PEORIA, IL -- The two candidates for the Peoria District 150 School Board participated in a forum on Feb. 3 sponsored by the Peoria Area League of Women Voters. They are different, but likely either one will make a good board member. They are candidates in the third district, northwest Peoria.
One will be elected on March 17 in a non-partisan election, held with the Illinois primary election.
They are Anni Reinking, and Ivora Rudd Hearn. They spoke and answered written questions from the audience. Here is a recording of the event:
Download D150 candidates feb 3
Reinking is a big personality, an articulate speaker with a great deal of experience in education. She teaches early childhood education in college, has been a classroom teacher, and has children in the Peoria Public Schools. Her expertise would likely be valuable on the board.
Hearn is quieter, but seems sensible and sincere. She said she works in "human resources." She's open to union concerns, and said, "We all need to work together.... I am a team player, an approachable person," she said.
Both questioned the shuffling of principals that has occurred in the past, and both said the Quest charter school must show improvement if its contract is to be renewed. "Education is data driven and we need data," Reinking said.
They didn't question the concept of charter schools, but Reinking said the school district needs to be able to hold Quest accountable. The board could close Quest and offer the same choices "under the leadership of the (District 150) board," she said.
-- Elaine Hopkins
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