River Forest District 90 has long been regarded as an exceptional school system with great academics and activities, top-notch teachers and staff, exceptional parental support and sound finances.
The system now must focus its energy on maintaining high standards as well as tackling new challenges: integrating Common Core standards into the curriculum and preparing students for the PARCC exams. Meanwhile, resolving the small but persistent achievement gap in test scores between white students and students of color will require thoughtful deliberation and innovation.
The system also must help heal the community after three years of acrimony over the Roosevelt Middle School exterior renovation project.
The latter in particular is a tall order that demands leaders with reasoned thinking, open minds and political skill. We believe incumbent Ralph Martire and newcomers Rich Moore and Barbara Hickey have those assets and Wednesday Journal enthusiastically endorses them.
Martire’s knowledge of education finance and fiscal policy and his work as a consultant to Illinois’ bipartisan education caucus positions him to help lead the district in facing the challenges that lie ahead. D90 is fortunate to have someone on the school board with his acumen.
We’re backing Moore’s candidacy in large part due to his 20 years’ experience in public education. He currently serves as assistant principal for instruction at Morton West High School and is in the trenches on such issues as Common Core and PARCC. Moore can also help the district focus on best practices and communicate its value and importance to the school and the community at large.
Hickey brings a different perspective to the board: that of a parent with five grown children who already have gone through the public school system. We believe she brings historical knowledge of the system and a fresh perspective that understands the concerns of parents.
