Incumbent Susan C. Facklam, 54, a Third Lake resident and nurse, seeks her second term even though her children are past elementary ages. Grayslake resident Nadia A. Shams-Ahmed, 34, has two children in the district and has done some work as a substitute and community college teacher. Aaron Bernau, 33, a Lake Villa resident who works for the rescue squad, has two children approaching school age. Grayslake resident Mary F. Garcia, 44, has four children and has been a teacher in another district for 23 years, where she also serves as vice president of that labor union. Grayslake resident Michael C. Linder, 64, is a retired executive who hopes his grandchildren attend school in the district.

Shams-Ahmed is applauded for her consistent attendance at board meetings and knowledge of the district’s challenges. Linder will bring a strategic business approach and the perspective of someone who cares about public education and children having already raised his own. Facklam should be rewarded for making difficult financial and hiring decisions and for her vote to rebate taxes to homeowners who paid more than they expected after a 1999 tax increase.

In a strong field, Facklam, Shams-Ahmed and Linder are endorsed. The new board will need to work to win residents’ trust after a majority’s recent vote to keep $6.9 million it collected in addition to the $23.2 million bond issue voters approved a few years ago.