical, intelligent, hardworking, visionaries as part of local, governing boards. I can say without exception that Violante will serve the children and taxpayers well and uphold the highest level of standards the district has come to expect.

Robert Napoli

Willowbrook village president

I am a parent. I like Pleasantdale schools. The school district has earned The Red Apple and other awards which have lead me, and keep me here. The beacon of excellence shines from the committed teachers, administration, and parents. 

Kim Barker is a parent who invests in her community and wants it to continue to shine. I have been impressed mostly with Barker’s unwavering dedication to make things better, not to be satisfied with “ as good as last year” but to improve. Our community and schools need people invested like Barker. She has taken the lead on neighborhood streets/maintenance issues when the city budget was cut back. She also has taken the initiative to investigate concerns about testing and scores — in the vein of making things better. Barker leads through coaching soccer and being active on committees.

I support Barker for Pleasantdale School Board.

Meg Vorpahl

Willow Springs

I would like to endorse Kristin Violante and her Focus 4 the Future running mates Greg Sengpiel, Doug Gilman and Kim Barker. 

Violante realizes the difficult task of shifting staff, students and parents into the rigor of the Common Core. She also understands the importance of early education as each new standard will be an extension of previous learning. Their platform of offering a free full-day kindergarten curriculum and spending more time on each subject will help provide students a great starting point for a rich educational experience and a strong foundation with which to build on. 

I am confident Violnate and her running mates are the best choice for Pleasantdale as Illinois moves into a new set of learning standards.

Sharon Rak

Willow Springs

As the parent of three children in the Pleasantdale School District and a 24-year educator, I am honored to support Doug Gilman for School Board. My own experience as a parent, teacher, coach, and administrator in public schools has afforded the opportunity to witness firsthand the qualities necessary to run an effective school district. 

I have had the privilege of knowing Gilman for the past nine years as a friend, neighbor, coaching partner, and even fellow running mate for the board in 2011. Gilman is a highly organized, conscientious individual. He is very responsible, dependable and loyal. He is one who thinks rationally, questions thoughtfully, and listens attentively. These traits will serve and support our students. Most importantly to me, as a board member for District 107, Gilman will continue to go above and beyond the call of duty while serving our children and demonstrate genuine care for the community of the Pleasantdale. Our community. 

Steve Rockrohr

Willow Springs