Letters to the Editor: Residents Voice Support for Candidates

City councilman and mayor endorse school board candidates; residents write in about mayoral hopefuls.

Marjie Sandlow, a tireless worker for District 113 Marjie Sandlow has been a member of the District 113 Board of Education for the past five years and is currently Vice President of the Board. Marjie is an outstanding leader and a tireless worker. Marjie, a Harvard MBA and former management consultant, brings extensive knowledge, skill and energy to the task of keeping our District one of the top in the state. She has consistently worked to improve our schools in a fiscally responsible manner.  If we want to continue the excellence that we expect from our schools, we need to elect the top people for the School Board. Marjie Sandlow is one of those people. She is endorsed by the Pioneer Press and the independent District 113 Caucus.  I …

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David Greenberg

2:15 pm on Tuesday, April 5, 2011

Why don't you call her up or email her, and ask? Then report back here.   more ›

How to Fund a $133M Renovation Plan

Proposal's financing takes advantage of historically low interest rates.

On April 5, residents of Township High School District 113 will be asked an important referendum question that will determine the future of Deerfield and Highland Park high schools. The proposal in front of the taxpayers on April 5 will take advantage of a unique confluence of events–historically low interest rates, a favorable construction climate and the payoff of the prior bond issue from 1999. As a result, the district can finance essential improvements in our schools while maintaining the current tax rate for bond and interest financing. The District 113 Board of Education unanimously voted in January, after several months of study, to place on the ballot a referendum to issue $133 million in municipal bonds to finance a capital …

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David Greenberg

5:17 pm on Thursday, March 24, 2011

If we don't vote yes, then we come back with a better plan. I believe that part of that would include reviewing items that have been brought up as concerns. The dampness in that room has been brought up, no reason for it to be ignored. I've dealt with those kinds of issues in old buildings, sometimes it's a crack in a foundation that needs to be sealed, sometimes it's a foundation seepage pipe …   more ›

Some District 113 Candidates Avoid Referendum Minefield

Half of those in high school board race dodge taking stand on $133 million measure during debate.

Most of the 10 candidates running for four seats on the Township District 113 School Board danced around the question about the $133 million referendum on the April 5 ballot during a recent forum sponsored by the League of Women Voters at the Highland Park Country Club.  Candidates Corinne Bronson-Adatto, David Greenberg, Debra Hymen, Carl Lambrecht, Mark Mulert, Marjie Rosen Sandlow, David Small, Michael Smith and Steven Narrod answered questions about fiscal responsibility, school consolidation, the pension scandal, the role of a board member and their credentials for election during an hourlong debate on March 6.  The 10th candidate, Matilda Manfredini, was not present. George Pierachi made a statement on her behalf but was not able to …

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27 Candidates Take Your Questions

Photo gallery highlights key quotes from Sunday's candidate forum.

The League of Women Voters held its candidate forum  Sunday at the Highland Park Country Club. The event began with the candidates for School Board District 113. Audience members wrote questions down on notecards while the candidates made their opening remarks, which were simlar to those given at the District 113 forum at Congregation Solel held last Sunday. Candidates discussed their positions on the  $133 million referendum as well as how they felt about pension spiking and school district consolidation. Next were the candidates for District 112 School Board, followed by mayoral candidates Terri Olian and Nancy Rotering. Then came the city council candidates, and the event concluded with the park district board candidates.  See key …

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District 113 Forum Shows Divide Among Candidates

Bond referendum and consolidation are hot topics for the 10 school board hopefuls.

The 10 candidates for the District 113 school system introduced themselves and took questions from a small audience at a forum at Congregation Solel last Sunday. Though it was far from the only topic discussed during the hour-long event, the contentious referendum for a $133 million bond issue came up repeatedly. "The plan is not well thought out; it's too expensive," said David Greenberg during his opening remarks. Greenberg, the owner of business and technology consultancy, said he was against the renovation project that would see huge improvements to both Deerfield and Highland Park high schools. Other candidates joined Greenberg in voicing their opposition to the plan, often in the same breath as their names. Carl Lambrecht, for …

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David Greenberg

9:50 am on Tuesday, March 8, 2011

I point out the items that could happen, because (short of the death) they do happen with regularity on construction projects. None of these items have been brought to the attention of the surrounding neighborhood - and it's my experience that people often don't have a chance to object or discuss something until it's already happening and too late to deal with - then you hear people saying "I …   more ›

District 113 Board Weighs In on Renovation Proposal

The School Board of District 113 got its first chance to discuss the $168 million project Monday night.

The District 113 School Board has a big decision to make.  On Monday, Superintendent George Fornero presented the board with the proposal for a new master plan for Deerfield and Highland Park High Schools that would fix infrastructure problems, demolish old buildings and install technology support systems for a different kind of learning. If the plans are completed in their entirety, they would cost Deerfield and Highland Park residents $168 million over the course of the next 20-plus years. Before the plan can be put to referendum for April's election, the board needs to approve it first. Planning for the future  Representatives from architectural firm Wight and Company, the District's financial planning liaison from PMA Securities and…

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David Greenberg

9:39 pm on Wednesday, December 15, 2010

District 112 is working to cut things and keep their costs under control. Their net levy will decrease the burden by 0.09% on the taxpayers. Ok, not much, but it's a start. They may have to consolidate schools, increase class sizes, but they recognize they have to get creative. They're ~33% of the bill. D113? Oh they trot out the swim team coaches and members to demand multi-million dollar "…   more ›