I found these on the suburbanlife website
Riverside Brookfield High School District 208
Karen Bensfield
Position sought: Riverside Brookfield High School Board Member
Hometown: North Riverside
Age: 57
Family: Thomas, son, 35; Jennifer Kotor, daughter, 34; Robert, son, 30; Rebecca, daughter, 28; Makenna Kotor, granddaughter, 4; Leo Kotor, grandson, 3; Kennedi Bensfield, granddaughter, 1; Leo Kotor, son-in-law, 33
Educational background: Grade School, S. E. Gross; High School, Riverside Brookfield High School; Attended Western Illinois University
Occupation: Caregiver
Party affiliation: Independent
Previously held elected offices: School Board member, Riverside Brookfield High School
What other applicable experience do you have? I attended RB, my 4 children attended RB as well. I have always been an involved parent at all of the schools my children attended, from PTA board member on the PTA’s President (12+ yrs) I coached and managed North Riverside Little League and was a board member (6+ yrs), I taught St. Mary’s CCD (12+ yrs),RB Booster board member and president (10+yrs), I was a member of the North Riverside Recreation Board (4 yrs). I was a special education aide (1 yr) and I worked as an office manager for an Accounting Office (5+yrs).
Why do you believe that voters should select you? I feel my experience with Ames, Hauser and RBHS as an involved parent for 15+ years has given me a different perspective. I’ve had dealings with teachers and administrators as a parent. I offer an insight that most professional candidates don’t have. I have been a board member for the past four years at RB. We have done great things; the renovation, is on time and under budget and we have become more transparent; much of our financial information is on RB’s Web site. The board now faces a problem with our economy. (.1% CPI has contributed) There must be some deep sole searching, not only the board of education but the community as well; do we continue in the direction we have been going and achieving much success and look to a referendum or make cuts while keeping as many programs we can in place. I feel completing our renovation project and being fiscally responsible to our community, while still providing the very best education we can are the two most important aspects of the RB Board for the next term.
Eric Duve
Position sought: District 208 School Board Member
Hometown: Riverside
Age: 44
Family: Tina, wife, 41; Stephanie, daughter, 17; Elena, daughter, 15; Max, son, 13
Educational background: Masters Business Administration, DePaul University; Masters Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering, IIT; Bachelors Engineering, Northern Arizona University
Occupation: Sr. Project Engineer, Navistar International
Party affiliation: Independent
Previously held elected offices: none
What other applicable experience do you have? My education and profession have given me the tools to execute difficult research and find solutions to complex problems. Also, 8-year board member of Riverside Little League
Why do you believe that voters should select you? I offer the entire community the most diverse and independent representation. I lived in Brookfield for 25 years, North Riverside for 10, and Riverside for 9. Each one of these villages means a great deal to me and I am sympathetic to each community’s needs. My children will be the third generation in my family to graduate from RB. I am a 1983 graduate and I am passionate about the school and the entire 208 community. I am the type of person who rolls up my sleeves and works tirelessly until all options are exhausted, and only then can the decisions be made. I envision a school that not only excels in academics at all levels, but also provides the foundation for building the moral character of its students; a school that graduates young adults that can be contributing members of our communities at the lowest burden to the taxpayers.
Laura Hruska
Position sought: School Board Member, District 208
Hometown: Brookfield
Age: 46
Family: I have 4 children, 2 dogs, 1 cat. Pamella, age 20, graduate RBHS 2006, college student, Columbia college in Chicago. Hannah, age 18, graduate RBHS 2008, college student at Milwaukee School of Engineering (MSOE). Peter, age 16, RBHS junior. Ruth, age 9, Timothy Christian School, Elmhurst. Maeve, age 10, German Shepherd. Daisy, age 6 months, boxer and terrier, household pet. Charcol, age 12, cat and head of household
Educational background: Bachelor degree in Jewish Studies from Moody Bible Institute; Bachelor Degree in Psychology, Mathematics Minor from UIC at Chicago; Master in Education (Evaluation & Research) from UIC at Chicago; Coursework completed towards a Ph.D. in Educational Psychology; I have had to put off the dissertation and concentrate on job and kids’ college
Occupation: Manager, Examinations, Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons,
Party affiliation: I think this would be distracting and not necessary for school board member position because the entire authority of the board is in the collective vote of the majority, not any one rogue vote.
Previously held elected offices: School Board Member, District 208
What other applicable experience do you have? As an educational researcher and evaluator I am trained to look for evidence. As an evaluator we always stress that a robust assessment system should include multiple sources of data from multiple assessment tools. I am a long time resident to this general area, having graduated from Morton West which make me believe I understand the neighborhood.
Why do you believe that voters should select you? I have always believed that we should use our gifts and talents and invest them into our families and communities and that is why I ran the first time for school board member. Education for me is one of the best tools we can equip our children with and not because it will necessarily provide them with money to buy things, but because a strong education will prepare them to be critical thinkers and problem solvers. What we learn from the educational theories of Dewey, is that a democracy thrives on an educated public that can reason to solve its problems and generate solutions. I believe that being a school board member is a responsibility and that is why I have taken as many of the training courses from the state of Illinois that I was able to fit into my schedule. I take my role on the board seriously. I also have deep knowledge of the financial constraints that all families are facing. We are a one income home and we are a family of five which means I have to be very careful with our resources if we are going to survive. I have learned to take nothing for granted, so that when times are good, I am grateful and give thanks, and when times are difficult I buckle down for the tasks and give thanks each day I am able.
Dan Moon
Position sought: Member, Board of Education, D-208
Hometown: Riverside
Age: 61
Family: Caryl, spouse; Ross, son, 15; Ariel, daughter, 14
Educational background: B.S. Industrial Design, University of Cincinnati
Occupation: Industrial design consultant
Party affiliation: Conservative independent
Previously held elected offices: None
What other applicable experience do you have? Successful management in the private sector
Why do you believe that voters should select you? A platform that is timely that includes our attention to fiscal responsibility, communication transparency, and leadership, and, not the least, the quality of our preparation of our young people for their future. Additionally, I have a personal stake in the community as a 16-year resident, and I’ve tried to project convincing integrity to our district constituents.
Matthew Sinde Jr.
Position sought: Riverside Brookfield High School Board Member (District 208)
Hometown: Brookfield
Age: 51
Family: Jenifer Sinde, wife, 50; Claire Sinde, daughter, 17; Julianne Sinde, daughter, 15
Educational background: Bachelor of Science, DePaul University; Master Business Administration, DePaul University
Occupation: Marketing Consultant (food industry)
Party affiliation: SWiM team
Your Previously held elected offices: None
What other applicable experience do you have? I have been deeply involved in Brookfield and La Grange Park area for years. I developed education experience as the president of the St. Louise de Marillac School Board. Brookfield village government named me chairman of the Brookfield Zoning Board of Appeals and I was proud to chair the village’s 2020 Master plan committee.
Why do you believe that voters should select you? Riverside Brookfield High School is quite significant to this community. I think it has made strides, but it can do better. I intend to offer new ideas: 1. Restore Leadership: The administration must take the leadership role with our faculty to ensure all strategic initiatives are being implemented. It should work with the RB faculty to develop innovative educational programs that will position students on every level for future success. The administration must maintain the confidence of the faculty, students, parents and community to be effective. If that confidence is lost, leadership goes with it. 2. Financial Responsibility: The board is legally responsible for the fiscal health and strength of RB. It must ensure to the voters and taxpayers that tax dollars are spent efficiently and effectively. I support a more transparent approach to RB’s financial life. I support web-based disclosure and search capabilities. 3. The AP Issue: We must look at our emphasis on AP college courses to all students. We need to look beyond the Newsweek magazine rankings. We need to provide a sufficient number of AP classes to challenge students who choose to enroll in them, while returning basic classes like Honors English 11 back to our curriculum offerings. We must support learning while promoting balance in our student’s lives. I and my running mates on the SWiM team ask for your vote on April 7, 2009. If all of us are elected, then we can make the improvements RB High School deserves to be a great place to educate your children. Thank you for taking time to read this and consider my candidacy. Whoever you support, please do not forget to vote.
Michael J. Welch
Position sought: School Board Riverside Brookfield High School
Hometown: Riverside
Age: 48
Family: Mary Welch, wife; Elizabeth Welch, daughter; Megan Welch, daughter
Educational background: B.S. Accounting, Southern Illinois University; Masters Accounting-Taxation, Southern Illinois University
Occupation: Revenue Agent, U.S. Department of Treasury
Party affiliation: None
Previously held elected offices: None
What other applicable experience do you have? Treasurer, Riverside Swim Club, November 2003 to December 2007; Treasurer Riverside Brookfield Swim Club OTTERS May 2004 to January 2008; Treasurer for Aquatic Director at RBHS from July 2004 to present; St. Mary pastoral counsel 2001 to 2002.
Why do you believe that voters should select you? Voters reached out to me in the summer of 2008, asking me to run for the RB school board. The community knew that I would bring my dedication and integrity to the RB Board. It was a calling. Would I run for the RB board? Mary and I knew that this would take away from our family time together. We had a family meeting. We decided, “Yes.” I have been an agent with the U.S. Treasury Department for 25 years. I have volunteered as treasurer for the Riverside Swim Club and OTTERS Swim Team. I will bring my dedication, education, and experience to the board. We must remember that the education of our children is the foundation of our community. I support Matt Sinde and Dan Moon as part of the SWiM team. I would not put my name along side these individuals unless I knew they were dedicated, invested and possessed the integrity that I would want to see on the RB board.