North Cook News

A slate of candidates running on a return to in-person learning platform came up short in their run for the Palatine-Schaumburg High School District 211 board.  

Competing among nine candidates for three open seats, Kristen Steel, Robi Vollkommer and Jessica Hinkle all trailed teachers union-backed candidates Curtis Bradley, Anna Klimkowicz and Timothy McGowan with 146 of 148 precincts reporting.

 The debate over students returning to the classroom for in-person learning easily shaped up as one of the biggest issues in the race, with the Illinois state Rep. Tom Morrison (R-Palatine) among those throwing their support behind the slate of Steel, Vollkommer and Hinkle as candidates that shared his views, particularly on the issue of school reopenings.  

“District 211 is one of the largest school districts in the state,” Morrison told the North Cook News. “It’s an attractive district for parents and families for its academic, athletic, and extra-curricular offerings, but lately it’s also gotten a lot of publicity over board policies that have rankled parents and many students, namely related to issues of biological male access to female-specific private areas.”

Morrison also argued a turnover of board seats over time is best for the community, just as having board members who currently have children enrolled would be for shaping policy and ensuring that the district and its administrative and teaching staff is held accountable to the community.

Now in his 10th year of serving the 54th District, Morrison holds the distinction of being the first Illinois legislator to entirely opt-out of the state’s pension systems. Since then, over 60 other Illinois lawmakers have followed suit.