Odds or Evens in District 15

Odds or Evens is a hand game with origins going back thousands of years to ancient Roman and Greek times. It is often played to decide issues – an alternative to tossing a coin. One person declares “odds” and the other has "evens”. On the count of three, both players hold out either one or two fingers. If the sum of the fingers shown by both players is an odd number (one or three) then the “odds” player wins – otherwise the “evens” player wins.

It’s a game of chance we cannot afford to take in the upcoming Community Consolidated District 15 school board election. 

Over the past few years, several significant issues have surfaced in District 15. They included hundreds of unannounced bus route changes, a and a superintendent’s resignation and payout. 

What was the common thread linking all of these issues? Answer: A lack of communication from the Board of Education.  

Parents and community members alike cried out at board meetings and e-mailed when their children’s safety was put at risk with poorly planned bus routes hastily implemented in the fall of 2009. The boardroom and e-mail boxes of members were filled again in spring 2010 when a working cash bond issuance was quickly approved. It was subsequently halted when the community united and asked to be heard at the . And will we never forget how the administration and their lawyers determined it was none of the public’s business why former superintendent was paid to resign. 

It is time to decide who "walks the talk" when it comes to communication, accountability and transparency. Will it be “odds” or “evens”? 

Odds – 1-3-5 for Manjula Sriram, Scott Herr and Gerard Iannuzzelli – all are challengers
Evens – 2-4-6 for James Ekeberg, Gerald Chapman and Dave Seiffert –all are incumbents

The Vote 1-3-5 for District 15 website provides links to the candidate’s individual sites as well as information on their combined platform.  They have expressed their thoughts on strengthening the curriculum and what fiscal responsibility really means. Voters have several mechanisms to ask questions and provide feedback. 

Ekeberg, Chapman and Seiffert have linked their names on campaign signs and handouts, but do not have one unifying website. Their individual websites provide a resume, a declaration of goals and achievements and not much more. No reflections or analysis on the real issues facing the school district.

Perhaps the incumbents figure if the voters are content with the status quo, they will vote for them or just stay home. The non-incumbents cannot rest on their laurels. It is an uphill battle to get the attention of voters these days. Memories are often short. Once a crisis or controversy has passed, it is forgotten – until the next one. 

Are the voters in District 15 willing to take the chance that the next one will be worse? 

It isn’t a game when the status quo shows deficit spending growing year after year. Eventually the result will be program cuts or higher taxes or both. It isn’t a fair game when the community is left in the dark yet has to live with the consequences.

Remember that old adage, “Voters generally get the kind of government that they deserve.”  What kind of school board does District 15 deserve? 

It’s your call – Odds or Evens in District 15.

Cast your vote Tuesday, April 5. 

Better yet, tomorrow Saturday, March 26 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. at Palatine Village Hall.  Early voting ends March 31.