Meet the people who want to guide Springfield schools

The seven subdistricts that comprise the Springfield school district. On April 7, voters will choose school board representatives for Subdistricts 2, 4, 6

My kids don’t go to the public schools.

I don’t have children. There’s an election? Despite routinely encountering the preceding rejoinders, the four individuals running in two competitive races to serve on the District 186 board of education have been trudging across precincts and knocking on doors, many of them unanswered, in their respective subdistricts.

They’ve been drumming up support, talking about issues facing the district, and imploring citizens to just go vote on Tuesday, April 7. Since about the beginning of the year, one incumbent and three neophytes have taken on a task of sheer herculean proportions – convincing people to show up to the polls at time when no other high-profile offices or issues will appear on the ballot.

Consider that the last time Springfield voters went to the polls for an April election, in 2007, voters had veritable smorgasbord of choices before them: eliminating term limits, changing the process for electing municipal leaders, plus races for mayor, treasurer, city clerk, aldermen and half the members of the on the District 186 school board. Yet, just 35 percent of registered voters showed up at the polls.

With only two contested school board races — Judy Johnson, who represents the east side’s Subdistrict 6, is unopposed — and a handful of Springfield Park Board contests, turnout could be much lower.

Regardless of what the turnout is, Subdistrict 4, where board member and former school principal Melinda LaBarre is not seeking reelection, will get a new representative in either Susan White — a newcomer both to Springfield and political campaigning — or Keith Sias, a lobbyist and lifelong Springfieldian. Subdistrict 2 is the most geographically broad of the district’s seven. Here, District 186 school board president Erin Conley — who in 2005 secured a victory by eight votes — is running against Nick Stoutamyer, former president of the Lanphier High School booster club. They’ll tell you that they’re running because they love Springfield, value education and believe in the potential of students in the district, and want to serve the community. And you get the sense that it isn’t just campaignspeak: all the candidates have children who are current or former students in District 186; some of the candidates themselves are products of Springfield schools.

Illinois Times spoke to each of the candidates in contested races to get their thoughts on modernizing schools, on superintendent Dr. Walter Milton, taxes, the future of Springfield High School and attracting families to Springfield and its schools. In 12 days, residents have an opportunity to select people who, in the coming years, will determine the salaries of teachers, make the decision to consolidate or build new schools, potentially raise your taxes, and who will establish the policies that might create the next Obama, Lindsay, Iguodala or Lincoln.

Please vote.