District 128 School Board Race: Dale Sherman

LIBERTYVILLE, IL — There are 10 candidates running for four open seats this spring on the Community High School District 128 school board.

Patch.com requested information from all candidates through a survey. Here are the responses submitted by District 128 school board candidate Dale Sherman:

Age (as of election day):

51

Town/city of residence:

Libertyville

School district:

128

Family - Names, ages and any pertinent details you wish to share.

Married with three children (one at LHS, two at Highland)

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government? This includes any relatives who work in the government you're running for.

No

Education

J.D., University of Illinois College of Law; B.A. in Psychology, University of Wisconsin-Madison

Occupation -Please include years of experience.

Corporate Executive/Attorney; 26 years in practice

Campaign website:

https://www.daleford128.com/

Previous or current elected or appointed office

None

The single most pressing issue facing our (board, district, etc.) is _______, and this is what I intend to do about it.

Returning the schools to as close to the pre-Covid normal as possible. I intend to advocate passionately to open the schools safely, completely and immediately. Once we do, there will be a lot of healing to be done, not just between students, parents, teachers, administrators and board members--but the mental health of the students, too. We will have to consult internal and external professionals to find out the depth of the psychological damage to our students and make recovering from that a priority. Many will have to learn how to fully apply themselves as students again. More than a year away from full-time schooling caused far more harm than many will admit. I am optimistic that with the right new members of the Board, we can accomplish a return to normal and start to thrive again as a district.

What are the critical differences between you and the other candidates seeking this post?

As much as anyone running, I have my priorities right: the students, all of them, come first. That is the mission of the Board: to promote the best interests of the students. Beyond that, my unique skill set, temperament and experience make me a good choice to serve our students on the Board. I have been a lawyer for 26 years, in and out of the courtroom. I have served on multiple boards, including three years as Secretary of Libertyville Boys Club. I am a very experienced and successful negotiator. I have been a leader in big business for 20 years. I am comfortable working with large budgets and know how to find inefficient spending. I understand markets and believe in top compensation to attract and retain top talent. I also am keenly aware that while successful schools primarily benefits our students, they also help create a floor for local home values. I hope to earn your vote. My name appears last on the ballot section for D128 candidates. Check out my website (listed above) for more details.