5 Candidates Square Off For Glenbrook 225 School Board: Election 2023

GLENVIEW, IL — For those that didn't early vote, Tuesday is the day to cast your ballots in-person. Voters in Glenview and Northbrook will decide on the future of the Glenbrook High School District 225 Board of Education, among other races.

Five candidates are running for a four-year seat on the board, with three seats up for grabs. Current member Joel Taub is not running for reelection with his term ending this month. The candidates on the ballot are:

• Sidney Shein, current member
• Marcelo Sztainberg, current member
• Jim Geldermann
• Paul Kelly
• Sandra Muhlenbeck

Shein, Sztainberg and Muhlenbeck are running as a slate.

The district consists of students from Glenview, Northbrook, with a small portion coming from Golf and western Northfield. The schools in District 225 are high schools Glenbrook North (located in Northbrook) and Glenbrook South (Glenview)

In February, Patch sent out election questionnaires to the candidates on a variety of topics including Black Lives Matter, sex education, COVID-19 and fiscal policy. All five candidates participated. Patch published all responses submitted by candidates verbatim. Click on the links above to see each candidate's full questionnaire. Shein and Kelly did not participate.

Sztainberg, 53, has been a member of the board of education since 2017. The Northbrook resident is the interim dean of graduate studies, analytics, and research at Northeastern Illinois University.

"Making our schools a safe and nurturing space for our students, teachers, staff, families and community as a whole," Sztainberg said when asked what the most pressing issue the board is facing. "While the last few years have put more emphasis in our differences, I believe that we all have at hearth what is best for our district. I hope we can create more venues for communication and participation, so everyone can feel listened to."

Geldermann, 71, has been a software architect for more than 35 years. The Northbrook graduate graduated from Campion Jesuit High School (Class of 1970); Hillsdale College, Hillsdale, Michigan (1970-1972).

"Before money is spent, a clear definition of the return on investment must be defined and after allocation tracked," said Geldermann in response to a question about fiscal policy. "I am not adverse to spending money on programs to benefit the students, but I am not for spending money outside of the roles and responsibilities of the district."

Muhlenbeck, 52, who was previously an attorney, has been a pediatric-registered nurse for the last five years. The Glenview resident has a bachelor's degree in politics from Wake Forest University; Juris Doctor from Columbia Law School; and MSN from Rush University College of Nursing.

"As a pediatric nurse, I will bring to the board the perspective of a dedicated advocate of the well-being of the whole child," Muhlenbeck said. "While I want the Glenbrooks to provide our students with every opportunity to achieve academic and extracurricular success, I believe it is equally important that the Glenbrooks are places where students feel supported, included, and nurtured."