McHenry County

Nine Vie For Crystal Lake School Board Seats Amid High School Bleacher Controversy

The election comes on the heels of a controversy surrounding Crystal Lake South High School

Three candidates will win seats on a McHenry County school board Tuesday night amid a debate surrounding Crystal Lake South High School.

About half of the school districts in McHenry County are contested, with Crystal Lake District 155 School Board’s election being one of the most heated races.

Nine candidates are vying for three four-year terms in the school board. The Northwest Herald attributes the high number of candidates to District 155’s decision to expand the bleachers at Crystal Lake South High School with a price tag of $1.18 million, not including the money spent on litigation from a lawsuit filed by angry neighbors.

The case is now before the Illinois Supreme Court at the district’s request. The lower and appellate court sided with the plaintiffs who “argue the bleachers violate the city zoning code, including being too tall and too close to neighboring properties,” according to the Northwest Herald.

Karen K. Whitman is the only incumbent out of three running, which is a stark contrast to the past two elections in which the district’s incumbents ran unopposed.

Other candidates include retired legislator and educator Rosemary Kurtz, preschool teacher Amy Blazier, Brian Alan Pelz, Adam Guss, Daniel Marks, Brennan Markee, Brett Siegmeier and Titus Mielke.

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