109 Candidates Lay Out Top Issues

Rebuilding relationships between stakeholders in Deerfield Public Schools District 109 was a major theme from candidates for the Board of Education Thursday during a forum sponsored by the League of Women Voters at the Patty Turner Center.

Three of the candidates in the April 9 election——took part in the debate while Sari Montgomery answered questions for Patch separately and Joel Kogan neither responded to requests from patch nor from the League.

Worth, Bittner and Kluge made opening statements, answered questions and then offered a final plea to voters. Montgomery was unable to attend. A spokesperson for the League said Kogan did not respond to inquiries about the forum.

People at the event wanted to know if the candidates favored televising Board meetings, opinions on curriculum needs, what should be done if the pension obligations are transferred from the state to the District, accountability, school security, transition to a new superintendent and the issue each contender deemed most important.

Worth, who was appointed to fill the unexpired term the Hon. Mark Leavitt when the judge was elected three years ago, is the only incumbent in the race. This assures the seven-person board will have three or four new faces.

This transition along with the shift from retiring Superintendent Renee Goier to incoming Superintendent Michael Lubelfeld July 1 plys a new assistant superintendent for learning is the issue highest on Worth’s mind.

“Making sure the transition is smooth is an important issue,” Worth said. “There will be a new superintendent, three or four new Board members and a new assistant superintendent for learning. This leadership shift is very important.”

Bittner places the highest priority on implementing the strategic master plan that is already in place. “We need to commit to this being implemented for the kids,” she said. “The next Board will have a lot to do with how it is developed.”

Both Kluge and Montgomery placed emphasis on the relationship between the teachers and the administration. “This is a major area to improve educational excellence,” Kluge said at the debate. “We need a liaison between the Board and the teachers.” He thinks the Deerfield Education Association (DEA) teachers’ union can help be that bridge.

Montgomery, who became politicized along with Bittner and Kluge during the labor negotiations a year ago between the District and the DEA, also places a strong emphasis on the rapport between the parties. “There was a lot of damage done in the last few years,” she said to Patch Tuesday.

A video of the closing statements of Bittner, Worth and Kluge are included with this story. Montgomery provided Patch her finishing remarks. Take a look and please let us know what you think in the comments.

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