As the son of a long-time District 86 educator, a District 86 alum, current D86 parent and former Illinois state senator, I have a profound respect for the importance of local elections, and perhaps none is more underrated in its impact for an entire community than a school board election. On April 6, District 86 voters have an opportunity to significantly impact our community.
A critical issue of this election concerns the current board’s passage of what I believe are radical changes to our historically excellent science, technology, engineering and math curriculum, most notably making physics the sole S.T.E.M. subject offering for incoming freshmen and eliminating G-level math, each of which could reduce opportunities for educational excellence for all students. These significant and impactful changes were passed by the board at the suggestion of the district administration, without adequate input from the voters, much less any suggestion from the voters that such changes were needed. Virtually every other highly ranked, open enrollment high school knows better than to restrict choice in their curriculum in such a manner. Importantly, whether or not you have students currently in our high schools, your property values might be adversely affected as S.T.E.M. offerings in District 86 change, since parents might purchase homes in other suburbs whose districts provide a better S.T.E.M. educational opportunity.
Peggy James and Jeff Waters understand the importance of correcting the course the current board has taken with respect to S.T.E.M. offerings and the positive impact that correction will have for the entire District 86 community. That is why I am supporting Peggy and Jeff on April 6. — Kirk Dillard, Hinsdale
