This cycle, Equality Illinois is not issuing formal endorsements in elections for school boards and library boards. However, in advance of the April 4 election, we are sharing information publicly about candidates who support and advocate for equality and inclusion in schools and libraries across Illinois: the Equality Illinois All Families – All Students Pledge.
SCHOOL BOARD PLEDGE
“If elected to the school board, I will support:
- The teaching of age-appropriate personal health and safety education - including sexual health education - consistent with the Keeping Youth Safe and Healthy Act to all students whose parents don't opt them out.
- Ensuring my school district supports trans and gender-expansive students consistent with the Illinois Human Rights Act’s protections and ISBE Guidance, including ensuring the rights of all students to use facilities and play on sports teams consistent with their gender identity.
- Ensuring books, curriculum, and instructional materials are available to students, in an age-appropriate manner, according to the expert advice of professional educators and librarians.
- Our district teaching the required LGBTQ+ Inclusive Curriculum in history classes in an affirming and accurate manner consistent with the spirit and letter of ISBE Guidance.”
LIBRARY BOARD PLEDGE
“If elected to the library board, I will support:
- Ensuring books and other materials are available to all patrons, in an age-appropriate manner, according to the expert advice of professional librarians.
- Ensuring our libraries fully operate consistent with the Illinois Human Rights Act’s protections, including ensuring the rights of trans and gender-expansive library visitors to use facilities consistent with their gender identity.
- The library hosting community events that are inclusive of the whole community.”
This pledge is a way for pro-family, pro-equality candidates to demonstrate their commitment to the values of equity, equality, inclusion, and diversity in schools and libraries. The following candidates completed the pledge. This is not a formal endorsement but a way of sharing information with voters about the values of candidates.
School Board Candidates
Glenbrook High School District 225
Sandra Muhlenbeck
Marcelo Sztainberg
Township High School District 211
Michelle Barron
Aiden Branss
Kimberly Cavill
Steven Rosenblum
Jane A. Russell
East Aurora District 131
Alex Arroyo
Edwardsville Community Unit School District 7
Lynne Sanderson
Evanston/Skokie School District 65
Sergio Hernandez, Jr.
Library Board Candidates
Glen Carbon Centennial Library District
Jacqueline Day
Carla Elliff
Niles-Maine District Library
Jason Trunco
Becky Keane
Lincolnwood Public Library District
Sheri B. Doniger
Deborah Silver
Georgia A. Talaganis
Mary Silber
Schaumburg Township
Matthew Smith
Please vote in the April 4 election. So much is at stake!
For questions, please contact mziri@eqil.org.
Page updated as of March 17, 2023.