The Examiner U-46 News Feed

Four U-46 Board seats sought by six candidates

By Seth Hancock
  There will be at least two new members of the School District U-46 Board of Education as only two incumbents filed for reelection with four open seats, and six candidates in total filed.
  Bartlett resident Sue Kerr, the board’s president, filed on the first day of the filing period, Dec. 12, 2022 and Elgin resident Kate Thommes, the board’s secretary pro-tem, filed on Dec. 14, 2022. Kerr was first elected in 2015 and reelected in 2019, while Thommes was elected in 2019.
  Board members John Devereux and Eva Porter did not file for reelection with their terms expiring this year.
  Four challengers filed including Bartlett resident Samreen Khan, Elgin resident Heather Manzella and Streamwood resident Maureen Morris who all filed on Dec. 19, 2022 and Bartlett resident Chanda Schwartz filed on Dec. 15, 2022.
  “The Board of Education is responsible for determining the policies which guide the operation of School District U-46,” the district’s website states. “State law holds school boards responsible for policies in these areas: approval of courses of study and textbooks, adoption of an annual budget, construction, furnishing and maintenance of facilities, employment and evaluation of the superintendent.”
  The website adds: “Elected members serve four-year terms and are not paid for their services. To be eligible to serve, a school board member must meet the following requirements on the date of election: a citizen of the United States, at least 18 years old, a registered voter, a resident of the State of Illinois, and a resident of School District U-46 for at least one year immediately preceding the election. All seven U-46 Board members have completed the Open Meetings Act Training as required under the Illinois School Code, (5 ILS 120/1.06) and the Professional Development Leadership Training.”