The next four years are guaranteed to be busy ones for the Brookfield-LaGrange Park School District 95 Board of Education.
There’s a referendum on the April 4 ballot asking voters to approve issuing $20 million in bonds to expand Brook Park School and expand and renovate S.E. Gross Middle School.
While that question might be top of mind for voters in the district, there is a contested election for four four-year terms on the school board and an uncontested election for a pair of two-year terms.
The uncontested seats will go to incumbents Joseph Ivan and Brian Conroy.
For the four-year terms, we’re endorsing incumbent board President Michelle Maggos and fellow incumbents Rebecca Zoltoski and Barbara Garvey. We’re also endorsing newcomer Scott Encher.
Garvey, Maggos and Zoltoski – all educators – have done a good job separating their jobs as teachers and looking out for the public’s interests as board members. If re-elected they, along with Conroy, will be the senior members of the board, and that experience will be key as the district moves to confront its growing enrollment and seeks to expand its curriculum.
Encher is the chairman of the district’s citizen committee advocating for the referendum. He would come onto the board with enthusiasm and a solid understanding of the job facing him.
The final candidate, Brian Pencak, an incumbent, was appointed in 2016 and has run for election to the board in the past. He’s an absolutely fine board member, whose election for a full term would essentially keep the existing board intact.
