Two Groups Compete For Four Plainfield School Board Spots

PLAINFIELD, IL— Tuesday is election day, and Plainfield residents will have the opportunity to vote up to four new members onto the District 202 Board of Education. Currently, there are nine contestants for the limited amount of seats, with two incumbents competing to keep their spot.

The board is made up of seven members and serves all 30 schools in the district. Though over half of the board could be replaced, larger administrative changes are also on the horizon for District 202.

In March, longtime Plainfield School District Superintendent Lane Abrell announced his upcoming retirement at the end of the 2021-22 school year. Associate Superintendent Glenn Wood will take over the role starting the following year.

Of the nine candidates on the ballot, the Association of Plainfield Teachers endorsed Toni Galan, Barb Seiden, Kathy Baxter, Rod Westfall and Bob Smith. Both Westfall and Smith are current board members.

The union did not endorse any candidates running on the Parents for Choice slate, which includes Annie Klupshas, Nick Giannasi, Raj Pillai and Rick Todd. According to their website, the Parents for Choice supports an immediate return to in-person learning.

Plainfield residents can find their polling place at the County Clerk's website. Voting will take place from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Tuesday, April 6.