8 Candidates Run For 3 LTHS Board Of Education Positions: Election 2023

LOCKPORT, IL — Eight candidates are running for three positions on the Lockport Township High School Board of Education in Tuesday's consolidated election.

Candidates are:

• Martin "Marty" Boersma
• Sandra Chimon Rogers
• Michael Lewandowski
• Veronica Tylka-Shaw
• Michael Clausen
• Lance Thies
• Sheri Boniecki-Cooling
• Nicholas Paris

Tylka-Shaw and Lewandowski are both incumbent board members. Tylka-Shaw serves as secretary of the board, and was elected in 2019. Lewandowski has served on the board since 1999.

According to the District website, Lewandowski is an LTHS alumnus and "wants to provide a safe and secure environment to educate all LTHS students and to continue to work with the administration to establish goals for improving student achievement."

Tylka-Shaw is an LTHS graduate, and "looks forward to addressing the challenges of maintaining the high standards already in place and assisting the district in its mission to provide an equitable and challenging environment for all students to achieve their life goals," according to the District website.

Chimon Rogers, a newcomer candidate, said the most pressing issue facing the Board is "preparing the students for their careers of choice."

"I will work on ensuring that we offer our students an opportunity to shine, regardless of whether they are college-bound or trade school-focused, by introducing and encouraging various certifications and trade skills along with more collaborative opportunities with multiple colleges/universities," she wrote in her candidate questionnaire.

Paris, an LTHS alumnus, said in his Patch candidate questionnaire that,"I want the students to be able to make well-educated decisions about careers they want to pursue."

When asked why voters should trust him, he said, "Voters should trust me because I will listen to them after I am elected. I will not get in the school board role and push my own agenda. I believe elected officials are truly public servants, and that is what I intend to do. I will serve the community as a whole and not just the loudest people in the community."

Three candidates, Martin Boersma, Sandra Chimon Rogers and Michael Clausen, have been endorsed by Awake Illinois, a conservative group that warns parents about the indoctrination and grooming of children. In its endorsement, Awake Illinois cited dropping test scores in the high school.

Awake is known for opposing all-ages drag shows at the Downers Grove Public Library. The group's website says, "Be the barrier between your child and anyone or any agenda to indoctrinate/groom/data mine your children."

Polls will open across Will County at 6 a.m. on Tuesday, and will close at 7 p.m. Election results will remain unofficial until April 25 when the Will County Clerk's Office finishes counting vote by mail ballots and provisional ballots.