Four of the seven candidates running for Crystal Lake-based School District 155 Board of Education answered questions on their views including how they would handle possible federal funding cuts at a forum Thursday.

Andrew Fekete: I recognize that property taxes represent a real concern for many community members. At the same time, I believe that a strong public school system is a cornerstone of a thriving community, so we must use every tax dollar responsibly and transparently.

Dana Wiley: If a school lesson is deemed by a parent to not be appropriate for their own student, that parent should have the ability to opt their student out of the lesson and be provided an alternative lesson by the school for their student

Bridgette Sanlon: Budgeting for an unknown future for critical services including meals for students from low income households, EL classrooms, 504 IEP student classrooms/interventions, Summer School programs, etc in the event Federal Funding is decreased or eliminated

Melinda Hartman on a top priority for the district: Responsibly allocating referendum dollars to support and update the district’s infrastructure, making responsible repairs and safety upgrades to our buildings

Julie Jette on a top priority for the district: Improving test scores in language arts and math as well as continuing to develop our Dual Language program.

Stacey Sault: The district like many other districts in Illinois face the issue of raising reading and math scores on their state testing

Joseph Bajorek on a top priority for the district: Staff retention - it seems the district is turning into a revolving door and a stepping stone into something better

Dave Gutierrez on a top priority: Continued Academic Improvement -- we’ve made good progress but need to continue improving our student outcomes. I believe the strategic planning process we implemented in 2024 will pave the way to more success in this area

Should students be able to use AI in schoolwork? Leigh Comerford: I do not believe students should be able to use AI in schoolwork. If we permit this, our students will not learn the critical thinking skills they need for the real world

Nicholas Johnson on a top priority for the district: Teacher retention: Ensuring that teachers stay in the district

Should students be able to use AI in schoolwork? Benjamin Quint: Students should be able to use AI in drafts for their final assignment, but should not be evident in the final draft.

Rubi Vega: The district must take a proactive and student-centered approach to improving reading, English proficiency and state test scores

Three of the eight candidates running for Crystal Lake-based School District 47 board answered questions on their views including current budget concerns and possible cellphone bans at a forum Thursday.

Kelly Sobusiak: School safety, building repairs, and student engagement are all top priorities