Dan is voting 1-3-5

Today is School Board election day. The polls are open from 2 PM to 9 PM.

This is the day when a historically small number of voters will elect three members of the Board and vote up or down on the LOCAL portion of the school district's budget.

I have been involved with and an observer of the Plainfield public schools since my appointment in 1988 by then-Superintendent Dr. Annette Kearney to a task force charged with outlining a plan for Plainfield's recertification by the state. (Yes, we are STILL waiting to be recertified.) Over the years, I have served on any number of task forces, study committees and a scholarship review committee.

For years, I worked with Dottie Gutenkauf in running campaigns -- nonpartisan and without partisan funding -- for unified slates of candidates, where the goal was getting a board that was focused on improving students' and the district's performance.

Serving on the School Board is an important, time-consuming and, unfortunately, thankless job.

In the next three years, as the state goes through a period of contracting resources, Plainfield and other Abbott districts are going to experience increasing pressure from wealthier communities to undercut Abbott funding, thereby forcing us to face the possibility of significant school tax increases (our school taxes have been stable for over a decade).

Additionally, the district has had long-term problems attracting and retaining excellent leadership at the middle and high schools.

Add to this the issue of providing a safe teaching and learning environment in all the schools and you have a full plate.

Anyone who wants to serve is to be commended.

That being said, we still must choose among more candidates than there are seats.

I will be voting for Christian Estevez, Martin Cox and David Graves.

I have known and worked with them in the community for years. Martin and David have had children in the schools and Christian will have in a few short years.

They are thoughtful and experienced in matters of public policy -- which is REALLY what school boards are supposed to be focused on.

I believe they will bring new energy and integrity to the challenges facing the Plainfield public schools, which is why I willl be voting --

1 - Christian ESTEVEZ
3 - David GRAVES
5 - Martin COX

Whatever YOUR opinion, it will not count unless you vote. Please do so.

-- Dan Damon

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