'Vote And Choose Wisely' In NSSD112: Letter

Submitted on behalf of the undersigned parties.

We, the undersigned, write out of mutual concern for the future of our community and our schools. District 112 stands at a crossroads with educational, financial, and structural issues all requiring attention. The manner in which the District and our community respond to these challenges will determine whether 112 continues its legacy of educational excellence, preserves our property values, and reinforces our community values.

Overcoming these challenges will be more difficult if we elect candidates who only seek to further their own narrow interests. The District needs to balance its financial constraints with the demands of a world-class education our community expects. We need to get to know the candidates and very carefully consider their qualifications and motives for seeking Board membership; we need school board members who are up to the challenges of our District as a whole.

There are many areas of agreement. Both SCFFAC and 2.0 agree that the financial picture of the District requires action and that some schools need to close as part of a holistic solution. There is also consensus that more balanced number of students within a given grade across our schools contributes to better learning environments. Many also agree that almost all of our current buildings are outdated and need substantial investment to comply with statutory and other legal requirements and provide an environment for a “world class” education and that the cost of these upgrades exceeds $100 million.

Where debate arises is how best to solve these problems. How many and which buildings should be closed or repurposed? How will change be implemented? How should change be balanced across the community? How much will infrastructure improvements cost? What are the costs involved with upgrading learning environments to meet curriculum needs? How much is the community, the vast majority of whom don’t have children in the school system, willing to finance? What are the effects of action or inaction on our property values?

These debates are likely to continue, and reasonable people will reach different conclusions. Board members need to listen to their constituents, but they also need to understand the wide variety of issues, communicate effectively, and exercise leadership. Those who are the most vocal, while passionate about an issue, may not represent the community’s best interests. We need to elect Board members who will exercise good judgment, based not only on communication with residents, but on the needs of all students, on the input and advice they receive from the District’s professional staff, on sound educational and financial practices, and on the facts they see before them. We hope that the community agrees and elects those candidates who are most qualified to address the breadth of issues facing North Shore School District 112.

Our schools reflect who we are and what we value as a community. On Election Day, April 4, please vote and choose wisely to continue the tradition of excellence in education for all students in our District.

Signed,

• Leslie and Jay Alter
• Tracy Bahn
• Laurie Bagan
• Marcia and Bruce Balonick
• Bev and Ken Beck
• Bob Bernstein
• Sara and Greg Block
• Robert Bloom, Phd.
• Margi and David Bordo
• Bobbi and Ken Brown
• Lisa and Aaron Brooks
• Mandy Castle
• Erica and Ari Cohen
• Renee and Bob Coleman
• Laura and Stephan Crandall
• Missy and Chad Feldman
• Jon Fieldman
• Biz and Corey Fox
• Jen Freeman
• Sarah Gimbel
• Nancy Goldberg
• Ellen Gussin
• Cindy and Andy Hamilton
• Betty and Tripp Hainsfurther
• Melanie and Eric Hanig
• Rick Heinemann
• Heidi Howard
• Jami Jacobs
• Diane and Joel Jastromb
• Lisa and Adam Kaplan
• Dana and Adam Karlov
• Gayle Weinberg Kalmin
• Judy and Mort Kessel
• Taryn and Doug Kessel
• Lesley and Roi Kiferbaum
• Mandy Kirsch
• Monica and Lew Kornberg
• Barbara and Jeff Kutchin
• Debbie Lund and David Chazen
• Betsy Mackey
• Howard Metz
• Lindsie and Paul Miller
• Maureen and Jeff Miller
• Kimberly Mindel
• Lois Moss
• Wendy and Wally Nathan
• Debbie and Mark Ori
• Christine and John Peachier
• Francie and Stuart Pinkwater
• Haley Pivnick
• Nicole Pristash
• Amy Roberts
• Ellen and Steve Rogin
• Jill Rosenberg
• Lee Rosenberg
• Heather and Brad Rosenblatt
• Melissa Septon
• Heather and Ben Sher
• Sara and Mike Sher
• Jorie and Andrew Sigesmund
• Linda and Don Stewart
• Arin and Ryan Stevens
• Jamie and Dan Struck
• Alison and Andy Szot
• Bobbi and Len Tenner
• Marcy and Jason Turner
• Noelle Vaughn
• Liz and Danny Weil
• Shari and Craig Weil
• Elaine and Brian Weinberg
• Rebecca Meininger
• Debbie and Jeff Winton
• Andrea Wintroub
• Angelica Wyke