Newly Elected District 68 Board Members Talk Priorities, How They Got Elected

Newcomers Patti Cash and Scott Salerno and incumbents Scott Coley and Leslie Pollack were elected to the District 68 school board Tuesday.

Below, they talk about how they got the word out about their candidacy and what they're looking forward to accomplishing in the next four years.

What was your reaction to being elected?

It was very exciting, and very humbling. I was very honored to be elected. I was overwhelmed to get so much support. (Cash was the second highest vote-getter of the five candidates.)

What are you looking forward to?

I'm looking forward to getting started and learning. There's so much to learn. A lot of the board members say it takes a couple years to get your bearings to know what's going on. Many have been on the school board for a long time, and they're willing to be mentors, willing to lead the way.

I'm excited to work with them and face the challenges that come along. It's an exciting time with the new superintendent, new principals. I think change is good and it's exciting for everyone.

What do you credit your election success to?

Probably a combination of people knowing me from , people knowing me from our church community and people knowing me just through work in the community and community contacts. I have great friends and a lot of good support. That definitely helps.

What was your reaction to being re-elected?

I was just overly excited and pleased and honored that the voters chose to re-elect me and my other incumbent (Leslie Pollack), again.

They obviously felt we were making a positive contribution, and I'm honored they felt that way and chose to give me another opportunity to do what I'm doing.

What are you looking forward to?

One of the things I am really looking forward to is smoothing the transition with the new superintendent and the two new principals coming on board.

Also, really watching very carefully and monitoring our financial position, to stay in that position without having to tax our taxing body -- our community -- again, or any more than we already are.

I would also like to see us, more long-term, hiring teachers and administrators who more culturally mirror the community and our student body. Research has shown that students learn better from mentors more like themselves. I see how much progress we could make to making that a reality.

What do you credit your election success to?

I got the word out. I didn't spend a tremendous amount of money. It was a lot of word of mouth. I think that appearing at the teacher forum and other community events, just being visible in the community, made a big difference in getting re-elected.

In being involved on the board and the startegic planning process, working with focus groups, people got to know who I was and what I stood for.

What was your reaction to being elected?

I'm happy to have the opportunity and thank all those who came out to vote (Tuesday).

What are you looking forward to?

I'm looking forward to getting started, to work with the other members to try and make District 68 schools even better.

What do you credit your election success to?

I didn't do a lot of campaigning. It was a lot of word of mouth. My wife helped out quite a bit, talking with people she knew, who talked to people they knew.

Woodridge Patch was unable to reach Leslie Pollack by press time.