Editor's Corner

Candidate Forum Wrap-Up: Online Video Available Until April 5

Be sure to check Patch later today for the full story and a link to the event video.

If you missed Wednesday night's candidate forum for the Lemont-Bromberek Combined School District 113A Board of Education, we have some great news. Patch and the Lemont Junior Woman's Club were fortunate enough to be contacted last week by Lemont resident Jim Fiore, owner of DV Imaging. DV Imaging is a professional webcasting company who puts together webcasts for companies across the United States.  He utilized the volunteer videographers from Channel 6 to stream the event. Thanks to Fiore's offer to help us, we were able to provide a live feed from the event so voters could watch the forum from the comfort of their own home. So far, we've received great feedback both on Patch and our Facebook page. Here's the great news: the video from …

•  29 Comments
• Photos (1)

Patti T

10:46 pm on Thursday, March 10, 2011

Martin - that is not accurate. The instructional expenditure per student does not include all expenses incurred by the district. It includes "Expenditures related to activities dealing with the teaching of pupils or the interaction between teachers and pupils. " Debt services expenditures would NOT impact our "spending per pupil" figure. Back to our same four schools from above.... with the …   more ›

Editor's Corner

District 113A Candidate Forum Reminders

The event will be held at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, March 9, at the Lemont Township Community Center, 16300 Alba St.

The Lemont Junior Woman's Club and Patch would like to remind readers that the candidate forum for the Lemont-Bromberek Combined School District 113A Board of Education will be be held at 7 p.m. Wednesday at the Lemont Township Community Center. We thank all of you for your questions, and look forward to hearing the candidates' responses. All of the candidates have confirmed their participation in the forum, with the exception of current District 113A Board Member Sue Murphy, who will be carrying out her duties as a member of the district's negotiating team. For those who cannot make it the facility, which is located at 16300 Alba St., you will still be able to view the event live online. Thanks to the generosity of Lemont resident Jim …

•  1 Comment
• Photos (1)

Editor's Corner

Patch, Junior Woman's Club: Candidate Forum to Stream Live Online

The event will be held at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, March 9, at the Lemont Township Community Center, 16300 Alba St.

Thanks to a generous offer by a member of the Lemont community, this week's candidate forum will be available to residents online through a live video stream. If you can't make it to the forum Wednesday, visit lemont.patch.com With just two days to go, we have the majority of candidates confirmed, and we are excited for the opportunity to hear their views. If you have any questions you would like asked during the forum, please comment below or send an e-mail to amanda@patch.com. On behalf of Patch and the Lemont Junior Woman's Club, I am very excited to announce a special election event that will take place next week at the new Lemont Township Community Center. From 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Wednesday, March 9, the Lemont Woman's Club and I are …

•  48 Comments
• Photos (1)

Election Central: Patch Will Begin Rolling Out Election Coverage This Week

March 8 is the last day to register to vote in the April 5 consolidated election.

Starting Thursday, Lemont Patch will begin rolling out candidate bios for the following races: Check back throughout the week as more candidate surveys are posted, and remember to submit your questions for local candidates by e-mailing amanda@patch.com. Lemont residents can get even more information on District 113A candidates during a March 9 forum hosted by Lemont Patch and the Lemont Junior Woman's Club at the new Lemont Township Community Center. And don’t forget these important dates: For more information, to check your registration status or find out your polling place, visit the websites of either the Cook County Clerk or the DuPage County Election Commission.

• Photos (1)

District 113A Board Candidate Withdraws From Race, Remains on Ballot

Jennifer Hunt announced Tuesday that she would no longer be seeking election to the Lemont-Bromberek Combined School District 113A School Board, but will remain on the ballot due to election law.

The race for the Lemont-Bromberek Combined School District 113A Board of Education has unofficially narrowed to nine candidates after Lemont resident Jennifer Hunt announced the suspension of her campaign Tuesday. In an e-mail to Patch, Hunt confirmed she would no longer be pursuing one of the four District 113A School Board positions up for election April 5. However, since Jan. 27 was the last day to withdraw candidacy, her name will remain on the ballot. Hunt released the following statement Tuesday night: "At this time I am unable to continue my campaign for District 113A School Board. This decision was made after weeks of contemplating whether I could give 100 percent of myself to the school board if elected. I am very involved with my…

• Photos (1)

Editor's Corner

Want to Get to Know the District 113A Board Candidates? Send Patch Your Questions

Over the next month, Lemont Patch will be profiling all 10 candidates for the Lemont-Bromberek Combined School District Board of Education.

Over the next two months, few topics are likely to generate as much conversation or intrigue as the 10-way race for the Lemont-Bromberek Combined School District 113A School Board. Patch will be working hard to bring you all the news and information you need before you head to the polls April 5, but we need your help. As Lemont residents, taxpayers and voters, you have a stake in this election. We're asking you to get involved and get informed by sending Patch one or two questions you would like the candidates to answer. Don't worry about basic background information, such as financial expertise or knowledge of the district — we've got that covered. What we're looking for are questions that are specific to District 113A. A good example …

•  12 Comments
• Photos (1)

Letters to the Editor

Lemont Residents Weigh in on District 113A Referendum Options

In an open letter to District 113A board members and administrators, Lemont residents speak out against the recommendation of a working cash bond referendum in April.

The following letter was sent Monday morning to Lemont Patch, as well as District 113A Superintendent Tim Ricker, Board President Lisa Wright, VP Kevin Doherty, Secretary Andy Taylor, and Board Members Sue Murphy, Karen Siston, John Wood and Janet Hughes. Dear Lemont-Bromberek Combined School District 113A Board of Education and Administration: We are writing to you as a group of concerned citizens who request that the District 113A Board enact real reforms in conjunction with a referendum that has a realistic chance of passing, immediately begins restoring financial stability to the district and begins reinstating cut teaching positions and academic programs. According to the board meeting's agenda posted on the district's website, the …

•  4 Comments
• Photos (1)

Districts 210, 113A Expected to Finalize Financial Partnership During Monday Meetings

The school boards for Lemont-Bromberek Combined School District 113A and Lemont High School District 210 are expected to approve resolutions authorizing the issuance of $5.5 million in tax anticipation warrants, preventing the need for state intervention.

 School boards in Lemont are expected to finalize a deal Monday night in which Lemont High School District 210 would purchase tax anticipation warrants from Lemont-Bromberek Combined School District 113A in order to prevent a state financial takeover. The Board of Education in District 113A, which is reliant on short-term borrowing to pay its operational expenses, will consider a resolution during its regular meeting Monday to issue $5.5 million in TAWs to Lemont High School at an interest rate of 2.79 percent. The Board of Education for District 210 will adopt a change to its fund balance policy, as well as vote on a resolution to approve the purchase of the TAWs. The deal, which was announced in December, would be the first of its kind …

• Photos (1)

Editor's Corner

When a Journalist Becomes Part of the Story

In the spirit of transparency, Lemont Patch Editor Amanda Luevano explains why she was identified as a witness during the objection hearing for District 113A Board Member Janet Hughes.

Every week, I spend hours upon hours at various events and meetings around Lemont. Though my participation in these events is typically limited to careful observation and diligent note-taking, there is the rare instance when I somehow become part of the story. This was the case Tuesday night at Old Quarry Middle School, where a special meeting of the Lemont-Bromberek Combined School District 113A Electoral Board was hearing two objections to the petition of Board Member Janet Hughes. The objectors claimed the nominating papers submitted by Hughes for the April 5 consolidated election lacked proper binding, which is required under the Illinois Election Code. During the course of the hearing, multiple witnesses recounted the afternoon of …

• Photos (1)