What To Expect From Jenks, Kessler and Lasko: Letter

Written and submitted by Dan Jenks, Art Kessler, Bennett Lasko

In response to confusion created by misleading letters and anonymously-sponsored attack ads, we write to clarify who we are and what the community can expect from us if we are elected to the District 112 school board.

We are long-term Highland Park residents with an established history of volunteer service to the District. We did not get involved because we want to protect a particular school from closing.

We have significant business and financial training and experience that will be important to addressing the District’s current organizational and financial challenges.

We are independent of any special interests and committed to representing the best interests of the District 112 community as a whole. We reject any effort to advance the interests of any one part of the community at the expense of other parts.

Our agenda is to restore the focus of the District and all of its resources on its core mission of delivering world-class education for every student. As board members we will prioritize education, including curriculum alignment, teacher retention, and restoring programs that have been cut in recent years due to financial pressures.

We are not advocating for any particular reconfiguration model. Some candidates advertise “listening to the community” while at the same time advocating a 10-building model that would override the community-led Reconfiguration 2.0 Committee. We support that Committee and its ongoing work to develop a financially sound plan based on broad engagement with the Highland Park, Highwood and Fort Sheridan community. We are confident the District will find a measured approach to reconfiguration that balances educational priorities, fiscal responsibility, and community values. Contrary to statements that have been made about us, we do not favor extreme or radical change.

We are proud to have been endorsed by our state Representative, the mayors of Highland Park and Highwood, and many current and former aldermen, city councilmen, and members of the District 112 and District 113 school boards. These officials have put their confidence in our track record of working professionally, collaboratively, and inclusively on behalf of District 112 and the entire community that it serves. If elected to the District 112 school board, you can expect us to continue doing the same.

Dan Jenks
Art Kessler
Bennett Lasko